'Pro-active disruption of online networks': PRAHAAR initiative to counter internet misuse by terrorists

The misuse of the internet by terror groups and the nexus between illegal arms syndicates and terrorists have been flagged as challenges for law enforcement agencies in an official document that highlights India’s policy and strategy on counter-terrorism.

With India facing terror threats from all three fronts – land, water and air, the National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy – PRAHAAR – unveiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said capacities have been developed to protect critical sectors of Indian economy including power, railways, aviation, ports, defence, space and atomic energy from state/non-state actors.

On the “pro-active” approach, which is primarily “intelligence-guided”, to counter terror threats, it said agencies make “sustained efforts” to counter misuse of the internet through “pro-active disruption of such cyber activities, online networks of terrorist groups and their propaganda/recruitment”.

Agencies also regularly disrupt the over ground workers modules, through which terrorists are extended logistic, material and financial support, it said.

To combat the nexus between illegal arms syndicates and terrorist groups, it said coordinated interventions are being made by the intelligence agencies along with the law enforcement agencies, in various states. Special emphasis is given for disrupting terror funding networks through legal framework under Indian laws, it said.

It also said there is also a move for having uniform anti-terrorism structure in states to ensure “similar and synergistic” responses.

The document also said India’s anti-terrorism laws give due importance to human rights and the country adheres to the ‘Rule of Law’, where “laws are just, applied evenly and protect fundamental rights”.  Multiple levels of legal redressal are available to any accused through an elaborate infrastructure of the justice system, it said.

“The due process of law gives wide scope to the Supreme Court of India for protection of the rights of citizens. A robust and independent criminal justice system ensures that all are properly represented and get affordable legal services. Besides, there are ample opportunities available to the aggrieved person to contest and file appeal before courts,” it said.

The document also acknowledged that terrorist groups are continuously making efforts to recruit Indian youth and to thwart these efforts, intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been continuously disrupting the designs of terrorist groups. 

“Once identified, these youths undergo a graded police response, aimed at comprehensively addressing the problem of radicalization and violent extremism in a multi-stakeholder setting. Legal action is initiated against the individual based on their level of radicalization,” it said.

Community and religious leaders, moderate preachers and NGOs are engaged to spread awareness about the adverse consequences of impacts of radicalisation and extremist violence. Besides, youth are constructively engaged in ensuring that issues that may threaten peace and communal harmony are checked, it said.

Emphasising that India follows a whole-of-society approach in countering terrorism, it said public-private partnership has been a key component in our fight against terrorism. 

“This 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,” it said.

“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,” it added.