High and Low of Security

While Iraq continues to burn, sectarian violence or otherwise, the security temper all over the world reached a nervous peak when it was made known that on August 10, 2006, the British security agencies had succeeded in foiling a planned simultaneous terror attack on several international airlines scheduled to leave London airport for destinations in the US. Elsewhere, some Turkish tourist resort attracted the terrorists’ attention, the Australian government sounded alert on possible attack from terrorists in Indonesia and in Colombo, the Pak envoy narrowly escaped when an LTTE attack on his convoy killed seven. The ULFA in the northeastern State of Assam in India, resorted to strings of violent acts on the eve of the Indian Independence Day on August 15, 2006. Al Qaeda footprints in J&K areas are becoming clear. The US have come out openly that they were aware of terrorist camps operating in Pakistan. Alleging that the UK has indeed now turned out to be the biggest security threat to the US in comparison to Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, a leading American magazine has described Britain as the “Kashmir on Thames”. In India, while the ban on the SIMI (Student Islamic Movement of India) has been approved by the concerned Tribunal, the government has expressed concern about possible linkage between the left extremists and the other known terrorist groups.

On the other side, in a very welcome development on a tricky issue, both the government and the Maoists in Nepal have in an “arms pact” jointly approached the UN to “assist in the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides.” The Hamas and Fatah in Palestine have endorsed forming a national unity government. Earlier, ceasefire was reached between Israel and Lebanon with effect from August 14, 2006. A great piece of information recently learned was that Christianity’s holiest shrine – the Sepulcher in Jerusalem – is being guarded by a Muslim clan since the seventh century AD.

On a different track, hackers have raised serious security concern with their ability to crack biometric passports. The Allahabad Police have started receiving on-line FIRs and complaints against the police and the apex body of the Criminal Justice System in India the Supreme Court is also getting ready to receive complaints on line. But let serving people be aware that now they can be dismissed from service on charge of misconduct. The Central Bureau of Investigation, India, will no longer require case to case approval if the State governments have once given their consent for investigation against their officials.

The private security industry in Mumbai is facing a grave professional problem – thanks to a state government decision.

All concerned however can look up some tips against e-frauds in the Cyber Crime File. But, the best bet will be to know how to make business even with a dead donkey – courtesy the true story in the General Information File.

In any case, the IISSM Secretariat will like to draw attention of all to the seven-point oath the President of India wanted the youth to take on the occasion of the Independence Day – again in the General Information File.

D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India,
Executive President & CEO,
International Institute of Security and Safety Management,
New Delhi, India.