India Timeline - Year 2017

January 17

The NIA arrested one IS operative, identified as Mohammed Irfan alias Abu Jafar, a resident of Mir Alam Mandi in the old city of Hyderabad. He was produced before NIA special court, which sent him to judicial custody for seven days.

According to the investigation agency, he along with the other accused took part in searching of hideouts and physical training. Irfan allegedly collected the explosive precursors along with another accused from the outskirts of Pochampally village of Nalgonda District in Telangana.

Underlining that India alone cannot walk the path of peace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urged Pakistan to “walk away from terror” if it wants resumption of bilateral dialogue. On relations with China, Modi said it was not unnatural for two large neighbours to have some differences but both sides should show sensitivity and respect for each other’s core concerns and interests.

A city civil court in Bengaluru issued a body warrant for Yasin Bhatkal, who has been sentenced to death for the Hyderabad blasts case, in connection with the ongoing M. Chinnaswamy Stadium blast case (April 17, 2010). Yasin, touted as the mastermind behind IM, has to be produced before the court on February 4. The warrant was issued based on an application filed by Special Public Prosecutor C.A. Ravindran on behalf of Central Crime Branch sleuths attached to Bengaluru City Police.

The role of the ISI in the November 20, 2016 train disaster in Kanpur is being suspected after Bihar Police, arrested three people, Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav, who, they claimed, were working for the Pakistani intelligence agency to target Indian railways. The ISI link was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, Police said. During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some “positive lead” about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District SP Jitendra Rana said.

The trio was arrested from Adapur Police Station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to the ISI to target the railways, Rana told. The three are “professional criminals” involved in more than a dozen cases. The three were paid INR 3 lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly had connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai, who had links with the ISI, the SP said. The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on the railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran District, bordering Nepal, on October 1, 2016 Rana said.

Pakistan's ISI operatives in Nepal had offered a flat and a luxury vehicle besides huge cash to each member of the group that was assigned to plant explosives to derail the Indore-Rajendranagar Express near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh in November, 2016, Police sources said.

Concerned authorities have increased the security of Delhi-Lahore bus and Samjhauta Express following an alert from intelligence agencies that terror groups are on the lookout of targeting these two modes of transportation between India and Pakistan. Highly placed sources said that intelligence inputs suggest terrorists groups are planning to disrupt the Republic Day event in the national capital. They may target Samjhauta Express and Delhi-Lahore bus service.

A joint team of District Police, DRG, STF and ITBP arrested five CPI-Maoist cadres in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh during an anti-Naxal operation. The arrested Maoists were identified as Ramdhar Nag (28), Jaisingh Nag (27), Neeldhar Yadav (21), Sukman Kashyap (26) and Sahu Kashyap (25).They were active Janmilitia members and were involved in various crimes including spreading false information about encounter, arranging meetings for ultras and others.

Bastar’s first woman CRPF officer, Usha Kiran had launched a special campaign to control the Maoist activities in the Bastar Division. Kiran said she wants to neutralise Naxals, which stops people from moving towards development. Kiran is first woman officer to be posted in the Maoist hotbed and a potent PR tool for the security forces battling accusations of grave excesses, including rape.

A handler of a sniffer dog, PK Samal, was injured and 'Aminika', a sniffer dog belonging to CoBRA battalion, was killed in an IED blast by CPI-Maoist cadres in Buda Pahar area in Latehar District of Jharkhand.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze four vehicles at a bridge construction site at Ganeshpur Chatam under Garu Police Station in Latehar District of Jharkhand. Maoists set ablaze two dumpers and two tractors engaged by the construction company to build a bridge over Koel River and assaulted workers engaged at the site.

SFs laid a trap and arrested a Maoist supporter and three employees of Bauxite mining company from Bishunpur area in Gumla District of Jharkhand. SFs have seized INR 0.299 million cash, an SUV and a motorcycle from them. The Gumla SDPO, Bhupendra Rawat, added, "Upon frisking them, we recovered 149 currency notes of INR 2,000 denomination and two new notes of INR 500 denomination. During interrogation, they admitted that the cash was actually meant for Maoist 'zonal commander' Nakul Yadav and his next in command Madan Yadav."

CPI-Maoist cadres have again put up posters at various places threatening the tribals to boycott the Panchayat elections in Malkangiri District of Odisha. According to reports, the posters were found from the Chitrakonda area of the District in which the Malkangiri District Divisional Committee of the CPI-Maoist has asked the tribals not to cast their votes. Earlier reported, the CPI-Maoist cadres had on January 10 also put up posters in Malkangiri warning the tribals to abstain from the polls.

CPI-M (Red Star), a Naxalite outfit that has contested elections has token presence in Kerala and West Bengal, led land agitation near Kolkata. CPI-ML (Red Star) has become the key organiser of a movement at Bhangar village in South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. It is to be noted that the villagers are demanding cancellation of a power grid project designed to transmit electricity through high tension overhead lines. A senior Police officer said, “All the leaders of the movement belong to the CPI (ML) (Red Star). We never monitored their activities because they held little influence.”  Police said they are keeping a close watch on are Alik Chakraborty, Sharmistha Chowdhury and Pradip Singh Thakur, all leaders of the Red Star faction of CPI(ML). The leader of the party is K N Ramachandran, who hails from Kerala. Thakur and Chakraborty are politburo members of the party and Choudhury a central committee member. Chakraborty is also the spokesperson of the committee spearheading the movement.

The three militants killed in the overnight gun battle with SFs in Anantnag District of J&K on January 16, were affiliated with HM and were identified as Abid Sheikh, son of Farooq Sheikh, resident of Satkipora Srigufwara, Maqsood Ahmad Sheikh alias Masoom, son of Ghulam Nabi, resident of Bewoora Srigufwara, and Adil Reshi, son of Mushtaq Ahmad, resident of Iqbal Mohalla in Bijbehara. Three AK-47 rifles, 9 magazines, 80 rounds and 3 pouches were recovered from the encounter site. Police said that Adil Reshi was involved in number of incidents. Adil along with Amir Nabi alias Ibn Qasim was involved in attack on SDPO Bijbehara and his PSO on 24th of December 2015. The 1-Sector Commander of RR Brigadier R Chakraborty stated, “It is a major success as their moving freely and preparing a video, in which they were playing with snow, appeared that they were challenging us.” The Commander urged the rest of the militants of the group to join mainstream. “I urge rest of the three militants to surrender and join mainstream”, he said. He further said that they were all A category militants with one each being A++ and A+. “They are part of a six member militant group that recently appeared in a video playing in snow. We ensured that there is no collateral damage during the encounter”, he added.

A man allegedly trying to sneak into the Nagrota Army camp in Jammu District was shot and injured before being arrested. “During last night, an unidentified man was found moving suspiciously near the fence of the Nagrota Army camp along the banks of river Tawi,” a Defence spokesman said.

JKP has turned into an important force in fighting militancy and modernization of the force has become imperative to enhance capacity of the force, stated DGP, Dr. S. P. Vaid in the meeting of the 16th CCTNS Empowered Committee for implementation of CCTNS Project held at PHQ in Jammu District. In order to make the department high-tech, we are focussing on high security capacity building in future. Special focus is given on technical up-gradation to enhance the capabilities of the force in order to commensurate with the modern requirements, he added.

SFs arrested three militants of MULTA, identified as Zehrul Islam (36), Joved Ali (36) and Ajit Ali (30), from Nayekgaon area of Kokrajhar District. Seven rifles were recovered from the arrested militants. According to Police, the three were involved in extortion and arms dealing on behalf of the militant group.  

PDCK, a Karbi militant formation, repeated its earlier ‘final ultimatum’ to the Hindi and Bengali speaking inhabitants of Karbi Anglong Autonomous District to leave the District before March 31, 2017. This has led to a panic situation among the two communities. PDCK along with two other groups - KLO and NLFT on January 2 had asked the two communities to quit ‘Kamatapur’, Tripura and ‘Karbi Longri’ within March 31. The outfits have further warned that after the dateline both the communities would have to face ‘the gravest of the grave’ situation. 

SFs arrested one NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Pushpo Basumatary alias B Fighter, from Daiphang Gaon area in Udalguri District. One AK series assault rifle, one magazine and ten live rounds were recovered from the possession of the arrested militant.

The Karbi Anglong based UCF, local Christian leaders’ forum denied the allegations of possible links between the churches and militant leader IK Songbijit to create violence in the region. UCF expressed its concern over these allegations which it states were first expressed by a person named Ranjit over a talk show aired by an Assamese channel on December 7, 2016. In a memorandum submitted to Karbi Anglong DC in Diphu, UCF stated, “It is nothing but an attempt to marginalize the tribal people of Karbi Anglong and ultimately drive them out from the hill District like what they have done in Tripura”. UCF also alleged that certain organization was working to destabilize the tribal region and forcing into conflict.

Abductors released three traders, identified as Tamal Dey (38), Dulan Mahanta (36) and Durga Pada Dutta (35), from their captivity at an unidentified place near Telekali Reserve Forest close to Rongrikkimgre village in South Garo Hills District. The trio was abducted by a group of criminals linked to Bangladesh from a place near Gasuapara in South Garo Hills District on January 10. The role of the militant group ASAK also came to the fore as reports emerged about the abductors seeking the help of ‘c-in-c’ Reding T. Sangma to aid in the negotiation for ransom with an assurance of a share of the loot. The families of the abducted people paid a ransom of INR 25,000.

Extortion activities, which had been on the wane since the announcement of demonetisation, have resumed once again in the Garo Hills Districts, albeit with the activities confined mainly to the coal belt areas for now. “There were stories going around about people being kidnapped by militants not for extortion but for depositing their old notes. It did happen in many interior areas of South and North Garo Hills, where militants pressurized villagers to deposit their old notes,” said a highly placed Police source. Some businessmen too of these two Districts may have been pressured to deposit old notes by the outfits.

Police recovered thirty gelatin sticks and twenty-four fuses from one abandoned labour camp at Mynpher under Nongkhlieh area in Jaintia Hills District.

AR arrested one NSCN-K militant from Manyaksho village in Mon District. AR also recovered one pistol and three rounds from the arrested militant. 

January 18

UHM Rajnath Singh made an appeal to Nagaland CM TR Zeliang to try to convince the Naga leaders in Manipur to call off their economic blockade and come to some sort of understanding with the Manipur Government. UHM Rajnath Singh called Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang to New Delhi to discuss the matter. In the meeting, Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh and Deputy CM Gaikhangam were also present.

Pakistan's ISI operatives in Nepal had offered a flat and a luxury vehicle besides huge cash to each member of the group that was assigned to plant explosives to derail the Indore-Rajendranagar Express near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh in November, 2016, Police sources said. The revelations came to the fore during interrogation of Moti Paswan, who was arrested from East Champaran District of Bihar, close to the India-Nepal border, on January 16. The arrest was in connection with the abortive attempt to blow up the railway tracks near Ghorasahan in East Champaran, 200km north of Patna, to derail the Raxaul-Sitamarhi passenger train on October 1, 2016.

Moti, one of the three accused arrested in the case, had, according to the Police, revealed to his interrogators that two pressure cooker bombs were planted on the railway tracks at the behest of an India operative of the ISI, who had introduced himself as Brajesh Giri. He was offered INR 3,00,000 for carrying out the blast on the tracks on October 1, 2016. He was accompanied by Arun Ram, also called Mohan, and Deepak Ram, known as Sohan, who were subsequently killed in Nepal for their failure to accomplish the task.

Moti was in constant touch with Brajesh alias Giri Baba, who was assigned to hire people from East Champaran to carry out subversive activities in India at the behest of ISI, the Pakistani spy agency.

Police said that during interrogation, Moti revealed that Giri had promised to provide sufficient funds to the group to make investments in Bhojpuri movies. Giri, who acquired citizenship of Nepal, was introduced to the ISI operatives in Nepal by one Shamshul Hoda, who settled in Dubai for business purposes. Paswan stated, "I left for Nepal after the derailment of the train near Kanpur on November 20 last year. I, along with other members of the group, was supposed to get a house in Delhi where two operatives - Mohammad Zubair and Ziaul - were already settled".

Two women and a minor girl were killed while four others were injured when an IED, planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres, exploded in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.

Maoists killed Raju Netam (40), sarpanch of Masenar village, at his native place under Bhansi Police Station area in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.

A CoBRA jawan and a Naxal were injured during an encounter in Jharamunigiya village forests under Bhairamgarh Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Constable Rajnish Kumar, belonging to CoBRA 204thbattalion, sustained injury in his leg after he inadvertently stepped over spike-trap laid by the Naxalites, during the face-off. After the encounter, the SFs found and arrested an injured Naxalite, identified as Dasu Banjam, who had been hit by a bullet.

CMAS, a CPI-Maoist front organization, leader Nachika Linga’s nomination for Zilla Parishad member in the upcoming Panchayat elections was rejected during scrutiny in Koraput District of Odisha. Linga, currently lodged in Koraput Circle Jail after his arrest in 2014, had sent his nomination paper for Narayanpatna zilla parishad member to the DRO through his counsel Gupteswar Panigrahi.

SFs arrested Arzoo Bashir, a militant of HM, from Tral area in Pulwama District. Sources said that the SFs conducted an operation in Tral area during which they arrested the HM militant who was active in the area and one pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession.

The AR arrested 13 militants of NSCN-IM along Mon-Tizit road in Mon District along with arms. Four AK-56 rifles, two HK-32 rifles, one MA-MK 4 rifles, four pistols and a huge quantity of live ammunition apart from other warlike stores were recovered from the arrested militants. PRO, AR, IGAR-N also informed that the militants were arrested while they were travelling in two Maruti gypsies on Mon-Tizit road.

The NIA conducted search operations at various Government offices in Nagaland that are believed to be funding underground terrorist organisations, including the NSCN-K. Earlier, one militant of NSCN-K identified as S. Khetoshe Sumi, who was arrested on July 31, 2016, revealed that different Government departments of the State pays illegal ‘tax’ to the militant groups. The NIA took over the investigation on August 17, 2016. 

Police arrested three militants, during a series of search operations, from different locations across the State. The arrested militants belonged to UNLF, NSCN-K and NSCN-IM. Besides the militants, 58 other suspected persons were also detained and arms were recovered during the operations. These operations were conducted in Andro Kharam Leikai and Andro Bazar area in Imphal East District, Mahakabui Namching village in Senapati District, Dharmasala in Imphal West District, Kakching town in Kakching District and its surrounding areas, Pallel in Chandel District and Tuismi Bazar areas, and Kwakta in Bishnupur District. This drive was launched in order to foil any unwanted incident ahead of the Republic Day celebration (26th January).

UHM Rajnath Singh and CM of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh met and discussed the situation in Manipur due to the continued blockade of two NHs in the State by UNC. During the meeting, the UHM expressed grave concern over the prevailing situation especially with regard to availability of essential commodities.UHM Rajnath Singh further stated that the ongoing blockade is likely to adversely affect democratic process in the forthcoming elections by hampering movement of people, including election officials.

In a statement, NSCN-IM asserted that the ‘historic Framework Agreement’ on August 3 of 2015 after 19 years long ‘political negotiation’ with GoI would be outside the Constitution and Union of India recognizing every aspects of ‘Naga’s legitimate rights’ without compromising the principles.

The ‘c-in-c’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup, Khoirom Ranjit alias Rocky alias Great Macha (35) will be taken back to Delhi on January 18 (today) for further investigation. Khoirom Ranjit was brought back to Manipur on January 13 after he was arrested by a special cell of Delhi Police from Mayur Vihar area of New Delhi on January 12.

SFs arrested one linkman of NSCN-K militant, identified as Aham Konyak in Sivasagar District. SFs recovered one pistol, two live bullets and a mobile phone with SIM card of Nagaland from the arrestee.

The NIA arrested one ULFA-I militant identified as ‘second lieutenant’ Gagan Hazarika alias Joydeep Cheleng from Guwahati in Kamrup Metropolitan (Guwahati) District. He was arrested in connection with a case the NIA had registered against ULFA-I in 2013. Sources in NIA said, "He has been taken into custody for six days. His arrest is likely to throw light on the activities of senior ULFA leaders like ‘chairman’ Mukul Hazarika and ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Baruah."

UHM Rajnath Singh made an appeal to Nagaland CM TR Zeliang to try to convince the Naga leaders in Manipur to call off their economic blockade and come to some sort of understanding with the Manipur Government. UHM Rajnath Singh called Nagaland CM TR Zeliang to New Delhi to discuss the matter. In the meeting, Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh and Deputy CM Gaikhangam were also present.

January 19

Saudi Arabia deported a man, identified as Syed Zaker Raheem wanted in connection with a conspiracy to target leaders of BJP and other Hindu right wing outfits.  Raheem is brother-in-law of wanted LeT terrorist Farhatuallah Ghori, who is learnt to be holed up in Pakistan. Syed Zaker Raheem, who comes from Saidabad in Hyderabad and was living in Riyadh for many years, was arrested by Saudi authorities in May 2016 on the request of Indian authorities. After completing formalities, he was deported to Delhi and taken to Hyderabad on January 20 where Telangana Police arrested him.

Ghori is an absconding accused in an NIA case in connection with LeT’s recruitment of several youth in Karnataka and Telangana in 2010-11 to execute terror attacks and assassinate right-wing leaders. NIA had arrested several youngsters in the case. Thirteen of them were convicted by a court in September, 2016 after they pleaded guilty to the charges.

A man, identified as Sukhdas Baghel was killed by Naxals at a shop located opposite Chintagufa Police Station in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. 

A SF constable, Santosh Markam, was injured in an exchange of fire with Naxals at Kodenar village under Orchha Police Station in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. SFs were out on a counter-insurgency operation when they spotted a CPI-Maoist camp in Kodenar. Sensing SFs presence Naxals opened indiscriminate fire.

Six Naxals, three of them carrying cash reward, surrendered in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered citing intensified counter-insurgency operation as well as impressive State surrender and rehabilitation policy. Sukhder alias Jangu Potai (26) ‘section commander’ of Military Company Number 6 of CPI-Maoist, Somaru- a Janmilitia ‘commander’ and Samlu- head of ‘Janatana Sarkar’ a wing of the CPI-Maoist were the key cadres who surrendered. Other CPI-Maoist cadres were identified as Budharu, Kodu and Ramu.

Around 15-20 armed rebels of the PLFI, a splinter group of a CPI-Maoist, set ablaze vehicles at the construction site near Latrtu Dam in Khunti District of Jharkhand. The rebels set ablaze one dumper, two tractors, two bikes and two generator sets.

An ‘area commander’ of the PLFI, identified as Ruben Kerketta and a CPI-Maoist operative Ladu Munda surrendered in Khunti District of Jharkhand. Kerketta was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 and Munda was carrying a reward of INR 50,000 on their head.

Khunti SP, Shwini Jha held a meeting at his office in Khunti District of Jharkhand to plan out a strategy to monitor the rising activities of CPI-Maoist cadres and its splinter groups in Khunti, Simdega, Gumla and other Districts of Jharkhand.

A LeT militant was killed in an encounter with SFs in Bandipora District. Acting on specific intelligence inputs that there might be militants hiding in Parray Mohalla in the Hajin area, SFs launched a search operation in the village. As the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militant opened fire on them. In the ensuing encounter, the LeT militant Abu Musaib was killed and a SOG soldier was also injured in the brief encounter, Police said.

One unidentified civilian got killed in the crossfire between GNLA and Police in the remote Rongsu Agal area in South Garo Hills District. According to the report, GNLA militants opened fire on the Police team which had reached the spot after receiving information about the hideout which was used by GNLA ‘c-in-c’ Sohan D Shira. Police recovered a shotgun and several live rounds of AK ammunition from the militant hideout. 

A GNLA linkman, identified as Tengman D Shira (25), was arrested by Police in Thapa Darengchi village in North Garo Hills District. Police recovered one 7.65 mm pistol with three rounds (Chinese make), 9 mm pistol with eight rounds (factory made), one Chinese pistol with 18 rounds and four magazines from the arrested linkman.

SFs arrested one GNLA linkman identified as Thengman Sangma (25) from Thapa Agitchak village in North Garo Hills District. Three pistols and 25 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the arrestee. 

The State Police said that they had beefed up security measures in the entire state to prevent any kind of terrorist activities in the upcoming Republic Day celebration (26th January). Assam is also closely coordinating with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in an effort to curb militant attacks in the run-up to Republic Day. DGP of Assam, Mukesh Sahay, has been touring Upper Assam, along with representatives from the two states, since January 18 to review the security scenario.

SFs arrested three arms dealer including two women from two different places of Churachandpur District along with arms. In the first incident SFs arrested two women identified as Esther Haokip and Chongboi Haokip in Churachandpur Town. Five pistols were recovered from their possession. Based on their disclosure, another arms dealer identified as Gumlalmun was also arrested at Loklaiphai village along with one pistol and a magazine.

The militant group, ASUK, in a statement, threatened the 68th Republic Day celebration (26th January) in North East. In the statement, the militant grouped ‘banned’ the 68th Republic Day celebration in the entire WESEA.

A city court in New Delhi extended by five days the Police custody of Khoirom Ranjit, the arrested ‘chief’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup militant, after Delhi Police said he was needed further custodial interrogation.

In a statement, the NSCN-IM called upon all Naga groups to come together on a ‘single platform’ before the announcement of the peace settlement with the Central Government of India. The peace process started with a ceasefire agreement with NSCN-IM in 1997 and a final peace settlement had started gaining momentum after the Central Government of India signed the ''framework agreement'' in August, 2015.

January 20

ED issued summons to Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and his IRF under the PMLA. The Union Government had declared the IRF as an “outlawed organisation” under the anti-terror law for its alleged terror activities, following which the Maharashtra Government said it would keep a close eye on locals and organisations funding the IRF and would be treated as “anti-social elements”.  However, the IRF said it would be arguing before a Central government tribunal against the validity of the ban imposed on it and invoking of the UAPA.

PM Narendra Modi, UHM Rajnath Singh and BJP President Amit Shah, face threat from CPI-Maoist cadres, stated top intelligence sources. CPI-Maoist cadres have urged the leadership to target them during their campaign for Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. They have further suggest to carry out serial IED blasts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh by deploying 'suitable cadres' from outside, while promising to provide assistance to carrying out the task.

A CPI-Maoist cadre demanded an extortion of INR 1 million from BDO, Satish Kumar, of Jhajha in Jamui District of Bihar. The sender in the letter identified himself as Umesh Yadav, and claimed himself a native of Jhajha Police Station area. BDO lodged an FIR at Jhajha Police Station.

A ‘Haat-Bazaar’ was re-opened with the joint initiative of SFs and Netanar village in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. The rural ‘haats’ were facing closure due to Naxal violence in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh for a decade. Netanar’s sarpanch, Sahadev Naag told, “We always wanted to restart the market here but fearing Naxal violence, which breaks out at any time in the area, local traders and villagers avoided it.” It is important to note that in 2011, six SFs, including Darbha Police SHO, were killed in an ambush of with the CPI-Maoist cadres at the place which is very close to where the weekly market is being held.

SFs recovered 50 Kilograms of IED below a small bridge in the rural road of Gomia Block in Bokaro District of Jharkhand. SFs launched a search operation at Chitu, Bankheta, Banchatra, Barokocha and Bhochukdiha villages within the limits of Gomia Police Station area.  DIG, Saket Kumar Singh said the raids would continue in Jhumra. He added,”The recovered IED was diffused later. Frequent recovery of landmines and explosives in that area helps Police foil the attempts of the CPI-Maoist cadres who were looking for triggering any untoward incident there “said Singh.

The United States of America sought a safe and secure environment for its nationals visiting Odisha in view of the rampant CPI-Maoist cadre’s activities. The issue was raised by Consul General Katherine B Hadda at the US Consulate in Hyderabad when she met Odisha’s DGP K B Singh.

A pressure bomb, believed to have been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres, was found inside the Pasaraganda Forest under Adaba Police limits in Gajapati District of Odisha. A bomb squad from Paralakhemundi reached the site and defused the explosive. The squad also seized 50 Kilograms gelatine, a tiffin bomb, 40 metres of wire and gunpowder from the spot.

Odisha DGP, K B Singh reviews Maoist situation in Malkangiri District of Odisha. DGP was on a visit to the District to review security arrangements in view of the call given by the Naxals to boycott elections. The DGP first visited BSF camp at MV-3. Later he visited the BSF camps at Jodamba and Badapada in the cut-off area.

