Stressing the need to establish a dedicated forum to combat the misuse of encrypted communication platforms by terrorist groups, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts and concrete mechanisms to bring back fugitives involved in terrorism and smuggling from abroad.
Shah made the observation while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day 8th National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference in New Delhi on Friday.
The Home Minister has directed the officials concerned to set up a forum that would ensure dedicated measures to bring back fugitives involved in terrorist and smuggling activities, with enhanced inter-agency coordination between central and state law enforcement agencies, as well as recalibrating the approach towards disrupting domestic nodes of the terror-criminal nexus.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that it was asked to “set up a forum with stakeholders across the spectrum to come up with solutions to counter the use of encrypted communication by terror networks.”
“Reviewing terror financing mechanisms, agencies were directed to unearth terror modules by analysing inputs pertaining to financial irregularities. MHA was also asked to ensure that only indigenous technology was used by Police organisations,” the MHA said in an official statement.
The first day of the conference, which was held in a hybrid format, combining physical and virtual modes, with approximately 800 officers from across the country participating, focused on the role of external actors who are inimical to the interests of the nation and their domestic linkages, including involvement in the narcotics trade; challenges posed by illegal use of encrypted communication apps and other latest technologies, use of technology for crowd management and security of uninhabited islands.
The issues related to financing terrorism were also deliberated.
The second day of the conference focused on civil aviation and port security, counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, and countermeasures for Narcotics trafficking.