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Thursday, Sep 21, 2006
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Major metros need special security: Patil

Special Correspondent

Targets of terrorist attacks

Shivraj Patil

PANAJI: The Centre has asked the State Governments to prepare "very forward-looking futuristic plans for providing security to mega cities" to be financed jointly by the States and the Centre.

After attending the meeting of the Chief Ministers of the Western Zonal Council (WZC) here on Wednesday morning, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the media that the idea was to provide the best security to major metros, which can become the targets of terrorist attacks.

The WZC meeting also mooted a national cadre for developing the intelligence network.

Summing up the outcome of the meeting, Mr. Patil said, "the biggest outcome of the meet is the consensus on the contribution the States and the Centre would make for the development of security apparatus in the country through budget provisions and plans and developing the intelligence gathering machinery in the country by the States."

The meeting held under the chairmanship of Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane was attended by Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Union Ministers of State for Home, Union Government officials and representatives of Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Consensus on funds

There was an agreement that more funds should be provided for policing activities by the State Governments in their annual budgets and plans, with the Centre promising liberal funding (on a 75:25 basis), provided they submit elaborate proposals backed by their concrete financial commitments.

V.K. Duggal, Union Home Secretary, later said the Centre was financing the States to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crore.

Mr. Patil said there was a consensus that in view of the growing security concerns, it was necessary to strengthen and modernise the police force."It was also discussed that the machinery that we have in the country at both the national and state level, responsible for collecting intelligence must be strengthened."

Hot pursuit

Mr. Patil ruled out the Centre taking the initiative to work for a consensus among States for an amendment to the existing provisions on hot pursuit of criminals and terrorists.

In response to a question, he said that the issue was deliberated at the Western Zonal Council meeting of Chief Ministers earlier in the day and emphasised the need for "more cooperation among the States to handle situations in exceptional circumstances within the framework of the existing provisions."

"This is something which cannot be done without the cooperation of the State Governments. The Criminal Procedure Code allows any State police to go to another State to arrest a criminal or terrorist provided they inform the State concerned."

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