In the wake of NIA filing charge sheet against four suspected members of right-wing groups for the 2006 Malegaon blasts, the Centre today promised to take necessary steps to stop harassment of innocent while tackling terror.
Minister of State for Home R P N Singh described "extremely unfortunate" the arrest of nine Muslim youth by Mumbai police and CBI initially in connection with the terror attack outside a mosque in the Maharashtra town.
Later, the government handed over the probe to the National Investigation Agency which found the alleged links of right wing groups.
"Malegaon investigation shows that the government's decision to hand over the case to NIA was correct. It was extremely unfortunate that innocent people were arrested and charged. We will take all necessary action to ensure this is not repeated," he told reporters here.
Mumbai police's elite ATS and CBI earlier had filed a charge sheet against the nine Muslim youth and charged them with triggering explosive devices on September 8, 2006 at Malegaon, a communally sensitive area 290 km from Mumbai.
The youth, who were behind bars for five years, were released after NIA did not oppose their bail pleas.
