CBI to be given more powers to probe terror strikes

New Delhi, Aug 18 : Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj today said that the Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to be given additional responsibility of probing terror strikes as is done by the FBI in the US.

Pointing to a proposal for having a new federal agency in the country on the lines of FBI, he said: "The law is very clear that each state will have its own police force with a DGP...if you make these police forces efficient only a few crimes can be given to CBI. The CBI is our FBI."

"You can give some offences to the CBI (for probe) which have to be investigated under the treaty obligation, like terrorism, money laundering as also drugs-related offences, for which we already have Narcotics Control Bureau," the Law Minister said in New Delhi.

Bhardwaj said if needed, the provisions could be strengthened to give CBI more legal backing and handing over the probe of terrorist attack cases to it.

Addressing the inaugural function of a training programme in legal education for 642 trainee sub-inspectors of Delhi Police, the Law Minister said the police are under tremendous strain and the state should do its bit by giving them more allowances and incentives to keep their morale high for countering terrorists.

"We have ignored the police force for decades. Many reports (on improvement of working conditions) have not been implemented and the quality of police officers has not improved. Training programmes like this would help," Bhardwaj said.

Inadequate training to police leads to miscarriage of law, he added.

Earlier, advising the police to use their power "judiciously," Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna asked them to build a feeling of trust among citizens so that they freely come forward to share crucial inputs with them.

"Make citizens your partners in fight against terror. People should feel friendly and come to you and report matters," he said.

ANI