Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, while endorsing the NCTC, said that the apprehension of the states that the Centre is encroaching upon their powers was not based on sound reasoning.
He was speaking at the conference of Chief Ministers on NCTC at Vigyan Bhavan on Saturday. “Objections had been raised over empowering the NCTC with ‘search, seizure and arrest’. These powers already exist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The recent order of the Centre on NCTC only operationalises the provisions of the law for implementation. The powers under this law are confined only to the offences listed under the Act relating to counter-terrorism,” Mr Reddy said.
He allayed the fears of the Centre usurping the powers of the state and said every arrest or seizure made should be forwarded by an officer of NCTC to the SHO of the nearest police station without any delay. The latter, in turn would take action as per the law, based on the evidence available. “At this time, when the country is facing serious challenges from terrorist violence, the NCTC concept will help to evolve zero-tolerance towards terrorism and lead the nation’s effort to combat it,” Mr Reddy said.
He asked the states opposing the NCTC to be mature and accommodating. “Out of every 100 conspiracies, security agencies may thwart 99 but failure to prevent one may cause great disaster,” he said. Mr Reddy hoped that if the NCTC came into force, it would function as smoothly as Central agencies like the NIA that is probing terror attacks in many states.
“Except in counter terrorism, in all other situations, the intelligence agencies are bound to take the help of local police for effecting searches, seizures, arrests in pursuance of the information available with them. The NCTC will ensure effective inter-state and centre-state coordination in all counter terrorism operations,” he said.