NEW DELHI, Dec 22: NATGRID, the ambitious counter- terror mechanism envisaged post 26/11, has discretely begun churning out vital information for Indian security agencies even as high-level security arrangements have been put in place to aggressively guard the system against any breach in its platform.
National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) CEO Raghu Raman, who has been leading the creation of the ambitious department under the Union Home Ministry, said 21 data sources of various intelligence and enforcement agencies have been brought on board to put together a better picture of an incident which could be used not only to counter an impending threat but also trail suspects.
“In many ways it (NATGRID) has started.There are certain elements being helped out where it is required,” Raman told reporters when asked if the grid has begun doing its job and dishing out logical clues to law enforcement agencies in the country.
The CEO, who was picked up for the creation of this ambitious project after his stint in the private sector Mahindra group, says NATGRID “has been delayed” in some senses “to make sure that the security protocols of the data sources it is using are very strong.”
“The security (of NATGRID) has been kept at the highest level. As a matter of fact, I can technology-wise guarantee you that the way NATGRID will protect data will be far higher than the protection given to the data in its original location.
Security is definitely at a much higher grade than the original place where the data is,” Raman said dismissing concerns over sanctity of the classified and personal user data it will access to discharge its task.
Raman clarified that the NATGRID is not using databases but 21 data sources.
“NATGRID is a tool in background. It is assisting agencies. It is only a pointer, like a compass.It is like Google. When you search for anything on Google it points you to go here and go there..Likewise it (NATGRID) enables an officer to very quickly get a 360-degree view of a situation…,” Raman explained.
“There will be elements of certain user agencies (in NATGRID) who have access to that data.Those user agencies, by virtue of their presence in NATGRID, will have the capability to source the information,” he said.
Raman says at present the NATGRID will only source information from domestic agencies but if a situation arises in the future, it can go on-board with foreign counterpart agencies too which are in the same domain.
NATGRID will facilitate robust information sharing by security agencies and law enforcement agencies to combat terror threat at home and abroad.
It will give access to 21 categories of data base like railway and air travel, Income Tax, phone calls, bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records, property records, driving licence of all citizens in the country.
The NATGRID will mainly be accessed by a total of 11 agencies including the National Investigation Agency, which was also formulated in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks like the former.
The NATGRID platform will link all data currently gathered separately by different ministries to provide a seamless flow of information to intelligence and law enforcement agencies for counter-terrorism as well as law enforcement efforts.
The other agencies which will have access to the database include Intelligence Bureau, Research & Analysis Wing, Defence Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Air Intelligence, Directorate of Naval Intelligence and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to name a few.
One of the examples cited by security analysts, which NATGRID would do now, is curbing lack of real-time information which was considered to be a major hurdle in detecting US terror suspect David Headley’s past as well as his movement across the country during his multiple visits to India between 2006 and 2009. (PTI)
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