Days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggested a federal agency to tackle terror, former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday mooted the idea of a single intelligence body for the Centre and the states for the purpose.
"Single channel intelligence is important for the state and the Centre," Kalam said, replying to questions whether he favours tougher laws to curb terrorism or a federal agency be created on the lines of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Speaking at the annual Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force in New Delhi, he also favoured the setting up of an Integrated Border Management System to make the borders stronger.
He said a network of sensors along with infra-based cameras should be placed at strategic positions along the borders to guard against infiltration.
Kalam also said BSF should consider utilisation of recently-launched CARTOSAT-2A satellite designed by ISRO for scene-specific spot imageries with high spatial resolution of better than one metre.
The former President said it was 'time to synergise our multiple agencies for forecasting and dealing with terror activities'.
Kalam favoured the setting up of National Campaign to Eradicate Terrorism to facilitate working together of intelligence and security machinery both at the state and the Centre to curb terrorism.
Speaking for faster disposal of terrorism-related cases, Kalam said: "The judiciary must consider the creation of a fast track judicial process for settling such cases."
His remarks came in the backdrop of Jaipur serial bomb blasts and recent infiltration bids by Pakistan-based militants.
Kalam also said the Centre should consider introduction of National ID cards in a time-bound manner and the creation of a special monitoring methodology for unusual and abnormal banking transactions.
About the CARTOSAT-2A satellite, he said 'this satellite can revisit place of interest once every 4 days, providing information on changes in movement of suspected vehicles and groups of people, unusual construction activities, construction etc.'
The former President said such high-tech and intelligent systems will 'help BSF to plan and execute in time difficult and complex missions with precision and low casualty rate'.
Kalam also said economic security is as important as territorial security and internal security for peaceful and harmonious conditions in the country.
