Karat wants security agencies monitored

Calls for review of 2011 amendments in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

July 15, 2013 09:14 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 08:27 pm IST - Allahabad

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat on Monday lashed out at the role of security agencies in probing terror cases, saying innocent youths continued to be implicated in terror cases and security agencies should be made “accountable” to Parliament.

“There is nobody to monitor the security and intelligence agencies and thus powers are being misused. It is imperative that they be made accountable to Parliament and a parliamentary committee formed to monitor them,” he said at a dharna in Lucknow, held by Rihai Manch, a forum for the release of innocent youths implicated in terror cases.

The dharna, held in protest against the death of terror accused Khalid Mujahid, completed 55 days on Monday.

“As Khalid was killed in police custody, a CBI enquiry should be called immediately,” said Mr. Karat.

He also hit out at the State for not implementing the findings of the Nimish Commission, which had termed Khalid’s arrest as suspicious.

On innocent Muslims lodged in U.P. jail on terror charges, but later acquitted, he said he had discussed the issue of provision of compensation to and rehabilitation of such persons with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav six months ago but no action was taken till now.

“The State government has not done anything till now. No action was taken against the investigating officers who implicated these persons on false terror charges,” he said, while pointing out that some persons even got acquitted after serving 14 years in jail.

Mr. Karat also called for the review of 2011 amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, saying that after the 26/11 attack, the government passed the amendments in a hurry. The party had met and raised the issue thrice with then Home Minister, P. Chidambaram.

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