Opinion: D. C. Nath (President, Patriot’s Forum) – Terror Train

President of Patriots Forum, D.C. Nath was superannuated in January, 1995, as the Special Director, Intelligence Bureau, D.C. Nath (IPS-1960) was associated with the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM), headquartered in New Delhi, for over 14 years, first as the Executive President & CEO and then as the President & Director General, between February, 1997 and March, 2011. The author of a highly acclaimed book, Intelligence Imperatives for India, Mr. Nath earned high plaudits from all around for two of his very significant presentations on: “Revisiting the Future of India” (2005, London) and “Lessons from India for the War On Terrorism” (2007, USA). He is the only one in the field, combining the experiences of a police officer with specialization in intelligence and strategic analysis and an industrial security expert par excellence. More Bio on D. C. Nath…

OPINION>>>>

March 9, 2017
Dear Friends,

JAI Hind!

Subject: TERROR TRAIN.

The recent incident of the railway accident in which ISIS element having caused it has come out in the open. We are however aware of ISIS element’s presence in the southern part of India.

It was, therefore, quite fitting to find the editorial in today’s editorial in the Statesman titled “TERROR TRAIN” March 9, 2017 copy reproduced below:

Quote (.)

Terror Train: Islamic State’s first attack in India should lead to Security Re-Evaluation
The blast on a Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train that injured 10 people and marked the first-ever Islamic State (IS) terror attack in India, has sharply highlighted the threat posed by this Islamist extremist group to India’s national security. It was followed by arrests of operatives belonging to IS’s so-called Khorasan module. They in turn led security forces to one Saifullah who was holed up in a house in the Thakurganj area of Lucknow. A fierce 12-hour encounter ensued at the end of which Saifullah was neutralised. Alleged module leader and mastermind of the train blast Atif Mujaffar alias Al-Qasim, an engineering student from Aligarh, has been arrested.

Initial investigations suggest that this module was largely self-radicalised and had come in contact with foreign extremists over online platforms. They were inspired by IS’s radical ideology, but it isn’t clear if they carried out the train bombing under explicit instructions from foreign handlers. Overall, a relatively small number of Indians have actually gone on to fight for IS in Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, intelligence and security agencies have been successful in busting several IS modules before they mature to an advanced stage.

However, the Khorasan module’s train blast shows that authorities can’t afford to let their guard down. All the more so because as IS crumbles in Iraq and Syria, it is likely to mutate into a conventional terror group like al-Qaida. In fact, in a recent statement attributed to the outfit’s chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, non-Arab IS fighters were urged to return to their home countries. These returning extremists are likely to pose a serious threat to India’s immediate neighbourhood and complicate India’s security calculus.

Given this scenario government must redouble efforts to track, nab, prosecute or de-radicalise IS recruits and sympathisers. In fact, online radicalisation is IS’s favoured method of cultivating lone wolves across countries. This can only be countered through working with Muslim community leaders and clerics to ensure Muslim youth aren’t led astray by terror recruiters. Additionally, basic policing needs to be beefed up across the board. Over the last few months, it has become clear that the railways have become a target for extremists – in fact investigators suspect that the Khorasan module’s train blast may have been a trial run for bigger attacks. Securing the mass transporter to prevent mass casualties should now be top priority.

Unquote (.)

The editorial has thus correctly brought out to the light it was ISIS’s ‘First attack’ in India that should lead to re-evaluation of the security needs of the country. The editorial therefore rightly commented initial investigation suggested the ISIS module was largely self-radicalised and had come in contact with foreign inspired on-line platforms. The editorial further continued, these ISIS elements were inspired by the ISIS’s radical audiology but is not clear if they had carried out the train bombing under explicit instruction from foreign handlers.

Well, Friends, therein lies the seriousness of the problem of Terror Train. It has been the work of insiders.

This has been despite the fact that the ISIS chief recently admitted they have lost the battle in Iraq and advised ISIS fighters to return to their home respective countries. On this second editorial in the Hindustan Times of March 6, 2017, had written the virtual epitaph that ISIS was on their last legs. How unfortunate has this observation written a few days back only. It was true at that point of time but is not any longer. The editorial in the Statesman of March 9 had however rightly therefore, concludes, “Additionally, basic policing needs to be beefed up across the Board. Over the last few months, it has become clear that railway have become a target for extremists-in fact investigators suspect that the Khorasan module’s train blast may have been a trail run for bigger attacks. Securing the mass transporter to prevent mass casualties should now be top priority”.

One of our Fundamental Rights in our Constitution is Article 51A that is, a duty is cast on every one of us to defend the country. Friends, it had been s practice in some offices, in all Government as well as offices in the corporate world, to hung copy this Fundamental Rights inscribed, in a wooden frame and suitably displayed to remind everyone of their THIS VERY IMOPRTANT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. Let us remind ourselves how many of us had either read this Fundamental Right or even now look up the Article 51A of the Constitution that is hung (done or not done is not known) in the wall so as to remind ourselves constantly of our this very important Fundamental Right.

Should we say let us perform our Fundamental Right (Article 51A) before we blame the government.

Let us ask ourselves whether we have done our duty to protect and defend the country.

Vandemataram,

Your sevak,

D.C. Nath

(President, Patriots’ Forum)

(Former Spl. Director, IB)

9811995693

Copy for information and necessary action to:

· The Union Home Minister,

(Shri Rajnath Singh)

· The Union Home Secretary

(Shri Rajiv Mehrishi)

· Director of IB

(Shri Rajiv Jain)

· Cabinet Secretary

(Shri Pradeep Kumar Sinha)

· The Prime Minister’s Office

(Shri P.K. Mishra)

· The Prime Minister’s Office II

· The Defence Minister

(Shri Manohar Parrikar)

· Defence Secretary

(Shri G. Mohan Kumar)

· The National Security Advisor,

(Shri A K Doval)

Vandemataram,

Yours sincerely,

D.C. Nath

(President, Patriots’ Forum)

(Former Spl. Director, IB)

9811995694

(011-26175790)

To,

The Editor

The Times of India

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

We cannot thank you enough for this editorial. Kindly be graces enough to accept our compliments.

Yours Faithfully,

DC Nath

(President, Patriot’s Forum)

(Former, Spl. Director IB)

 

Source: Patriots Forum

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