Govt to step up anti-terror operations

Kerala government decided to refer to the National Investigation Agency the case of attempted sabotage on a passenger train and set up a special anti-terrorist squad.

Kerala government on Monday decided to refer to the National Investigation Agency the case of attempted sabotage on a passenger train and set up a special anti-terrorist squad.

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As the police continued crackdown on fundamentalist outfit Popular Front of India, suspected to be behind chopping off the hand of college lecturer T J Joseph on July 4, a cache of arms and country-made bombs were seized from a building allegedly owned by a PFI activist at Kannur.

The issue figured prominently in the Kerala Assembly where Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said some of the outfits with terrorist links received foreign funds and explosive material, tackling which required the help of central agencies.

Replying to a debate in the House after Congress-led opposition UDF sought an adjnournment motion, Balakrishnan said the anti-terrorist squad being set up would have experts on cyber crimes, explosives and commondos trained to deal with emergency situations.

The details of the squad would be finalised at a meeting of high police and civil service officials to be convened by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.