2 years on,separate intelligence wing yet to take off in state

“The proposal will be examined and thereafter the Home department will seek the approval from the Finance department,” the source said.

Mahesh Gupta,Secretary (Home),said the creation of a separate cadre for the intelligence wing is a serious consideration for the government and that the proposal was being examined by the authorities concerned. He,however,refused to divulge any further information.

According to sources,the state government was planning to develop the state’s intelligence wing on the pattern of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). “Initially,the government’s plan was to select such policemen who have a knack for intelligence gathering and analysing the same,” a senior officer of the Home department said.

“So,there is a need for specialised training for those who desire to serve the Intelligence wing in the state,” added the officer.

According to the officer,the idea is to ensure a permanent core staff like constable,head constable,sub-inspector and inspector for the Intelligence wing.

Following the blasts at Lucknow,Varanasi and Faizabad courts,the state government had made the announcement to strengthen the intelligence system by creating a separate cadre comprising technologists and experts.  

According to the existing system,there are three units within the Intelligence wing of the state police — Local Intelligence Unit (LIU),Special Branch and Multi-purpose unit. “While the LIU directly reports to the district police chiefs concerned,the special branch remains in direct touch with the intelligence headquarters,” a source in the police said.

The source added that there is a complete lack of coordination among the three units that function within the intelligence wing.

The IPS officers,who serve as district police chiefs,also complained that they never get any concrete information about the important happenings in the areas under their jurisdiction.

“Though I served six districts as SP in the recent past,I could not find a single useful report from the LIU so that we could act in advance,” said an IPS officer.

“The main job of the LIU is now confined to verify the addresses of passport applicants,” added the officer.  

Currently,the state has its regional offices (intelligence) in Agra,Allahabad,Bareilly,Faizabad,Gorakhpur,Kanpur,Lucknow,Meerut,Moradabad and Varanasi. “These offices are headed by SP-rank officers and they send the report to the Intelligence headquarters,” the source said.

According to the source,supervisory officers are transferred to these offices from the UP Police. “But the lower rank policemen are a permanent part of the Intelligence headquarters.”