India bans militants under new law

The Indian Government has outlawed two militant organisations under the provisions of the recently introduced Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The two groups - Al Badr and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen - are fighting against Indian control of Kashmir.

Twenty-five organisations have already been outlawed under earlier anti-terrorism laws.

The new law has been termed draconian by critics because it allows the authorities to question arrested suspects for up to 30 days without producing them in the court.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service