Date:01/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010157360100.htm

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Anti-terror laws come into force

Vinay Kumar

New Delhi: With President Pratibha Devisingh Patil giving her assent to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, the new anti-terror regime came into force on Wednesday, about a month after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed nearly 200 lives.

The Bills were passed by Parliament in the last session that ended on December 23.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the Presidential assent was received on Wednesday and the NIA and UAPA Bills have become Acts from Wednesday. “The regulations have come into effect as we speak now,” Mr. Chidambaram said at a press conference here.

Mr. Chidambaram said the NIA would get its Director General over the next few days. “The NIA will be established to investigate terrorist offences. As and when any case is assigned to it, it will take up investigation.” According to him, terrorism was, and is, the foremost issue in the minds of people.

The Minister said he had announced a number of decisions and measures that would be taken by the government to face the challenge of terrorism. “Work is in progress to implement those decisions.”

The Home Ministry would bring shortly before the Cabinet a note on establishing National Security Guard (NSG) hubs in four main cities. More such hubs would be set up in other cities. Work was on to set up 20 counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism schools and a decision taken to procure 20,000 bullet proof jackets for the para-military forces on an emergent basis.

To a query on Pakistan’s continued response to Mumbai terror attacks, Mr. Chidambaram said: “They are in a state of denial. Everything that we will give will be denied. Their own television channel had interviewed the father of Ajmal Kasab [the lone terrorist who was captured alive by Mumbai police]. Kasab himself has written to Pakistani government, what more evidence does it need?”

To another query, he said there was no ransom demand from the terrorists. Investigations into the attacks were proceeding on the right track.

Asked about execution of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, he said the Home Ministry was examining the case.