Two-day National Security Strategies Conference concludes in New Delhi; sources say terrorism largely under control in Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalism nearly finished; Home Minister orders stringent measures against infiltration
Basit Lone
Delhi, Aug 25 (BuzzBytes): Stressing the need to analyse available intelligence with the help of artificial intelligence and to frame standard operating procedures for the purpose in order to effectively counter the various challenges to national security, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed all concerned agencies to take stringent measures against infiltration.
The two-day National Security Strategies Conference concluded in New Delhi. The conference was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister at the Intelligence Bureau headquarters in New Delhi. Senior officers of Jammu and Kashmir Police participated in the conference through virtual mode.
According to sources, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, the heads of the CID, Security and Crime Branch wings and the police chiefs of Kashmir and Jammu, besides other senior officers, took part in the conference from the police headquarters located at Srinagar and Jammu respectively. Sources said certain other police officers of DIG and SSP rank who had been selected to attend the conference joined the sessions held on Tuesday.
Around 850 officers from the security forces, the police forces of states and Union Territories and other concerned agencies are participating in the conference in person and in hybrid mode. The conference has been organised by the Intelligence Bureau.
The two-day conference, held on August 24 and 25, deliberated in detail on a number of important national security subjects including terrorism, infiltration, extremism, the spread of narcotics, the financing of narco-terrorism, financial fraud, illegal immigration, cyber crime and encrypted communication applications.
According to sources, the conference also considered the question of bringing back absconders involved in terrorism and smuggling activities through better coordination between central and state or Union Territory agencies, besides other security measures.
Amit Shah stressed the training of officers for implementation of the Home Ministry’s PRAHAR scheme to deal effectively with terrorism and extremism. He also directed that cases be expedited by bringing back absconding accused and that the provisions for trial in absentia be used.
At the conference the Home Minister also emphasised the adoption of a comprehensive and coordinated procedure for the investigation of cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Shah directed that the information available on multi-agency centre platforms be analysed with the help of artificial intelligence so that effective standard operating procedures can be prepared to counter the various challenges facing national security. He also directed all concerned security agencies to take stringent measures against infiltration.
According to sources, the various sessions of the conference held detailed discussions on terrorism allegedly sponsored by Pakistan, narco-terrorism, the narcotics threat, infiltration, drone attacks and the strategy for countering them.
With regard to Jammu and Kashmir, sources said terrorism in the region has been brought under control to a large extent, while Naxalism too has almost ended. However, the threat of fresh infiltration attempts and the use of drones for smuggling of weapons and narcotics still exists.
Sources said a few incidents of terrorism have also surfaced in Punjab. Incidents involving the presence of drones on the international border in Punjab have been reported in greater numbers than in the Jammu region. Drones are also sighted at times in the Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts near the international border with Pakistan, though they are often forced to turn back.
The conference also held detailed discussions on the challenge arising from illegal immigrants. According to sources, illegal immigrants are being viewed as a security and administrative challenge in various states and Union Territories including West Bengal, Assam, certain areas of the north-eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Home Ministry has already constituted a high-level committee to examine the demographic changes caused by the settlement of illegal immigrants in various states and Union Territories.
The Minister of State for Home, the Union Home Secretary, the Deputy National Security Advisers and the heads of the Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations, besides other senior officials, also attended the conference—(BuzzBytes)
