Did the Centre Declare SIMI and PFI as Unlawful Associations?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 23 organizations declared unlawful, including SIMI and PFI.
- The NIA has a 92.44% conviction rate.
- Specialized divisions established within the NIA.
- 52 NIA Special Courts dedicated to terrorist offenses.
- NTDFAC aims for enhanced data analytics in investigations.
New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) Over the past five years, the central government has classified 23 organizations, including SIMI and PFI, as Unlawful Associations, as reported by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai during a session in Lok Sabha.
In a written statement, he noted that the first group to be labeled unlawful was the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
The most recent group added to this list, marking the 23rd designation, is the Awami Action Committee (AAC), he revealed.
The compiled list of unlawful associations features the Popular Front of India (PFI) along with its affiliates, which include Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation in Kerala.
Highlighting the accomplishments of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which was established following the 26/11 attacks, he stated that it has gained recognition as a globally esteemed investigative body, boasting a conviction rate of 92.44% in 172 out of 692 cases since its inception.
The NIA has broadened its reach across India by opening 21 branch offices nationwide, alongside two Zonal Offices located in Guwahati and Jammu and its Headquarters in Delhi. Currently, it has 1,901 sanctioned posts, with 769 posts approved in the last five years.
Specialized divisions like the Anti Human Trafficking Division (AHTD), Anti Cyber Terrorism Division (ACTD), Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Cell, Financial Analysis Unit (FAU), and a Special Cell of legal experts have also been established within the NIA.
Rai added that the government has set up 52 NIA Special Courts nationwide, with three courts in Ranchi, Jammu, and Mumbai designated specifically for the trial of Scheduled Offences investigated by the Agency.
Furthermore, a National Terror Data Fusion and Analysis Centre (NTDFAC) has been created within the NIA to enhance Big Data Analytics and facilitate the automation and digitization of various investigative processes. This aims to improve supervision, efficiency, consistency, and accountability.
Additionally, to bolster India’s investigative capabilities involving foreign jurisdictions, a specialized Foreign Investigation Request Unit (FIRU) has been initiated within the NIA in 2024.
“The NIA is now the Central Nodal Agency for investigating Terror Funding and high-quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) cases. For this purpose, a Terror Funding and Fake Currency (TFFC) Cell has been established to conduct targeted investigations,” he stated.