The Hindu : National : Mayawati: crush terror but hands off innocents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Mayawati: crush terror but hands off innocents

Special Correspondent

Mayawati

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday directed the police and district officials to strictly enforce the anti-terror mechanism. She, however, cautioned the officials against taking action against innocent persons. The security agencies should have enough evidence before suspects were hauled up.

A terrorist did not belong to any religion or caste; he was, in fact, a threat to society. As such, action should be taken purely on the merit of the case and no other factor should be taken into consideration, she said.

The Chief Minister, who reviewed the law and order situation in the State in the light of the recent arrests of suspected terrorists hailing from the State, stressed proper implementation of her directives in her nearly three-hour address to district magistrates, Senior Superintendents of Police, DIGs, IGs and senior government officials. Under no circumstances should the officers succumb to pressure from the “top” — the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Secretary or the Director-General of Police — while handling a case.

In a clear departure from the past, the district officials were allowed to speak directly to the Chief Minister directly on the phone should an issue which required her immediate attention arise.

Ms. Mayawati warned the officials of strict action if her directives were not followed.

No balancing act

On the simultaneous need to curb communalism, the Chief Minister said there should be no “balancing act” in handling a situation fraught with the possibility of a communal riot.

Only the guilty should be arrested, and trivial issues, which could lead to communal violence, should be nipped in the bud.

Vijay Shankar Pandey, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, told journalists that orders were issued to district police officials to convene a meeting of the police station in-charge, circle officers and ASPs within the next three days to explain to them Ms. Mayawati’s directives.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National