Maoists put up fresh posters at several places in Malkangiri and Koraput Districts of Odisha and have called for poll boycott.

Rizwana Begam, a surrendered CPI-Maoist, who was accused in a case registered in Yapaladinni Police Station, was produced before II Additional Judicial Magistrate Court in Raichur District of Karnataka. “She surrendered before the Chikkamagaluru police three months ago and was produced in the court here in connection with the pending case,” Chetan Singh Rathore, SP, said.

PM Narendra Modi, UHM Rajnath Singh and BJP President Amit Shah, face threat from CPI-Maoist cadres, stated top intelligence sources. CPI-Maoist cadres have urged the leadership to target them during their campaign for Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. They have further suggest to carry out serial IED blasts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh by deploying 'suitable cadres' from outside, while promising to provide assistance to carrying out the task.

Militants hurled a grenade on a Police party in Narbal area in Budgam District. The grenade exploded on the road causing minor damage to a Police vehicle. Police and Army launched an operation and laid a naka at Narbal crossing on National Highway against the militants responsible for the grenade blast.

The security agencies defused an old live shell which was recovered from a pond at Kharote village in Kathua District. A Police spokesman said that a villager noticed a shell lying in the marshy pond and informed Police and the Army and it was defused by the security agencies.

SFs arrested one militant of UNLF, identified as Thiyam Nungshithoi alias Lokhon alias Buno alias Saphaba Meitei (34) from Keishampat Keisham Leikai in Imphal West District. SFs said that Nungshithoi was a KYKL cadre till 2002 before he joined the UNLF together with six others in 2003.

NIA probe into institutionalized extortion rackets run by Naga militant groups in Nagaland has revealed that these militant formations were getting money allegedly from 14 State Government Departments. The news report names the Naga militant groups involved as the NSCN-K, NSCN-IM and NNC.

Sources said these Government Departments include the Directorate of Information Technology, Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation, Directorate of Irrigation, Directorate of Rural Development, Directorate of Urban Development, PWD, Roads and Buildings and Directorate of Information and Public Relations. “We have found documents that show that at least 14 Government Departments made regular payments to Naga groups, including NSCN-IM,” an NIA officer said. “We have seized receipts that show payments of INR 2 crore. Further investigation is on.”

The civilian victim of the crossfire that took place between GNLA militant and Police remote Rongsu Agal area in South Garo Hills District on January 19 was identified as Kerok R Marak (23) by the villagers.

Locals caught two KPLT militants at Pubsilputa village under Bakaliaghat Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. According to information, two KPLT cadres were on a bid to extortion drive and reached at SGB Jagnarayan Singh house for extorting money from him. In the mean time the villagers got the information and caught them and handed over them to Bakaliaghat Police. The arrested KPLT cadres have been identified as Rabindra Tokbi (23) and Jiten Phangcho (24).

January 21

12 of the 52 arrested in India over the past two years for links with Islamic State (IS) terror group are from Maharashtra. The terror organisation has become a major concern for security agencies as out of the 64 suspected terrorists arrested by the NIA in all terror-related cases in the past two years, 52 of them have been arrested for their role in IS.

Two cadres of the PLFI, identified as Fagua Singh and Turtan Guria, were arrested at Bano in Simdega District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of a CPI-Maoist.

CPI-Maoist threat forced the SEC to postpone the rural polls in Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri District of Odisha. The SEC announced it based on a report jointly submitted by the District Collector and SP. The report said that adequate security personnel could not be deployed for safety and security of poll personnel in the cut off areas. "The law and order situation in the block is not satisfactory according to a report filed by the district administration. So, we have decided to postpone the elections in Chitrakonda block," said SEC secretary R N Sahu. The block with heavy Maoist presence has total 222 wards, 18 each gram panchayats and samitis and two zilla parishad zones. Fearing Maoist attack, not a single nomination was filed for the posts of sarpanchs and ward members in the nine panchayats inside the cut-off areas.

Life was affected in several parts of Srinagar, as authorities imposed restrictions amid shutdown to thwart protests called by separatists on the 27th anniversary of Gaw Kadal killings. Over 50 persons were killed on this day of 1990 when security forces opened fire at Gaw Kadal on a procession. To mark the anniversary, the separatists had called for a shutdown and protests. In view of the separatists call, a complete shutdown was observed in Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Gaw Kadal, Maisuma, Amira Kadal, Jehangir Chowk, Basant Bagh and Habba Kadal markets.

Seven organizations jointly called for a 12-hour bandh (strike) in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Districts, on January 24, from 5 a.m. in protest against their unfulfilled demands including a separate electoral roll by the KAAC election and strengthening of Karbi Customary Laws. The seven organizations include UKSA, KSYA, Karbi Farmers Association (Rajesh Tisso faction), NNKRAA, and PP, KARAA and Sixth Schedule Implementation-Committee.

SFs arrested four unidentified cadres of NSCN-IM from Khongshang area on Imphal-Jiribam road in Noney District. SFs also recovered 40 gelatin explosive sticks, 58 detonators, 26 metres of cordtex detonating fuse and 18 air guns from the arrested militants.

In a statement, the UNC called a boycott of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations (26th January).

January 22

Ranchi Police arrested Yamuna Prasad a member of PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, at Bero Block in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. Prasad was a close aide of PLFI chief Dinesh Gope. A Policeman told, “On several occasions, Yamuna had accommodated Gope's black money in different bank accounts and channelised the cash by investing in business ventures."

Palamu Police arrested Chhotan Yadav a CPI-Maoist cadre in Mohammadganj near Bheem Barrage at Kadal in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. Chhotan Yadav used to perform varied works for Ajay Yadav (a top CPI-Maoist leader) like moving in his dasta, writing Maoists Parchha poster and literature and IEDs. Yadav has three cases and the cases are in two Police Stations, Pandu and Mohammadganj.

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has commuted death sentences of four cadres of the MCC, now known as the CPI-Maoist, to life imprisonment setting aside a recommendation from the MHA. The Four men identified as Krishna Mochi, Nanhe Lal Mochi, Bir Kuer Paswan and Dharmendra Singh were convicted of killing 34 upper-caste Bhumihars in Bihar 25 years ago.

SFs cordoned off Fatehgarh Sheeri area in Baramulla District, after inputs about presence of militants in the area. Reports said that around 30 people were detained for questioning and majority of them have been let off. However, a Police official said that few of them who are OGWs are being questioned.

Two AR personnel were killed and several others injured when suspected militants attacked an AR vehicle escorting tourists in Tinsukia District. Militants lobbed several grenades targeting the vehicle at Jagun 12th Mile Barabasti on NH-315 bordering the District in the run up to Republic Day, a defence spokesman said. The AR vehicle and three vehicles of tourists returning from the Pangsau festival have been damaged in grenade explosions, the spokesman added. The Pangsau Festival is held along the Indo-Myanmar border in the area.

SFs killed two unidentified militants involved in the ambush which claimed the lives of two AR troopers at 12th Mile Barabasti along NH-315 near Jagun village in Tinsukia District. Defence PRO, Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton, said that bodies of two militants had been recovered along with five IEDs, two grenades, a G3 rifle, a pistol and fired cases of nine lathode. The ambush was jointly claimed by militant conglomerates namely UNLFW and CorCom under ‘Operation Barak’.

SFs arrested three militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Dakaru Mushahary, Kapilau Basunatary and Birjay Mushahary from Taisoguri under Runikhata Police Station in Chirang District. A 7.65 mm pistol, two magazines, a country made pistol, two grenades and four round ammunitions were recovered from the arrested militants.

Unidentified assailants attacked the ‘chairman’, Seipu Singsit, of militant group UTLA, at Tollen village in Churachandpur District. The militant leader sustained injuries during the attack. Presently, UTLA is under SoO agreements with Union and State Government.

Four unidentified civilians were abducted by suspected ASAK militant, from Kolapara village near Sibbari in South Garo Hills District. According to Police, six armed cadre of suspected ASAK militant waylaid a truck and a bus and abducted the two drivers and two helpers at gunpoint.

The UAE pledged its full support to India in combating terrorism, as it aims at boosting bilateral defence and security ties and signing a strategic cooperation agreement during the three-day visit to India of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, beginning on January 24. UAE Ambassador Ahmad Al Banna said, “We support Indian government in its efforts to fight terrorism and extremism all over the world". Asserting that his country was among the first to condemn the terror strike on Indian airbase in Pathankot, Al Banna said the UAE had also supported the surgical strikes carried out by India. “When the bombing of the airbase took place, we were the first one to condemn it. The UAE was among the first countries which supported Indian surgical strikes and we support India’s efforts to fight and respond to attacks terrorists and extremists,” he said.

The UAE ambassador also said the national security advisers of the UAE and India have been holding consultations regularly. Asked about the role UAE, which is seen as a “key interlocutor” by India, could play in conveying Indian concerns to Pakistan over terrorism emanating from there, Al Banna said: “We listen to them (Indian authorities). We coordinate with them and will be more than willing whenever we are asked by the Indian side to assist or interfere or take any action for betterment of our relationship”.

January 21

SFs arrested one KCP militant identified as Sanjenbam Chandramani Singh alias Boynao alias Eyamba at Sawombung in Imphal East District. Incriminating articles were recovered from the arrested militants.

January 22

During combing operation by the SFs, an IED exploded at Wara Basti area of Tinsukia District. The report further states that militants had placed landmines in the approach road to Wara Basti, the site of January 22 ambush, slowing the approach of SFs.

Thakur Das Mahto (35), a contractor for Brajesh Construction Company, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Ramgarh District of Jharkhand. His body, riddled with bullets and the throat slit, was found dumped on Rajrappa-Murpa Road. Local residents protested at Gola Police Station. The pamphlets were found near the body say that Mahto was killed because he was a ‘Police informer’.

SFs arrested four cadres of the PLFI from Karra in Khunti District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

January 23

In a joint statement, the CorCom, GNLA, HNLC and the ULFA-I called for a ‘total shut down’ in the entire North East India on Indian Republic day (26th January), reports The Sangai Express on January 24. In the joint statement issued by the militant groups asserted that the ‘Western South East Asia (WESEA)’ should ‘collectively boycott’ the Indian Republic Day on January 26, 2017.

Three live IED were recovered by the SFs from Wara Basti area of Tinsukia District where the January 22 ambush claimed the lives of two AR troopers and two unidentified militants.

According to a source in State Police, arrested former Chairman of the APSC, Rakesh Paul had been funding ULFA-I and GNLA militant in the last few years. According to the source he paid nearly INR 1 crore to each of the militant groups in the last few years.

Four militant groups, including NDFB-IKS, KLO, PDCK and NLFT, in a joint statement, called 24 hours ‘total shut down’ on the Republic Day of India (26th January) in the entire North East India. They asked the people of ‘WESEA’ to ‘boycott’ the Republic Day celebration in their statement. 

SFs intensified their combing operations in the border areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and busted a militant hideout at Samru area in the State. SFs intensification of operations follows the militant attack at Jagun in Tinsukia District of Assam on January 22.

Security officials said that Indo-Myanmar border has been placed at a state of alert based on specific intelligence inputs about the militants exfiltrating into Myanmar to escape the ongoing operations by SFs. "The stretch of the border from pillar number 168 to border pillar number 173 - from Pangsau Pass to Tirap River - has been put on high alert," a source said.

SFs arrested two PLA militants, identified as Angom Arunkumar alias Chinglen (62) and Khundrakpam Suresh alias Mocha (47) from Wangkhei Thangjam Leikai and Palace Compound Thangapat Mapal respectively in Imphal East District in two separate incidents. Three mobiles phones were recovered from them. SFs sources said that they were involved in several extortion cases.

Police detained six bailed out militants from different places in Thoubal District. Out of six, four belongs to PLA militant and two belongs to UNLF.

The proposed tripartite talk between Manipur Government, Centre and UNC scheduled on January 23 was postponed indefinitely. Further, Manipur Government had agreed to UNC’s demand to shift the venue of the proposed talks from Imphal to New Delhi. UNC had demanded that the venue for the talks should be held in either New Delhi or in ‘Naga dominated area’.

AR arrested one NSCN-K militant, identified as ‘lieutenant’ Yantril Sangtam from Longkhim Town in Tuensang District. An IED with a detonator, a reserve detonator and one .22 pistol with four live rounds were recovered from the arrested militant.

In a statement, NSCN-K said that it would boycott India’s Republic day celebration on January 26 in ‘all over Naga inhabited areas’.

In a joint statement, the CorCom, GNLA, HNLC and the ULFA-I called for a ‘total shut down’ in the entire North East India on Indian Republic day (26th January). In the joint statement issued by the militant groups asserted that the ‘WESEA’ should ‘collectively boycott’ the Indian Republic Day on January 26, 2017.

A senior State Home Department official said that the Mizoram Government had decided to go ahead with the physical repatriation of Brus from six relief camps in neighbouring North Tripura District scheduled to commence from the second week of February. The State Government officials who conducted the identification in the Tripura relief camps during November two to November 23, 2016, had identified 32,857 people belonging to 5,413 families for physical repatriation.

The SFs killed two CPI-Maoist cadres in an encounter near Padmetta village under Bedre Police Station in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. “Two bodies of Maoists in uniform have been recovered along with one .303 service rifle, one .315 rifle and one Bharmar in Bijapur district after an encounter. The encounter took place in the forest near Padmetta village under the Bedre police station limits,” said Bijapur District SP K.L. Dhruv.

Ranjan Bala and his son Indrajit Bala (17) were injured in an IED blast triggered by the Naxals on an under-construction road in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place near Malempalli village under Jagargunda Police Station limits while the victims were on way to Dornapal in their motorcycle.

CPI-Maoist cadres set on fire at least 15 vehicles and equipment deployed for road construction works in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. A road is being constructed between Tarlaguda and Annaram. A combing operation is underway to trace the insurgents.

Activist Bela Bhatia was allegedly asked to vacate her house in Pandripani village in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh by the villagers who held a protest outside it accusing her of being a ‘CPI-Maoist sympathiser’. In a complaint to Police, villagers alleged Bhatia had named herself as “Somari Naag or Bela Somari” (to use tribal identity) which they feel is an insult to tribal masses, told SP, RN Dash.

Hundreds of villagers of Malkangiri District of Odisha gathered in an anti-CPI-Maoist rally in Jagdalpur, administrative headquarters of Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, in the bordering region of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and raised voice against the ‘torture’ by the Maoists. The Jana Varjan Samabesh/Prajameli was attended by inhabitants of at least 15 villages in the region. “In the absence of security forces and DVF, Maoists enter some remote villages and start torturing the villagers. Sometime they even rob the villagers their belongings,” said a villager. “If security is tightened in these Maoist-prone areas, then they will not dare to enter these places to trouble the innocent villagers,” stated another villager. Meanwhile Police said it will analyse the situation and take proper step. “Attending a large gathering here (Jagdalpur), the villagers of Tulsi, Mahupadar, Dundipadar and Kirmiti (Odisha) allege that a lady along with some other Maoists is torturing them. We have intensified anti-Maoist operation and deployed some forces in those regions. Very soon we will neutralize the Red Rebels who are active in the area”, said Bastar (Chhattisgarh) SP, RN Dash.

West Singhbhum District Police of Jharkhand has constituted a committee to probe the alleged death of CPI-Maoist Politburo member Prashant Bose alias Kisan da in Saranda forest on the Jharkhand-Odisha border.

The tribal rights activists met DC, ASR Naik, and demanded probe into exploitation of two women by C-60 Commandos in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The delegation comprising Sainu Gota, Ramdas Jarate and others also claimed in their representation to the Collector that Police had been harassing tribals protesting mining projects across the District. The C-60 Commandos comprise of 60 Police personnel to contain the Naxal menace and was constituted in the year 1992. They are imparted trainings in various types of guerrilla warfare.

The Army in a joint operation with JKP busted a suspected militant hideout and seized a huge cache of arms, ammunition and war-like stores in the Hilnar area of Chhatru tehsil in Kishtwar District. The team came upon a suspicious natural cave, whereupon, on further probing and digging, forces recovered one AK-47, one Pistol with Magazine (Chinese), one UBGL, seven Grenades of UBGL, two Chinese Hand Grenades, three AK-47 Magazines, 428 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 and two Kenwood Radio Sets (Transistor TH 28A 144MH).

January 24

Ahead of the Republic Day parade on January 26, security in Delhi and NCR, particularly at Rajpath, has been increased, as an intelligence note says that "Pakistan-based groups are trying to use Afghan identities to enter India and that some of them have fraudulently acquired Afghan passports". Pakistan's ISI is trying to create tensions between India and Afghanistan, said sources. RAW has received inputs that ISI plans to recruit Pakistan-Afghani nationals and then send them to India to orchestrate a terror attack. Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in the National Capital, intelligence and security forces have conducted a fresh recce of sensitive areas. Specific inputs were received on outfits including HM, LeT, IM and AQIS hatching a plot to simultaneously launch terror attacks in various parts of the country.

A person wanted in a case of trafficking of FICN has been arrested by NIA officials from Malda area in Malda District. Mohammed Ashraful, was wanted in a case registered initially by Kerala Police pertaining to the seizure of high quality FICN having face value of INR 67,000 from migrant labourers hailing from West Bengal.

Driver of an oil tanker was injured when suspected NSCN-IM militants attacked a convoy of loaded trucks at Awangkhul under Noney Police Station in Noney District. The driver was identified as Elangbam Birjit Singh (38) resident of Wangbal Mayai Leikai of Thoubal District. According to reports, 373 loaded Tata trucks were coming towards Imphal from Jiribam with CRPF escort on account of the ongoing economic blockade.

Police arrested one linkman of NDFB militant, identified as Chabin Boro (28) from Bagrikhuti village under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa District. According to the Police, he was involved in several extortion cases in the name of NDFB.

Paresh Baruah, the ‘c-in-c’ of the ULFA-I militant, made a statement threatening the theater owners of the State accusing discrimination against a regional film. The director of the film Himanghshu Prasad Das made an appeal in an open letter to the militant leader on Facebook after several theatre owners decided to remove his movie- ‘Shakira Ahibo Bakultolor Bihuloi’ on January 25. In response to his letter, the militant leader threatened the theatre owners to continue regional films instead of Hindi movies.

The CPI-Maoist cadres triggered an IED blast in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The blast took place when SFs were patrolling between Timmapur and Murdanda. A sniffer dog, named ‘Pluto’ died in the blast.

CM Raman Singh assured the IAF authorities at Raipur District of Chhattisgarh that the Chhattisgarh Government would provide all possible assistance in conducting the ‘Indian Air Force Recruitment Rally' in insurgency-infested Districts of the State. The CM held a detailed discussion with Air Vice-Marshal O.P. Tiwari, VSM, at his official residence. Notably, the Bastar Battalion of CRPF is also being raised by recruiting 744 ST youths from four insurgency infested Districts of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, the Central Government has informed.

Two cadres of the PLF, Manish Dahenga alias Rejan Dahenga and a minor boy were arrested on the outskirts of Khunti District of Jharkhand. Police also seized INR 48,000 in cash and seven mobile phones from the duo. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A Patna Police team stumbled upon a diary in Beur Central Jail in Patna District of Bihar, which has names of people who paid levy to jailed CPI-Maoist leader Ajay Kandu. Kandu, the alleged mastermind behind the November 2005 Jehanabad jail break, is in the Beur jail that was raided by a Police team headed by Patna SSP, Manu Maharaj. Acting on a tip-off, the SSP with a SDPO and officials from the District administration reached the jail around 2.50am and conducted the raid. The Police also seized six mobile phones, four chargers, a few packets of marijuana, four knives, packets of khaini and earphones during the search.

The Central leadership of CPI-Maoist had warned their comrades operating the tri-junction area in South India against launching attacks on Police from Kozhikode District of Kerala. The leadership thought such an action would be detrimental for the organisation in the current stage of the movement. This was revealed in a letter suspected to be written by a Central Committee or politburo member of the party, which was recovered from the camp inside the Nilambur forest after the Police firing on November 24, 2016. The central leadership of the Maoists felt that the strategy in the tri-junction area should have been devised, based on the experiences of four-and-a-half decades history of revolutionary war in India. But they believe that the comrades in zonal committee were instead inspired by the People's war in Peru and Nepal.

SFs launched a search operation against a group of militants in Ganderbal District. They said 5 RR and SOG of J&K launched a joint operation at Handoora village in Ganderbal following a tip-off about the presence of militants.

Two top militants of the LeT outfit were killed in a gun battle on the outskirts of Srinagar in Ganderbal District. Following a tip off about the presence of militants in Hadoora, Shuhama area in Ganderbal District, Police from Srinagar and Ganderbal along with 5-RR and CRPF cordoned off the area and launched the search operation. “The hiding militants opened fire on joint search party which was retaliated, triggering an encounter during which two militants of LeT were killed. Two AK-47 rifles, one grenade, six magazines and 180 rounds of AK ammunition were recovered from the encounter site”, SSP, Ganderbal, Imtiaz Ismail Parray, said. The two LeT militants have been identified as Qari Hanzullah and Anas Bilal and both of them were residents of Pakistan. They were associates of top LeT ‘commander’ Abu Hurraira who is operating from Dachigam area in the outskirts of Srinagar for last several years. They were operating in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts since January 22, 2013 and had recently started coordinating with HM.

SFs averted a major tragedy after they detected and defused an IED on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad National Highway in Baramulla District. Sources said that on receiving specific input of planting of IED at Srinagar- Muzaffarabad national highway a joint operation by 53 Bn of the CRPF, SOG Baramulla, was launched and an IED of around 10 kilograms was recovered.

A Policeman was injured as militants hurled a grenade at a Police party at Haal Pulwama and fired at them. Police had established a naka at Haal when militants attacked them. Massive operations have been launched in the area against the militants.

Army and BSF foiled two major infiltration attempts, along the LoC and IB killing a top Pakistani militant and arrested another while three other infiltrators managed to escape back to PoK following effective retaliatory firing brought down by the troops. Official sources stated that the troops observed movement of a group of four militants along LoC in Dadal Maneka area of Sunderbani sector in Rajouri District when they were trying to infiltrate into the Indian Territory along with a consignment of heavy arms, ammunition and explosive material. Immediately after the gunfight, troops conducted searches along LoC in Sunderbani sector and recovered the body of the slain militant who was believed to be a top Pakistani militant.

The BSF thwarted another infiltration attempt along the IB in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura tehsil in Jammu District when they captured a Pakistani national alive soon after he entered into the Indian Territory. The captured person reportedly disclosed his identity as Mohammad Ahmad (35), son of Mohammad Aneef, a resident of Kot Din Dhan in Sialkot District of Pakistan. He was carrying some currency with him when he was captured.

January 25

Police recovered four crude bombs from Bongaigaon District. SP (Bongaigaon) Hridayjit Barman said the bombs were found hidden under a haystack at Bhoralkundi village, about 5 kilometres from Jogighopa Police Station. He said the search was conducted based on intelligence inputs. The bombs were packed inside polythene bags and it is suspected that militants may have kept them there to carry out blasts on Republic Day (January 26).

SFs arrested one PLA militant, identified as Kh Kiran (25) from Kaiphundai village in Tamenglong District.

MBDPF, the umbrella organisation of Bru refugees lodged in six relief camps in North Tripura, made it clear that they would stick to their long-standing ‘13-point demands’ and wrote a letter to UHM Rajnath Singh regarding the issue on January 24. The MBDPF, in its letter to Singh, sought his intervention on the issue of the Bru repatriation and reconsider the present package of the repatriation. Further, the Bru organisation alleged that the Mizoram Government’s Bru repatriation programme was not realistic and practical. The present stand of MBDPF may create hurdle to the Mizoram Government’s decision to start Bru repatriation from second week of February of this year (2017).

A CISF trooper suffered minor injuries after he was shot with arrow by CPI-Maoist cadres, in an iron ore mines area of NMDC in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The incident happened when a CISF patrolling team ran into a group of lower-rung ultras who were putting up pamphlets against Republic Day celebrations. On spotting the CISF troopers, CPI-Maoist cadres shot an arrow and escaped into the forests.

The Police arrested a CPI–Maoist cadre and his associate while receiving "levy" of INR 10,000 from a private company staff near Indrapuri Barrage in Rohtas District of Bihar. SDPO, Mohammad Anwar Javed Ansari said that the two arrested had been identified as Arun Kumar alias Birbal and Dhiraj Kumar. Arun Kumar is an accused in a murder case in Aurangabad District of Bihar.

