Organized Crime in India: A Growing Threat to Stability

01 Jan Organized Crime in India: A Growing Threat to Stability

This article covers “Daily Current Affairs,” and the topic details related to Organized Crime in India: A Growing Threat to Stability

Syllabus mapping:

GS-3: Internal Security: Organized Crimes as a threat to National security.

For Prelims:

Definition of Organized crimes and its types, Various Measures to reduce Organized Crime.

For Mains:

What are the challenges posed by Organized Crimes to India’s National security? Ways to control the organized Crimes.

Why in the news:

Organized crime remains a significant global threat, undermining nations’ social, political, and economic stability. In India, the impact of organized crime is particularly alarming, with far-reaching effects on businesses, communities, and political institutions. These activities disrupt governance and development and pose a serious challenge to public safety, demanding urgent attention and effective countermeasures.

Various Classes of Organized Crime:

In India, organized crime encompasses a wide range of illegal activities undertaken by criminal syndicates to gain power, amass wealth, and expand their operations. These activities exploit systemic weaknesses and create significant social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Initiatives and Laws in India to Combat Organized Crime:

Threats Posed by Organized Crime to India’s National Security

Political Challenges:
Instability: Organized crime undermines the stability of governments by fostering corruption, facilitating the manipulation of elections, and creating an atmosphere of fear and coercion.
Law and Order Issues: States facing organized crime, like Manipur, experience significant law and order disruptions, weakening the state’s ability to maintain control and stability in key regions.
Disruption of State Power: Criminal syndicates, particularly in border areas, often align with local insurgent groups, challenging the authority of the state and complicating governance.
Economic Challenges:
Black Money: Organized crime generates black money through illicit activities like extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal mining. This undermines the legitimate economy and promotes corruption at all levels of society.
Tax Evasion: Criminal syndicates engage in massive tax evasion schemes, depriving the government of critical revenues needed for national development and welfare.
Money Laundering: Through money laundering networks, criminal groups bring illicit funds into the mainstream economy, distorting financial systems and promoting illegal economic practices.
Social Challenges:
Human Trafficking: Organized crime leads to widespread human trafficking, particularly of women and children, causing severe social and psychological harm while also contributing to the exploitation of vulnerable populations.
Loss of Lives: Criminal activities such as contract killings, armed violence, and trafficking have resulted in countless innocent lives lost, creating widespread trauma in communities.
Women’s Safety: The rise in organized crime has directly contributed to a growing sense of insecurity for women, particularly in regions where crime syndicates operate with impunity.
Youth Radicalization: Criminal syndicates, often linked with extremist groups, target vulnerable youth, luring them into illegal activities or radicalizing them for political or ideological reasons.
Disruption of Social Harmony: The widespread impact of organized crime disrupts social harmony by creating divisions between communities, fostering distrust, and promoting violence, which erodes social cohesion.

Challenges in Tackling Organized Crime in India

National Security vs. Human Security: Balancing national security and human security often leads to conflicts, especially when countering organized crime through surveillance and power-enhancing laws.
Excessive Police Brutality: The fight against organized crime sometimes results in police brutality, undermining trust in law enforcement. For example, in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, cases.
Transnational Nature of Crimes: Organized crime increasingly operates across borders, with syndicates exploiting international routes for activities like drug trafficking and human trafficking.
State-Sponsored Crimes in Border Areas: In border regions such as West Bengal and Punjab, organized crime thrives with tacit political support, complicating efforts to curb illegal activities.
Gray Zone Warfare Using Cyber Technology: The use of advanced cyber technologies by organized criminals has blurred the lines between traditional and digital crimes. Cyber-enabled terrorism, like the rise in ransomware attacks on Indian government institutions, demonstrates the increasing threat posed by this new form of warfare.
Use of Advanced Technology by Criminals: Criminals are using high-tech methods to evade detection, making it difficult for law enforcement to keep up. In the gold smuggling case in Kerala, criminals used hidden compartments and sophisticated tools to smuggle gold, demonstrating the evolving nature of organized crime.
Lack of Effective Police Training: Law enforcement agencies often lack specialized training and equipment to handle specific crimes such as cybercrime, human trafficking, and money laundering. Many state police forces struggle with the growing threat of cybercrime due to outdated skills and technology.
Lack of Cooperation Among Agencies: Cooperation among agencies like the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, and state police is often fragmented, which weakens efforts to tackle organized crime. In some high-profile cases, this lack of coordination has resulted in delays and missed opportunities to dismantle criminal networks.
Political Patronage to Criminals: Political figures sometimes protect organized criminals, allowing them to operate with impunity. Reports from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar reveal how local politicians have been alleged to shelter criminals in exchange for support, complicating efforts to combat crime effectively.
Delayed Prosecution: Delayed legal proceedings often prevent swift justice in organized crime cases, reducing the deterrent effect. The slow pace of trials, as seen in the 1993 Bombay bombings, allows criminals to continue their operations without facing timely legal consequences, thereby weakening law enforcement efforts.

Ways to Strengthen the Security Structure Against Organized Crime

National Security Council (NSC): The NSC, formed in 1998, guides national security decisions. The Strategic Policy Group, led by the National Security Advisor, ensures coordinated action against organized crime across various agencies.
Internal Security Ministry: A dedicated ministry can streamline internal security responses, focusing on internal disturbances and coordinated crime prevention under Article 355 of the Constitution.
Improved Cooperation Among Agencies: Enhanced coordination among security agencies like CBI, ED, and state police will improve intelligence sharing and response times to organized crime activities.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): The BNS defines organized crime, as enabling law enforcement to tackle crimes like kidnapping, extortion, and human trafficking effectively.
Strengthening Police Forces: Providing regular training in areas such as cybercrime and money laundering will improve the capability of state police to combat organized crime.
Balancing Security and Human Rights: National security measures should respect human rights, ensuring that anti-crime actions do not infringe on civil liberties.
Border Fencing and Surveillance: Strengthening border security, like along the Myanmar-India border, will help prevent smuggling, trafficking, and other cross-border crimes.
Support for Border Communities: Socio-economic development in border areas reduces vulnerabilities and prevents exploitation by criminal syndicates.
Advanced Technology Against Cybercrime: Utilizing technologies like AI and blockchain for tracking cybercriminals and setting up specialized cybercrime units will enhance India’s digital security.
Legal and Judicial Reforms: Speeding up prosecutions and establishing fast-track courts for organized crime cases will deter criminal syndicates and strengthen the justice system.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, organized crime poses a significant threat to India’s security, especially in the current technological era. Over the past decade, India has implemented various measures to combat organized crime, from strengthening legal frameworks to enhancing border security. However, sustained efforts, continuous monitoring, and adaptable strategies are essential to keep organized crime at bay and protect national security in the long term.

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Prelims Question:

Which of the following laws or initiatives in India focuses on organized crime?
1. MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act)
2. PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act)
3. NDPS Act (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act)
4. Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. Only three
D. All four

ANSWER: D

Mains question:

Q. Discuss the various laws and initiatives in India aimed at combating organized crime. How effective are these measures in addressing the multifaceted nature of organized crime?

(Answer in 250 words)

Munde Dhananjay Navnath