Gujarat minister of state for home Rajni Patel said on Friday action will be taken against policemen responsible for conducting the recent anti-terror mock drills, in which dummy terrorists were projected as Muslims, if they are found guilty.
A video of a police mock drill showing dummy militants shouting pro-Islamic slogans emerged on Thursday in Gujarat, a day after men, playing the part of terrorists, were made to wear skullcaps in a similar exercise in Surat.
The video shows a mock drill conducted by the Narmada district police a week ago holding down two dummy terrorists who shout, "Take our lives, if you want. Islam Zindabad (Long Live Islam)".
Reacting to the controversy as well as allegations of showing terrorists belonging to a particular religion, Patel said terrorism should be treated in a neutral way.
"As the Vibrant Gujarat Summit (event) is approaching, police department is conducting mock drills across the state to check their preparedness. Terrorism is just terrorism and it should not be linked with anything else," Patel told reporters at Traffic Technology Summit.
To a query whether the state government will call for an inquiry, Patel said Surat and Narmada police are probing the matter.
{{/usCountry}}To a query whether the state government will call for an inquiry, Patel said Surat and Narmada police are probing the matter.
{{/usCountry}}"SPs of both the districts have been investigating the matter. We will take action based on the report submitted by them," he said.
Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel had said on Thursday that it was a "mistake".
"It's wrong to link religion with terrorism. The issue has been resolved and the matter should be put to rest now. The mistake has been rectified," she told a news channel.
The incident triggered a huge controversy with the Opposition and social activists slamming the Gujarat police for stereotyping a community with terrorism.
VIDEO: Controversial Gujarat police drill
(With PTI inputs.)