The price of freedom

Sir, - With reference to the opinion, ``Individual's freedom at stake'' (Oct. 20), by Mr. Kuldip Nayar here are some stark facts: The links forged by the ISI of Pakistan with a number of front organisations of Islamic fundamentalists within the country, unless countered with the three `r's - ruthless, relentless, remorseless - of the strategy to root out terrorism, will mean the end of all that we hold dear as a democratic and secular nation. The ISI-inspired terrorism in India up to 2000 had killed 29,151 civilians and 5,101 security personnel, and caused 2,730 explosions. It managed to smuggle into the country 43,700 kg of explosives, mostly RDX, and 61,900 sophisticated weapons. It has imposed, in addition, a mind-boggling burden of Rs. 64,000 crores for security-related operations and measures.

Besides, the country is plagued by more than 120 insurgent groups going by various names. They include the People's Guerrilla Army, modelled on the People's Army of Philippines and People's Liberation Army of Peru, and claiming to network with the LTTE and the communists of Philippines, the Kurds, the Chipas and the warring elements of Chechnya. There is also the People's War Group whose depredations have shown no decline. Altogether 11 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa and Tripura) are grappling with violence unleashed by insurgents. The total number of such incidents has jumped from 1,902 in 1999 to 2,502 in 2001 and the end is not in sight.

Thus, the necessity for an enactment to strike terror into terrorists and insurgents argues for itself. Tender-hearted libertarians and human rights advocates who deprecate the so- called draconian provisions will do well to remember that those for whom they shed such copious tears show no mercy for the innocent people whom they pitilessly massacre as part of their reign of terror.

B. S. Raghavan,

Chennai

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