Two militia members the CPI–Maoist surrendered before Paderu Sub-Division, DSP, M Mahendra in Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. The surrendered have been identified as V Nageswara Rao and K Bhagwan Rao (35). The duo was vexed with the stringent rules being followed by the dalam and they wanted to return to the social mainstream.

The ‘most wanted’ CPI–Maoist leader Ranjit Pal (45) laid down his arms and surrendered before of the STF of Kolkata Police at Kolkata District of West Bengal. Pal surrendered before State DGO Surajit Kar Purakayastha and Kolkata Commissioner of Police, Rajiv Kumar along with his wife Jharna alias Anita also a top CPI-Maoist leader along the Bengal-Jharkhand border mostly in Purulia District. Pal surrendered with a SLR. Pal said, “I am surrendering before Kolkata Police STF and beginning a new life and appeal those who are wrong path to join the main stream.” He added, in past 17 years he had realised that taking up arms was not a solution to people’s problems and the issues had been sorted out in Bengal to a large extent.

Unidentified militants opened fire at a Police picket at Gofabal in Kulgam District. Police returned the fire, forcing the militants to flee from the place. No casualties were reported in the incident.

SFs detected an IED planted by militants at Batamaloo area in Srinagar District. The IED was later safely defused.

January 26

All total seven bombs were exploded by ULFA-I militant, during the day of celebration of India’s Republic Day (January 26) in different places of Sivasagar, Charideo, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh Districts. However no casualties were reported. According to the Police sources low intensity IED were used in the blasts. According to the sources, in Sibsagar District the blast took place in Majpani area and in Tinsukia District two blasts took place at Sisimi village and Sukan pukhuri area. While, in Charaideo District bomb exploded in Angera, Lengeribor and Bihubor area and in Dibrugarh District one explosion took place in Chowkidinghee area.

ULFA-I militant, claimed responsibility for the seven bomb blasts that took place in Assam on the Republic Day of India (January 26), terming it as ‘symbolic protest’.

Two low intensity explosions were triggered at Mantripukhri and Singjamei Chingamakha area in Imphal West District. No casualty due to these explosions was reported. No group has taken responsibility of the blasts so far.

Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Das Tandon said a wave of security and development coupled with the faith of people in Bastar region signals that Naxalism will come to an end soon in the State. Tandon was speaking at the 68th Republic Day function held at the Police Line grounds in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. He also added that demonetization has not only supported the country in fight against terror forces but also helped in controlling CPI –Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh.

 CM, Raghubar Das in his Republic Day address said, innocent tribals were being misled by vested interests, in Naxal affected Dumka District of Jharkhand. He also pointed out that Jharkhand Government has allotted a separate budget for development of SC and ST, and 2 per cent reservation in State and District level vacancies, a Police battalion and 18 health centres for particularly vulnerable tribal groups in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Police will initiate proceedings to seek custody of CPI –Maoist leader Ranjit Pal who, along with his wife, surrendered before West Bengal Police. Pal, a member of the Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa border committee of CPI-Maoist, is wanted in the murder of JMM leader and then East Singhbhum in Jharkhand, MP, Sunil Mahato in 2007.

A cordon and search operation was launched by the SFs in Pulwama town in Pulwama District, after an explosion, believed to be grenade thrown by militants, occurred near local Police Station without causing any damage. However, no one was arrested during the search operation.

SFs conducted search and cordon operations at Hassanwadi and Badibagh villages in Pulwama, after receiving inputs about the presence of militants.  During the searches, locals came out of their houses and pelted stones on forces and hampered the search operations. Police fired teargas shells and chased away the stone-pelting mobs. The search operations were later called off.

January 27

The NIA arrested two people, identified as Abdul Rashid Abdulla and Yasmeen Mohammad Zahid from Kochi (Kerala) in connection with the criminal conspiracy hatched within and outside India, with the intention of furthering the objectives of the IS and for joining and supporting the organization. Accused Abdul Rashid, resident of Kasaragod District and Yasmeen Mohammad Zahid, resident of Sitamarhi District, Bihar were booked under sections 120-B and 125 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides sections 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

The NIA probe has established that accused Abdul Rashid was the main conspirator behind the offence of motivating youth, hailing from Kasaragod District to exit from India along with their families, to join the terrorist organisation.

India and UAE issued a joint statement through which both the countries committed to work together to counter radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred and perpetrating acts of terrorism. UAE's Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also declared that ‘strong condemnation of and resolute opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever committed and by whomever, and declared that there could be no justification for terrorism anywhere.’

Without naming Pakistan, the statement also states ‘The two sides condemned efforts, including by States, to use religion to justify, sustain and sponsor terrorism against other countries. They further deplored efforts by countries to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and pointed out the responsibility of all States to control the activities of the so-called 'non-State actors'. With this joint statement, India enhances diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to take firm action against terror activities conducting on its land.

The State Congress spokesperson Khumukcham Joykishan said that the Manipur Government had given final touches to the proposal of declaring the UNC as an unlawful organisation and it would be forwarded to the Central Government.

The Prakasam District Police unearthed huge cache of arms and ammunition in the Nallamala Forest near Palutla village in Yerragondapalem mandal in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh. SFs observed a few electrical wires popped out from earth. After digging at the place, they found 79 rounds of SLR, 31 rounds of .303 rifle, 17 rounds of 0.500 rifle, and three barrels of double barrel guns, two barrels of single barrel guns, two double trigger tapanchas and one charger in the dump. The Police suspect that the CPI-Maoist cadres made the dump around 2003, after inspection of the contents.

A Naxal was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in a dense patch of forest under Fulbagdi Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. SFs have recovered the body of a male Maoist, clad in uniform, along with a .303 rifle and some other items of daily use from the spot.

CPI-Maoist cadres dislodged a 1,000-year-old 4-feet long Ganesha idol and felled it from a height of about 12,000 feet into the deep gorge at Dholkal Mountain in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The Police blamed the Maoists for “deliberately planned to let (sic)” the structure of Ganesha idol fall from the mountain top in an “attempt to destroy” it.

Khunti District Police of Jharkhand arrested two contractors, identified as Dinesh Kumar Nag and Khuleshwar Gope, for having financial ties with PLFI, Chief Dinesh Gope and assisting the group's terror activities in Khunti District, reports Times of India. According to Police, PLFI funded INR 8.5 millions in six construction projects of Nag and Gope and were supposed to receive 50% of the total profits in return. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

Simdega Police airdropped pamphlets and posters with names and bounty on top functionaries of the PLFI cadres hiding in remote areas of Simdega District of Jharkhand. The pamphlets carried names of PLFI’s top commanders, including its supremo, Dinesh Gope, who carries a bounty of INR 2.5 millions on his head.

The RPF of Bangalore Railway Division arrested a Naxal, in connection to derail the Chalukya Express on December last year in Tamil Nadu, at Bengaluru District of Karnataka. The Naxal has now been handed over to the Q branch of the Tamil Nadu Police. He has confessed to being part of a Naxal outfit based in Kerala.

A Police source said that in the Republic Day (January 26) serial blast, the ULFA-I militant used local people for planting bombs instead of their regular militant cadres. The Police source also claimed that they had already identified some of these people.

January 28

Three persons were arrested for allegedly running a FICN racket in Delhi, and INR 1.8 million in the form of counterfeit INR 2000 notes was recovered from their possession. Accused Azad Singh (36), Manoj (37) and Sunil (27) were arrested by a team of Special Cell from Singhola village in Narela Tehsil (revenue unit) of North West Delhi District in Delhi, said DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.

SF arrested one NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Rahul Daimari (26) alias Mulungsa alias D Riwiriwa from Khoirabari area in Udalguri District. One 7.65mm pistol, 5 rounds of live ammunition and two magazines were also recovered from the arrested militant.

Osman Ali alias Raja (40), who has been serving as courier man for CPI-Maoist, surrendered in front of SP, Rahul Dev Sharma in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. Osman Ali, is a native of Korukonda village under Chintapalli mandal, Visakhapatnam Agency, and is running a grocery shop in the village. The police said that Ali had served as Maoist courier between Maoist leader Krishna and others and he had supplied groceries and a few others to the Left Wing Extremists, for the last few years.

CRPF jawan was killed in an explosion of a pressure bomb allegedly planted by CPI-Maoist cadres near Kottacheru village under Bhejji Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The deceased, Havaldar Parasnath Saroj, was posted with the 219th battalion of CRPF, senior Police officials said. “A road construction work was going on in the area and a CRPF team was patrolling when Saroj accidentally stepped on the pressure bomb and suffered serious injuries,” the Police officials said. Later, he succumbed to his injuries.

The Police recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunitions from a Naxal hideout in Latehar District of Jharkhand. A SLR, three made in America semi-automatic rifle, two country-made rifles and at least 81 live cartridges were among the arms and ammunitions that were recovered. The Police are probing the matter and have not arrested any person in this regard so far.

January 29

ISI operative Mehmood Akhtar's statement to interrogators in Delhi that many people from Bhopal had handed over sensitive documents to him, has left intelligence officials in Madhya Pradesh worried. Now efforts are on to identify Akthar's 'agents' in Bhopal, said sources in the intelligence wing. There are inputs that Akhtar had visited Bhopal thrice in the last few years.

Two workers out of three, who were abducted on January 26, by a group of suspected KNF-N militant, were killed in an alleged gunfight between the militant group and KNA militants at Moulsohoi village under Litan Police Station in Ukhrul District. The two deceased workers were identified as Laishram Tompok (27) and Laishram Thoi (22). However, the third abducted worker, identified as Khumujam Bijen (25) was rescued by the villagers. One suspected abductor, identified as Thangminlun Khongsai (25) also got bullet injury in the incident. According to the report, the injured abductor is a member of UTLA and one pistol was recovered from his possession. The three workers were abducted from Maphou dam project in Senapati District on January 26, by four suspected Kuki militants. The abductors were attacked by KNA cadres when they entered the Moulsohoi village, which according to KNA militants ‘fall under the jurisdiction’ of their designated camp. However, another source said that the abductors were not from any militant group and they were just a gang of criminals. 

A bomb was recovered, by SFs, which was planted by unidentified assailant at the residence of a worker at Khabam Bamdiar under Nambol Police Station in Bishnupur District.

Two UTLA militants identified as Robert Thangboi Kipgen and Thensei Singsit, who were involved in the attack of the ‘chairman’ of UTLA on January 22, were arrested by Police from K Lhangnom village in Churachandpur District. According to the Police the arrested militants belong to a rival faction of the UTLA. 

AR arrested two persons, identified as Vizoto Angami, (40) and Supi Chaya Angami (35) from Medziphema Town in Dimapur District along with arms. According to the AR, one of the arrestees, Vizoto Angami is a member of NSCN-IM. AR recovered one .22 mm Pistol and 339 bottles of IMFL from their possession. 

Two Naxals including a woman were killed in an encounter with the SFs in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The gun battle took place in Purangel forest which comes under Kirandul Police Station limits. SFs recovered a rifle, a revolver and a huge cache of medicines. IG, S.R.P. Kalluri said, “The identity of the rebels is being ascertained. Prima facie, it appears that they belong to the medical supply team of the outlawed CPI-Maoist as a large quantity of medicines was seized from the encounter spot.”

195 lower rung Naxals, including 24 women, surrendered in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. The surrendered Naxals expressed a wish to join the mainstream. The cadres belong to Janmilitia or Janatana Sarkar wing of CPI-Maoist. The surrendered cadres were from 24 villages of the region including Gumiyabeda, Okpaad, Mohndi, Nelnaar, Ikpaad, Murnaar, Nirameta and Kodkanaar.

The Central Government of India has sanctioned INR 6.57 billion for implementation of road projects in CPI-Maoist affected areas of Koraput and Malkangiri District of Odisha. The State Government of Odisha had submitted the road project proposals under RRP-II which was approved by the UMRD. UMRD also cleared road plans having a length of 5412 Kilometers including 126 bridges in eight other Naxal affected States. The State projects include Kalimela-Gomphakonda-Bejingiwada-Orkel, Khairiput- Mathili, Mathili-Kaliaguda, Podia-Sikhapali, Kudumuluguma-Katameta, MV-76-Vejangiwada and several other roads in Malkangiri District of Odisha.

The BSF is overhauling its deployments in Malda District of West Bengal, ill-reputed as the national hub for FICN notes and illegal narcotics smuggling. The overhaul move has been initiated following a caution sent by the UMHA to the West Bengal home department that Indo- Bangladesh border sector in Malda District of West Bengal, is increasingly becoming a corridor for movement of cross- border terrorists.

According to the BSF Commandant, deputed in the Malda sector, A K Hotker, the border guard force is involving the local residents in the Indo-Bangladesh border villages in the Malda sector in getting information about outsiders frequenting these bordering villages.  

According to sources from the border guard agency of the Union government, four major steps are being taken as a part of the agency’s overhauling exercise in the Malda sector.

The BSF foiled attempts by a group of African nationals to illegally enter India from Bangladesh through the Muharichar border in Belonia in South Tripura. A mobile phone and some personal belongings were seized from him. However, rest of the accomplices managed to flee from the place.

January 30

Three girls from the Philippines and Tunisia, who were alleged to be IS sympathisers, were given money by a Dubai-based Indian supporter, Mohammed Farhan Shaikh of the terror outfit on the instructions of a Pakistani national, the NIA has said. The agency has claimed that Shaikh, who was arrested in 2016 along with two others after being deported from the UAE for alleged IS links, had funded these girls, after money was given to him in Dubai by one Khalid, who is alleged to be from Pakistan.

NIA has alleged that Shaikh, who was in Dubai in 2015, had transferred 3894.24 UAED to a Tunisian girl, Sarra Ghribi, who wanted to join IS, in seven installments through the global payment service, Western Union, between February 5, 2015 and April 24, 2015. NIA has claimed that Shaikh had transferred 1257.63 UAED and 846.75 UAED to Jannah Qassim and Johaira L Macasimpang, residents of Philippines, on June 24, 2015.

In his disclosure statement recorded by NIA which has been annexed in the charge sheet, Shaikh has claimed that in January 2015, he got in touch with Ghribi through Facebook. She was a "supporter and sympathiser" of IS.

The State Government decided to withhold counter insurgency operations by the SFs against the KPLT till April 20 this year. The KPLT declared unilateral ceasefire for a period of six months with effect from October 20, 2016 till April 20, 2017, which they communicated through a letter signed by the militant group’s ‘general secretary’ Vojaru Hanjang.

SFs arrested two HNLC militants, identified as Samuel Wahlang Pahsyntiew (30) and Hebingstun Khongbuh (18) from Shillong in East Khasi Hills District. Police said that both are new cadres of HNLC, but Samuel Wahlang Pahsyntiew was trained in Bangladesh camp of the militant group.

Three abducted persons from West Garo Hill District, identified as Muzamil Haque, Biswajit Neogi alias Bappi and Mohammad Rouf Asraf Ayub, were released by the abductors of ASAK militant in the Ramchenga jungles near Dumnikura in South Garo Hills District.

Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, in a public meeting at Bhairamgarh in Naxals hit Bijapur District in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh, urged all CPI-Maoist cadres to give up the arms and join the mainstream, saying violence and terror cannot solve any problem. "Peace and harmony are the only ways to prosper and develop the society. If Maoists quit the violent path, we are ready to embrace them", CM Singh said. "Government is building roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, providing clean drinking water and taking care of people. I wonder why the Maoists are opposing development initiatives in the region," he added.

Sanjay Pandey, a ‘munshi’ with Raj Kumar Constructions, was beheaded for not paying extortion money to the Naxals in Jamui District of Bihar. Jamui Police claimed to have recovered the CPI-Maoist literature from the scene of the crime. One such leaflet said those executing Government plans with the help of Police, and without obtaining CPI-Maoist permission, would meet similar fate.

Khunti Police arrested three cadres of the PLFI at Birsa Chowk in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist. The identity of the arrestees is yet to be ascertained.

SPs from six Districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha led by two DIGs held a meeting at Koraput District of Odisha. They gathered to plan joint operations and eliminate the CPI-Maoist from the border areas. According to sources, all the SPs and DIGs came to the conclusion that coordination, cooperation and sharing of information should be done at regular intervals. They also chalked out plans to penetrate the interior pockets of the tribal belt to reach out to the public with community policing programmes.

SFs busted a hideout of unidentified militant and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition at Tranz area in Shopian District. SFs recovered one SLR, which was snatched by militants from guard at Samnoo Kulgam in October last year (2016), two magazines of SLR, 37 SLR rounds, two RPG, one grenade, 503 AK rounds, one AK magazine, one ammunition pouch, one solar charger, one charger pin and a small black pouch containing medicines from the militant hideout.

Over 200 persons were killed in unrests in 2008, 2010 and 2016 in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Government told Legislative Assembly. CM Mehbooba Mufti, in a written reply, told the House that 76 civilians and two Police personnel were killed in “law and order disturbances” in the Valley in 2016. In 2010, 101 persons were killed and 4,288 others, including SFs, injured, she said. Mehbooba said 46 persons were killed and 1,265 others, including SFs, were injured in 2008. In 2016, as many as 8,587 persons were arrested, out of which 8,473 have been released till January 21, the Chief Minister informed. In addition, 522 persons were booked under the J&K PSA, and 265 persons among 1,978 booked in the recent unrest, were still under detention as on January 21, she stated. Further, Mehbooba said as many as 133 buildings, including Police Stations and schools, were damaged or set ablaze during the “law and order disturbances” in the Valley last year and 213 persons were arrested in this connection. She said 2,655 cases have been registered in various police stations across Kashmir since July 8 last year.

January 31

SFs arrested two women cadres of the UNLF militant, identified as Huidrom Chingkheinganbi Chanu (22) and Oinam Chanchan alias Jayenti alias Langlen (22) from Laipham Khunou under Heingang Police Station in Imphal West District.

Two unidentified civilians were killed when Police open fired to control a highly agitated mass in Dimapur town in Dimapur District. Five civilians were also injured in the firing. While seven other agitated civilians were injure in Longleng District by Police firing.

SFs recovered arms and ammunition dumped by CPI-Maoist cadres from Dangrapahar of Ghatshila in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. SSP, Anoop T. Mathew told that a joint team of SFs conducted search in four dumping areas and recovered a SLR, one 303 rifle, both looted from SFs, an improvised Musket along with 50 rounds of live ammunition, electronic items and explosives for preparing IED, CPI-Maoist flags and literature, multi-circuit meter, uniforms and daily core items. A book titled “Mamata Bandopadhyay ke Jemon Dekhechi” authored by one Deepak Kumar Ghosh was also recovered.

SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist action team members and a newly recruited member in Hanamkonda District of Telangana. The arrested were identified as T Devender alias Rama Rao of Sudhanapalli in Hasanparthy Mandal, Bhukya Srinivas alias P Srinu of Ponugodu of Gudur Mandal and Ch Narayana Swamy of Sriramulapalli of Kamalapur Mandal. The newly recruited member has been identified as Lingala Vennela alias Dhannu of Paidipalli in Hasanparthy Mandal. A case under sections 10, 13, 18(B) of UAP Act 1967, section 25 (1-B) (9) of Arms Act 1959, section 5 of ES Act 1908, section 8 of TSPS (APPS) Act was booked against them at KCU Police Station.

Four persons were injured after SFs fired to disperse protesters in Samboora village of Pampore area in Pulwama District. An Army party conducted a search operation in the Samboora village of Pampore area and people started stone pelting on them and they fired injuring four persons.

SFs cordoned off Heff Shermal area of Shopian District and launched searches. However, as the searches were underway, locals came out of their houses pelted stones on SFs. Police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse the locals hampering the operation. Later the search operation was called off.

Pakistan army again resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing on forward Indian posts and villages in Shahpur sector of Poonch District. Official sources said Pakistani troops started shelling forward areas in Shahpur at 9 pm, prompting the Indian side to retaliate. Heavy exchange of shelling and firing continued, however, there were no reports of any casualties or damage on the Indian side. Sources said Pakistan army was trying to push a group of militants into the Indian side from the LoC. The shelling was aimed at facilitating the infiltration attempt, they added.

January 31-February 1

Police arrested three militants belonging to ASAK along with one cadre of the GNLA at South Garo Hills District. The ASAK militants, who were arrested in between January 31-February 1, were identified as Sahid Ch Marak (26), Lamingstone Ch Sangma (29) and Jainish R Marak (29).The GNLA militant, who was arrested from Gare Nawak village, near Nangalbibra was identified as Herod R Marak (32).

February 1

Ten posters and five painted messages highlighting IS were found in Solan town of Himachal Pradesh. Police interrogated about 20 persons suspected to be involved in the case. Their handwriting samples were also taken and will be compared with the writing on the posters. It was interesting to note that spray paint had been used while writing the IS on various buildings of the Subathu cantonment board while no private building had been targeted.

SFs recovered a bomb from a paddy field at Uyokching in Kakching District.

Unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at Indian Army’s 2nd JKLI troopers, who were on ROP duty, injuring a JKLI personnel at Nachou along Tiddim Road under Bishnupur Police Station in Bishnupur District. The injured personnel identified as Mohammad Arshad has been taken to Leimakhong military hospital (Kangpokpi District).

A GNLA militant, identified as ‘deputy commander’ and working with the ‘finance wing’ Ninja M. Sangma alias Megam (23), surrendered before the Police at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills District. He, however, did not deposit any weapons. Sangma has informed Police that the finance unit comprised seven cadres prior to his surrender and has now been further reduced to five men after another member disappeared a few weeks ago apparently to form his own group.

At least eight Police personnel were killed and five others injured in a landmine explosion suspected to have been triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres near Mungarbhumi on Sunki ghat in Koraput District of Odisha. The van carrying 13 Police personnel was on its way to Angul. They were going to the Police Training College, Angul to get special Police driving training when the Maoists blasted them off at around 2 pm. The number of deaths of Police personnel in the Maoists’ Sunki landmine explosion rose to eight with the body of lone missing driver Tulasi Ram Majhi found this morning (February 2), informed Koraput SP, Charan Singh Meena. Seven Police personnel died and five others sustained injuries yesterday (February 1) as the landmine planted underground at Sunki ghati in Koraput District on AOB exploded. Tulasi Ram was missing, he said. The identities of the slain personnel are Somnath Sisa, Sanjay Kumar Das, Arun Kumar Nayak, Subarna Kumar Raj, Pradipta Kumar Rout, Ganesh Prasad Das, Harekrushna Prushti and Tulasi Ram Majhi.   

The CPI-Maoist cadres exploded a crude bomb in the Amrapali Open Cast Project of CCL under Tandwa Police Station of Chatra District of Jharkhand. Three personnel have been reported to be injured in the blast. Police have recovered hand-written pamphlets which talks about stopping work in Amrapali and its adjacent mine, Magadh. The newly raised SISF will be deployed at the CCL's Amrapali coal project.

The CRPF personnel of 26th Battalion distributed a solar light system at Daribagh Tola in Gomia Block of Naxals affected Bokaro District of Jharkhand.

The CPI-Maoist cadres attacked the camp office of Ramie Construction Company and set ablaze a mixer machine and a roller near Barachatti town in Gaya District of Bihar. Locals said the Maoists had earlier demanded ‘levy’ from Ramie Construction Company, engaged in various road construction projects near Barachatti.

Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, stressed for high level of alertness and vigil along the LoC and to foil the nefarious designs of militants and their masters across. While interacting with the troops and the Commanders at 19 Division headquarters in Baramulla and 28 Mountain Division in Kupwara, General Rawat stressed for alertness along the LoC to foil the infiltration attempts from across. He stressed for terminating infiltration attempts right on the LoC so that peace is restored in Jammu and Kashmir.

February 2

Assam Police registered a suo moto case of sedition against the filmmaker, Himangshu Prasad Das, who had openly sought help from ‘leader’ of the ULFA-I, Paresh Barua, to ask film distributors not to take his film ( Shakira Ahibo Bokultolor Bihuloi ) off screens to make way for the Hindi movies 'Raees' and 'Kaabil' last week. Police said that it was a very serious crime and they were waiting for an individual or organisation to file a FIR, but when that did not happen, they chose to take up the suo moto case.

UNC ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and ‘publicity secretary’ S Stephen was escorted to New Delhi in order to enable them to take part in the tripartite talk scheduled on February 3.

