Relevance: GS-3 (Internal Security) • Source: The Indian Express

During hearings on the 2020 Delhi riots case, the Delhi Police told the Supreme Court that “intellectual terrorists are more dangerous than ground workers”, highlighting growing concerns over urban, ideological and knowledge-driven radicalisation.

What is Intellectual / White-Collar / Urban Terrorism?

A form of non-violent but highly influential extremism where educated actors use ideas, networks, digital tools or organisational skills to support or enable violent movements.

Key characteristics (Prelims Focus):

• Does not involve direct violence but facilitates planning, financing, propaganda or recruitment.
  
• Operates through universities, civil society spaces, online platforms.
  
• Uses strategic communication, misinformation, mobilisation and resource channels.
  
• Often overlaps with urban Naxalism, ideological extremism, radical activism.
  

Factors Behind the Rise

• Digital ecosystems & social media enabling anonymous radical mobilisation.
  
• Urban networks providing funding, logistics, legal and intellectual support.
  
• Educational/elite spaces used to legitimise extremist narratives.
  
• Transnational ideological flows and online echo chambers.
  
• Weak regulation of digital content, foreign funds, and organised misinformation.
  

Way Ahead

• Strengthen intelligence on urban networks and digital radicalisation pathways.
  
• Improve cyber-monitoring while balancing civil liberties.
  
• Enhance community policing and campus outreach programmes.
  
• Strict compliance with FCRA, anti-terror laws and financial tracking.
  
• Promote counter-narratives, digital literacy, and responsible activism.

One-line wrap: Urban or intellectual terrorism refers to educated actors enabling extremist violence through ideas, networks, and digital support rather than direct action.