An institution created to counter terrorism effectively can hardly yield any positive result unless and until the mindset to go after a particular community is changed, which can be done only through transparency and accountability. Is NCTC or any other anti-terror mechanism well equipped to gather and disseminate information about the way anIntelligence Bureau (IB) official could have colluded while getting an AK-47 planted in the IshratJahanfake encounter case?
Even after flexing of muscles is on between Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and IB over investigation into IshratJahan fake encounter case, the CBI has divulged involvement of IB officer Rajinder Kumar in the case and preparing the ground for his arrest. According to media reports, Kumar is already alleged of planting fake information regarding a Lashkar-e-Taiba plot to eliminate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. During investigation, the CBI has also found that the IB official supplied an AK-47 and has also claimed that the assault weapon was planted by the police and later shown as to be recovered from the terrorists.
The CBI has questioned some IB officials at its headquarters to ascertain truth about the inputs on the basis of which IshratJahan encounter took place. The CBI was probing as to whether the IB officer conspired with the state police. Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already said that it was a fake encounter.
The Union Home Minister recently said that when some chief ministers opposed the NCTC to be under the IB, it was accepted; and when they said that the operationalisation of NCTC should not be under the IB, it was also accepted and now when we say to have a Central Intelligence agency those opposed to it say that a multi-agency centre is already in place. Gujarat Chief Minister after the recent Chief Ministers meet on NCTC questioned the government why they are taking the multi-agency centre away from IB and placing it under the NCTC. Modi has also opined that the multi-agency centre was doing good work under the IB. KapilSibal, in his reply to Modi, said Modi administration has got the ability to generate fake encounters and know a lot about terror,and therefore next time when we wish to enact a law on terror we must call Modi because he knows a lot about terror.
Now just imagine what kind of NCTC the government was trying to constitute. As per an executive order of 2012, the NCTC was an idea to have worked as an integral part of IB and its director was entitled to report to the IB chief.
Even after reconsidering some changes by the government in the draft text of the NCTC to persuade those opposed to it, in order to arrive at a consensus, NCTC is still caught up in the political logjam. Those against it are demanding to simplify it further, but the formulators of the NCTC believe that such a demand could hamper the very purpose to what it has been aimed at. The very idea of NCTC is now mired in political crossfire and the possibility of any solution is unlikely in the near future.