NCTC ...... government's explanation .... bureaucrats are convinced but politicians want something to grind

Chidambaram sends 11-point note to CMs to allay NCTC fears

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 26, 2012, 01.22AM IST

NEW DELHI: Union home minister P Chidambaram's letter to 10 non-Congress chief ministers, who are against the powers and functions of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), carries an 11-point note, explaining the necessity to empower the body with basic "operational capability" and how these are in sync with the law that was passed by Parliament in the aftermath of the 26/11 attack in 2008.

The letter, however, is silent about the home ministry's decision to notify in setting up of the all-important body on February 3 without the states' consultation. But, Chidambaram has tried to allay the other concerns of the protesting states.

Referring to the CMs' objection to the "powers of arrest and search" given to the NCTC under Section 43A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the note says that these are the "bare minimum powers" that are "required for any counter-terrorism body".

It also explains that any officer of the "Designated Authority" will have these powers under certain circumstances in which the officer knows that the person has committed an offence (terror-related) under the Act or knows of a design by a person to commit any offence under this existing Act.

The CMs have opposed to such powers, stating it would amount to impinging on federal structure of the Constitution. But Chidambaram pointed out that the Section 43A, which has to be read along with Section 43B (procedure of arrest and seizure), was inserted in the Act through amendments that came into force on December 31, 2008.

"When the Bill was introduced in December 2008 to amend UA(P)A, it was passed by both Houses of Parliament. There was no demur or opposition to either Section 43A or other amendments," the note said. Clarifying that the states will always be taken into confidence while exercising powers to "arrest and search", it said that the "powers" conferred under Section 43A must be read with the "duty" under Section 43B to produce the (arrested) person or (seized) article without unnecessary delay before the nearest police station (which will be under the state), and the SHO of the police station would take further action in accordance with the provisions of the CrPC.

Home ministry officials involved in the process of making the note explain that it is necessary to empower any such agency under Section 43A to operate under "live" operational situation like what had happened during the 26/11 strikes.

"If any agency (like NSG or MarCos) goes for operation like 26\11, it is not possible for commandos to look for state police before catching anyone. Operation of this kind may go on for days. In that situation, it is necessary to give commandos some legal cover. The section 43A will serve this purpose," said an official.

The note also emphasized that a law to deal with terrorism such as UA(P)A was within the legislative competence of Parliament and similar anti-terror laws - the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act - had been upheld by the SC.

On placing the counter-terror body within the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the note pointed out that the government was guided by the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (2001) that the IB will be "the nodal intelligence agency for counter intelligence and counter terrorism within the country".

The home minister assured CMs that the intention of the Centre is to continue to work with states to meet the challenge of terrorism which is a "shared responsibility"................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDIvMjYjQXIwMTEwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

NCTC ....... what if CMs remain adamant? ..... go ahead with your plan Mr Home Minister .... let the CMs move court if they are not satisfied

Chidambaram reaches out to states on anti-terror mechanism

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 25, 2012, 03.03AM IST

NEW DELHI: Union home minister P Chidambaram on Friday reached out to 10 chief ministers saying the government would not operationalise the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) before consulting directors general of police and heads of anti-terror wings in states, but with little sign that the last-gasp effort would be enough to placate states.

In a letter to the CMs, Chidambaram countered the fear of states that the powers vested in NCTC marked an assault on the federal structure, arguing that the proposed anti-terror mechanism will have "bare minimum powers" which will be absolutely essential for any counter-terror body to have "operational capability" in "certain circumstances".

Chief ministers, however, remained cold. Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda welcomed the Centre's outreach, but made it clear that NCTC in its present form was not acceptable to him. "I was right in pointing out the problem that would crop up if NCTC remained in its present form," Munda said.

Sources close to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, while saying that the "letter falls drastically short of our expectations", emphasized that their main grouse was with the concept of NCTC itself. "We feel that the NCTC, which has been set up under IB and is exempt from RTI, is not suited to be a counter-terror agency in a situation where the fight against terrorism has to be transparent in order to succeed."

Although Kumar was not available for comment, sources close to him said the Bihar government saw the idea of equipping IB or any body, like NCTC, under it with operational powers as flawed.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik was also non-committal. "Let us wait for the next step of the central government and the response of the home minister," he said. There are also indications that chief ministers are not impressed by the idea of being kept out of consultations on an issue which concerned the division of responsibilities between the Centre and states as laid down in the Constitution.

Chidambaram also enclosed a three-page note with his letter to the non-Congress chief ministers, explaining finer points of the existing law - Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act - from which the NCTC draws its power to make arrest and conduct search and seizure.

Requesting the chief ministers "to carefully consider the note", he said, "Before we take the next steps, I have asked the home secretary to call a meeting of directors general of police and the heads of anti-terror organizations/forces of the state governments and discuss in detail the scope and functions of the NCTC."

The home minister, at the same time, reminded the chief ministers that the matter (countering terror) was of national importance and should be kept above "parties and politics".

"All of us are agreed that terrorism is a grave threat to our country and our way to life. Countering terrorism is, therefore, a shared responsibility," he said in his letters to the chief ministers including West Bengal (Mamata Banerjee), Gujarat (Narendra Modi) and Tamil Nadu (J Jayalalitha).

Though he has not specified any date for this meeting, indications are that the ministry will try to do the consultation before March 1 - the day when NCTC is scheduled to get operational.

The home minister in his note pointed out that Section 43A of UAPA which gives power to arrest and conduct search and seizure to NCTC must be read with the duty under Section 43B to produce the person or article without unnecessary delay before the nearest police station (which will be under the state government) and the SHO of the police station will take further action in accordance with the provisions of the CrPC.

"It may be noted that the powers under Section 2(e) and Section 43A are available to both the central government and the state governments," he said. Section 2(e) of UAPA allows government to specify NCTC as "designated authority".

