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"Terrorists have begun to use military tactics...At present, terrorists are using sophisticated small weapons and explosive devices to perpetrate terror. In future, they are likely to use nuclear, biological and chemical devices and other mechanical and psychological devices," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said while inaugurating a two-day conference of police DGs and IGs organised by the Intelligence Bureau.
The Home Minister said for creating a fear psychosis, terrorists choose targets which can lead to disturbance of bigger and more complicated nature.
"That is why they appear to be attacking the places of religious nature, so that conflicts between the people belonging to different religions or communities can be created," he said.
In an apparent reference to terror strikes at places of worship, he said terrorists wanted to use the psychology of unsuspecting and innocent persons to flare up communal disturbances.
Expressing concern over inter-state ramification over terrorism, he strongly favoured a central agency by amending laws but said that it was not possible till all the states cooperated. "Let us hope that it would become available sooner than later."
Ruling out a POTA-like law, he said the relevant provisions of the repealed act had been introduced in the unlawful activities act.
"We have laws, which have provisions to deal with terrorism. They should be used properly," Patil said, virtually rejecting BJP's demands for a tough anti-terror law like POTA and a suggestion by the second Administrative Reforms Commission to have a new and comprehensive law to tackle terror.
The Home Minister said when POTA was repealed, some relevant chapters in it were transferred into the Unlawful Activities Prevention Law, "lock, stock and barrel".
The chapters have provisions useful to control terrorist activities, free flow of funds to the terrorist groups and relating to the admissibility of certain kinds of evidence collected with the help of electronic equipment, the Home Minister said.
He said there were provisions in POTA which went against the basic principles of criminal jurisprudence relating to the onus of proof and admissibility of the confessions, not made according to the principles adopted in the Criminal Procedure Code.
"It is not possible to have a law like POTA on the statute book. The relevant provisions in POTA, needed to control terrorism, have been introduced and retained in the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act," he said.
Anguished over the tardy utilisation of central funds by state governments for police modernisation, Patil said if funds remain unutilised, the purpose of strengthening the forces cannot be fulfilled.
Noting that the police-population ratio in the country was "not very comfortable", he said there were many vacancies in the police which have remained unfilled for many years. "If the number of vacancies is around one lakh, we need to take immediate actions to fill them," the Union Home Minister said.
Advocating cooperation between the states and their forces to control terrorism, Patil said each State can have a nodal officer, who can deal with his counterparts in other states.
Asking the states to strengthen the intelligence gathering mechanism, the Home Minister said the best weapon, which can be used to counter terrorism, is intelligence.
"No other device or weapon can be as useful as intelligence can be. Unfortunately, the machinery, which is with the States, is not strong enough to collect the intelligence," he said and advocated that it was necessary to strengthen them without delays.
The states and the Union help one another, in sharing the intelligence. "What is given by the Union to the States is not always of operational nature. Some times, misunderstanding develops when such matters are discussed publicly," he said.
To control the terrorism in the hinterland, Patil said "we have to see that infiltration of terrorists from other countries do not take place through sea routes and through the borders between India and friendly countries. The coast lines also have to be guarded through Navy, coast guard, coastal police."
Welcoming the Home Minister, Intelligence Bureau Director P C Haldar said the country was facing a new type of terrorism from religious fundamentalist organisations. He said the annual conference would review terrorism situation in the country threadbare and discuss measures to counter the fresh challenges.
The function was attended by three Ministers of State for Home -- Sriprakash Jaiswal, Shakeel Ahmed, Radhika Selvi, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar and Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta.
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This good for nothing home minister now seems to be worried, because if nuclear weapon is used, even he may not be spared. All these times he was safe in his well protected palace while general public have been killed indescriminately by terrorists.
