Vol. 5 No. 2 (2021)
Articles

Defining the Role of the Police in Internal Armed Conflicts in India: A Study of Punjab and Tripura

Published 2021-09-14

Abstract

India is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, as well as its largest democracy. The grouping of multiple identity groups into a unifying national identity has been both a source of strength as well as a challenge: the country has experienced multiple internal armed conflicts rooted in issues of competing needs, wants, values and identities. Over the years, different tools and strategies of conflict management and resolution have been employed by the Indian Union. While the state’s response has been studied thoroughly, the research on the role of police in armed conflicts has been limited. This study maps the police action in the Pubjab and Tripura conflicts to determine the role of the police in internal armed conflicts. High-level, semi-structured interviews were conducted (n=30) to collect primary data. It was found that the police played an important role in the first response to the insurgency, gathering intelligence and facilitating lasting peace.