Govt gears up to develop intelligence against terror

New Delhi: Concerned over the spreading network of terrorist organisations in the country, Government has decided to strengthen the intelligence network and amend the legal framework to effectively deal with extremism.

The Home Ministry is considering amending the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to broaden the definition of terrorism and facilitate investigations in the terror incidents by helping in collection of evidence.

However, there would be no draconian provisions made under the law so that people and groups do not feel threatened, sources said.

They said the government would not bring a separate law as demanded by the BJP and other opposition parties and suggested in the report of the Veerappa Moily Committee on the issue of administrative reforms.

To strengthen the Central Intelligence machinery, new additional posts have been created in the Intelligence Bureau.

Steps have also been taken to streamline the arrangements for gathering, analysing and sharing of intelligence among different agencies and coordination with the state governments in institutionalised manner.

Measures to effectively operationalise the institutional mechanism for intelligence collection, analysis sharing and coordination with the state government viz. Multi-agency centre, Subsidiary Multi-agency centres, Joint Task Force on Intelligence and Inter-State Intelligence Support

teams have been taken.

A committee on Strengthening of Intelligence in States has been formed which would be coordinated and convened by the Intelligence Bureau.

The Committee comprises the DGPs of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Delhi.

It would strengthen intelligence and help in collection, analysis, dissemination and constant flow of information at all levels. The committee is yet to finalise its report.

The states have been advised to utilise service of retired army personnel, IB personnel and police personnel on contractual basis.

Meanwhile, the ban on extremist organisations like the SIMI and other terror groups would continue. The Centre has declared 32 organisations as terrorist organisations including Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and LTTE.