Question : USE OF INTERNATIONAL CREDIT CARD BY TERRORISTS

(a) whether there are reports of terrorists, their sleepers cells and terror suspects using international credit card issued from foreign countries as a mode of funding their operations in the country;

(b) if so, the details of such cases reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether any arrest has been made in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard;

(e) whether there has been any change in the mechanism established for coordination between different Ministries to track and check funding to terrorists in the country; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)

(a) to (f): As per available report instances have come to notice regarding use of international credit cards by terrorists in India. Similarly, espionage agents in India have come to notice for using cards issued by the foreign bank. The trial and prosecution of persons arrested for these offences are carried out by the respective State Governments as `Police` and `Public Order` are State subjects under the Constitution of India and hence, the details of all persons arrested for these offences are not centrally maintained. However, the Central Government has strengthened the legal frame-work for combating financing of terrorism under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 as amended in 2008. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act has been amended to inter alia include certain offences under the UAPA as scheduled offences under the Act. The payment gateways of these international credit cards are also reporting entities to the Financial Intelligence Unit(FIU-IND). Further institutional mechanism exists for seamless flow of information inter alia, relating to financing of terrorism between agencies of the State and Central Governments have been established and due to their close coordination many terrorist funding modules have been busted.