Gujarat minister promises action in mock drill row
Ahmedabad, January 2
Gujarat Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel today said the government would take action against the policemen responsible — if found guilty — for conducting the recent anti-terror mock drills, the videos of which showed dummy terrorists projected as Muslims.
Controversy stoked up when two videos of the police’s anti-terror mock drills surfaced within a span of two days.
In one video of the drill conducted by Narmada district police which surfaced yesterday, the policemen were seen holding two dummy terrorists shouting pro-Islamic slogans. Prior to the Narmada police mock-drill video, another video had come to light showing a similar exercise conducted by Surat (Rural) police where dummy terrorists were made to wear skullcaps.
Superintendents of Police of both the districts have already assured to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
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 is approaching, the police are conducting mock drills across the state to check their preparedness. Terrorism is just terrorism and it should not be linked with anything else,” Patel said at the Traffic Technology Summit held here today. — PTI
