NIA holds first meeting with Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi to address terror-gangster nexus

The meeting was held at the Delhi Police Headquarters. Last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said a model anti-terrorism structure should be established under the purview of the NIA, and the hierarchy, structure, and standard operating procedures of anti-terrorism agencies should be made uniform for better centre-state coordination.

An official said usually these states along with UTs hold such meetings, but they shared only routine information.

While the Punjab police made a presentation on gangsters having direct connection with PKEs and Pakistan-based terrorists and with drug smugglers or suppliers, Delhi Police made a presentation on area-wise mapping of extortion calls and use of cyberspace by gangsters and terrorists to evade their arrest, official sources said. The Rajasthan police made a presentation on all the gangsters and their associates who operate from abroad, and the communication made by Interpol over these absconders. Haryana police, meanwhile, made a presentation on important arrests or killing cases registered in the last six months and about the new gangster entities figured in the last one year, said the source.

Although the NIA is coordinating with all states/UTs, they are also making presentations on the threat posed by organised crime-terror syndicates, best practices in combating organised crime and collaborative action plans.