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'Saffron terrorism' involved in many blasts: Chidambaram
'Saffron terrorism' involved in many blasts: Chidambaram
PTI, Aug 25, 2010, 10.39am IST
NEW DELHI: Warning that there has been no let up in attempts to radicalise the youth, home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said a new phenomenon of "saffron terrorism" involved in many bomb blasts has been uncovered.
Inaugurating a conference of chiefs of police forces of the country, Chidambaram also expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir Valley and hoped that in the next few days, a "starting point" would be found to reach out to the protestors and restart the process of a dialogue.
"There is no let up in the attempts to radicalise young men and women in India. Besides, there is recently uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past," he said.
Chidambaram said beginning 2005 and with the exception of 2008, the law and order situation in J&K has been extremely benign with few incidents and fewer casualties.
Unfortunately since June this year, there has been an unexpected turn of events, he said.
"I am afraid J&K is now caught in a vicious cycle of stone pelting, lathicharge, teargassing and firing, leading to casualties and resulting in more stone pelting," he said.
The home minister said the security forces have been instructed to act with great restraint and the situation has not yet returned to normal.
Chidambaram said the Central government has acknowledged that a political solution must be found to the problems of J&K and the Central government has offered a dialogue with all sections of the people and political parties and groups of the state.
"We are concerned that we have not been able to stop the vicious cycle in which the state is caught. However, it is my hope that, in the next few days, we would be able to find that elusive 'starting point' from where we could reach out to the protestors, reassure them of their rights and dignity, restore peace and order, redeem the promises made, and re-start the process of a dialogue that will lead to a solution," he said.
Chidambaram said through 2009 and in the first eight months of 2010, the security situation was severely challenged by forces inimical both within and outside the country.
"Contrary to perceptions in a section of the media - and consequently, among sections of the people - the Indian state has been able to stand up to these challenges and face them with confidence and courage," he said.
The home minister said save for one incident, the last 21 months have been remarkably free of any terrorist attack and the attack on the German bakery in Pune was indeed a blot and hoped that the suspects will be apprehended soon.
Referring to the Naxal problem, Chidambaram said despite setbacks, security forces have been able to reassert their control in several Maoist affected districts.
He said this year alone so far 424 civilians have been killed and of these 192 were killed after being named "police informers".
"We have called upon the CPI (Maoist) to abjure violence and come up for talks. I regret to say that there has been no direct and credible response to our offer of talks," he said.
Saffron terror a new phenomenon, says Chidambaram
Saffron terror a new phenomenon, says Chidambaram
TNN, Aug 26, 2010, 02.46am IST
NEW DELHI: Nearly a month after the Centre handed over the Samjhauta Express blast case to NIA for a probe into Hindu extremist groups' links to it, home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said a new phenomenon of "saffron terrorism" had recently been uncovered.
Though the home minister did not cite any specific case, he warned that there was no let-up in attempts to radicalise the youth.
Inaugurating a three-day conference of chiefs of state police forces, Chidambaram said, "There is no let-up in attempts to radicalise young men and women in India. Besides, there is the recently uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past."
There are five other cases where different probe agencies have either found some leads against Hindu extremist groups or suspected roles of such elements. Blasts in Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad (May 18, 2007), Ajmer (October 11, 2007), Malegaon in Maharashtra (September 8, 2006), Modasa in Gujarat and the one near Goa are such incidents.
The Mecca Masjid blast is with the CBI while Ajmer blast is being probed by ATS Rajasthan and Malegaon blasts by ATS Maharashtra. Blasts in Goa and Modasa are being investigated by the NIA.
So far, probe agencies have found definite links of Hindu extremist groups only in three caes -- Malegaon, Goa and Ajmer -- and have made a few arrests.
Sat, Aug 28, 2010 | Updated 01.20PM IST
26 Aug, 2010, 04.20AM IST,ET Bureau
Beware of saffron terror too, warns home minister
Beware of saffron terror too, warns home minister
NEW DELHI: Saffron terror formally entered the government’s lexicon when home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday told a security conference here that the new phenomenon was involved in many bomb blasts.
“There is the recently uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past,” Mr Chidambaram said while addressing a conference of police chiefs.
Mr Chidambaram was referring to the incidents of violence unleashed by ultra Hindu groups.
The investigations into the Malegaon, Mecca Majid and Ajmer Sharif had pointed to the involvement of Hindu radical groups. The NIA is also investigating whether these groups were involved in the attack on the Samjhauta Express.
Although most of the terror incidents in the country have been orchestrated by Islamic terror groups, the government has refrained from labelling it as religious terror.
Saffron is associated with Hindu nationalism and the minister’s statement naturally invoked sharp reaction from Hindu groups. In his address, the minister steered clear of tarring the Hindu community with the terror brush.
Referring to Hindu extremist outfits, he said: “There is this recently uncovered phenomena of of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past.
“My advice to you is that we must remain ever vigilant and continue to build at the central and state levels, our capacity in counter-terrorism,” he said in his inaugural address to the 45th meet of the chiefs of state police and central paramilitary forces here.
Sounding upbeat about the falling levels of violence in the north-eastern states, Mr Chidambaram said the region accounted for the government’s best record of achievement. “...In 2010, we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of incidents and in the number of casualties.
There have been only 464 incidents until August 15, 2010, as against 1,297 and 1,561 for the whole year in 2009 and 2008 respectively. Only 52 civilians have been killed, as against 264 and 466 respectively, and we have lost only 15 men of the security forces,” he elaborated. At the same time, he admitted that Manipur and Assam had been affected by long-duration blockades and bandhs and by intermittent violence.
Welcoming the ongoing cease-fire pacts with a number of north-eastern insurgent groups, Mr Chidambaram expressed the hope that even Ulfa, now a spent force with many of its top leaders incarcerated in Assam’s jails, would soon come forward to begin talks with the government of Assam and government of India.
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