The ministry of home affairs will soon put in place a mechanism whereby various Central and state agencies can work in better coordination on crucial cases. Formation of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is being seen as a step in this direction. A meeting of the state police chiefs is likely to be convened shortly to chalk out standard operating procedures for better anti-terror coordination among various stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the IB, in its report to the MHA, has for the first time admitted it had been using Naqi Ahmed Sheikh, a prime suspect in the 13/7 Mumbai serial blasts case, for a covert operation since October last year and that he was actively involved in the smashing of the Darbhanga module of the Indian Mujahideen. Naqi, who was being used to trail top IM operative Yasin Bhatkal, was subsequently sent to Mumbai for the second phase to help catch Waqas and Tabrez, the two Pakistani nationals who actually planted the 13/7 bombs. The intelligence agencies are also miffed with the MHA, stating that at least one particular division in the ministry was fully aware of investigations being conducted at both ends but failed to “join the dots”.
Naqi’s brother, Taqi, who has been camping in the capital for the past few days, has petitioned the National Commissions for Human Rights and Minorities, the home minister and Delhi police seeking justice for his brother, whom he claims has been falsely implicated. Naqi’s family on Tuesday said it would ask for the testimony of Delhi police special cell officials whom the 22-year-old was helping to solve a terror case by remaining undercover.