In an attempt to kickstart the process of setting up National Security Guard hubs in the country in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks [Images], Home Minister P Chidambaram [Images] on Tuesday discussed the matter with Army and NSG Chiefs. During the hour-long meeting, Chidambaram sought assistance from the army to operationalise the hubs in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad in the first phase, Home Ministry sources said.

He also discussed provision of trained anti-terrorist forces by the defence forces for cities like Bangalore, which will not have such a hub in the first list. Chidambaram has said that certain cities will be covered by a trained anti-terrorist force provided by defence forces -- for example Bangalore will be covered by the Army. Indian Army's [Images] Parachute Regiment's headquarters is in Bangalore and has seven Special Forces battalions under its command.

These SF troops are deployed to carry out actions against terrorists in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir [Images]. In the course of time, more NSG hubs will be set up in different parts of the country and ultimately there will be a hub in virtually every state capital, the Home Minister has said.

Till then, states have been asked to raise and deploy their own anti-terrorist forces and the Centre has promised to help them.

Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor and NSG Chief J K Dutt were accompanied by their senior officials. Sources said General Kapoor spoke of shortage of hands to help in setting up such hubs.