Firm-up policy to tackle Terrorism: KHRC Chairman

Bangalore, Aug 4: Country needs a strong and unambiguous policy to tackle terrorism, Karnataka Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice S R Naik opined here today.

Speaking after inaugurating a seminar on 'Combating the threats to Internal Security of India - Role of Citizens', organised Forum on Integrated National Security (FINS), Justice Naik said that terrorism had posed a serious threat to entire mankind.

Expressing concern that terrorism had engulfed the entire world and grown to an extent of challenging institutions, including elected governments, Justice Naik said that even individuals were also threatened by it. "Terrorism is undeniably a crime and its perforators are undoubtedly criminals and they need to be dealt with an iron fist," he said.

"Terrorists involved in killing innocents and non-combatant people and the impact of terrorism was quite grim, gloomy and alarming" he said.

Referring to the involvement of an engineer from Karnataka in the failed bomb attack in Glasgow, Justice Naik said, "The incident has shattered the image of the city and the state of Karnataka."

The intelligence agencies in the past had alerted about the presence of 'Sleeper cells of terrorists groups' in parts of Coastal Karnataka was a matter of concern, he said.

Referring to the menace of Naxalism, Justice Naik said, "It is quite disturbing to note that they operate right from Nepal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and now in Karnataka under the disguise of solving some basic poverty related problem. Maoists groups were threatening the very foundation of the country's democratic system," he remarked.

Stressing that there was a need to have a firm and unambiguous national policy in curbing terrorism, Justice Naik exhorted not to show any mercy to those unlawful elements who believed only in mindless violence. "The Policy must clear that there shall not be any room for negotiations with those who had killed innocents and bystanders in their strike. One should raise above from appeasement and vote bank policy while formulating National Policy on tackling and curbing terrorism," he said.

Former Director General of Police, Punjab, Mr K P S Gill, who also spoke on the occasion said that country has inherent resilience to take care of terrorism and any kind of serious challenges to the unity and integrity of the country, however, one should not remain complacent on these issues.

"The real threat the country is facing now is not terrorism but the forces indulged in dividing the Indian society," he said.

Referring to the release of Madhani from terrorist charges, Mr Gill said that the former was now talking about coming together of Muslims and other Backward Communities. "The concern of Mr Madhani has divisive agenda and there lies the danger," he said.

He said that Pakistan which was the hub of 'Islamic terrorism' had now became victim of its own designs. "Pakistan, which sowed the seeds of communalism, was succeeded in creating gulf between minorities and others in the Country," he stated.

UNI