There are signals of tough action from the party as well. Home Minister Shivraj Patil came under tremendous pressure from within the ruling Congress as the party's Working Committee (CWC) demanded accountability to be fixed for the terror attacks in Mumbai. The Congress High Command is likely to take a call on his fate shortly, according to party sources.

The three-hour long CWC meeting here on Saturday evening witnessed a heated debate on internal security with many senior leaders criticising intelligence failure and the role of the Home Minister. According to Congress sources, Patil's position was becoming “untenable” given the “mood” in the highest decision-making body in the party.

The ruling party wanted to send out some strong signals about its intent on the internal security front. While many new drastic administrative measures are proposed to be taken in the immediate future, Congress leaders wanted accountability to be fixed. “Some heads are set to roll now,” said a senior party leader.

Top government sources told The Sunday Express that the Centre had already made up its mind on a number of other proposals to fight terrorism such as a massive modernization of police forces and setting up of a central investigating agency, and these would be announced “within the next few days”.

The most significant of these — though largely symbolic as far as its effect on the fight on terror is concerned — is a decision on executing Afzal. Sources said the government had decided to drop its ambivalence in this regard and was likely to “respect” the Supreme Court verdict in this regard very soon.

And in another significant shift from its stated position, the government is also said to have decided to enact a fresh anti-terror law. The details are still to be worked out but the new law was likely to include some stringent provisions, if not all, that this government had been very reluctant to incorporate earlier.

• Central Investigating Agency: A top government source also confirmed to The Indian Express that the government was ready to move afresh on setting up a central investigating agency, something that has been opposed by a number of state governments.

“The Prime Minister himself wants this to be done as soon as possible. Many of the state governments have already experienced terror attacks and most of them realise the need for such an agency. If they agree in principle over this proposal, the modalities and details of this agency could be worked out in consultations with them,” the source said.

• Coastal Security: With the terrorists in Mumbai said to have taken sea-route to reach the country, coastal security has suddenly been thrust as the top-most issue on the government agenda. Official sources said the issue has been the most prominent point of discussion in a series of meetings in the last two days. Home Minister Shivraj Patil briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the steps that are being taken in this regard.

The Home Ministry has already ordered strengthening of the Coastal Security Scheme under which the nine state governments and four union territories along India's coast were to have set up coastal police stations, check posts, outposts and barracks with Central assistance. Since the scheme was implemented in 2006, 55 of the sanctioned 73 police stations have been made operational. The Home Ministry on Friday suggested that more police stations could be set up. The Centre is also likely to call a meeting of the coastal states to discuss this aspect very soon.