Centre Plans Major Shake-Up To Disrupt Terror-Criminal Nexus Running From Jails

Last Updated:October 24, 2025, 08:00 IST

The plan envisages transferring inmates who continue to run criminal or terror-linked networks from within prisons to other jails across the country

Officials believe the move will help break entrenched networks that often operate from behind bars, enabling coordination between criminal gangs and terror outfits across states. (Representational image/Reuters)

Law enforcement agencies will soon initiate a major overhaul to break the terror-criminal nexus running from inside Indian jails. In a significant move aimed at dismantling the growing nexus between terror operatives and organised crime networks, the central government is working on an “out-of-the-box strategy" to disrupt domestic nodes of the terror-criminal alliance.

According to senior government sources, the plan envisages transferring inmates who continue to run criminal or terror-linked networks from within prisons to other jails across the country. The idea is to sever their existing communication and influence chains inside the facilities.

Officials from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies will jointly identify such high-risk inmates in coordination with the state police and central agencies. “They will be shifted to jails located in states or regions where they have no connections or linkages," an official said, adding that the aim is to prevent these inmates from rebuilding or expanding their influence among fellow prisoners.

The nationwide initiative will be planned under the supervision of the union home ministry, with one intelligence and one investigation agency each designated to coordinate the process.

Officials believe the move will help break entrenched networks that often operate from behind bars, enabling coordination between criminal gangs and terror outfits across states. The exercise is part of a broader effort to enhance internal security and curb the misuse of prisons as command centres for organised and extremist activities.

The primary focus would be jails in north India, especially Punjab and J&K.

In the last week of September, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained several suspects during a massive multi-state crackdown on the terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler nexus, connected with “listed terrorist" Arsh Dalla and many dreaded gangsters.

A total of 53 locations were raided during the day-long operation in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh.

“NIA investigations have revealed that the conspiracies under investigation were being hatched in Jails of different states and were being executed by an organised network of operatives based abroad. Notable among such conspiracies were the sensational killing of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani, mining trader Mehal Singh, and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab last year," the agency said.

These criminals have been engaged in planning and commissioning serious crimes, including contract and revenge killings, in association with criminals lodged in jails across India. These groups have been carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for attacks and other nefarious activities through the smuggling of drugs and weapons, hawala and extortion

Ankur Sharma

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar...Read More

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar...

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News india Centre Plans Major Shake-Up To Disrupt Terror-Criminal Nexus Running From Jails

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