In a first, MHA approves study on ‘status of radicalisation’

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, for the primary time, accredited a analysis study on “status of radicalisation in India.” The study would try to legally outline “radicalisation” and counsel amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the police assume tank of the MHA, had invited analysis proposals from academicians and authorized specialists within the yr 2018. It obtained 75 proposals, and two matters – “Status of Radicalization in India: An Exploratory Study of Prevention and Remedies” and “Functioning and Impact of Open Prisons on Rehabilitation of Prisoners” have been shortlisted by the MHA in September.

G.S. Bajpai, Director of the Centre for Criminology and Victimology, National Law University (NLU), Delhi, will conduct the analysis on radicalisation.

Speaking to The Puucho, he mentioned, “the study will be religion-neutral and will go by facts and the reported cases. Radicalisation is yet to be defined legally, this leads to misuse by the police. It should be defined and necessary amendments made to the UAPA.”

Mr. Bajpai, who can be the member-secretary of Committee on Criminal Reforms constituted by the MHA to overtake the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), mentioned that the study would take a yr to conclude because it required area go to and interviews with individuals.

“Radicalisation has to be addressed in a systematic manner and a policy should be devised by the Centre. It is not merely a policing issue. In India, people are sensitive about religion, what we are attempting is correct interpretation of holy books such as Quran, Gita or Bible ,” he acknowledged.

‘Misguided’ youth

Aggressive policing measures could possibly be counter-productive because the youth who have been radicalised have been “misguided” and never the culprits. “We have studied the Maharashtra model, where several youths were deradicalised. Merely sending young men behind the bars will not solve the purpose, right thinking people in the community will have to be mobilised,” he added.

The United Nations’ twenty sixth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team regarding the IS (Islamic State), al-Qaeda and related people and entities had identified “significant numbers” of the IS and al-Qaeda members in Kerala and Karnataka. The report mentioned, “One member State reported that the ISIL Indian affiliate (Hind Wilayah), which was announced on May 10, 2019, has between 180 and 200 members”.

On September 16, Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy knowledgeable the Lok Sabha that the data was “not factually correct”. The House was instructed that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered 17 instances associated to the presence of the IS in Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and arrested 122 accused individuals.