IS poses yet another challenge: Uday Bhaskar

Admitting that the Islamic State posed yet another challenge to India, Defence analyst Commodore (retired) C. Uday Bhaskar on Saturday lauded Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for highlighting it in his address to the DGPs and said that these were the new challenges for the Indian state and society.

"And the fact that this (Islamic State) now poses yet another challenge, particularly because of the ideology associated with it and the fact that some Indian youth have already been encouraged to join the IS. So, I think these are the new challenges for the Indian state and the society. And at the end of the day, I think what Mr. Rajnath Singh has again underlined is the need to have a much greater capacity to deal with this, which means not only the police forces but also the intelligence agencies," he told ANI here.

Commodore Bhaskar said the Home Minister's meeting with the police chiefs in Guwahati is a venue for important review of the current status of India's internal security and the various challenges that have to be addressed.

"He had identified , I think, one of India's abiding challenges which is the orientation of the Pakistani state, particularly those elements that are engaged in aggravating India's internal security," Commodore (retired) Bhaskar said.

"Here the role of the Pakistani intelligence agencies, the ISI, and the various terror groups that are supported by the ISI particularly groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed, and more importantly the linkage between the Pakistani agencies and certain groups that are operating in the periphery of the India's north-east," he added.

Asserting that there are a number of issues that are specific to the north-east that are causes for concern, Commodore (retired) Bhaskar said: " So, I think the Home Minister was right in drawing attention to that and encouraging the police in the states to improve their own efficiency levels. And he also made a reference to the need to fill in vacancies."

The Union Home Minister, who inaugurated the 49th Annual Conference of Directors General of Police / Inspectors General of Police in Guwahati earlier today, said that the government will not allow any terrorist organization in the world to get foothold in India.

"Certain misguided youth in the country get attracted to organizations like ISIS, but the government is committed to check it," he added.

Rajnath said that the role of our police forces and the intelligence agencies has been crucial in ensuring security to the people of the country. He further said that the men in uniform fill him with a sense of pride and responsibility.

The Home Minister assured that steps would be taken to modernize the police and make it people-friendly. He also urged the states to fill up the vacancies in police forces and assured them all possible help.

Rajnath Singh also expressed concern over the ethnic and socio-economic conflicts in the North Eastern region. He highlighted the lack of development and quality infrastructure in the North East and said that the government is committed to boost infrastructure in the region.

He mentioned that the presence of a terrorist network has been exposed in West Bengal and the State police and National Investigation Agency are playing an important role in exposing the network.

The Home Minister stated that the incidents of violence have been reduced in the Left Wing Extremism affected states.

The Home Minister expressed concern over growing use of cyber space by anti-national and anti-social forces and said that steps should be taken to monitor cyberspace. He also said that our coastal security network is inadequate and it should be strengthened.