Time for NCTC

While the two bomb blasts in Hyderabad last week have exposed both intelligence and policing failures, it is imperative that we go beyond blame game to be able to better deal with terrorist plans and threats in future.

After most terrorist attacks, as indeed in the wake of the latest, there have been claims that there was prior information and despatch of alerts to states on the possibility of attacks. If they could not foil the attacks, the reason was that either they were insufficient or follow-up action was not taken at the ground level. The only solution is better co-ordination of counter-terrorism efforts through a unified agency which has presence at both Central and state levels. The proposal to set up a National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), which has not taken off due to opposition from some states, should be pursued with more seriousness in this context.

Some states, especially those ruled by opposition parties, have felt that the proposed body would encroach upon their policing powers. But while law and order should remain a state subject in a federal set-up, terrorism is not a routine law and order issue and needs to be tackled differently. After discussions with states, the Centre has expressed its readiness to revise the original NCPC format and whittle down some of its proposed powers. It will not have unbridled search, seizure and arrest powers as conceived in the beginning but would work through the state anti-terrorism machinery, involving state police chiefs. Even where the NCTC sees the need for direct action, the state DGPs would be taken into confidence. While these should adequately address the concerns of the states, it is unfortunate that some of them are still holding out.
The home ministry has also agreed to discuss any remaining issue with the states, like the demand to keep some agencies out of the purview of the proposed agency. The states should now come forward to positively respond to the proposal. But it must be ensured that the powers and responsibilities of the proposed agency are not diluted to such an extent that it becomes ineffective. There is also a proposal to set up the agency and let it function in states which are ready to accept it, giving the freedom for doubting states to stay away. This should be avoided  as the NCTC will be most effective only if it has nation-wide presence.