Locals supporting foreign terrorists in any way to be booked under Enemy Agents Act: J&K DGP RR Swain

Jammu, Jun 23: Taking a strict stand for the terror supporters, the J&K’s Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain Sunday said that police will book the locals who are found involved in supporting the foreign terrorists in any form under the Enemy Agents Act (EAA) which is more harsh than the Unlawful Act Prevention Act (UAPA).

Talking to media men after inaugurating the newly constructed building of Cyber Police Station in Jammu, DGP Swain, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that police was not shying away from taking the foreign terrorists operating in Jammu head on.

“This battle will be won by the active support of people. Police will win this battle with the help of Central forces. We are ready to face some losses. We will try to minimise the losses. There may be civilian casualties too. We will defeat them (foreign terrorists) the way we did between 1995 to 2005,” he said. “There will be a decisive battle against foreign terrorists in Jammu in next two to three months. We are hopeful to wipe them out of the region in next three months.”

The DGP, however, said strict action will be taken against the locals who are found involved in any manner supporting the foreign terrorists. “We will book the locals who are supporting the foreign terrorists in any way under Enemies Agents Act (EAA). This act is much harsher than the UAPA,” he said.

The J&K police chief said that the EAA can’t be slapped on the local terrorist no matter how far he goes in attacking the forces. “But if a local person is found involved in providing shelter, helping or guiding the foreign terrorist in any way, we will book him under EAA. The only thing we have to prove is that the person has supported the foreign terrorist who has come here to destabilise peace and government besides killing innocent people,” the DGP said. “Under EAA, the minimum punishment is life imprisonment or the death.”

Replying to a query, the DGP said that the Kathua incident has been handed over to State Investigating Agency (SIA) and six persons have so far been detained. “As far as the Reasi terror attack, the case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The main conspirator who abetted the terrorists has been arrested and the leads and clues provided by him are confidential due to security reasons,” he said.

About the cybercrimes, the DGP said that police is widening its ambit to upgrade the facilities of cyber police stations. “From the Telecom wing of the police, we selected one officer from each lot and deployed them at the 23 police districts of J&K along with five officers to strengthen the cyber police wings,” he said. “We have also announced a reward for the best cyber police wing/stations of J&K.”

The DGP said after interacting with a group of senior journalists, he felt that somehow cyber policing wasn’t getting the focus it deserves. “We decided to upgrade the facility and streamline the cyber police stations. Most of the common cases that come across in the cyber police stations is fraud and money scams,” he said.