The home minister's letter came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked him to address the concerns of chief ministers who had lodged strong protests against the notification for NCTC without any consultation with the states.

Chidambaram emphasized that NCTC's mandate was to draw up plans and coordinate action for "counter terrorism". He also pointed to the provision of standing council mechanism within the anti-terror body which comprises heads of anti-terrorist organizations of each state - in a bid to explain that the states would always be on board.

As regards the power to seek information from any agency, the home minister explained that the power was already available with the Multi Agency Centre and it was now proposed to subsume MAC in the NCTC. "Hence, no new power is envisaged," Chidambaram said.....................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMi8wMi8yNSNBcjAwMzAz&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

NCTC ..... one has to really look for 'political' answer to the questions raised for 'political' motives

Centre tries for ways to win over CMs on NCTC

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 24, 2012, 03.44AM IST 

NEW DELHI: As the Union home ministry looks to allay states' concerns over the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), its officials are working overtime to answer questions raised by over a dozen chief ministers about the 'powers' given to this anti-terror agency which is meant for coordinating counter-terrorism efforts throughout the country.

Since these chief ministers are strongly opposed to the Centre's notification empowering NCTC with power to arrest and conduct search and seizures anywhere in the country, considering it an encroachment to their jurisdiction, officials are focusing on this particular provision to clarify the ministry's position.

A draft, being finalized by them, explains that it is absolutely necessary to empower any such agency under section 43 (A) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to operate under 'live' operation situation like what had happened during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

"If any agency goes for operation like 26/11, it is not possible for commandos to look for state police before catching anyone. Operation of this kind may go on for days. In that situation, it is absolutely necessary to give commandos some legal cover. The contentious Section 43 (A) will serve this purpose," an official said.

The official, engaged in working out standard operating procedures (SOPs) for functioning of the counter-terror body, explained that the Section 43 (A) gives commandos flexibility of not to present any arrested terrorist before a Court within 24 hours of arrest as enshrined in the CrPC for state police or agencies like NIA and CBI.

"Procedure of arrest and seizure as enshrined in Section 43 (B) of the same anti-terror legislation calls for forwarding the arrested person or article to the nearest police station without 'unnecessary' delay. It hasn't specified the time limit of 24 hours, making it easier for operational commandos to conduct their duties in extraordinary situation," said the official.

These sections were added to the UAPA after its amendment in December, 2008 post-26/11. The ministry was, in fact, mulling over an option to empower the elite anti-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) and specialized naval force MarCos (Marine Commandos) with such powers under Section 43 (A) before the NCTC notofication.

The NIA, which works under a separate Act, has the power to arrest and search under Section 43 (A) of the UAPA. Since the agency has 'police station' power, it is not required to present arrested person before the nearest police station. The probe agency has in that sense more power than the NCTC.

Officials explained that such 'police' power does not lie with the NCTC and therefore it will necessarily have to take state police into loop after arresting any person during operation. Besides, this counter-terror body will have a mechanism of 'standing council' comprising chiefs of anti-terror wings of all states for taking any key decision - making it mandatory for the agency to take concerned state on board before launching any operation within its jurisdiction.

NCTC ..... has become a tool for 'politics' in this poll season ..... Union home minister P Chidambaram does not appear to give in so easily .... wait for his move

NCTC looks uncertain, Mamata says it's on hold

Mohua Chatterjee & Vishwa Mohan,TNN | Feb 23, 2012, 03.10AM IST

NEW DELHI: Uncertainty over the fate of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) deepened on Wednesday with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee claiming that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured her that the anti-terror mechanism would not be launched until an understanding was reached with states over its powers.

The claim of Mamata, one of the 12 chief ministers who have opposed the powers conferred on the NCTC on grounds that they marked an encroachment on their turf, came after her one-on-one meeting with the PM. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mamata said, "The NCTC proposal will disturb the federal structure of the country and hence should not be implemented in the present form."

It was Mamata who had announced the government's decision to roll back the decision of the Union Cabinet to allow FDI in retail, with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee endorsing her statement a couple of hours later.

Wednesday's meeting took place against the backdrop of the Congress's growing anxiety to placate an increasingly restive Mamata. Although an official statement on her deliberations with the PM stopped short of mentioning that any commitment was made to put the NCTC on hold till a consensus was hammered out on its jurisdiction, Congress circles were sceptical that the home ministry will be able to stick to the March 1 deadline for the launch of the anti-terror agency.

"The Prime Minister assured the chief minister that he has requested the home minister to find ways to take the concerns of states on board on the issue of the NCTC," the statement said.

In contrast, the West Bengal chief minister insisted that she had a commitment from the PM not to roll out the NCTC. Replying to questions, she reiterated that Singh "assured" her that the NCTC notification would not be implemented until there was an agreement with CMs.

Sources in the MHA remained hopeful of the NCTC coming into being on March 1. They interpreted the formulation on the meeting as referring to the decision to convene a meeting of chief secretaries and director generals of police of states to explain the Centre's stand that the NCTC's remit was in harmony with the Constitution and, specifically, marked no transgression into the domain of states. They said the Centre, while eager to assuage concerns expressed by CMs, does not intend to resile from the decision to set up the NCTC which has been styled as the country's counter-terror sword arm.

The body, which was notified on February 3, is supposed to become operational with the appointment of its director and three joint directors on March 1. Sources said the week-long window is enough for the Centre to hear from representatives of aggrieved states and allay their concerns. There are also indications that the Centre may issue Standard Operating Procedures aimed at calming states' worries about the NCTC's power to make arrests, and carry out search and seizure operations across the country.

The power derived from Section 43(A) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) has become the chief bone of contention, with states protesting that it is in conflict with the constitutional arrangement where "law and order" is state's exclusive domain.