Meghalaya DGP S.B. Singh said that the ‘c-in-c’ of the disbanded militant group- UALA, Norrok X. Momin, was not traceable and probably he was on the run since there were criminal cases pending against him. UALA was disbanded on June, 2016. Earlier in December 2015, the UALA signed a peace pact with the Indian Government. 

The senior leader of the GNLA militant, Ninja M Sangma (23) alias Megam, who surrendered on February 1, revealed that there were only 27 cadres left in the militant group. Furthermore, he revealed that besides these cadres, there were also five other cadres of ULFA-I militant who were still working with ‘c-in-c’ of GNLA, Sohan D Shira.

Acting on inputs, Police raided the house of  Raimond Lyngdoh (30) at Kudeng Rim village under Amlarem in West Jaintia Hills District and recovered one country-made gun, pellets, one steel pipe [apparently for manufacturing the gun barrel]. Police also arrested the house owner.

Angry Protestors, who were not, satisfied with State Government’s response the ‘ultimatum’, served by NTAC, set ablaze several Government offices. The damaged Government property includes, the KMC, Regional Transport Office, offices of the SSA, Superintendent Excise Office, Nagaland Legal Service Authority and the Kohima Press Club.

The State Government responded by declaring the ULB poll process ‘null and void’, and informing that the State Cabinet has decided to ‘immediately transfer’ the DCP and DCP Zone (1), Dimapur, in order to facilitate an impartial inquiry. 

The JCC informed that the indefinite bandh (general strike) in Dimapur District over the issues of ULB would continue ‘until and unless the State Government heed to the people’s demands’.

One Munna Singh alias Munna Ganjhu and his friend Murari Sharma were killed by unidentified men in Kunda area of Chatra District of Jharkhand. Police suspect hand of TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a ward member candidate of Bara village under the Mathili Police limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The deceased was identified as Dasu Dharua. According to reports, about 20 armed Maoist rebels of the Darbha Division of the banned outfit CPI-Maoist called Dharua out of his house before being shot dead them later. Police sources said the Maoists were aggrieved over Dhurua, suspecting his links with Police. Dhurua’s brother, who was part of a Maoist outfit, recently shunned the path of violence and surrendered before the Police, much to the chagrin of the Maoists

Posters and pamphlets by the CPI-Maoist cadres threatening to disrupt the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly polls emerged near Dhari area in Nainital District of Uttarakhand. An official's vehicle was also set on fire, prompting the administration to put Kumaon Division on high alert and step up deployment in the region. The car belongs to a Tehsildar Magistrate and the pamphlet bore the name of Vijay Pahru who introduced himself as Secretary CPI-Maoist. The Uttarakhand Assembly polls are slated to be held on February 15, 2017.

SFs detected and defused an IED on the Srinagar-Jammu NH in Pampore area in Pulwama District. A patrol party of Police detected the IED planted by terrorists between Kadlabal and Chursoo section of the NH and later the bomb disposal squad destroyed the explosive.

The BSF foiled a major infiltration attempt by the militants on the IB in Samba sector of Samba District, in which the SF personnel had a very narrow escape in three UBG thrown by the militants on them in a bid to enter into this side. According to the sources, the grenade attacks and firing by the militants was to be followed by the infiltration attempt. However, finding the BSF troops on very high alert on the IB, the militants retreated to Pakistan.

Pakistan army resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing on forward Indian posts and villages in Baba Khori area of Nowshera sector along the LoC in Rajouri District. Sources said Pakistani troops started shelling forward areas in Baba Khori area of Nowshera at 6.20 pm, prompting the Indian side to retaliate. Heavy exchange of shelling and firing continued for about half an hour. However, there were no reports of any casualties or damage on the Indian side so far.

February 3

UHM Rajnath Singh stated that Government cannot guarantee that surgical strikes won’t happen in future as any such action will depend on the situation prevailing at that time. UHM Rajnath Singh also dismissed as “a mere eye wash” the house arrest of LeT ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed, saying if Pakistan was serious about acting against Saeed and terrorists, it must take legal action against them.

The MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju expressed hope that work on installing 'smart fence' along 3,323-kilometre long the Indo-Pak border will begin soon. The testing for the fence is in final stages and soon work for erecting it along the Indo-Pak border will begin, MoS Kiren Rijiju said in New Delhi. The new fencing is likely to have a multi-tier security ring comprising an alarm to security force personnel in case of any infiltration bid or attempts to cut the fence.

An unidentified militant belonging to the NSCN-K was killed and another injured during an exchange of fire with the AR at Ozakho village in Longding District.

AR arrested a militant of NSCN-R, identified as Kamsing Ngemu, from Miao town in Changlang District. According to the sources the arrested militant was involved in several extortion cases in Miao town in the name of ‘SS Captain Jimmy’.

SFs arrested one cadre of KNF-N militant, identified as Thomas Lenminthang Guite (27), near Kopibung area in Senapati District. According to the report the militant was involved in several abduction and extortion cases. Incriminating articles related with the militant group were also recovered from the arrested militant.    

The Union Government stated that it had brokered a peace deal between the Manipur Government and UNC and three-month-old economic blockade would be ended by the Naga groups in Manipur very soon. The statement came after the tripartite talks between the UNC, Manipur Government and UHM in the North Block in New Delhi. The UHM said that they had made ‘substantial progress’, but denied to reveal detail about the meeting.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to NSCN-IM, identified as ’chapel’ Thijuangpau Panmei, from Tamenglong town (ward no 5 area) in Tamenglong District. SFs later ‘handed over’ the arrested NSCN-IM militant to Imphal Police Station.

SFs arrested a linkman of the ULFA-I, identified as Bubul Das alias Bubul Barman, at Sarupathar in Golaghat District. According to Police sources, the ULFA-I had appointed some persons for abduction and extortion and the arrested linkman was one of them.   

In a statement, the PDCK militant strongly opposed the move of the Government of India to give citizenship rights to the Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam and said that the organization would resist the move.

The NTAC, Kohima, evening announced an indefinite Nagaland bandh (general shut down) till CM T.R. Zeliang steps down with his cabinet. The stand-off between the State Government and civil society groups continues after the Government’s decision to hold the ULB on February 1 by reserving 33 per cent seats for women. Zeliang had partially met three demands of the NTAC. NTAC had wanted the polls declared null and void, suspension of the Dimapur Police Commissioner and Zeliang's resignation. Further, leaders of the JCC, which is also against reservation, also said in Dimapur that the protest would continue.

However, no fresh incident of violence was reported in the State. “The situation is under control. No violent incidents were reported from anywhere,” said Director General of Police LL Doungel, adding that curfew was lifted from some places in Kohima but continued in Dimapur. The dead bodies of two youths, killed during the Police firing on January 31, were also buried after a meeting between NTAC and the State Governor.

A group of 50 CPI-Maoist cadres killed Shyamo Mandavi (25) and assaulted six villagers, including a woman in Burdikarka of Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The slain youth had submitted an application form for local Police recruitment drive recently. 

Assistant constable, Sukhuram Netam (33), was killed in an exchange of fire with the Maoists in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh. A patrolling party had launched the operation from Bakarkatta area. SFs recovered CPI-Maoist-related documents, bags and other items from the encounter site.

The DG of CRPF, Durga Prasad, reviewed the ground situation, military preparedness and issues faced by SFs in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. According to officials, Durga Prasad also shared his plan with the top officials of neighbouring states and apprised them about the strategy. With the inter-state operations, the CRPF can now enter other states and continue their anti-Maoist operations without any barriers.

The Nainital Police issued warrants against nine suspects in connection with "inflammatory" slogans written by suspected of CPI-Maoist cadres on the walls of houses in a village of Nainital District of Uttarakhand. Police have also announced a bounty of INR 10,000 on one of the suspects Kheench Singh Bora. Police said Bora alias Vijay Nehru alias Prabhakar, a resident of Someshwar in Almora District of Uttarakhand, had been active in Naxals related activities in the State. Nainital SSP, Janmejay Khanduri said, "Intense search and combing operations are going on. All suspects are on our watch and we will soon locate people who were behind the incident."

The Madras High Court has confirmed life imprisonment for three belonging to TNLA. They were involved in a groups attack at the Puthur Police Station in Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu on April 6, 1991. TNLA is the armed wing of TNCPML, a splinter group of the CPI-ML. The HC bench has now confirmed life term only for Suba Elavarasan alias Pandian alias Vallavan, Kumar alias Gopalsamy and Amulraj alias Selvam.

Police and paramilitary CRPF recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during a search operation in Ganderbal District. A joint party of Police and 118 BN (Battalion) CRPF busted a militant hideout in Fraw area of Gund tehsil of the District. SFs recovered two AK 47 magazines, 32 rounds, a 5-kilograms gas cylinder and few biscuit packets were recovered during the operation.

SFs arrested a LeT militant from Nowpora Payeen village of Lassipora in Pulwama District. Police said that based upon specific input, SFs including Police and Army’s 55 RR launched a cordon and search operation at Nowpora area of the District, during which a local militant identified as Manzoor Ahmad was arrested, along with one pistol, two pistol rounds, 36 AK rounds, one Chinese grenade, two pistol magazines, one pouch and first aid kit, from the possession of the arrested militant. During the cordon and search operation, locals came out of their houses and pelted stone on Police and Army. Police fired several teargas shells on protesters and also resorted to aerial firing to break up the stone pelting protest. However, no protester was injured in the clashes and later the cordon was lifted by forces.

AR arrested two senior leaders and a suspected militant of the UDLA at inter-State boundary of Assam and Mizoram. The arrested militants were identified as UDLA's ‘army chief’ Raj Kumar Reang, ‘financial secretary’ Neta Rai Reang and the suspected cadre Mela Rai Reang. The arrested militants were handed over to the Assam Police as they were arrested within the jurisdiction of Assam.

February 4

India has been asked to send the name of its nominee for inclusion in a global team to assist a UN committee which decides on banning terror outfits and their leaders. Following the request, the ministries of Home Affairs and Finance have been asked to recommend names of suitable individuals who can be part of the key team, official sources said.

The presence of the country's nominee on the panel may facilitate the government's efforts to get Masood Azhar, head of JeM, banned, they said. India's effort to get Azhar listed in the UN's sanctions list of organisations and individuals linked to Al-Qaida and IS (Islamic State) has been repeatedly blocked by China. The nominations have been sought from qualified individuals to serve on the 'Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team' in support of the important '1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee'.

In some declassified reports of CIA of the United States of America, it was revealed that the North Eastern militant groups had been receiving Chinese assistance in terms of arms and training since 1960s. The CIA report was submitted on July 26, 1968 and from the report it is evident that the militant groups of the Northeast were receiving help from China even during that time. The report said that the Naga militants first established contacts with China in December, 1966. The report revealed that the first batch of approximately 200 militants crossed over to Northern Burma (now Myanmar) to obtain arms training in Yunnan.

Police said that the ‘chief’ of the ASAK militant, Reding T. Sangma, who is currently on the run, is reportedly using Bangladeshi mobile SIM cards to avoid detection. According to the Police the militant leader is also using other modern software which is easily available in the market to avoid Police tracking.

In some declassified reports of CIA of the United States of America, it was revealed that the North Eastern militant groups had been receiving Chinese assistance in terms of arms and training since 1960s. The CIA report was submitted on July 26, 1968 and from the report it is evident that the militant groups of the Northeast were receiving help from China even during that time. The report said that the Naga militants first established contacts with China in December, 1966. The report revealed that the first batch of approximately 200 militants crossed over to Northern Burma (now Myanmar) to obtain arms training in Yunnan.

A senior official of the State Home department of Mizoram said that the date for the fourth round of peace talks between the Mizoram Government and the Manipur based HPC-D would soon be fixed. The official said that the meeting of Home department officials to be chaired by Additional Secretary Lalbiakzama. While from the HPC-D side, the delegation would be led by the working ‘chairman’ L T Hmar.

According to the security sources, Assam is a vulnerable place in the North East for the increasing Jihadi threat. Potential risk according to the sources includes existence of sleeper cells in the State. The source also said that in recent promotional videos, jihadi groups mentioned about the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in BTAD area for several times. Sources also pointed out that growing presence of the jihadi elements in Bangladesh like JMB, which has affiliation with Islamic State is also a serious matter of concern for India, particularly for the Northeast.

Several CPI-Maoist posters bearing the signature of CPI-Maoist Secretary Umakanta Mishra were found at several places in Sikarpai of Kalyansinghpur area in Rayagada District of Odisha. In the posters, the Maoist rebels have asked people to abstain from the panchayat polls. Earlier, the Maoists had put posters in Malkangiri and Koraput Districts threatening people to boycott the upcoming panchayat polls in Odisha.

The landmine blast on Sunki ghat road in Koraput District of Odisha on February 1, and killing of a ward member in Mathili block in Malkangiri District on February 2, by CPI-Maoist cadres is part of a series of attacks planned by Naxals to avenge the Ramaguda encounter in Malkangiri District on October 24 – 27, 2016, where 30 Maoists were killed, says Odisha Police. The landmine blast at the Sunki ghat road was well planned and executed by the Maoists, sources said. Police of both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh suspect that Nandapur area committee led by Andruu, Narayanpatna area committee led by Chaitanya alias Aruna and also the Maoists military PLGA team third CRC company were involved in the action. The main role was played by the Nandapur area committee, the sources said. According to the sources, generally, Maoists never attack unarmed cops, but they did it at Sunki ghat road in a desperate attempt to boost the morale of the cadres who were losing confidence after the Ramaguda encounter on October 24, 2016.

A senior Police officer said, "The victims were all newly recruited cops who got jobs through a court direction and were going for training. Naxals had knowledge about the movement of the cops from the starting point at Koraput District of Odisha. They planted the landmine under a culvert on the highway that was busy with vehicular movement. Hitting the target in such a manner shows that it was a pre-planned execution. Maoists knew that the minivan was coming. They ignited wires to detonate the landmine by using a flash. They knew exactly that the bus carrying the newly recruited drivers did not have weapons. Usually, when Naxals attack cops they loot the arms. They also fire at those who survive the attack. But, here nothing like that happened. There were no arms and no firing on the injured persons. This shows the Maoists had knowledge of every detail." As per the inputs, around 40 to 50 Maoists including 30 women cadres participated in the action.

Police and SFs thwarted a major terrorist action by killing two HM militants in an encounter in Sopore area in Baramulla District. SFs launched an operation in Amargarh area in Sopore following information about presence of militants in the area. When challenged, the militants lobbed a grenade and fired upon the Police party in which SP operation Baramulla, Shafqat Hussain and SI, Mohammad Murtaza were injured. Two AK series rifles, one pistol, four hand grenades and other arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site. The two militants have been identified as Azhar Khan of Kupwara and Sajjad Ahmed Lone, a resident of Eidipora Bomai in Sopore. Sajjad had gone to Pakistan in March 2016 via Wagah border.

February 5

Gujarat ATS arrested a person suspected to be involved in a conspiracy to spread terror in the state to avenge attacks on Muslims during the 2002 post-Godhra riots. Based on a specific tip off, a team of the squad officials arrested Javed Chauhan (38) from a village in Chhota Udepur District, an ATS release said. According to ATS officials, he was part of a larger conspiracy of spreading terror in the state to avenge the killing of Muslims during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

In a statement, the disbanded ANVC-B threatened to work against the Indian National Congress party led Meghalaya MUA-II Government in the upcoming 2018 assembly elections in Garo Hills area. In the statement the ANVC-B alleged that the Government had not respected the peace agreement signed by them and the State Government including the Central Government of India. The statement further accused the State Government that they had been trying to ‘create division’ between the ‘leadership’ and the general cadres of the ANVC-B. 

The protestors are all set to enforce a “total bandh” (general shutdown) on State Government offices and vehicles for an indefinite period starting from February 6. “The Chief Minister is solely responsible for all the trouble. He is responsible for the death of two youths in police firing outside his residence in Dimapur on January 31. He is also responsible for the mob fury that led to the burning down of so many government offices in Kohima on February 3,” said, explaining their position, K T Vilie, ‘convener’ of the NTAC. However the NTAC, Kohima, and the JCC, Dimapur, relaxed the indefinite strike on Sunday (today) to allow people to attend Church services.

DGP of Assam, Mukesh Sahay, said that the peace talk with KPLT militant would be started soon. Earlier on January 30, the Assam Government announced to withhold counter-insurgency operations against KPLT till April 20. This followed the declaration of a six-month unilateral ceasefire from October 20, 2016, by the KPLT.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a tribal man identified as Parsika Pullaiah (45), in Chintoor Mandal of agency area of East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. A group of four to six armed CPI-Maoist cadres surrounded Pullaiah in broad daylight, opened fire and fled. CPI-Maoist alleged Pullaiah as a ‘Police informer’. East Godavari, SP, M Ravi Prakash told that Pullaiah was a trader working in Bhadrachalam for the past one year and was in no way connected to the Police.

A DRG, Constable Pratap Singh Markam, was injured when an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place in the wee hours between Nayanar and Gatam villages under Katekalyan Police Station limits when a team of SFs was out on an anti-Naxal Operation, told SHO, Vijay Patel.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, Dhiraj Singh, was arrested from Jobang in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand.

A Pakistani infiltrator was arrested by the BSF personnel from the IB in Ramgarh sector of Samba District. Official sources said Jawans on duty observed suspicious movement across the IB near Balhad Post along Basantar River in Ramgarh sector this afternoon. They rushed and challenged the suspect, who had intruded deep inside the Indian Territory and arrested Mansheer (25), a resident of Kingra Morh in Sabekote area of Pakistan.

SFs recovered a 7.56 mm pistol, one magazine, three live rounds and two hand-made grenades from the residence of Emdadul Haque at Dhupaguri area under Dhing Police Station in Nagaon District. Emdadul Haque was detained by the SFs after the recovery.

February 6

As per the report titled ‘A New US Approach to Pakistan: Enforcing Aid Conditions without Cutting Ties’ which will be released in Washington DC on February 10. Pakistan’s military continues to support terrorist groups that attack India to keep it “off balance” and draws international mediation into dispute over Kashmir, according to the report. “Pakistani military leaders continue to support terrorist groups that attack India in an effort to keep it off balance and to draw international mediation into the dispute with India over Kashmir,” said the report.

Nine Indians joined the IS in 2016 - eight from Tamil Nadu and one from Telangana, the NIA learnt from the central security agencies that interrogated three people who were deported from Abu Dhabi for recruiting Indian for IS.

According to the report, the NIA's FIR which was registered on Republic day, both in the capital and in Chennai, says that the agency took custody of the three men who were working in Abu Dhabi on behalf of IS. Sheikh Azhar Al Islam Abdul Sattar Sheikh, Mohammed Farhan Maohammed Rafiq Shaikh and Adnan Hussain Mohammed Hussain were working to 'identify, motivate, radicalise, recruit and train Indian citizena located both in India and other countries for planning and executing terrorist attacks in India and other friendly countries'

The agency's probe has reportedly revealed that a module of nine persons, all below the age of 30, had managed to join IS in Syria. The group left India for Dubai and then headed to Syria. Following the direction of the UMHA, a case has been filed under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, sections 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist acts), 18 (punishment for conspiracy), 18B (punishment for recruiting for terrorist act), 20 (for being member of terrorist gang) and 38 (for being associated with a terrorist organisation) among others.

Police arrested six militants of ATF at Dharamtul, near Bishnu Mandir in Morigaon District. The arrested militants were identified as ‘Nagaon district commander’ Milan Bhuyan, Bihu Kurung, CR Mangyang, Rajen Garh, Ajoy Singh Ghatowar and Rasraj Biswash. Police recovered six 7 .65 mm pistols, 96 live rounds, 6 cartridges, 10 mobile handsets, ATM card, PAN Card, cash INR 5,000 and lots of objectionable materials from the possession of the arrested militants. According to the Police, the ATF has links with Maoists groups and the Maoists are assisting the force with money and sophisticated arms.       

State Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta informed the Assembly that the Union Government is examining the feasibility of sealing the unfenced portion of Indo-Bangladesh border, comprising riverine and char areas, in the State by using ‘high tech physical and non-physical barrier’ technology. “Out of the total length of 280.06 kilometers of Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam, fencing work for 208.65 kilometers has been completed,” the Mahanta informed the Assembly. Mahanta further said that out of 71.41 kilometers unfenced area, 6.5 kilometers is land area and the rest is a composition of riverine / char (river isles) / bridge and culverts. Out of the unfenced land area border, 3.5 km is under Karimganj Town area and discussion is going on in between BSF and BBG. The settlement of disputes and land acquisition process for the remaining 3 kilometers area, also under Karimganj District, is going on. Bridges and culverts account for 3.696 kilometers along the unfenced border. “For the riverine and char area, feasibility study and examination is going on to seal these areas using ‘high tech physical and non-physical barrier’ technology by the Government of India,” the Minister informed the House. Flood lighting works had already been completed along the border and work was in progress for electricity service connection to the installed lights, the State Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta added.

A non-political organisation, BJSM opposed the move of the BTC authority for providing 500 acres of land to the members of the ULFA-PTF in BTC area. The issue of land allotment came during a meeting held recently in Kokrajhar, between the leaders of ULFA-PTF led by Anup Chetia and the BTC Chief for uniting the ULFA-PTF cadres in BTAD.

The Chhattisgarh Police killed Sukhram Lekam alias Sukku, a Janatana Sarkar President of the CPI-Maoist, in an exchange of fire at Pedia in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered a 12 bore rifle, 10 cells, and other CPI-Maoist material from the encounter spot.

An armed group of JJJMP cadres attacked heavy machinery and vehicles near CCL’s Sikni colliery in Latehar District of Jharkhand. JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Gurubari Munda (32), a member of Munda squad of the CPI-Maoist was arrested by SFs at Bhakar forests in Ghurabandha block of Ghatshila in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

The NIA has booked a case against LWEs for the Hirakhand Express derailed around midnight on January 21, 2017. The Bhubaneswar-bound Hirakhand train mishap happened in Kuneru on the AOB border and killed more than 46 passengers.

The State Home Department of Maharashtra Government has allotted two helicopters to the Naxal affected District administration of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The election in Gadchiroli is scheduled from February 16 and February 21. The elections will be conducted in two phases. The aim to allot helicopters is to ensure that the Gram Panchayat and Zilla Parishad elections are conducted smoothly and the election staff, Police officials and electoral machinery is transported to the Naxal affected poll bound city safely.

The BSF thwarted an intrusion bid at IB, which originated from Pakistan side, in Samba sector in Samba District, followed by heavy mortar shelling and firing in the forward areas. Official sources said a group of heavily armed militants reached close to the IB on Pakistan side taking advantage of undulating ground in Samba sector and opened heavy firing on the BSF personnel deployed on duty mound in forward areas with automatic weapons. The BSF personnel swiftly organized coordinated effected fire over the militants and forced them to retreat to Pakistan.

February 7

The suspected IS Chennai module, which had a Telangana native in its ranks, received funds from unknown sources in Syria at the behest of the banned outfit. NIA had registered a case in the last week of January against nine members of the module on the charge of working for Islamic State. Of the nine-member module, only one person actually joined the terrorist outfit, while the rest failed to reach Syria, NIA officials said.

The IS sympathisers had reportedly organised several meetings and even chalked out plans to reach the terror hinterland to work in the so-called caliphate. "Based on information available with us, only one person from Chennai reached Syria. Prima facie, we have information that the module got funding from abroad and they were at an advanced stage of executing their plans to reach Syria," the NIA officials told. They were still in the process of identifying the place where they undertook training in Tamil Nadu. The IS module member from the state is suspected to be from Karimnagar in North Telangana and the state Police was unwilling to disclose his identify. Though he hails from Telangana, he had been working in Chennai. It is through social media the nine came to know each other.

The NIA has begun probing the angle of sabotage in the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Pukhrayan area of Kanpur Dehat district, which had claimed 147 lives on November 20, 2016. On January 27, NIA’s Lucknow unit had lodged a case against unidentified persons on charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It had done so after Moti Paswan who was arrested last month for allegedly attempting to blow up railway tracks in Bihar’s East Champaran District, claimed to have planted a cooker bomb on the tracks at Pukhrayan with the help of his associates, causing the derailment.

NIA has also invoked the Railways Act and UAPA in the case. A team of officials is presently camping in Pukhrayan for the investigation. “Apart from the Pukhrayan train derailment case, we have also registered a case in East Champaran district. Investigation is ongoing in both cases,” said Alok Mittal, IG, NIA. Sources said the agency had registered two cases as they suspected that the derailment was a “terror act”.