FOR MALEGAON TERROR ATTACKS FINALLY POLICE FORCE INVOKED MCOCA. HERE THIS JOKER IS TALKING ABOUT NUCLEAR/CHEMICAL ATTACKS BUT FEELS THAT EXISTING CRIMINAL CODE IS ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH THESE PRECEIVED THREATS. IF AT ALL ANY PERSON IS TO BE TRIED UNDER ANTI TERROR LAWS MR. PATIL SHOULD BE ON THE VERY TOP FOR BEING INDIFFERENT, NEGLIGENT, INDIFFERENT AND IDIOT AND THEREBY ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING TERROR ATTACKS AND COUNTER ATTACKS.
Shivraj Patil is a loose nut. Sonia please replace this nut.
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U are a gr8 man mr patil. We should make the next prime minister. You being the frind of Trror brothers they might not blast Nuke where u are staying and atleast the people of new delhi will be safe
Almost all the NRI hindus are communal and violent. You guys want to kill all the other minorities and lower cast. Even the Indian Media is corrupt and communal. I know this comments will not be posted.
He is a gem of a person Mr Patil!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Giving the news about the news.
What do you expect, when our Home Minister is onyl interested in his clothes. He should be spending time on Fashion TV than making statements like these. He doesn't understand 10% of what he says and he has no guts to do even 0.1% of it. All that he is upto nowadays is to please Sonia by trying to find excuse to ban RSS and Bajrang Dal. His disgusting party should be charged as Anti National for allowing lacs of Bangladeshis into the country. As for Afzal.. it's alltogether a different story.The bill boards in Pune today read .. 'Narco for Sadhvi and Clemency for Afzal'. This is what our Home ministry has come to.
This is what happens when you have idiots hold position for political reasons! For last 50 years Congress party has done more damage to the country and it's citizens. They are more worried and concerned about keeping Nehru family in power than the welfare of India and it's citizens. We need change in a big way, put an end to one family rule of India.
Now BJP is in limelight in terror attacks; now POTa should be used as demanded by these rascals.Since its inceptionn in 1988, all trouble started; BJP with the help of RSS;VHP;B.D.; is dividing country on the basis of catse
It's a great tragedy that our country has Mr Shivraj Patil as Home Minister. Just to cover up his failures, he utters such big big meaningless words. His name will be written in bold letters in the history, if he comes out with the list of failures as per the gravity.
what a dirty main he is, it is a height of worst politics, if tomorrow his prediction may come true tha he will say I already warned, it is up to individual state govt. to remain alert......ha ha ha ha Patil, you are home minister of 120 crores, 64 blasts in just six months only can happen in India and under congress regim. God save India....
Oh patil you appear again? where were you hiding since several days?you remember that your constituancy has rejected you? you remember that you are a defeated canidate and now in Delhi due to blessing from Italian Soniya? you still remember that there has been 64 bomb blast in past six months and those killed are 98% hindues?you know that in just killing 4 muslims ATS has wrongly fabricated Sadvi and Army personnel? and finally have you changed your siuts to appear for media? Patil absolutely we don't want you.
You and govermnet are responsible for this by ignoring the sentiments and keeping linient towards muslims even after Hindus deaths in various bomb blasts. I am happy now they that the Hindus have awaken to protect themselves. Jai hind.
With Shivraj Patil as Home minister it is certainly going to happen and he'll plead with them for a few minutes so that he can change his clothes before they explode the bomb. Only losers will vote for Congress and UPA in the next general elections
Is he fit to be minister.He lost in election
Why do you want to scare the people of India Mr.Patil? Firstly We the people know that you and your GOVT are incapable of preventing nuclear / biological terror attack and secondly even if they are caught before or after the attack You Mr.Patil will talk of human rights of the terrorists if they belong to a minority community.Worst case scenario would be you would blame it on some Sadhvi,an Army personal and slap MCOCA.YOUR GOVT FUNCTIONS ON THE LOGIC OF "PUNISHING THE VICTIMS OF TERROR" AND "FREEING THE PERPETRATORS OF TERROR".
i think all blast took place in india since 5 years or more is well planned by Bjp Vhp and B D now they have come on scence once this crminals are arrested.
Hello Mr. Patil,I am not sure why this happened but unfortunately, whome ministry is one of the biggest faliures of Indian Governance for last 4 years. I hope we would come above family favours and do better in future for the country.With Regards