Terrorism, maoist activities contained to large extent: Rajnath

He also stressed on equipping investigating agencies with modern techniques to deal with security issues

Centre has achieved success in containing extremism, terrorism and maoist activities in the country to a large extent, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

Singh was laying the foundation stone of Lucknow branch office of National Investigation Agency (NIA) here.

Hailing the achievements of the NIA, Singh said, "We have managed to control extremism, terrorism and Maoist activities to a large extent and if it is continued at the same pace, we will get more success in future."

"NIA investigates complicated criminal cases...Extremists, terrorists and Maoists have involvement at the global level and so the role of this investigating agency becomes more challenging," Singh said.

Terming terrorism, extremism and Maoist activities as the biggest challenges faced by the country, Singh stressed on equipping investigating agencies with modern techniques to deal with these security issues.

"Investigations and inquiries cannot be performed using old methods. Criminals today are equipped with modern techniques and so the investigating agencies also have to adopt new techniques," Singh said.

"The manner in which the NIA has been working, not only the people of the country but also of the entire world have started believing that it is the best agency working in a professional, unbiased and trustworthy manner," he said.

Referring to the emergence of ISIS as a new and serious danger before the world, he said the number of its activists in the country is almost nil and its biggest reason is that Indian Muslim families stop their children to adopt this path.

(Reopens DEL-14)

Singh said there could be the fear of ISIS anywhere else but he had complete confidence that because of the majority of people in the country having faith in Indian values it (ISIS) cannot have its influence here.

Imams in thousands took out procession against ISIS and this is an example of Indian culture in which people of all sections have total faith in the family and life values, the Union Minister said.

"Our life values have always encouraged tolerance instead of discrimination on the lines of caste-religion...When the Persians were extricated from their country, they were given respect here and this is because of country's values, education and culture," Singh said.

"India is the only country in the world where all the 72 sects of Muslims live peacefully," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, DG NIA Sharad Kumar said NIA has made its mark within a short time.

"Altogether 112 cases were handed over to the NIA in which the agency succeeded in getting conviction in 92 per cent cases ... This shows the competence of the agency," Kumar said.

The building whose foundation was laid by Singh will include the office complex spread over 2,720 sqmt and residential complex over an area of 6,065 sqmt.

The MHA has sanctioned Rs 32.66 crore for this project scheduled to be completed within 18 months. The project has been assigned to state-owned National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) Ltd.

The branch office of NIA here investigates terrorism- related cases and Naxal attacks in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The mission of NIA is in-depth professional investigation and effective and speedy trial of such cases.