Pawar’s information incorrect, ATS doing good job: Fadnavis

Mumbai, Aug 30 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis came out in support of the anti-terrorism squad afterNCP president Sharad Pawar said earlier today that the agencywas "terrorising" Muslim youth. "Whatever Sharad Pawar has spoken against the ATS isbased on incorrect briefing. So we have decided to send himthe correct facts (about recent arrest of suspected ISISsympathisers). We believe that terrorism has no connectionwith religion," Fadnavis told PTI. "The ATS is doing a good job and every political partyshould back it in the interest of national security….suchallegations against the ATS are baseless," he added. Fadnavis, who himself handles the home portfolio, saidthat ATS had arrested four youths from Parbhani and seizedIEDs from them. It had also questioned 30 other youths, butthey were let off because they were innocent, he pointed out. "No youth has been detained illegally. Religiouspreachers from the minority community too have supported oureffort to de-radicalise the youth," the Chief Minister said,adding that in some cases parents themselves contacted policesaying their children were doing something wrong, and ATScounselled such youths. ATS had also successfully brought back some youths whohad travelled abroad, misguided by the ISIS, Fadnavis noted. Earlier, Pawar accused the Maharashtra ATS of"terrorising" the Muslim youth "on mere suspicion of beingassociated with outfits like ISIS". It sparked criticism fromthe BJP as well as the AIMIM that he was taking anopportunistic stand. Pawar claimed there were several instances, especially inMarathwada, where youths were picked up by the investigationagency on suspicion and detained illegally. PTI MM KRKKUN