Sources suggested that the SOPs will make it clear that the NCTC will exercise the power in concert with states or through them. A formulation acknowledging the primacy of states in maintaining law and order should be enough to mollify chief ministers, it is hoped. Sources in the home ministry said concern over transgression into the "law and order" jurisdiction was misplaced, as the provision should be read in conjunction with other sections of UAPA which enjoins the Centre to work with and through the states......................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDIvMjMjQXIwMDgwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Maoists : who, what, where , why and how

Centre demystifies Maoists' modus operandi

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 21, 2012, 02.50AM IST

NEW DELHI: Decoding the 'mystery' behind Maoists, the Centre has for the first time brought out in open many facts that have hitherto remained in official papers and urged aam aadmis to expose true colours of Red rebels in whatever ways they can, including use of social media like Facebook and twitter.

In a document, brought out in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs) last week, the Union home ministry has classified naxal-hit states into three categories in terms of intensity of the problem and tried to answer a range of nagging queries like presence of women naxal cadres, Maoists' organizational structure and the rebels' motive behind destroying schools.

Classifying the Maoist-affected states, the ministry puts four states - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar - under the category of 'severely affected', followed by two - West Bengal and Maharashtra - under 'partially affected' and two others - Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh - in the 'slightly affected' bracket.

It claims that there is a major improvement in Andhra Pradesh that was earlier considered 'severely affected'. But, Maoists' area of influence is not restricted to these nine states.

The ministry points out that some armed cadres of CPI (Maoist) - the largest and most violent naxal group - exist in Karnataka, and they are making incursions into Assam and Arunachal Pradesh that has serious long-term strategic ramifications.

In the six-page document, the ministry highlights that Maoists' front organizations are active in 20 states to push ultras' agenda to capture state power through "a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances". It also points out that the Red ultras also express their solidarity with the J&K terrorist groups as part of their "Strategic United Front" against Indian state.

"The issue of Maoists' growing influence and the measures being taken by government will be discussed in a meeting of director generals of police and chief secretaries of eight states here on Wednesday," said an official.

He said the top officials would fine-tune coordination among state police and central police forces and firm up a strategy on how to go after the ultras, who often flee from one state to another after committing a crime.

The document explains that Maoists have large number of women cadres because "many poor adivasi parents (faced with coercion and threats) prefer to part with girl child" in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

"This inhuman practice by Maoists is the reason behind large number of young girls\women being present among the Maoist cadres. They are also pushed to the forefront of engagements with the security forces," says the document.

It also says the much-hyped 'Operation Greenhunt' (against Maoists) does not exist in any record of the home ministry. It explains that the term 'Operation Greenhunt' was used by a Bastar SP in Chhattisgarh for a local operation, but the Maoist propagandists and front organizations, in a masterly strategy, attributed it ad nauseam, to the Central government, conjuring up visions of hapless tribals being targeted by the government machinery.

The paper says Maoists had killed as many as 5,467 civilians and destroyed 281 schools from 2001 to 2011. The ministry believes that the schools are attacked by ultras because they don't want tribals to join the mainstream through education that promotes a spirit of enquiry among local population..............http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEyLzAyLzIxI0FyMDA4MDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

David Coleman Headley : US will not extradite the man to India who once worked for it ...... legal formality may, however, go on for public consumption

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Backed by a court order, India to seek extradition of Headley, Rana

Vishwa Mohan | TNN | Feb 20, 2012, 01.45AM IST

NEW DELHI: Armed with a special court order, India will soon write to the US seeking extradition of American citizen David Coleman Headley and his Canadian accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana for their trial here for plotting with LeT and HuJI terrorists to attack places of iconic importance in the Capital and other cities including Mumbai.

Though Headley had entered into a plea bargaining with US authorities and got immunity from being extradited to India or any other country, New Delhi has to follow the legal procedure by formally pressing for his extradition backed by the court order.

Taking cognizance of NIA's chargesheet against Headley, Rana, Lashkar founder Hafiz Saeed, the outfit's key commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and five others, a special court here on Saturday sought their presence before it for trial on March 13.

"We will write to the US with reference of the court order. New Delhi will highlight that the chargesheet against Headley and Rana is not restricted to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case alone. It also covers the offences which do not come under the 12 counts on which he had pleaded guilty and entered into the plea bargaining," a home ministry official said.

Under the plea bargaining, Headley had become prosecution witness in the trial against Rana, who was acquitted by a US court in the 26/11 case but indicted for his role in a terror plot against Denmark. Both are currently in jail in Chicago.

"Rana may be acquitted in the Mumbai attack case, but he is an accused here in the case which pertains to a criminal conspiracy with LeT and HuJI terrorists to carry out attacks in New Delhi and other places in India," said the official.

He said New Delhi would also write to Washington to take into account the fact that the US authorities had agreed for Headley's plea bargaining without taking India on board despite a pending case against the accused here.

A section within the home ministry believes that though it is highly unlikely that the US will extradite Headley and Rana, the move may see some legal wrangling between the two countries -- especially if someone decides to approach an American court. Even under the existing extradition agreement between India and US, Rana will have to first undergo his sentence in an American jail if convicted for his role in the Denmark plot.

"In any case, the accused's appearance for trial through video link cannot be ruled out as a compromise in future," the official said.

The NIA has, meanwhile, begun the process of sending letter rogatory to Morocco for recording the statement of Headley's estranged Moroccan wife Faiza Outalha for evidence against him. She had visited India with Headley twice during the latter's reconnaissance mission.

India, which has already asked Pakistan for deportation of Saeed and Lakhvi, will again write to Islamabad with reference of the court order. Lakhvi, who is in jail, is being tried in a Rawalpindi court in the 26/11 case whereas Saeed and others chargesheeted by the NIA remain scot-free................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMi8wMi8yMCNBcjAwOTAw&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Attack on Israeli diplomat ..... Did the guy at top utter 'Iran' just like that?

