Vohra Report calls for sweeping changes in IB

NEW DELHI, OCT 18: The N N Vohra committee report on internal security, as a follow-up to the Kargil committee report, has painted a distu...

NEW DELHI, OCT 18: The N N Vohra committee report on internal security, as a follow-up to the Kargil committee report, has painted a disturbing picture of the intelligence apparatus in the country and called for its radical revamp.

The report, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, is scheduled to be discussed by a Group of Ministers on October 26. It calls for restoring the primacy of the Home Secretary and Intelligence Bureau IB, a review mechanism within the IB and an end to political interference.

The committee, chaired by former Union Home Secretary N N Vohra was set up to examine the Subrahmaniam committee report on Kargil and submitted its report to Home Minister L K Advani last week.

The report, short on specifics, raises the following general points:

Internal security disorders cannot be effectively managed unless central intelligence agencies provide timely intelligence to help security forces launch counter operations. Systems and procedures should be clearly laid down.

Upgrade resources and capabilites of the IB which should guide and support the state intelligence agencies.

State, Central Para Millitary Forces CPMF and Army intelligence in Jammu amp; Kashmir need upgradation.

IB should strengthen its apparatus in each of the North East states and set up joint support teams.

The report harps on how important the Intelligence Bureau is and how it needs to be upgraded with a fresh 8220;charter of duty.8221;

The report says that institutionalised arrangements should ensure that each of the various agencies whose functioning impacts on internal security regularly furnishes inputs to the IB on an 8220;obligatory8221; basis.

The report criticizes 8220;disconcerting reports8221; that certain states are indifferent or unwilling to sustain the 8220;vital relationship of their special branches with the IB.8221;. The report has sought the 8220;personal intervetion of Advani to resolve the matter with the recalcitrant states.8221;

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Another important reccomendation of the committee calls for the creation of a separate agency to be placed under the National Security Council Secretariat. This should take on the vital responsibilty of acting as the nodal agency for 8220;procuring, collating, analyzing and disseminating higher economic intelligence on the basis of inputs furnished by RAamp;W, IB, CBI and all intelligence and investigative agencies under the finance ministry.8221;

The committee has also recommended that the counter-insurgency wing of the Central Reserve Police Force CRPF should have its own intelligence set-up.