India’s Anti-terrorism Structure

Why in the News?

The Union Home Minister suggested at the Anti-Terror Conference that along with a ruthless approach, an uniform anti-terrorism structure should be established under the purview of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in all the States.

Definition of Terrorism:

The new criminal law bill (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), 2023 has defined as follows:

A person is said to have committed a terrorist act if he commits any act in India or in any foreign country with the intention to

• threaten the unity, integrity and security of India
• to intimidate the general public or a segment thereof,
• to disturb public order by doing an act, using
  • bombs, dynamite or any other explosive substance
  • inflammable material or firearms or other lethal weapons or
  • poison or noxious gases or other chemicals or any other substance (whether biological or otherwise) hazardous in nature in such a manner so as to create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear,
  • to cause death or serious bodily harm to any person, or endangers a person’s life.

India as a victim of terrorism: Recent attacks

1. J&K Anantnag encounter: led to killing of two army officers and a deputy superintendent of police.
2. 2023 Poonch -Rajouri attack
3. In 2021, 153 terrorist attacks were reported in India's Jammu and Kashmir which led to 274 deaths which included 45 security personnel, 36 civilians, and 193 terrorists.

The model of anti-terrorism structure:

1. Uniformity at the levels of hierarchy, structure, and standard operating procedure of investigation should be deployed in all anti-terrorism agencies in all States.
2. Such uniformity shall facilitate better coordination between Central and State agencies. 
3. The anti-terrorism structure should be established under the purview of NIA.

Need for a uniform approach:

0. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Evolving forms of terrorism with rapid improvement of technology
1. For instance, the transformation of terrorism from "Dynamite to Metaverse" and "AK-47 to Virtual Assets"
2. Increased use of Dark net.
   1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 2. Looming challenges:
                     1. Illegal trade of narcotics, and the challenge of narco-terror, which is a new dimension to terror financing.

India's strategy against the financing of terrorism is based on these 6 pillars:

1. Strengthening the Legislative and Technological Framework
2. Creation of a Comprehensive Monitoring Framework
3. Actionable intelligence sharing mechanism and strengthening of the investigation and police operations
4. Provision for confiscation of property
5. Prevent misuse of legal entities and new technologies, and,
6. Establishing international cooperation and coordination
7. Other steps include, amendment of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and strengthening the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Other strategies include:

1. 1. 1. 1. Sharing intelligence by expanding the number of State-level Multi-Agency Centres among State and federal agencies.  
         2. Capacity building for effective border control
            • India implemented UNSCR 2396 by using watch lists, implementing biographic and biometric screening at ports of entry, and prioritizing information sharing. 
            • Dual-screen X-raying for cargo screening at airport locations. 
         3. Preventing misuse of modern technologies
         4. Monitoring and preventing illicit financial flows
         5. Cooperating in investigative and judicial processes.
         6. Stringent law enforcement actions.
            • For instance, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Special Court sentenced 3 LeT terrorists to 10 years imprisonment for weapons smuggling, 8JeM Bangladesh terrorists were convicted for attacks with explosives in Bodh Gaya in 2012.