Similar bombs but ingredients of Bangkok, Delhi bombs different

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 17, 2012, 03.15AM IST

NEW DELHI: Three days after a bomber targeted an Israeli embassy car injuring a diplomat's wife, Iran has emerged as the prime suspect in the attack that marked the hostilities between Tel Aviv and Tehran - over the latter's defiant march towards becoming a nuclear power - reaching India.

"The blast appears to have an Iranian connection. It was carried out either by Iranian agents or local sympathizers of the regime in Teheran," said a senior government source.

The suspicion has been strengthened after the arrests of three Iranian nationals by Thailand and Malaysia for stockpiling explosives in Bangkok similar to the one used in the attack on Israeli diplomat's wife here, with the government sources seeing a link between the incidents in two Asian capitals.

They disregarded the fact that ingredients of the bomb recovered from the house the Iranians had rented in Bangkok were different from what were used to put together the bomb that was stuck to the vehicle of the Israeli lady in New Delhi. The magnet bombs recovered from the Iranians in Thailand are made of C-4: a military grade explosive which is manufactured by government agencies.

Forensic examination of the bomb used here has so far no trace of C-4. "Agents engaged in covert operations have the leeway to use materials locally and easily available," said another senior source.

The bombing in Delhi coincided with a sharp escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran amid growing assessment that the latter's pursuit of nuclear arsenal was about to cross the threshold where it would become unstoppable, and that Israel would try to derail the plans of the Shiite theocracy. The modus operandi of the Delhi bomber was similar to the one used by suspected Israeli agents to assassinate Iranian scientists working on country's nuclear programme, and could have been, intelligence agencies suspect, meant to deter more Mossad-inspired hits before the quest for nuclear bomb enters what is being described as "zone of immunity".

The assassination coincided with the fourth death anniversary of Imad Mughaniyah - a militant affiliated with Iran-backed Hezbollah who was blamed for the attack on the US marines in 1983 that caused the Americans to pull out from Beirut and other terror acts. Although Mughaniyah was killed on February 12, 2008, it has been pointed out that the bomber could have preferred to delay the attack by a day as the anniversary of the Hezbollah leader fell on a Sunday this year.

As investigators are looking at all possible angles including involvement of Iranian elements, Union minister V Narayanasamy said the ongoing probe has "nothing to do with India-Iran relationship". He was responding to questions about India's stand on Iran in the changing scenario. He said, "As far as Iran is concerned our stand is clear. India has made its stand clear.... we would like to keep good relations with all other countries".

Israel has accused Iran of carrying out the blast but Tehran has denied it and questioned the basis for the accusation...................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMi8wMi8xNyNBcjAxMDAz&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Attack on Israeli diplomat ..... Is India a new theatre of Iran-Israel conflict? .... investigators are completely clueless

Israel's Mossad did not anticipate Delhi terror strike

Josy Joseph & Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 16, 2012, 03.00AM IST

NEW DELHI: The "limpet bomb" attack on the wife of the Israeli defence attache on Monday, seemingly as a retaliation against assassinations of Iranian scientists, appears to have come as a surprise to Mossad, Israel's external security agency.

Sources said a high-level team which discussed the threat of revenge strikes against Israeli targets did not anticipate that Iran's alleged sympathizers could strike in India's capital.

Although the Israeli embassy here took the precaution of alerting Delhi Police to what they called the looming threat of revenge attacks, Mossad officials who last week interacted with their Delhi counterparts did not apprehend that Iran's alleged proxies could strike in India.

The team led by Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, a veteran of the dramatic Entebbe operation where Israeli commandos managed to free their nationals held hostage by terrorists, felt that Israeli citizens were safer in India than their compatriots in Turkey, countries in East Asia and South America. The assessment could have been influenced by the absence so far of a group which could resort to terrorism allegedly at Iran's behest.

While the attack has come as a rude shock to Indian and Israeli agencies, intelligence agencies are fearing that use of magnet or limpet bomb may cease to be an aberration in South Asia. According to senior intelligence sources, National Technical Research Organization -- the agency that helps the security establishment with techint - had intercepted a conversation about Pakistan-based terrorists arming themselves with magnetic bombs.

The NTRO shared the input with the security establishment just before the attack on Monday: the first case where magnet bomb has been used as a terror weapon in the region. The arrival of the weapon, which has been used with lethal effectiveness in Iraq and, later in Iran, has left intelligence agencies troubled about the repercussions; especially in terms of measures that the security apparatus, already creaking under pressure, may have to take to deal with the new challenge.

Investigators handling the case have not been able to recover either a timer or a detonator, leading them to suspect that the device that the motorcycle-borne assailant used may have been an incendiary device. The debate about the nature of the device goes to the heart of another question relevant to the strike: whether the attacker was a local or a foreigner allegedly recruited by Iranian agents.

The agencies are working on the assumption that a foreigner would find it difficult to procure raw materials for an explosive device and, therefore, may settle for the use of an incendiary device which is easier to put together. But no firm conclusion can be reached yet about the bomber's nationality; one reason being his familiarity with the layout of the high-security zone where he targeted Tal Yehoshua.

Meanwhile, three days after the attack, Indian agencies have established contacts with their counterparts in Thailand and Georgia for specifics of the bombs that were recovered by them and targeted against Israelis. The effort is to study the parallels, if any, between the bombs in the three places - New Delhi, Bangkok and Tbilisi -- that could help New Delhi's investigations narrow down further.

Presently, Indian agencies are combing through the database of foreigners who entered India in recent times, and obtained visas at various missions. The lack of an organized database of visas issued at various locations around the world is making investigations that much difficult. Also being analysed are phone calls that were made around the attack site to various locations. "We are trying to get information about the kind of explosives used in the two other incidents, people behind them and whether the three incidents have any link," a source said.

