CMs' meet to look at creating intel cadre
Creation of a separate cadre for intelligence officers with special incentives, separation of the investigation and law-and-order wings, and enhancement of the financial powers of director generals of state police (DGPs) are the key issues to be taken up at the chief ministers' conference on internal security on Monday.
Creation of a separate cadre for intelligence officers with special incentives, separation of the investigation and law-and-order wings, and enhancement of the financial powers of director generals of state police (DGPs) are the key issues to be taken up at the chief ministers' conference on internal security on Monday.
While Opposition chief ministers are expected to raise the issue of federalism in the context of a proposal to allow Border Security Force (BSF) personnel to arrest, search and seize, the agenda paper is confined to nine key issues. Discussions on the National Counter-Terrorism Centre have been deferred to the May 6 conference.
Though the subject of Left-wing extremism will also be taken up at the conference, it will be confined only to chief ministers of the Maoist-hit states. They are likely to be told to coordinate with paramilitary forces in terms of logistics, intelligence and operations aimed at alleviating the situation.
According to an agenda paper, the conference will discuss police reforms and capacity-building, including the separation of investigation and law-and-order wings of the state police. Strengthening of police intelligence wings will be taken up in a big way, specifically powered by a proposal to induct only highly-trained officers into special cells.
The home ministry is in favour of having a separate cadre for intelligence officers, so special cells of the state police can have dedicated officers who will be specially trained for the job. Also under discussion would be criminal tracking network systems and economic offences - with special emphasis being placed on fake currency rackets.
Extension of schemes for modernisation of the state police will also be taken up, with the Centre likely to discuss enhancement of the DGP's financial powers to around Rs2-3 crore. At present, the police modernisation fund is handled by the state governments, and the DGP's role is limited to providing technical advice and helping with the tendering process.
Coastal security and border management will also be discussed at the conference, and measures taken after the 26/11 attacks are likely to be reviewed.