By Najam Gilani, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: In light of several terror attacks in Assam, the state assembly on Saturday passed the Assam Preventive Detention (Amendment) Bill 2009 almost unanimously.
The amendment has been made in section 13 of the act framed in 1980. The parent act allowed the detention of the persons for only 6 months. The amendment of the act has increased the detention period to two years – allowing the government to detain any person for two years if he or she poses a threat to the security.
Badruddin Ajmal and Mahmood Madni talking to villagers in Assam
While moving the motion on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Forest Minister Rockybul Hassan urged the house to consider the bill. He said “though security forces arrest the insurgents they manage to secure bail and continue with their subversive activities, the two year period will help police gather evidence against an arrested person”. He added that there are enough safeguards in the bill.
Opposing the bill, Athahur Rahman Majar of Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) argued that 6 months of detention is enough and there is no need for any amendment in the law. Speaking to TwoCircles.net on phone he said: “Though he opposed the bill but the entire opposition consisting of BJP/AGP and the independents were in support of it. On seeing the strength of the house in support of the bill and on the assurance of the government that the act would not be misused he withdrew his opposition.”
When asked by TCN what assurance did the government gave on floor of the house? He said,” to avoid misuse of the preventive detention (amendment) law 2009, government will appoint an advisory committee which will review the case of accused within six months of detention and if found guilty in terrorist activity his detention will be extended for another six months (to gather evidence). Same process will continue for the period of two years (from the date of detention) every six months.
Expressing his view on the bill, President of AUDF Mr Badruddinn Ajmal told TCN: “In principle we opposed this bill, but because the majority of the house was in favor of it therefore we were forced to withdrew our opposition, but not before the assurance of the government on the floor of the house that it won’t be used against any particular political party or religious community.”
Link:
http://www.udf.in