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COMPLETE Terrorism,Bioterrorism,Terror funding,&Radicalisation …

- - - - The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 113 defines terrorism as an act that aims to threaten India's unity, sovereignty, security, or economic security. It also includes acts that cause terror among people.
- - - - Corruption
      - Pakistan role
      - Lack of strategic thinking
      - Complex geography
      - Support from Non-State Actors
      - Internal Support
      - Porous Border
      - State-sponsorship and safe havens.
      - State-of-the-art communication systems.
      - Access to advanced technology.
      - Networking of terrorist groups with the criminal underworld.
    - - Externally sponsored terrorism
      - Hinterland terrorism
      - Urban terrorism
      - Leftwing extremism
      - Northeast insurgency
      - Religious terrorism
      - Cyber
      - Nuclear
- - - - Over the past two years, drones have been deployed regularly by Pakistan-based outfits to smuggle arms, ammunition and drugs into Indian territory.
      - Drones fly low and therefore cannot be detected by any radar system.
      - What makes combat drones in the hands of non-state actors most dangerous is the threat of them being used to deliver weapons of mass destruction.
      - In the military domain, small drones have been proliferating at a rate that has alarmed battlefield commanders and planners alike.
      - Cheap
      - Remotely Controlled
      - Easy to Operate
      - ANTI-DRONE TECH
        
        Directed-Energy Weapon
        
        (DRDO) has developed two anti-drone Directed-Energy Weapon (DEW) systems, with a 10-kilowatt laser to engage aerial targets at 2-km range and a compact tripod-mounted one with a 2-kilowatt laser for a 1-km range.
        
        Smash-2000 Plus
        
        Israeli 'Smash-2000 Plus’ computerized fire control and electro-optic sights, which can be mounted on guns and rifles to tackle the threat from small hostile drones in both day and night
  - - - Radicalisation refers to the process of an individual’s transformation from a moderate, law-abiding citizen into an active, anti-state, violent extremist.
      - if unchecked, can lead to extremist discourse in society, recruitment by terrorists,
        aggravate communal tension/violence and fuel extremism in other groups.
    - - A propaganda video released by ISIS shows alleged Indian Jihadists fighting in Syria
        and calling for more Indian recruits to join the cause
    - - Left-Wing Extremism
      - Right-Wing Extremism:
      - Politico-Religious Extremism
    - - Social media, which provide connectivity, virtual participation and an echo-chamber for like-minded extremist views, accelerates the process of radicalization.
        
        Online radicalization and terrorism
        
        'echo chamber of extremists'
        
        Kashmiri radicals employ Whatsapp
        groups for coordination and communication
        
        After Burhan Wani's death, multiple
        pages created that called for avenging his death
        
        Fb pages created after Uri attack and
        India's surgical strike against jihadist posts inside Pak territory
        
        LeT used Google earth to understand
        locations in Mumbai terror attacks 2008
        
        ISIS- global movt entirely online
        
        2.Dark Web provides the perfect 'breeding grounds' for the seeds of radicalization to thrive and grow
        
        Most Jihadist groups use internet for the purposes of
        
        Propaganda
        
        indoctrination adn radicalization
        
        Terror financing, cryptocurrencies
        
        Carrying out cyberattacks
        
        Coordinating terrorist attacks
      - Socio-economic factors, which include social exclusion, marginalisation and discrimination (real or perceived), limited education or employment etc.
      - Political factors, which include weak and non-participatory political systems lacking good governance and regard for civil society.
      - Individual socio-psychological factors, which include grievances and emotions such as alienation and exclusion, anger and frustration and a strong sense of injustice.
      - DE-RADICALISATION AND COUNTER RADICALISATION
        
        Counter social media radicalisation
        
        The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
        
        Counter propaganda
        
        organising outreach programmes in colleges and using
        social media platforms, such as WhatsApp. as done by Imams in bangaluru
        
        De-radicalisation programme
        
        : Apart from online surveillance to isolate influencers and prevent mishaps,
        emphasis has been made to institute a de-radicalisation programme.
        
        The programme, according to a government
        official quoted by the media, has tried to address the issue at three levels:
        
        b. Second level, counter-narratives to discourage the youth and give incentives to renounce violence
        
        c. Third, to work at the micro level with individuals.
        
        a. First, macro level, through preventive arrests
        
        Friday sermons
        
        Attempts have already been made to reach out to the Imams of various Muslim communities in India, to use their Friday sermons to address the youth on why rejecting the radical /ISIS-ideology
        
        Multi-agency monitoring as done by MH govt
        
        recently The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, for the first time, approved a research study on ‘status of radicalisation’ in the country.
        
        by G.S. Bajpai, Director of the Centre for Criminology and Victimology, National Law University, Delhi
        
        . Special task forces & research wings
        
        . CSOs needs to be engaged
        
        Coopn with the international community
        
        Religions and their impact studying as a secular academic discipline in various universities
        
