Bill to target Naxal activity diluted, to be tabled in Maharashtra assembly | Mumbai News
MUMBAI: Maharashtra legislature’s joint select committee has approved a diluted draft of a bill aimed at targeting Naxalism in urban centres, keeping the focus on ‘left wing extremist organisations’ rather than provisions to book specific individuals.The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024, in its current form, has dropped references to ‘urban naxals’ and instead proposed an advisory board to oversee police probes and action to counter the influence of Naxalism.Officials said the bill will be introduced in the assembly by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the monsoon session next week and is likely to be cleared. The state legislature had in Dec 2024 referred it to an all-party joint select committee panel for review. Officials said objectives and some provisions of the bill have been diluted after more than 1,200 suggestions/objections were received.“The joint select committee had members from all parties,” said BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who headed the panel. “The bill will protect youth in the state from going into naxalism.” The draft now provides for an advisory board headed by a retired high court judge and with a district judge and a government pleader on it to approve action or investigations by police. Under the provisions, the organisations being probed will also be given a chance to be heard by the board.The investigation will have to be led by an assistant commissioner of police in urban areas and deputy superintendent of police in rural areas instead of the earlier provision for a police sub-inspector. “So political parties or individuals won’t be targeted by this bill,” Bawankule said.
