NSG Drops 'Bombshell': Sharp Rise In Explosives Pilferage, Deadlier Devices
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From 2020 to 2024, the use of high explosives in India has increased from 62 per cent to 89 per cent, the report reviewed by News18 reveals
In a worrying turn for India's internal security, the year 2024 has witnessed a surprise rise in IED blast incidents, with a shocking 89% of attacks involving high explosives, according to the NSG's newly released 'Bombshell', a national counter-terror analysis report. The report has been reviewed by News18, which has the most elaborate, detailed, and authentic data on bomb-related incidents in India and abroad.
From 2020 to 2024, the use of high explosives has increased from 62 per cent to 89 per cent.
While top security grid officials are sounding the alarm as Jammu & Kashmir and the Rest of India (ROI) emerge as the new epicentre of high-impact IED terrorism, signalling a dangerous shift in insurgent strategy towards more lethal, powerful attacks.
The officials are saying that the implications are grave. With increased access to bomb-making materials and rising use of military-grade explosives, India faces a growing threat landscape. The transition from low to high explosives represents not just an operational evolution but a strategic escalation.
High Explosives Dominate
Out of 104 total IED incidents in 2024, a staggering 93 were carried out using high explosives, compared to just 11 using low explosives. This marks the most explosive year in recent memory, with the use of high explosives surging from 62% in 2020 to a terrifying 89% in 2024. In 2023, the use of high explosives was 86%.
'The overall trend from 2020 (38% low, 62% high) to 2024 indicates an increased reliance on high explosives, suggesting a shift towards more sophisticated and lethal devices. It also hints towards increased pilferage of high explosives," a top official told News18 while quoting the report.
This shift signals a deliberate escalation in the lethality and sophistication of IED attacks, with insurgent groups opting for maximum destruction and chaos.
J&K and Other Parts: The New Danger Zones
In Jammu & Kashmir, 94% of IED blasts (15 out of 16) were carried out using high explosives. On the other side, in the Rest of India, 64% of IED attacks (16 out of 25) used high explosives. Even the Northeast saw a complete shift, with 100% of IEDs being high explosive.
'In 2024, explosive usage across different zones shows a clear preference for high explosives… All 55 incidents in LWE involved high explosives. The Northeast (NE) saw 94% high explosive use. Similarly, in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), 88%, and ROI 64% of incidents involved high explosives," the official said, quoting the report.
Terror groups are increasingly turning to more destructive weaponry, posing a direct threat to both civilians and security forces in urban and semi-urban areas.
As India is trying to understand this alarming shift, senior officials in central intelligence and investigation agencies stress the urgent need for enhanced intelligence, robust counter-IED tactics, and stronger civilian protection protocols.
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