Chidambaram announces security overhaul

New Delhi: India's union minster for internal security (Home affairs) P Chidambaram has promised sweeping changes in the country's intelligence and counterterrorism departments, conceding that the country was in "the eye of a storm of terror."

"South Asia is in the eye of a storm of terror. Several terror organisations operating beyond our borders are a source of terror," Chidambaram said.

"All aspects regarding intelligence are under my examination," he informed the parliament. "Some changes have already been made, and more are under way."

Chidambaram took charge of his new assignment on the resignation of his predecessor after the Mumbai attacks. (See: Security shuffle: A change of rooms for Chidambaram) It is estimated that the attacks have already left 180 people dead and around 300 wounded.

Chidambaram informed the parliament's lower house, the Lok Sabha, that the country's police, military and intelligence-gathering agencies would be restructured to enhance security and that the government would also seek to implement tougher laws to battle terrorists.

"Given the nature of the threat, we cannot go back to business as usual," he said. "In the next few weeks and months, it will be my endeavor to prepare the country and the people to face the challenge of terrorism."

It has been a persistent demand of the country's main opposition party that domestic laws intended to battle terrorism ought to be strengthened.

Chidambaram said that a national investigative agency would be set up and coastal security strengthened. He also said more commandos would be trained.

Chidambaram's statement to the house is the government's first detailed response to the terrorist attack on public facilities in India's financial capital, Mumbai.

The terrorists struck at the main railway terminus of the city which absorbed the maximum casualties where they mowed down waiting passengers along with two five –star hotels and a Jewish Chabad outreach centre. 

Nine of the ten terrorists involved in the attack died in a follow-up commando operation and one was captured. Along with the others, the surviving gunman has been identified as a Pakistani citizen and named as Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab.

Meanwhile a Mumbai judge today remanded Qasab to police custody until 24 December.

Chidambaram's statement mentioned that detailed evidence gathered from the bodies of the nine dead gunmen and boats that they had used to travel to Mumbai indicated that they were Pakistani nationals belonging to the terrorist group the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Among the steps outlined to bolster internal security, outlined by the minster are:

• A federal investigation agency would be set up
• Vacancies in the country's intelligence agencies would be filled and advanced equipment procured
• A coastal command would be set up to secure India's 7,500km-long coastline
• A total of 20 "counter-insurgency, anti-terrorism" schools would be set up in various parts of India to train to train police and security personnel
• Commando forces will be set up in the states
• Laws relating to terrorist acts would be beefed up
• Money laundering laws would be strengthened

 Meanwhile the Mumbai police has named all the terrorists:

Nasir, alias Abu Umar (Nariman House)
Abu Ali (Taj Palace)
Soheb (Taj Palace)
Fahad Ullah (Oberoi)
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab (survived)
Bada Abdul Rehaman (above left, Taj Palace)
Abdul Rehaman Chota (above right, Oberoi)
Ismal Khan (CST station)
Babar Imaran (Nariman House)
Nazir, alias Abu Omer (Taj Palace)