Essay on “Terrorism in India” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Terrorism in India

 Essay No. 01

   Synopsis: Terrorism has become worldwide phenomenon with its many faces and manifestations. State-sponsored terrorism presents its worst form. Pol Pot in Cambodia let loose such a terrorism which killed millions of Cambodians In India terrorism has been there in many States. Terrorists do not hesitate in using even the most cruel methods of violence and do not spare even women and children. ln Punjab it has been Pakistan sponsored terrorism it has been in control in Punjab but still not eliminated. Poverty, unemployment, deprivation and illiteracy make a good breeding ground for militancy extremism. ln north-eastern States of lndia the terrorism has been on the rise and nothing effective has been done to check it. The tribal’s of these States have been victims of long neglect, deprivation, economic backwardness and alienation. Similarly PWG has been very active in Andhra Pradesh and has won support, sympathy and participation of the rural public in Telengana. The problem of terrorism need to be tackled on many fronts.  lt is a global menace and requires global cooperation between powers of the world to check and eradicate so devastating a phenomenon as terrorism.

     Terrorism has many faces, forms and dimensions. lt may be regional, national or global and international in scale’ Then it may be regional, communal, political, state-sponsored or foreign in origin. lt is found worldwide in one form or the other. The development of very fast means of transport, communication and very sophisticated automatic weapons, have given terrorism new dimensions, depth and immensity. With the globalization, economic integration and cooperation of the nations, the terrorism too has become unlimited and can be transported and transplanted to any part of the world easily’ It is a cult of violence, killings, murders, arson and destruction to perpetrate terror, fear and demoralization among the masses. It is in its worst form when it is state-sponsored. Then dictatorial and military rulers resort to violence, killings and shootings of people on suspicion or any other pretext and suppress human rights to make the public obey their unjust, discriminating dictates and administration For Example, Khmer Rouge, led by Pol pot, let loose the reign of terror in Cambodia between 1970 and 1975 and millions of its citizens were killed by its trigger-happy troops in uniform. Similarly, the communist Government in china suppressed and killed people in thousands when they demand political reforms, liberalization and freedom from tyranny in 1989. In Tienanmen square alone outside the Great Hall of the people in Beijing, the main place of students demonstration, about 5,000 young students were shot dead and another 10,000 injured. In Tibet as well, the followers of Dalai Lama and Buddhism are tortured and prosecuted by the government troops and administrators. The people there are being forcibly sterilized and their brains are being systematically washed. Dalai Lama himself fled Tibet and sought refuge in India to escape state-sponsored terrorism, violence and persecution. Now, he has his Government-in-exile at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

      Terrorism in India is widespread and there seems no end to it, at least for the present. The way it has been spreading in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, etc. and spilling-over other states alarmingly, is a matter of great concern. The trigger-happy terrorists and extremists have been using all kinds of violence and automatic weapons and bombs to terrorize people and the administration. Their strategies include killings, murders, bomb-explosions, destruction of houses, looting of banks, disruption of road, and rail transportation and other means of communication, desecration of religious places, hijacking and kidnapping, arson and looting. They rape women and do not even spare innocent children. ln retaliation, sometimes there is more terrorism, blood-shed, violence and destruction. ln the cross-fire between terrorists and the government, the innocent citizens suffer the most because then the opponent forces become totally blind and lose discrimination.

      The militancy and terrorism and Punjab have been sponsored by neighbour Pakistan. The Pakistan’s ISI has been supervising and financing the terrorists in the Punjab and adjoining states of Haryana and Rajasthan. lt has misled the many young people in the name of religion and separate and independent state of Khalistan. The extremists are trained and armed in Pakistani camps and then smuggled across the border into India. They explode bombs, loot banks, ransack homes, and hijack trains, buses and planes and kidnap people. The militancy and terrorism in Punjab has been curbed and Controlled to a large extent but is has not been eliminated. The then Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr.  Beant Singh, himself was killed in an terrorist attack. In recent days there has been again spurt in terrorist activities in Punjab. In the Bhatinda train blast in July, 1997, the fourth in the series of bomb-explosions, 38 lives were lost. The extremists have been striking at soft targets. According to the intelligence reports. The terrorist groups have again become active and typing to create communal disturbances.

