People around the world today regardless, their color, race, ethnicity, religion, social, economic

and political status, are facing a common threat of terrorism. Terrorism has clearly become a mad
violator of human rights and peace at national and international level. According to the National
Human Rights Commission of India, in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks in which numerous
people were killed, went on to make a remark that a terrorist has no religion. Terrorism has become a
worldwide phenomenon. It is not a modern invention. It has been recurring theme in the story of
human kind. The word ‘terrorism’ has been derived from the latin verb ‘ters’ which means to ‘terror’
or state of intense fear and submission to it.

Nela C. Crawford in his book commented that “ perhaps the most shocking aspect of postmodern war is
the deliberate targeting of non combatants, a practice that violates long – standing beliefs and
international laws. Terrorists obviously do not distinguish between combatants and non- combatants”.
The discriminate attacks on civilians strike the very cornerstone of international humanitarian law, the
principle of distinction.