JOIN USCentre upset over terror probe leaks
The Centre has expressed unhappiness over the Karnataka police consistently leaking information to the media on the investigation following the arrest of a number of terror suspects in the state.
Sources in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) described as “unfortunate” the statements made to the media by the State police and Karnataka home minister R Ashoka on the progress of the inquiries.
Senior officials in the Government of India have reportedly objected to the series of interviews given by Home Minister R Ashok to the media, wherein he disclosed details of the investigation. They also said that most of “information” put out by Ashoka claiming that it revealed during interrogation of suspects was “not true”.
In Bangalore, the City police Commissioner convened a meeting of editors of print media outlets on Monday evening and requested them to avoid speculating on the investigation and publish only “authenticated” news.
Restraint
He requested the media to exercise restraint in reporting the case as it was a concern of national security and the investigations were at a “very nascent” stage.
The several contradictory statements coming from different sources from Bangalore since the arrests would hamper the probe and had the potential of tipping of associates of the arrested men, sources feared.
The ministry has communicated their misgivings to the Karnataka police and requested them to refrain from disclosing details to the media as the investigation is at a very preliminary stage.
The intelligence agencies are also circumspect about the authenticity of details of interrogation being leaked to the media. Sources in the intelligence agencies had expressed serious reservations about bits of “information” appearing in the media, including that some of the arrested persons arrested were motivated by al-Qaeda literature.
A Ministry of Home Affairs official also said that the arrested persons in the case were given the task of merely gathering information about various terror targets, besides expanding their module by roping in new recruits from different places.Though so far 14 persons have been arrested, investigating agencies in the country are still in the process of gathering conclusive evidence about the activities of the arrested persons, sources told Deccan Herald.
The Home Ministry officials say they don’t want to boast that they have exposed major terror network.
Substantial evidence
According to the sources, the officials want to make it sure that they have substantial evidence before making any claim.