   Again, terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir has been Pakistan-sponsored. A number of terrorist outfits have been active there supported, trained, armed and sneaked into the State by Pakistan. The extremists have given a communal color to the violence and militancy and thousands of Kashmir Hindus and Pandits have fled the State. The seeds of communal violence and extremism were really sown during the partition of the sub-continent into India and Pakistan. The terrorists groups in Kashmir mainly consist of some politically frustrated groups, religious fundamentalists and mislead youth of the society, Poverty, unemployment, deprivation and illiteracy have made the region a good breeding ground for militancy. The terrorists indulge in all sorts of anti-social and anti-government activities to achieve their narrow, sectarian, political and unholy aims but they are unlikely to succeed in spite of massive financial and other support from Pakistan.

    The rise of terrorism and extremism in our north-eastern States of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur etc. is part of our colonial legacy. The long British rule never attempted to bring the tribal’s of these states into the main stream of the nation. Rather a feeling of separation, hatred, alienation and disharmony was created. Unfortunately even after 50 years of independence, our leaders and governments have failed to change the equation for better. Consequently, misled by a false sense of losing their ethnic identity and independence, they have taken to arms and extremism, besides social-political and economic aspects there are also involved such other aspects as psychological, emotional and religious. As a result there has been no participation of the people of these States in the process of democracy and independence. They have been haunted by insecurity, neglect and alienation and want separate and independent states. To achieve their ends they commit heinous crimes like burning, looting and destroying of the homes and houses of other ethnic groups, killing government security personnel and soldiers. They explode Bombs at public and market places and kill innocent people. They also resort to abduction and kidnappings.

    The people War Group (PWG) has been quite active for a long time in Andhra Pradesh and now exercises control on a big part of the Telengana region. The povery and unemployment coupled with illiteracy and exploitation of the weak and vulnerable sections of the socirty have made these parts of the State fertile ground for insurrection and terrorism. No effective steps were taken to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people and they were demoralized. In sheer desperation and misery they saw a ray of hope in the PWG movement and if the information is to be believe the militants have been delivering goods. The militant Naxalite outfits have been successful in winning the sympathy, favour  and patronage of the down-trodden and long exploited masses who have always at a receiving and at the hands of the corrupt government officials for many generations. Large parts of Telengana are now under effective control and administration of the PWG. Simply banning an extremist group is not enough, the genuine grievances of the public need to be redressed at the same time. They need a healing touch besides social and economical developments and empowerment. Devaluation and decentralization of powers and economic resources at the grassroots levels to the panchayat raj institutions is the need of the hour Militancy and terrorism can be checked and eradicated only with the support and active participation of the people of the area.

      The menace of terrorism needs to be tackled on many fronts. The cause of militancy and terrorism should be clearly and precisely identified and remedial steps taken. There should be clear under-standing and cooperation between neighbouring countries on the matter to check terrorism. Moreover, national security and intelligence need be kept quite fit and updated. In the ultimate analysis terrorism achieves nothing, solves nothing, it is sheer madness to take to arms when there are many other democratic and constitutional means available to roves problems in a democratic and constitutional means available to solve problems in a Democratic country like India. Pakistan should also understand that its militant activities and terrorism in India will not succeed. They have already started boomeranging and Pakistan itself is in the worst conflagration of communal violence, frenzy, terrorism and bloodshed. Terrorism and its sponsors commit a crime against humanity at large and must be dealt with accordingly. It is a global danger and can be eliminated only by close cooperation between various communities and nations of the world.

