How vehicle thefts drive terror attacks
Vehicle thefts are deeply distressing and damaging to the owner and the nation in many more ways than one. Crime mixed with terrorism is a potent mix, amply witnessed a week prior to January 26, when the terrorist threat loomed large and was only accentuated by the theft of three vehicles including that of the IG, ITBP, an army officer and a police constable. So intense was the alarm that no vehicles were permitted anywhere near the parade venue. However, India’s 67th Republic day passed off very well. There was not a single terrorist act across India; not even a stray one. The credit goes entirely to the numerous security and intelligence agencies that were involved in ensuring an incident-free event. They can justifiably feel proud of their achievements and the country rests easy.
The moot question is for how long? The stolen cars are yet to be recovered and the potential for their misuse continues to loom as large as ever. Recovering these vehicles again would provide nothing more than temporary respite since thousands of vehicles are stolen across India everyday and any one of these could be used to give effect to the nefarious designs of terrorists. It hence, makes sense to look for a permanent solution.
A week prior to January 26, a permanent solution presented itself in the promise of the seven satellite Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) with the launch of the fifth navigation satellite, IRNSS-1E on January 20. Unlike the US’ NAVSTAR GPS or Russian GLONASS, India’s constellation is designed for regional and national rather than global utility; consequently, even with five out of seven satellites launched, it already covers the entire nation with reasonable accuracy and has great potential for use.
The system is indigenous, controlled by India, the data stays within India and the system at present covers all of India. This is potentially far more effective than the present system of vehicle monitoring in India that is based on individually procured NAVSTAR or GLONASS GPS receivers. These receivers though suitable for day-to-day affairs are not suitable in circumstances like the present wherein a terrorist strike with a stolen vehicle is imminent and no means of locating or tracking the vehicle is readily available.
For security uses, a mandatory installation of IRNSS locator devices within the engine of the vehicle or any other such area that cannot be easily tampered with needs to be undertaken. This is significantly different from the High Security Number Plates (HSNP) that is aimed only at tamper-proof vehicle numbering. An IRNSS locator chip can carry a wide variety of information including the vehicle, number, owner details as also location, tracking, navigation and other information. A single chip in this case is much more versatile, purposeful and effective.
Software that sparks off alarm in case of tampering with the chip can easily be fabricated; such systems are already available in the market and can be designed to be part of the system. A vehicle tracking system on an IRNSS platform that combines the use of space based automatic vehicle location in individual vehicles with software that provides requisite information for a comprehensive picture of vehicle locations is the need of the hour. Real time vehicle information can be viewed on electronic maps using standard Internet with suitably designed software. In some cases, vehicle tracking is already in use for fleet management, coordination, etc; the same concept needs to be expanded to a national level on an Indian platform.
The prime issue related to application of the above system may be expected to relate primarily to affecting coordination amongst the multifarious agencies which, given the scope of the problem of terrorism and the fact that it affects everybody equally, should not be a difficult proposition. The next contentious issue would be related to infringement of privacy rights of individuals etc. However, these could be allayed by using active and passive location techniques.
Active locators would enable real-time tracking and location, whereas passive ones would only retain information and become active only on being triggered by the central system. Depending on the state of emergency, the system can be tweaked to be as suitable as possible by shifting from "passive" to "active" mode of tracking.
The technology is now readily available to the country, the information pertaining to all vehicles in India is available with the government of India, the requisite software is also available within the country and hence there exists but little reason why all these disparate elements cannot be put together to obtain a system that can be applied to the real problems of man and society that plague the nation today and are likely to accentuate in the future.