Enact new anti-terrorism Act: Bitta

GURUVAYUR: The Centre should initiate new anti-terrorism Act to execute stringent action against terrorists.

The trial has to conducted by the military courts and the punishments should be effected within six months, former Union Minister and chairman of All-India Anti-Terrorism Front (AIATF) Maninder Singh Bitta told this website’s newspaper here on Monday.

The prolonged judicial trials and the political intervention in cases related to terrorism have to be stopped. The orders of the apex court have to be implemented immediately and the system of mercy plea in terrorism-related cases should be stopped, he said.

The Union Government should not hold talks with Pakistan until they return the 72 Indian soldiers kept in Pak jails since the 1971 Indo-Pak war and they stop training terrorists in the country, he said. The Indo-Pak bilateral talks is given undue media attention.

“Political parties and state governments should join hands and extend support to the Centre to combat terrorism,” he said

AIATF is a non-political outfit engaged in anti-terrorism activities and provide assistance to the victims of terrorism, he said.

An international convention on anti-terrorism will be held on September 11 in New Delhi. Awards will confer on military, paramilitary and police personnel who are engaged in anti-terrorism activities at the convention.

Widows of those who sacrificed their life for the country while performing their duties will be provided with financial assistance, Maninder Bitta added.

Maninder Singh Bitta, with his family, had darsan at the Sree Krishna temple here on Monday. He offered a thulabharam of butter and remitted Rs 7501. His sons Vimal Singh and Amarjit Singh offered thulabharams of butter and coins respectively.