Raman is a senior IPS officer and has recently been posted as D.G. of a state. Among the various issues and problems/challenges which needed his immediate attention, the issue relating to recruitment of unemployed youth by an unknown terrorist group, was a matter of grave concern.
It was noted that unemployment was relatively high in the state. The problem of unemployment amongst graduates and those with higher education was much more grave. Thus they were vulnerable and soft targets.
In the review meeting taken by him with senior officers of DIG Range and above, it came to light that a new terrorist group has emerged at the global level. It has launched a massive drive to recruit young unemployed people. Special focus was to pick young people from a particular community. The said organisation seemed to have the clear objective of utilising/using them for carrying out militant activities. It was also gathered that the said (new) group is desperately trying to spread its tentacles in his state.
A definite/reliable intelligence tip was received by the State CID and Cyber Cell that a large number of such unemployed youth have already been contacted by the terrorist outfit/group through social media and local communal organisations and other contacts. The need of the hour was to act swiftly and to check these elements/designs before they assume serious proportions.
Discrete inquiries made by the police, through the Cyber Cell, revealed that good numbers of unemployed youth are very active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. On an average, many of them were spending 6 – 8 hours each day, using electronic devices/internet, etc. It also came to light that such unemployed youth were showing sympathy and endorsing the messages received from certain persons, allegedly the contact persons of that global terrorist group. Their social media accounts revealed their strong affinity to such groups inasmuch as many of them started forwarding anti-national tweets on their WhatsApp and Facebook, etc. It seemed that they succumbed to their ploy and started propagating secessionist ideology. Their posts were hyper-critical of the government’s initiatives, policies and subscribing to extreme beliefs and promoting extremism.

(a) What are the options available to Raman to tackle the above situation ?
(b) What measures would you suggest for strengthening the existing set-up to ensure that such groups do not succeed in penetrating and vitiating the atmosphere in the state ?
(c) In the above scenario, what action plan would you advise for enhancing the intelligence gathering mechanism of the police force ?

Ethics

Ethics: Case Study

2024

20 Marks

This case highlights the ethical dilemma of balancing national security with individual freedoms in the digital age. The central ethical dilemma revolves around balancing the right to freedom of expression with the need to prevent radicalization and maintain national security.

Stakeholder Identification

Stakeholders in the case

(a) The options available to Raman to tackle the above situation

Legal and Preventive Action:
- Surveillance and profiling of social media accounts under appropriate sections of the IT Act, UAPA, and IPC.
- Detain and interrogate suspects showing explicit support for terrorist activity while respecting legal procedures and civil liberties (Article 22).
Engage with Vulnerable Youth:
- Identify radicalized individuals and launch de-radicalization counselling programs with the help of psychologists, community leaders, and NGOs.
  - Example: Maharashtra Model of De-radicalization
- Initiate skill training and job facilitation programs in collaboration with local administration and industries.
Strengthen Cyber Intelligence:
- Task the Cyber Cell to continuously monitor suspicious content and flag early warning signs.
- Use data analytics and AI-based tools to identify patterns of online radicalization.
Community and Religious Outreach:
- Engage with moderate community leaders, religious scholars, and youth influencers to counter extremist narratives.
- Promote interfaith harmony programs and community dialogues to reduce alienation.
Institutional Coordination:
- Collaborate with central intelligence agencies (IB, NIA) for data sharing and strategic support.
- Set up a State Anti-Terror Coordination Unit to synergize district-level efforts.

(b) Measures to strengthen existing set-up:

Institutional Framework Development:
- Create a State Anti-Radicalization Task Force comprising police, educationists, mental health experts, and cyber professionals.
- Establish de-radicalization centres in urban and semi-urban areas.
Preventive Education and Counter-Narratives:
- Introduce media literacy programs in schools/colleges to debunk online propaganda.
- Collaborate with influencers to run positive digital campaigns highlighting national unity and constitutional values.
Employment & Engagement Strategies:
- Launch Mission Rozgar with private sector partnerships for job fairs, internships, and entrepreneurship.
- Support community development programs that promote social cohesion.
Youth Counselling & Peer Mentoring:
- Create platforms like “Youth Dialogue Circles” to provide safe spaces for expression and discussion.
- Engage civil society groups and psychologists for structured interventions.
- Example: Kerala Police's "Punarjani" de-radicalization initiative has proven effective in rehabilitating radicalized youth through counselling and vocational training.

(c) Action plan for enhancing intelligence gathering mechansim of Police Force

Strengthening Cyber Intelligence:
- Equip the Cyber Crime Wing with tools for social media sentiment analysis, pattern detection, and AI-powered monitoring.
- Deploy data mining algorithms to identify radical content and online recruitment patterns.
Develop Human Intelligence:
- Establish a community-based intelligence grid, involving local leaders, teachers, shopkeepers, and health workers.
- Incentivize anonymous reporting of suspicious activities.
Inter-agency Collaboration:
- Regular intelligence-sharing meetings with IB, NIA, and RAW.
- Launch a common digital intelligence platform for unified access to suspect profiles and red flags.
Training & Capacity Building:
- Continuous training for police officers in cyber forensics, behavioural analysis, and de-radicalization techniques.
- Include socio-cultural training to avoid bias and stereotyping.
Intelligence Analysis Cells (IAC): Create district-level IACs for proactive threat analysis using both human and digital intelligence inputs.

Raman must demonstrate ethical leadership, acting decisively yet sensitively. The situation demands a multi-pronged approach to counter radicalization while upholding the ideals of justice, inclusion, and rule of law.

Answer Length

Model answers may exceed the word limit for better clarity and depth. Use them as a guide, but always frame your final answer within the exam’s prescribed limit.

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