Govt asks state to gear up intelligence network

Lucknow, Oct 12: The Centre has asked state governments to strengthen their intelligence network at police station level to effectively check terrorist incidents.

Lamenting that postings at Special Branches were considered as punishment, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said state governments often relied at inputs provided by central intelligence agencies.

''The need of the hour is to strengthen the Special Branches (local intelligence units)...today intelligence units should be far more equipped and active at the 'thana' level,'' he said.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Jaiswal maintained that terrorist activities could only be checked if intelligence apparatus was active at the lowest level, and stressed the need to maintain state intelligence units as separate entities from police force to provide it with more teeth to counter new challenges.

UNI