Gordon Brown's job
Mahmood Elahi, Ottawa, Canada
With doctors trying to bomb, Britain is again facing religion-incited terrorist attacks. It is increasingly becoming clear that even the most lofty profession is not immune from violence in the name of religion. In this context, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown may like to take a look at how Lord William Bentinck wiped out such terrorists in 19th century India. When Lord Bentinck arrived as Governor General of India in 1828, the country was in the grip of a great terror. A group belonging to an Indian religious organisation of murderers and robbers, known as Thugs (the word "thug" derived from them), were terrorizing the length and breadth of India. In this way, they were forerunners of many modern terrorist outfits. Although, the Thugs had no political agenda, they used religion to glorify their violent acts in the same way al-Qaeda is using religion to glorify their acts of violence. The only difference was that the Thugs belonged to a Hindu sect. Faced with such a terrorist threat, Lord Bentinck made wiping out the Thugs his top priority. He assigned the task to Col. Sleeman and Col. Sleeman created a network of informers with the help of loyal Indians. He laid the foundation of an intelligence organisation which came to be known as Central Intelligence Department (CID) -- forerunner of today's CIA in the US. In a series of operations, he rounded up Thugs. Many Thugs were hanged, many were given long prison sentences. The 19th century British justice was swift and ruthless. By the time Lord Bentinck left India in 1835, Thugs were largely eliminated as a security threat. Lord Bentinck remains an iconic figure in India even today. Women of India will remain always grateful to Bentinck for abolishing the cruel practice of burning of the widows. He made English the medium of higher education. He laid the foundation of the Indian Railways. Bentinck was the founder of modern India, but his greatest achievement was the suppression of Thugs. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown should follow in the footsteps of Bentinck and infiltrate the terrorist ranks in Britain. Terrorists linked with al-Qaeda are thugs of the 21st century and they can be wiped out provided Mr. Brown is resolute and ruthless. The key to Lord Bentinck's success was loyal Indian informers who helped to track down Thugs. British Muslims can play an equally useful role by helping the authorities to intercept terrorists before they strike.
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