New Delhi: In the backdrop of a spurt in terror attacks, the Centre is likely to direct poorly performing states to augment their police strength to sanctioned levels when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chairs a meeting of Chief Ministers here on December 20.

With up to 20,000 police posts lying vacant in Bihar and 13,000 in Jharkhand, the Union Home Ministry feels that low recruitment has affected intelligence operations.

Though the immediate reason behind convening of the meeting is the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh, the Centre is expected to talk tough to all states having a "casual attitude" towards filling vacancies in police forces.

Sources in the MHA said since as many as two dozen States and Union Territories have opposed a central agency to investigate federal crimes, the security establishment in North Block believes that strengthening of special branches and intelligence gathering alone can help tackle terrorism and naxal violence.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the just-concluded Winter Session of Parliament that unless states took prompt measures to fill up vacancies in the police force, it would be difficult to gather timely and actionable intelligence, which alone could be the panacea to tackle terrorism.

As per the agenda, the Government has no plans to introduce any law like POTA to tackle terrorism. What is new is that the Centre is keen on establishing a monitoring mechanism with the Chief Ministers, sources said.

Source : PTI