LS approves federal agency, anti-terror law

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday unanimously passed two laws to overhaul the country’s security set-up in the wake of the terrorist attack on Mumbai.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment (UAPA) Bill were passed by voice vote after an eight-hour debate. The bills will now be presented in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Home minister P Chidambaram told Parliament: “I assure the laws are not the only steps and we are taking many steps to combat terrorism as this nation cannot afford to lower its guard.”

The government has tried to maintain “a fair balance” between fundamental rights and the need for tough provisions to deal with terrorism in the two bills, he said.

The BJP said it was supporting the bills though they didn’t meet its expectations.

The proposed anti-terror law has incorporated some of the key elements of the defunct Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) and increased the maximum detention period to file a chargesheet from 90 to 180 days. It denies bail to foreign nationals held for acts of terror. The proposed law also makes bail difficult for any Indian national suspected of terror-related activities. Courts will have to hear arguments of public prosecutors before granting bail.

Apart from the current provision of death for terrorists under the UAPA, the amended law provides for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for those who directly or indirectly provide funds for a terrorist act. Similar punishment has been provided in the bill for those organising camps for imparting terrorist training.