        Education and equipping families, recognizing
        vulnerable sections
        
        Train and educate professionals, to stimulate
        disengagement and de-radicalization
        
        decrease prejudice, sterotyping and discrimination and to increase knowledge about democracy
        
        Sociological interventions to prevent/counter extremist behaviours
      - PUSH FACTORS
        
        emotional vulnerability such as
        anger, alienation, disenfranchisement
        
        Perception of failure of all alternatives, includingpolitical participation, civil society action, peaceful protest etc
        
        Identification with victims of injustice, pol repression,religious persecution, cultural discrimination and eco-deprivation
      - PULL FACTORS
        
        rewards for joining a radical group,
        material gains, sense of moral or religious group
        
        Polairsation based on ideology- Pol, religious, ethnic linguistic
        
        Propagation of hate as a medium of resolution of the injustice
        
        Information bombardment- Eco chamber- Social media reinforces and legitimised the radical thoughts
    - - Maharashtra
        
        Deradicalisation programme run by the state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), part of state Police.
        
        The cases are led by “friend officers,” sensitised versions of general case officers.
        
        4 Pillars developed around the ‘candidate’ - family, psychologists, clergy, and the police.
        
        Final tier of the programme deals with financial stability, with offers of skill development courses,
        
        small loans, and help in setting up a basic business.
        
        Since the local police/beat officers are often hired from within the local community, parents do not
        
        hesitate to contact helplines if they find their child sharing or consuming extremist propaganda.
      - Kerala
        
        Challenges – Kerala witnessed rise in a number of pro-ISIS cases & ISIS sympathisers.
        
        “Operation Pigeon,” orchestrated by the Kerala state police, have saved the lives of 350 youths by
        
        approaching them before they were radicalised via social media monitoring.
  - - - The current residual strength of the terrorists operating in the region is a key indicator of the improved security situation in the region.
      - The numbers during the early 1990s were in the thousands. However, the situation has changed significantly. Current terrorist strength in Kashmir stands at about 100.
      - It is also seen that the role of Pakistani terrorists has now been reduced to guiding and motivating the local terrorists.
      - South Kashmir remains the main hub of militancy while North Kashmir has been a key entry point for Pakistani Militants through the LoC.
    - - Tackling cross-border infiltration
        
        highly effective three-tiered counter-infiltration grid. In this, the Indian Army forms the first tier on the LoC, followed by the second tier of paramilitaries such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the third one of the J&K Police (JKP).
        
        the security forces have deployed Anti Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) fencing and strengthened surveillance through reconnaissance drones, night-vision equipment, and hand-held thermal imaging devices.
      - Leftover terrorist groups
        
        Security forces have kept up the pressure on the terrorist groups in the hinterland through several Counter-Insurgency (CI) operations. These have yielded significant success by eliminating the top militant leadership and disrupting their subversive plans.
        
        Another dimension of counter-terrorism in J&K is the punitive action against the elements of the ecosystem that support the terrorists.
      - Emerging challenges
        
        Radicalization and Terrorist Recruitment
        
        Hybrid terrorists and virtual terrorist outfits
        
        These ‘hybrid terrorists‘ are the ones who are primarily responsible for the recent acts of targeted killings in and around Srinagar.
        
        In addition, security forces have noted the proliferation of virtual terrorist groups like the Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force and The Resistance Front, which are nothing but front organisations for LeT and other terrorist outfits or organisations
        
        Technological advances
        
        Pakistan’s disinformation warfare
        
        legislative Assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir from 18 September to October 2024 in 3 phases to elect 90 members.
        
        The elections are being held subsequent to the Ministry of Mines announcement of discovery and attempted auctions of Jammu and Kashmir lithium reserves that are worth US$500 billion
      - Countering-terrorist finances
        
        The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched several investigations into the cases of terrorist financing.
    - - These include exercising maximum restraint, avoiding pellet guns and minimising collateral damage during the Counter-Insurgency(CI) operations and protest demonstrations.
      - Since August 2019, there have been no civilian casualties during the encounters or pellet gun injuries in protest demonstrations.
      - Sahi Raasta Initiative
        
        to bring the youth on the right track through national integration tours, sports training programmes and festivals, and skill development workshops.
  - - - they tried to coerce india and take Kashmir through war and conflict ,rather in the process they lost East Pakistan🤣
- - - - Most nations are sensitive to Islamic charity collecting. Religion complicates regulation. Al Huda Educational Trust (AHET) terror funding case, formed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) to further its anti-India agenda after disbanding.
    - - o Donations from Islamic countries in the name of Jihad.
      - o Earnings from drug trafficking.
      - o Issuing fake Indian currency notes (FICN)
    - - Strengthening UAPA
      - Terror Funding and Fake Currency (TFFC) Cell
      - Renewed focus on currency counterfeit
      - Training programmes
      - FATF
    - - Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) and Terror Financing
        
        As one of the highest-ranked countries in terms of VDA adoption, and now with the G20 presidency, India has a critical role to play in shaping the global regulatory environment.
        
