Terrorism is, in the broadest sense, can be stated as a threat to the lives of thousand and more people. The motive for the terrorist attacks is not the same every time. It may be a political or religious purpose. It can be in the context of the war against non – combats (civilians and military personnel).
The term “Terrorism” and “Terrorist” was first originated at the time of the French Revolution in the late 18th century but gained popularity in the 1970s during “conflicts of Northern Ireland, the Basque Country, and Palestine.
There may be various definitions of Terrorism, but with no universal grant on it. Terrorism in India faces a wide range of terror groups. In India, the terror attacks were claimed to be from Islamic groups in Islamic, Sikh separatists in Punjab, and secessionist groups in Assam. In the year 2008, National Security Advisor M K Narayan said that there are as many as 800 terror groups operating in our country.
The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) is the database of the incidence of terror attacks from 1970 onward. This database is maintained by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, College in the United Park.
History
History of terrorism is a history of well–known historical and the incidents individuals associated with is, whether right or wrong with terrorism. Terrorism has been the most disputed term. The broadly the term is, the roots and practice are also engraved very deep in the system. 1ST Century AD, Sicarii Zealots, who assassinated with Roman rule in the province of Judea, who was a terrorist.
Word “Terror” was derived from the Latin verb “tersere,” which afterward becomes “terrere.” This word had many later forms and was first used in French, which was “terrible” in 1160. By 1356 the word “terror” came into use. Terreur was the origin of the Middle English term “terror,” which later became the word “terror.”
While the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, Jacobin operated violence, including the mass execution of guillotine. Later in mid – 19th century, Anarchism was associated with nationalism and anti–monarchism, which was linked with the ideology of terrorism. In the 20th century, the term continued to be linked with anarchism, national groups, socialists even some scholars named the practice of terrorism by states Stalinist Soviet Union, Nazi Germany.
Types of Terrorism
Many attempts have been made to categorize terrorism according to their similarities. The list is below:
- The New Terrorism – The terrorism that occurred after the 20th century is termed as, ‘’New Terrorism’’. New terrorism can be characterized by the threat of mass-casualty attacks from the terrorist organization, religious attacks, political violence.
- The State – It can be defined as, ‘’ the terrorism committed by a government against perceived enemies’’. It can be directed externally against adversaries in the international domain or internally against domestic enemies.
- Dissident – It can be defined as‘’ terrorism committed by non-state movements and groups against governments, ethnonational groups, religious groups, and perceived enemies.
- Religious – Terrorism motivated by a particular belief, motivated by some religious comment. Religious terrorism is conducted in belief to defend what believers consider to be the one the true faith.
- Ideological – Terrorism motivated by political systems of belief (ideologies) is self – perceived inherent rights of an individual or a group. The system of belief gives theoretical or philosophical justification for violating rights.
- International – ‘’Terrorism that occurs globally causes a threat to many people. The target is specifically based on their values, either within their home country or in other.
- Criminal Dissident – This type of terrorism is truly based on profit. It may be a combination of politics and profit.
- Gender-Selective – Terrorism against a particular group of men or women.
These signs enlisted are not comprehensive and concrete and maybe change with the task and pattern of terror activity.
Signs of Terrorism
Terrorism attacks are often made with full-proof planning and plottings. We can help in preventing terrorist attacks or any crime by taking care of any suspicious activity in and around us and reporting it to the higher authorities as soon as possible. Here are some of the signs enlisted below, which may help us to understand better about it and make us aware and help us to keep precautions in the future.
Surveillance – It means that someone is recording or observing your activities. It may be through anything like – camera, taking notes, drawing diagrams, annotations on a map, binoculars, or any other such device.
Elicitation: People or organizations gaining information about military work, their capabilities, or a number of people. This can be made by mail, email, telephone, or personally went down there. This can also include eavesdropping or friendly conversation between officials.
Security Tests: Attempts made to test the security pattern of a place, the time of reaction, their security barriers. Or to monitor procedures which may help in assessing the strength and weaknesses there.
Funding: Suspicious transactions, which may include the large transaction of cash payments, deposits, or withdrawals, are signs of terrorist funding. The collection of high amounts of donations and criminal activity can be a sign of terrorist activity.
Supplies: Purchasing of weapons, explosives, etc., for their terrorist activity. Acquiring familiar uniforms, fake IDs, fake passports, badges, and passes (may purchase raw materials equivalent to manufacture such items).
Impersonation: People who do not seem familiar in the workplace, neighborhood, office, or any other such place.
Rehearsal: Instructing people to position and ask them to move around according to their plan without doing anything. This may be done for mapping out routes and to determine the traffic and flow.
