India 3rd highest in terrorism deaths after ISIS, Boko Haram-affected areas
New Delhi: India ranks third among world nations most inflicted with terrorism and insurgency related deaths, after the areas ridden with violence by ISIS and Nigeria's Boko Haram, the Supreme Court was told on Friday.
Making this submission, the Chhattisgarh government also claimed in the apex court that more people were being killed in this Naxal-affected state than terror-hit Jammu and Kashmir and the involvement of extreme left-wing activists in the area was adding fuel to the fire.
"Today more security personnel are deployed in Chhattisgarh than in Jammu and Kashmir. Several policemen are being killed in Naxal violence in these areas. We are taking steps to contain the Naxal problems. We are carrying out lot of infrastructural work over there. We are passing through a phase," Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices M B Lokur and Adarsh Kumar Goel.
"India ranks third in the world among the countries which are impacted by terrorism and inflicted with terror related deaths after the violence affected areas under ISIS and Boko Haram," Mehta said.
He also urged the court to pass some directions for keeping social activists like Nandini Sundar out of the area alleging that "they just want the flame to keep burning".
To this, the court said, "this can't be a solution. They (activist) would want you (state) to be kept out of the area".
Mehta, who appeared along with Chhattisgarh government standing counsel Atul Jha, said "we can't go out of the area.
It is a state and government will have to look after the people. We have responsibilities towards the people".
"Keeping the flame burning is not a solution. There is a CD which shows them shouting 'Lal Salaam' slogans and sloganeering against the state. This will make the problem to continue. Everyone wants peace," the ASG said.
When the bench asked the Chhattisgarh government about the security of political activist Manish Kunjam, Mehta said he was already under security cover.
Maintaining that he had initially said he does not need guards carrying rifles but those with smaller weapons, he said "now he again wanted rifle guards. We can provide that. If he wants central forces security cover that can also be provided.
We are ready to provide central security cover to even petitioner Nandini Sundar."
The suggestion of security cover to Sundar was rejected by senior advocate Ashok Desai and the counsel appearing for Sunder and others, alleging "they wanted to keep an eye on her in the garb of security cover. This is the behaviour of the government".
