The making of a Jihadi

The Mumbai terrorist attack is over but the question remains : what turns ordinary human beings into vicious killing machines? A clinical psychologist, who has interacted with a number of terrorists professionally, says that potential recruits are made to feel shame, humiliation and glory as they are slowly indoctrinated into the terrorist cause.

According to Dr Rajat Mitra, who spoke to several terrorists in prison between 2000-03 , a potential recruit is first approached with comments such as ������ It���s a matter of disgrace for you to be living like this.������ He is then told, ������ You are not doing anything to change your pitiable condition.������ The next step is giving him a sense of self-worth by feeding him with lines such as ������ You don���t know who you are and what you can really achieve.������

Terrorists are highly detached from their body and are insulated from the outside world. As a result they see human beings as objects. This is the outcome of an intense indoctrination process, says Mitra , also director of the NGO Swanchetan.
Almost every terrorist he interrogated told him that torture or third degree does not impact them adversely. ������ Because of this trait, interrogation should be based on finesse rather than third degree,������ says Mitra.

During his interaction, the psychologist recalls, he asked a terrorist if he missed anything in life. The reply, ������ Only cigarettes.������ The terrorist further said, ������ If you put a burning cigarette on any part of my body and continue with the interview , I���ll still be able to speak without any feeling of pain. You can���t do anything to my body.������
Terrorists or hardened criminals suffer no guilt even after killing women and children. ������ They are ruthless because they are trained to look at human beings as objects. That���s why they can easily put a gun to a person���s head, look him in the eye and kill,������ says Mitra.

Courtesy: www.timesofindia.com