1st step to federal agency

BY NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA

New Delhi

Aug. 8: After over three years, the country on Friday took the first step towards the possible formation of the contentious federal investigating agency on the lines of the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In a bid to counter the rise of terrorism, the home ministry announced formation of an intelligence mechanism with representation from the Centre and the states.

Expected to be formed within a month, the unit, to be called the Special Scheme of Intelligence, will comprise bureaucrats and top intelligence and police officials which will include the CBI director and IB chief.

To be headed by either the Union home secretary or law secretary, the federal unit will be given both investigative and enforcement powers.

The formation of a federal agency was being strongly resisted by the states, which looked at it as an "infringement to the federal polity". The newly-formed committee will decide whether a particular crime needs to be probed by a Central or a state agency.

Meanwhile, the home ministry will speak to the Telecom Ministry to impose restrictions on sale of SIM cards of mobile phones. Verification with photo-identity proof, allotment of reference number will be mandatory.

"The Central government is working on a plan, the Special Scheme of Intelligence, which will be launched within a month," Union home secretary Madhukar Gupta said.

The home secretary was briefing reporters after chairing a day-long meeting of the DGPs and chief secretaries of all the states in the country.

On the Simi issue, Mr Gupta said that after the Supreme Court’s stay there was no need for the MHA to submit additional evidence in its case against Simi.