New Delhi: The ongoing probe by the National Investigation Agency into a terror funding case has dealt a severe blow to the activities and operations of subversive elements as well as separatist leaders in the Kashmir Valley. Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that the “morale of terror groups as well as separatists has been hit hard ever since the crackdown against the flow of funds from neighbouring countries was launched”.
Speaking on the sidelines after inaugurating the NIA’s new headquarters here, Mr Singh also claimed that no country would accept the rise of terrorism on its soil. He even flagged the issue of circulation of fake Indian currency, describing it as “oxygen for terrorism”. He said: “Fake currency contributes to the rise of terrorism and high-quality fake currency notes act as oxygen for terrorism.”
While the home minister did not specifically refer to Pakistan, which is largely responsible for pumping in hawala money into the Valley for terror activities, Mr Singh reiterated that the “NIA’s operation on the flow of illicit money from our neighbouring country for funding terror operations in Kashmir has dealt a blow to the morale of terrorists and separatists”.
The NIA had lodged a case in June over terror funding and has so far arrested 10 people in the case. Mr Singh claimed that due to the sustained efforts of the security forces, at least five-six militants were being eliminated in the Valley every day. While appreciating the role of the NIA in probing terror cases, the minister claimed it was a challenging task as nearly 95 per cent of its cases were resulting in conviction.
The home minister said terrorism was a major hurdle in the country’s development and the Centre had initiated several measures to tackle the menace, including raising it at various international forums. PM Narendra Modi, he added, had succeeded in bringing the international community on board over the issue.
Complimenting the NIA’s role, Mr Singh said it had established its credibility and impartiality in the past eight years through professional and scientific investigations. Delivering the inaugural address, NIA chief Sharad Kumar said since its inception, the agency had handled 166 cases covering a range of terrorism- related challenges which involved investigative eff-orts in 26 states and Union territories. Of these, 63 related to jihadi terror, 25 to terror acts by Northeast militants, 41 were cases of terror funding and counterfeit currency, 13 related to Naxal violence and the remaining 24 linked to miscellaneous terrorist acts or criminal gangs.
Mr Kumar claimed investigations by the NIA in the last few years revealed a diverse range of illegal activities like terror funding to specific cases of terror, including the killing of innocent persons.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Mr Y.C. Modi, who has been named the new NIA chief and will take charge later this month, said he would live up to the government’s expectations and would not let it down in his new role.
