India takes 142 terrorists off wanted list

NEW DEHLI:

The Hindustan Times reported that the Indian Government had decided to clear 142 people previously on the country’s wanted list.

Those cleared include various heads of Sikh extremist groups. According to Sunday’s report, these former terrorists are currently based in Pakistan, US, Canada, Norway, France and Germany. They can now move freely, even return home to India. Indian Home Ministry said that the names were cleared in two phases after consultations with the Pujab government and security agencies. Out of 169 cases reviewed, 25 names were cleared last August while 117 names were struck out last month. The Indian Home Ministry took the decision following a Delhi High Court order on February 9. The order directed the Ministry to take a decision based on a petition pleading that the list of 169 Sikhs should be reviewed as it had led to “unnecessary harassment” for numerous individuals at different airports and embassies across the world after the Indian Government refused to renew their passports.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2011.