Hijack alert: States protest sharing of unsubstantiated intelligence input

New Delhi, August 19: Several states have raised objections to an uncorroborated intelligence input about hijacking of an aircraft ahead of the Independence Day, saying such exercise was needlessly increasing burden on security personnel besides causing harassment to the public.

At a recently held meeting in which representatives from states including Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Chandigarh participated, concern was raised over such unsubstantiated intelligence inputs, officials privy to the meeting said today.

The intelligence input passed on by police of a Northeastern state spoke about the hijacking of an Indian aircraft before August 15 by a Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group led by a Yemeni national along with 10 members from the Pakistan-based terror outfit.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security while leaving nothing to chance issued an alert to airports concerned in Jammu, Srinagar, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Authorities in the Union Home Ministry sought further confirmation from the police official who skipped the meeting saying that the input was still being verified.

An official at the meeting also made some critical remarks about passing on half-baked intelligence input which triggered panic among security agencies, the sources said.

The sources said that other participants echoed the official's sentiments and opined that unsubstantiated intelligence inputs were increasing the burden on security personnel, who are already under pressure ahead of such national days like Independence Day and Republic Day.

This also leads to unnecessary harassment of public who travel during Independence Day holiday besides putting additional burden on exchequer for deployment of more forces, the sources said.

Many states have been suggesting a mechanism to provide actionable intelligence but during the national days and important visits, these inputs are shared without corroboration.

The official in question had only informed that the input was based on a 'source' information without revealing the origin of the information, the sources said.

Post 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in 2008, such inputs have been swarming the Intelligence Bureau, which passes on to states concerned, and later begin the process of verifying, the sources said.

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Probe will reveal if ‘outsiders’ belonging to banned-PFI involved in Mandya violence: Home Minister

News Network

September 17,2024

Kalaburagi: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that alleged role of "outsiders" belonging to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in the violence at Nagamangala will be examined and action taken based on the probe report.

Clashes broke out between two groups during a Ganesh idol procession in the town in Mandya district following which mobs went on a rampage targeting several shops and vehicles leading to tension on September 11 night.

"Everything will be examined, investigation will be done, on getting the report we will decide. We will not protect anyone, and unnecessarily no one will be punished. We will look into the facts based on the inquiry report and take action accordingly," Parameshwara told reporters here.

He noted that two officials -- Deputy Superintendent of Police and Inspector -- have already been suspended, and added that further action will be taken based on the report.

The Minister said the government has taken the Nagamangala violence seriously and there is no question of taking such incidents lightly. "BJP makes such allegations, but we too have responsibility, we don't take anything lightly."

On allegations that "outsiders" were involved in the violence, Parameshwara said if inquiry reveals complicity of such elements, it would be examined and action taken accordingly.

Regarding claims that those belonging to the banned PFI were involved, he said: "It will be known from the probe."

On demand for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into Nagamangala violence by BJP which alleged "failure" of state's home department, Parameshwara said: "they keep saying such things, we will not listen to all that."

According to police, an argument had broken out between two groups, when the procession by devotees from Badri Koppalu village reached a place of worship on September 11, and some miscreants hurled stones, which escalated the situation.

Following the clashes between the two groups, a few shops were vandalised and goods torched and vehicles set on fire, they added.

To allegations from some BJP leaders that the party MLA Munirathna was arrested "hurriedly", Parameshwara said, police acted after the complaint was given, "what's wrong in that?"

Munirathna, who represents Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly segment here, was picked up from Nangli village in Kolar’s Mulbagal on Saturday evening on charges of harassing a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor for bribe, casteist slurs on a former corporator, and also cheating, criminal intimidation and insulting a woman’s modesty.

Asked about "illegal items" seized from the prison here recently by officials, he said an investigation has begun on this.

When a photo of actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who was lodged in Parappana Agrahara Prison here, hanging out with other inmates surfaced recently, action was taken based on the probe report and eleven officials were suspended.

"I will look into recent seizures made too and action will be taken; also probe is on at other prisons in the state and action will follow if anything wrong is found," the Minister added.

Police raided the high-security wing of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison here on Saturday and seized smartphones and other illegal goods.

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