Mock drill controversy: Gujarat junior home minister assures action

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel today said the government will take action against policemen responsible for conducting the recent anti-terror mock drills, the videos of which showed dummy terrorists projected as Muslims, if found guilty. Controversy stoked up when two videos of police’s anti-terror mock drills surfaced within a span two days.[caption id=“attachment_2027283” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Wrongly branded. AFP[/caption] In one video of the drill conducted by Narmada district police which surfaced yesterday, policemen were seen holding two dummy terrorists shouting pro-Islamic slogans. Prior to the Narmada police mock drill video, another video had come to light showing similar exercise conducted by Surat-Rural police where dummy terrorists were made to wear skullcaps. Superintendents of police of both the districts have already assured to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Reacting to the controversy as well as allegations of showing terrorists belonging to a particular religion, Patel said terrorism should be treated in a neutral way. “As the Vibrant Gujarat Summit (event) is approaching, police department is conducting mock drills across the state to check their preparedness. Terrorism is just terrorism and it should not be linked with anything else,” Patel told media persons at Traffic Technology Summit held in Ahmedabad today. To a query whether the state government will call for an inquiry, Patel said investigation is underway by Surat and Narmada police. “SPs of both the districts have been investigating the matter. We will take action based on the report submitted by them,” he said. PTI