NIA’s ATC reiterates PM’s policy of zero tolerance to terror
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s firm directive on zero tolerance to terrorism, the 5th Anti-Terror Conference (ATC) of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) concluded yesterday with a strong emphasis on enhancing India’s anti-terror capacity, supported by a model ATS structure designed to enhance coordination and seamless real-time information exchange among the central and state security and investigative agencies.
The conference saw the Central Government reiterate its policy of no tolerance for terrorism in any form, and its commitment to strengthening the country’s anti-terror apparatus. The conference was inaugurated on Friday by Home Minister Amit Shah.
Addressing the meet, Shah directed the States to expeditiously implement the uniform Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) structure to strengthen India’s counter-terrorism capabilities. He emphasised that without availability of robust, uniform, and consistent operational capacity across the country, we cannot ensure proper use of intelligence and effective coordinated counter-actions.
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Pointing to the constantly changing technology and terror landscape, Shah stressed the importance of continuously checking and re-evaluating the same. He stressed the need for all agencies, in Centre and States, to address international dimensions, such as cyber warfare, hybrid warfare alertness, multi security layering and free flow of intelligence. Underlining the importance of strengthening their investigation and prosecution capabilities, the Minister asked the States to conduct regular training for their security and police personnel.
The Home Minister congratulated all the officers and staff who were honoured with service medals for their outstanding performance. He also paid his heartfelt tributes to over 36,000 CAPFs and police personnel across the country who had made supreme sacrifice while performing their duties.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan hailed the institutionalisation of this very important conference as a tool to underline India’s zero tolerance to terrorism in any form, be it cross-border terror or narco terrorism or cyber enabled terrorism. He stressed the need to be more vigilant about various threats facing the country, particularly those arising from radicalisation, and recruitment, and exploitation of vulnerable youths to carry out violent acts.
The newly initiated Track 2 in the Anti-Terror conference has discussed very important issues like digital device data, and big data analytics, but, most importantly, unmasking digital anonymity, the Home Secretary further observed.
He lauded the high 90+ per cent conviction rate delivered by the NIA, and said the Centre’s aim was to scale conviction rates across all police forces in the country to the same level.
The conference focussed on the lessons learnt during investigations, preemptive disruptions of terror modules, learnings in various theatres such as LWE, North East, and various hybrid threats to national security. It served as a platform to explore and evaluate the new security threats such as deepfakes and hybrid warfare, and also emphasised the need for digital forensics and data analysis in CT investigations. Other significant discussions were focussed on countering financing of terrorism, maritime terrorism and illicit trafficking and evolving counter- terrorism jurisprudence.
The inaugural session was attended by the heads of State Police/CPOs/CAPFs in addition to over 150 delegates from several state/UT police and central organisations who attended the two-day conference. Union Ministers of State Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar were also present during the inauguration.
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