NIA special court in Punjab, issued proclamation notices against JeM 'chief' Masood Azhar and three others in connection with the January 2016 Pathankot terror attack case. Apart from Azhar, the notices were issued against Abdul Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan. According to the agency’s chargesheet, Azhar along with his brother Abdul Rauf, Latif and Jan masterminded the Pathankot attack.

Latif and Jan were the key handlers of the four attackers and gave them directions all the way from their infiltration into India till the beginning of the attack. The proclamation notice, which has been issued under section 82 of Criminal Procedure Code, will have to be published in newspapers, including in Pakistan, NIA sources said. The agency had filed the chargesheet last December against Masood Azhar and the three others for plotting the terror strike that left seven Indian security personnel dead and 37 injured. The chargesheet is part of documents used by India for advocating its case for imposing UN sanctions against Azhar.

The ‘c-in-c’ Jharu Lohar alias Horen Karmakar of the NSCA militant surrendered before Police in Sonitpur District. The militant also deposited one 9mm pistol, two magazines and large number of ammunition. According to the Police, the militant was accused in the murder case of ACMS Secretary Niranjan Patra at Koliabor, killing of the accountant of Singlijan Tea estate in Dibrugarh, killings at Khatkhati in Karbi Anglong District and abduction cases in past years.

SFs recovered one .22 mm pistol, five rounds live bullets and one IED from the residence of Ali Akbar at Tuktuki under Dhing Police Station in Nagaon District.

The BSF arrested three illegal citizens of Bangladesh from Baghmara in South Garo Hills District and another one at Lalghat in South West Garo Hills District. The arrested illegal Bangladeshi citizens were identified as Mohammad Rukoddin (18), Sharif Miya (15), Mohammad Ridul Islam (16) and Mohammad Zuwel Miya (20).

In a statement the NSCN-IM militant asked all business establishment and shops of Dimapur to remain closed on Sundays with ‘immediate effect’. The militant group also threatened ‘stern action against defaulters’ in their statement.

With the death of one of the persons injured in clashes of January 31, over ULB elections in Nagaland, the total death in the violence has raised to three.

Nagaland CM T.R.Zeliang informed that the border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border by the Myanmar Government at Pangsha in Tuensang District has been stopped with the intervention of the Central Government of India.

After the tripartite agreement signed on January 30 with the JCC and NBCC, CM T.R. Zeliang apologized to JCC and NBCC for the recent turmoil in the State regarding the ULB election. Citing the tripartite agreement, he said that since JCC had agreed to support 33% women reservation, the State Government had intended to declare partial conduct of the ULB election in those areas where there was no opposition.

SFs arrested two militants of KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup, identified as Sanjenbam Ningthem Singh (40) and Wankhem Bihari Singh (34), in Kabowakching area of Bishnupur District.

One PLA/ RPF militant, identified as Naorem Indrakumar Meitei (36) arrested by SFs at Thanga Ngaram Machin in Bishnupur District.

SFs arrested one militant of NSCN-K, identified as Soraisam Milan Singh (47), at Heirangoithong in Imphal West District.

The UNC decided to continue their agitation until the State Government withdraws the decision to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged Districts. The decision was taken in an emergency ‘presidential council’ meeting of UNC in Senapati District.  The meet was held to consider the outcome of the tripartite talk involving Central Government of India, State Government and UNC in New Delhi on February 3. Meanwhile, the Central Government of India expressed its disappointment over the issue. A meeting took place in Imphal where representative from the UHM, State Government and UNC participated. But the outcome of the meeting was quite disappointing for the Central Government. The sources of the Central Government expressing its disappointment said that the Manipur Government was not cooperating and the UNC was taking ‘a different stand’.

In a statement the ANSF accused the State Government of ignoring the safety and security of the people of insurgency-affected Tirap, Changlang and Longding District. ANSF mentioned about the activities of the NSCN-K and NSCN-IM in their statement. They further urged the UHM and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to intervene in the matter and take appropriate measures to stop skirmishes and bring back peace and normalcy in the area.

A group of Naxals fired at the CISF troops at Deposit No. 5, atop Bailadila Hills near Kirandul town in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The CPI-Maoist cadres attacked vehicles of NMDC carrying explosives. They looted explosives and detonators and held employees hostage who have now been freed. They also set ablaze burnt machinery and two vehicles. There are no reports of death or injury.

Police said it have arrested miscreants who pelted stones on vehicles at Baramulla town last week. “In the evening of February 4 (Saturday) a group of miscreants boarding three vehicles appeared in Baramulla market near Karripa Park and started pelting stones on vehicles and created law and order problem,” a Police spokesman said. He said all these miscreants were detained and a case was registered in Baramulla Police Station.

Sub-Judge/Judicial Magistrate first Class, Rajesh Kumar ID Abrol of Chadoora in Budgam District, denied bail to two militants of HM outfit. According to the prosecution case, the militants identified as Younis Bashir of Checkpora and Adil Ahmed of Lasjan were arrested under Sections 419, 506, 387, 511 and 120B RPC at Nowgam Police Station on the basis of the complaint filed by Mohammad Amin Bhat of Checkpora. These militants were demanding INR 500,000 from the complainant for HM outfit with the warning that he and his family will face the consequences of death if the complainant failed to follow their directive.

The J&K Police has prepared a report, warning about the possibility of a ‘more dangerous repetition of 2016’ after March and highlighted the ‘lack of the preparedness to handle such crisis on part of the civil administration and Police’. DG of the J&K Police SP Vaid confirmed that there were reports of ‘possible unrest after March’ but maintained that Police was ready to handle any ‘law and order’ situation, adding that APHC leaders who lead such agitations were to be ‘squarely blamed’ for the consequences. The report submitted to the chief minister’s office in January sees joint APHC leadership of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer and Yasin Malik as a ‘threat to peace’ and their ‘unification on Pakistan’s insistence a trouble’. “The mass contact programme of Hurriyat leaders and their meetings with their small constituents are a matter of concern. And by reaching out to victims of the 2016 unrest, they are reaching out to the common man and thus preparing the ground for another unrest,” the report said.

February 8

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that nuclear terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy. "The power of the atom is wondrous and it has benefited mankind in various ways. The scientific community has also played a vital role in harnessing the nuclear energy but the negative consequences of atomic power cannot be ignored. World has witnessed immense destructive power of the atom," Jaishankar said.

Police recovered 40 pieces of fake INR 2000 notes from West Bengal's Murshidabad District, officials said, reports indiablooms.com. According to Police reports, acting on a tip off, Police booked a suspect- Ajijur Rahman- from Chatra Ghat area under Islampur Police Station limits in Murshidabad District and seized FICN INR 2000 notes with face value of INR 80,000 rupees from his possession.

At least 50 persons were injured in sporadic clashes during a 12-hour bandh (shutdown) called by the ATIRPF in TTAADC area, to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, introduced by the BJP-led NDA. The INPT, IPFT and the NCT last month (January) formed the ATIRPF to oppose the bill. The bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016 and now under the scrutiny of a parliamentary committee, seeks to enable Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who have fled to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh without valid travel documents or those whose valid documents have expired in recent years, to acquire Indian citizenship through the process of naturalization.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a tribal trader identified as M Jeenabandhu (30) in the agency area of Munchingput mandal in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. The CPI-Maoist cadres killed him after branding him as a ‘Police informer’.

A PLFI cadre, Arvind Gope, was arrested at Sirka village in Murhu Tehsil of Khunti of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Police arrested Vinod Marandi, Chief of the RCC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, in Gaya District of Bihar. Police also recovered 7 Kilogram of Ganja. The arrested Maoist was involved in a parcel bomb explosion in which a close aide of Tekari, MLA Abhay Kushwaha was killed at Kujapi village in 2015.

Two PLFI cadres were killed and five others injured in an exchange of fire with SFs in the Pital Forest under the Bisra Police limits in Sundargarh District of Odisha. SFs recovered 11 magazines; an AK-47 rifle and eight other guns, 190 live bullets, 45 mobile phones, clothes and shoes were seized from the spot. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Sunderbani Police arrested nine persons along with two weapons (.12 bore guns), in Rajouri District and busted a racket involved in making fake gun licenses and recovered 13 such licenses from their possession.

February 9

India hit out at China for its remarks that there was no consensus over the US' proposal to ban JeM 'chief' Masood Azhar at the UN, saying if there is a change in the Chinese position, there will be a consensus as well. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said the matter has been taken up with the Chinese Ambassador in Delhi and a similar demarche is being made in Beijing.

Observing that the proposal was not moved by India but by three permanent members of the UN Security Council the US, the UK and France, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup described it as a "classic counter-terrorism proposal" and hoped that China will also come around to accept this view. "It is our understanding that this was a classic counter- terrorism proposal meant to proscribe a dreaded terrorist leader Masood Azhar whose organisation the JeM has already been proscribed by the UN 1267 Committee.

The NIA filed a charge sheet against two persons in connection with its probe in the alleged indoctrination of Kerala youths to join terror group IS. The agency filed the charge sheet in a special court here against Arshi Qureshi (47) alias Arshid, a resident of Thane, Maharashtra who has been arrested by the agency, and Abdul Rashid Abdulla (30), hailing from Kasaragod in Kerala, who is absconding. The NIA said it has charged the two for "their involvement in unlawful activities and in spreading hatred against India and for providing support to the proscribed terrorist organisation IS by furthering its activities", under various sections of the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act-UAPA.

Unidentified militants gunned down two civilians, Bakul Rabha(40) and Saru (35), at Chengapara village under Kolaigaon Police Station in Udalguri District. Militants also set ablaze the hut of the deceased couple. The Police Personnel who reached the spot after being informed by local residents found the charred bodies of the deceased couple along with 25 rounds of empty bullets. "Since we found bullets, we are certain about the involvement of militants in the incident but we are yet to pinpoint the group. Both ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS are active in the area and we are trying to identify the assailants," a Police official in Udalguri said. Villagers told the Police that the couple could have been killed as they were suspected to be informers of SFs.

Suspected militants belonging to TPLA abducted an auto-rickshaw driver, identified as Robin Thapa (26), at an area between Motbung and Keithelmanbi in Senapati District. According to the sources, the militant group served extortion demands to auto-rickshaw associations operating along the Highway particularly in between Sekmai and Motbung last month (January).

In a press release, the militant group UNLF said that their ‘armed wing’ the MPA had observed its 30th ‘raising day’ in different parts of the State and at other places.

The NTAC volunteers damaged one gypsy belonging to State Police department at high school junction Kohima, during the ongoing indefinite bandh (general shutdown) against the Government offices and Government vehicles, over the issues of elections to ULBs. NTAC, which is enforcing the total bandh (general shutdown) on State Government offices and vehicles for an indefinite period starting from February 6, is demanding the resignation of Chief Minister T R Zeliang and his cabinet following the killing of three youths in Police firing incident on January 31, during the protest over conducting ULB elections with 33% women reservation.

Based on specific input, 5 AR in an operation, arrested two NSCN-K militants, identified as ‘sergeant major’ Ivuto Chophy and ‘corporal’ Kunovi, from Sumi Gate area in Zunheboto District. According to PRO of IGAR-N the arrested duo was indulging in extortion activities at Zunheboto town. PRO stated that, the cadres were in possession of an extortion note addressed to the engineer, Irrigation Department of Zunheboto.

State Governor P B Acharya declared the entire process of elections to ULBs in the State, which was strongly opposed by Naga tribal groups, as null and void. State Election Commissioner Sentiyanger Imchen also in a notification said following the Governor’s decision the election programme for the ULBs, notified on December 21 last year, is now null and void. Earlier, on February 2, the state Cabinet had decided to declare the election process null and void.

The NSCN-K militant released a press statement over the issue of ULB election and the subsequent violence in the State and said that the State Government ‘should pave way for people’s interest’. It also condemned the State Government for the recent violence in the State over the issues of ULB election in their statement.

A Jagdalpur-based organisation anti-Maoist organisation AGNI dissolved itself in Jagdalpur District of Chhattisgarh. The AGNI has organised almost 15-16 rallies during the past one year across the Bastar region protesting against the CPI-Maoist activities and violence. One of them, called `Lalkar' rally, was convened by the outfit in Jagdalpur in September 2016 and attended by thousands of people. Civil rights groups and some local journalists have dubbed the AGNI as another version of the anti-Maoist militia Salwa Judum, which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2011.

A former Naxal, Phulo Markam was found killed in Jagdalpur District of Chhattisgarh. Markam surrendered before Police along with 60 other CPI-Maoist cadres in Darbha in April 2016 and had joined Police as a 'Gopaniya Sainik. Phulo's brother Gagan alleged Constable Dinesh Sethia for Markam’s death.

Sunki Ghat-like blast was averted by CRPF at Lanjigarh Block in Kalahandi District of Odisha. A bomb disposal squad of the CRPF from Rayagada led by Commandant Manoj Sharma with the help of sniffer dog defused a 25 Kilogram IED.

SOG personnel and CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire during a combing operation at Kutudi forest under Bijaghati Panchayat in Narayanpatna District of Odisha. No injuries have been reported.

Two Police constables from Raigad have arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, Biljaram Buddharam (40), from Dali village, in Palamu District of Jharkhand and brought to Mumbai in Maharashtra by train.

February 10

An Abu Dhabi module of the IS comprising three Indian youths, recruited eight men from Tamil Nadu and one from Telangana, and even sent some of them to Syria to join the IS, a probe by the NIA has revealed. The NIA registered a case a fortnight ago regarding the recruitment “of nine persons — eight hailing from Tamil Nadu and one from Telangana, and some other unknown persons, with the intention to further the activities of Daesh/ISIS, a banned terrorist organisation in India”.

According to NIA case records, a criminal conspiracy was hatched “in Chennai and other parts of the country by forming a terrorist gang which raised and received funds, organised camps, recruited and trained some persons, and facilitated their travel to Syria, to join ISIS”. The Abu Dhabi module was neutralised in January 2016 following the arrest and deportation of the three Indians from the UAE: Adnan Hussain from Karnataka, Mohammed Farhan from Maharashtra and Sheikh Azhar Al Islam from Kashmir.

The records show they were accused by the NIA of being “involved in a conspiracy to identify, motivate, radicalise, recruit and train Indian citizens located both in India and other countries for planning and executing terrorist attacks in India and in other friendly countries”.

ATS from Mumbai detained a suspected SIMI operative from Khajrana area of Indore (Madhya Pradesh). The suspect identified as Jadil Parvez was held from Khijrabad Colony in the area where he had been living since the past 2-3 months, ATS sources claimed. Jadil, who hails from Unhel town of Ujjain District, had allegedly been living with his sister Heena.

Two militants of GPRN/NSCN, identified as ‘guard commander of Ao region’ Merentoshi and ‘major’ Tongpang, were abducted by NSCN-IM militants from Tzuremen village area in Mokokchung District.

The JCC informed that it would intensify the ongoing bandh (total shutdown) indefinitely starting February 13 if the CM T.R. Zeliang does not resign within the ‘3-day deadline’ given by the JCC and NTAC that expires February 10 midnight. Further, a meeting of the legislature party of the ruling DAN supported CM T.R Zeliang on the whole issue and appealed to the agitators to end the indefinite strike and engage with the Government.

The Chairman of JIC and interlocutor for the Naga peace-talks, Mr R. N. Ravi said that ongoing economic blockade in Manipur may have an impact on the peace-talks. JIC Chairman RN Ravi said, “The Naga issue can’t be dealt in political isolation. Naga neighbours are important stakeholders. A durable solution is not possible by disregarding neighbours’ sentiment and confrontational attitude towards them.” The news report further adds that over the stubborn attitude displayed by the NSCN-IM over Manipur, Mr Ravi had said, “It is bound to impact the tenor and character of further talks with NSCN-IM.”Notably, the Manipur based UNC is spearheading the economic blockade in the State for over three months and two rounds of meetings with the stakeholders to resolve the crisis has failed to elicit any result. UNC is protesting against creation of seven new Districts in the State of Manipur.

The CLP, in a meeting chaired by CM Okram Ibobi Singh, unanimously passed a resolution urging the Central Government of India to declare the UNC as an unlawful organisation for imposing the indefinite economic blockade on the NHs and banning construction and developmental activities of National and State projects.

A Naxalite was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in a dense forest under Basaguda Police Station in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered the body of a male CPI-Maoist cadre along with weapon, grenades and Naxal-related material from the spot.

A villager, Barse Deva (32), was found killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres near Lakhanpal village under Chintalnar Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The victim was picked up by armed rebels from his native place Konanguda, in the night of February 8, Police said.

A CPI-Maoist was killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in a dense forest pocket of Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered the body of a male Maoist cadre along with weapon, grenades and Naxal -related material from the spot.

SFs recovered arms including one AK-47 rifle, its three magazines and 26 cartridges, one carbine, its one magazine and 35 cartridges after an exchange of fire with the Maoists in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh.

The newly appointed IG of Bastar Range in Chhattisgarh, Sundarraj P asserted that “aggressive” operations against the Naxals will continue. Sundarraj said, “Security Forces are in a dominating position. The aggressiveness (in the operation) will be continued.”

A villager, Birwal Murmu (25), was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Virangatta village under the Madhuwan Police Station in Giridih District of Jharkhand. The Maoists accused him of being a ‘Police informer’.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze two earthmoving machines, two tractors and a water tanker in Rayagada District of Odisha. The vehicles belonged to a contractor engaged in road construction near Sandengleli in Parsali Panchayat under Kalyansinghpur Block of the District.

The CPI-Maoist calling for the boycott of the February 15 Assembly Elections in Uttarakhand, painted slogans in Someshwar in Almora District of Uttarakhand . Posters, banners and painted slogans were found at various places in and around Someshwar.

During a joint operation by the Army and the Police, a major terrorist hideout was busted at Mislai Bonjwah area in Kishtwar District of J&K. SFs recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the location, which included one AK-47 rifle with 450 rounds, 224 Pika ammunitions, one UBGL, two UBGL ammunitions and one binocular.

CRPF and SOG arrested a militant from Janbazpora area in Baramulla District. Police said that a local militant, Irshad Ahmad Khwaja, a resident of Seelo village, was arrested after specific information by a team of SOG of J&K Police and 53 BN CRPF. One pistol, two magazines and a hand grenade were recovered from his possession.

SFs arrested one NSCN-IM militant, identified as Nokme Hakun at Pahar village under Margherita Police Station in Tinsukia District.

February 11

A tape was released by ‘secretary’ of Bansadhara, Ghumusar and Nagabali Division of the CPI-Maoist, Umakant at Malkangiri District of Odisha. The tape threatened villagers of calling for poll boycott in three southern Odisha Districts, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Rayagada.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to ULFA-I, identified as Pranjal Nath alias Sailendra Asom alias Protim Asom, at Jelehua Gaon under Dergaon Police Station in Golaghat District. According to the sources, the militant joined ULFA-I in 2011 and he had undergone training in Myanmar.

February 12

A magistrate court has discharged Mirza Himayat Baig, along with alleged IM 'operative' Maulana Shabbir Hussain Gangawali, in the case registered by the Maharashtra ATS under the UAPA, for allegedly circulating jihadi literature to Muslim youth in Pune, who were alleged members of the banned SIMI. Judicial Magistrate (first class) V B Gulve Patil, Shivajinagar Court, passed on order in this regard on December 22, 2016. It may be recalled that Gangawali, a native of Bhatkal of Karnataka and an alleged aide of IM founders Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, was arrested by the Pune unit of the ATS on December 30, 2008, with possession of 250 counterfeit notes of Rs 100 denomination at a Janawadi mosque in Shivajinagar area.

A ‘leader’ of UKLF militant, identified as Thangboi Haokip alias Jacob Thadou was arrested at Imphal Tulihal Airport in Imphal East District after CISF posted at the airport recovered 4 live round of 9 MM pistol with him. The CISF handed him over to the Singjamei Police along with the recovered ammunitions, but he was later released by the Police. UKLF is signatory to SoO agreement with State and Union Government.

Violating the cease fire ground rule with the GoI, the NSCN-IM opened a new ‘battalion’ called ‘Phungtha Battalion’ consisting 45 cadres of the group at Kangkum Village in Ukhrul District.

Reacting on the CLP’s resolution, for declaring UNC as an unlawful organisation, the UNC asked the Manipur Government why they had participated in the tripartite talk in New Delhi if the UNC was ‘unlawful’.

Demanding the resignation of CM TR Zeliang from his post over the issues of ULBs election and the subsequent violence in the State, JCC and NTAC, Kohima had called for a total indefinite bandh (shutdown) in Nagaland from 6 am to 6 pm daily from February 13.

Police Constable, Korsa Naga was seriously injured in an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres in a dense forest pocket of Bhejji Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The skirmish took place in the forest coming under Bhejji Police Station limits when a joint team of STF and DRG was out on a counter-insurgency operation, SP, Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by SFs from a forest of Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. A team of DRG had launched a counter-insurgency operation on February 9 towards Mohndi, Kutul and Kodliyar villages. The Maoist cadres has been identified as Lakhma Varda (35), medical team member Sayabi Varda (45), ‘militia commander’ Maalu Varda (31) and ‘militia member’ Fagdu Usendi (25).

Chhattisgarh Police has set a base camp in the Naxals’ stronghold of Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh to expedite construction of a road on a national highway that leads to the neighbouring Telangana State. The camp was set up on February 8 near Taarud River between Bhadrakali and Tarlaguda to particularly facilitate the construction of bridge over the river on the under-construction strategically important Bhopalpatnam-Bhadrakali-Tarlaguda road.

The opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, said that he is ready to take the initiative to facilitate negotiation talks between the Government of Kerala and the CPI-Maoist, if Maoists were ready to surrender their arms and create an atmosphere of peace first.

The MDC of the CPI-Maoist in a fresh banner has threatened the villagers to chop off the hands of voters who defy its call to boycott the Panchayat elections at Dekrikota in Malkangiri District of Odisha. Similar posters were found in Rayagada District of Odisha calling for Panchayat polls boycott.

The SEC had identified 27,422 booths as hypersensitive and sensitive. Out of the total, 8,491 booths are hypersensitive and 18,931 sensitive. Kandhamal District has the maximum of 1,076 booths identified as hypersensitive.

According to data collated by the NBDC of the NSG the areas affected by Naxalism saw a 21 per cent increase in bomb blast incidents in 2016 as compared to 2015. Casualties in such incidents went up by almost 60 per cent, the NBDC said in its annual report. 65 per cent of all IED blast casualties occurred in LWE-affected areas. According to the report, the figures available till December 15, 2016; 1,420 Naxals surrendered last year as compared to 570 in 2015. In Chhattisgarh, the IED incidents increased by 50 per cent and Andhra Pradesh saw a five-fold increase over 2015. Odisha witnessed an almost 100 per cent jump in IED incidents — from 15 blasts in 2015 to 29 blasts in 2016. Only Jharkhand and Bihar witnessed a decrease in IED incidents. Jharkhand witnessed nine IED explosions in 2016 as compared to 15 in 2015. In Bihar, it was 10 against 12 in 2015.

Eight persons including four militants, two Army personnel and equal number of civilians were killed and around 24 civilians were injured in an encounter followed by clashes in Kulgam District. Acting on specific information about the presence of militants in Nagbal, Frisal area of the District, Kulgam Police along with 1-RR and 18th Battalion of CRPF cordoned off the suspected house and started the search operation, Police said. The four militants killed in the encounter were identified as Farooq Ahmad Bhat of Checki Dessand, Mohammad Younis Lone of Hawoora, both were HM militants and Mudisir Ahmad Tantary alias Assim of Redwani Kulgam and Wakeel Ahmad Thoker of Hadigam, both were LeT militants. Two AK rifles, two pistols, one INSAS rifle and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. Further, people in the area came out in street as the encounter was in progress and pelted stones on SFs near the encounter site. The SFs fired teargas and pellets in which around two dozen persons were injured, out of which one Mushtaq Ibrahim Itoo succumbed to his injuries.

The separatists have called for a strike on February 13 against the killing of two civilians. Both the factions of APHC and JKLF have called for the general strike against the killings.