Delhi Police is, meanwhile, groping in the dark even as it intensified its search for the attacker and a red motorcycle used by him. Though they found one such motorcycle in south Delhi's Lado Sarai, it is yet to be linked with the incident.

Preliminary forensic report of the 'sticky' device talks about finding traces of potassium chlorate and potassium nitrate. Cops have not found any circuit or battery from the spot - an indication that very sophisticated triggering device could have been used. "Preliminary report also talks about finding traces of aluminum and magnet. Final report is expected in three-four days," an official said.

Meanwhile, sources also spoke of a detailed letter from the Israeli embassy to Delhi Police of possible targeting of Israeli interests, but even this letter did not warn of any India specific inputs. Written on February 1 to Delhi Police, the letter had recalled in detail various developments around the world, and expressed concern that a "quality response" by Hezbollah or Iran to various attacks against Iranian targets and Hezbollah commanders.

The letter, signed by Yahel Vilan, the deputy chief of mission, and Shahar Gal Nero, the first secretary (security) had recalled reports from Bangkok about a terror plot targeted against Israelis. It had also spoken about Hezbollah's plans of revenge attacks in Europe. The letter had spoken about the possibility of revenge against the death of Iranian nuclear scientist Mustafa Ahmadi Roshan, who was killed in a car bomb attack on January 11.

The letter warned the police about recent inputs about people using forged Israeli passports. Specifically, the Israeli mission expressed fears that these forged passports could be used to avoid security checks in Israel and elsewhere.

The letter went on to say that since the killing of Imad Mughniyah, senior Hezbollah commander, on February 12, 2008, there had been efforts to carry out revenge killings. The letter said, "Iran and Hezbollah are determined to revenge the death" of Mughniyah......................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDIvMTYjQXIwMTIwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

NCTC ...... unnecessary resistance for political gains

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Seven CMs up in arms against anti-terror body

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 18, 2012, 03.24AM IST

New Delhi: The newly set up National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has run into strong political resistance with a group of chief ministers coming out in the open to oppose its powers in a development that can trigger serious doubts about the effectiveness of the agency which is billed to be the country’s principal counter-terror body after its launch on March 1.
    A diverse group of chief ministers, including personalities as politically disparate as Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, said the NCTC’s charter was violative of the federal structure. They questioned the manner in which it was set up without states being taken on board, and demanded that the government reverse the reversed.
    The NCTC’s opponents include the chief ministers of Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh-—Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, J Jayalalithaa, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The number is likely to increase. TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu also joined the protest, calling for the revocation of the notification setting up the NCTC with the objective to improve the country’s response to terror threat.
    The Centre has set itself adeadline of 90 days to complete the recruitment process and make the agency fully operational. Patnaik, who was the first to raise the red flag and instrumental in rallying his peers around, said, “My concern is the authoritarian notification with draconian overtones about law and order, among others, in which the state governments have not been consulted.” He, along with Banerjee, has already lodged a strong protest with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
    Besides their lament against the Centre’s alleged unilateralism, the chief ministers are particularly peeved with the provision that enables the NCTC to carry out arrests as well as searches and seizures across the country, something that, according to satraps, is in conflict with the constitutional scheme where ‘law and order’ is supposed to be the concern of states. Seen through the political prism, the protest is significant because it brings out the potential of a “secular” satrap hoisting an anti-Congress coalition, as well as the willingness of the BJP to go along with the move. This is the third instance in recent times that the Centre is having to deal with opposition arising from concerns about federalism, the two earlier cases being that of Lokpal and FDI in multi-brand retail.
    The government, however, rejected the criticism, with Union home secretary R K Singh stressing that the charge of encroachment on states’ powers was not valid. “The body has been set up under an existing law and enjoys powers which are part of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,” Singh said, as he explained why the Centre did not deem it necessary to consult states. He also said there should be no controversy over a decision which had been taken in “national interest”.
    The Congress brushed aside the charge of central overreach, while directing a putdown at the NCTC’s opponents. “Many draconian laws were enacted under the NDA regime,” party spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary said in a clear reference to the enactment of the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (Pota) by the NDA. Incidentally, Patnaik and Banerjee were part of the NDA. Official sources said while an effort would be made to allay the CMs’ concerns, there was no question of a change of course. “In fact, the National Investigation Agency, which was set up under a new law, enjoys more powers and was yet supported by states once they recognized that the intent was to fight terror. We are sure that the CMs will see our point of view in this instance as well,” a senior home ministry source said.
    Cooperation from states is a pre-requisite for the NCTC to be an effective counter-terror body it is billed to be. A fallout of the national humiliation over the 26/11 Mumbai attack, the body is supposed to prevent similar atrocities by collecting, collating and sharing terror-related inputs which, under the current scheme, often slip through the cracks caused by multiplicity of turf-conscious agencies. The body can also ask for information and all government agencies, even missions abroad, are mandated to comply.
    For the same objective of improving the response to terrorism, the NCTC has been empowered to carry out arrests, conduct searches and seizures and launch operations—provisions that seem to be upsetting the CMs the most. Anticipating the sensitivities of states about powers, the Centre has tried to make them stakeholders in the success of the experiment. A standing council comprising the chiefs of the anti-terror wings of all the states and UTs has been conceived as the key decision-making unit in the body.
    The protest suggests that the precaution has not addressed the anxiety. In her letter to the PM, Banerjee said, “It is difficult for the state government to accept such arbitrary exercise of power by the central government/central agencies, which have a bearing on the rights and privilege of the states as enshrined in the Constitution of India.” The NCTC derives its contentious powers to arrest and conduct search and seizure operations from Section 43(A) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act that has been on the statute for nearly eight years. Officials who saw the protests as ill-informed as well as politically motivated also stressed that the NCTC would work under the Intelligence Bureau which already has a pan-India jurisdiction.
    Interestingly, Banerjee’s letter to the PM was released by Patnaik’s office in Bhubaneswar. Patnaik, earlier this week, had written to non-Congress chief ministers and leaders, including Jayalalitha, Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, against the Centre’s move. Modi, in his letter to the PM, said the notification constituting the NCTC was a clear violation of the provisions of federal structure and an attack on the rights of states. Demanding that the order be annulled with immediate effect, he said putting all the intelligence agencies under the NCTC would adversely affect the rights given to states for maintenance of law and order.


