Kalam suggests single intelligence body to fight terror

Days after PM Manmohan Singh suggested a federal agency to tackle terror, Abdul Kalam mooted the idea of a single intelligence body for the Centre and the states for the purpose.

Days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggested a federal agency to tackle terror, former President A P J Abdul Kalam mooted the idea of a single intelligence body for the Centre and the states for the purpose.

“One single channel intelligence is important for the state and the Centre,” Kalam said replying to questions whether he favours tougher laws to curb terrorism or a federal agency be created on the lines of FBI.

Speaking at the annual Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF), he also favoured the setting up of an Integrated Border Management System to make the borders stronger.

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He said a network of sensors along with infra-based cameras should be placed at strategic positions along the borders to guard against infiltration.

Kalam also said BSF should consider utilisation of recently launched CARTOSAT-2A satellite designed by ISRO for scene-specific spot imageries with high spatial resolution of better than 1 metre.

The former President said it was ‘time to synergise our multiple agencies for forecasting and dealing with terror activities’.

Kalam favoured the setting up of National Campaign to Eradicate Terrorism (NCET) to facilitate working together of intelligence and security machinery both at the state and the Centre to curb terrorism.