Terrorism, strengthening of intelligence network, security of the coastline and key establishments, including atomic sites, will be discussed threadbare at the conference of chief ministers to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, in his first such exercise after being shifted from the Finance Ministry, will
seek views from all state governments on action to beef up the security machinery to check terrorism in the wake of Mumbai terror attack, official sources said in Delhi.
The conclave will focus on beefing up intelligence network and strengthening coastal security, particularly considering the fact that the terrorists involved in Mumbai carnage used the sea route to sneak into the metropolis.
Security of key installations, including nuclear power plants, will also figure prominently at the meeting to be
addressed by the Prime Minister.
The issue of strengthening intelligence collection and sharing mechanism, modernisation of police forces, setting up of commando units in all state police forces and discussion on the modalities of the working of the newly-formed National Investigation Agency are also on the agenda of the meeting.
Immediate filling up of police vacancies, setting up of the Police Network (POLNET) connecting all police stations
through a computer-based system for sharing of information and videos of crime scenes and swift action on police reforms are other issues which the chief ministers will discuss in the meeting.
In a letter sent recently, Chidambaram had suggested to all chief ministers to set up round the clock control rooms to
receive and disseminate intelligence/information pertaining to terrorism and other forms of organised crime, setting up an analysis group within the state intelligence wing, forwarding intelligence inputs to Intelligence Bureau and taking urgent steps to get rid of mafia, extortion gangs and land sharks.
The Home Minister advised the states to immediately identify major establishments, installations and symbolic or
iconic structures and conduct a thorough review of the security arrangements there.