        Virtual Digital Assets covers any information, code, number or token, non-fungible token etc (that is to be notified by the government), created through a cryptographic process and provide a digital representation of value exchanged, with the promise of an intrinsic value. Such assets can be transferred, stored or traded electronically.
        
        The Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU IND) has issued Show Cause Notices to 9 offshore Virtual Digital Assets Service Providers (VDA-SPs) for not complying with the PMLA regulations. The FIU IND has also requested the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block URLs of these entities.
        
        Empowering anti-money laundering authorities
        
        India should adopt FATF guidelines
        
        Minimum anti-money laundering standards
        
        Licensing and reporting of VDAs
        
        Travel rule obligations
        
        FATF Guidelines also require VDA service providers to perform enhanced due diligence obligations
        
        Verifying identity above certain threshold all transactions exceeding $1,000.
        
        India’s current laws to regulate VDA
        
        government can bring VDA under PMLA
        
        Currently, the PMLA does not apply to the VDA industry.
        
        India’s existing Anti-money laundering framework under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) already applies these regulatory tools over traditional financial institutions. Notably, the PMLA also includes reporting obligations for overseas transactions that fall under the ambit of “suspicious transactions” under the framework.
      - During the Conference, deliberations were held in four sessions with focus on:
        
        Global Trends in Terrorism and Terrorist Financing.
        
        Use of Formal and Informal Channels of Funds for Terrorism.
        
        Emerging Technologies and Terrorist Financing.
        
        International Co-operation to Address Challenges in Combating Terrorist Financing.
      - The ”No Money For Terror” conference is organised by Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of over 100 countries, jointly called The Egmont Group.
        
        Recognising the importance of international cooperation in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism, a group of FIUs met a few years ago at the Egmont Arenberg Palace in Brussels, Belgium, and decided to establish an informal network of FIUs for the stimulation of international co-operation.
      - The conference offered a platform to the participating countries and other organisations to deliberate on the effectiveness of the present international regime on Counter Terrorism Financing and also the steps required to deal with emerging challenges.
      - India called for expeditious finalisation and adoption of CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism), to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts and to refrain from providing any form of support to entities or persons involved in the terrorist acts.
        
        India offered to establish a Permanent Secretariat for “No Money For Terror” in the country.
      - India upheld its commitment to FATF’s AML (Financial Action Task Force’s Anti-Money Laundering)/CFT (Countering Financing of Terrorism) standards and domestic and international law and encouraged the consistent work of FAFT in promoting the implementation of these standards and related guidelines.
      - The third NMFT conference has gained a lot of attention globally because it is being hosted by India which follows a “zero tolerance approach” towards terrorism.
      - The conference was organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
    - - The laundering of criminal funds aims at giving a legal appearance to dirty money, whereas the laundering of
        terrorist funds aims at obscuring assets of a legal origin (such as public funding or so-called charities)
        
        Erase the link between the crime and the money.
        
        Erase the link between the money and its new owner, and finally
        
        Shelter the profits from possible confiscation.
      - Deposit illicit funds in banks. As law enforcement scrutinises cash transfers and banks disclose suspicious activities,
        this stage is riskier
        
        To deceive investigators, monies entering the financial system are put through a series of financial activities. Money
        laundering uses offshore techniques
        
        Financial havens and money launderers mislead investigators with fake
        invoices, loans, and other methods
        
        Finally, money laundering entails legalising the funds. Consuming luxury goods to "burn" ill-gotten cash; investing
        in common assets like stocks, real estate, etc.; and investing in sustainable economic entities.
    - - India has hosted a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) to discuss terror-financing through crypto-currency and use of drones in the new-age terrorism.
        
        first such meeting of the UNSC-CTC in India since its establishment in 2001.
      - Theme: Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
      - ABOUT
        
        It was established by Security Council resolution 1373 which was adopted unanimously on 28th September 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US.
        
        The Committee comprises all 15 Security Council member.
        
        Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
        
        The Committee was tasked with monitoring implementation of resolution 1373 which requested countries to implement a number of measures aimed at enhancing their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities at home and around the world.
        
        This includes taking steps to criminalize the financing of terrorism, freezing any funds related to persons involved in acts of terrorism, deny all forms of financial support for terrorist groups, suppress the provision of safe haven, sustenance or support for terrorists and share information with other governments on any groups practicing or planning terrorist acts.
      - India listed five points for the consideration of the CTC,
        
        Effective and sustained efforts to counter terror-financing.
        
        Normative efforts of the UN need to be coordinated with other fora like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
        
        Make sure that the Security Council’s sanctions regime is not rendered ineffective because of political reasons.
        
        International cooperation and concerted actions against terrorists and their sponsors including the dismantlement of terrorist safe havens, etc. are critical imperatives.
        
