[BITList] London Daily Telegraph

[John Feltham]

New Indian 'FBI' to help combat terrorism
India's parliament has passed a new law creating a version of the  
American Federal Bureau of Investigation - a nationwide police force  
operating across state boundaries.

Last Updated: 10:56PM GMT 18 Dec 2008
The law is one a bunch of measures designed to quell public alarm  
after the Mumbai terrorist attacks that killed 170 people.
Civil rights campaigners in the subcontinent are furious that the  
parliament has also revived old rules allowing police to hold suspects  
for up to 180 days without charge. [Governments never learn - What a  
draconian decision. Next, it will be torture? JF]
Indian broadcasters meanwhile agreed on a new set of rules regarding  
their coverage of breaking crises - following accusations that their  
coverage of the attacks inadvertently helped the Mumbai terrorists.
With Indians in equal measure worried about the chances of another  
attack and derisive of their government's handling of the Mumbai  
shootings, the ruling Congress party has reason to fear a coming  
election.
Already fighting a stiff challenge from the Right-wing Hindu  
nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress is keen to burnish  
its security credentials.
But some lawyers were already concerned about the proposals to let  
police hold suspects for almost half a year without charge.
They fear the new law is too similar to one repealed by Congress in  
2004 and could allow police to persecute people for political reasons.
The new broadcasting guidelines ban footage that could reveal security  
operations and any live contact with hostages or attackers during  
hostage situations.
They also veto reporting that glamourises militants and discourage the  
screening of dead bodies.
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