MONTHLY FEATURE uuu POLICE AND SECURITY uuu AUGUST, 1993

COUNTERING INSURGENCY

Dr.S.Subramanian, IPS (Retd.)

The Chief of the Army Staff, in a Press interview, has called for the creation of a 25 Bn strong Permanent Counter Insurgency Force under Army control to tackle terrorism etc. Since, we already have an elite Anti-Terrorist Force, - the National Security Guards, - there is no need to create a new one. N.S.G. answers all the parameters spelt out for the new force by the C.O.A.S. except the strength. Political thinking and public opinion are against the proliferation of PMFs and a Parliamentary Committee is already working on the possible reorganisation and better utilisation of PMFs. Hence the need of the hour is consolidation and not expansion.

Originally conceived as a Force of 25,000 the National Security Guards was to be the premier anti-terrorist force available for quick deployment indifferent parts of the country. Hijacking was only one of its tasks. Unfortunately, these ideas were never implemented and the N.S.G. with a truncated strength and limited role became the ‘Neutralisers of Terrorists’ in hijacking and hostage situations. Its major anti-terrorist assignment - Operation Black Thunder was its crowing glory. It was acclaimed by security experts, as brilliantly conceived and flawlessly executed counter terrorist action anywhere in the world. Recently, when it got the ‘go-ahead’ at Amritsar to neutralise the hijackers, it accomplished its mission brilliantly. Inadequate utilisation and lack of opportunities to test its mettle are making this elite force rusty. To cap it all, it is being deployed on routine duties like VIP Security.

To make N.S.G., the Counter Insurgency Force of the country, it should be reorganised and restructured. Its original charter and strength are to be restored. It should provide the vanguard to State Police Forces in anti-terrorist operations. it should be made into Five self-contained Zonal Forces and located in the five geographical zones of the country nearest to the places of action. Each zonal force should specialise in C.I. operations in one particular terrain like Mountainous, Jungle, Riverine, Coastal and Desert. It should compose of; one Special Action Group of Army Personnel specialising in terrorist neutralising tasks of anti-hijacking and hostage release etc.; five Special Ranger Groups of P.M.F. personnel specialising in counter insurgency actions; one India Reserve Battalion from one of the States of the zone on deputation to N.S.G. for training; and supporting elements like Signals, transport etc.

Each Ranger group should be allotted one State for familiarisation and detailed study from C.I. point of view and to carry out joint exercises with the State Armed Police Units. In actual combat situations, the entire zonal force should swing into action to provide the required thrust to the operations. The India Reserve Battalion on training should be rotated once in two years to enable all the States in the zone to benefit by training.

While the N.S.G. may provide the vanguard of better equipped, trained and battle inoculated troops for action, the ultimate success will depend upon the ability of the affected State’s Police forces to take on the miscreants. Punjab experience has shown that merely saturating the troubled area with Army and P.M.Fs., would not yield the desired results. When the enlightened Punjab police leadership began to retrain, reequip and reorient the Punjab Police Force, the results started flowing in. Today, Terrorism in Punjab has not only been contained but is on the process of being wiped out. it is, therefore, necessary that concerted efforts are made to equip, train and motivate the State Armed Police Units to take on terrorists. States lack funds to modernise these forces. The Union Government should take over all expenditure on this account and make each State Armed Police Battalion as good as a B.S.F./Army Infantry Battalion. This investment will stand the country in good stead in the long run. Training is the Achilles heel of State Police Forces. To ensure uniformity and operational capability, Union Government should take over all State Armed Police Training Institutions, upgrade the training staff with induction of Army personnel and expose the Police personnel to actual combat conditions.

In a country of continental dimensions and diversity, there will always be political discontent and dissonance. If the affected, lose faith in the credibility of political processes to gain relief for their grievances, they will take to arms and terrorism, extremism, insurgency etc. will erupt. We shall always need the N.S.G. to provide the vanguard to State Police Forces to neutralise these violent movements. Simultaneously, we should enhance the capabilities of the State Police Forces to meet these threats with confidence and success.

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