CMs meet to discuss strategy against terror

A meeting of Chief Ministers will be held in New Delhi on Tuesday for a 'focused discussion' on the issue of terrorism and evolve a strategy to improve intelligence sharing in a well coordinated manner.
"The whole idea is to have a focused discussion on terrorism and how the states and the Centre can join and share intelligence," Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta told reporters.
The meeting, to be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram, assumes significance as it is going to be held in the wake of Mumbai terror attack.
Noting that intelligence sharing alone can act as a preventive mechanism, Gupta said the day-long meeting will deliberate on what should be done at the state level and how best the Centre can assist the states in terms of money, manpower and weaponry.
He said the Centre was ready to increase the budget for police modernisation in states, but added that the central funds should be used more on priority needs like weaponry and special mobility requirements rather than police housing.
The Home Secretary said Tuesday's exercise will be followed by a meeting of chief ministers of seven states badly affected by the naxal violence, termed as the single biggest threat to internal security.
Need for increasing police strength, setting up of a specialised police force and the issue of improving coastal security will be discussed threadbare, he said.
Involvement of community to improve intelligence gathering and filling up of large number of vacancies in state police are likely to be suggested at the meeting.