Advani for 'legal protection' to policemen fighting terrorism

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 5. Stressing the need for upholding human rights in a democratic society, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, today argued in favour of granting legal protection to the policemen, who acted without any mala fide against terrorist elements in the cause of national duty.

``Nobody will accept violation of human rights. We have to see that no policeman who acted in a bonafide manner, without any mala fide, is hounded out for extraneous reasons. Suitable changes in legislation may be necessary for the purpose,'' Mr. Advani said.

Inaugurating the 36th annual conference of the Directors-General of Police and Inspectors-General of Police here, he said that consultations with the Law Commission were on to examine amendments for giving protection under the law and the Constitution to the security personnel engaged in anti-terrorist operations.

Mr. Advani's proposal for giving relief to the police personnel who had fought terrorism in Punjab was first made at a public meeting in Jalandhar recently. He rebutted reports that he had favoured amnesty to policemen who had crushed terrorism in Punjab. ``I never used the word `amnesty', but only said that some relief under the law and the Constitution to the policemen who fought terrorism should be given. But it has stirred a debate in the media and evoked protests from some quarters,'' he said.

Pointing out that there were safeguards for securitymen in the event of an open, declared war in the form of laws like Emergency provisions or the Disturbed Areas Act, he said there was no such protection during proxy-war and acts of terrorism. ``In an abnormal situation of proxy-war, there are no legal provisions to give protection to a policeman who has done something in a bonafide manner without any extraneous consideration''.

Referring to the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on national security, Mr. Advani announced the setting up of a Multi-Agency Centre for counter-terrorism and a joint task force on intelligence, both under the umbrella of the Intelligence Bureau.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Intelligence Bureau Director, Mr. K.P. Singh, said security, police and intelligence officials did not seek a ``general amnesty'' for violation of human rights, but they needed protection in genuine cases against vexatious litigation and witch-hunting.

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