Raman is a senior IPS officer and has recently been posted as D.G. of a state. Among the various issues and problems/challenges which needed his immediate attention, the issue relating to recruitment of unemployed youth by an unknown terrorist group, was a matter of grave concern.
It was noted that unemployment was relatively high in the state. The problem of unemployment amongst graduates and those with higher education was much more grave. Thus, they were vulnerable and soft targets.
In the review meeting taken by him with senior officers of DIG Range and above, it came to light that a new terrorist group has emerged at the global level. It has launched a massive drive to recruit young unemployed people. Special focus was to pick young people from a particular community. The said organization seemed to have the clear objective of utilizing/using them for carrying out militant activities. It was also gathered that the said (new) group is desperately trying to spread its tentacles in his state.
A definite/reliable intelligence tip was received by the State CID and Cyber Cell that a large number of such unemployed youth have already been contacted by the terrorist outfit/group through social media and local communal organizations and other contacts. The need of the hour was to act swiftly and to check these elements/designs before they assume serious proportions.
Discrete inquiries made by the police, through the Cyber Cell revealed that good numbers of unemployed youth used to spend a lot of time on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. On an average, many of them were spending 6–8 hours each day, using electronic devices/internet, etc. It also came to light that such unemployed youth were showing sympathy and endorsing the messages received from certain persons, allegedly the contact persons of the global terrorist group. Their social media accounts revealed their strong affinity to such groups inasmuch as many of them started forwarding anti-national tweets on their WhatsApp and Facebook, etc. It seemed that they succumbed to their ploy and started propagating secessionist ideology. Their posts were hyper-critical of the government’s initiatives, policies, and subscribing to extreme beliefs and promoting extremism. (250 words)
(a) What are the options available to Raman to tackle the above situation?
- Strengthening Cyber Surveillance: Intensify monitoring of social media activities to track and identify individuals showing extremist tendencies, using advanced cyber tools.
- Engagement and Counseling: Establish contact with vulnerable youth through community outreach programs, counseling, and offering career guidance to steer them away from radical influences.
- Legal Action: Initiate legal proceedings against individuals or groups spreading anti-national propaganda under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
- Collaboration with Intelligence Agencies: Coordinate with national agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for updated intelligence on terrorist activities.
(b) What measures would you suggest for strengthening the existing set-up to ensure that such groups do not succeed in penetrating and vitiating the atmosphere in the state?
- Community Policing: Involve community leaders, religious heads, and local influencers to educate youth on the dangers of radicalization, promoting a sense of unity and belonging.
- Skill Development and Employment Initiatives: Implement government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and organize job fairs to address unemployment, reducing the vulnerability of youth to terrorist recruitment.
- Digital Literacy Programs: Conduct awareness campaigns about the risks of misinformation and online radicalization, empowering youth to identify and resist extremist propaganda.
- Strengthening Legal Framework: Regularly update state laws on cybercrime to swiftly address online terrorist activities and ensure rapid legal actions.
(c) In the above scenario, what action plan would you advise for enhancing the intelligence gathering mechanism of the police force?
- Dedicated Cyber Intelligence Cell: Establish a specialized unit within the Cyber Cell with advanced tools to monitor suspicious activities and identify online radicalization patterns in real-time.
- Training and Capacity Building: Train police personnel in cyber intelligence, AI-based data analytics, and social media monitoring techniques to improve their skills in tracking extremist elements.
- Human Intelligence (HUMINT): Deploy plain-clothes officers to gather ground-level intelligence and build a network of informers in vulnerable communities to gain insights into terrorist recruitment activities.
- Collaboration with Tech Companies: Work closely with social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to track and report accounts propagating extremist ideologies, ensuring prompt action.
- Data Sharing Mechanism: Establish a real-time data-sharing protocol with central agencies, local law enforcement, and community organizations to create an integrated intelligence network.
