NIA will 'fully choke' terrorists of foreign funding: Rajnath

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the NIA will "fully choke" terrorists and separatists of foreign funding to curb terrorism that he described as a "curse for the civilised society".

The Minister said being an autonomous body, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had done its job well in its crackdown on terrorists and separatists.

"Some people say the NIA has partially succeeded in stopping foreign terror funding. But I will say the NIA will fully choke the foreign funding to terrorists in the country soon."

The Minister was referring to the terror funding case the NIA has filed against Kashmiri separatist leaders as well as JeM chief Hafiz Sayeed. At least eight separatist leaders have been arrested since July.

Inaugurating the NIA headquarters at Lodhi Road here, Rajnath Singh said: "The NIA will bring down the morale of the terrorists and their funders."

He said terrorism acted as a hindrance to development. Lauding the work of the NIA for proving its credibility since its formation in 2008, Rajnath Singh said the conviction rate of the agency was over 90 per cent.

"As they carry the investigation in a professional way, there is no question mark on the investigation of the NIA."

Rajnath Singh said investigating terrorist activities was a tough job. "But with the help of scientific investigation, it has filed perfect chargesheets."

He hailed the NIA's role in curbing the menace of fake currency which he said acted as oxygen for terrorism.

He lauded the NIA's "good coordination" with central investigation agencies, anti-terror squads and police forces of state governments.

Congratulating the central forces, Rajnath Singh said: "I congratulate the central forces for neutralising terrorists day after day."

He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the international community on board on the issue of terrorism.

Meanwhile, NIA Director General Sharad Kumar said the agency had been able to bring back normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir by choking foreign terror funding.

He said of the 166 cases the agency had taken up for investigation, 62 pertained to jihadi terrorism, 25 to terrorist acts by Northeast insurgents, 41 of terror financing and fake currency, 12 involved Maoists and 24 cases related to miscellaneous terrorist acts.

He said the NIA had filed chargesheets in 28 cases with a success rate of 85 per cent and a conviction rate of over 90 per cent.

Kumar said: "In the last two years, the agency has registered 21 cases relating to ISIS and we have remained successful in terms of investigation."

"Earlier this year we registered a case of terror funding in the Kashmir Valley due to which we have been able to choke the terror funding and bring back normalcy in the state."

--IANS

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