Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated the ‘Anti-Terrorism Conference-2025’ in New Delhi. The two-day conference is being organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The Home Minister also unveiled NIA's updated crime manual, Organised Crime Network Database and Lost/Looted and Recovered Weapon Database. The conference was attended by Union Ministers of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai and Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Union Home Secretary, Secretary R&AW, Director General of NIA and many other dignitaries. The conference is being attended by senior police officers from States/UTs, officers from Central agencies/Departments dealing with issues related to Counter Terrorism and experts from related fields such as law, forensics, technology etc.

In his address, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that under the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of zero-tolerance against terrorism, this annual conference has become a platform to deal with emerging threats. He said that in last 3 years, we have moved forward in the direction of making this conference an annual tradition. He said that this conference is not merely a forum for discussion, but actionable points emerge here, and the NIA along with all related agencies of the states continuously work throughout the year towards their implementation. As a result, we are succeeding in building a strong anti-terrorism grid across the country. He added that this conference is not just a medium to reiterate India's resolve for security. Shri Shah said that the objective of this conference is also to analyse all terrorist incidents that occurred in the country and the world in the past year, along with the intelligence received about them, and to enhance our counter-terrorism capabilities accordingly. He mentioned that the landscape of terrorism in the world is now changing due to the use of technology in terrorist incidents alongside technological advancements, and we too must prepare to prevent this. He said that it is the national responsibility of this conference to anticipate invisible future challenges and to prevent them.

Shri Amit Shah said that today, three new initiatives have been launched here. The updated crime manual prepared by the NIA was released today. He requested all Director Generals of Police from the states to form a team in their respective states and ensure that they study this manual for investigation and prosecution purposes. Shri Shah said that today, the weapons e-database has also been launched.

Union Home Minister said that today, a database on organized crime networks has also been released. He said that organized crime networks initially operate for the purpose of ransom and extortion, but when their leaders flee abroad and settle there, they automatically come into contact with terrorist organizations and then use the proceeds from ransom and extortion to spread terrorism within the country. He said that every state must, under the guidance of the NIA and CBI, with the cooperation of the IB, and by utilizing this database, eliminate it within their jurisdiction.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the attack in Baisaran Valley was one that shook the entire country. Through this attack, the terrorists wanted to disrupt communal harmony in the country and deliver a blow to the new era of development and tourism that has begun in Kashmir. He said that based on extremely precise intelligence, our forces neutralized all three terrorists, delivering a stern message to Pakistan. He said that this is the first terrorist incident in which those who planned the terrorist act were punished by us through Operation Sindoor, and those who carried out the act with the weapons provided to them were neutralized through Operation Mahadev. The Home Minister said that at both ends, the Government of India, the Indian security forces, and the people of India have given a strong and befitting reply to Pakistan's terrorist masters through our security forces and intelligence agencies. He stated that our team has conducted a complete and successful investigation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which agencies around the world will study in the coming days. He said that the results of the investigation into the Pahalgam terrorist attack will put Pakistan in the dock on international platforms.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted a very thorough investigation into the blast that occurred in Delhi. All our agencies did an excellent job in investigating the entire network. Shri Shah said that the investigations into the Pahalgam and Delhi blast cases are not ordinary policing but outstanding examples of watertight investigation. This is also a great example of how an alert officer can save the country from such a major crisis by remaining vigilant at all times.

Union Home Minister said that we have established a new standard of coordination, cooperation, and communication among the DGP Conference, Security Strategy Conference, N-CORD meetings, and the Anti-Terror Conference. He said that we cannot view these four pillars in isolation; running through them as a common thread is the Anti-Terrorism Conference. Shri Shah said that the NIA has worked very hard to create a common ATS structure and has sent it to the police forces of the states. He explained that when we establish a common ATS structure across the entire country, it provides us an opportunity for uniform preparation at every level. A common ATS structure for the police across the country is extremely important, and all Director Generals of Police from the states should implement it as soon as possible. He said that all states' ATS units should get into the habit of using NIDAAN and NATGRID. He said that using NIDAAN and NATGRID in investigations ensures that cases are not investigated in isolation, but also brings to light the invisible links in the cases. He emphasized that the use of NATGRID should be made mandatory in certain types of investigations, and the use of NIDAAN should be made mandatory in certain types of cases.

Union Home Minister said that active participation in the Multi Agency Centre and the National Memory Bank should be ensured. He said that the common ATS structure and operational uniformity give us an advantage in prosecuting terrorists. Unless we achieve operational uniformity, we cannot make an accurate assessment of threats, make proper use of intelligence sharing, or carry out coordinated counter-actions. Shri Shah emphasized that we must ensure uniformity from investigation to prosecution and counter-action.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that India is the world's fourth largest economy. Due to the Indian Ocean, our geo-political position is also very important. He said that as our economy progresses further, our problems will increase in the same proportion. As the country's economy advances, we will have to enhance our vigilance accordingly. Shri Shah said that the preparations to ensure the country's internal security do not begin at our borders; rather, the preparation to secure the borders must start many miles away. Shri Amit Shah said that for cyber and information warfare, the misuse of economic networks, and the hybrid format of terrorism, we must develop a robust mechanism as a national grid—one that is vigilant and capable of swift, result-oriented action—and this can only be achieved through such conferences. He stated that building a multi-layer security model and working with a ruthless approach against terrorism—these are what can keep us secure in the coming days.

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that everyone should move forward with the principle of “Duty to Share” instead of “Need to Know”. Shri Shah said that the central agencies and state police have made good use of technology at their respective levels, but technology developed in silos and data collected in silos are like a gun without bullets. It is better if all data can communicate with each other and are created using the same technology. For this purpose, the Ministry of Home Affairs, NIA, and IB should hold discussions to develop a seamless national-level framework for technology and data, and should support the states in strengthening it.

Shri Amit Shah said that the database of terrorists and criminals should be made a core asset of the zero-terror policy. He expects the Director Generals of Police of the states to implement this database framework in letter and spirit. Shri Shah said that in the coming days, we are bringing a plan to launch a 360-degree assault on organized crime.

Union Home Minister said that we must move forward with Trial-in-Absentia without fear of the controversies associated with it. This will force fugitives to return to the country. Shri Shah said that all agencies of the Government of India, together with the state police, should form a ‘Team India’ that works effectively for national security. He reiterated that as India progresses forward, our challenges will continue to grow. In such a scenario, it is the responsibility of all of us to build a strong anti-terrorism grid for the country and for the coming generations of officers, so that they can firmly confront the challenges ahead.

****

RK/RR/PR/SS