Fight terror together

The capture of several Indian Mujahideen terrorists, including specialist Pakistani bombmaker Waqas, is a major success after painstaking intelligence gathering by the Delhi police special cell and the National Investigation Agency.

The price India pays as the best functioning secular democracy in a dangerous neighbourhood is eternal vigilance. With a general election approaching, the time is thought suitable for disruptive practices as the security apparatus is most stretched.

But then India is used to being on its toes to protect itself, despite all its constraints. Not too long back the proposed National Counter-Terrorism Centre was shot down by the pure politics of obstructionism by some regional parties.

The result is while terrorists are free to cross regional borders, police forces must take permission to launch inter-state operations to fight criminals and terrorists.

The bid to provide real-time data to enable more effective operations against those seeking to destroy peace in society was scuttled by the perceived need to reject anything the Central government proposed. But when a joint operation like that by the Delhi and Rajasthan police and the NIA succeeds, it gives a fillip to nationalism itself. Mistakes do occur and terror events do take place occasionally.

The point is that politicians must be supportive of measures to flush out conspirators and sleeper cells, but without brutalising opponents of the state without valid proof or intelligence of terror motives. The trick is to get more efficient in protecting our nation without becoming inhuman.