...... 22 CHAPTER 4 Civil Liberties A] Protection of Human Rights in Situations of Terrorism & Insurgency 4.1 As in previous years, terrorism and insurgency continued to be a major concern with world community, including the Governments, the civil society, Human Rights Institutions and Voluntary Organizations. This has been more so after the “9/11 incident” which shook the very roots of the most powerful democracy in the world, the USA. 4.2 We in India, had been voicing our concern regarding tackling terrorism and insurgency at the global level for the past many years, particularly with regard to cross-border terrorism. The evil of terrorism continued to raise its head again and again and hundreds of innocent people across the length and breadth of this country continued to become its targets. 4.3 In the course of the year 2003 - 2004, the barbaric acts of terrorism and insurgency resulted in the killing of 31 persons in Tripura on 07.5.03, followed by suicidal attack on 28.6.03 resulting in death of 12 army personnel on the outskirts of Jammu. Hardly had we recovered from this shock when there was a dastardly attack on pilgrims on their way to Vaishno Devi Shrine near Katra (J&K) on 21.7.03. Another attack followed in quick succession on 22.7.03 leading to the death of 8 army personnel in another suicidal attack on army camp near Aknoor, J&K. The extremists in Tripura struck once again on 14.8.03 killing 18 persons. The twin bomb blast in South Mumbai on 25.8.03 was perhaps the most severe taking a toll of 46 innocent civilians and injuring some 160 others. The long list of these ghastly acts includes killing of several persons in Assam during November, 2003 allegedly by ULFA militants, blast at Jammu bus stand on 29.12.03 injuring about a dozen of passengers, attack on army personnel in J&K on 30.12.03 injuring 56 army personnel, bomb blast in the main market of Srinagar on 01.1.04 injuring 20 civilians and the attack of extremists at Jammu Railway Station on 21.1.04 resulting in death and injury to a large number of army personnel and others. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION