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Since the amendment of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2019, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized over 350 properties of terror suspects, with 215 of them being attached in 2023 alone. The increase in seizures can be attributed to the 2019 amendments, which granted the Director General of NIA the authority to approve property seizures in cases under investigation by the agency, eliminating the need for approval from the state's Director General of Police. Officials report that a total of 352 properties have been attached by the NIA since its establishment in 2009, with 335 of them being seized since 2019. The amendments to the UA-PA also bestowed upon the central government the authority to designate individuals as terrorists, while empowering the NIA to investigate attacks on Indians and their properties abroad. Notably, the agency has recently taken up investigations into attacks on Indian diplomatic missions and consulates abroad by pro-Khalistani elements (PKES). Among the seized properties, 14 were linked to PKES, including land and a portion of a house owned by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the US-based founder and lawyer of the banned Sikhs for Justice, located in Amritsar and Chandigarh. This action by the NIA in September coincided with a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. Earlier, the NIA had seized properties belonging to Nijjar in Jalandhar. Notably, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed one of the highest numbers of seized properties associated with terror suspects. In conclusion, the surge in property seizures by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) following the 2019 amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act underscores a proactive approach in addressing terrorism-related threats. The amendments, particularly the empowerment of the NIA Director General to approve property seizures without state-level approvals, have significantly streamlined the process.
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