Saffron Terrorism - a new phenomenon, says Home Minister Chidambaram

New Delhi: From well planned terror attacks, to inciting communal violence, the new phenomenon of
'saffron terrorism' led by radical Hindu groups, was raised by the home minister at the meeting of state police chiefs in New Delhi on Wednesday.

"There is no let up in the attempts to radicalise young men and women in India.There has been a recent uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts in the past. My advice to you is that we must remain ever vigilant and continue to build, at both Central and state level, our capacities in counter-terrorism," Home Minister P Chidambaram told the top policemen.

In the past three years, organisations such as Abhinav Bharat, Rashtriya Jagran Manch and Sanatan Sanstha have been implicated in blasts across the country.

• Five people, allegedly linked to Hindutva outfits, were named in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case.
• Key accused in the Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast, Ramji Kalsangra is believed to a former RSS pracharak.
• The 2008 Malegaon blasts threw up names of two masterminds - a serving army Lieutenant Colonel Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, both linked to the Abhinav Bharat
• Goa blast in 2009  was blamed on Sanatan Sanstha, a group the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) wanted banned.

The home minister's statement on ' saffron terror' has naturally not amused the BJP. The main opposition party accuses the government of targeting Hindus."By using the term 'saffron terror', he has directly targeted the Hindus. It is part of the government's appeasement policy," said party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Saffron terror links:

2007 Mecca Masjid blast, Hyderabad

• 9 killed
• 5 with alleged links to Hindutva outfits named
  

2007 Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast

• 3 killed
• Key accused said to be ex-RSS worker
  

2008 Malegaon blasts

• 5 killed
• 2 masterminds linked to Abhinav Bharat
  

2009 Goa blast

• 2 killed
• Sanatan Sanstha blamed