Maharashtra govt proposes internal security act

Maharashtra Government has proposed an internal security act to deal with the challenges of terrorism and communal and caste violence. The proposed legislation, ‘Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act, 2016,’ would be the first such state-level act for internal security which will give more power to the police department if implemented. It proposes ‘special security zones’ where

movement of arms, explosives and inflow of unaccounted funds will be prohibited. Dams, defence institute bases, government buildings or facilities, nuclear reactors, transportation systems have been identified as ‘critical infrastructure sectors’ under the act.

Every public establishment and government office shall carry out the security audit of its premises and every owner of the premises of the public establishment shall save video footage of public activities for a period of 30 days, the act says.