Terrorism

The word Terrorism according to Mark Jurgensmeyer came from the Latin word “terrere” meaning “to cause to tremble”. And the United Kingdom Terrorism Act 2000 defines Terrorism as the ‘use of or a threat of action’ designed to influence the Government or to intimidate the public for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.

• The terrorist’s objective is to reduce public confidence in Government, by generating fear and by indoctrination, often manipulating public opinion through media and civil society, and in today’s cyber-age, via the internet and social networks.
• Terrorism in India began with the state sponsorship of terrorism in Kashmir by Pakistan to settle scores with India in the context of losing three wars it fought with India as well as to avenge the loss of Bangladesh to Pakistan. However, with the Babri Masjid demolition and the consequent communal riots, terrorism began to expand and which included Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993.
• Terrorism in India has become a home-grown phenomenon. Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993, Coimbatore bomb blasts in 1998, Delhi bomb blasts in 2005, Varanasi bomb blasts in 2006, Malegaon bomb blasts in 2006, Hyderabad bomb blasts in 2007 and Mumbai terror attack in 2008, Pathankot attack are few of the examples of the terror attacks in India.