'Strong intelligence enhances security'

Retired IGP Gopal Hosur said that the Pulwama incident was a reminder that we are in danger.

“There is need to maintain unity and territorial integrity enshrined in the Constitution of the country,” he stressed.

He was speaking on the role of intelligence in good governance at the NITK on Monday.

“The Pulwama incident, in which 44 CRPF personnel were killed in a fidayeen attack, led to a huge outcry and call for revenge against the perpetrators of the attack. The spirit of nationalism has been aroused in us,” said the former IGP.

When a student asked for the solution to insurgency in Kashmir, Hosur said, “It is an extremely complex situation in Kashmir. We need to have a strategic response in finding a long-term solution. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, India had been able to get support from many countries, including Muslim countries. Modi has been travelling to different countries and convincing the leaders about ground realities in Kashmir and getting them to back India. Terrorism can be tackled with the cooperation of friendly nations.”

Reminiscence

Recalling when the Karnataka Special Task Force was ambushed by Veerappan’s men on May 25, 1993, Hosur said, “I was hit by a bullet in my neck and was in hospital for six months. Veerappan had forced three states to get down on their knees for 18 years and there was utter intelligence failure in identifying the bandit’s hideout as the police lacked thorough knowledge about forest terrain.”

Emphasising on a well-oiled intelligence network, he said strong intelligence is essential for internal and external security of the nation. “The intelligence tips on about the impending crisis. Militisation of space, threat from cyber space, nexus between Pakistan and China, hostility from neighbouring countries are some of the challenges to external security of the country,” he listed out.