        Recognise these linkages and strengthen multilateral efforts to break against terrorism’s nexus with a transnational organised crime like arms and illicit drug trafficking.
  - - - Part of National Security:
      - Socio-economic development
        
        2015 -Prime Minister announced a package of ₹80,068 crore towards Special Assistance to J&K for development of infrastructure.
        
        two AIIMS like institutions in J&K, establishment of IIM and IIT at Jammu.
      - Sensitive Administration
      - Multiple supporting Mechanism
        
        105 km of roads under Bharat Mala Project, Zozila Tunnel, Kargil-Zanskar, Srinagar-Shupiyan-Quazigund, Jammu Akhnoor-Poonch roads, construction of semi-ring road in Jammu and Srinagar are proposed to be taken up.
        
        special assistance for infrastructural development of power distribution system in Jammu & Srinagar, tourist destinations, smart grids and smart meters, two solar pilot projects of 20 MW each in Leh and Kargil.
      - Political will and consensus
      - Good Governance
        
        Project ‘Umeed’ for empowerment of women
        
        Project ‘Himayat’ for capacity building and employment of youth
        
        People-to-people contact with the rest of India through ‘Bharat Darshan’ programmes
      - Co-ordinated and specialised units:
      - Surgical strike’ and ‘Hot pursuit
        
        often quoted as an action to target specific groups and cause maximum damage to the target without other casualties.
        
        Surgical strike has to be carried out against non state actors as a surprise tool and in exceptional cases where conventional tactics does not work
        
        The action involves dwelling into the territory of enemy or another country in order to perform the operation
        
        Strategic importance of such actions
        
        Paralyse capabilities of enemies
        
        Reduce chances of full blown war
        
        Prevent adversaries from using neighbouring country as safe cover
        
        International support
        
        UN do not view surgical strike as an aggressive tactic because they emphasize that every country has right to defend itself
      - Fencing of International Border (IB) and creating obstacles along the Line of Control (LoC) and in depth areas along terrorist routes (supported by multi-tier deployment)
        
        Curbing infiltration/ex-filtration
      - Enhancing intelligence capabilities
      - Dynamic force deployment and flexibility of tactics to counter the changing strategies of terrorists
      - Policy of Zero-Tolerance Against Terrorism: India calls for zero-tolerance agianst terrorism and focuses on developing a common strategy to curb it.
        
        Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System: It vastly improves the capability of Border Security Force (BSF) in detecting and controlling the cross border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband goods, human trafficking and cross border terrorism, etc.
      - Various Counter-Terrorism Operations
        
        Operation Rakshak: Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990.
        
        Operation Sarp Vinash: Undertaken by Indian army to flush out terrorists in the areas of the Pir Panjal range in Jammu and Kashmir in 2003.
        
        Operation All Out: Joint offensive launched by Indian security forces to flush out militants and terrorists in Kashmir in 2017.
      - ‘WHAM’ ( WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS)
        
        Winning hearts and minds, as a primary principle of counter-insurgency (CI),
        is rooted in the history of modern militancy
        
        WHAM can thus be described simply as a people-oriented process for
        establishing human, social and political linkages in Kashmir for the common good, contributing to building the concept of nationhood
        
        This is, therefore, a tripartite relationship where more than one party is attempting to win over the people Juxtaposing the love-hate triangle may be a pithy argument, but could appropriately explain why, despite deploying extensive resources,
        
        It formed a key component
        of the Templar model, followed by the British in Malaya in the 1950s, and in the final decades of the 20 th century in the Northern Ireland.
        
        WHAM remains
        the primary component of CI for the armed forces in India now engaged
        in varied geographic and ethno-cultural spectrums, from the Northeast to KASHMIR
        
        The Indian model of development and empowerment
        of the people of Kashmir has achieved better results
        
        Population analysis is a primary requirement for planning WHAM.
        
        This would include a detailed analysis of the political, social and economic
        information to identify the needs of the people.
        
        WHAM has to address internal grievances. In a democracy, this is always
        a difficult decision, particularly for the ruling leadership, as this would be
        
        At the personal level, the hearts and minds campaign
        concerns security, honour and dignity of individual, family and society.
        
        At the societal level, a threat to culture, traditions, religion and identity
        would also lead to hostility in the masses
        
        Sustaining an insurgency requires safe havens to organise and train, equipment to execute plans and finances for procurement.
        
        Demography, ethnicity and religion have always been rallying points in any anti-establishment campaign.
        
        The Kashmiri economy is founded on farming, rug making and handIcrafts, all trades in which the economic return is limited. Unemployment is an area of grave concern
        
        Last-mile-delivery of governance in terms of quality education, healthcare, disaster relief etc is limited and is often cited as an example of corruption.
        
        Hence, the key ingredients of a WHAM strategy will have to encompass all arms of governance, include significant improvement of the standard of living while negating the image of corrupt outsiders’ government.
        
