MHA lists Crypto currency, use of drones among major challenges – Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism

‘Focus on narcotics, 5G tech, Social Media, OGWs’
Counter terror, funding ops, radicalization
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 28: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is reported to have drafted a detailed document for anti-militancy and anti-terror funding operations in Jammu and Kashmir besides emerging challenges of crypto currency and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from across the border using drones.
The document has been shared with some other States also which have borders with Pakistan or were facing Left wing extremism.
“Crypto currency has become another major challenge after hawala funding for militancy in Jammu and Kashmir as well as some other States which were facing insurgency. Recently, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) had busted a racket in J&K which was using Crypto currency for terror funding,” sources pointed out and said the MHA has called upon the Cyber Cells of Police and other related wings to keep strict surveillance on Crypto currency.
The Crypto currency, as per the sources, has the potential to replace hawala funding to some extent for the purpose of fanning militancy and the Cyber Cells need to keep strong vigil on it, the document said.
A series of hawala channels have also been busted in Jammu and Kashmir including the one which originated from South Africa and reached Jammu via Surat, Mumbai and New Delhi. This channel had pumped Rs 4-5 crore worth hawala money into Jammu and Kashmir for funding militancy. At the time of busting of network, Jammu Police recovered Rs 17 lakh worth hawala money in cash from the module.
Counter-drone technology has also been listed as one of the major priorities as Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces have come across number of modules which had supplied arms, ammunition and explosives to militants and their harbourers after receiving consignments from across the border through drones.
Some of the counter-drone technologies are in place especially with Army while some others are in the making by top security related agencies. The Government wants very credible technologies to hit the drones and till that it is done it wants surveillance by the security agencies to ensure that weapons dropped through drones don’t manage to reach to the militants and are recovered by security forces.
In Jammu, police have recovered large number of consignments which had been picked up by Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the militants and supplied to terror groups after being dropped through drones on the International Border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
The Home Ministry has also called for special focus on border areas where movement of OGWs might have activated themselves for receiving consignments not only of arms, ammunition, explosives and cash but also narcotics as narco-terror has also surfaced as major challenge in Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring Punjab.
“Funds generated through narcotics are also being used by the terror outfits to fuel militancy in Jammu and Kashmir,” sources said, adding there has been major focus of both Centre as well as UT Governments to curb use of narcotics.
While steps to counter radicalization remained major priority to wean away youth from militancy, emerging challenges of upcoming 5G technology have also been listed as among the major concerns for which police and other security agencies must brace up well in advance.
Over Ground Workers, as per the sources, are also a cause of concern as they play major role in sustaining militancy. Jammu and Kashmir has, however, already cracked down on OGWs and was taking strict action against them.
Social Media has figured as one of the areas where vigil was required as it was being used by militant handlers based in Pakistan to foment trouble though such practices have been effectively checked in Jammu and Kashmir.