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Monday, Sep 15, 2008
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Yeddyurappa to review law and order in coastal region today

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister condemns attacks on prayer halls

‘Extensive security arrangements to be ensured in the State’
Chief Minister calls upon Centre to opt for POTA to prevent terror attacks

Discussion: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa holding a high-level meeting with senior officials in Bangalore on Sunday. Home Minister V.S. Acharya (left) and Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao are seen.

Bangalore: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is now touring Mysore will be in Udupi on Monday to review the law and order situation in the coastal region, following Sunday’s attacks on Christian prayer halls in three districts.

Mr. Yeddyurappa told The Hindu on Sunday that directions had already been issued to the police in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Chikmagalur districts besides the Inspector-General of Police (Western Range), to immediately restore law and order in the region and arrest the persons involved. “I have told the police to book the culprits under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA), if need be. Nobody is above law.”

The Chief Minister condemned the attacks on places of worship and said that “irrespective of religion, creed or political ideologies, all persons connected with the attacks will be brought to book. I call upon the people to cooperate with the authorities in maintaining peace and to report any untoward incident.”

Earlier in the day, after chairing a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in the State, following the bomb blasts in New Delhi on Saturday, the Chief Minister called upon the Centre to opt for the Prevention of Organised Terrorism Act (POTA) to prevent terror attacks. “The Centre has been soft-pedalling the issue of terrorism which has emboldened the terrorist organisations in the country. The only way out of this situation is to re-impose POTA or bring in a stronger legislation to prevent acts of terrorism,” he said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had alerted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the attacks but the Centre had not taken any precautions to prevent the bomb blasts. “The fight against terrorism should be go on without any prejudice. Anti-social elements should be booked irrespective of their religion or caste or political affiliations, but the Union Government has failed on this count,” he added.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that in the wake of the blasts in New Delhi, the State Government would ensure extensive security arrangements in the State, particularly in Bangalore. The Government had already released Rs. 25 crore for upgrading and modernising the police force, he added.

He condemned the terrorist attacks which had resulted in the death of 30 people. The attacks were aimed at rendering the democracy weak, he added.

Home Minister V.S. Acharya, Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao, Director-General of Police R. Srikumar, Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari, Additional Director-General of Police (Internal Security) Neelam Achuta Rao, and other senior police officials were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the Legislative Assembly and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded the resignation of Mr. Acharya. He has also demanded a judicial inquiry into the attacks on Christian prayer halls in three districts on Sunday allegedly by Bajrang Dal activists.

Mr. Kharge charged that after the BJP came to power the law and order situation in the State had worsened. “This is because the BJP have allowed the Sangh Parivar outfits to have a free run in the State.” He wanted a sitting judge to investigate the attacks.

President of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) Merajuddin Patel alleged that the attacks on minorities, particularly Christians, had increased in recent months. “The Janata Dal (S) condemns the attacks and would like to convey to all minorities that the Janata Dal (S) is with them and will fight for their safety.”

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