NEWS

AP may bring back tough law to fight terror

By Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
August 26, 2007 22:37 IST

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy on Sunday said that the state government is contemplating to reenact the Andhra Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act to curb terrorist activities in the state.

He said the state government will also consider appointing an expert committee to suggest measures for strengthening the police set-up.

Speaking after an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, the home minister said that it was for the central government to consider about enacting a countrywide legislation like Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Jana Reddy recalled that the state had enacted APCOCA in 2001 with 'sunset provision' of three years and the Act lapsed in 2004. He said that certain provisions of APCOCA needed to be revised in view of the changing circumstances and the state government will consider re-enacting APCOCA with these amendments.

He said that several political parties had favoured a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry.

He said some leaders felt a CBI probe will he helpful since it is an all-India organisation with an international network.

Asked about the failure of the city police to act on alerts sounded by the Intelligence Bureau, he said that these were general alerts issued by the IB from time to time and they did not mention about any specific threat to Hyderabad or Andhra Pradesh. These were all-India alerts, not specifically directed at any city or state. He said terrorism was not a
state-specific problem but it posed national and international menace. 

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

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