Bhubaneswar: Seeking a uniform policy to
counter terrorism, the All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF)
on Tuesday said central intelligence agencies should be given
freedom in their operations so that elusive gangsters like
Dawood Ibrahim are captured.
The issue was raised by the Front's chairman M S Bitta
while addressing a media conference here along with Ruksana,
who had killed a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander in September last
year.
Demanding absolute autonomy for CBI, IB and RAW, Bitta
said Dawood Ibrahim could also be booked if central agencies
were given freedom at least in their operations.
"I am sure Dawood could be booked if the CBI was given
absolute freedom," he said.
Expressing concern over the delay in execution of
capital punishment orders against terrorists, Bitta said there
was no point in shielding Afzal Guru and Kasab.
"Terrorists have no religion. Execution of court
orders should not be delayed in case of Afzal or others," he
said.
There should be no mercy for people who indulged in
terror acts, he said, while blaming "vote bank politics" as
the major hurdle in the fight against terrorism.
Bitta also asked the Centre to convene an all-party
meeting to chalk out a policy on countering terrorism.
While lauding Home Minister P Chadambaram, the AIATF
demanded opening of a new ministry to look after the welfare
of terror-hit families, which mostly comprised of those from
the army.
"It is primary responsibility of the central
government to rehabilitate the families of jawans who laid
down their lives while fighting against terrorists," he added.
Bitta also asked the Centre to convene an all-party
meeting to chalk out a policy on countering terrorism.
While lauding Home Minister P Chadambaram, the AIATF
demanded opening of a new ministry to look after the welfare
of terror-hit families, which mostly comprised of those from
the army.
"It is primary responsibility of the central
government to rehabilitate the families of jawans who laid
down their lives while fighting against terrorists," he added.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, January 05, 2010, 17:47