Indian Railways suspect that sudden rise in the number of train accidents in the recent past are the act of sabotage. 'In 2017, in the first 40 days, there have already been 16 cases and this is abnormally high,' Mohammed Jamshed, Member Traffic, Railway Board stated. Terming it an 'abnormally high', a top railways official said that most of these 16 instances of rail sabotage in 2017 have occurred in non-traditional LWE- affected areas, and does not carry the signature of Maoist subversive activities.  'There were 45 incidents in 2016, including seven blasts, three instances of track tampering, 27 cases of sabotage and attempt to sabotage and eight agitation related incidents. Moreover, Shamsul Hoda, who was arrested in Nepal in a murder case is wanted by for allegedly funding terror plots that led to train derailments in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Hirakhand in Andhra Pradesh and a foiled attempt in Bihra's Ghorasan.

Two persons, identified as Subash Agarwal and Shyam Sunder, were killed and two others injured by CPI-Maoist cadres gunfire near Ramanitard in Bhelwaghati Panchayat at Giridih District of Jharkhand. Sources said that these armed cadres are from Maoist leader Surang Yadav's group. The reason of the killing is not yet clear but Maoists were afraid of growing popularity of the Government schemes and in anguish they were taking such steps, SP Giridih, Akhlesh V Varier said.

Two-dozen armed cadres of the TPC set ablaze the excavator and compressor machines of Hindalco Industries at the Gurdari bauxite mines in Kathupani village in Gumla District of Jharkhand. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A female 'area commander' of the CPI-Maoist, Kaushalia Kumari alias Sabita, was arrested by the District Armed Police and CRPF from Tansia village in Seraikela-Kharsawan District of Jharkhand. She was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on her head.

At least five construction equipments were torched by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Kulihamunda village of Rengali Gram Panchayat under Khaparakhol block of Balangir District of Odisha. 10 armed Maoist cadres including five women cadres entered the camp of a local contractor, Md Illaish, in Banjipali village at around 11 PM. The contractor was carrying out road construction work for PWD from Ghunsar to Rengali.

AR arrested a linkman identified as Alan Rai, who worked for both ULFA-I and NSCN-K, at Old Khamdo village in Changlang District. According to the AR source, the arrested linkman was involved in extortion cases and blank letters bearing names of ULFA-I and NSCN-K were recovered from his possession. During the interrogation, the linkman also revealed that he was helping these two militant groups for four years and had regular contact with the ''sergeant'' Rupam Asom of ULFA-I.

Protesters belonging to the DHDC and the DDJAC, along with seven other organisations, who were demanding for making Likabali as headquarter of Lower Siang District, set ablaze the office of the SDO (civil) at Likabali. It was the second day of the 96-hour general strike of the protesting organisations.

The second phase of indefinite total bandh (shutdown) called by the JCC and NTAC along with various tribal organisations, started in the entire State has crippled normal life in the State. Business establishments, educational institutions and Government offices remained closed while vehicles were off the road during the bandh. However no violent incident from any part of the State was reported so far.

While, the organisations are demanding resignation of CM TR Zeliang following the killing of two youths in Police firing in Dimapur on January 31, the CM Addressed the people of Nagaland in a broadcast by AIR in Kohima and appealed the agitating organisations to lift the bandh. He specially mentioned his concern over the board exams of the students which were scheduled on February 14.

Mobile internet services and SMS in the State remained suspended for the 15th day. In order to thwart rumors, Nagaland Government snapped the services on January 30 after the public upheaval arising out of holding of ULB elections.

A top level meeting between former Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, NSA Ajit Doval and JIC Chairman R.N Ravi to discuss the current situation in Nagaland arising out of the ULB elections was held. Neiphiu Rio expressed his concern over the ongoing turmoil of the State over the issues of ULB elections and said that the situation of the State had to be tactfully handled as it could adversely affect the already fragile ‘Indo-Naga peace talks’. He also strongly urged upon the Centre to bring about an early solution to the Naga issue.

A Court in New Delhi extended the judicial custody of the ‘chief’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup militant Khoirom Ranjit and his two associates, Inugbam Sanatombi Devi and Pukhrihongbamibomcha Prem Kumar, till February 27.

SFs arrested four unidentified militants of NSCN-IM at Nungba in Tamenglong District. According to the SFs the arrested militants were involved in extortion and other illegal activites.

Indian Army arrested a linkman of ULFA-I militant, identified as Netra Bania (53), from Haufau area under Borhat Police Station in Charaidew District. The arrestee is a small tea grower in the village and according to the Army he had been keeping relation with ULFA-I for a long time and he was involved in collecting money from businessmen.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has wondered why JeM terrorists let go Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh after waylaying his official vehicle and using it to reach the Pathankot airbase on January 2, 2016 to wreak havoc. The multi-party committee has also asked the Government to investigate the role of drug smugglers in facilitating the terrorists' entry into India. While the 70-page report directly attacks Punjab Police, it has asked many questions about the role of the NIA.

Joint teams of Jalandhar Rural Police and Jharkhand Police arrested a wanted CPI-Maoist cadre, Avidhesh Yadav from Alawalpur locality at Adampur city in Jalandhar District. Yadav is facing attempt to murder and cases under the Arms Act. CIA, Punjab Police, head said Jharkhand Police took Yadav back to Latehar District of Jharkhand.

One of the key accused in Kanpur and Ghorasahan rail track sabotage incidents, Gajendra Sharma, surrendered before a court in East Champaran District of Bihar. Police sources said Gajendra, a named accused in Ghorasahan blast attempt case, was also involved in the derailment of Indore-Patna Express near Kanpur in which at least 150 people were killed on November 21, 2016.

A CPI-Maoist cadre was gunned down in an exchange of fire between the Maoists and SFs at a village in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The identity of the killed Maoist was yet to be ascertained.

The Police destroyed five illegal mini-gun factories in Rishikund jungle in Munger District of Bihar. Police also seized four automatic pistols and equipment used for manufacturing illegal guns. According to Police illegal mini-gun factories was being operated under CPI-Maoist cadres protection. Police arrested a person called Shrimant Kumar who was in constant touch with Maoists. Five of his associates managed to escape from the spot during the raid.

Irpa Usendi, cousin of South Gadchiroli's Perimili LGS ‘commander’ Sainath, was arrested in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. He was finally made co-accused in the December 2016 Surjagarh arson case earlier this week by Etapalli Police after his involvement behind the incident in which the Naxalites had set ablaze around 80 vehicles at mining project site came to fore. Intriguingly, cops had intercepted new currency notes worth INR 400,000 from Irpa.

Joint teams of Jalandhar Rural Police and Jharkhand Police arrested a wanted CPI-Maoist cadre, Avidhesh Yadav from Alawalpur locality at Adampur city in Jalandhar District of Punjab. Yadav is facing attempt to murder and cases under the Arms Act. CIA, Punjab Police, head said Jharkhand Police took Yadav back to Latehar District of Jharkhand.

Official sources of Mizoram said that the meeting of the JMG held in Guwahati on February 12,  to discuss the repatriation of Bru refugees from the six relief camps in Tripura to Mizoram was ‘inconclusive’ as Bru representatives ‘refused to budge from their demands’. Mizoram State Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama said that the meeting was ‘inconclusive’ as MBDPF, the apex body of Bru refugees demanded that all their demands be fulfilled by Centre and Mizoram Governments. The demands of MBDPF are allotment of at least five hectare land to each repatriated Bru family, enhancement of rehabilitation package, provision of free ration for two years, INR 5,000 per month be given to each family and the Brus be given the same status as given to Kashmiri Pandits. The meeting was chaired by Special Secretary (Internal Secretary) in Union Ministry of Home Affairs MK Singla and attended by officials of Mizoram and Tripura Governments, representatives of MBDPF, BCC and central committee of YMA.

Pakistan army violated ceasefire along the LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri District, targeting forward Indian posts with small and automatic weapons and mortars. "The Indian side effectively retaliated, leading to heavy exchanges that continued for some time," sources said, adding that there were no casualties or damage on the Indian side in Pakistan shelling and firing. Casualties or damages, if any, on the other side were not known.

Normal life was affected in Jammu and Kashmir, due to a shutdown called by the separatists against the killing of two civilians and four militants in an encounter in Kulgam District of South Kashmir while curfew like restrictions were imposed in parts of South Kashmir. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in Srinagar and Public transport was mostly off the roads. However, some vehicles were plying.

Seven workers of a limestone quarry at Sangkini Dabgre near Sangkinigre village of Chokpot region in South Garo Hills District were abducted by suspected Garo militants. The workers were identified as Shyama Rabha, Manoj Das, Dipak Baiswa, Khitish Rabha, Amulya Kalita, Dinobandhu Roy and Kameshwar Pandit. According to the Police, the ASAK headed by Reding T. Sangma is the prime suspect for involving the abduction so far. However, they are also not ruling out the involvement of Sohan D. Shira-led GNLA, which is said to have a small number of armed cadres operating in the Chokpot region.

The NIA probing the rail track sabotages secured additional four-day Police remand of Umashankar Patel, Motilal Paswan and Mukesh Yadav, all accused in Ghorasahan and Kanpur cases. Earlier, the special NIA court of Judge Manoj Singh had granted 11-day police remand for the trio on February 4.

The derailment and blast conspiracies were allegedly hatched by ISI. Its agent Shamshul Huda, a Nepalese citizen, was handling the terror mission from Dubai. Huda was arrested by Nepal police in Kathmandu on February 5. His interrogation later revealed another railway track blast near Nakardei in East Champaran. Brajkishore Giri alias Baba Giri, Mujahir Ansari, Ashish Singh Kurmi aliasSujeet and Umesh Giri, all associates of Huda, have  already been arrested by Nepal Police.

Suspected IS supporter Mohammad Iqbal, who is in the custody of the Rajasthan Police, had allegedly mobilised funds from India and China for the terror organisation, Police said. Iqbal alias Travel Haq had allegedly transferred money from China and through hawala (illegal money transaction) from India to Dubai, Additional Director General of Anti-Terrorist Squad Umesh Mishra told reporters in Jaipur.

Iqbal allegedly used to transfer funds to IS operative Jameel Ahmed who was arrested by the ATS from Sikar in November, 2016 Mishra said. His name cropped up during the interrogation of Jameel following which he was arrested by Tamil Nadu Police earlier this month. “Jameel and Iqbal were in touch on social networking sites. Iqbal used to transfer funds to Jameel who was based in Dubai. From Dubai, he further transferred the money to the IS in countries like Turkey, Lebanon,” Mishra claimed.

The accounts of his social networking sites and his foreign visits are being probed to ascertain further details, the police official said. Iqbal was brought to Jaipur from Chennai on production warrant on February 12, and was placed under arrest yesterday. He was produced before a local court where the magistrate remanded him to police custody for four days, till February 18.

East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand Police has intensified anti-Naxal  operation in the Naxal-hit Ghatsila Sub-division in order to mount pressure on the top CPI-Maoist leader Kanhu Munda-led squad to surrender, which operates in the bordering areas of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha, reports Business Standard. Kanhu, a ‘zonal secretary’ of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha outfit, is carrying a reward of INR 2,500,000 lakh on his head.

The UHM’s senior Security Adviser K. Vijay Kumar, at a meeting held at the Police Head Quarter in Bhopal District of Madhya Pradesh, asked the Police of three States to share the information related to Naxals. Police officials of three States Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra attended the meeting. He asked to provide better training to the Hawk Force and better use of Police force while taking action against Naxals. The SPs from all three states submitted the reports of the Naxal operations. The SPs of Dindori, Balaghat, Gondia, Mandla and Rajnandgaon made presentations. He also took personal meeting with the officials. The DGP, Madhya Pradesh, Rishi Shukla informed the officer that they are running community policing to eradicate the Naxal problems in their Naxal-affected areas. He also claimed that due to social policing they are getting positive results.

Two militants, belonging to UNLF and PLA, were arrested by SFs in two different incidents. In the first incident, SFs arrested an UNLF cadre, identified as ‘sergeant major’ Thongbram Gyanjit alias Chinglensana (32) from Hatta Golapati area in Imphal West District. After the arrest he revealed that under the instruction of his ‘commander’ Itomba of UNLF, he came out of his camp in October last year (2016) and stayed in Imphal areas to disturb the forthcoming 11th State Assembly election. In the other incident, one militant of PLA, identified as Yumnam Surendra alias Suren (64), was arrested by SFs from the resident of the militant in Imphal West District. The militant revealed that he was working under the ‘captain’ Nongpoknganba of PLA and extorted money from contractors and businessmen for the militant group.

SFs arrested another cadre of an unspecific militant group, identified as Ramanuse Dhan (31) at Binaypur village in Golaghat District. SFs also recovered one 7.65 auto pistol (made in Italy), one magazine and four live ammunition from the arrestee.

Suspected militants of NSCN-R from neighboring State of Nagaland entered into and issued ‘demand notes’ (extortion notes) to villagers, along the Assam-Nagaland interstate boundary, in Jorhat District. According to the report, at least 16 people, mostly cultivators, got the demand notes ranged from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000. Two villagers, identified as Benu Orang and Joydhan Mirdha, were assaulted by Naga assailants. However, Jorhat SP Prasanta Bhuyan said that a team from District administration held a meeting with the village council of the adjacent Naga village on the other side of the boundary. “They have assured to nab the culprits. In fact, we were informed that two of the four persons who distributed the notes have been caught by the Naga village people,” he also added.

Clarifying the stand of the present Union Government towards insurgents groups, the UMHA has indicated to a parliamentary panel that it is open to negotiations with only those militant formations that abjure violence and opt for a solution within the Constitution of India. The Government proposes to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to deal with extremists/separatists of the northeastern region. The parliamentary panel in its report advised that the government should start dialogue with these groups and address sympathetically their grievances within the framework of the Constitution of India with an aim of bringing them into the mainstream. The multi-pronged strategy includes this aspect also.

Currently, the Union government is engaged in peace talks with various insurgent groups of the Northeast and talks are continuing with the ULFA-PTF, NDFB-P, NDFB-RD, KLNLF– all from Assam, while the NSCN-IM, NSCN-KN and NSCN-R of Nagaland are under ceasefire agreements.

A total of 23 underground outfits of Manipur, consisting two conglomerates – the UPF and KNO are currently under SoO agreement with the Union Government. Three valley-based underground outfits of Manipur – the URF, KCP-L and KYKL-MDF have signed MoU with the Union Government.

The Union Government has informed that pursuant to the policy of talks, various insurgent outfits, including the UPDS, DHD of Assam and ANVC and ANVC-B of Meghalaya have signed memorandum of settlement with the Government and dissolved themselves. As a result, a number of members of insurgent outfits have surrendered after laying down arms and joined the mainstream of society.

Two top LeT 'commanders' were among four militants and four soldiers including an Army Major killed while six soldiers and a civilian were injured in two separate gun battles in North Kashmir. Sources said that on a tip-off, Army, SOG of JKP and CRPF launched a joint search operation at Parray Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora District. They said that as the SFs were sealing the area, militants hiding in the village opened fire on troops and hurled hand grenades. The SFS returned the fire killing one militant who has been identified as Abu Haris, a top 'commander' of LeT. Srinagar based Defence Ministry spokesman, Lt Col Rajesh Kalia identified the Army men killed in the gun battle as Dharmendera Kumar of Pataliya, Uttarakhand; Rifleman Ravi Kumar of Meen Sarkar Tabela of Samba and Gunner Astosh Kumar of Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Three militants were killed and an Army Major was injured in Handwara area in Kupwara District. SFs received information about presence of three-four militants in Khan Mohalla Hajin Kralgund area of Handwara's Kupwara District. Major S Dhaiya, who was leading the operation, succumbed to his injuries. One of the killed militants has been identified as Abu Darda, a top 'commander' of LeT and the identity of other two is being ascertained.

Three Pakistan army personnel were killed in heavy exchange of firing between Indo-Pak troops in Thoob area of Bhimber sector opposite Sunderbani in Rajouri District along the LoC. Pakistan army has confirmed the killing of their three personnel.

A joint team of Army and Police busted a hideout of the militants in Chajla forest area of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch District and recovered large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives. Recoveries included one Pika Machine Gun with 90 belted rounds, one AK-74 rifle, one AK-47 rifle, two UBGL launchers, 22 UBGL grenades, two Chinese grenades, one I Com radio set and antenna and 500 rounds of AK-47. Later, SFs also undertook search operations in Chajla forest area but the militants remained untraced.

The BSF pre-empted a major terror strike by detecting a tunnel originating from Pakistan and opening up just about 20 meters ahead of border fencing inside the Indian Territory in Ramgarh sector of Samba District. The tunnels had been dug beneath the border fencing to facilitate infiltration by the militants. "The tunnel was under construction when the BSF detected it during major anti-tunneling measures taken along the International Border following very specific inputs that the militants were being trained for infiltration at Rattu training camp in PoK," official sources said.

India has called for collaborative preventive approach to address terrorist cyber attacks against critical infrastructures, underlining that current international law is not well positioned to deal with the threat. Citing the 26/11 (November 26, 2008) Mumbai terror attacks, India said that financial hubs are targeted by terrorists to impact a country’s economy.

The NIA has arrested a Kerala youth, Mouinudheen Parakadavath (25), for being part of an IS terrorist conspiracy in India. The agency said the youth hailing from Kasaragod District was questioned at the NIA headquarters when he arrived at the IGI airport in Delhi from Abu Dhabi. During his examination, he admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy, NIA said. The case relates to a terror module in which a group of youths from Kerala including some members based in the Middle-East, hatched a conspiracy as per instructions from their online IS handlers.

Based on intelligence inputs, five accused, associated with this terror module, were arrested from Kanakamala Hill in Kannur District in Kerala on 2 October, 2016 and another associate was arrested from Calicut the same day. Their disclosures established that Mouinudheen was a key figure in the module, which was actively planning various aspects of the terrorist plot, on a Telegram group. Mouinudheen was using the online identity Abu-Al-Indonesi as well as Ibn Abdullah, on the telegram group, NIA said. It was revealed by the arrested persons that Mouinudheen had sent funds from Abu Dhabi to members of the terrorist module in Kerala, for the conspiracy, through Western Union Money Transfer, last year (2016).

Two personnel of the Chhattisgarh STF were killed in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at Mardapal in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The Police claimed to have killed at least four CPI-Maoist cadres but their bodies could not be recovered by the SFs. The killed SFs are identified as Hitendra Chaturvedi, an Assistant Platoon Commander from Madhya Pradesh, and constable Krishna Tingu from Surguja in Chhattisgarh.

The SFs in AOB and their counterparts in Odisha are on a high alert as CPI-Maoist cadres are gearing up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of GPCR and Naxalbari Armed Uprising. SFs suspect that Maoists, who are on a killing spree as an act of revenge for the Ramaguda encounter, may engage in violent activities to show their presence. A document released in the name of their ‘General Secretary’ Ganapati recently urged the cadres to use the occasions as a platform for recruitments and creating awareness among the people to wage war against the state.

A ‘Zonal Secretary’ of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha Zone, of CPI-Maoist and six other Maoist cadres surrendered at East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. The Maoists, including a woman, laid their arms before SSP of East Singhbhum District Police, Anoop T Mathew in Kanhu’s native village Jiyan under Ghurabandha Police Station area in Ghatshila sub-division. Kanhu Munda alias Mangal Ji, ‘Zonal Secretary’ and his aide Fogra Munda, were carrying rewards of INR 2.5 millions and INR 1 millions on their heads respectively. Kanhu and Fogra were wanted in a number of Naxal -related incidents including murder of Police Inspector, Sushil Nag and three others in Singhpura under Ghurabandha Police Station area in 2006. Apart from them, Chunnu Munda, Bhoglu Singh Munda, Jiten Munda, Shankar and Kajal, a woman Maoist, were among those who surrendered. The surrendering Maoists also deposited one INSAS and two pistols.

Due to threat of CPI-Maoist cadres, no voter came out to vote for elections at 13 booths of a Panchayat in Korukonda Block of Malkangiri District of Odisha. This happened in Nakamamudi Panchayat of Korukonda block. As many as 19 polling booths had been opened in this remote CPI-Maoist-infested Panchayat. But till 12 noon, the end of polling time, no voter turned up to cast his vote in 13 of these booths. In the rest six booths polling was too low. Ahead of the Panchayat polls, the Maoists had put threatening banners and posters in remote areas of Malkangiri District of Odisha.

SFs arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Khamin Swargiary alias S. Khasia, in Udalguri District. A .22 mm pistol, one magazine, and other ammunition were recovered from the arrested militant. According to the SFs the militant was trained in the militant camps of Bangladesh.

SFs arrested one cadre of NSCN-K militant, identified as Kangkam Haseng, from Burma camp near Ledo in Tinsukia District.

SFs arrested one unidentified militant of ULFA-I at Tengakhat in Dibrugarh District. According to the SFs he was involved in the blast in Dibrugarh''s Convoy Road on the Republic Day (January 26). SFs also recovered one motorcycle with two different registration numbers from his possession.

SFs released photographs and names of four suspected militants who were involved in the killing of a couple, named Bakul Rabha alias Teckhon (35) and his wife Saru Rabha alias Malika Deka (25)  in Chengapara village in Udalguri on February 10. The four suspected militants are identified as Rajan Deka, Tilak Boro, Ramesh Bora and Biswajit Deka.3

Police and para-military forces heavily deployed in Kulgam District foiled separatists' March in the District. Separatist leaders had called for protest March to Kulgam against the civilian killings during an encounter at Frisal in the District on February 12. Four militants, two civilians and two Army men were killed in the encounter. All entry routes towards Kulgam were sealed off and curfew like restrictions were imposed in the District. The situation remained peaceful and under control, and no protest March or clashes were reported from anywhere in the town. There were clashes in Pulwama as protesters pelted stones on Police and CRPF, who, in retaliation, fired tear smoke to disperse them. And in Srinagar city, there was a complete shutdown and most of shops and business establishments also remained closed. The areas like Old City and Maisuma witnessed shutdown.

JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was arrested to prevent him from marching towards Kulgam. APHC-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed house arrest to prevent him venturing out to take part in protest march towards Kulgam.

The BSF seized a wireless set from the IB in Londi area of Hiranagar sector in Kathua District. "The wireless set resembled to the one that was seized by police from near the border in Kathua few days after the terror attack on Nagrota Army camp on November 30,2016,'' official sources said. Sources added that a civilian Ashwani Kumar of Londi was spraying his field when he spotted the wireless set and informed the BSF officials, who rushed to the spot and seized the set.

Police identified the militants who were killed in the encounter at Parray Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora District on February 14, as LeT 'commander' Abu Darda alias Shafiq, operating in North Kashmir between 2008 and 2010 and later he ex-filtrated to Pakistan and again infiltrated in 2016 and was operating in Handwara and Kupwara areas of North Kashmir, while the other two militants have been identified as Abu Maviya and Abu Saad.

Police detained three persons during separate raids in North Kashmir. Sources said that Showkat Ahmad Lone, Mohammad Azam Dar, both residents of Kachloo Kralgund and Tanveer Ahmad Bhat of Trichoo Rafiabad were picked up in separate raids by Police for questioning regarding the encounter at Parray Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora District on February 14.

Army chief Bipin Rawat, warned those attacking SFs during anti-militancy operations of "tough action", as the hostile conduct of locals was causing higher casualties in the Kashmir valley. The stern message from Rawat came a day after three soldiers faced heavy stone-pelting at Parray Mohalla of Bandipora when they were about to launch an operation against militants holed up there. Alerted by the stone-pelters, the militants got an opportunity to fire hand grenades and empty a few magazines from AK-rifles into the advancing troopers, leaving three jawans dead and some others, including a Commanding Officer of CRPF, injured. One terrorist managed to flee the area. General Rawat said SFs in J&K were facing higher casualties due to the manner in which the local population was preventing them from conducting the operations and "at times even supporting the terrorists to escape". "We would now request the local population that people who have picked up arms, and they are the local boys, if they want to continue with the acts of terrorism, displaying flags of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and Pakistan, then we will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter for them. They may survive today but we will get them tomorrow. Our relentless operations will continue," the Army chief said, sending out a stern message to those who support militants.

SFs arrested one ULFA-I cadre, identified as Anuj Konwar alias Konwar Asom from Tengakhat in Dibrugarh District.

Normal life was severely affected in the Gandacherra Sub-division as the IPFT, a tribal-based party, called a 48-hour bandh (shutdown) in tribals-dominated Dhalai District to protest the alleged Police ‘high-handedness ‘during the February 8 when three tribal parties had called a 12-hour bandh to oppose the Centre’s citizenship bill.