CHORUS AGAINST COUNTER-TERROR



IN OPPOSITION | Chief ministers Mamata Banerjee, J Jayalalithaa, Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar, Narendra Modi, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Prem Kumar Dhumal

THEIR ARGUMENT | National Counter-Terrorism Centre’s powers of “arrest, search and seizure” in terror-related cases infringe on states’ powers; Mamata points out all state authorities will have to provide info, documents to NCTC

CENTRE SAYS | Agency created under provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act that have been in effect for past 6-7 years; national interest top priority, NCTC crucial to coordinate agencies fighting terror..................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JUFUvMjAxMi8wMi8xOCNBcjAwNDAy&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

SIMI .... Students Islamic Movement of India ... ban extended till February 7, 2014

Ban on SIMI extended for another two years

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 9, 2012, 03.15AM IST

NEW DELHI: The Centre has extended the ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for another two years, beginning Wednesday, for its alleged links with Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front Indian Mujahideen.

A notification to this effect was issued under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 on Tuesday, the day the previous two-year ban ended.

The decision to continue the ban, imposed for the first time in September 2001, was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on February 2. Earlier, the law ministry had given its clearance to extend the ban.

SIMI is one of the 35 outfits banned in India under UAPA. Terror outfits al-Qaida, LeT, Indian Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, al-Badr, Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Commando Force, United Liberation Front of Assam, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and CPI (Maoist) are among those proscribed under the law.

SIMI was banned for the first time when police found during a probe that its members were joining LeT. It was also found that the group had provided logistical support to Lashkar in setting up 'sleeper cells' in the hinterland. Some of its members had received training from Lashkar in Gulf countries and Pakistan before joining Indian Mujahideen in India.

Under the provisions of UAPA, the banned outfit can challenge the government notification before the Special Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act tribunal. If the tribunal rejects the ban order, the home ministry -- which issued the notification -- may move the Supreme Court.

SIMI was in the spotlight when the home ministry in January issued a 'security advisory' to Delhi and Rajasthan Police, saying celebrated author Salman Rushdie faced a grave threat from the banned group.

The ministry had issued the advisory just two days before Rushdie was supposed to come to India to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival from January 20 to 24. Rushdie subsequently cancelled his visit on 'security' grounds.

The single-page advisory said the author faced threat from SIMI whose former general secretary Saquib Nachan was "exploring the possibility of targeting Rushdie during his proposed visit". Nachan, a key accused in the 2003 Mulund train blast case of Mumbai, is currently out of jail after being given bail by a special POTA court in January last year. Nachan is considered a link between SIMI and LeT...................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEyLzAyLzA5I0FyMDEzMDM=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Civil Services ...... no place for deadwood in Indian bureaucracy .... we'll have to wait a bit to see the result

Bureaucrats beware: Inept can be sacked after 15 years

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 8, 2012, 02.43AM IST

NEW DELHI: Deadwood in the Indian bureaucracy will not be able to clog the government any longer. The Centre has notified a rule making it compulsory for IAS, IPS and officers from other all-India services to retire in "public interest" if they fail to clear a review after 15 years of service.

Officers adjudged as inefficient and non-performing will be shown the door and even those who make the cut will need to remain on their toes as they face another review after 25 years of service or on turning 50, whichever happens first.

Central services to be covered under the new rule include Indian Revenue Service, Indian Forest Service, Indian Information Service and Indian Custom & Central Excise Service among others that are grouped as all-India services.

The measure is part of a package of administrative reforms fast-tracked by the government in the wake of Gandhian Anna Hazare's anti-corruption agitation that forced UPA-II to shore up its governance credentials. The clean-up act follows initiatives to ensure time-bound delivery of services and a citizens' charter to list duties of various departments.

Along with the recent Supreme Court-mandated three-month timeframe for the government to deal with a request for sanction for prosecution and the court sanctifying a private citizen's plea for prosecution, the compulsory review can instill some sense of responsibility in an officialdom often accused of callousness.

Government has also over the last two years asked ministries to sign up to targets at the start of the year that are evaluated and graded after a 12-month period.

The ministry of personnel, which regulates service conditions of bureaucrats, has on January 31 notified changes in All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules empowering the government to enforce early retirement of bureaucrats after a mandatory 'review'.

Babus will get pensions

The performance review will include appraisal of the entire service record of an officer "regarding suitability or otherwise" for further retention in the service. The new rule, however, spares officers who are asked to quit from losing post-retirement benefits, including pension for life.

The new rules say: "The Central government may, in consultation with the state government concerned, require a member of the service to retire from service in public interest, after giving such member at least three month's previous notice in writing or three month's pay and allowances in lieu of such notice".

The rule specifies such a notice may be issued "after the review when such member completes 15 years of qualifying service or after the review when such member completes 25 years of qualifying service or attains the age of 50 years, as the case may be".

It, however, added that the government may conduct such review at any other time as it deems fit, if such review is not conducted earlier.

The new rule is a departure from the old ones which talked about performance review only after 30 years of service. Earlier, the government was empowered to compulsorily retire any officer at any stage only if s/he is convicted for a crime or if the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) imposes a penalty of compulsory retirement.

