THE INDIAN MUJAHIDEEN: A RESURGENCE OF TERROR

By

Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay

The blood that flowed through Varanasi on the evening of December 7, 2010, marked yet another appalling episode in the history of India’s prolonged combat with the various subversive elements spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. Soon after the devastating attack that rocked the portals of the temple town, an e-mail was sent to various prominent media houses by the Indian Mujahideen claiming responsibility for the attack. The e-mail claimed that the blast was in retaliation to the verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi title suit case. Security agencies traced the Internet Protocol address of the five-page e-mail signed by ‘Al-Arbi’ to the suburbs of Mumbai. Police teams were immediately despatched to the area for further investigation, the results of which are awaited.

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HOLY WARRIORS AND ARMAGEDDON: THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN TERRORISM

By

Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay

Introduction

Religious terrorism is terrorism conducted by those whose motivations and aims have a predominant religious character or influence. This form of terrorism could have its roots in the misinterpretation of theological epithets, or it could be the result of extreme forms of delusion that may alter reality, and thus subject the individual to distorted versions of religious facts. According to Mark Juergensmeyer, religious terrorism consists of acts that terrify; the definition of which is provided by the witnesses - the ones terrified - and not by the party committing the act; accompanied by a religious motivation, justification, organisation, or world view.

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THE ROLE OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE TERRORIST PERSONALITY

By

Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay

Since time immemorial, terrorists have had distinct motives and ideological orientations. There were the murderers of tyrants in ancient times and in the Middle Ages; the assassins of political and religious enemies; nationalists who felt or were oppressed and were not autonomous in their own state; and extremists of the left and right who felt the need for radical, political and social change. But a new kind of terrorist mentality has arisen, and the coincidence of this new fanaticism with the sudden resurgence of religious extremism has created a threat unprecedented in the history of mankind. Detailed Paper