ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has set up a dedicated dark web investigation unit to track and prosecute criminals operating in the shadowy realm, to effectively counter threats to the country’s interests emanating from encrypted online platforms, officials said on Saturday.

Housed in the state-of-the-art National Command and Control Centre (NC3) at FIA headquarters, the unit will use modern technology to overcome obfuscation techniques employed by criminals to identify them, track dubious transactions usually carried out through cryptocurrency, and execute enforcement actions, FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar told Dawn.

He said the unit will focus on tracing criminal networks involved in creating illegal documents that facilitate human trafficking and illegal migrant smuggling and other similar subjects within the ambit of the FIA.

The dark web refers to websites that are not indexed by search engi­nes, and are usually encry­pted, only accessible through specialised browsers. It can be an effective cloak for criminals because it leverages cutting-edge technologies to hide their identity.

Criminals take advantage of its decentralisation and anonymity to indulge in numerous illegal activities, including hiring a hitman for assassination, trading drugs and weapons, selling stolen classified data and credentials, terrorism, piracy, malware, and hacking tools.

There is no clear path for conducting investigations and enforcement action on businesses that operate on the dark web. These businesses are not only decentralised, but the criminal activities they facilitate tend to be transnational. The only way for authorities to respond is to fight technology with technology and forge greater international cooperation.

DG Anwar said that working hand in hand with the cryptocurrency investigation unit under the same roof, the dark web investigation unit would use its blockchain forensic capability to connect pseudonymous addresses to real-world identities using open-source intelligence (Osint) as an additional tool for better investigative outcomes with documentary evidence.

“We will leverage advanced tools and methodologies to meticulously investigate individuals on the dark web, cross-referencing aliases, usernames, and pseudonyms across marketplaces, forums and sites,” the FIA DG said.

He added that the investigative process would help build detailed profiles of criminal actors, enabling authorities to bring them to justice.

FIA’s NC3 Director Dr Athar Waheed explained that the internet was often described in three layers: the surface web, the deep web, and the dark web. These layers differ in visibility, accessibility and intended use.

The surface web consists of publicly accessible websites indexed by standard search engines like Google. It includes news sites, blogs, online stores, and social media platforms. Anyone with a browser and internet connection can access these pages without special tools or permissions.

The deep web refers to all web content that is not indexed by search engines. This includes databases, academic journals behind paywalls, webmail accounts, online banking, and intranet systems. Although not visible to search engines, these resources are typically legitimate and require credentials, subscriptions, or specific queries to access.

The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and accessible only through specialised anonymity-preserving software, such as Tor (The Onion Router).

The NC3 director explained that Tor was an open-source overlay network built on free and open-source software run by over 7,000 volunteer-operated relays worldwide, as well as by millions of users who route their internet traffic via random paths through these relays, enabling anonymous communication.

Unlike the deep web, which primarily consists of private but conventional web content, the dark web includes hidden services that use encryption and obscure IP addresses to protect identities. Accessing it requires knowledge of its specific tools and protocols.

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday he has resigned from his position, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks.

The anti-government protests represented the biggest youth challenge to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he came to power in 2014. Opposition parties have echoed the movement’s demands and have disrupted ​the monsoon session of parliament that began this week.

The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers to push for the move.

In a two-page statement shared on X, Pradhan said he has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Considering the situation that has developed at Jantar Mantar and across the country — that anti-national forces should not take advantage of this situation, that the unity of the country should be preserved, that not even a single Indian student’s future should get entangled in legal complications, and that our children should devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers — I have sent my resignation to the honourable prime minister,” The Times of India quoted the letter as stating.

The self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) youth movement, which has been at the helm of the protests, welcomed the resignation by stating on its X account, “Cockroaches won.. Democracy won!”

A statement by CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke said, “This is democracy. He has resigned.”

However, he added, “We have two more demands. We won’t go like this.”

Addressing youth protesters, Dipke demanded that the families of all students who reportedly took their own lives after the exam leak should receive 10 million Indian rupees in compensation.

“This [resignation] is for them,” he said, pointing towards a banner with the pictures of 20 students whom activists say died following the exam leak.

Secondly, he demanded that action be taken against police officials involved in the July 20 crackdown on protesters. “Remember, do not mess with cockroach,” he cautioned.

