Violent terror attacks by extremist individuals acting upon their radicalized beliefs are termed ‘lone-wolf terrorism’. While conventional terrorism entails several years of planning, communications, money transfers, etc., the evolved form of terrorism i.e. lone-wolf attacks are usually small-scale attacks and are easy to be carried out by individuals without assistance. Many times, lone wolves do not have any criminal background, and their activities tend to escape the security agencies’ surveillance, unlike organized terrorist groups.

Challenges posed by lone-wolf attacks for counter-terrorism:

• Unpredictable: There seldom exists any pattern or trend to the lone-wolf attacks. This makes intelligence agencies and police forces handicapped in preventing such attacks.
• Anonymity: Anonymity is fundamental to such forms of attacks and hence intelligence organizations have found it challenging to tackle. The internet, especially the dark net, plays a key role in the preparation of terrorist attacks as well as during the process of radicalization of lone wolves, which is difficult to trace and detect.
• Logistical ease: On observing certain lone wolf terror attacks in Europe and the US, many of these essentially involve stabbing innocent people on the streets or ramming a vehicle into a crowded area. In a hugely and densely populated country like India, such a modus operandi can be a major challenge for the security forces.
• The difference in motive: A well-organized terror attack seeks to cause a large-scale casualty through the attack while the lone wolf attacks are mostly conducted to spread psychological fear or terror amongst the public regarding their safety.

India has been relatively immune to the lone-wolf terrorist phenomena. However, the Udaipur incident of 2020 signifies that it is no longer the case and it remains vulnerable to lone-wolf terrorism as is evident from the following arguments:

• Pakistan factor: As a state sponsor of terrorism, Pakistan can potentially use lone-wolf attacks to further its propaganda of spreading terrorism in India and destabilizing the country.
• Democracy vs Terrorism: Groups like ISIS picture India’s democratic and secular identity as a threat to their concepts of the Islamic Caliphate.
• Density of population: Given the rising overall population and higher densities of such population concentrated in the major urban agglomerations like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc. India is more vulnerable to such attacks.
• Internet penetration: As radicalization plays a critical role in the making of a lone-wolf terrorist, which mostly happens online, high internet penetration in India makes it easier to radicalize individuals especially youths in committing lone-wolf attacks.

But, on the other hand, gaining access to explosives, light weapons and other ammunition in India is immensely difficult due to the strict laws when compared to the US and other European nations. However, proactive measures such as de-radicalization and counter-radicalization strategies, training and equipping the local police, contingency plans by the intelligence and counter-terrorism structures, strengthening international cooperation, etc. is strategically important to subdue any attempts of lone wolf terrorism in the country.