Comptroller and Auditor General to evaluate government steps to combat terror

NEW DELHI: Going a step further, the Comptroller and Auditor General ( CAG) has planned to evaluate the government’s efforts to protect and secure the country from internal threats such as Naxalsim, terrorist in J&K and Northeast by auditing the performance of police and their intelligence wings and measures taken by the government to modernise them.

As per the CAG’s strategic audit plan, in the coming years the institution is planning to carry out a comprehensive review of government activities aimed at modernising various central armed police forces and state police forces.

The decision was taken considering the rise of left-wing extremism, 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack and an on-going "proxy war in Kashmir and militancy in some northeast states." Attempts at /infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir by terrorist from Pakistan and Pak occupied Kashmir (POK) are continuing cause of concern, according to the audit plan.

The focus area of the audit would include performance of COBRA, a unit of CRPF created to counter naxalite problem, modernisation and upgradation of the state police and their intelligence apparatus and creation of infrastructure under the security related expenditure scheme.

The government auditor would also look at the center-state coordination with regard to sharing of intelligence, joint operations, community policing and development works through a range of schemes of different central ministries.

Referring to the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, the audit plan envisages comprehensive review of the coastal security scenario of the country. The audit would consider implementation of Rs 1,579 crore coastal security scheme covering nine coast states four union territories since its inception in 2011.

Besides, the performance of land ports authority of India and department of border management under Home ministry would also be a part of the audit.