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Advani denies favouring amnesty for cops

Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Wednesday refuted media reports that he had favoured amnesty to policemen who have been accused of human rights violations, while fighting terrorism.

He, however, said the home ministry and the law ministry is discussing a proposal to amend laws to provide protection to security personnel carrying out anti-terrorist operations in different parts of the country.

"There are safeguards for security personnel during an open and declared war, when provisions of laws like Disturbed Areas Act or emergency provisions are in force. But in an abnormal situation of proxy war, there are no legal provisions to protect a policeman who has done something in a bonafide manner to provide security to the common people," Advani said, while inaugurating the 36th conference of chiefs of police, intelligence and central police organisations.

"There should be some provision in law ... so that no policeman, who acted firmly and without any malafide against terrorist elements in the cause of his national duty, is hounded out for extraneous reasons," he said.

"Suitable changes in legislation may be necessary for the purpose," Advani added.

Referring to the recommendations of the group of ministers on security, he announced setting up of a multi-agency centre for counter-terrorism and a joint task force on intelligence, both under the umbrella of the Intelligence Bureau.

The minister said the 'primary' focus of the recommendations was the need to upgrade the state police and intelligence agencies.

He said the police and the intelligence agencies need to be 'operationally intertwined' with the central agencies 'in order to give the much needed thrust and cohesion to our counter-action against terrorism having inter-state and transnational dimensions'.

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