There are two glaring failures to be countered.

Failure of the intelligence agencies.

And alienation of certain sections of the Indian society.

If the police force is armed with draconian laws - powers to capture and bash up a bear and make it confess to be a tiger and proudly display it as a prized trophy and an example of spectacular success; the tigers keep happily prowling and get ready for the next kill. And more and more bears turn into tigers, real ones.

Consequently more strikes, and the vicious cycle intensifies.

The police force has obviously got a vested interest. They become even less accountable. Can kill and arrest at will. Extort and mint money. Get a bravery award or two through fake encounters. Can create heroes out of villains.

The real tigers rejoice.

The measures must be essentially twofold.

Strengthen the intelligence arms. Make people accountable/responsible for intelligence failure.

The police force must be made to be seen as people-friendly, particularly friendly towards the alienated sections.

Other measures must be taken to raise the sense of belonging amongst them so that the actual/potentials tigers are isolated and deprived of the support without which they'd be unable to operate.

Make the system of justice both transparent - thereby credible - and also efficient.

Tragically, the gut reaction is just in the opposite direction. The lust for revenge is too blind and overpowering. And there are forces to further muddy the muddied waters.

Cool and intelligent courage is the need of the hour.

Sukla