Chennai, Jan 15: The Tamil Nadu government has tightened Pota rules by declaring the entire state as a ''notified area'' to attract Section 4 (possession of certain unauthorised arms) of the Centre's anti-terror law. The December 25 dated government order implied that anyone found in possession of illegal arms and ammunition in any part of the state could be arrested under Pota (Prevention of Terrorism Act) even if they had been arrested under the Arms Act or Explosive Substances Act. The government, which took a lead in invoking the provisions of Pota soon after the Centre brought in the Act last year to deal with terrorist activities by arresting MDMK leader Vaiko, MP, has given a wider scope to the law now.
Those detained under Section 4 of Pota could be punished with imprisonment for life or with a fine which might exceed Rs 10 lakh or both. With the entire state now becoming a ''notified area'', extremists of the Muslim Defence Force (MDF) and some associates of forest brigand Veerappan who were recently arrested and found in possession of arms and ammunition, faced the danger of attracting Pota, police sources said. In a major crackdown in connection with the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6, the state police had nabbed about 20 MDF extremists and recovered arms and ammunition from them.
Police interrogation revealed that these ultras had planned to create terror in the state by planting bombs in temples and conspired to assassinate some important political leaders.
Besides MDF extremists, the special task force, in a major breakthrough, had also recently arrested five members of Tamil Liberation Front, led by Ilavarasan, who were part of Veerappan's gang and were involved in the abduction of former Karnataka minister N Nagappa. Bureau Report