Foiled Before Catastrophe: Amit Shah Reveals How India Averted a Massive Terror Strike
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday revealed chilling details of a major terror conspiracy, stating that while 40 kilograms of explosives were used in the Delhi blast, security agencies managed to recover nearly three tonnes of explosives before they could be detonated, thereby preventing a catastrophe of unimaginable scale.
Shah was speaking at the inauguration of the two-day Anti-Terrorism Conference 2025, organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Home Minister underlined India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and praised the precision, coordination, and vigilance displayed by Indian security agencies.
Beyond Routine Policing
Commending the Jammu and Kashmir Police and central agencies, Shah said the investigation into the Delhi explosion was far from ordinary law enforcement.
“This was an example of exceptional, watertight investigation,” he said, adding that the entire terror module was dismantled before it could execute its larger plan.
“The officers involved did not merely respond after the blast—they stayed alert, connected the dots, and prevented a far bigger disaster. Such vigilance saved the nation from a massive crisis,” Shah noted.
According to the NIA, nine individuals linked to Dr Umar-un-Nabi, who allegedly drove the vehicle that exploded near the Red Fort area in Delhi on November 10, have been arrested.
The blast claimed 15 lives and injured several others. Shah said arrests were made swiftly, ensuring the terror network was neutralised in its entirety.
Pahalgam and Baisaran Valley: Terror Meets Firm Response
The Home Minister also highlighted the investigation into the Pahalgam and Baisaran Valley attacks, describing them as attempts to sabotage Kashmir’s fragile peace, communal harmony, and reviving the tourism economy.
“The objective was clear—to disrupt normalcy and derail development in Kashmir. But based on highly accurate intelligence, our forces eliminated all three terrorists involved,” Shah said, calling it a strong and unambiguous message to Pakistan.
He explained that India responded at both ends of the terror chain.
“Those who planned and masterminded the attacks were punished under Operation Sindoor, while the terrorists who carried out the acts using weapons supplied to them were neutralised through Operation Mahadev,” he said.
“This dual response demonstrates India’s resolve—there will be accountability for planners and executors alike.”
Pakistan to Face Global Scrutiny
Shah asserted that the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack was so comprehensive that it would soon become a global case study in counter-terrorism.
“The evidence gathered will put Pakistan in the dock on international platforms,” he said, adding that India would relentlessly pursue diplomatic and legal avenues to expose terror sponsorship.
Trial-in-Absentia and ‘Team India’ Doctrine
In a significant directive, Shah urged Directors General of Police across states to pursue trial-in-absentia against fugitive terror accused without hesitation.
“This will leave fugitives with no option but to return and face justice,” he said.
He stressed the need for seamless coordination between central and state agencies.
“National security demands a Team India approach—where state police, central agencies, and intelligence units operate as one,” Shah emphasised.
New Tools for a New Age of Terror
The conference also witnessed the launch of three key initiatives:
- An updated NIA Crime Manual
- The Organised Crime Network Database
- The Lost, Looted and Recovered Weapons Database
Shah said these platforms would significantly enhance India’s ability to detect, analyse, and neutralise evolving terror threats, especially those driven by technology and cyber tools.
He warned that organised crime networks often begin with extortion and ransom but eventually morph into terror-financing pipelines once their leaders flee abroad.
“Every state must, with NIA, CBI, IB, and local police cooperation, dismantle these networks within their jurisdiction,” he said.
India’s Rise Brings New Security Challenges
With India now the world’s fourth-largest economy and a strategic power in the Indian Ocean region, Shah cautioned that threats would also scale proportionately.
“Security does not start at the border alone. It begins miles inward,” he said, calling for multi-layered defence grids against cyber warfare, economic sabotage, and hybrid terrorism.
He announced that the government is preparing a 360-degree crackdown on organised crime syndicates that fund terrorism through overseas extortion rackets, signalling an intensified phase of internal security operations.
#AmitShah #AntiTerrorismConference #NIA #NationalSecurity #CounterTerrorism #ZeroTolerance #DelhiBlast #PahalgamAttack #InternalSecurity #IndiaAgainstTerror
