Noting that there was a lack of coordination between the various states in tackling terrorism, the Centre will soon convene a meeting of chief ministers to discuss setting up of a special agency to investigate federal crimes.

The move comes in the wake of the recent blasts in Hyderabad, Ajmer and Ludhiana where the security machinery was examining inter-state links to get to the bottom of the incidents. In the absence of a federal investigating agency, security agencies find it difficult to investigate terror-related incidents having links in various states and even trans-border connections.

"Home Minister Shivraj Patil is keen on a consensus on the issue and is convening a meeting of chief ministers here soon," sources said. They also pointed out the reports of several police reforms committees which have suggested setting up of such an agency to tackle the menace.

Patil is hopeful that all states, especially the BJP-ruled ones which have opposed the idea, will agree to the proposal as the situation demands such an agency, said the sources.

The BJP-led governments have opposed the idea on the pretext that such an agency was an antithesis to federalism, where law and order is a state subject.

The idea of a federal agency was advocated by various police reforms committees like the Administrative Reforms Committee led by Veerappa Moily and the N R Madhava Menon Committee.

Noting that the Centre was not averse to the idea of a federal investigating agency, Patil had told Parliament in August that the concept should not be brushed aside and asked the states to carefully look into the proposal.