Terror has no colour, religion: Government

The Minister said the National Investigation Agency (NIA), established in 2009, is handling 52 cases of terrorism and extremism. Charge sheets have been filed in 29 cases and 334 persons arrested so far by the agency, he said.

"In one of the cases assigned to the NIA- the Malegaon bomb blast case of 2006- thirteen persons were chargesheetedby the state police, out of which 9 were arrested and 4 areabsconding," Singh said. No evidence had been found against the 9 arrested and they were released on bail, he said.

"Acquittal from charges cannot be considered to prove that innocent civilians are being wrongly framed," he said. Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) claimed that in cases where no witness had come forward and no charge sheet had been filed, the Uttar Pradesh government had promptly released those arrested.

Defending the central government, Singh said, "Bail is a judicial process. Bail is given by a court." Some of the members mentioned specific cases and claimed that individuals booked were innocent but still they were

languishing in jails.

Saugata Ray (TMC) alleged that UAPA is a draconian Act just as TADA was earlier and it is being misused. He asked the government about the Batla House encountercase, saying even a Congress general secretary had visited the village of those allegedly involved in the case. The Minister said, "The case has been settled by the courts. No strictures were passed by the courts against the Delhi Police.They (courts) have said it was not a false encounter."

Ray accused the government of speaking in two voices. Lalu Prasad (RJD) maintained that UAPA is a more dangerous law than POTA. The Minister also informed the House that the government does not maintain data like religion of the individuals under arrest.

Members demanded a separate discussion on the issue in the House and Speaker Meira Kumar said she was open to the suggestion and MPs should give a notice for it.

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