Lok Sabha Question No. 4937 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-23
Subject: Definition of Terrorism
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4937

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23 RD  JULY, 2019/ SHRAVANA 1, 1941 (SAKA)

DEFINITION OF TERRORISM

4937. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the definition of 'terrorism' and 'terrorist' according to the Government;
- (b) the manner in which the Government defines an act of violence as an act of Terror;
- (c) whether the Union Government/ State Governments have a laid down process  or  a  procedure  to  classify  an  act  of  violence  as  an  act  of Terrorism and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  number  of  incidents  of  act  of  Terrorism  that  have  taken  place between 1.4.2009 and 30.6.2019; and
- (e) the action taken by the Union Government/State Governments against the perpetrators of act of Terrorism between the above-mentioned dates along with the details in this regard, incident-wise and State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (c): 'Terrorist  act'  is  defined  under  section  15  of  the  Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).  Further, section 2(1)(k) of the UAPA  mentions  that  'terrorist  act'  has  the  meaning  assigned  to  it  in section  15,  and   the   expressions   'terrorism'   and  'terrorist'   shall  be

construed accordingly.  An act of violence that is covered under section 15 of UAPA is an act of terror.

(d) to (e): Government  has  zero tolerance policy against terrorism. Close and effective coordination mechanism exists between intelligence and  security  agencies  at  the  Centre  and  the  State  level.    The  Multi Agency Centre (MAC) has been strengthened and re-organized to enable it  to  function  on  24x7  basis  for  real  time  collation  and  sharing  of intelligence with the central / state Agencies concerned.

National  Investigation  Agency  (NIA)  has  been  strengthened  for investigation  of  terrorism  related  cases.    States  have  raised  Special Forces to deal with terror incidents and Central Armed Police Forces & National Security Guards have also been stationed at different locations to assist the States in dealing with such incidents.  The Central Agencies have been organising capacity building programmes for the States forces regarding intelligence sharing and investigation of terror cases.

The number of terrorist incidents has substantially reduced during 01.04.2009 till 30.06.2019 as compared to previous decade.  Consequent to the adoption of the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism, Security

## L.S.US.Q.No.4937 FOR 23.07.2019

Forces  have  been  taking  effective  and  continuous  action  in  countering terrorism,  resulting  in  corresponding  change  in  the  number  of  such incidents.  The number of terrorist incidents in the Hinterland during the last  decade as compared to the previous decade have reduced by 70% from 71 to 21 and the number of terrorist incidents in Jammu & Kashmir have reduced by 86% i.e. 23,290 to 3187.

Further, as compared to the corresponding period of 2018, the first half of this year has witnessed a reduction of 28% in terrorists initiated incidents  and  an  increase  of  59%  in  actions  initiated  by  the  Security Forces against terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir.

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