In an attempt to kickstart the process of setting up National Security Guard hubs in the country in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks [ Images ], Home Minister P Chidambaram [ Images ] on Tuesday discussed the matter with Army and NSG Chiefs. During the hour-long meeting, Chidambaram sought assistance from the army to operationalise the hubs in Mumbai, Kolkata [ Images ], Chennai and Hyderabad in the first phase, Home Ministry sources said.

He also discussed provision of trained anti-terrorist forces by the defence forces for cities like Bangalore, which will not have such a hub in the first list. Chidambaram has said that certain cities will be covered by a trained anti-terrorist force provided by defence forces -- for example Bangalore will be covered by the Army. Indian Army's [ Images ] Parachute Regiment's headquarters is in Bangalore and has seven Special Forces battalions under its command.

These SF troops are deployed to carry out actions against terrorists in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir [ Images ]. In the course of time, more NSG hubs will be set up in different parts of the country and ultimately there will be a hub in virtually every state capital, the Home Minister has said.

Till then, states have been asked to raise and deploy their own anti-terrorist forces and the Centre has promised to help them.

Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor and NSG Chief J K Dutt were accompanied by their senior officials. Sources said General Kapoor spoke of shortage of hands to help in setting up such hubs.