India Unveils National Counter-Terrorism Policy Prahaar: Key Points
In its official release, the MHA stated that while the nature of threats continues to change and present new challenges, India has remained consistently opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has unveiled the country's new national counter-terrorism policy and strategy, titled ‘Prahaar’, outlining a comprehensive framework to address evolving terror threats using a “pro-active approach to prevent and counter terrorist threats,” as per the ministry circular.
In its official release, the MHA stated that while the nature of threats continues to change and present new challenges, India has remained consistently opposed to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. “There has been a history of sporadic instability in the immediate neighborhood of India, which has often given rise to ungoverned spaces,” the release noted.
The release noted that instability in India’s immediate neighbourhood has often created ungoverned spaces and added that “few countries in the region have sometimes used terrorism as an instrument of State Policy." Regardless of a few countries in the region using “terrorism as an instrument of State Policy,” the circular stressed that India does not associate terrorism with any religion or identity.
Reaffirming its stance, the ministry said India has always denounced terrorism “unambiguously and unequivocally" and that its policy is guided by a principled approach of ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism.
Terrorist threats to the country at this time include jihadi terror outfits and their frontal organisations and global terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS using various methods such as sleeper cells, and “organized criminal networks for logistics and recruitment to execute and facilitate terror strikes in India,” as noted by the Ministry.
It also noted the increase in the use of latest technologies and social media platforms for facilitating terror-related activities
Prevention Measures
Multi-agency coordination: Intelligence-guided pro-active approach to prevent and counter terrorist threats. Operationalization of Multi Agency Centre (MAC) along with the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI) in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) will remain the nodal platform for multi-agency coordination to prevent attacks.
Monitoring online extremist activity: Pro-active disruption of misuse of internet cyber activities, online networks of terrorist groups and their propaganda/recruitment. Law enforcement agencies also regularly disrupt the over ground workers (OGW) modules, through which terrorists are extended logistic, material and financial support.
Disrupting terror funding and illegal arms networks: Coordinated interventions by the intelligence agencies, Law Enforcement Agencies in various Indian States to combat nexus between illegal arms syndicates and terrorist groups. Special emphasis to disrupting terror funding networks through legal framework under Indian laws.
Strengthening border security across land, air, and sea: Indian border guarding forces (Defence, Central Armed Police Forces) as well as immigration authorities are equipped with state-of-the-art tools and technologies. Capacities have been developed to protect the critical sectors of the Indian economy including power, railways, aviation, ports, defence, space and atomic energy from state/non-state actors.
Response Mechanism
Local police act as first responders, assisted by specialized State and Central anti-terror Forces. Special CT Forces created to respond to attacks in vulnerable states. The National Security Guard (NSG)as the nodal national Counter-Terror Force will assist state forces.
Counter terrorism Investigations to conducted by the National Investigation Agency and state police.
Capacity Building
Modernization of weapons, surveillance tools, and training: Regular acquisition of latest tools, technology and weaponry, besides training for new skills and tactics for CT Agencies.
Joint training programs for central and state forces: Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), and training institutions of States and CAPFs, conducts training courses for State Police and CAPFs.
Standardization of anti-terror structures across states to ensure similar and synergistic responses and inter-alia there is a move for having uniform anti-terrorism structure in the States
Human Rights and Legal Framework
Indian anti-terror laws give due importance to human rights and operate within the framework of the rule of law.
Laws in place to tackle terrorism related crimes: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, supplemented by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 and various other Acts like the Explosives Substance Act, 1908, Arms Act 1959 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Multiple legal safeguards and judicial review processes in place to ensure access to legal redressal.
Counter-Radicalization Measures
Monitoring recruitment attempts targeting youth.Legal action is initiated against the individual based on their level of radicalization.
Community and religious leaders, moderate preachers and NGOs are engaged to spread awareness about the adverse consequences of extremist violence.
Prison staff are cautioned from time to time to prevent acts of radicalization of vulnerable inmates by hard core inmates.
Welfare schemes to address poverty, unemployment to prevent inimical elements from misusing these conditions to their advantage. Access to education, housing, jobs, scholarships and loan schemes to cater to communities.
International Cooperation
India has entered into various agreements/arrangements like Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), Extradition Treaty/Extradition Arrangement (ET/EA), Joint Working Group (JWG) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with foreign partners for information/evidence sharing and other legal cooperation.
Participation in bilateral and multilateral counter-terror forums.
Recovery and Resilience through a whole-of-society approach
Public-private partnership helps in faster recovery and resilience in case of a terror attack. The government engages a team of doctors, psychologists, lawyers and other members of civil society, including NGOs, religious and community leaders, to sensitize and reintegrate the affected community. The civil administration takes the lead in reconstruction and restoration efforts. The police administration strengthens preventive security measures in and around their area, that reassures the community and promotes their resilience.
