The Centre is planning to revive the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), a project conceived by the UPA government in 2012.
What next?
The government is planning to rework the NCTC proposal to allay the fears of State governments that their intelligence gathering mechanism would be encroached upon by the Centre.
What was proposed?
It was after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack that the then Home Minister suggested setting up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), on the lines of the one in the United States and the British Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, for coordinated counter-terror operations. However, concerned that such an agency could well be abused by the Centre for political ends, many Chief Ministers struck down the idea primarily because the unit was to function under the Intelligence Bureau and, unlike the U.S. agency, it would be empowered to conduct searches and arrests under Sections 43 and 43A of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Key facts:
- It has the power to conduct searches and arrests in any part of India.
- The NCTC, to be located within the Intelligence Bureau, will carry out counter-terror operations and collect, collate and disseminate data on terrorism.
- The agency will also maintain a data base on terrorist and their associates including their families.
- The NCTC will also formulate a response to terror threats. It is meant to serve as a single and effective point of control and coordination of all counter terrorism measures.
- It will also have the mandate to carry out anti-terror operations, if any, through, or in conjunction with, the State police.