Screening and Identification

Question 1

What are the information of the village that should be available?

Answer 1

(a) Categorization of Villagers
(i) Black -For keeping surveillance.
(ii) Grey -Doubtful, surveillance may be recommended.
(iii) White -Exonerated of any involvement.
(b) Numbering of houses.
(c) Details of family members.
(d) A photographic record of villagers.

Question 2

What are the deception measures adopted by the Hostile?

Answer 2

(a) Joining the party welcoming the SF to the village.
(b) Making excuses of sickness or old age to avoid screening.
(c) Volunteering to become identifiers for the security forces.
(d) Compelling the head of village to state that they belong to the same village. They may also force the villagers to feed wrong information of hostile camps.
(e) Diverting the attention of Security forces by creating an uproar or incident of some kind.

Question 3

What are the methods of screening and identification ?

Answer 3

1. When an Identifier is Available.
2. When an Identifier is not Available.
3. Chit Method.
4. Tent Method.
5. Ballot Box Method.

Question 4

How can the methods of screening and identification be analysed?

Answer 4

Analysis of Methods

(a) Chit Method.
This is a time tested method wherein a suspect falls in a trap of questions and counter checks. It is time consuming but reliable method.

(b) Tent Method.
This method is mostly used when contacting an informer is difficult. The informer’s security is also assured and any contact information can be immediately acted upon. More than often a villager is scared of giving information on face of security forces. However, he will require coaxing and secure environment to speak.

(c) Ballot Box Method.
More than often the information can be misleading as infighting amongst the neighbors is prevalent in all the villages. However; the information must be cross-checked from various sources.

Question 5

When identifier is not available, how the villagers are segregated and what will be the method of screening?

Answer 5

In such a case the villagers should be segregated to form four groups as under.

(a) 12 years to 55 years males.
(b) 55 years and above males.
(c) Females.
(d) Children.

Villagers can be screened by any of the following methods.

(a) By using the nominal rolls.
(b) By questioning them. It must be noted that children are more likely to give away the presence of hostile.
(c) By the use of identity Cards.