Conviction and CVC's penalty clauses will remain unchanged under the new rule that has been introduced following certain recommendations made by the second Administrative Reforms Commission..........http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDIvMDgjQXIwMDEwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

NCTC (National Counter Terrorism Centre) ... it will eventually be an independent body out of IB, the way R&AW (an 'E' wing of the IB) had got its separate identity after being set up in 1968

NCTC to become operational from March 1

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 7, 2012, 05.05AM IST

New Delhi: The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) - country's specialized anti-terror body -- will become operational from March 1 and will have a Standing Council comprising chiefs of counter-terror outfits in states and others as its lynchpin.

It will have powers to requisition 'elite' forces like NSG and marine commandos to carry out operations against terrorists.

The Standing Council will comprise members of anti-terror agencies in states, in what is being seen as a step to encourage the states to develop a stake in the pooling of information and intelligence inputs.

This coupled with the powers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to make arrests and carry out search operations across the country are designed to get around the problem of law and order being a state subject: a constitutional scheme that is seen as essential for country's federal polity but which has hampered cooperation between the Centre and the state as well as among states themselves.

The NCTC was notified on Friday with adequate legal cover under the UAPA as a 'designated authority'.

The director of NCTC along with its joint directors will be a part of the Standing Council. The body will have three divisions with each of them being earmarked for collection and dissemination of intelligence; analysis and operations.

The Council, which has been devised a way to take states into loop for every major decision, will meet frequently and use 'video conference' for regular interaction and review the "daily threat assessment". "It will also ensure that the NCTC is the single and effective point of control and coordination of all counter- terrorism measures," said a government notification.

The forces that can be requisitioned by the NCTC for operations may not just be restricted to commando units like the National Security Guard (NSG), marine commandos (MarCos) of the Indian Navy and CoBRA of the Central Reserve Police Force. The anti-terror body can use even those combat forces that may not be in public domain, but exist for various 'covert' operations within the country.

The notification, made public on Monday, said: "All civil authorities in the country (including of states) and all Indian authorities located outside country (including Indian Missions) will act in aid of the NCTC in respect of the duties and functions entrusted to this body".

The central anti-terror body will have power to seek any kind of information, including documents, reports, transcripts and cyber details from "any agency furnishing or obliged to furnish such information" under the conditions of confidentiality. It will also have power to set up inter-state intelligence support teams.

The NCTC will maintain a comprehensive data base of terrorists and their associates; friends, families and supporters; of terrorist modules and gangs and all information pertaining to terrorists.

It will also coordinate with existing investigation and intelligence agencies to ensure that all terrorist cases are solved and the perpetrators are brought to justice.

On structure of the organization, the notification said that the NCTC, to be headed by a director who will be in the rank of additional director in Intelligence Bureau (IB), will have core staff drawn from the personnel of IB.

It will also have officers on deputation from other Central agencies like Research & Analysis Wing (India's external intelligence agency), joint intelligence committee, National Technical Research Organization and intelligence wings of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, DGMI, CBDT, central economic intelligence bureau and Narcotics Control Bureau..................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEyLzAyLzA3I0FyMDA4MDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

NCTC (National Counter Terrorism Centre) ...... a new beginning

Finally, NCTC gets govt notification

Josy Joseph & Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 5, 2012, 04.26AM IST

NEW DELHI: The government has 'notified' the setting up of the ambitious anti-terror body - National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) - giving it 'power' through an executive order to carry out operations, including arrest, search and seizure, as part of its mandate to be the country's main counter-terror agency.

Coming up three weeks after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the NCTC, the notification states that the specialized body will derive powers from the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and towards that end it has been included among the agencies that are designated under the anti-terror law.

The notification was issued on Friday when the attention was focused on what could be in store for Union home minister P Chidambaram - the main push behind the formation of the body - in the 2G special court.

NCTC, a fallout of the national humiliation over the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, is supposed to collect and collate intelligence on terror groups and co-ordinate response to threats. Impediments to the exchange of information has been hampering the fight against terror, with crucial inputs often falling through the cracks caused by turf battles among agencies that prefer to work in silos. Aspiring to achieve seamless exchange of inputs, the notification mandates agencies to share their inputs with NCTC.

The final shape of the agency looks far stronger than what had initially been estimated, with the powers bestowed upon it through UAPA expanding its reach far beyond the Multiple Agency Centre (MAC) which was tasked with collecting, collating and sharing intelligence inputs.

The home ministry has put in place a nationwide encrypted network with over 500 terminals for all NCTC participants to have real time sharing of information.

The NCTC will draw its 'functional' power of search and seizures under the provisions of the UAPA that allows Central agencies such powers in terror-related case while keeping state police concerned into the loop. It will be headed by a director who will have a 'core' team comprising senior IPS officers, primarily from intelligence agencies. D P Sinha, additional director in the Intelligence Bureau, is reported to be the frontrunner for heading the agency. Sinha, an old IB hand, looked after counter-terror operations for long, having been associated with some big successes - the most recent being the elimination of IM commander Atif Ameen.

The core team will be the 'nucleus' around which the new organization will be built up by either by appointing new officers or taking the experienced ones from other agencies and state police on deputation.

"Notification is issued under Article 73 of the Constitution which provides for 'executive' power to the central government. Director and his core team will be appointed shortly under the notification," said a senior official.

Director of this anti-terror agency will have full functional autonomy. He will also have the power to seek terror-related information from any central agencies including intelligence units of the CBI, National Investigation Agency, NATGRID, National Technical Research Organization, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and all seven central armed police forces including NSG.

Although the NCTC will work as an "integral" part of Intelligence Bureau and its director will report to the IB chief and the home minister/home secretary, it will have a focused counter-terrorism 'jobs' like how similar specialized body works in other countries including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Israel, Russia, China and Japan.

The anti-terror body's function will include drawing up of plans and coordinating all actions and integrating all the intelligence pertaining to counter terrorism. It will coordinate with relevant investigation and intelligence agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of terror are brought to justice, besides maintaining comprehensive data base of terrorists, their associates and supporters.

