Three persons, including a woman, were on Thursday sentenced to death by a special court for their involvement in the 2003 blasts at the iconic Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in Mumbai, which claimed 54 lives and injured 244 others.
"No, No, No. It is a draconian (law) and against human rights. If the present anti-terror laws are implemented properly, there is no requirement for additional laws," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told media persons in New Delhi.
The apex court, however, dismissed a PIL filed by NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, seeking a court-monitored fresh probe in the Pandya murder case.
The Gujarat High Court has transferred Additional Sessions and Designated POTA court Judge Sonia Gokani, who was handling several important cases, including the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.
Advani cautioned the government against following appeasement policy towards minorities, saying it would mean appeasement of terrorism
Demanding a POTA or MCOCA-like law to combat terror, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said, "For the past two years a series of blasts have been organised by terrorists in different parts of the country. Investigations in these cases have yielded very little due to weak laws. We take this opportunity to appeal to the Central government to bring about a POTA or MCOCA like law to fight terror."
'In none of the blast cases since October 29, 2005 have the law enforcement agencies obtained such powerful evidence. Deciphered painstakingly by the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the Wagon-R and its cargo could lead the investigators to some of the terrorists.'
BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani on Saturday said the UPA government woke up to enact new laws to combat terror only after the bloody Mumbai attacks.
"Here is a Home Minister who is terrorizing the people of the country by going on record that the government has information about possible terror strikes during the festival season. He should have taken security measures that would have led to the arrest of terrorists before they could strike," the BJP leader said.
Haren Pandya's wife said the CBI neither recorded her side of the story nor asked her to appear before the POTA court.
The BJP leader said the demand for reducing the level of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir was being made by anti-national forces and those who did not want to anger Pakistan.
All the four were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for making speeches supporting the outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam in Chennai in April 2002.
The BJP on Wednesday asked the Centre to enact an effective law to curb incidents of terrorism, which it claimed was on the rise ever since UPA government assumed office.
Raja Bhaiyya announces resignation after Supreme Court verdict
Rahul is the first member of the Gandhi family to have visited Deoband and Darul-Uloom in more than two decades.
The two POTA detainees -- Maksood Ahmed and Mohammad Syed Alaib Majhain -- had escaped from the district court on February 27 afternoon, brandishing pistols hidden for them in the public toilet.
SC quashes UP govt order on POTA charges against Raju Bhaiyya
A division bench comprising Justice V S Sirpurkar and Justice S M Ibrahim Khallifulla has issued a notice to Vaiko
Afroze was arrested on December 3, 2001 on charges of conspiring with terrorist outfit al Qaeda to bomb the House of Commons in UK, Parliament House in India and Radio Towers in Australia.
Raja Bhiayya's resignation from the ministerial job was accepted by UP Governor T V Rajeswar on Sunday.
The police, under pressure from the Supreme Court, decided to re-open 1,594 cases and initiate action against 41 police officials for their alleged 'mishandling' of riots.
A special court on Thursday refused to discharge 2 accused held for conspiring the twin blasts in the city in August 2003.
The Bombay high court Monday rejected a petition filed by a prime accused in the 2003 Mulund bomb blast case pleading that he and 12 others be set at liberty as their detention under Prevention of Terrorism Act was illegal.
According to immigration sources, the time of Rajan's deportation will be made clear by the Interpol after they quiz him and a final clearance is issued.
The programme backs the repeal of POTA and reservations for women
The new Union home minister also said that the Centre would effectively deal with terrorism in the state.\n\n
Sessions Judge and the Designated POTA Judge, Shailendra Kumar Saxena, observed that the law is same for one.
Advani said while POTA was enacted by the Centre, its implementation is vested with state governments.
They are the first to be declared terrorists under the new anti-law, a home ministry official said.
Jarda, who was arrested in Rajasthan in June, was granted bail for two days by a special POTA court to attend a religious ceremony at his home in Godhra town.
The blasts occurred at Mulund, Vile Parle and Mumbai Central between December 2002 and March 2003.
The five accused are booked under POTA for triggering a bomb blast at suburban Ghatkopar in Mumbai on December 2, 2002.
Twelve witnesses identified Zabir Bin Yamin Behra, who has been charged under Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Designated Judge L Rajendran said the bail would be operative only after Vaiko files an affidavit agreeing to the\n\nterms laid down by the court.
Sayed Abdul Sattar alias Kala was arrested by the Gujarat and Mumbai police in a joint operation in Mumbai on Wednesday.
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