26/11 Extradition, Pahalgam Attack, Delhi Blast: Inside NIA’s Major 2025 Crackdowns

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reported a series of major counterterrorism and organised crime successes in 2025, including a conviction rate of more than 92 percent and the extradition of key

terror accused, according to a year-end statement released on Tuesday.The NIA said it secured significant breakthroughs during the year, most notably the extradition of Tahawwur Rana from the United States in April. Rana is accused of plotting the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people. The agency described his extradition as a major step forward in the long-running investigation into the 26/11 conspiracy.

The NIA also said it facilitated the deportation of gangster Anmol Bishnoi from the United States. Bishnoi, the brother and close aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, had been absconding since 2022 and is accused of involvement in terror-linked criminal conspiracies in Delhi and other parts of the country.During the year, the agency completed its investigation into the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, filing a chargesheet against seven accused, including Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliate The Resistance Front. Three of the accused terrorists were killed in security operations, the NIA said.The agency also made progress in the Delhi Red Fort area car blast case, arresting nine accused within two months of the attack, which killed 11 people and injured several others.The NIA said it intensified its crackdown on Left Wing Extremism as part of the government’s goal to eliminate Naxal violence by March 31, 2026. It registered nine cases related to Left Wing Extremism in 2025 and chargesheeted 34 accused.Overall, the agency registered 55 cases during the year and arrested 276 accused across categories including jihadi terror, Left Wing Extremism, Khalistan-linked cases, organised crime and other offences. It secured 66 convictions and chargesheeted 320 accused. As part of its action against absconding terrorists and criminals, the NIA said it attached 12 properties and assets.

The agency also reported progress in cases related to human trafficking, including transnational networks exploiting the so-called “dunki” route, and investigations into Indian nationals forced into cyber fraud operations in Southeast Asia.In addition, the NIA said it pursued cases linked to ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups, as well as insurgent organisations in the northeast, including ULFA-I and NSCN-IM. Several recoveries of illegal arms, ammunition and explosives were made during the year.The agency said it also strengthened its technical capabilities in 2025, developing new databases on looted government weapons and organised crime networks, and conducting specialised training on cryptocurrency-related investigations to enhance inter-agency cooperation.