IMPACT OF AMENDMENTS ON ORGANISED CRIME AND TERRORISM

In recent years, India has undergone a transformative shift in its legal strategy to combat the evolving threats of organized crimes and terrorism. Central to this evolution there are significant amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The 2019 UAPA amendment proved a turning point by empowering the central government to designate individuals as terrorists, shifting the focus from organisations to specific actors. Furthermore, the expansion of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has streamlined cross border investigations. This paper analyzes how these legislative changes have tightened the net around syndicates while creating new procedural challenges for the Indian criminal justice system. Organized Crime:According to United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) Organized Crime shall mean a structured group of three or more persons existing for a period of time and acting in concert with the aim of committing one or more serious crimes as defined in this convention in order to obtain directly or indirectly a financial or other material benefit.

History Of Terrorism And Organized Crime In India:Indias tryst with terrorism and violent extremism can be traced back partly to the religion-based partition in 1947, which ripped the sub-continent into two nations: India and Pakistan. The sub- continent remained witness to the most horrifying ethnic riots in modern history which were marked by extreme violence and acts of terrorism. India also remains highly vulnerable to terrorism due to porous borders with all its neighbors and a long coastline. In Pre-independence era, India witnessed sporadic instances of violence and uprisings against British rule, some of which could be considered as early forms of terrorism. In post-partition era, the partition of India in 1947 led to widespread communal violence and displacement creating a fertile ground for extremist ideologies.