NSG hubs in four cities soon Nodal intelligence centre to share inputs with others

NSG hubs in four cities soon Nodal intelligence centre to share inputs with others

The Centre today gave legal backing to a nodal intelligence centre to share inputs with all other intelligence agencies, including that of the states, even as it unveiled a number of other steps to beef up internal security systems in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.
It also announced the coming into force from tomorrow of the National Investigating Agency (NIA), a federal organisation to probe terror acts across the country, and deterrent anti-terror amendments made to law.

Steps would also be initiated soon to set up NSG hubs in four cities, a coastal command and 20 counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism schools. A decision has also been taken to procure 20,000 bullet-proof jackets for central para-military forces on an urgent basis. Addressing a press conference to present a report on the functioning of his Ministry one month after taking over the portfolio, Home Minister P Chidambaram said beginning today the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) has become operational on a 24x7 basis.

The MAC, established in the Intelligence Bureau, as the nodal centre on all intelligence relating to terrorism, has not be able to fully achieve its objectives. "Hence, it was decided that a legal colour should be given to the order establishing MAC", he said. Accordingly, an executive order was issued today under which the MAC has been obliged to share intelligence with all other intelligence agencies, including agencies of the state governments and the Union Territories.

Likewise, all other agencies have been obliged to share intelligence with MAC, Chidambaram said adding tomorrow he would chair a meeting in MAC. "With the order spelling out the functions, powers and duties of MAC, I expect that there will be a distinct improvement in the gathering and sharing of intelligence relating to terrorism, terrorist threats and terrorist offences," he said. Subsidiaries of MAC (SMAC) have been established in many state capital and in due course an SMAC will be established in every state capital, the Minister said. He said in the new set up it will be a mutually beneficial arrangement under which all intelligence agencies share intelligence on a real-time basis and are able to make joint preliminary assessment of intelligence.

The Home Minister said Presidential assent was received today for the NIA Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill which were passed by Parliament in the just concluded winter session. PTI