The Home Ministry has taken specific initiative for each of the security challenges facing the country. Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh stated this while releasing the three-year report on major tasks accomplished from 1st December 2008 to 30th November 2011
“We have strengthened our capacity in collation, collection and intervention,” Singh said. According to Singh, multi agency centre (MAC) has been empowered and S-MACs have been established in all states.
On the anti-terror front, Singh said: “Since 1 Jan 2009, 58 terrorist modules were neutralised. There were three major terror incidents: Pune blast (13 Feb 2010), Mumbai serial blasts (13 Jul 2011) and Delhi High Court blast (7 Sept 2011). The bomb blast at Sheetla Ghat, Varanasi is also classified as a significant terrorist incident.”
Regarding the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist who is under detention, the government was able to bring about a successful prosecution and conviction of Ajmal Kasab, while the Mumbai High Court dismissed his appeal.
The government was also able to gain access to interrogate David Coleman Headley and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will file charge sheet against Headley shortly.
The Cabinet Committee on Security has approved setting up of NATGRID and the preparatory activities for establishment of first horizon of NATGRID has commenced.
To date, 350 NIA posts are operational in New Delhi, Guwahati and Hyderabad. Altogether 32 cases have been entrusted to NIA and the agency has filed charge sheets in 20 cases.
The case relating to the Kerala RTC bomb blasts on 3 March 2006 ended in the conviction of two persons.
Singh stated that comprehensive security arrangements made for the Commonwealth Games held in October 2010 at New Delhi and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 held in Feb-Apr 2011 at various venues.
Strengthening of IPS
Significant measures were taken to strengthen the Indian Police Service (IPS). The IPS cadre strength increased from 3889 to 4730. Annual batch size of the regular recruits through the Civil Services Examination rose from 130 to 150. The National Police Academy, Hyderabad is being upgraded at a cost of Rs.240 cr.
The states provided Rs.3612 crore during the four financial years (2008-2012) for modernisation of state police under the Modernisation of Police Force (MPF) scheme.
Significant measures were taken to augment the capacity for training state police forces in the country. The North Eastern Police Academy, Shillong was upgraded at an approved cost of Rs. 82 crore.
Altogether 21 Counter Insurgency and Anti Terrorism (CIAT) schools are being established in the states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland, at a cost of Rs.52.40 crore. Of these, 17 are operational.
Setting up of Forensic Science Services
Three Hi-Tech Central Forensics Science Laboratories (CFSLs) are being established at Bhopal, Pune and Guwahati. Temporary premises hired and scientific / administrative personnel are being posted.
The land for construction of buildings allotted and construction work is expected to commence shortly. A sum of Rs.100 crore allocated under 11th Five Year Plan has been set aside for six regional forensic science laboratories and 52 district mobile forensic units.
Important international agreements were finalised and signed during the three-year period. Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties in Criminal Matters (MLAT) was signed with six countries: Hong Kong SAR, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Indonesia. An agreement on security cooperation was signed with UAE in November this year.
Some notable setbacks
Some of the notable setbacks during the three-year period are:
– Bomb blast in Pune on 7 Feb 2010, Mumbai serial blasts on 13 July 2011 and bomb blast at Delhi High Court on 7 Sept 2011. Charge sheet filed in Pune case, trial commenced, all but one accused absconding. Investigation underway in other two cases. Major terrorist module busted in Nov 2011 and six persons, suspected in terrorist incidents of 2010, arrested.
– Increase in violence and number of casualties in Left Wing Affected districts of Bihar and Maharashtra. Manipur remains affected by violence and blockades.
– Other notable pending matters are setting up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), revised action plan to deal with emerging challenges from Left Wing Extremists.