With terrorists striking virtually at will and security agencies unable to crack their networks, experts have supported Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s call for setting up a national investigation agency on the lines of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) of the US.
Prakash Singh, a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer whose petition for setting up of such an agency is before the Supreme Court, says, “It’s time we start viewing terrorism as a threat to national security and not isolated incidents.’’
He said once “federal crimes’’ were identified, the states were unlikely to view the agency as impinging on their powers. “Federal crimes have international ramifications and pose a threat to India’s internal security and economy,’’ Singh said.
Broadly speaking, experts say crimes related to “international terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking, weapons and narcotic smuggling’’ qualify as federal crimes.
The Malimath committee and the Veerappa Moily committee reports had also expressed the need for having such an agency. “A lot of work has already been done. Only the states need to be explained,’’ said Singh.
However, EN Rammohan, former IPS officer and author of two books on terrorism in South Asia, says other than a federal agency, “We need to urgently fence the border with Bangladesh to check the spread of terror networks in India.’’
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He says the HUJI (Harkat-ul-jehadi Islamia), which is based in Bangladesh, has taken advantage of the porous border to spread its network in India.
Experts said the issue was always listed in the annual meetings between the Centre and the states. “Interestingly, all the states, irrespective of the parties in power, were opposed to it,’’ says Ajit Doval, former chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
The UPA government, like the NDA government before it, was unable to convince the state governments of the urgency to have such an agency.
“It’s a myth that the government needs to amend the Constitution to create such an agency,’’ said Singh. Doval said when both the BJP and the Congress agreed, why should there be any delay in setting up such an agency.
However, most security experts disagree with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion for setting up an agency on the lines of the KGB, the Russian agency known for its cold-blooded ways. “Modi’s idea will end up with India having yet-another elite IPS-type service,’’ said Doval.