Chief ministers’ meet to discuss new security architecture

NEW DELHI - A new internal security architecture, the overall security preparedness of the states and strategies to counter the Maoist challenge would be high on the agenda of a meeting of chief ministers convened here Feb 7, home ministry sources said Wednesday.

The meeting, on which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will preside, is expected to see Home Minister P. Chidambaram articulate his new architecture for India’s security, sources said.

As part of his plan, Chidambaram wants to set up the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) by the end of 2010. Once set, it would have the broad mandate to deal with all kinds of terrorist violence.

The home minister has also suggested restructuring of the ministry and said he wants to devote the whole of his time and energy to matters relating to internal security.

These plans will be spelt out in greater detail. In addition, some other proposals like filling up of police vacancies and beefing up the intelligence machinery will also discussed, said a senior official.

Fast-tracking some of the ministry’s other ambitious plans, like setting up the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), will also find resonance.

The CCTNS is aimed at facilitating collection, storage, retrieval and sharing of data and information at the police station and between the police stations, state headquarters and central police organisations.

Other issues to come up at the meeting are measures to be taken to maintain law and order, coastal security, and preparedness of Quick Reaction Teams.

A separate meeting of chief ministers of the Maoist-affected states is likely to be held later in the day to discuss strategies.

This will be the third meeting of chief ministers convened by the government to discuss internal security after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.