Union Home Minister Amit Shah Inaugurates PRAHAAR CT Policy Conference, Launches New Extradition Portal to Target Global Fugitives

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the high-profile Conference on ‘PRAHAAR - CT Policy and Strategy’ in New Delhi, unveiling a comprehensive blueprint for India's internal security and counter-terrorism architecture for the next decade. The landmark event convened top-tier security leadership, including the Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Heads of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs), Directors General of Police (DGsP) from 15 States, and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Chiefs from all States and Union Territories in person. Meanwhile, other State DGsP and cutting-edge operational police officers participated virtually, emphasizing a unified, pan-India approach to national security.

Key Highlights & Major Announcements

• The Seven Pillars of PRAHAAR: The conference thoroughly deliberated upon prevention, response, aggregating internal capacities, human rights, attenuating conditions for terrorism, aligning international efforts, and recovery & resilience through a whole-of-society approach.
• Zero-Tolerance Policy: Reaffirming the Government of India's unwavering stance under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi against all forms and manifestations of terrorism.
• 10-Year Strategic Roadmap: Establishing a strong, concrete, and continuously improvised PRAHAAR mechanism designed to direct counter-terrorism operations over the next decade.
• Thana-Level Percolation: Emphasizing that the tenets of PRAHAAR must percolate down to the grassroots police station (Thana) level with a proactive operational posture.
• Extradition Portal Launch: The Union Home Minister launched a specialized Extradition Portal aimed at synergizing and expediting international efforts to bring fugitive criminals back to India.
• Major Operational Successes: Between 2019 and 2026, the government successfully brought back 288 fugitive criminals from 36 countries, while busting over 40 terror-smuggling modules linked to the Shahzad Bhatti network.

Contextual Analysis: Shaping India's 10-Year Counter-Terror Blueprint

The formulation of the PRAHAAR Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy marks a watershed moment in India's internal security management. As modern asymmetric threats evolve, encompassing cyber warfare, cross-border financial syndicates, and radicalized sleeper cells, traditional reactionary policing is no longer sufficient. The PRAHAAR framework addresses this by institutionalizing an automated, proactive counter-terrorism response at every level of the administrative and enforcement framework.

A critical element of the new strategy is the decentralization of counter-terror preparedness. By ensuring that tactical doctrines and intelligence-sharing mechanisms reach the grassroots 'Thana' (police station) level, the Ministry of Home Affairs aims to transform local law enforcement agencies into frontline intelligence nodes. This ensures that suspicious activities, local radicalization, or illegal transit are intercepted long before they metastasize into large-scale security threats.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India has adopted a 'zero-tolerance' policy against all forms and manifestations of terrorism... We must establish a strong and concrete PRAHAAR mechanism for the next 10 years with a proactive approach at every level, right down to the Thana level." — Shri Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation

Targeting Cross-Border Networks and Global Fugitives

A significant portion of the Home Minister's address focused on India's aggressive diplomatic and law enforcement push against transnational crime syndicates and fugitive criminals. Between 2019 and 2026, enhanced coordination between central investigative agencies, Interpol, and foreign partner nations led to the \textradition and deportation of 288 fugitive criminals across 36 countries.

Highlighting specific operational triumphs, the Home Minister pointed to the systematic dismantling of the Shahzad Bhatti network. Heavily involved in the cross-border smuggling of sophisticated weapons, explosives, and narcotics, this network faced severe attrition: over 40 modules were busted, more than 100 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered, and 350 individuals were arrested across 15 states. Furthermore, the Modi government officially designated the Shahzad Bhatti network as a terrorist organization under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), cutting off its financial and logistical lifelines.

The New Extradition Portal: A Technological Force Multiplier

To further accelerate the repatriation of economic offenders and high-profile fugitives hiding abroad, Shri Amit Shah officially launched the new Extradition Portal. This digital platform is engineered to streamline inter-agency coordination between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, central investigative agencies, and Interpol.

The Home Minister explicitly exhorted State Police Forces to establish dedicated, specialized teams that will work in close tandem with central agencies. This synergy ensures that Red Corner Notices (RCNs), \textradition requests, and provisional arrest warrants are processed without bureaucratic delays, closing safe havens for criminals who attempt to evade Indian justice by fleeing overseas.

Significance & National Impact

The rollout of PRAHAAR and the launch of the Extradition Portal hold profound implications for India’s internal stability and economic growth. National security is the foundational prerequisite for economic prosperity, foreign direct investment (FDI), and social harmony. By adopting a 'whole-of-society' approach—which integrates human rights protection with aggressive counter-terrorism and international diplomatic pressure—India is setting a global benchmark in modern homeland security.

Furthermore, institutionalizing automated responses and ensuring seamless horizontal and vertical coordination among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), State Police, and ATS units eliminates historical operational silos. This cohesive multi-agency posture ensures that India remains resilient against evolving hybrid warfare tactics and transnational terror financing networks over the coming decade.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the PRAHAAR CT Policy and Strategy?

PRAHAAR is a comprehensive 10-year counter-terrorism policy and strategy inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It operates on seven core pillars: Prevention, Response, Aggregating Internal Capacities, Human Rights, Attenuating Conditions for Terrorism, Aligning International Efforts, and Recovery & Resilience.

What is the objective of the newly launched Extradition Portal?

The Extradition Portal is designed to synergize and expedite international legal and operational efforts between central agencies and state police forces to bring back fugitive criminals and economic offenders hiding abroad.

How many fugitives have been brought back to India recently?

Between 2019 and 2026, the Government of India successfully brought back 288 fugitive criminals from 36 countries through enhanced inter-agency and international diplomatic coordination.

What actions were taken against the Shahzad Bhatti network?

The Shahzad Bhatti network, involved in cross-border smuggling of weapons, explosives, and narcotics, faced massive crackdowns. Over 40 modules were busted, 350 individuals were arrested across 15 states, over 100 FIRs were registered, and the network was officially designated as a terrorist organization under the UAPA.

Official Source & Verification

This article is grounded on the official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India (Release ID: 2316153, Ministry of Home Affairs). Access the official document: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2316153&lang=1.