NGOs based in hostile countries a source of terror funds: Government

NEW DELHI: Government on Wednesday said NGOs based in foreign countries, particularly those which provide a safe haven to terrorists acting against India, are considered a potential source of terrorist funding.

"As per the available inputs, from a terrorist financing risk perspective, foreign organisations and trusts, particularly those based in countries which provide a safe haven to terrorists acting against India are considered a potential source of terrorist funding," Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh informed Rajya Sabha.

A number of foreign charitable trusts and NGOs have been identified by the United Nations for their alleged role in financing of terrorist organisations.

"No such organisations or their front organisations are given permission to receive foreign contribution under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010," Singh said adding existing statutory and legal structure provides adequate provisions to deal with such organisations.

To further strengthen the existing enforcement structure, the Minister said, the National Investigation Agency Act was passed in 2008 and NIA started functioning in 2009 with a specific mandate to deal with all activities criminalised under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, including terrorist funding.

"NIA has created a dedicated cell, Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell for countering the menace. Up till date, NIA has reported freezing/seizure of 18 properties/ accounts on suspicion of being funds/ properties intended to be used for terrorism or being proceeds of terrorism," he said.