The two-day Anti-Terror Conference 2023 began on Thursday (October 5) in the nation's capital, with discussions focusing on critical aspects of counterterrorism efforts. The conference, organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), attracts prominent figures from India's security apparatus, including Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, and Director Generals of Police from various states, as well as officers from agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and Special Cell of Delhi Police.
According to ANI, the conference agenda includes five key topics for discussion: the dismantling of terror ecosystems, best practises in terror investigations, trends and countermeasures in terror funding, the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other legal provisions in combating terror and crime, and the effective harnessing of investigative intelligence through digital forensics and data analytics.
These topics will be discussed in five separate sessions, with two scheduled for Thursday and three scheduled for Friday. According to the report, the Anti-Terror Conference 2023 began with an inauguration by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the first day's sessions will focus on topics such as best practises in terror investigations and dismantling terror ecosystems. Meanwhile, on Friday, it will hold discussions on terror funding trends and countermeasures, the use of UAPA and related legal provisions, and the extraction of investigative intelligence through digital forensics and data analytics.
According to the ANI, officers from the NIA and state organisations, including CB-CID, Special Task Force (STF), and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), will present case studies on various pressing issues during the initial sessions on Thursday. These include targeted killings, the infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, the Gorakhnath Temple attack in Uttar Pradesh, espionage, difficulties detecting and investigating transnational crimes, Khalistani terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, and issues related to illegal arms manufacturing and trafficking.
Important terror-related judgements, case studies on chip-off forensics and metadata, capacity-building of state Law Enforcement Agencies, iMOT, drone forensics, GANDIV and its utilities, and challenges associated with digital and cyber forensics will also be discussed at the conference. According to the report, the Union Home Secretary will preside over the valedictory session on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the Central government's unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism in the country, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of zero tolerance for terrorism. He emphasised that the Anti-Terror Conference aims to foster close coordination with other agencies and state forces in order to effectively combat the threat of terrorism. The conference is expected to lay out a strategy for India's ongoing fight against terrorism.