The next time you buy Pirated DVDs of movies from the nearest railway station, you would have made your contribution to fund acts of terror like 7/11. These messages are part of the consumer awareness campaign launched by the VFI (Video Federation of India). Says M N Kapasi, VFI Spokesperson and MD, Excel Home Videos, "The huge piracy racket is a multi-crore money spinner for the underworld and their allied terror activists. The money is used to fund their terror activities and other anti social commitments".

These findings have been exposed time and again by various news media (News papers and Television channels alike), but hasn't evoked any stringent measures from the administration. The VFI has made representations to the top brass of the Police Force and various Forums regarding the menace, only to get a lukewarm response. Says Chander Lall, MPA-India head and Senior Partner in the law firm of Lall and Sethi Advocates "There is now documented evidence that film piracy funds organized crime. The profit percentages are so high that organized crime considers film piracy more lucrative than even drug peddling. It is about time that enforcement agencies recognize this fact and crack down on these terror shops."

Adds, M N Kapasi, "We had to take these concerns directly to the consumer, and make them realize that their contribution is supporting the cause of terror in a very big way. We are using other modes like raids to curb piracy. In March and April alone, together with MPA we conducted over 25 raids in Delhi and Mumbai." The association having representation from various VCD/DVD manufactures and home entertainment companies will be communicating these messages through their products and through other media. These messages are expected to go a long way in countering public apathy and fight against this growing menace.