Terrorism in India

India is the second most populous country in the world, with diverse cultures, languages, traditions and customs. Although diversity is an asset of the nation, friction often arises. Different cultures lead to different ideologies, further causing regionalism. Whether it is Kashmir, the northeast region of the country, southern states or the Northwest area, each corner of India has seen and experienced the consequences of regionalism, which a contributing factor to increasing terrorist activities and militancy in India.

Religion has also played its role in contributing to the rise of terrorism. The demolition of the Babri Masjid marked the rise of religious fundamentalists in the country. Terrorism in the name of religion has become India's foremost concern. The Bombay Blasts in 1993 and the Gujarat Riots in 2002, clearly depicts the seriousness of the issue.

The Northeast

Northeast India consists 7 states (also known as the seven sisters): Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Tensions exists between these states and the central government and between the tribal people, who are natives of these states, and migrant peoples from other parts of India. The states have accused New Delhi of ignoring the issues concerning them. It is this feeling which has led the natives of these states to seek greater participation in self governance. There also existing territorial disputes between Manipur and Nagaland. There is a rise of insurgents activities and regional movements in the northeast, especially in the states of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura. Most of these organistaions demand for an independent state or increased regional autonomy and sovereignty.

Nagaland

The first and perhaps the most significant insurgency originated in Nagaland in the early 1950s; it was eventually quelled in the early 1980s through a mixture of repression and cooptation. In 1993 Nagaland experienced recrudescent violence as two ethnic groups, the Nagas and the Kukis, engaged in brutal conflict with each other. Adding to India's internal unrest in this region were the links established between the Bodo insurgents in Assam and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, which, in turn, had links to other active insurgent groups and, reportedly, operatives in Thailand. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), has long been demanding for an independent Nagaland and has carried out several attacks on Indian military installations in the region. On June 14, 2001, a cease-fire agreement was signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM which had recieved widespead approval in Nagaland. Terrorist outfits such as the Naga National Council-Federal (NNC-F) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) also welcomed the development. However, other northeastern states, especially Manipur raised serious concerns over the issue and feared that the cease-fire would harm the territorial integrity of the region. With an estimated 4500 strong cadre, and despite its cease-fire agreement with New Delhi, the NSCN-IM continued with its insurgent activities in the State. A total of 599 civilians, 235 security forces and 862 terrorists have lost their lives between 1992 and 2000.

Assam

After Nagaland, Assam remains as the most volatile state in the region. In the late 1980s, indigenous assamese movements demanded the withdrawal of the Bengali people who had infaltrated into Assam from neighbouring Bangladesh. This led to high tensions between the assamese and the bengalis in the state. The detoriating situation compelled New Delhi to intervene, following which it deployed troops along the Indo-Bangla border to check on illegal infaltration.Various rounds of negotiations between the United Liberation Front of Assam and two successive central governments resulted in the Assam Accord of August 15, 1985. Under the provisions of this accord, persons who entered the state illegally between January 1966 and March 1971 were allowed to remain but were disenfranchised for ten years, while those who entered after 1971 faced expulsion. A November 1985 amendment to the Indian citizenship law allows noncitizens who entered Assam between 1961 and 1971 to have all the rights of citizenship except the right to vote for a period of ten years. New Delhi also gave special admistration autonomy to the Bodos in the state. However, the Bodos demanded for a seperate Bodoland which led to clash between the bengalis, the bodos and the Indian military resulting in hundreds of deaths.

There are several organisations which demand for a free Assam, independent from India. The most prominent of them is the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom). Formed in 1971, ULFA has two main goals: Freeing Assam from Indian rule; and establishing a socalist government in the state. ULFA has carried out several terrorist attacks in the region targetting Indian Military and innocent civilians. The group assassinates political opponents, attacks police and other security forces, blasts railroad tracks, and attacks other infrastructure facilities. ULFA is believed to have strong links with Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), the Maoists and the Naxalites. It is also believed that they carry out most of their operations from the Kingdom of Bhutan. Because of ULFA’s increased visibility, the Indian government outlawed the group in 1986 and declared Assam a troubled area. Under pressure from New Delhi, Bhutan carried a massive operation to drive out the ULFA militants from its territory. Backed by the Indian Army, Thimphu was sucessful in killing more than a thousand of the terrorists while its own casualties stood at 120. Those arrested were handed over to India. The Indian military undertook operations to counter ULFA’s terrorist attacks on its own soil, leading to the arrests and deaths of hundreds of ULFA members. ULFA continues to be active in the region even after suffering severe losses. In 2004, ULFA targeted a public school in Assam killing 19 children and 5 adults.

