Domestic Threats to Internal Security

Internal security is linked to what is perceived to be the protection of national interest of a country. Protection of India and Indian interests also implies being an active participant in the global community of states. This necessitates shaping and reinforcing the rules, norms and institutions that would be the foundation of peace, security and prosperity in the coming decades.

Recent Initiatives by the Government

During the period of 2017-18, the Government of India adopted following strategy to ensure internal security situation:

  • The principal focus on the Internal Security front remained on countering terrorism in J&K, maintaining peace in the NE States, containing LWE, and maintaining peace in the hinterland of the Country.
  • GoI in tandem with the State Government of J&K adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross border infiltration, promote economic activity, provide relief to victims and strengthen the State Government security apparatus.
  • The Government followed a multipronged strategy to deal with insurgent and militant activities in the North East Region. The approach includes fine-tuning security measures, accelerating development works, negotiations with groups provided they abjure violence and seek resolution of their demands within the framework of the Indian Constitution to come into the mainstream of national life.
  • The Central Government is also supplementing the efforts of the State Governments through adoption of various measures such as deployment of Central Security Forces to assist the State Authorities in counter insurgency operations and providing security to vulnerable institutions and installations based on threat assessment.
  • The Government is dealing with Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in a holistic manner comprising development works, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, public perception management and security related measures.
  • The Central Government is closely monitoring the situation and assisting State Governments through providing CAPFs, Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA), sanction of India Reserve Battalions, setting up of Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorism (CIAT) School, modernization and up-gradation of the State Police Forces, reimbursement of security related expenditure under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE), providing helicopter for anti-LWE operations, sharing intelligence, facilitation of inter-State coordination, etc.

Domestic Threats to Internal Security

Internal security issues in the country can broadly be categorized as follows:

  1. Terrorism in the hinterland of the country.
  2. Left Wing Extremism in certain areas.
  3. Cross-Border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.
  4. Insurgency in the North Eastern States

During 2017-18, the internal security situation in the country remained under control. But, the Central Government remained committed to curb the funding of terrorism and antinational activities through various agencies.

(a) Naxalism & Left-wing Extremism (LWE)

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is widely recognised as one of the most serious security threats in post-independence India. Apart from that, it is also a politico-socio-economic challenge where the Union Home Minister expressed confidence over eliminating naxalism in the coming three-five years and asked Maoists to join the mainstream by surrendering under the rehabilitation policy for them.

Recently a special scheme for 35 most affected LWE districts namely Special Central Assistance (SCA) has been approved by Government of India for development of these areas.

Recent Scenario in LWE Areas

  • The LWE movement is assessed to have impacted 40% of India’s territory and 35% of its population.
  • According to the MHA, 106 districts in 10 states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, were intensely affected by the LWE movement.
  • Based on the intensity of insurgency, 35 of the 108 districts spread over the ten States mentioned above, have been classified as most affected LWE districts.

Economic Importance of LWE Areas

  • Most of the LWE affected areas are rich in mineral resources which are vital for the Indian economy.
  • It may be noted that of the total power generation in the country, 75% comes from thermal based coal-fired power plants and five of the LWE affected states provide 85% of country’s coal.
  • Apart from coal, the region is also important due to ample availability of other critical resources like copper, nickel, bauxite, manganese, iron, etc.
  • But, presence of LWE in the region adversely impacts commercial viability of any major investments in the mining sector. i.e. naxals either obstruct inflow of developmental investments in the region or try to extort money from the companies.

(b) Militancy in the North Eastern States

North East India is the only expanse in South Asia which is geographically and strategically encircled by Nepal, China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is connected to the Indian hinterland by a narrow piece of land, namely the ‘Siliguri Corridor’ in West Bengal.

Key Facts

  • The region which consisted of only one state Assam and two Union territories Tripura and Manipur in the 1950s now comprises seven states known as “The Seven Sisters”. The Seven Sisters unfortunately do not have the best of relations due to mutually conflicting interests.
  • The NE states account for 7.9% of the nation’s geographical area but only 3.8% of the national population. Close to 70% of this population resides in its largest state, Assam and the Brahmaputra Valley while the rest is in the other six states.
  • This region has over 200 ethnic groups with their own language, dialects and socio-cultural identities.

Present Status of Insurgency in NE

  • The security situation in the North Eastern States, which remained complex for quite some time because of diverse demands of ethnic groups and various militant outfits, improved substantially in 2017.
  • The number of insurgency related incidents in the region decreased by more than 36% compared to 2016 (2016- 484, 2017– 308). The year 2017 witnessed the LOWEST number of insurgency incidents since 1997.
  • Similarly, security forces casualties in the region declined from 17 (2016) to 12 (2017) and civilian casualties from 48 (2016) to 37 (2017). Counter Insurgency Operations led to neutralization of 57 militants, arrest of 995 militants and recovery of 432 weapons in 2017 in the region. The number of kidnapping/abduction related incidents also declined by 40% (2016-168, 2017-102).
  • In 2017, insurgency incidents declined significantly by 58%, civilian casualties by 66%, Security Forces casualties by 34% and kidnapping/abduction cases by 67% as compared to 2013.

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