Mumbai: Hours after NCP president Sharad Pawar accused Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of "terrorising" Muslim youth, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis came out in support of Agesncy on Tuesday.
"Whatever Sharad Pawar has spoken against the ATS is based on incorrect briefing. So we have decided to send him the correct facts (about recent arrest of suspected ISIS sympathisers). We believe that terrorism has no connection with religion," Fadnavis said.
"The ATS is doing a good job and every political party should back it in the interest of national security....such allegations against the ATS are baseless," he added.
Fadnavis, who himself handles the home portfolio, stated that ATS had arrested four youths from Parbhani and seized IEDs from them.
Also Read: Anti-Terrorism Squad Detaining Minority Youths Illegally: Sharad Pawar
Adding further, Fadnavis said that ATS had questioned 30 other youths, but they were let off because they were innocent.
ATS had also successfully brought back some youths who had travelled abroad, misguided by the ISIS, Fadnavis noted.
Earlier in the day, Pawar had accused the Maharashtra ATS of "terrorising" the Muslim youth "on mere suspicion of being associated with outfits like ISIS".
It sparked criticism from the BJP as well as the AIMIM that he was taking an opportunistic stand.
Pawar had claimed that there were several instances, especially in Marathwada, where youths were picked up by the investigation agency on suspicion and detained illegally.
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