THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ORDINANCE, 2001
The articles which cause concern
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Section
3(8) places responsibility on all persons to disclose information which the
person knows or believes to be of material assistance in preventing any
terrorist activity as soon as reasonably practicable to the police. However,
exception has been provided in case of persons engaged as legal attorney of the
accused who may have acquired such knowledge for the purpose of preparing the
defence for the accused.
Section
14 provides a new provision which makes it obligatory to furnish information in
respect of a terrorist offence. Failure to furnish the information called for
or deliberately furnishing false information to investigating officer shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or fine
or both. The investigating officer can call for such information only with
prior approval in writing of an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of
Police.
TERRORIST
ORGANISATIONS:
A
person also commits an offence if he arranges, manages or assists in arranging
or
managing
a meeting which he knows is --
(a) to support a terrorist organisation,
(b) to further the activities of a terrorist organisation,
or
(c) to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to
belong to a terrorist organisation.
A
third clause in the Ordinance provides for interception of communication for a
period of sixty days, of any one who has contact with a terrorist group or
individual.
More details on the ordinance at http://mha.nic.in/pr102001.htm#2810
THE
GOOD MINISTERS ARE FUDGING
Sevanti Ninan
When
terrorists have been making news in India for at least two decades, journalists
cover them much as they cover any one else. They are given access by the law
breakers—call them terrorists, insurgents or militants---because those who
challenge the might of the state also need the oxygen of publicity. An Anita
Pratap can get access to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supremo V
Pirabhakaran repeatedly and over a long period because he needs to communicate
through her. A Bhindranwale, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, a Veerappan,--they all
communicate with journalists because they are their source of access to the
rest of the world. The same holds true of Osama Bin Laden.
If terro