Terrorism knows no age, NIA tells SC

On bail plea, agency counters SC remark that 2 UAPA accused were but ‘young boys’

A remark from the Supreme Court on Wednesday that two Kerala youths accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for Maoist links are but “young boys” saw the National Investigation Agency (NIA) respond that “terrorism knows no age” and “Naxalites, Maoists are very sharp, shrewd people” who cover their tracks.

Arguing against their bail before a Bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S. Oka, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, for the NIA, said it was not as if the duo were “caught reading Karl Marx”. The “incriminating” material found on students Thwaha Fasal and Allan Shuhaib, in their twenties, clearly drew the “inference” that they were “members of a terror organisation”, the law officer said.

“Terrorism knows no age. There are enough instances of young people involved in terrorism. They catch them young as they are amenable,” Mr. Raju said.