American embassy officials in New Delhi had tapped an official in the special cell, Delhi police’s elite anti-terror unit, for gathering information regarding investigations into terrorism-related cases as they received “very little information” from the force.
The special cell is “only as good as its local contacts”, according to a “secret/noforn (not for foreign)” diplomatic cable sent from American embassy in New Delhi on April 18, 2006 made public by WikiLeaks.
“The RSO (regional security officer) often has greater success by discreetly contacting a local officer in the special cell in lieu of sending in an official request, many of which are not acted upon,” the cable posted in the Guardian newspaper said.
The cable noted that the RSO sends the majority of threat information investigative requests to special cell, which is tasked with the investigation of terrorist activity and major case investigations.
“As with all investigative efforts in India the office is only as good as its local contacts,” the cable said.
The cable complained that the RSO receives “very little” follow-up information from Delhi police after a terrorist attack, such as the status of the police investigations or efforts to apprehend suspects.
“The information regional security officer does receive is usually already available in the media,” the cable said.
As the sharing of “tactical” threat information with Delhi police was “woefully lacking”, the cable said the RSO and the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) have been pushing the government to date unsuccessfully, to establish a liaison position that would serve as a real-time clearing house for threat information and coordinating responses to imminent threats. —PTI