Kathmandu— Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that India has successfully brought back 274 fugitives since 2019 under the Modi government's vision of a 'robust and secure' nation. This includes individuals involved in terrorism, gang-related activities, financial crimes, narcotics offenses, and serious violent crimes such as murder and rape. Shah emphasized that this is a significant improvement over the previous UPA regime, which saw only four fugitives returned annually.

Enhanced Legal Framework

The government has strengthened its legal framework to combat criminal evasion through new laws and institutions. The introduction of trial in absentia provisions under three recent criminal laws allows the justice system to proceed against absconding criminals, even if they are not present in India. This initiative has led to the confiscation of assets worth ₹17,874 crore and restitution of ₹18,762 crore through stringent enforcement of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Global Partnerships and Technology

India has also enhanced its global partnerships to track down fugitives hiding abroad. The government launched integrated, intelligence-led, and technology-driven operations to ensure that criminals cannot escape the law regardless of their location. These efforts have been bolstered by frameworks like BHARATPOL, which facilitate seamless coordination across international borders.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.