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What is MHA’s plan for the proposed national counter-terrorism policy for all states?

Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the Centre will soon bring a national counter-terrorism policy and strategy.

Counter-terror policy: MHA for specialised units in all states/UTs

It was also decided to prepare SOPs on intelligence processing and inter-agency operational coordination between Central and state agencies.

All states and Union Territories should have a uniform specialised terror unit with proper strength, they should have a prison monitoring unit, language expert unit, deradicalisation unit, financial intelligence unit, all upgraded weapons recommended by NSG and a standard common training module set by the NSG – these are some of the key points prepared by the Union Home Ministry for the national counter-terrorism policy and strategy.

Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said the Centre will soon bring a national counter-terrorism policy and strategy. Addressing the Anti-Terror Conference-2024 (ATC), organised by the NIA, which was attended by chiefs of state police forces and other top security officers, Shah said, “We are taking the next step in proactive approach that the Home Ministry has made to fight terrorism, terrorists and their ecosystem… We will soon bring a new national counter-terrorism policy and strategy in which you all will play a key role… The government has come up with a vision on a model anti-terrorism squad and model special task force for states and UTs, which, if adopted, will work as a common structure and platform to deal with the menace of terrorism.”

Sharing the current status of the specialised terror units, a source in the security establishment said 18 States/UTs have dedicated ATS, STF, counter-terrorism units/cells; there are 13 States/UTs where ATS, STF and CT units are notified as police stations; 80 to 650 is the range of sanctioned strength in ATS, STF and CT units. There are six States/UTs which have standard operating procedures (SOPs) for their counter-terrorism investigations/operations, and only six State/UTs have designated court/courts for terrorism-related cases.

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A source in the MHA said a model of anti-terror structure was discussed in the ATC. It was also decided to prepare SOPs on intelligence processing and inter-agency operational coordination between Central and state agencies.

The ATC discussed the different structures, work distribution, orientation, hierarchy and set-up of anti-terror units in every State/UT. “The MHA, which is preparing the national counter-terrorism policy and strategy for all the States/UTs, is considering this fact that anti-terror units should be headed by an IG or a senior-rank officer, and should have at least two DIG-level officers and at least four SP-rank officers,” the source said.

For work distribution of four SPs, who will work under the DIGs, a source said the MHA is also considering that one of the SPs should dedicatedly look at intelligence and operations front, another should look at investigation and prosecutions work. A team of another DIG, one SP should look at the work of administration and logistics and another one should work for research analysis and training.

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

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