   All terrorist groups are criminals including even those who start will good intentions and objectives  because sooner or later they degenerate into corrupt, criminal and anti-social groups. They become so blind in their over-ambition and misguided enthusiasm that they soon lose sense of  balance and discrimination between good and evil. Most of the militant outfits have their origin in evil and sin. They are ruthless, rapacious and greedy and do not spare even children, women, old and weak people. They do not hesitate even to abduct and kill foreign tourists and visitors. It created an endless vicious circle. Terrorists become indiscriminate in their killings. Shootings and violence.  They have no religion, ethics, fellow-feelings and code of conduct. Terrorism drains a country of its valuable resources and enormous funds are spent in facing and checking it. It is aid not in vain that prevention is better than cure. Our political  leaders are mainly responsible for the origin and growth of terrorism in India in most of the cases. There is still time that they realize that national interest is above everything else and that unity and integrity of the nation is the hallmark of patriotism. Only patriotic feelings coupled with efforts in reduction of poverty, illiteracy, regional imbalances, and inequality among people can successfully face and fight the menace of terrorism.

Essay No. 02

Terrorism in India

Terrorism is global. In recent decades, it has acquired new dimensions and there seems no end to it. The way it has grown and spread beyond limits during the last few years, is a matter of great concern for all of us. Though it has been condemned and denounced by leaders in international forums, it is increasing by leaps and bounds and is in evidence everywhere. The trigger-happy terrorists and extremists use all sorts of weapons and strategies to terrorize their adversaries. They explode bombs, use rifles, hand-grenades, rockets, ransack houses, loot banks and establishments, destroy religious places, kidnap people, hijack buses and planes, indulge in arson and rape and do not spare even children. Consequently, the world is becoming a totally unsafe, insecure, dangerous and fearful place day by day. This ruthless chain of action and reaction, full of horrifying violence, is much too dangerous to be ignored or taken lightly. Terrorism, violence, bloodshed, and killings, etc. have become the order of the day. India, Pakistan, the whole of the Middle East, Afghanistan, parts of Europe, Latin America, and Sri Lanka, etc. all seem to be in the grip of this many-headed monster.

Terrorists aim at achieving political power by overthrowing and destroying the democratic and lawful governments. They try to create disturbance and unstable conditions on a vast scale to achieve their own political ends. They are trained, inspired and financed by very powerful national and international vested interests. They receive deadly weapons and ammunition from these powers and create havoc. This ugly and dangerous socio-political phenomenon called terrorism knows no limits of land, time, race, religion or creed. It is spread worldwide and is becoming more and more popular among the politically frustrated groups, religious fundamentalists and misled factions in the society. They indulge in all sorts of anti-social and anti-government activities to achieve their narrow, sectarian and unholy aims. Sometimes, the terrorists may have very good objectives but then they resort to violence as they are unable to participate in the democratic process because of their various inherent weaknesses.

Terrorism in India is not new, but it has increased very rapidly in the last few years. Terrorism in India should be looked upon as an integral part of our colonial legacy. The British followed the policy of ‘divide and rule’ and ultimately divided the subcontinent into two nations, which later grew into three after the independence of Bangladesh. Post-independence and post-partition violence and terrorism was unprecedented. This partition on the basis of religion, faith and community has sown seeds of hatred, violence, terrorism, separatism and communal divide and will continue growing and flowering for a long time.

The rise of extremism and terrorism in our north-eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and Assam, etc. is also part of our colonial legacy. The long colonial rule never attempted to bring the tribals of these states into the mainstream of the nation. Rather, a feeling of hatred, alienation and disharmony was created in their hearts. Consequently, they felt neglected after independence and could not take part in the democratic process of the country. They were misled by a false sense of losing their ethnic identity and independence, and decided to take to terrorism and violence. They were helped in their futile armed struggle by neighbouring countries, who never liked to see India as a united, powerful, and successful democracy. This emergence of terrorism in our north-eastern states also reflects the lack of will and proper efforts on the part of our political leaders and the government to bring these big groups of trials into the national mainstream and the democratic process.

