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Law to tackle communal
violence on the anvil

What is India News Service, Thursday, 4 November 2004, 2000 hrs IST

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said a model law to tackle all aspects of communal violence in the country would soon be put in place. 

The comprehensive law would be drafted based on past experiences. The proposed Bill would be put up for discussion among various groups, committees and MPs and inputs from State police and intelligence agencies would also be taken, he said. 

"The UPA Government is determined to bring in a model, comprehensive law to tackle the menace of communal violence," he said while inaugurating the 39th annual conference of Directors-General of Police organised by the Intelligence Bureau here. Though the communal situation in the country had been peaceful for the past one year, a law was needed to act as a deterrent. 

Mr. Patil's message to the top police officials was: "Let us act and not react. If you act, results will be better. Anticipate an event and be prepared to face it. You have to manage the contradiction of acting with determination but with compassion only then long term results will be better." 

Infiltration in J&K reducing, says Patil: Stating that a coordinated multi-tiered deployment along the Line of Control (LoC) has further reduced cross-border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil expressed concern over Naxalism \93remaining\94 a serious threat to internal security.

Centre reiterates offer of unconditional talks: Three days before the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre today reiterated the offer for unconditional dialogue with the separatists.

Five ultras gunned down in J-K: Security forces shot dead five suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, who were hiding in a mosque at Khilangund in Pulwama district.

NDA has nothing to do with BJP agenda, says Fernandes: Janata Dal(U) president and NDA convener George Fernandes on Wednesday called on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and discussed his party's reservation against BJP's reported attempt to revive the Hindutva plank.

Pak national gets death in Blueline blast case: A Pakistani national, accused in the 1997 Blueline bomb blast case was sentenced to death by a city court on Wednesday. The blast in a crowded Blueline bus had left four dead and 24 maimed. 

Zahira retracts statements: Giving a strange twist to the Best Bakery case, the key eyewitness, Zahira Sheikh, today retracted her statements before a Mumbai court. She claimed that she was forced to level false charges against the 21 accused.

RD Min announces new food for work scheme: Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Wednesday said the Government would introduce the Employment Guarantee Bill in the forthcoming session of Parliament. 

India, US mutual assistance pact in criminal matters: India on Wednesday formally approved a mutual legal assistance treaty in criminal matters with the United States. The Government also sanctioned Rs 351.87 crore for reconstruction and completion of a dam in the Herat province of Afghanistan.
 
 

States

Barnala sworn in TN Governor: Former Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala was sworn in as the Tamil Nadu Governor for the second time at Raj Bhavan here this morning.

Karnataka denies curbs on non-Kannada films: The State Government informed the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday that it has neither prohibited theatres from exhibiting non-Kannada films nor imposed any condition in this regard.

Pesticides hit kids\92 health in Bathinda cotton belt: Children as young as five in the cotton growing areas of Bathinda are showing signs of severe short and long-term mental damage due to exposure to pesticides, according to a study.

Film festival sidetracks Goan designer\92s heritage costume museum: Goan designer Wendell Rodricks who had set his heart on a unique heritage museum to showcase costumes and clothes from his home state, has found his plans sidelined by the government\92s preoccupation with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). 

Neighbours

Karzai the winner in Afghan election: Hamid Karzai has won Afghanistan's landmark presidential election, a spokesman for its electoral board said on Wednesday.

Ties with India will improve, says Pak PM: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday that Pakistan wished to turn a new chapter in its relations with India and that the process of composite dialogue and confidence-building measures had improved the atmosphere.

Don't go to Iraq, India tells expats: India has warned its citizens and the expatriates against travelling to Iraq, pointing out that a travel ban announced in August was still in force.

Plea to form medical board for Dr Khan: The Pakistan Supreme Court was requested on Wednesday to order constitution of a medical board to examine Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan in view of his 'deteriorating health'.

Rockets fired at scouts camp: Militants fired rockets at a scouts fort in North Waziristan late on Tuesday. However, the attack did not cause any damage or casualty.


View from abroad

Bush pledges to fight terror, help democracies in Iraq, Afghanistan: Setting his agenda for the second term in office, US President George W Bush pledged to continue the fight against terrorism with "every resource," and help emerging democracies of Afghanistan and Iraq to grow in strength.


Overall:

Government said it would draft a model law: Home Minister Shivraj Patil said he would use past experience to draw up a law against communal violence.