Anantkumar Hegde - Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 842

ANSWERED ON: 10.12.2013

BOMB BLASTS IN BIHAR .

(a) the details of bomb blasts that took place in Patna and Bodhgaya in the recent past along with the number of persons injured and killed therein;

(b) the status of the investigation along with the number of suspects apprehended and the details of the organisations they are associated with;

(d) if so, the reasons for the security lapse thereon; and

(e) the measures taken by the Government to check such untoward incidents in future and the details of the amount of compensation disbursed to the next of kin of those killed and injured in the said blasts?

ANSWER

(a): 10 (ten) serial bomb blasts took place In the Mahbodhl Temple at BodhGaya In Bihar on 7th uly, 2013. There was no casualty, however, two persons were injured in the blasts. On October 27, 2013, 7 (seven) low intensity blasts took place in and around Patna Railway Station and Gandhi Maidan, Patna. Total six persons were killed and nearly eighty six injured in these explosions.

(b): National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been entrusted with the investigations of both the blasts. No arrest has been made so far in BodhGaya blasts, whereas, two persons have been arrested in connection with Patna blasts. Preliminary investigations have so far revealed the role of Ranchi based module of Indian Mujahideen (1M).

(c) to (e): Indian Mujahideen (1M) terrorists, arrested for their involvement in Pune Blast Case (1.8.2012), had revealed their plans to target temples in Bodh Gaya. The input was shared with concerned agencies through Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) in October, 2012. As Law Order is a State subject as per the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India, the further action lies with the concerned State Security Agencies. Law Order and Police is a State subject, therefore, the primary responsibility to address these remains with the State Governments. Combating terrorism, however, is a shared responsibility considering its Implication on internal security. The Government of India has been assisting the State Governments to modernize their Police forces through the Modernization of State Police Force Scheme. In order to deal with the menace of extremism and terrorism the Government of India have taken various measures which, Inter-alia, include augmenting the strength of Central Armed Police Forces; establishment of NSG hubs at Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai; empowerment of DG, NSG to requisition aircraft for movement of NSG personnel in the event of any emergency; strengthening and re-organizing of Multi-Agency Centre to enable It to function on 24x7 basis for real time collation and sharing of intelligence with other intelligence and security agencies; tighter immigration control; effective border management through round the clock surveillance patrolling on the borders; establishment of observation posts, border fencing, flood lighting, deployment of modem and hi-tech surveillance equipment; upgradation of Intelligence setup; and coastal security. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 has been amended and notified in 2008 and 2012 to strengthen the punitive measures to combat terrorism. The National Investigation Agency has been constituted under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 to investigate and prosecute offences under the Acts specified in the Schedule. As a part of steps to counter terrorist threats, the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been created. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act has been amended in 2009 to inter alia, include certain offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as predicate offence. Further, the Government continues to raise the issue of Cross-Border Terrorism in all its aspects including Its financing on various multi-lateral and bilateral for a. A compensation of Rs. lakh each was granted to the next of kin of those killed and Rs. 20 thousands each to the persons seriously injured in the blasts.