Besides socio-political and economic aspects, psychological, emotional and religious aspects are also involved in the problem. All these create strong feelings and extremism. The unprecedented spate of terrorism in the recent past in Punjab can be understood and appreciated only in this background. The demand for a separate Khalistan by these alienated sections of the society became so strong and powerful at one point in time that it put our unity and integrity under strain. But ultimately good sense prevailed, both on the government and the people, and electoral process was started in which the people participated wholeheartedly. This involvement of people in the democratic process, coupled with strong measures adopted by security forces, helped us wage a successful battle against terrorism in Punjab.

Terrorism, as a means to achieve socio-political aims in Punjab got much support from Pakistan by way of supply of arms and ammunition, training and finance. The people in power in Pakistan have always been hostile to India because of their own political compulsions. They have been trying their best to destabilise and disturb the society in India. They train and equip terrorists with arms and then smuggle them into the country. Poverty, unemployment, and lack of education, etc. among the people further worsen the situation. Under various political, communal and economic pressures, they succumb to the temptations and discard the democratic process, finding it unsuitable for improving their miserable lot. Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is of this nature. Widespread poverty, unemployment, neglect of youth, peasants and working class and emotional alienation are some of the main reasons of extremism in the province. The hostile forces across our borders are also helping it a lot. The emergence of Bangladesh as an independent state with India’s help was too much for Pakistan to tolerate. Smarting under this humiliation, the leaders of Pakistan spare no pains to destabilise and disturb peace in the Indian sub-continent.

The series of bomb-blasts in Mumbai and other cities of India were planned in Pakistan and executed with their financial help. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has caused deaths of thousands of people, including innocent civilians, defence and security personnel during the last five years. It has also caused loss of property worth several crores of rupees in the state. In spite of loud and vociferous denouncement of terrorism and extremism in various international forums by the Pakistan government, militants, fundamentalist and terrorists are being trained there in secret and well-established camps run by the ISI and other such groups and agencies. These extremists have found a very safe sanctuary there. It has been established beyond any shadow of doubt that Pakistan-trained militants and extremists had their hand in the 2001 crash of the U.S. World Trade Centre in New York. Such activities certainly boomerang and now Pakistan finds itself in the grip of terrorism. During the year 2002, over one thousand people have been killed in terrorist activities in the city of Karachi alone. The communal, fundamentalist and sectarian clashes, violence and militancy among the Mohajirs, Sunnis, Shias and other such groups is now very common there. The roots of organised and large scale terrorism and violence in Pakistan are quite deep and widespread.

Terrorism is a global problem and as such it cannot be solved in isolation. What is needed is international co-operative efforts to fight against this global menace. All the governments of the world should simultaneously and continuously crack down on militants and terrorists. The global menace can be reduced and eliminated only by close co-operation between various countries. The countries from where militancy springs should be clearly identified and declared as terrorist states. It is very difficult for any terrorist activity to thrive for long in a country unless there is strong external support to it. Terrorism achieves nothing, solves nothing and the quicker this is understood, the better. It is sheer madness and an exercise in futility. In terrorism there cannot be a victor or vanquished. If terrorism becomes a way of life, the leaders and heads of states of the various countries alone are to blame. This vicious circle is their own creation and only their combined and pooled efforts can check it. Terrorism is a crime against humanity and should be dealt with an iron hand and the forces behind it should be exposed. Terrorism adversely affects the quality of life and hardens attitudes.

In the ultimate analysis, all terrorist groups are criminal. They do not distinguish between good and evil, neither do they spare anybody, not even women and children. For example, Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist outfit active in Kashmir, has been most ruthless and rapacious. It began as a support organisation for Afghan Mujahideen in the beginning of 1980s. It is now operating worldwide under different names. Their professed aim is to establish Islam throughout the world, through jehad. They train their cadres in making bombs, explosives, hurling grenades and using light and heavy weapons. They have a large number of hideouts in the valley of Kashmir. The man, who made the bomb that blew off the New York World Trade Centre, belonged to this group. They find the whole world, including India, a fair game for their terrorist acts.