SFG was the Knowledge Partner for the First National Seminar on Counter Terrorism, which was jointly organized by Maharashtra State Police and Bureau for Police Research and Development (BPRD). It was held in Mumbai, India, on 24 November 2011.

Commemorating the raising day of Force One, Counter Terrorism Force of Maharashtra State Police, the seminar was inaugurated  by Honourable Chief Minister Shri Prithviraj Chavan. Honourable Home Minister of Maharashtra State Shri R. R. Patil and Minister for State (Home) Shri Satej Patil also graced the inauguration. Padmashri KPS Gill, Former Director General of Police, Punjab delivered the key note address.

This was the first occasion that brought together elite special police forces and premier counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism training academies from across the country on the same platform.

SFG Researcher Sanaa Arora prepared the seminar literature, with key inputs from Anumita Raj and Sahiba Trivedi, Joint Coordinators of the South Asia Security Unit. The objective of the Knowledge Report was to provide an overview of the threat of terrorism from three distinct perspectives: Patterns of Terrorism, Terrorist Threats from Pakistan, and Elite Counter Terrorism Units – International Perspectives. The report analyzed terrorism on a global scale for the period 1991 – 2010, and also advanced the understanding of terror attacks within India. The Knowledge Report was greatly appreciated by leading dignitaries participating in the seminar.

The seminar was divided into three themes, ‘Overview of National Counter Terrorism Infrastructure’, ‘Sharing of Success Stories in the Fight against Terrorism and Insurgency’, and ‘Knowledge Sharing for Building Successful Counter Terrorism Units’. Experts from central and state agencies came together to share experiences, take stock of current strengths and weaknesses and generate ideas to improve institutional response mechanisms in the coming years.

Participating organizations included the National Security Guards, Grey Hounds (anti left wing extremism force of Andhra Pradesh), Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (Mizoram), Centre Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, ITBP, National Police Academy and officers from elite special police units of different state police forces. 

The seminar concluded with exchange of ideas and best practices that can be adopted and replicated by participating organizations in the local environment. Participants expressed support for extending the key takeaways from the seminar to the future.SFG Researchers Sanaa Arora and Sowmya Suryanarayanan were the special rapporteurs for the National Seminar.