Dipke also called for all cases registered against students to be withdrawn.

“We are cockroaches. Once it enters, it does not leave,” he quipped.

Another post by CJP listed three demands as “pending”, with the third being a public apology from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi Police.

Dipke also urged his supporters not to turn him into a “hero” because of Pradhan’s resignation.

“Do not make this mistake. Do not make me a hero because of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The country has been ruined because of making one person a hero.”

He further said, “When we rise above Hindu and Muslim politics and talk about issues, then it will be good for the country.”

Earlier in the day, CJP supporters had been continuing their sit-in at Jantar Mantar, the same key protest site where Indian police had fired tear gas and baton-charged demonstrators on Monday.

‘Not a matter of personal reputation’

“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned away from this situation,” the education minister asserted in his letter.

Pradhan said the government took immediate notice when irregularities emerged in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) held on May 3.

“The Government of India took immediate cognisance of this, handed over the investigation to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), cancelled the exam, and announced a new date for re-examination. Alongside this, it was also decided to conduct the exam in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode from next year,” he highlighted.

In his letter, the minister also accused “certain individuals occupying positions of responsibility” of trying to mislead students and create obstacles.

Pradhan stated: “I have always been an unwavering believer in the strength of our democracy and I have always held deep respect for the aspirations, dreams and expectations of the youth. They are not only the future of India, but also the bearers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India.

“Watching the events of the last 10 days has saddened me. This is not a matter of personal reputation for me.”

Pradhan concluded his letter saying, “My resolve is that we will not let the country’s youth get caught in a web of confusion.”

‘Victory of democracy’

Supporters of CJP, including the opposition Congress party, welcomed Pradhan’s resignation.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his 26-day hunger strike yesterday, hailed the resignation as a “victory of democracy”.

“It’s a victory of peace, patience & persévérance,” he wrote, congratulating CJP and the Gen Z of India.

“Thank you all citizens for shedding fear and the fear of fear and rising up from every corner of the nation,” he added.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a Lok Sabha member and sister of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, expressed Congress’s support for the youth movement.

“The youth of India have started to take our country back from those who tried to suppress their voice… today is the day an undemocratic and oppressive government was forced to bend to the will of the people of India,” she wrote on X.

Additional input from Reuters

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday he had resigned from his position, handing a major victory to youth protesters nationwide who demanded that he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks.

The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in Delhi, hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers to push for the move.

In a two-page statement shared on X, Pradhan said he has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Considering the situation that has developed at Jantar Mantar and across the country — that anti-national forces should not take advantage of this situation, that the unity of the country should be preserved, that not even a single Indian student’s future should get entangled in legal complications, and that our children should devote their time to studies and focus on building their careers — I have sent my resignation to the honourable prime minister,” The Times of India quoted the letter as stating.

The self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) youth movement, which has been at the helm of the protests, welcomed the resignation by stating on its X account, “Cockroaches won.. Democracy won!”

The anti-government protests represented the biggest youth challenge to Modi since he came to power in 2014. Opposition parties have echoed the movement’s demands and have disrupted ​the monsoon session of parliament that began this week.

Earlier in the day, CJP supporters had been continuing their sit-in at Jantar Mantar, the same key protest site where Indian police had fired tear gas and baton-charged demonstrators on Monday.

‘Not a matter of personal reputation’

“From day one, I took responsibility for this and never turned away from this situation,” the education minister asserted in his letter.

Pradhan said the government took immediate notice when irregularities emerged in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) held on May 3.

“The Government of India took immediate cognisance of this, handed over the investigation to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), cancelled the exam, and announced a new date for re-examination. Alongside this, it was also decided to conduct the exam in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode from next year,” he highlighted.

In his letter, the minister also accused “certain individuals occupying positions of responsibility” of trying to mislead students and create obstacles.

Pradhan stated: “I have always been an unwavering believer in the strength of our democracy and I have always held deep respect for the aspirations, dreams and expectations of the youth. They are not only the future of India, but also the bearers, builders, and architects of a new and developed India.

“Watching the events of the last 10 days has saddened me. This is not a matter of personal reputation for me.”

Pradhan concluded his letter saying, “My resolve is that we will not let the country’s youth get caught in a web of confusion.”

More to follow