States » SouthPosted at: Oct 17 2026 5:36PM


Hyd: Narcotics, cybercrime, terrorism among major internal security challenges: union home secretary

Hyderabad, Oct 17 (UNI) Narcotics, cybercrime, terrorism, illegal immigration and the use of technology to conceal criminal activities have emerged as five major internal security challenges facing India, union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said on Saturday.
Addressing the passing-out parade of the 78th batch of IPS probationers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) here, Mohan said the country's internal security landscape had undergone a significant transformation, with violent Left-Wing Extremism having ended, insurgency in the Northeast declining considerably and homegrown terrorism reduced to minimal levels.
However, he cautioned that these threats had not disappeared entirely, pointing to recent incidents, including the Red Fort blast in Delhi, as indications that homegrown and foreign-inspired terrorism continued to pose security concerns.
Identifying narcotics as a major challenge, Mohan cited a 2019 survey that estimated around seven per cent of India's population consumed narcotics in some form.
He said cybercrime was another serious concern, facilitated by the easy availability of fake SIM cards, multiple bank accounts and the limited technical expertise required to commit such offences. Although the Centre had established institutions to tackle cybercrime, the primary responsibility for combating it rested with State and union Territory police forces, he said.
Mohan also emphasised the need to identify illegal foreign nationals and take action against them in accordance with the law, citing concerns over criminal activities, radicalisation and their impact on markets.
The growing anonymity of crime constituted the fifth challenge, with criminals increasingly using virtual private networks (VPNs), cryptocurrency exchanges and the dark web to conceal their identities, transfer money and organise offences.
Urging the probationers to equip themselves to deal with emerging threats, Mohan stressed the importance of mastering new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
He also called for measures to counter the misuse of social media through fake messages and deepfake videos that could trigger law-and-order problems.
A total of 151 officer trainees, comprising 135 IPS probationers and 16 foreign officer trainees from Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives, completed the first phase of their training at the academy. The batch includes 37 women officers.
The probationers underwent intensive training in policing, criminal investigation, forensic science, internal security, public order, criminology, police management, human rights and the implementation of the new criminal laws.
The programme also covered emerging law-enforcement challenges, including cybercrime, cryptocurrency-related fraud, darknet operations, financial crimes, drug trafficking, artificial intelligence and drone-related threats.
The trainees received practical exposure through attachments with specialised police and security organisations, including Telangana's Greyhounds, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Border Security Force.
They also participated in field exercises involving crowd management, election duties and security arrangements for major public events.
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Tags: #Hyd: Narcotics# cybercrime# terrorism among major internal security challenges: union home secretary
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