Home Minister to give more teeth to anti-terror plan

New Delhi: Newly appointed Home Minister P Chidambaram is likely to unveil an action plan to combat terrorism in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The plan will outline ways to plug security lapses and prevent intelligence failures in the future.

Following his appointment, Chidamabaram was asked by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to draw up an effective module to fight terror strikes.

The Cabinet has already approved the setting up of a central investigation agency called as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to strengthen internal security after the gruesome Mumbai terror attacks.

The NIA will be empowered to probe terror attack cases across states, reports say. The NIA will not be bound or affected by the fact that law and order is a state subject in the country.

The Cabinet also backed reform of anti-terror laws to make them tougher. The Left has also made it clear that it will back reforms but not creation of new anti-terror laws.

P Chidambaram has put his team into an overdrive to plug loopholes that put the nation at risk of terror strikes. Indian security and intelligence had been found wanting and required a boost after the attacks that left more than 170 people dead in Mumbai.

Reports say the cabinet also approved strengthening anti-terror laws and setting up of fast-track courts for speedy trial of terror-related cases.

Meanwhile, Minority Affairs minister A R Antulay said, "I cannot rule out the possibility of this law when it is enacted or or enforced by notification, being misused. Certain things could have been and also could yet be misused ads abused. This very law which is in the interest of the nation must also be made applicable to the communal riots."

(With agency inputs)