Deployment: People and supplies are getting to commit the terrorist attack, and this is the last chance for a person to alert authorities before the terrorist plan and activity.
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Terror Groups in India
South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) has listed 180 terror groups that have been operated in India from last 20 years, in which some of them are transnational terror network which are operated from neighboring countries – Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. In this, 38 terror groups are on the list of a terrorist organization banned by India under its First Schedule of UA(P) Act,1967. And many of these terror groups are also banned by the United States and European Union.
Terrorism in India
There have been several terror attacks in India from the past few decades, which made several innocent people die. Mumbai has been the most preferred state for the terrorist to attack and fulfill their motive with many bases for their operations in Mumbai. Over the past few decades, there have been multiple attacks in Mumbai, along with Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, North Eastern States.
The biggest terrifying terrorist attack in India was Mumbai 26/11, when two of the prime hotels were seized, a landmark train station and a Jewish Chabad house in South Mumbai.
Some of the incidents are enlisted below:
- 25 August 2003 – Two bombs near Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar, in which around 50 innocent people were killed.
- 26 November 2008 to 29 November 2008 – Series of multiple attacks were done after seizing the Taj Hotel where 172 people were killed, and numerous of them were injured and were successful in escaping through it.
- 13 February 2010 – Bomb explosion at German Bakery in Pune where 14 people were killed, and more than 60 people were injured.
- In the late 1980s, there was a riot for seeking an independent state, Khalistan, independent from India. Which led to a massive riot, and military help was taken. The movement was led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. There were many casualties 83 Army personnel were killed, 249 injured, and militant casualties reported were about 493 killed and 86 injured.
- 2011 High Court Bombing – On September 7, 2011, at the 10:14 reported time outside Gate No. 5 of High Court, a suspected bomb was planted. 12 people were killed, and 79 people were injured in the blast.
- 2005 Ayodhya Attacks – The Ayodhya crisis took place at the site of 16th century Babri Masjid. The Masjid was demolished and led to a 2-hour gunfight between Lashkar-a-Toiba and the Indian Police in which 6 terrorists were killed and calls for a nationwide strike by the minister’s and was believed that the mastermind of the attack was Dawood Ibrahim.
The graph above depicts the total civilians and force personnel deaths because of the various terrorist attacks from the year 1994 to 2014.
Causes of terrorism
Terrorism spreads fear in people throughout. There are some main causes of terrorism development. The production of large quantities of machine guns, terror bombs, hydrogen bombs, atomic bombs, weapons, missiles, etc. The terrorism activity is not bound out to anything.
There can be more the reasons like politics, lack of education, poverty in the country, social, economic problem, rapid growth population, racism, inequality faced due to religion, economically, etc. People use terrorism to justify their illegal motives.
Many people try to bias this based on religion – Hindu and Muslim commonly, which is not right. Terrorism has no religion; a terrorist is a terrorist, not Hindu or Muslim.
Effects of Terrorism
Terror has spread horror, uneasiness among the people in the country. Because of its people does not feel safe around in the neighborhood. As a result of various terror attacks, it has destroyed many lives and families of people who were innocent. Millions of goods and means of livelihoods was destroyed.
The main cause of terrorism is nothing but disbelief in humanity. And such terrorist persuades young minds to join them in their operations leading to destroying their lives too.
Government across the world has been trying to eradicate terrorism and making quite an effort for this. Therefore, they have made many anti-terrorist groups deal with it.
The major agencies specially formed for fighting terrorism in India are – Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), National Investigating Agency (NIA).
Global Terrorism
Terrorism is not restricted to only India. It is spread all over the world. The world saw the changes after the terrorist attack on September 11. It leads to questioning the security of the system. Now, people, before going to any place, check about the place that is the place is safe or not.
After a terrorist attack, people do not feel safe even in their own country. The attack on Twin Tower in the USA in which militants with Islamic extremist al-Qaida hijacked 4 airplanes and carried suicide attacks against the United States.
The planes were hijacked, the two were flown to the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. The third hit the Pentagon Washington D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
These terror attacks lead to attack in Afghanistan by the United States and demolished Mullah Omar’s regime called “War ON Terror.”
Conclusion
Terrorism has become today’s world reality. It is leading to the threat of millions of people. The name is enough to terrorize common people. The Internet has even helped terrorism spread globally in the world, a medium to spread their wrong views in society. This helps them to recruit more people and in persuading young minds. It must be controlled at an initial level and cannot be controlled alone by the government agencies. We as citizens of this country must fight and unite to safe us and our future generations from this. Therefore, we must be alert at every situation and point in our daily lives.