After PM,PC writes to Dhumal

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday assured Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal that the Centre will take into confidence state governments before taking the next step in regard to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

In a letter to Dhumal,Chidambaram said that it was the central government’s intention to continue to work with state governments in order to fight terrorism with an iron hand. “The scope and functions of the NCTC will be discussed in details in meetings of the Union home secretary with directors general of police and heads of the anti-terrorist organisations/forces of the state governments before taking next steps on the NCTC issue,” he added.

Clarifying that NCTC has been given minimum powers,which are required for any counter terrorism body,the Home Minister added that NCTC has been placed under the Intelligence Bureau. Those arrested by the NCTC will be taken to the nearest police station and the concerned SHO will take further action in accordance with the provisions of the CrPC,said Chidambaram.

“The NCTC was set up on the recommendations of second Administrative Reform Commission,which had recommended that the multi-agency centre should be converted into a national centre for counter terrorism with personnel drawn from different intelligence and security agencies,” he further wrote.