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TN government tables anti-terrorism bill

In a bid to curb terrorism, the Tamil Nadu government today introduced in the state assembly a bill providing for stringent punishment to terrorists as promised in its white paper released last month on the February 14 serial blasts at Coimbatore.

The bill, called Tamil Nadu Prevention of Terrorist Activities Bill, is more or less on the lines of the now-repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (prevention) Act, with certain minor modifications.

As promised in the white paper, the bill seeks to constitute a designated court to try, in-camera, terrorism-related offences. The accused, as per the bill's provisions, will not be able to seek anticipatory bail from the judiciary.

The bill seeks to confer, on the designated court, powers to extend the remand period of the accused to 60 days, instead of 15 days as done now by other courts. Also, the investigating agencies will be allowed to take six months's time to file chargesheets in the respective cases.

The bill, like TADA, seeks to make admissible, as evidence, a confession made by a person before a police official not less than the superintendent rank.

The bill seeks to impose punishment of death or imprisonment for life and up to Rs 1 million as fine for offences of murder and a minimum punishment of three years's imprisonment, as against five years in TADA, for abetting acts of terrorism.

Introducing the bill in the House, state law minister Alladi Aruna defended the move saying that existing laws had no effective provisions to curb terrorist activities.

The bill, which will be in force for five years from the date of its enactment, has defined terrorism as any act perpetrated with an intent to strike terror among the people or any section of the people, or to adversely affect the harmony among different sections of people, using bombs and other explosive substances, in a manner causing, or likely to cause, death of, or injuries to, anyone or damage and destroy property.

The bill has defined terrorists as those who abet, instigate, conspire, attempt, incite or knowingly facilitate the commission of a terrorist act.

As per the bill, abetment of terrorism will include association or communication with persons indulging in terrorism, passing on, or publication of any information likely to assist such persons and rendering of any assistance, financial or otherwise, to such persons.

It seeks to punish those with an intent to commit a terrorist act and possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive devices. The sentence can range from a minimum of three years to a life term.

It provides for conferring, on investigating officers, powers of seizure, or attachment of property known to have been derived from commitment of terrorist activities.

The bill has stated that anyone convicted by the designated court would be able to appeal to the high court.

Aruna said the bill was being introduced as terrorist activities in the state had caused concern to the state government. Terrorism was a new crime, far serious in nature, graver in impact and highly dangerous in consequence, he pointed out.

UNI

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