Mayawati emphasises on not linking religion and terrorism

Lucknow, Sep 22 (UNI) In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in the country, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today reviewed the law and order situation in the state and directed the officials to not link terrorist acts with any religion and take appropriate action against the guilty based on clinching evidence.

The Chief Minister further announced that the policemen found involved in corruption or laxity in work would be dismissed with immediate effect and also ordered security at all the historical places and sites of statues of eminent people.

In her nearly three-hour review meeting with all the district magistrates, SSP, DIGs, IGs, DGP, CS and other officials, Ms Mayawati strictly directed the officials to punish the people breaking the law on the basis of evidence.

She asked the officials to act independently against the guilty people and not bow down to pressure from any quarter. ''If anyone puts pressure on you to let off any criminal or weaken the case, you are free to call me and tell the name of the person mounting the pressure,'' she told the officials at the meeting.

While briefing mediapersons about the review meeting, state principal secretary (information) Vijay Shanker Pandey said though the Chief Minister admitted that the law and situation in the state had improved, more had to be done and the process for prosecuting the guilty should be faster.

''No balancing act should be done by the police in any communal violence related incidents and if any policemen or official found guilty of dereliction of duty or involved in corruption would be dismissed from service immediately,'' she announced.

He said the the Chief Minister took stock of the situation vis-a-vis terrorism in the state and direct the officials that innocent people should not be implicated and action be taken only after clinching evidence.

''In no way, should terrorism be linked with any religion and the action on terrorist act should only be done on merit,'' she said.

Mr Pandey said Ms Mayawati had also instructed the officials to provide adequate security at all the historicial and other sites where statues of emminent personalities have been.

She reiterated that at her government would not allow anti-national activities in the state at any cost. ''Action should be taken on merit as terrorism is not linked to any religion.'' Talking about the sensitivity of communal violence related cases, Ms Mayawati said not a single incident should be ignored and policemen doing so would be punished.

Mr Pandey said on the direction of the Chief Minister all the SSPs will hold a meeting in their districts within the next three days with all the sub-ordinate police officers includings SHOs, DSPs and ASPs to inform them about the directives while, in the terrorist-hit districts, the DIs, and IGs would also be present.

At present 35 districts of UP have been identified as terrorist infested.

Meanwhile, in a separate directive to the district magistrates, Ms Mayawati directed them to give compensation to all the affected families in the rains and floods and step up the rescue operations in their districts.

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