Intelligence System- A Point of View.
“…Intelligence Setup in India India Deccan Chronicle-Hyderabad Edition- Daily News Paper: 12-4-2011 )
Intelligence, in a broad out line is the backbone, eyes and the ears of the administrative decisions of any Industry,Ministry,the Government.
There is no end for its working system; there is no defeat and no defeat is final unless you stop trying, as success never goes away from the personnel who are willing to continue the task, and achieve the goal; success never goes away from you unless you move away from it; stop making excuses, and explanations; be a team player in the Intelligence department.
Alfred Sloan, the former Chief Executive Officer of The General Motors while dealing with management concepts remarked- ‘… I shall not tell you what to write, what to study, or what conclusions to come to. This is your task. My only instruction to you is to put down what you think is right as you see it. Do not worry about our reaction, and do not concern yourself with the compromises that might be needed to make your recommendations acceptable…..
… There is not one executive in this company who does not know how to make every singly conceivable compromise without any help from you. But, he cannot make the right compromise unless you first tell him what right is….’
For running an organization or an establishment like the Indian Railways, the administration shall have to depend on various aspects which shall include the Intelligence System. It should equip it, keep it under its control and administration and create a self contained Intelligence Net Work system of its own.
There can be no exclamation if I prefer to add some of the remarks and news items pertaining to the working of the Intelligence Departments in the country:
· Mr. Joginder Singh, IPS, former DG,RPF and also DG,CBI referring to combating terrorism and the leakage of information, observed that one of the main sources of all news (leakage)is the police itself( Spare Police The Rod- Rastriya Shara- December,2002);
· Referring to the matters as to how the Intelligence departments’ information leaked out between the years 2000-2006, The Times Now News agency focused on 12-6-2007 through its Delhi
· Laminating about the leakage of intelligence, Sri. Praveen Swami, of RAW viewed that with the defection of Mr. Rabinder Singh, a senior RAW officer, later turned to be a CIA agent during 2004 and with the arrest of S. S. Paul, a computer system operator of National Security Council, who was also known to the Indo-US Cyber Security Forum, the RAW has not learnt lessons. He also observed that facing an exodus of key personnel and increasingly vulnerable to penetration, India July, the 5th, 2006- in Columns’ Half backed reforms at RAW).
Now, coming over to the present Indian Railway’s Intelligence System, in the hands of the Railway Protection Force, the SIB -Special Intelligence Branch or the Special Wing, as it is termed is the main source for the Railways in collection and correlating the intelligence net work on the Railways. There might also be some more or other different State Governments and the Central Governments Machinery/Agencies who might be passing on the intelligence to the railway administration, but mainly, it is the RPF Intelligence department which takes care of the Railway department for collection, assimilation and dissimilation of intelligence.
The present working of the Railway Protection Force, as an Armed Force of Union, it is not known if the RPF is also recognized as one of the CPMF, now may be one of Central Para Military Forces (CPMF), but independent of itself ,not working under the command and control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and not equated at par with that of other Central Police Organizations, but ,still, it is not a Police Force of itself, have its own set of selection, seniority, rules and regulations, cadres and posts, promotions and transfers and for all purposes the Force have no linkage with any of the CPMFs or CPOs on these issues.
The question and doubt arose is that whether the Railway Protection Force is in a position to cope up with the present trends of the challenges that the Railways are facing with its minimal personnel in the Intelligence department? I f yes! How much? How much of its pin pointed about the activities of subversive nature in advance and the names, if any, of the persons as sympathizers, or so for specified organizations against whom they keep a watch and surveillance.
Industrialized area security system, tight Air Port
How much of the information is gathered about the subversive and other objectionable activities, organized groups working on the Railways which would be affecting the security and functioning of the railways has been brought out well in advance, other than the State Intelligence and other’s information and if so at what stage the security personnel could nab the activists or avert the sabotage, etc.
The members of Force worked/working in the Special Intelligence Branch found to be not happy over the secret service fund, enormous and several lakhs of rupees expenditure shown to have been spent toward its utilization and doubted as to whether it has gone to the right persons and in the right direction was a point of doubt many express in darkness. On this issue, one may frown and get angry for all sort of this type of writings.
It is the time to shoulder higher and higher responsibility for smooth running of trains and its safety and security of rail passengers, and their belongings with least detentions. Intelligence department over the Railways should work like that of a ripcord. By shaking off the old and routine duties like covering the activities of the labour unions, etc., it shall work on and go ahead to penetrate into the others net work system to find out in advance which are the places, the sections of target of the terrorists, Maoists, etc., at one the name may change and turn out to look like some other thing ,but their actions and activities may be for one and the same target; they also to find out as to who are, if any, the persons associated in such activities.
There can be no end for exploring, explaining and expanding the usage, the utility and application of the Intelligence Department in any systematized and organized industry, Ministry, etc, or as a matter of fact over the country itself. It all depends on the officers who are entrusted to work on such job.
The working system depends on the personal interest shown by each individual and the training they were imparted, which include the I.Q., the Behavioral Sciences, and the body language which shall have to be clubbed with the Psychology.
Without any reservation in mind, the Government shall have to think afresh on this issue in deep and resolve the intelligence working system over the Indian Railways.
It is opined that the present Special Intelligence Branch or the Special Wing, the SIB , shall be separated from the present Executive Branch, and make it as an independent branch under a separate Director General, Railway Intelligence Bureau. This shall work directly under the control and ,command, supervision of Chairman, Railway Board, and the Ministry of Railways. It shall have its own personnel and pay scales and seniority. It shall have power and authority to draw officers on deputation from other police forces, etc.
Let the great expectations of Dr. B. P. Shah, IPS, former Director General, RPF may come true. He observed that “... Railways are one of the vital sources of country’s integration. RPF being a part and parcel of the Railways, shares equally the responsibility for national integration by protecting railway properties and ensuring safety to the passengers, and the railway employees. The vast Force, numbering more than 70,000 is maintaining a constant vigil and displaying dedication and diligence to perform their task aiming at safeguarding the public interest...” (From the Desk of the Director General, RPF-‘Rail Sainik, RPF Newsletter and Magazine, Jan-June, 1993).
