The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Twin blasts force Government to have re-look at 1992 initiative

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Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Twin blasts force Government to have re-look at 1992 initiative

Suresh Krishnamoorthy

C. Anjaneya Reddy

HYDERABAD: Saturday’s twin blasts that claimed 41 lives in the city appear to have forced the Government to take a serious re-look at an initiative that was actually implemented about 15 years ago only to be abandoned within months.

Now what Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has proposed -- creation of an effective counter intelligence group – is what was exactly implemented in 1992.

C. Anjaneya Reddy was Inspector-General, Intelligence, when a proposal for a separate counter intelligence wing was approved by the Government.

Counter terrorism

Some 25 Sub-Inspectors were recruited and trained in intelligence gathering, specifically to counter terrorism.

However, within 18 months and after a change of Chief Minister, what was originally meant to be an elite counter intelligence outfit was disbanded and those recruited were accommodated in other units of the police.

Mr. Anjaneya Reddy told The Hindu on Tuesday that the outfit was born after the Government had realised the fact that the city had become a home for Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistani agency to park its operatives. It was hiring locals and indoctrinating them.

Easy job

Interestingly, the former police officer said tackling terrorism was much more easier than handling left wing extremism as the latter enjoyed people’s support in many pockets.

Mr. Reddy suggested two approaches.

In the short term, he said the Government could constitute a band of police officers who volunteer to take up counter intelligence work.

They could then be put through a crash course including training in the Intelligence Bureau and Research & Analysis Wing (RAW).

In the long term, what could be looked at is Government approval for expanding the force.

‘Amend laws’

A multi-pronged approach was needed to tackle such an “international problem” having local ramifications.

Re-orientation of the police force and improving core competencies apart, what was also required is amending existing laws to make them more effective, he said, citing the Evidence Act and the Criminal Rules of Practice.

He stressed that like in the West, the burden of proof should be shifted to the accused instead of the investigating/prosecuting agency.

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