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POTA panel begins review

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI July 8. The three-member committee headed by Justice Arun B. Saharya today started a review of the arrests made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) in 14 States, including Tamil Nadu, almost a year after the MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, was arrested.

The committee, which includes U. Rehman, IAS (retd.), and Arvind S. Inamdar, IPS (retd.), had written to the 14 State Governments, requesting them to send information on cases registered under POTA in the States.

Mr. Justice Saharya told The Hindu that only five of the 14 States had furnished the details. Reminders had been sent to the States to send the data immediately along with the copies of the FIRs. Tamil Nadu had given details in respect of nine cases, Delhi (16), Uttar Pradesh (14), Gujarat (2) and Maharashtra (4) and the committee began a review of these cases.

Tamil Nadu is one of the States where a number of cases have been registered under POTA. Besides Mr. Vaiko, those arrested include P. Nedumaran and R.R. Gopal, Editor of the Tamil biweekly, Nakkheeran.

Mr. Justice Saharya said that besides looking into the details from the States, the committee was also looking into six complaints of "misuse of POTA" — three on behalf of Mr. Gopal, (one by his father, one from Mr. Vaiko, one memorandum signed by MPs); one from the wife of a detenu, Palani, and two in respect of arrests made in Delhi. The complaints had been forwarded to Tamil Nadu and Delhi for their response, which was awaited.

On whether any time-frame had been fixed for the review of the cases, he said, "we are conscious of the stringent provisions of POTA and equally the human rights of those arrested. We have discussed the modalities on how to go about it. If necessary, we will go to the respective States for the purpose of review."

The committee has been asked to make a comprehensive review of the use of the Act so far in various States.

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