SRINAGAR, India June 25: Union Home Ministry has prepared an elaborate security dossier to confront 'fidayeen (suicide) attacks and new threats related to cyber security and nuclear bomblets falling in "dirty" hands.
The instances of "Fidayeen" attack where a terrorist blows himself alongwith the target had sent the security agencies over past few years in tizzy, keeping in view the "kamkhaz" and "indoctrinated" mindset of the terrorist.
After series of discussions and interactions with various security and intelligence agencies world over, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has come out with a new 150-page manual on security of critical infrastructures, with one full chapter on the latest threats from the "Fidayeen (terrorist) Attacks". Last time such guidelines had been issued in 1961, when the menace was suicide attacks had not taken over the world.
While discussing the likely targets of the "Fidayeen" attacks, their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses and how to deal with them, the manual for the first time has issued detailed guidelines to confront cyber security and nuclear challenges.
The manual defines the critical infrastructures, their categorisation from the risk angle, and various protective security measures to make them more comprehensive and meaningful.
In its introductory remarks to the manual, the IB points out that the original manual prescribing guidelines for the industrial security inspections required revision in view of vast changes in the industrial environment and emergence of new threats from militants/terrorists agents of hostile countries, anti-national elements and cyber terrorists. It details dangers, espionage, sabotage and subversion that should be dealt as the security threats.
The critical infrastructures for which the manual prescribes the security drill have been defined as "systems and assets so vital to the nation that the destruction fully or partially would affect the security and safety of a larger section of society." Even while specifically identifying these infrastructures, the manual has kept categorisation of the "critical infrastructures" as open-ended to cope with the new sectors that keep emerging.
In fact, the definition has been already made so wide that it also recommends steps to be taken to meet the threats to life and properties on account of strikes, agitations, riots and civil commotions and notes that protection to the personnel working in the critical infrastructure should also be party of the new security drill.
The critical infrastructures specified in the manual include Nuclear and Space installations, oil and gas installations, power plants, main power grids, major dams, defence installations and research organisation, Chemical plants, major ports, major airports, mass transport transit system, strategic surface transport, RBI, bullion and security printing press, telecommunication and information technology.
The manual provides illustrations of many terrorist organisations who focus on attacking the critical infrastructures to put on alert the concerned security agencies about their modus operendi. It also notes that Sri Lanka-based LTTE, which had masterminded assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, claims to have international expertise on mounting the "fidayeen" attacks.
Among the likely targets of the terrorists listed in the manual are: senior political leaders, security forces' headquarters and camps, rallies and meetings, convoys, vital installations, important public places and institutions with workforce of more than 1500.
While discussing about the characteristics of "Fidayeens", the manual advises the security agencies to understand that they always operate in secrecy and in small group and believe in swift and fast actions and they usually have the complete infrastructure information and chart of the targets.
They win over the security personnel or plant their own men in the security system and their attacks come as a surprise as they always use new tactics and methods in their operations because of which it is difficult to know their next target.
The manual notes that the "Fidayeens" are highly self-motivated, brutal, believe in do-or-die and not in surrender, have expertise in using cover, and display confidence and courage to enter the security camps in disguise or with sudden burst of force.
It points out that the "Fidayeens", however, have their own weaknesses that should be exploited by the security networks to deal with them. They operate in small groups of persons of fundamentalist thinking, always in need of money, make frequent use of radio transmitters and telephones, always visit targets for recce and go for shopping in buildings near the targets like the security force camps to gather information first hand.
Prepared by IB's Industrial Security Branch, the manual also lays down guidelines for verification of the contract labourers engaged at the critical infrastructures to prevent the terrorists smuggling them inside to gain better knowledge of the area or to mount the surprise attacks.
The manual provides a model protection scheme and a model inspection report as also a model for categorisation of installations for graded security that are supposed to be adopted by all security forces while covering all possible aspects of the security such as physical security, access control, personnel security, document security, protective communication and computer security.
Read full article on Kashmir Times
Iftikhar Gilani
Posted on 26 Jun 2007
Last update : 05-07-2007 08:26
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