Officials do not rule out the possibility of giving the agency more teeth by making certain law in future based on its experience. "Shortcomings or deficiencies, if any, will give us an idea whether the agency needs more power or not," said an official..........http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzAyLzA1I0FyMDE3MDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Union home minister on D-day ....... one could well read the 'outcome' on his face

Chidambaram appears his 'usual' self on Judgement Day

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 3, 2012, 01.15AM IST

NEW DELHI: Union home minister P Chidambaram, whose role was supposed to be clarified in the 2G case by the apex court on Thursday, appeared to be his 'usual' self attending all scheduled meetings of his ministry without giving a hint of any 'unease' from his side.

He not only turned up for his first meeting, scheduled for 9.30 am, on matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir well on time, but also continued through a series of other meetings till the Union telecom minister Kapil Sibal dropped in at his North Block office after the apex court's order.

Sibal met Chidambaram in his office, while the government was preparing to give its 'reaction' to the Supreme Court's judgment cancelling 121 2G licences. That was the only 'unscheduled' meeting in the North Block.

As Sibal left for Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting on media that was convened before giving government's reaction to the apex court's order, Chidambaram too left the North Block with 'smile' on his face for Empowered GoM meeting on issue of disinvestment of the public sector oil company ONGC.

Obviously, the home minister might have been informed by Sibal about the apex court's order by that time. But, Chidambaram left it to his other Cabinet colleagues to come out with reaction. Though he usually attends GoM on media briefings, he preferred to go for the 'scheduled' meeting on Thursday.

He moved on for his other engagements of the day - first in the finance ministry over the ONGC issue and then at 7, Race Course Road (the Prime Minister's residence) for a number of Cabinet meetings including Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)..............http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDIvMDMjQXIwMTEwNg==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

SIMI ban ...... question is always raised on activities of Bajrang Dal and Abhinav Bharat as well

Centre to extend ban on SIMI

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 3, 2012, 04.42AM IST

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday decided to continue the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for its alleged links with certain Pakistan-based terrorist outfits including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front, Indian Mujahideen.

The decision to continue the ban, first imposed in September 2001, was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The home ministry will now soon notify the extension of the ban which was supposed to have expired this month," said an official.

SIMI was initially banned for two years after various intelligence reports showed its cadres were joining LeT and the outfit was providing logistical support in setting up 'sleeper cells' in the hinterland. Some of its members had also received training from Lashkar in Gulf countries and Pakistan before joining the Indian Mujahideen here.

Though SIMI had challenged the government's move in various courts and also before the Special Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act tribunals on a number of occasions, it did not get any reprieve.

"It can again challenge the latest decision before the tribunal after the home ministry notifies the ban. The tribunal has the power to turn down the government's decision if it is not convinced of the evidence presented by the ministry," the official said.

The outfit recently came under the spotlight when Union home ministry in January issued a 'security advisory' to Delhi and Rajasthan Police, stating that author Salman Rushdie was under grave threat from the banned group SIMI.

The ministry's advisory had come just two days before the controversial author was supposed to come to India to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival from January 20 to 24. Rushdie subsequently cancelled his visit on security grounds.

The one-page advisory had stated that SIMI's whose former general secretary Saquib Nachan was "exploring the possibility of targeting Rushdie during his proposed visit".

Nachan, a key accused in the 2003 Mulund train blast case of Mumbai, is currently out of jail after being given bail by special POTA court in January last year. Nachan is considered a link between SIMI and LeT................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEyLzAyLzAzI0FyMDExMDU=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Central Detective Training School to be set up in Ghaziabad by the BPR&D of the Union home ministry

Home ministry plans school to train spies, cops

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 2, 2012, 12.05AM IST

NEW DELHI: As part of the Centre's attempt to strengthen security infrastructure and equip personnel with sophisticated gear, the home ministry has approved several proposals for paramilitary forces, ranging from setting up a 'detective training school' to procuring huge numbers of high-tech 'radio sets'. It also plans to buy and wet-lease helicopters for internal security duties.

A school to train spies - Central Detective Training School (CDTS) - will be set up in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh by the home ministry's Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D). "The ministry has already released Rs 2.18 crore to BPR&D for acquisition of 8.37 acres of land for establishment of the school," a senior official said.

Besides officials of central armed police forces (CAPF) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), police personnel from states and Union Territories will also get training in the school which is likely to start functioning next year.

The home ministry had earlier sanctioned Rs 61.98 crore to Border Security Force (BSF) for procurement of 16,791 digital VHF/UHF hand-held radio sets and Rs 29.49 crore to CRPF for procurement of 25 remote controlled improvised explosive device jammers.

Home minister P Chidambaram, while presenting his ministry's monthly report card on Tuesday, had said these devices would be used by CRPF for "road opening party duties in Jammu and Kashmir". He said Rs 424.19 crore was released to various states in January under the modernization of police forces scheme.

Besides these, the ministry is planning to buy and wet-lease choppers as the entire fleet of indigenous Dhruv helicopters - maintained by BSF -- has been grounded following a series of mishaps in the past couple of years. These helicopters will be used to assist forces engaged in internal security duties, including anti-Naxal operations for 'non-combatant' jobs like ferrying injured personnel and transporting essential goods.

Chidambaram said the Mi-17 helicopters of Indian Air Force will help the paramilitary and state police forces do their job till alternative arrangements were made.

"Mi-17 helicopters are functional. It is the Dhruv helicopters which were grounded. One of them crashed... so I immediately directed remaining (fleet) should be grounded," he said, adding he had authorized wet leasing of some helicopters and was also looking to buy some more choppers for use by the security forces.

"This is a long-term project for which money must be made available. And I sincerely hope that money will be made available," he said...........................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDIvMDIjQXIwMDkwNA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom