Terrorism brought under KCOCA

The act of terrorism will now be considered an organised crime and those found guilty will face either death penalty or life imprisonment.

Acting tough against increasing terror activities, the State Cabinet on Friday decided to promulgate an ordinance amending the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA). As per the amendments, the act of terrorism has been categorised as the organised crime and brought under the ambit of the KCOCA.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje, briefing reporters on the Cabinet decisions, said the Cabinet allowed altogether five different amendments to the KCOCA. These include bringing terror act under the KCOCA and punishment rules to make it deterrent enough.

The other amendments are: Enhancing penalty limit to offenders from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, attachment of assets of those booked under the act and extending the time limit stipulated for filing chargesheet from existing 180 days to 356 days.

Shobha explained that the KCOCA in its present form does not categorise the act of terrorism as an organised crime nor does the Act have any mention of penalty for it. A Bill to amend the KCOCA has been tabled before the State Legislature in its Belgaum session. But it has not been passed by the House.

On measures to prevent misuse of the amended Act, the minister said the Cabinet did not discuss it.

The Cabinet approved handing over civic amenity sites to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) at all district headquarters to set up its offices. The IB had requested the Government for plots to expand its network, Shobha added.