Aamir Gazdar, a close aide of Zakir Naik, was arrested by ED in connection with its probe in a money laundering case against him and others. Officials said Gazdar, director in certain firms under scanner in this case, was arrested late evening by the Enforcement Directorate under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). "Gazdar, a confidant of Naik, was put under arrest around 7:30 PM today. He will be produced in a court tomorrow for further custody," an official said. Gazdar, officials said, was called for questioning at the ED's office here and was arrested as he was allegedly "not cooperating" with the investigators.

Officials claimed the agency suspects that Gazdar allegedly handled cash funds and transactions worth INR 200 crore on behalf of Naik and his NGO named IRF. They added Gazdar's firm used to reportedly provide content for IRF's Peace TV, and its operations were handled from the western metropolis here.

Al-Qaeda has used America's "preoccupation" with the IS to regain strength in South Asia and preparing to spread its ideology in India from its "home" in western Pakistan, Bruce Hoffman, Director, Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University, told members of the House Armed Services Committee. "Al-Qaeda has never changed, and it still sees itself in what it conceives as an existential struggle against the West and against the United States in particular," Bruce Hoffman, stated.

The NIA had arrested a woman for her alleged role in the procurement and circulation of high quality FICN.

The CPI-Maoist cadres cut down trees at Pega and Edugurallapalli villages of Chintoor in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The trees obstructed the road transport between Bhadrachalam and Rajamahendravaram. SFs also recovered landmines from the spot. Each of these landmines has about 20 Kilogram explosives.

The ‘zonal commander’ Anil Kushwaha aka Sandesh and cadres of the TSPC set ablaze a JCB machine and two tractors in Kaimur District of Bihar. Maoists attack on a makeshift forest department camp housing construction equipment has led to cessation of work on a 55 kilometres stretch of the all weather Adhaura-Akbarpur Road spread over Rohtas and Kaimur Districts of western Bihar. Forest officials fear for their lives after the TSPC ‘zonal commander’ threatened Forester Manoj Kumar of dire consequences if they dared to resume the work on the project.  TSPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

The CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a BSF camp at Kartalpali near Mathili Police limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha. BSF jawans retaliated when CPI-Maoist cadres fired at the BSF camp to oppose the election at Kartalpali. No casualty has been reported in the incident. Maoists had warned the tribals not to contest or cast vote.

Criticizing the State Government for creating new Districts, NSCN-IM said that the move by the Manipur Government to carve out seven Districts ‘out of Naga territories with colonial design’ is an ‘intrusion’ upon the rights of the Nagas. They also supported the economic blockade against the creation of new Districts in the State.

Police arrested two PLA militants, identified as Mohammad Nawaz Khan and Khulakpam Farooque, from Kairam Palli of Keirao Litan Makhong near Trio English School in Imphal East District. Police recovered one .9 mm pistol along with five rounds in the magazine, a Bolero car and incriminating articles from the arrestees. 

The indefinite State-wide bandh (shutdown) called by Naga Tribal groups continued in the State and entered its fourth consecutive day. The bandh across the State was by and large peaceful. However, in Districts like Kohima, Wokha and Tuensang the bandh was relaxed as only Government offices and Government vehicles were barred from functioning.

CM T.R. Zeliang appealed to the agitating tribal groups to give him two-three more days ‘to step down’ to ensure smooth transition of power, after ruling NPF legislators backed party supremo Shurhozelie Liezietsu to take over.

In a statement issued, BPCC-A-N appealed to public on either sides of the border to avoid all such affairs that could affect peace coordination on Assam-Nagaland border and likely to deteriorate age-old good relations of Assam and Nagaland. The appeal comes in the wake of an incident of assault and extortion demand that reportedly took place near Hoolungooree Tea Estate on Assam side of the Nagaland border in Jorhat District on February 15, 2017.

Militants fired gunshots and forcibly entered into Jammu and Kashmir Bank's Turkawangam Branch in Shopian District and decamped with INR 304,000 from the bank. Police said four militants were involved in the robbery. Police said that two out of four militants involved in the bank robbery have been identified as Tariq Ahmad Bhat of Barburgh, Shopian and Zeenat-ul-Islam of Sugan, Zainapora Shopian. Tariq was identified by the INSAS he was carrying. Tariq was kept as guard outside while the other three went inside.

CRPF IG (Operations) Zulfiquar Hasan said locals were under pressure from militants to help them flee in certain areas in Kashmir which was harming the anti-terror operations. IG Hasan asserted that the forces have been acting with restraint in crowded areas to check any collateral damage and the residents should not succumb to the threats of the militants. "The casualties (of the security forces in recent operations) have taken place in crowded areas and the forces operate with restraint so that there is no collateral damage. But the crowds break the cordon and help the militants to flee. This is happening in certain areas of Kashmir, and villagers and local residents do this under pressure from militants," Hasan said.

Authorities asked the public in Kashmir to stay away from the places of encounters between SFs and militants and decided to impose prohibitory orders in the radius of three kilometres from such sites in three Districts. The decision came a day after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat warned of tough action against those hampering counter- insurgency operations. "District Administrations of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian advised people not to move towards or assemble near the places where encounters take place between security forces and militants to avoid loss and injuries to precious human lives," an official spokesman said. "Prohibitory restrictions have been imposed within the radius of three kilometers from the site of any counter- insurgency operation in these districts," the spokesman added.

SFs recovered a single .32 caliber bullet while checking in Imphal Tulihal Airport from a passenger identified as Awungshi Naomi.

BSF seized INR 2,000 notes worth INR 2, 00,000 FICN in West Bengal's Malda District.  

Meanwhile, according to a report, it has taken barely two months for Pakistan-based counterfeiters to come out with fake INR 2,000 notes. Punjab used to be the permeable border but now the money is being pumped into the country via the India-Bangladesh border. The details surfaced following recent arrests and seizures made by NIA and BSF, the report say.

A CRPF Inspector, Bhim Singh, was injured in an explosion IED planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place in Mahadev Ghati area when a team of CRPF’s 229th battalion was on patrolling duty.

A Naxal couple, ‘commander’ Punau Ram Kumeti and his wife Sarita alias Jarina surrendered in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. They cited disillusionment with CPI-Maoist ideology and violence. They surrendered before BSF and Police officials at the headquarters of BSF 165th Battalion in Durgkondal of the District.

CPI-Maoist cadres have given a call for “nationwide shutdown” on February 27 to protest against the policies of the Centre and the Chhattisgarh Government in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. The Naxals claimed that the demonetization has led to inflation, unemployment and poverty in the country. They also demanded release of seven members of TDF jailed in Sukma jail and halting of search operations and ‘fake encounters’ against the Maoists in the region.

SFs arrested a NDFB militant, Raja Basumatary, when he came to collect extortion money worth INR 2 million from the office of a private cement company at Dispur in Kamrup (metro) District. 

RPF personals recovered 19 live ammunition of 7.62mm caliber in an unclaimed bag on a general coach of Katra-Kamakhya Express on platform number 2 at Kamakhya Railway Station of Guwahati in Kamrup (metro) District.

While the bandh (shutdown) in some Districts like Kohima, Wokha and Tuensang was relaxed, the indefinite ‘State wide bandh’ by different Tribal groups entered the fifth day in Dimapur District. However, NTAC postponed the ‘public rally’ and ‘fast unto death’ stir in Kohima scheduled to be held on February 17. The decision was made in view of the appeal of CM TR Zeliang to give him two-three more days to ensure smooth transition of office and in the larger interest of the State.   

Reacting on the present situation and the ongoing bandh in the State, the NSCN-K made a statement. In the statement, the militant group stated that it is “highly perturbed” over the lengthy disruption of normal lives in the State of Nagaland and called for immediate resolution “which can be possible only if the incumbent leadership heed to the call of the people.”

AR jawans arrested a NSCN-IM cadre from Khonsa town in Tirap District during an operation. The cadre was reportedly carrying out extortion activities in the District headquarters town. He was found in possession of a loaded pistol, contraband and slips indicating collection of money, official source said.

Two Police personnel were injured when Militants hurled a grenade on a Police party in Nowgam area of Srinagar. Police said that militants hurled grenade on the Police party and ran away under the cover of darkness.

A militant was arrested in a joint operation by Police, Army and CRPF in Srinagar. The militant was identified as Irshad Ahmad Bhat of Wailoo, Pattan in North Kashmir. "The accused offender Irshad has been an active militant of HM terrorist outfit who had joined militant ranks after killing of his militant father Fayaz Ahmad Bhat in inter gang rivalry in year 2015", SSP Baramulla, Imtiaz Hussain, said. One AK series rifle, 2 AK magazines, one Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine, four hand grenades and other ammunition were recovered from the possession of the militant.

Protesters clashed with SFs in Srinagar and Sopore, after youth pelted stones on them post Friday prayers. After the culmination of congregational Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of the city, locals took to the streets to protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir. They pelted stones on the SFs, who were deployed there. Police and CRPF intercepted the protesters, triggering clashes. SFs fired several rounds of tear-gas canisters to disperse the protesters.

Delhi Police arrested two persons, identified as Sanjeev alias Mukesh and Arbin along with FICN of INR 6,00,000 face value from Sonia Vihar in Delhi.

The NIA team investigating the case related to the radicalisation of Kerala youths by terror groups, has found key accused Shajeer Mangalassery had created a group titled ‘The Gate’ on the Telegram app for coordinating terror activities in South India. Shajeer, a hardcore IS ideologist, is the 13th accused in the Kanakamala secret terror camp case. Earlier, the agency had arraigned seven persons as accused in the case.

Shajeer is suspected to be fighting for the IS in the Nagarhar province in Afghanistan. He was one of the leaders of the South Indian module of the IS, which was busted at Kanakamala. Holed up in the IS stronghold in Afghanistan, he had been in contact with the IS operatives in Kerala through Telegram and regularly posted comments on his Facebook page. According to an NIA officer, seven Telegram groups were created by the local IS activists, and their administrators are different persons. Currently, the agency is trying to retrieve information from the accounts.

An IED laid by CPI-Maoist cadres was recovered by SFs from Sarkeguda Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The IED, weighing five kilograms, detected by a team of CRPF personnel was planted by Maoists to target SF personnel during their operation in the area, a senior Police official said, adding it was later defused.

CPI-Maoist cadre, Bhandari Rammurty (24), was arrested from a place under Usoor Police Station in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. A joint team of CRPF and District Force launched a search operation around Galgam, Bhusapur and Marudbaka villages in Usoor region, and rounded up Rammurty who was trying to escape after spotting the patrolling party, Police said. During interrogation, Rammurty admitted to his involvement in the indiscriminate firing on SFs in the Usoor forests on December 13, 2015, Police added.

Acting on information, the 156th Battalion of CRPF and in association with District Police, recovered a large cache of explosives from a bus at Dahalapara area under Bijni Police Station in Chirang District. Shankarbrata Rai Medhi, Chirang SP, said that about 21 gelatin sticks, 20 detonators along with 12 extortion letters of NDFB -IKS were recovered during mobile checking. “We interrogated all the passengers of the bus but nobody has been found suspicious to be arrested. We will continue our interrogation and hope we will get a result soon,” he said. All the materials recovered have been seized by police. On the backside of an extortion letter, it was written that the explosives had to be handed over to some Baburam Gayari.

SULFA Samittee has stated that its members will hit the streets in Dispur, demanding the arrest of the lawyers who had assaulted Ajay Kumar Phukan, a judge of FT in Goalpara District. A group of lawyers assaulted Ajay Kumar Phukan on February 15 after an adverse opinion against their clients.

The fourth round of peace talks between Mizoram Government and HPC-D, which was scheduled to be held in the second week of February, has been deferred. The officials said that the next round of talks had to be deferred as other departments like Finance, DP&AR and Law have to be consulted in the process of the ongoing negotiation. The exact date for talks could not, however, be decided, but it is likely to take place in the last week of February, they added.

Suspected militants of Reding T. Sangma led ASAK released the seven abducted limestone quarry workers at Kama Adugre near Sangkinigre in South Garo Hills District. The six lorry drivers and a mechanic, identified as Shyama Rabha, Manoj Das, Dipak Baiswa, Khitish Rabha, Amulya Kalita, Dinobandhu Roy and Kameshwar Pandit, were sleeping at the quarry site at Sangkini Dapgre village in Chokpot (South Garo Hills) when they were abducted on February 14. The men after their release walked on foot to reach the main road early on February 19th morning and further went to their respective homes. Although it is not clear whether any ransom money was paid to secure their release, Police is not completely ruling out this possibility.

Chairman’ Bernard N Marak of the now disbanded ANVC-B alleged that the account numbers of the former cadres were submitted without the knowledge of the ‘leaders’ of the outfit and described it as an attempt to derail the Garo settlement with corrupt intention and also to deprive the ex-cadres of their due packages. According to him on December 9, 2016  former ANVC-B ‘leaders’ and senior members had a meeting where all cadres, clarified how Police made them to believe that accounts were to be submitted to the Police else they will not receive any packages.

CM T R Zeliang resigned hours after he called an “emergency meeting”. Two organisations, NTAC Kohima and JCC, are leading the agitation against the State Government's following its decision to conduct ULB polls in the State with 33 per cent reservation for women. Both the bodies are yet to call off the indefinite bandh (shutdown) in the State since February 6, demanding the resignation of CM T R Zeliang, following the death of two civilians in Police firing on January 31.

Earlier, NTAC Kohima has asked all citizens to be prepared for any eventuality in the event CM T.R. Zeliang failed to keep his word to step down by February 19 midnight. NTAC also informed that the ongoing bandh (shutdown) on Government offices and movement of Government vehicles will continue till further information. In this regard, NTAC media cell informed all tribal hohos in their respective Districts to deploy volunteers to ensure that the bandh has been enforced. Further, NTAC appealed private hospitals and medical establishments to be on standby for any casualty or emergency cases in the event the situation aggravate and goes out of hand.

The State Home Department is preparing a ‘special report’ on the status of the FT in the State to be sent to the UMHA. The report would also detail about what led to the recent incident of assault on a Judge of FT by lawyers at Goalpara. A team of Home Department has been entrusted with the job of preparing the report, which is expected to be sent to the UMHA within this week. 

UHM Rajnath Singh stated that the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 would not affect the integrity and territorial boundary of Manipur in any manner. The Framework Agreement does not mention anything about Manipur and the word ‘Manipur’ cannot be found in any place of the agreement, UHM Rajnath Singh stated. Further, UHM Rajnath Singh said, “The Manipur Government did not send any representative for the first round of tripartite talks to end the economic blockade.” Disclosing that the Centre had provided the paramilitary forces as sought by the Manipur Government, he said, “I do not understand why the Centre is blamed for the blockade. India has the federal system of Government and the Constitution clearly says that the Centre cannot intervene on a State subject like law and order.”

Court of CJM, Imphal East remanded UNC ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and ‘information secretary’ Shangkhel Stephen to judicial custody till March 3. The two UNC leaders are currently lodged in Manipur Central Jail. The duo will be produced before the Court of CJM Imphal East on February 21 and the High Court of Manipur on February 22.

In a revelation, it has come to the fore that Dawood Ibrahim used to fund Zakir Naik's IRF. According to Zakir Naik's CFO Aamir Gazdar, "Dawood Ibrahim has funded Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation." Aamir Gazdar said, "the said funding by Dawood Ibrahim used to take place through a mediator - Sultan Ahmed." The Enforcement Directorate officials said they suspected that Gazdar handled funds and transactions worth INR 200 crore on behalf of Naik and his NGO. These important details have now revealed Zakir Naik's Pakistan and Dawood connection.  Authorities are investigating other details too.

A group of 40 Police personnel escaped a landmine blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres at Kaligonda forest area under Chintoor Police Station limits in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Chintoor SI, P Srinivasa Kumar, who headed the combing team, told that they suspected the Sabari Dalam of CPI-Maoist behind the blast.

In an exchange of fire with the SFs, two cadres of CPI-Maoist were killed in two separate encounters in Bijapur District and Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. In Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh, one female CPI-Maoist cadre was killed and two weapons were recovered in a joint operation of Telangana Greyhounds and Bijapur District Police. In Sukma District of Chhattisgarh, STF and the DRG killed one CPI-Maoist cadre and two weapons were recovered. No injuries were reported among the SFs.

SFs engaged in anti-Naxalite operation arrested ‘area commander’ Upendra Yadav (35) and Ajit Yadav (25), a cadre, of TPC from two different places in Ranka Police Station area of Garhwa District of Jharkhand. Two bikes and cell phones were recovered from Upendra and Ajit. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

SFs have planned a new strategy to nail down rest of the Naxals along the Bengal-Jharkhand border. A number of Naxal squads have also become active in Banspahari and Simulpal in West Midnapore of West Bengal. Joint forces are expected to raid both places when operations begin. Sources informed that the high alert has been sounded after intelligence report that the Maoists may attack at Naxal areas of Ghatshila and Patamda in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

No affect on polling was reported in Koraput District and Malkangiri District of Odisha during the polls in Odisha. The polling percentage was reported 72. Most of the polling booths were situated in Naxal -hit areas in both Bandhugaon and Boipariguda blocks. In Malkangiri, there was a voter turnout of 75 per cent in Kalimela.

Two persons were injured in a low intensity blast in a house at village Sungri in Mahore in Reasi District. According to SSP Reasi, Tahir Sajjad Bhat, the blast took place around 11.30 AM in the house of Shabir Ahmad, when he was cleaning the junk on the roof top. In the blast, Shabir Ahmed received injuries in hand while his brother-in-law Bashir Ahmed, resident of Sar Mahore, who was also present at the scene, sustained injuries in his leg.

A militant was arrested after he fired at the CRPF camp in Nawdal village of Tral in Pulwama District. A Police official said that Mohammad Maqbool Ganaie of Lam Tral fired at the 180 Battalion of CRPF camp at Nawdal before attempting to lob a grenade. The official said that a pistol and a grenade were recovered from his possession and no casualties were reported in the firing. Ganaie had joined militancy in 2007 and later surrendered before SFs in the same year after remaining active for seven months. He was jailed for three years after his surrender but was released in 2010. Sources said that he had become active again and was arrested by the SFs.

BSF seized 48 FICN of INR 2,000 with face value of INR 96, 000 from Indo-Bangladesh border in Malda District of West Bengal. Official sources said, acting on a tip off, BSF booked a man- Shariful Shah (32)- from Baishnabnagar near NH-34 with 48 FICN of INR 2,000. "Following the introduction of new currency notes of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500, there have been around half a dozen cases where fake currency notes in the denomination of Rs 2,000 were recovered but their quality of far inferior. Most of them were just scanned copy of the note. But the recovery made last night on by our investigators appear to be better than what was seized by the force sometime back," said a senior BSF official.

Acting on input provided by an arrested ULFA-I militant, Anuj Konwar alias Konwar Asom, SFs recovered a high-power grenade from Khanikar Tea Estate in Dibrugarh District.

SFs arrested a suspected linkman of NSCN-IM at Maibela of Sonari in Charaideo District.

SFs recovered a 9-mm pistol from a paddy field at Bhalukoni Gaon under Kakotibari Police Station in Charaidew District.

AR arrested one militant of NSCN-IM, identified as Tuithung Achan from Jalukie Town in Peren District. AR also recovered one 7.65 mm pistol with magazine and two live rounds from the arrested militant.

A Delhi Police special cell team arrested Akhruzama Khan (40), the suspected kingpin of FICN racket in India, from Chandra Vihar Colony under Rajeev Nagar Police Station area in Patna. Fake INR 100 notes of INR 20,000 face value were also recovered from his house. Khan was arrested following the arrest of Sanjeev alias Mukesh and Arbin with FICN of INR 6,00,000 face value from Sonia Vihar in Delhi on February 17.

Two militia cadres of PAC of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Rural Police at Paderu of Visakhapatnam Agency in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. They are identified as Korra Appa Rao (40) and Korra Chinna Rao (25) and are natives of Mandibha area of G Madugula Mandal in Visakhapatnam agency. The Maoist said that they were fed up with the CPI-Maoist ideology.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed Sunil Yadav, husband of a deputy mukhiya, at Champapur village in Lakhisarai District of Bihar.

A team of Police and the CRPF recovered eight can bombs, two hand grenades and mixtures of explosives from Katia forest at the Chhipadohar Police Station area in Latehar District of Jharkhand.

A CAG of India’s performance audit of special development initiatives in the Naxal-affected areas over the past five years has found most of these programmes failed miserably in Odisha. A final report of the same audit is likely to be placed in the Budget session of the Odisha Assembly starting next week.

Seven CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered to the SP, Bharati Ghosh, in West Midnapore District of West Bengal. The seven had 48 cases pending against them. The seven surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres were – Saheb Murmu alias Jayanta, Saheb’s wife Manasi Mahato, Dilip Singh, Malati Singh wife of Dilip, Samir Mahato, Baidyanath Mahato and Banamali Mahato. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres deposited one AK-47 rifle and seven country made guns to the Police. The surrendered Maoists, all residents of Jhargram Sub-Division, were allegedly involved in extortion, attacks and other criminal cases in past few years.

A militant was killed by the BSF during an infiltration bid along the LoC in Rajouri District. Officials said the incident occurred around midnight when BSF troops deployed along the LoC fence in Keri sector of Rajouri detected some suspicious movement and a heavy exchange of fire ensued in which the militant was killed. During search the BSF party recovered the body of the militant along with an AK-47 rifle, six loaded magazines and a monocular night vision device from the Pakistan side. A black bag containing another loaded AK magazine, dry fruits and juice was also recovered. The identity of the militant is yet to be ascertained.

A Government official source said that on the basis of a confession made by arrested ULFA-I cadre Gagan Hazarika alias Joydeep Cheleng, the NIA had confirmed about the proper identity of the ‘chairman’ of ULFA-I. According to the NIA, the real name of the ‘chairman’ Abhijit Asom is Mukul Hazarika and he is a doctor at Billingham town in Durham of UK.  The source said that apart from being a practising doctor in the UK, Hazarika was associated with the UK-based human rights group, Assam Watch, which used to raise alleged incidents of human rights violation by SFs in the State. The Assam Watch is an alleged front of ULFA, which had arranged the travel of then ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa and ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia to Geneva to attend a meeting of the UN Sub-Commission's Working Group on Indigenous People in July 1997. The source further said that the NIA would soon move the court for issuing an arrest warrant against Dr Hazarika as a prelude to requesting the UK for his extradition.

The JCC and NTAC decided to lift the bandh (shutdown) on Government machineries with effect from February 20 evening. JCC convenor, Supu Jamir said that the decision to call off the bandh was made following the resignation of T.R. Zeliang.  The Government authorities also finally decided to restore mobile internet/data and SMS services which were snapped since January 30.

NPF President and DAN Chairman Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu was unanimously elected as leader of DAN Legislature Party by the alliance legislators at a meeting in Kohima to replace TR Zeliang as Nagaland CM.

The AMSU categorically rejected UMH Rajnath Singh’s assurance that the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM does not mention anything about Manipur and it would not affect the territorial integrity of Manipur. In a statement issued by the AMSU, its ‘secretary general’ Manjit Sarangthem said, “We would like to see and study the Framework Agreement if it contains anything inimical to the interest of Manipur.” AMSU further stated that this verbal assurance given by UHM Rajnath Singh was not enough. Framework Agreement between Union Government and NSCN-IM was signed on August 3, 2015.

Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh said that he was ready for tripartite talks with the UNC to end the three-month-long economic blockade.

A team of Special Force-10 commandos, in an encounter, killed a GNLA militant, Walamdaria M. Sangma, at Riangdim village in Shallang in West Khasi Hills District. A group of GNLA militants were there to collect tax from coal dealers and exporters.

A doctor from Eluru in Andhra Pradesh who was abducted by Islamic State (IS) in Libya has been freed, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted in the late night. She announced: "We have rescued Dr. Ramamurthy Kosanam in Libya. Dr.Kosanam has suffered a bullet injury. We are bringing him to India shortly. With this, we have rescued all the six Indians abducted there. I appreciate the good work done by our mission there." Dr Ramamurthy was working for Lbn-E-Sina Hospital at Sirte when he was kidnapped on September 8, 2015 along with some others.

The government decided not to support a Private Member's Bill which seeks to declare Pakistan a country sponsoring terrorism, reports indiatvnews.com. "India can't declare any country a 'Terror State' as it has to maintain diplomatic relations with all countries. Besides, in principle it is very rare that government supports any Private Member's Bill," an official of UMHA said.

