New Delhi (TIP)-The Centre is working on creating a national database on bomb blasts, terror funding, fake currency, narcotics, hawala transactions, arms smuggling and terrorism, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Thursday, April 21. The database is being formulated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in coordination with the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) and Intelligence Bureau, he added.

“Any data, if used in silos, is of no use but if it is shared with each other and analysed properly, it will be very helpful,” the Union minister said while addressing the 13th foundation day of NIA here.

There should be a radical change in the method of investigation, Shah said. “Investigation should no longer depend on third-degree methods but on data, information and technology,” he added. The minister also said that “it has been the endeavor of the government to coordinate sharing of all terrorism-related information with police and agencies of all states, strengthen the anti-terrorism laws, hence empower the anti-terror institutions”.

“The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was amended in that direction only. Now, NIA can even declare individuals as terrorists and probe cases in foreign jurisdictions,” Shah said. The home minister also lauded the NIA for its investigation and conviction rate in terror-related cases in the last 13 years.

“In such a short span (13 years), the NIA has set ‘gold standards’ of conviction in terror cases and has played a major role in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a terror-free India,” Shah said. The central agency has established itself as an international agency and has worked hard to probe cases related to terrorism, terror funding and Maoists in just over a decade, he added.       Source: HT