Internal Security

Recommendations

General

• Formulate a comprehensive national security strategy.
• Improve coordination amongst various law enforcement agencies.
• Improve coordination between Central and State level agencies and make them seamless.

Intelligence

• Strengthen HUMINT and penetrate various terrorist groups.
• Enhance coordination amongst various intelligence gathering agencies at all levels. Ensure a strong network of MACs, SMACs and SIB.
• Enhance TECHINT capability and popularize the use of frontier technologies in gathering TECHINT and OSINT.
• The interface between NTRO and other intelligence agencies needs to be improved.
• Prepare strong databases and build information network.
• The model set-up by the US in respect of DNI and Homeland Security needs to be carefully studied and adapted to suit India’s needs.
• India could learn from the experience of the US and other Western countries where effective data-fusion centres have been created.
• Actionable intelligence should be accessible to all law-enforcement agencies in real time on need to know basis.
• Priority should be accorded to Public Perception Management.

Terrorism

• In principle, India should consider terrorism as an act of war and there should be no negotiations with terrorists.
• There should be a consensus between the Centre and the States and among the political parties on the strategy to deal with terrorism.
• Strong and deterrent laws are needed to deal with terrorism.
• Choke terrorist financing.
• National Investigation Agency should be well-equipped and made effective.
• There is a need to significantly enhance domestic counter-terrorism infrastructure.
• Police reforms should be speedily implemented
• International cooperation to deal with terrorism needs to be strengthened.

Naxalism

• A purely security-oriented approach in dealing with Naxalism is unlikely to succeed.
• The creation of COBRA force at the Central level and special anti-Naxal forces in the affected States, as well as raising 20 CTJW schools, as planned, should be speedily completed.
• MPF scheme should be earnestly implemented.
• Surrenders of Naxalites should be encouraged and effective rehabilitation should be ensured.
• The need of the hour is to improve  people-centric development schemes.

North East

• Ensure adequate security.
• Stop extortion.
• Develop infrastructure, connectivity and communication.
• Education and health care needs to be given due attention. Specialised higher education institutes and health care institutes should be set-up.
• Develop integrated tourism infrastructure.
• Agro-based industry should be given a fillip.
• Government should engage Bangladesh and Myanmar to ensure that IIGs do not operate from their territory.
• ULFA leaders and cadres based in Bangladesh should be pursued and neutralized to the extent possible.
• A holistic approach should be devised which combines security, development, culture and foreign policy initiatives into a forward looking time-bound programme of action.

Jammu and Kashmir

• The government needs to continue with its present security and development policies.
• The government should continue to project Kashmir as an integral part of India. It is not yet time to discontinue with AFSPA.
• Security presence should not be lowered.
• The soft border policy should be pursued with care and reviewed periodically. The democratic process in the state which has been strengthened due to recent elections should be continued.
• CBMs with Pakistan should be implemented.

Border Management

• Enhance the capabilities of border guarding forces.
• The scope of Border Area Development Programme (BADP) should be enhanced
• The connectivity of the borders with the hinterland should be improved.
• The construction, management and maintenance of ICPs should be set up at the earliest. The integrated check point (ICP) programme should be made robust.
• The issue of adverse positions and enclaves should be resolved with Bangladesh at the earliest.
• Illegal smuggling of cattle from India into Bangladesh should be curbed through legalization of cattle trade and other measures.
• The relationship between the authorities and the border area population should be improved.
• There is a need for better coordination among all agencies involving border management. Border guarding forces along with local population should be consulted while devising border area development schemes.
• Issuance of multi-purpose identity cards needs to be given high priority.
• Cross border linkages amongst population on both sides should be permitted but better regulated.
• Border trade between the populations on both sides should be encouraged and regulated. Border hats/markets should be established.
• A scheme of issuing work permits should be considered to manage illegal migration from Bangladesh.
• The fragmentation among agencies dealing with maritime security should be ended and real-time functional coordination mechanism should be set up. The modernization of coastal police stations should be accelerated.
• India should be prepared for the enhanced refugee flow from neighbouring countries during political turmoils. Necessary infrastructure to deal with the problems should be built up in advance.