‘Shinde directive won’t hit probes’

The top brass of country’s elite intelligence and security establishment view home minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s missive to states regarding protection of Muslim youths from harassment in terror related cases “as an exception and not a rule.’’ Intelligence sources claim the home minister’s directive will not hamper investigations into important anti-terror cases as the conviction rate in such cases, cutting across central and state agencies, stands as high as 18 per cent. This, officials argue, is more than the conviction rate by any state police in important cases of heinous crime. Though investigating officials do admit to “lapses’’ during the course of investigations in terror related cases, but are quick to point out that these are few and far between. Sources claim virtually all important terror cases in the country ranging from Parliament attack to Red Fort to 26/11 Mumbai bombings have resulted in conviction. Further, during the course of investigations into sensational cases. security agencies have successfully managed to neutralise significant terror modules linked to outfits like the Indian Mujahideen. A senior official heading an anti-terror unit in an agency pointed out “What happened in case of Malegaon or Mecca Masjid blasts or say serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh where some innocents got implicated are exceptions. Aberrations do happen during course of investigations but these are rare when compared to the success rate and it cannot be held against any investigating agency.’’ Officials argue that the success rate in both terms of working out and conviction percentage in terror cases vindicate the role of investigating agencies. But there is a need to sensitise investigating teams, a former IB official said. As far as key counter-terror outfits are concerned, for them it is work as usual despite Mr Shinde’s letter since investigating officials in such cases have protection under Code of Criminal Procedure.