Amit Shah Calls for 10-Year PRAHAAR Strategy and Automated Terror Response
Home Minister Amit Shah calls for a decade-long PRAHAAR strategy and automated counter-terror responses down to the police station level.
In a major push to fortify India's internal security, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called for the institutionalisation of the PRAHAAR counter-terrorism strategy for the next decade. Speaking at a high-level conference in New Delhi on Monday, the Home Minister emphasized that the fight against terror must be sustained through continuous analysis of incidents and the implementation of an automated response mechanism at every level of governance.
Inaugurating the 'PRAHAAR - CT Policy and Strategy' conference, Shah stressed that the principles of this robust framework must not remain confined to high-level agencies but must percolate down to the 'Thana' (police station) level to ensure no delays in critical action.
The Seven Pillars of PRAHAAR
The conference focused on a "whole-of-society" approach, revolving around seven core pillars designed to create a comprehensive shield against terrorism. These pillars include:
- Prevention: Proactive measures to stop threats before they manifest.
- Response: Rapid and effective action during incidents.
- Aggregating Internal Capacities: Strengthening domestic resources and intelligence.
- Human Rights: Ensuring security measures respect legal and human rights standards.
- Attenuating Conditions for Terrorism: Addressing the root causes that fuel radicalization.
- Aligning International Efforts: Coordinating with global partners to combat transnational terror.
- Recovery and Resilience: Building the capacity to bounce back from the impact of terror attacks.
Cracking Down on Fugitives and Terror Networks
Highlighting the success of inter-agency coordination under the Modi government, Amit Shah shared significant achievements recorded between 2019 and 2026. He noted that 288 fugitive criminals have been brought back to India from 36 different countries.
The Home Minister specifically pointed to the dismantling of the Shahzad Bhatti network, a group allegedly involved in the cross-border smuggling of narcotics, explosives, and weapons. Through enhanced cooperation, authorities have:
- Busted more than 40 modules of the network.
- Registered over 100 FIRs across 15 states.
- Arrested 350 individuals.
- Formally declared the Shahzad Bhatti network a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Zero Tolerance and the New Extradition Portal
Reiterating the government's 'zero-tolerance' policy toward terrorism, Shah announced the launch of a new Extradition Portal. This digital tool is designed to synergise and expedite the process of bringing fugitives back to Indian soil.
To bolster these efforts, the Home Minister urged state police forces to form dedicated teams that work in seamless tandem with Central agencies. The conference saw participation from the Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, heads of Central Armed Police Forces, and the Directors General of Police from 15 states, alongside Anti-Terrorist Squad chiefs from across the country.