To counter terrorism, police to hire de-radicalisation experts

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 3

In a counter-terrorism measure in Punjab, the state police have decided to recruit specialised de-radicalisation counsellors in the backdrop of radicalisation of youth for pro-Khalistan activities via social media.

This will be part of a massive recruitment drive for general policing where 841 sub-inspectors, 811 head constables and 6,836 constables will be recruited this year. Notably, the recruitment drive is being undertaken in the pre-election year.

Thirty de-radicalisation counsellors and 82 assistants will be recruited soon with the challenging job to bring back youth into the mainstream after they were allegedly brainwashed by terror agencies, including Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence, said DGP Dinkar Gupta. According to the police records, nearly 70 terror modules had been busted in the past few years in which more than 300 youth were arrested. Most of them were radicalised for pro-Khalistan activities through social media.

The need for such experts was felt with several terror groups finding potential recruits over social media through pro-Khalistan posts. These agencies then carry out systematic training of the youth. “Many youth are just led into the activities as they are shown a picture contrary to ground realities. The police have de-radicalised some of them in the past,” said a senior police official.

Some of these youths had also become a part of the narco-terror-gangster network. They acted as medium for smuggling of drugs and weapons from across the border.

Security of BJP, RSS leaders to be upgraded

The Punjab Police are in the process of upgrading security of several BJP and RSS leaders in the state in the wake of daily protests against them over the Central farm laws. Police sources said the threat perception of main leaders of the BJP and RSS was being reviewed following the protests against them.