        The Islam which came to Kashmir was Sufism – a tolerant amalgamation of Islamic and Hindu beliefs. It has been replaced with radical Islam. Today, the Sufi shrines are neglected. Even candles are lighted on the peer baba shrines, only by the security forces.
        
        In the short term, Sadbhavana tours need to be refocused on promoting Kashmiri handicrafts. Every summer, most Indian cities witness Kashmiri artisans trying to sell these on rickshaws.
        
        Simultaneously, one can witness a confederation of various industries promoting handicrafts of other nations including those from South and South-East Asia.
        
        An Industry-Sadbhavana partnership can help Kashmiri artisans cut costs while simultaneously achieve the Sadbhavana aim of awareness.
        
        Best results would be achieved if artisans from remote Kashmir can be amalgamated.
        
        Geographical indication of Kashmiri agricultural produce also needs to be done at the earliest.
        
        Products like sour apples and ‘Kadam Saag’ are unique, have more health benefits than other currently promoted products and yet unknown even in the rest of India.
        
        Promoting these would boost the income of remote Kashmiri agriculturists unable to benefit from traditional products.
        
        Sports are a great melting pot and the success of sports teams gives a feeling of achievement to the whole community and not just to the players.
        
        Sports teams from the UT, are unable to practice due to lack of infrastructure in general and winters in particular.
        
        One way to incentivise industry would be to give an option to spend CSR funds for skill building in the area and give credit in excess of funds actually spent.
        
        STEP &
        
        Other WHAM measures taken are:-
        
        Project Himayat: capacity building and employment of youth.
        
        Project Umeed: for the empowerment of J&K women.
        
        Creation of new rail links: Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project. (USBRL).
        
        Khelo India centres: 94 such centers in J&K which stand at around 10% of all India centers.
        
        SOME EXAMPLES
        
        Seerat Naaz, a five-year-old requests to the PM for reforms in her school.
        
        Kashmiri footballer Majid Khan left LeT after mother’s plea and Indian army pressed no charges against him
        
        Faizan Gul of Global Youth Foundation, Baramulla wants to participate in the next polls though his parents have never voted.
        
        INITIATIVES
        
        Abrogation of Article 370 made the erstwhile state better Integrate with the Indian Union.
        
        Project Sadhbhavana: Indian army helping the youth in shaping their dream.
        
        Defence Minister R. Singh’s statement 2023: ‘’AFSPA will go once permanent peace returns of J&K’’
        
        PM’s development package for J&K: creating employment and better infrastructure in transportation, health etc.
        
        Political Alienation Gradually moving towards elections with J&K after Delimitation
        
        Youth data portal – creating a database of youth so as to map their support requirements
        
        District Youth Centres - for youth engagement at district level.
        
        Parvaaz Scheme - Assistance of youth in reputed coaching institutes for UPSC/state PSC exams
        
        Mumkin Scheme through which small commercial vehicles are provided to beneficiaries, with banking partner extending loan facility up to 100% of the vehicle’s on-road price.
        
        TEJASWINI Scheme - to promote entrepreneurship among young women.
        
        AVSAR (Connect to Opportunities Initiative), has signed a MOU with Vision India for providing job opportunities to the youth of J&K
        
        Troops Being Integrated into the Counter-Terrorism Efforts
        
        Infrastructure creation: Creating institutes like AIIMS, IIT, and IIM construction of the Jawahar tunnel and Chenab bridge to reduce time lost in travelling.
        
        Operation Sadhbhavana (Goodwill), Indian Army in J&K
        
        Setting up of Residential schools and goodwill schools- In 2020, the Chief of Defence Staff declared that no students from these schools have either joined the insurgency or engaged in stone-pelting.
        
        100 “national integration” tours for young Kashmiris every year, where they are introduced to history, culture, and development opportunities across India
        
        Meeting the basic needs of the people: providing medical care, micro-hydro projects, electricity, water, transparent and friendly governance, and sponsoring children orphaned by the conflict.
        
        ‘Mission Pehal’, by Indian Army & Elixir Foundation (A Gujarat Based NGO)
        
        A first of its kind Youth Interaction Programme (Ek Kadam Aman Ki Aur), launched in 2021.
        
        A Town Hall set up where Officers conducted face-to-face interactions with the Kashmiri youth to encourage them to express their grievances and the reasons they may have for any mistrust
        
        .
        
        The Army officers also articulated their perspective and assured assistance.
      - Multi-prong strategy:
      - Specific approaches to problems
    - - NATGRID
        
        The 26/11 attacks on Mumbai: It led to the exposure of several weaknesses in India's intelligence gathering and action networks.
        
        : It was part of the radical overhaul of the security and intelligence apparatuses of India that was mooted by the then Home Minister in 2009.
        