Tripura

Tripura has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities in the 1990s. New Delhi blames Bangladesh for providing a safe-heaven to these insurgents and for not taking adequate action against the terrorists operating from its territory. In May 1995, the state government of Tripura extended the area covered by the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, a result of the tripartite accord among the central government, the state government, and the Tripura National Volunteers. Since then the movement has been brought under control by the government. Certain factions of the organisation still operate though.

Manipur

In Manipur, militants formed an organisation known as People's Liberation Army. Their main goal was to unite the Meitei tribes of Burma and establish an independent state of Manipur. However, the movement was suppressed after a fierce clash with Indian security forces in mid-1990's.

Mizoram

The Mizo National Front fought for over 2 decades with the Indian military in an effort to gain independence. As in neighbouring states the insurgency was suppressed because of harsh military tactics by India.

Assam remains the only state in the northeast where terrorism is still a major issue. Indian military was sucessfull in dismantling terrorist outfits in other areas. However, human rights activists constantly blame New Delhi for adopting extremely harsh methods in dealing with these insurgents.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is the only southern state that is bothered by terrorism, although of a far different and less malignant kind. The terrorism in this state stems from the PWG popularly known as Naxalites in the state. The People's War Group or PWG, has been operating in India for over two decades with most if its operations in the Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh. The group is also active in Orissa and Bihar. Unlike the Kashmiri insurgents and ULFA, PWG is a Maoist terrorist organisation and labor rights is one of its primary goals. These idelogical extremists aim to create equality in the society by attacking the rich and powerful landlords. Having failed to capture popular support in the elections, they resorted to violence as a means to voice their opinions. The group targets Indian Police, multinational companies, landlords and other influential institutions in the name of the rights of landless labor. PWG has also targeted senior government officials, including the attempted assassination of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu. It has strength of 800 to 1,000 well armed militias and is believed to have close links with the Maoists in Nepal and the LTTE of Sri Lanka. According to Indian government, on an average, more than 60 civilians, 60 naxal rebels and a dozen policemen are killed every year because of PWG led insurgency.

Jammu & Kashmir

Main Article: Terrorism in Kashmir

Punjab

During the 1970s, the Green Revolution brought increased economic prosperity for the Sikh community in Punjab. This propensity rekindled an age-old fear in the Sikh community--that of being absorbed into the Hindu fold and led to the rise of Sikh extremists. The insurgency intensified during 1980s when the movement turned violent and the name Khalistan resurfaced and sought independence from the Indian Union. Led by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwalea politically ambitious itinerant Sikh preacher, they soon adopted voilent methods to stress on their demands. Soon things turned bloody with the movement turning into terrorism, with India alleging that neighbouring Pakistan supported these rebels. In [[1984], Operation Blue Star by the Indian government to stem out the movement. After intense clashes with the Indian military, Bhindranwale and his followers, who had taken refuge in the Golden Temple complex, Sikhism's most holy shrine, in Amritsar, Punjab. Indira Gandhi, India's then prime minister, ordered the military to storm the temple. After a twenty-four-hour firefight, the army successfully took control of the temple. According to Indian government sources, eighty-three army personnel were killed and 249 injured. Insurgent casualties were 493 killed and eighty-six injured. Indian observers assert that the number of Sikh casualties was probably higher. During same year, the assasination of Indira Gandhi by two Sikh bodyguards, believed to be driven by the Golden Temple episode, resulted in widespread riots against the Sikh community. New Delhi suffered the most because of the anti-sikh riots. According to estimates, several thousand sikhs were assasinated during the riots, often regarded as the worst in Indian history. New Delhi police did little to stop the anti-sikh mob. Law and order was restored in the capital only after deployment for the army. Fuelled by the riots, Sikh extremists planted a bomb on Air India Flight 182 which exploded over the Irish Sea, killing all 329 aboard. The tragedy remained the biggest aviation disaster until 9/11 attack. Since then the Punjab Police under K.P.S.Gill and the Indian Army lead a successful series of campaigns to weed out the limited support base of the terrorists. By mid 1990s, Punjab once again became peaceful and the economic boom of the nation quelled any lingering seperatist ideas.