Centre to revise NCTC bill; plans to set up independent body

Amid mounting pressure from several states' Chief Ministers, Centre has now decided to make some amendments in National Security Bill (NSB) under which there was a plan to set up National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) at every states.

But, after huge protests from chief ministers like Naveen Patnaik (Odisha), J Jayalalithaa (Tamil Nadu), Narendra Modi (Gujarat) and UPA key ally Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) in a meeting convened on May 05, 2012, Centre has decided to address the problems raised by CMs.

According to sources, a revised executive order is expected to be placed before the cabinet committee on security (CCS) after July 19, when presidential poll will over for getting approval on the revision.

As per sources, centre has decided to keep NCTC out of the ambit of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). It will be an independent entity that will come directly under Union Home Ministry.

Moreover, the anti-terror body will use its powers (arrest, search and seizures and conduct of operations) only when there is an utmost urgency.

The Multi agency Centre (MAC) that collates and analyses intelligence inputs and directs action against any terrorist threats under the current arrangement will also come under the NCTC.

--With Agencies Inputs--