India has been facing numerous problems among which ‘terrorism’ is a major one. India’s northeast region has its own issues; however, the rise of radical manifestation of religious beliefs through weighed ‘threat perception’ of ‘terrorism’ is certainly not a new phenomenon from India’s security perspective. Ningning Newmai has attempted to examine and assess this ‘threat perception’.
Religious Fundamentalism: A Study of Terrorism in the Northeast India
In the past decades the world has witnessed several terror-related events. Especially after the horrific 9/11 attacks in America, ‘terrorism ‘, ‘militancy’, ‘religious extremism’ etc. have become a major topic of discussion as a threat to global peace. India too has witnessed the terrors of 26/11 Mumbai attack, the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2005 Ayodhya attack, to name a few.
In Northeast India, where the majority population is Christian, Islamic militancy has only recently come to light and seems to be a well-instigated plan by the external powers. Let us take a documented case study of The Jamaat-e-Islam which was raised in India in 1941 by Maulana Abul Ala Maududi (an Islamic scholar and philosopher) as a social organization to spread Islam. His ideas were to have unified India into an Islamic nation (by establishing Caliphate) with no room for democracy and secularism. However after India’s partition, he moved his base to Pakistan while at the same time maintaining a base in Delhi and also in the East Pakistan. Seemingly after Bangladesh got liberated from Pakistan, the activists of Wahhabist Jamaat, in spite of government restrictions, managed to spread its network through ‘Madrasas’ by exploiting the vulnerable Bangladeshis. Pakistan’s ISI has also been found supporting Wahhabi Radicalism and spreading Anti-Indian sentiments in Bangladesh.
This is a huge worrying factor not only for Bangladesh but also greatly for India whose regions in the Eastern and North-Eastern areas share International boundaries. It is also to be noted that the Northeast is a landlocked region surrounded by several other international borders, thus, posing a great threat to its security.
The Northeast where Islam did not originally exist as an alternative religion was never a part of communal map of India. It was only after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 that communal riots began in Assam. The rise of radical Islamic organizations, especially in the 1990’s has its roots from the influx of Muslim immigrants largely from Bangladesh. With its vast fertile lands, lowest population density in then India and its strategic location, Assam became a natural destination for many peasant populations. They were mostly of Muslim background and came from East Bengal as a means of support base of Muslim League reigning in Assam. Another threat of migrant influx comes from the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar whose underground groups- Arakan Army and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army- have been declared a ‘notified threat’ and black-listed by Myanmar’s Anti Terrorism Central Committee, the cognizance of which has been taken by International Community as well.
In recent years the immigrant population from across international borders has assumed in alarming proportions in the Northeast. Especially in case of Assam, it has been observed that the Muslim population has surpassed the rate of its natural growth and thus, caused a threat to the native Assamese culture and language. Similarly, Nagaland which shares a border with Assam and which has been in contact with tribes of Assam since pre-colonial years has also fallen prey to the influx of illegal Bangladeshi. At present, Manipur and Assam have also become home to many Muslim radical groups. Moreover, groups like Islamic Revolutionary Front, Islamic National Front, United Islamic-Liberation Army, United Islamic Revolutionary Army have also made their presence felt in the region. (Ref. www.satp.org).
Evidence to this worrying factor is a controversial statement made by Late Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Father of Late. Benazir Bhutto in his book, ‘The Myth of Independence’, where he made strong claims that Pakistan’s controversy with India was not limited to Kashmir but that ASSAM was included too. He suggests that some Muslim majority districts of Assam ought to be given to Pakistan, but were wrongly included in India. Therefore, there is a scope to believe that Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence has been active in the Northeast Region referring to the ‘strategy’ already mapped out by their late Prime Minister to achieve strategic success.
Following a similar vision, the nature rich Assam seems to be a one-stop solution to the ever rising Bangladeshi population and problem of land shortage according to Sheikh Mujib-Ur-Rahman (former President of Bangladesh). In his words, if some Bangladeshi inhabitants could settle in Assam permanently, they would be very happy, in-fact Assam should’ve been a part of Pakistan. (Ref. ‘Eastern Pakistan, Its Population and Economics’ written by Sheikh Mujib-Ur-Rahman).
The Northeast states of India happen to be a home to many ethno-political groups. The region has thus witnessed extrajudicial killings, ethnic attacks/fratricidal killings and large scale massacres followed by internal displacements. It has been documented that many Islamist Terror Organizations are in link with the insurgent groups of the Northeast which has posed great challenge to the security, sovereignty, integrity of India and also the peace, stability & growth in the region.
The geographical location of Northeast Indian states is such that it borders many international boundaries, while its only connection with mainland India is the narrow Siliguri corridor (also called chicken’s neck) in West Bengal. Due to the strategic location, it has become easy for external powers to manipulate and support some of these groups, hence, exploiting the vulnerable situation of the regions. Together, they are a huge risk not only to the peace and security of the Northeast regions but also the integrity of India as a whole.
On a serious note, the Government of India should make all round preparations, such as build a strong military to counter attack the radical groups and ensure no room for International influence through radical organizations. Northeast region has always been the region of people with ‘Free’ spirit and mind. There should not be any space for Religious Radicalism anywhere in the world including our Northeast.
On a state level, governments must fix fair rates and do away with cheap labour which is found to be a major source of attracting migrants and employees. Similarly, laws permitting migrants into the regions should be made stricter and checked into regularly.
It has been found that most migrant populations come from poor conditions and rural areas in hopes of better jobs and livelihood. Governments of these communities must ensure employment opportunities and proper development of the rural areas. Such people when they arrive in India may possibly become puppet in the hands of their ‘local protectors’/’handlers’ that use them to run their ‘Radical’, ‘Extremist’ agenda at the behest of India’s enemy countries.
The biggest weapon of religious radicals is religion. The modern history of Islamic Terrorism goes back to the formation of “HAMAS” (Harakat al-Muqāwama al-Islāmiyya, meaning “Islamic Resistance Movement”) whose co-founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said in 1987, and the Hamas Charter affirmed in 1988, that Hamas was founded to liberate Palestine, including modern-day Israel, from Israeli occupation and to establish an ‘ISLAMIC STATE’ in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The seeds of politicization of religion that was sown with the rise of HAMAS have now spread all over the world.
Radicals target the vulnerable and manipulate them by way of religious sentiments (Case Study of Militancy in Kashmir can be referred) hence vulnerable communities must be reformed, educated and made aware.
Finally, while it is necessary to tackle the problem of Islamic militancy from all possible sources, in doing so, we must also prevent unnecessary fear mongering among the people. Thus, bear in mind that a considerable majority of Muslims are by no means extremists and consider use of violence or terrorism as Anti-Islam. Unnecessary fear will make room for counter-extremist attacks. NGOs and other organizations may aid the government in spreading public awareness. Also, educated members of Muslim community must come forward and raise their voice openly and strongly against “Radical Elements” in their society which hopefully would lead to ‘Reformist Movement’ which at the end will definitely prove as a strong antidote to the ‘Religious Radicalism’.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Rinsit B Sareo, Meren Lemtur and Kvulo Lorin.
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