        It is a counter terrorism measure that collects and collates a host of information from
        government databases including tax and bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records and itineraries of rail and air travel.
      - MULTI AGENCY CENTRE (MAC)
        
        It was formed in December 2001 following the Kargil intrusion and the subsequent overhaul of the Indian national security apparatus suggested by the Kargil Review Committee report and GoM report
        
        It is a multi-agency centre for Counter Terrorism whose mandate is to share terrorism related
        intelligence inputs on a day-to-day basis.
        
        Multi Agency Centre (MAC) was created at Delhi and Subsidiary Multi Agency Centres
        (SMACs) in various states comprising representatives from various security agencies for streamlining intelligence
      - CREATION OF FOUR NEW NSG HUBS
        
        The response time taken by the commando force for countering the Mumbai terror
        attacks in 2008 had come under criticism and therefore the government had decided to station the commandos at various locations so that crucial time was not lost in transit.
        
        The limitation of inadequate security forces was addressed by opening NSG hubs at four places at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad after Manesar in order to ensure faster and more effective reaction to crisis situations
        
        National Security Guard was raised in 1984, following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Indira Gandhi, “for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect States against internal disturbances”
      - Intelligence agencies: There are a set of agencies responsible for fighting terrorism in India. A major agency utilized for gathering cross-border information is the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)- the external intelligence agency. The Intelligence Bureau (IB), a division of the Home Affairs ministry is responsible for collecting intelligence information inside India.
        
        National Investigation Agency (NIA)
        
        NIA (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2019
        
        SIGNIFICANT DIMENSIONS
        
        Reason of amendment: In order to facilitate the speedy investigation, prosecution of Scheduled Offences,including those committed outside India against the Indian citizens or affecting the interest of India
        
        Insert certain new offences: In the Schedule to the Act as Scheduled Offences which adversely affect the national security, it has become necessary to amend certain provisions of the Act.”
        
        The schedule to the Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the NIA.
        
        These include offences under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
        
        Foreign coverage: The latest amendments to the NIA Act will allow the agency to probe terrorist activities against Indians and Indian interests abroad, cybercrimes and cases of human trafficking.
        
        Increased coverage:
        
        Human trafficking
        
        Offences related to counterfeit currency or banknotes
        
        Manufacture or sale of prohibited arms
        
        Cyber-terrorism, and
        
        Offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908
        
        Special court:
        
        Composition: Special Court shall be presided over by a judge to be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court.
        
        The Central Government may, if required, appoint an additional judge or additional judges to the Special Court, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court.
        
        This gives NIA officers power to investigate offences committed outside India too, and mandates the setting up of Special Courts.
        
        Refuting Opposition claims over “misuse” of the NIA law, Home Minister
        asserted that the government will never misuse it on the basis of religion but ensure that terrorism is finished off irrespective of the religion of the accused.
        
        ABOUT
        
        It came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on 31 December 2008
        
        The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states.
        
        It is a central agency to investigate and prosecute offences:
        
        against atomic and nuclear facilities.
        
        smuggling in High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency.
        
        affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, security of State, friendly relations with foreign States.
        
        It implements international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations.
        
        It’s objective is also to combat terror in India.
        
        It acts as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
        
        Headquarters: New Delhi
        
        Branches: Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur and Jammu.
        
        NIA registers conviction rate of 94.70 percent and attached assets worth around 56 crore rupees during 2023
        
        The crackdowns on violent Jihad across India proved to be a huge accomplishment for NIA during 2023, which saw several modules of the banned global ISIS being busted through nationwide raids and searches. Dismantling of the terrorist-gangster nexus has been another priority of the NIA investigations
        
        The cases are assigned to the NIA by the Central Government in accordance with section VI of the NIA Act, 2008
        
        The investigation of the cases is done by the Agency independently.
        
        After investigation, the cases are placed before the NIA Special Court.
        
        For prosecuting the accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and certain other scheduled offences, the Agency seeks the sanction of the Central Government.
        
        The sanction is granted under the UAPA based on the report of the ‘Authority’ constituted under section 45 (2) of the UAPA.
        
        It is empowered to deal with terror-related crimes across states without special permission from the states.
        
        ROLE PLAYED BY THESE AGENCIES
        
        Data Collection
        
        Analysis
        
        Coordination
        
        Special Operations
        
        Cross-Border Operations
        
        Training
        
        Policy Inputs
        
        Public Awareness
      - National Security Act, 1980:
        
        TADA
        
        POTA ,2002
        
        UAPA ,1967 (AMENDMENT)
        
        The UAPA, 1967 The next major step in the abridgement of freedom of expression, assembly and association occurred in shape of the 16th amendment in 1963.
        
        Further ‘reasonable restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India’ were amended to Article 19(2).
        
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        CHALLENGES OF UAPA ACT, 2019
        
        RECENT
        
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        Contradiction to fundamental rights:
        
        Transparency issue
        
        Definitions OF TERRORISM
        
        Excessive powers:
        
        Biased Appeal process:
        
        Arbitrary Process
        
        Low conviction rate
        
        Innocent until proven guilty:
        
        SIGNIFICANCE OF UAPA ACT:
        
        Declaration of stand-alone person:
        
        R**eduction in Time process:.
        
        Lone wolf attacks: This is also important in the context of lone wolf attacks, which do not belong to any organization.
        
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        Elimination of terrorism:
        
        Speedy justice delivery:
        
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        Centre declares ‘Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, J&K (TeH) as an 'Unlawful Association' under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-UAPA in DEC 2023
        
        The Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) (MLJK-MA), which has been allegedly involved in anti-national and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and supporting terrorist activities, was declared a banned organization under UAPA in DEC 2023
        
        The Act defines “Unlawful activity” as “any action taken by an individual or association that leads to cession of a part of the territory of India, questions the sovereignty of India or disrupts the integrity
        
        Under the Act, Cases can be investigated by both State police and National Investigation
        
        Under this Act, the Central government can declare a person or an organization as a
        terrorist/ terrorist organisation.
        
        : It provides for a tribunal to review or to hear an appeal against the ban
        
        amended in 2004,2008,2012 and 2019
        
        Amendments Of UAPA In 2019:
        
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        In wake of the 1999 IC-814 hijack and 2001 Parliament attack, there was a clamour for a more stringent anti-terror law, which came in the form of
        The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002.
        
        A suspect could be detained for up to 180 days by a special court.
        
        The onus is thus on the accused organization to disprove the validity of its having been declared a terrorist organization by the Central Government.
        
        ‘Special courts’ for trials were established under POTA. These Courts were given the discretion to hold trials in non-public places (like prisons) and to withhold trial records from public scrutiny, thus preventing the independent monitoring of special court sessions.
        
        The special courts also had the option of proceeding with trials in the absence of the accused or his/her lawyer
        
        The law made fundraising for the purpose of terrorism a “terrorist act”.
        
        A separate chapter to deal with terrorist organisations was included.
        
        The Union government could add or remove any organisation from the schedule.
        
        POTA, while criminalizing membership of a “terrorist gang” or a “terrorist organization,” does not clearly define what these terms mean.
        
        Drastically deviating from the principles of assumption of innocence and requirement of criminal intent, an accused is presumed to be guilty until proven innocent in certain circumstances.
        
        This section lends itself readily to abuse, especially by police officers, and may also be applied arbitrarily since many of the offences fall under the Indian Penal Code as well.
        
        It does not require the government to furnish evidence and specify grounds when issuing a notification declaring an organization a ‘terrorist organization’.
        
        However, reports of gross misuse of the Act by some state governments led to its repeal in 2004.
        
        The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, was at one time the main law used in cases of terrorism and organised crime, but due to rampant misuse, it was allowed to lapse in 1995.
        
        The Act defined a “terrorist act” and “disruptive activities”, put restrictions on the grant of bail, and gave enhanced power to detain suspects and attach properties
        
        The law made a confession before a police officer admissible as evidence. Separate courts were set up to hear cases filed under TADA.
        
        While the Criminal Procedure Code required identification to be made at a test identification parade, TADA allowed identification to be based on a witness having picked out the detainee's photograph.
        
        TADA also provided for the creation of "Designated Courts" which had the exclusive jurisdiction to try violations of its provisions.
        
        These Courts were closed to the public, and provided significantly diminished procedural protections for suspected terrorists.
        
        Also, Court may, if it thinks fit and for reasons to be recorded by it, proceed with the trial in the absence of the accused or his pleader and record the evidence of any witness.
        
        Finally, TADA created a presumption of guilt in situations where arms or explosives were found, in the possession of the accused, which were similar to those used in the terrorist act or in cases where the fingerprints of the accused were found at the scene or vehicles used in the terrorist act, or where the accused rendered any financial assistance to a person accused of or reasonably suspected of a terrorist act.
        
        Of the 52,998 people detained under TADA at the end of 1992, a mere 434, or 0.81%, had been convicted.
        
        TADA came to be challenged before the Apex Court of the country as being unconstitutional in the case of Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab.
        
        The Supreme Court of India upheld its constitutional validity on the assumption that those entrusted with such draconic statutory powers would act in good faith and for the public good
        
        However, this was just a myth. In reality there were many instances of misuse of power for collateral purposes. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the same case has stated, “The invocation of the provisions of TADA in cases, the facts of which did not warrant, was nothing but sheer misuse TADA lapsed in 1995
        
        The National Security Act is a stringent law that allows preventive detention for months, if authorities are satisfied that a person is a threat to national security or law and order.
        
        The NSA empowers the Centre or a State government to detain a person to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to national security.
        
        The government can also detain a person to prevent him from disrupting public order or for maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community.
        
        Period of Confinement: The maximum period for which one may be detained is 12 months. But the term can be extended if the government finds fresh evidence.
        
        No Basic Rights to People Detained under the NSA, including:
        
        The right to be informed of the reason for the arrest (Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code -Cr.PC).
        
        Under the NSA, a person could be kept in the dark about the reasons for his arrest for up to five days, and in exceptional circumstances upto ten days.
        
        Even when providing the grounds for arrest, the government can withhold information which it considers to be against public interest to disclose.
        
        Sections 56 and 76 of the Cr. PC also provides that a person has to be produced before a court within 24 hours of arrest.
        
        The grounds for preventive detention of a person include:
        
        Acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, the relations of India with foreign powers, or the security of India.
        
        Regulating the continued presence of any foreigner in India or with a view to making arrangements for his expulsion from India.
        
        Preventing them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the
        
        Security of the State;
        
        Maintenance of the public order; and
        
        Maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community it is necessary to do so.
        
        The DM who passes the detention order is protected under the Act: no prosecution or any legal proceeding can be initiated against the official who carries out the orders.
        
        Therefore, the writ of habeas corpus is the available remedy under the Constitution against the state’s power of taking people into custody under the NSA.
        
        National Security Act has been invoked in the case of self-styled Sikh preacher and on-the-run Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh
      - CCIT: Call for adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at United Nation and other
        international multilateral bodies. It is a proposed treaty which provides a comprehensive global legal framework against terrorism
      - Global Network of Cities on Terror Fight: Mumbai city has become part of this network formed at UN Level that
        will exchange techniques and develop infrastructure to combat extremism
      - NTRO
        
        NTRO,NATIONAL TECHNICAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION established in 2004, is housed under the National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office and focuses on intelligence gathering.
        
        Under the agency is the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) which focuses on threats to information infrastructure.
        
        NTRO has the same “norms of conduct” as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).
      - Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)is a special police force raised to combat terror. It is set up in several states - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar
      - Armed forces: it directly deals with the terrorism and insurgency problems in J&K and in north-east parts of the country.
        
        Police force: The police is the first to respond to a terrorist attack in our country. They take over the situation until the designated special encounter terrorist forces reach the spot.
        CAPF: Centre Armed Police Forces are used extensively in Maoist areas, Kashmir and North-East.
        
        State police departments play a crucial role in maintaining law and order.
        
        Special forces like the National Security Guard (NSG) are deployed in counter-terrorism operations.
        
        Example: NSG's involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
- - - - INTERPOL bioterrorism prevention unit
      - EPIDEMIC DISEASE ACT 1897
      - NDMA
      - PUBLIC HEALTH BILL 2017
      - INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATION
      - BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
        
        AUSTRALIA GROUP
      - INTEGRATED DISEASE SURVILLANCE PROJECT
      - ONE WORLD,ONE HEALTH
    - - Non-proliferation and export
        control dual-use biological materials and technologies
- - - - However, it is also possible to view narco-terrorism as a means of terrorism or at any rate as a means of funding terrorism.
  - - - Illegal drugs, including heroin and marijuana, are grown and produced in neighboring countries and smuggled into India.
        
        Drug money is used to fund separatist and militant groups, contributing to ongoing terror and violent activities.
        
        Golden Crescent Influence: India’s proximity to the “Golden Crescent” provides easy access to narcotics from Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.
    - - Terrain difficulties: The riverine stretches along Punjab’s border are difficult to police effectively.
        
        Historic connections and provocations: There are ethnic and economic ties across the Radcliffe Line, contributing to smuggling activities.
        
        Vast nexus: Seizures represent only a small fraction of the actual drugs flowing across the border.
    - - Targeting Drug-Addicted Youth:
        
        Pushing Drugs to influence cognitive behaviour:
        
        Manipulation through Drug Addiction
        
        Radicalisation
      - Funding Terror Activities
    - - Transnational nature of the trade:
        
        High profits and demand
        
        Corruption and weak law enforcement
    - - A civil society organization has written a letter to the European Parliament (EP) expressing concerns over the portrayal of violence in Manipur as a religious conflict.
        
        It ascertains that the ongoing violence is not a religious issue but rather fueled by narco-terrorism and illegal settlements.
        
        The organization highlighted the dangers of Manipur becoming a new Golden Triangle, a notorious drug trafficking corridor in Southeast Asia.
        
        Golden Triangle: The Golden Triangle is a well-known area spanning China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, notorious for opium poppy cultivation and drug trafficking.
        
        In 2017, Manipur Govt. initiated the ‘War on Drugs 1.0’ and started a crackdown on drug business and trafficking in the State. Parallelly, Govt. also started drone surveys and satellite mapping of forest lands and poppy fields, and found more than 15,000+ acres of opium poppy fields.
        
        After the survey and very recently in 2022, the ‘War on Drugs 2.0’ was started and intensified by destroying opium poppy fields in the hills of Chandel, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tenoupal Districts [1,2]. The destruction of poppy plantations during 2017-2023 probably angered the drug lords and mafias mostly of the Kuki community.
        
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    - - United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
      - UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971).
      - UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
      - UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) 2000