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01 Apr 2025
GS Paper 4
Theoretical Questions
Day 22: Ethnic violence broke out between two communities in a north-east state. The violence has led to many casualties in the form of loss of lives and damage of properties. The conflict took an ugly turn when armed gunfights started between the communities making it hard for the administration to rescue the migrant students and labourers. The state shares an international border and also faces the problem of insurgency. The violence has led to complete blockade and disruption of essential public supplies. As the chief secretary of the state, what would you do to restore peace and order in the state? (Answer in 200 words)
Approach
- Briefly give the gist of the case.
- Highlight the issues involved in the case.
- Mention the short-term and long-term steps needed.
- Conclude suitably.
Introduction
The above case pertains to a situation of inter-state conflict between two communities. This conflict has national ramifications.
The conflict is usually not about ethnic differences themselves but over political, economic, social, cultural, or territorial matters.
The issues involved are:
- Such violence is a threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.
- The safety and security of the people of the state and migrant students and workers are compromised.
- Deterioration of Law and Order in the state.
- Ethnic clashes lead to the loss of lives and damage of property.
- There are issues of human rights violations in such violence.
Body
As chief secretary of state, I would take the following steps:
Short term steps:
- The internet suspension will be imposed under the temporary suspension of Telecom services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, and Telegraph Act 1855 to prevent the spread of fake news.
- Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be imposed throughout the state which empowers the magistrate to pass an order prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in a specified area.
- The deployment of Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) at sensitive areas will be done in coordination with the central government.
- The administration will approach local influential community leaders to spread the message of peace and harmony.
- Efforts will be taken to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential public services like food, medicine etc.
- The necessary efforts will be taken to rehabilitate those who are displaced.
- The evacuation drive will be conducted by the administration with the help of central forces and local police to safely evacuate migrant workers and students.
Long-term steps:
- The District Administration will carefully assess the communal situation on a regular basis and prepare a profile of the district. They will identify and specify areas which are prone to communal sensitivities and tensions.
- Special attention will be given in developing mechanisms for intelligence and information gathering, and suitably integrating them with the response mechanism.
- Senior Police and Administration officers at the district and other levels will visit the communally sensitive areas from time to time, even during periods of normalcy, and interact with the responsible community leaders with a view to developing a rapport with them.
- At the State and District levels, a crisis management plan will be made, which will clearly delineate the possible causes and ramifications of the crises that could erupt due to communal disturbances and identify specific roles and responsibilities for different agencies.
- In communally sensitive towns and areas, Peace Committees, comprising prominent citizens, community leaders, and representatives of political parties, respectable organizations, etc., should be set up, and periodic contacts with them should be maintained by the concerned officers at the police station, sub-divisional and district levels.
Conclusion
By balancing short-term crisis management with long-term institutional reforms, my efforts will work towards achieving lasting peace and stability in the state.
