24x7 ‘operation centre’ set up to counter terror

24x7 ‘operation centre’ set up to counter terror
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: With the lack of co-ordination between the police and state machinery exposed during the terror attacks in Mumbai, the Goa police has set up a 24x7 ‘operation room’ or ‘operation centre’ during the peak tourist season to coordinate and disseminate information in the event of any terror attack.
The operation room, which was set up a day before the Union minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal arrived in the state on December 24 to take stock of the security arrangements in the state, will be manned by a young PI and in several ways replicates a control room. However, it would be a centre to receive and disseminate intelligence, information pertaining to terrorism and other forms of organised violence police sources said.
The room was set up in the police headquarters, Panaji amidst reports that Goa’s beaches were on top of the terrorist attack list due to which security has been strengthened till January 5. There are 2 companies of CISF, 2 of CRPF and 1 of RAF patrolling in the state. While 3 are posted in the South, the rest are in North Goa.
The operation room is linked by internet, telephone, mobile telephone and fax to the offices of the collector and superintendent of police at the two district headquarters.
“Four PIs have been given charge of the operation room and they will be in-charge of the room in shifts. At any given time, there will be one PI at the room to take stock of the situation,” confirmed SP (intelligence) Atmaram Deshpande.
Sources reveal that the centre was set up after Union home minister P Chidambaram suggested, in a letter to chief ministers of all states and union territories, to immediately establish 24x7 control rooms to be manned by a young and energetic officer.
Meanwhile, the police control room which was so far run by police sub-inspectors will now be manned by 4 deputy superintendents of police in shifts.
Besides this, a three-member analysis group has been formed and the group will receive, collate, analyze and link up with previous inputs and disseminate intelligence inputs to the Central agencies and central government. This group is headed by SSP (security) V V Chaudhary, SP Deshpande and SP Omprakash Kurtarkar.

December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition