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The National Investigation Agency's (NIA) two-day anti-terror conference concluded on Friday, with central and state agencies and police forces agreeing on the need for stronger collaborative efforts, backed by a standardised strategy to combat terrorism, particularly concerning cybercrime and financial terrorism.
The conference emphasised the need for a unified approach to address terrorism across states to safeguard national security, as stated in an official release by the NIA. During the sessions, a consensus emerged on the importance of a holistic, all-encompassing strategy, extending from government-level coordination to grassroots policing and investigation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah set the tone for the conference on Thursday, leading discussions across five thematic sessions on key terror-related issues. The Home Minister announced several significant measures aimed at enhancing India's anti-terror efforts. Among these, he revealed that the Ministry of Home Affairs will soon establish a National Counter-terrorism Policy & Strategy to counter the entire 'ecosystem' of terrorism. Emphasising the government's commitment to creating a resilient anti-terrorism framework, Shah highlighted the need for a coordinated approach from police stations to the Director General of Police (DGP) offices to address emerging challenges, including terror financing and cryptocurrency. The Union Home Minister's call for a cohesive strategic approach was well-received by participants, who stressed the need for closer cooperation and improved coordination among agencies and state forces throughout the sessions. Shah also advocated transforming the current "need to know" model into a "need to share" and ultimately a "duty to share" culture to build a robust ecosystem against terrorism. He stressed the importance of a "Whole of Government Approach" in creating an integrated, actionable system to combat terror threats. Calling on all states to treat the fight against terrorism as their own responsibility, Shah affirmed that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the Ministry of Home Affairs is determined to create an ecosystem with a resolute commitment to defeating terrorism. In his closing remarks on Friday evening, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan highlighted the importance of strengthening state-level capacity to combat terrorism. He urged states to send skilled officers to the NIA, stating that their contributions would not only benefit the agency but also enhance investigative practices when these officers return to their respective states. Mohan announced that the NIA would conduct further capacity-building sessions for states and that additional campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) are planned to improve digital evidence quality, enhancing prosecution effectiveness in terror cases. The Home Secretary elaborated on the roles of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) in managing financial and cyber-related crimes through coordinated, comprehensive efforts. Reinforcing the Home Minister's statements, Mohan reiterated the need for police and investigative agencies to work together, fostering a spirit of data sharing. The conference highlighted NIA's growing importance in the current security landscape, with the Home Minister and Home Secretary both noting the agency's notable 95.14% conviction rate, achieved through the use of advanced technologies to strengthen investigative processes against emerging threats. The inaugural session was attended by 39 heads of State Police, Central Police Organisations (CPOs), and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), along with over 150 delegates from 29 state/UT police and 31 central organisations. The event featured brainstorming sessions on topics including "Prosecution and Evolving Legal Framework in Counter-Terrorism (CT) Investigations," "Significant Case Studies in Terror Investigations: Learnings, Experiences, and Innovations," "Emerging Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities," "Dismantling Terror Ecosystems," and "Comprehensive CT Strategies." Participants shared insights on these critical topics, underscoring the importance of careful application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to prevent misuse and enhance its effectiveness in combating terrorism. Global cooperation to address the misuse of social media by terrorists was also a significant topic, with participants noting challenges posed by divergent content moderation policies. A session on case studies of terror investigations, including the high-profile Rameshwaram Cafe blast, attracted strong interest from attendees. In light of advancing technologies, the conference emphasised the need for unified frameworks to address associated challenges and highlighted the importance of resource sharing to tackle cyber and technological limitations. In addition to state representatives, delegates from major agencies including BSF, NCB, NATGRID, FIU, NTRO, I4C, MeitY, CTCR, and NSG were present. The Union Home Minister also unveiled NIA's new motto and launched the Handbook of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for investigations under the UAPA Act. Investiture ceremonies were held on both days, where the Union Home Minister and Union Home Secretary honoured 11 and 30 police personnel, respectively, for their distinguished service. (ANI)
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