No nexus between forces and terrorists: Shivraj Patil

New Delhi, Mar 18: Home Minister Shivraj Patil today denied that there was any nexus between personnel of security forces, including the para-military, and terrorists. Replying to a spate of questions on the subject in the Lok Sabha, he, however, said a few isolated cases of subversion by force personnel had been detected which were dealt with firmly as per the law.

"It will be inappropriate to draw any general conclusion of any nexus from such isolated cases in para military forces which together have a strength of 700,000 personnel," Mr Patil said, while pointing out that such allegations would only demoralise the forces. Replying to another set of questions on the misuse of legal provisions on rape cases, Mr Patil said six to seven per cent of rape cases were declared false on account of mistake of fact or law.

In this context, he said 18,376 rape cases were investigated, out of which 1173 were declared false. He said the National Commission for Women had recommended changes in the rape laws.

The Law Commission, in its 172nd Report on Review of Rape Laws, has also recommended a number of changes in the rape laws. A draft amendment bill was prepared by the Home Ministry.

Since the Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure are on the concurrent list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the state governments have been requested to offer their views on the recommendations of the National Commission for Women.

UNI