'The Declaration of Countries as Sponsor of Terrorism Bill, 2016', moved by Independent member Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha seeks to call out states like Pakistan that continue to associate, promote, patronise and sponsor terrorism against our nation and provides for snapping all economic and trade relations with that country. The UMHA has conveyed to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat about its opposition to the Bill, saying such a move may ‘jeopardise’ international relations.

SFs killed seven CPI-Maoist cadres in an exchange of fire in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. According to AIG of Police of the ANO, Devnath, three deceased were identified as CPI-Maoist Bodh Ghat area committee member and LOS ‘commander’ Nirmala, Deputy LOS ‘commander’ Somji and area committee member Nasik. All three carried a reward of INR 500,000. Two INSAS rifles and four other weapons were also recovered.

A CRPF jawan Ghanshyam of 212 Battalion was injured in an IED blast in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The blast took place near Paidigudem village under the Kistaram Police Station limits when the CRPF team was out on a patrol.

Mantu Khaira, ‘zonal-commander’ of CPI-Maoist, was killed in an anti-Maoist operation, led by SP, Rajeev Ranjan, in Dahibara forests under Anandpur in Banka District of Bihar. The SFs, comprising personnel from the STF of Bihar Police and Sashastra Seema Bal SSB, recovered two SLRs, an AK-47 rifle and some grenades at the encounter site. No SFs were injured during the encounter.

One Munna Yadav (28), brother of Naxal outfit JPC, ‘sub zonal commander’ Dasrath, was arrested near Panch Mandir Chowk in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand. SFs recovered INR 250,000 from him, which was extorted from a company constructing Tandwa-Simaria road, and two mobile phones.

Four persons were arrested and huge quantity of explosives recovered from Shikaripara area in Dumka District of Jharkhand. Mithun Sheikh, Latiful Sheikh, Afzal Ansari and Md Ansari were carrying illegally 3,000 electric detonators, 400 neo gel sticks and 21 kilogram of ammonium nitrate in a pick-up truck, when they were intercepted by the Police.

Gadchiroli Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres from the Etapalli forest area in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The Maoists are members of Platoon 3, have been identified as Nilesh Potawi and Ajit Pude.

About 68.27% polling was registered in second phase of the ZP and Panchayat Samiti elections in the highly restive four tehsils of Aheri division in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The Maoists had called for a boycott of the polls and had put posters and banners in some sensitive areas of the District..

A group of about 30 armed CPI-Maoist cadres abducted at least five villagers of Mahupadar and Kamarpalli villages under Mathili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha on February 20. Maoist suspected them to be ‘Police informers’ and held them hostage for more than 12 hours before setting them free today. The Maoists had tried them in a Praja court on the charges of being ‘Police informers’. They were also beaten up severely before being allowed to walk free. The abducted villagers were Rama Kabasi, Rame Madhi, Unga Kabasi, Chaitanya Madhi and Deba Madkami.

Three Kashmiri youth from Sopore in Baramulla District were arrested by Special Cell of Delhi. Three youth were identified as Yawar Muzaffar, Waseem Dar and Danish Dar of Batpora Sopore, who were wanted by Sopore Police in stone pelting cases, were evading arrest and had fled to Delhi. Jammu and Kashmir Police in Sopore after getting information about the presence of the trio in Delhi informed the Police who arrested them in a raid. A Police officer said that they were on the run and were instrumental in stone pelting incidents and protests in Sopore area. 

Two Policemen were injured when suspected ZUF militants attacked the convoy of Deputy CM Gaikhangam as he went visit his Khoupum Tampak residence in Noney District. Militants launched the first attack at around 7.50 am at Lubanglong Khunou (Namkaolong) Part II area along Old Cachar Road in Noney District. Then the militants carried out the second attack on a Police team which came from the direction of Rengpang near Irang River at around 8.30 am. No one was injured in the both the attacks but the Gypsy of the Police team suffered some damages. Later, the militants launched the third attack at Lubanglong Khunou Part II, some distance away from the spot where the first attack was launched, at around 12.30 pm when the Deputy CM was at his residence. One Police personnel identified as Yumnam Jinesh (34) was injured in this attack. After Deputy CM Gaikhangam had left his village for capital Imphal, militants attacked Police forces who were heading for Imphal for the fourth time at around 3 pm along Old Cachar Road near the spot where the first attack was carried out. One Police personnel, identified as Kh Bobo, injured in the attack. 

Students and women vendors of Bishnupur District have launched agitations supporting the series of agitation taken up by AMSU demanding a white paper on the Framework Agreement signed between Union Government and NSCN-IM.

Underscoring the essence of ethical and respectable voting, the militant group, KRA, under the umbrella of KNO, called for free, fair and clean election in the ensuing 11th Manipur State Assembly Election, 2017.

The ‘chairman’ of GNLA, Champion Sangma, was granted bail by a lower court, more than four years after his arrest from an area near Indo-Bangladesh border on July 30, 2012.

The agitating tribal groups led by NTAC and JCC withdrew their indefinite bandh (shutdown) on Government offices and plying of Government vehicles on the road, following the resignation of CM T.R. Zeliang on February 19.

In a statement, the umbrella organisation of displaced Brus, MBDPF said that the Bru refugees lodged in seven relief camps in northern Tripura since the last 20 years had decided not to return to Mizoram as the Mizoram Government has “refused” to meet their demands. The MBDPF said that a public meeting was held at all the seven relief camps on February 14 and 15 in which the refugees expressed their unwillingness to return to Mizoram by raising their hands. The public meeting was conducted as per the decision of a meeting of JMG in Guwahati on February 12 in which the MBDPF was entrusted to submit the public decision within three months. The JMG meeting, comprising representatives of the Ministries of Home Affairs of Mizoram and Tripura and MBDPF, went inconclusive.

Police arrested two men from Dharwad (Karnataka), for alleged involvement in circulating INR 6, 84,500 FICN. Police seized fake currency notes, from them in old INR 500 and INR 1000 denomination.

Intelligence inputs have confirmed that Pakistan’s ISI has activated its networks in Bangladesh and Nepal, to once again circulate FICN across the country. According to a report ISI has roped in Dawood Ibrahim’s men who function from Mumbai. While fake currency notes of the denomination INR 100 is also in circulation, ISI will start printing high quality INR 2,000 and INR 500 notes. The increasing number of people being caught with fake currency also shows that wrongdoers are not being deterred from indulging in printing illegal currency. These fake notes are originating from Pakistan and that country has been pushing fake currency for decades now in an effort to foment terror and other extremist related activities in India.

Mangal Mara (25), a native of Timapur village was injured in an IED blast, triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place between Timapur and Murdanda villages under Basaguda Police Station limits, Bijapur ASP, Mohit Garg said. CPI-Maoist cadres have planted the IEDs to target SFs on this strategically important route often used by SFs. Security personnel have set up their camps both in Timapur and Murdanda.

CM Naveen Patnaik, requested Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, to ask the UMHA to waive the entire amount of charges on deployment of CAPFs personnel in the Naxal affected areas in Odisha. Around 15 Battalions of State Police Forces have been raised and engaged in combat of the Naxals. Over a 20,000-Police Force cadre has been created to face the CPI-Maoist menace. At present, 16 Battalions of CAPFs have been deployed in the State’s Maoist zones, besides a CoBRA Battalion in Koraput. The State Government has been repeatedly drawing attention of the Union Government that there is a gross asymmetric deployment of CAPFs in Malkangiri and Koraput Districts along the border vis-à-vis Chhattisgarh. This is creating serious security vacuum in these two districts, for which there is influx of Chhattisgarh-based CPI- Maoist cadres into Odisha.

At least three militants including ‘district commander’ of HM, fled from the cordon after stone pelting by locals on SFs during the operation in Kulgam District. Massive stone-pelting clashes erupted in two villages of the District as SFs launched search and cordon operations against a group of militants including HM ‘commander’, Altaf Ahmad Kachru. Sources said that Army’s 1-RR, SOG of JKP and CRPF cordoned off Tarigam village of Kulgam District after receiving an input about the presence of three militants. Sources said that as the searches were started, the locals including women came out of their houses and held protests. The locals pelted stones on SFs involved in operations and tried to break the cordon to give safe passage to militants who were believed to be trapped inside. 

Police fired teargas and fired gun shots in air to disperse the protesters. Clashes between the two sides continued for several hours and few persons were reported to be injured. Following the clashes, the cordon and search operation in the Tarigam village was called off and sources said that militants managed to flee from the cordon. Clashes also erupted at Qoimoh area of the District after SFs launched a cordon and search operation following information that the militants who fled Tarigam have taken shelter in nearby Makhdoom Mohalla locality of Qoimoh. SFs called off the operation at Qoimoh following clashes. Minor stone-pelting clashes were also reported from Kakpora area of Pulwama District. However, the situation there was brought under control by Police.

The State Government has started the process of raising a strong second line of defence to work behind the BSF along the International Border with Bangladesh to check infiltration of foreigners to the State. Meanwhile, more than 800 chars (mid-channel bars on the river Brahmaputra) have been surveyed by Police and the process to carry out such surveys in the other chars is on. Sources in the State Home Department told the newspaper that the first step towards a strong second line defence would be to create posts of SP-Border in the Districts having international border with Bangladesh. The process of creation of the posts has started. 

The ANC cut short its 12-hour rail blockade at Kokrajhar and Udalguri Railway stations by nearly five-and-a-half hours after submitting a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through the Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner. ANC's demands included inclusion of Adivasis (Santhal, Oraons, Kharia, Munda, Gonds, Sawras, Kishan, Lohras, Kol, Bhils, Porjas, Bedias, Mirdhas and the like) in Scheduled Tribes list, political solution to the issues of Adivasi militant groups that have entered into a truce with the Government, rehabilitation and allotment of land and land documents to the Adivasi and tea garden workers who had been evicted. "We will launch a 100-hour blockade of national highways from March 22 if we don't get any response from the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister regarding our demands," ANC ‘general secretary’ Birsing Munda.

District Police arrested Hiralal Kherwar and Veerendra Kherwar during a search operation in Naxal-hit areas of Lohardaga District of Jharkhand. Police recovered wire used for making IED, Codex wire, Ammonium Nitrate and other materials.

Suspecting them to be sympathisers of CPI-Maoist, Vizag Rural Police and Special Forces arrested up to 60 villagers in Koyyuru and GK Veedhi Mandals at Visakha Agency in Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. It is important to note that, two persons from GK Veedhi Mandal — Gemmela Ashok (32) and Pangi Naresh (25) — were arrested, on February 2, at Chitrakonda area in Odisha by SFs when they were allegedly purchasing food grains for Maoists.

The District administration of Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh plans to set up around 200 mobile towers in the rural areas including a major portion of Visakha Agency to curb CPI-Maoist movement as well as address various other issues.

Five cadres of CPI-Maoist were arrested by SFs from the forest of Ganganpalli village under Basaguda Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. One of the arrested Maoists is Velkamrama (25), who was active as head of DAKMS and carried a reward of INR 100,000. The other four arrested Maoists were identified as Podiyam Shankar (25), Karam Ramesh (20), Odiyam Hurra (25) and Sodhi Samaiyya (30), all active as lower rung members.

An active cadre of CPI-Maoist, Ramlagan Paharia was arrested in Latehar District of Jharkhand. Paharia was arrested during a joint anti-Naxal offensive of the Police and the CRPF.

Two hardcore women cadres of the CPI-Maoist carrying cash reward of INR 400,000 each surrendered in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The surrendered Maoists have been identified as Sumitra Madvi alias Manila (35) of village Simrikhal under Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra and Jagi Madkami alias Namita (33) of Tekguda village in Malkangiri District. According to SP, Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, Sumita joined the CPI-Maoist organisation in 2001 and was working as an ‘area committee member’ of the AOBSZC.

The LWE wing of Crime Branch in Bhubaneswar in Khordha District of Odisha, asked Police to expedite LWE cases. The State Crime Branch has asked the Naxal-affected Districts of Odisha to create a databank of such cases and appoint dedicated officers to pursue the progress of investigations. The LWE wing of Crime Branch supervises investigation into Maoist offences in the State. Official sources said at least 700 LWE related cases were registered in different Police Stations since 2000. Nearly 70 per cent of the cases are pending investigation whereas conviction rate stands at nearly seven per cent.

Three jawans and a woman were killed after terrorists attacked a patrolling party at Mulu Chitragam in Shopian District of J&K. Four other army personnel were injured in the ambush. The woman was killed in the cross-firing. The army personnel, who belonged to 44^th RR, were returning from an operation at Kungnoo Shopian when the militants opened fire. The Police said one woman, identified as Taja, “was hit by a stray bullet inside her house during the cross fire”. “She also succumbed to her injuries,” said Police spokesman.

AR troopers arrested a NSCN-K militant, Pansai Pansa, from Wakka village in Longding District. One pistol, five live rounds of ammunition and four mobile phones were recovered.

One NSCN-IM militant, 'sergeant' Solomon, was killed, during an encounter, between suspected NSCN-IM cadres and 2/5 GR at Khoupum Chingthak area in Noney District. Two others including one NSCN-IM cadre 'lieutenant' Kahaulun and a woman Ajingna Rongmei (50) were injured during the incident.

Two fratricidal clashes between NSCN-IM and ZUF cadres were reported from Tanripou area of Dialing village in Tamenglong District and Lanjaising area of Noney District. Three unidentified NSCN-IM cadres were injured in the twin clashes. These clashes happened as NSCN-IM cadres were taking their injured fellow cadres to Hospital following the encounter with 2/5 GR.

Governor Dr Najima Heptulla appealed to the UNC leaders and its supporters to lift the indefinite economic blockade taking into consideration the immense hardships faced by the people and in light of the upcoming 11th State Assembly election.

The CorCom, a conglomerate of six Imphal Valley-based militant outfits, announced a total shut down of Manipur over the PM’s scheduled visit to the State on February 25. CorCom called for total shut down all over Manipur from 6 am morning of February 25 till the Indian PM leaves Manipur. However, medical services, religious activities, media, water supply, electricity and fire services would not be covered by the total shut down, it added.

The State Government revealed that it incurred a loss of INR 259.4 million in terms of salary to its employees, including teachers, during the agitations in 2013 called by 14 pressure groups demanding implementation of the ILP system in Meghalaya.

The loss was highlighted in the deposition made before the Special Court dealing with ILP-related case by Commissioner and Secretary of the Personnel Department L. Diengdoh.

A team of Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxal force of Andhra Pradesh Police, killed two Naxals in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh . The slain Maoists were identified as Gemmeli Narayan Rao alias Jambri and Chittibabu. Jambri was a ‘divisional committee member’ of Galikonda area committee of the CPI-Maoist. Police recovered a Thompson sub-machine gun, a shotgun and three detonators. Jambri, native of Mettiguda under GK Veedhi Mandal in Vizag Agency area, carried a reward of INR 400,000 on his head. He had played a key role in the killing of 37 members of Greyhounds in Balimela in 2008.

The 44 ITBP recovered explosives along with empty cans and Naxal literature recovered at Pallemadi village in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh.

Jharkhand DGP, D K Pandey, said Naxals activity in Parasnath hills in Giridih District of Jharkhand. He said the state administration is serious about the security arrangement in Bhelwaghati situated on the Jharkhand -Bihar border of the District.

Stone-throwing clashes broke out in parts of summer capital Srinagar and in Sopore town of North Kashmir, after Friday prayers during which Police used teargas against stone-throwers. Witnesses said soon after the culmination of Friday congregational prayers, dozens of masked youth came out of Jama Masjid in Nowhatta and started sloganeering. Amid sloganeering, the masked youth pelted stones on SFs deployed in the area and clashed with them for nearly an hour. Later, the clashes spilled over to nearby neighbourhoods and Police used dozens of teargas shells against the stone-throwers at Saraf Kadal and Rajouri Kadal localities. The clashes continued for several hours.

Similar clashes raged soon after Friday prayers culminated at Jama Masjid in northern Sopore town of Baramulla District. Masked youth resorted to heavy stone-pelting on SF personnel in Jama Masjid area and the forces retaliated by lobbing teargas canisters. Police said no one was injured during post-Friday clashes.

A major tragedy was averted as Police recovered explosive hidden in a farm land in Kishtwar District. Several gelatin sticks weighing around 800 grams wrapped in a polythene bag were recovered from a farm land on the Jammu-Kishtwar Highway, reports said. A Bomb Disposal squad was called to dispose of the explosives.

AR arrested NSCN-R cadre, Ranapio Sampit, at Kharsang in Changlang District.

Police arrested an agent of a suspected Islamic radical groups identified as Alamgir Hussain, from an unidentified area. The suspect came under Police scanner after he bought properties worth crores at Badarpur town in Karimganj District. He visited Singapore frequently on a Bangladeshi passport between 2001 and 2013. "We have taken him into seven-day custody. We have doubts on his source of income going by the wealth he has amassed within a short period of time. He could be a member of some Islamic radical group. We will get all the facts only after a thorough investigation," said SP of Karimganj PR Kar.

Union MOS Home Kiren Rijiju stated that the rumour that the FA signed between the Union Government and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 may affect the territorial integrity of Manipur is devoid of any basis. Speaking to media persons in Imphal, Rijiju maintained that the Framework Agreement is not a final agreement. A final agreement would be reached only after the dialogue process ends. The political dialogue is not an isolated process. Centre’s interlocutor for the political dialogue, RN Ravi has been going to different places and consulting all stake holders. There is not an iota of truth in the assumption that the Framework Agreement may affect the integrity of Manipur. Yet some people have been deliberately trying to misinterpret the FA without having any knowledge about it. The FA is only a half page document and it only acknowledges the uniqueness of Naga history and Naga problems. The half page document merely states the position of the Government of India regarding the Naga issue but the final outcome of the dialogue process would be determined after consulting all stake holders, Rijiju stated.

 Citizens' groups reiterated their demand for disclosure of the framework agreement fine print on the eve of Prime Minister’s visit to the State on February 25. "We demand details of the framework agreement as the territorial integrity of Manipur is threatened by the Centre and NSCN-IM talks," Johnson Elangbam, the president of the UCM, said at a daylong discussion on the pact. The discussion was organised by the UCM and CCSK.

Police recovered a hand grenade and a bomb from separate places in Manipur, a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Northeastern State to address an election rally. The recovery comes even as an apex body of six rebel groups in Manipur has given a call for a "complete shutdown" in the state on February 25 to protest against Modi's visit, saying it was aimed at "hoodwinking the people of Manipur".

Four senior cadres of the GNLA, including an area commander, surrendered to Police at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills. The four militants, ‘commander’ Sengbat Ch Momin alias Kamdak, Wesefield Ch Marak alias Dakchak, Joshua N. Marak alias Kolgrik alias Balmika and Tush M. Marak alias Gotcheng, submitted three automatic rifles and ammunitions during the surrender.

The BSF has informed the BGB that seven militant outfits from the Northeast have set up as many as 20 camps in Bangladesh. Sources in the BSF said the NLFT has 10 camps, HNLC from Meghalaya's Khasi hills has three camps, ULFA-I and MPLA have two camps each while GNLA of Meghalaya, PREPAK and KYKL, both from Manipur, have a camp each.

NSCN-IM has cautioned certain individuals that their “campaign” to sabotage the peace talks with a new approach of “Nagas of Nagaland” and “treacherous venom” to mislead the people by demanding the declaration of the content of the framework agreement would not deter the dedication of the true Nagas. In a release, NSCN-IM maintained that the Naga people have hope that the agreement will bring peace and honourable settlement of the Naga goals. A framework agreement was signed between the NSCN-IM and the Union Government on August 3, 2015.

India has decided to throw open its border roads to help Bangladesh construct border outposts in CHT, known for its inhospitable terrain. Some areas in Chittagong, bordering Tripura and Mizoram, have no motorable roads and India has decided to allow the BGB to construct 13 border outposts using the road connectivity available in the two States.   

India has decided to throw open its border roads to help Bangladesh construct border outposts in CHT, known for its inhospitable terrain. Some areas in Chittagong, bordering Tripura and Mizoram, have no motorable roads and India has decided to allow the Border Guard Bangladesh to construct 13 border outposts using the road connectivity available in the two States. 

District Force and CRPF 85 Battalion arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre from Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. SFs also demolished a Naxal memorial during the time the search operation to find the Naxalites were on. The identity of the Maoist is yet to be ascertained.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a private passenger bus in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Security has been stepped up across Bastar division which comprises the Districts of Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Sukma and Kanker.

Five suspected cadres of the TPC, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested from Ranchi District of Jharkhand. City SP, Kaushal Kishore said two of them, Rajesh Ganjhu and Pradeep Kesri, have been identified to be squad members of the outfit, while the others — Rohit Kesri, Jairam Bhuinya and Mahesh Mahato — are their supporters. "One country-made pistol and three live cartridges have been seized from their possession and the Kotwali police are interrogating them for further details," the SP said.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a private bus at Metlacheruvu village under Bhadrakali Police limits in Suryapet District of Telangana. The bus was carrying about 26 passengers to Bijapur of Chhattisgarh from Venkatapuram of Jayashankar Bhupalapally District of Telangana.

SFs arrested 12 persons on stone pelting charges during which 15 persons were injured in Pulwama town in Pulwama District. A shutdown was observed in Pulwama town amid stone-throwing clashes against arrest of a shopkeeper. A Police official said the arrested shopkeeper, Bilal Ahmad Mir, is a stone-pelter and was held on charges of stone-throwing in the town. Protesters came out of their houses and pelted stones on SFs in the town. The clashes continued throughout the day and security men lobbed dozens of teargas shells to disperse the rock-hurlers. The protesters were seeking release of the arrested shopkeeper. Eight SF personnel were among 15 persons who were injured in these clashes. Police later detained 12 persons on charges of stone pelting during the clashes in Pulwama.

Suspected ULFA-I militants fired inside the bungalow of a Dipankar Buragohain ,tea garden manager of Disam tea estate in Naharkatia  of Dibrugarh District. Militants opened fire after the manager refused to pay the extortion money amounting to INR 600,000, as contribution for ULFA-I.

The RPF, political wing of PLA, observed its 38th foundation day. A press release issued by the ‘publicity secretary’ of the organisation stated that the foundation day was observed at the party’s ‘General Headquarters’, ‘council headquarters’, ‘central bureau’ and its various divisions, SR-1, SR-2, SR-3, SR-4, PLA general headquarters, ‘tactical command’, ‘strategic command’, ‘252 mobile battalion’ and other PLA units, ‘departments’, ‘stations’ where the party’s flag was unfurled.

Militant formation, ZUF’s ‘chairman’ Kamson has raised the demand for creation of a common homeland for Zeliangrong people on the occasion of the outfit’s 6th raising day. “Our present struggle is not seeking secession from India but we are demanding a common homeland within the Union of India for the fragmented Zeliangrong territory which was divided by the British rulers and continues in independent India,” Kamson said.

A Police team included SF-10 commandos, in an encounter, killed ‘c-in-c’ of disbanded UALA, Singbirth N. Marak alias Norok. X. Momin, who was on the run, in a hideout located inside a forest near Thapa Matronggre village in North Garo Hills District. The Police team recovered a Chinese AK-47 rifle, a US pistol, one hand grenade, ammunition, SIM cards and some documents from the encounter site. “The gunfight began when the armed militants fired at the commandos while resisting to surrender,” Dalton P, Marak, the SP of North Garo Hills, said. Police further claimed that four others had managed to flee the spot under the cover of darkness.

Singbirth N Marak alias Norok X Momin, who had reluctantly participated in the disbanding ceremony on June 9, 2016, allegedly hid a sizeable number of arms from the Police. In 2016, East Garo Hills District Police intercepted a cache of weapons and ammunition that were being shipped to GNLA and also recovered the payment amounting to several lakhs of rupees that was paid for the weapons. With a red alert against him, Norok slipped into Assam and began the process of forming a new militant group with the support of NDFB, ULFA and a section of UALA which, according to Police, had already been named as UANF.

NSCN-IM delegation led by Thuingaleng Muivah and JIC ‘Chairman’ RN Ravi are holding weekly meetings to iron out differences and solution is in sight. The report sources the information from an official, privy to the talks, who said that New Delhi, believes a breakthrough has been made in the talks with the NSCN-IM agreeing, in principle, that Naga communities can exercise autonomous political rights within existing State boundaries. The evolving formula, it believes, would meet the group’s demand for integration, while at once addressing Manipur’s territorial anxieties.

AR arrested one cadre of NSCN-R, identified as Vekupe, at general area of Porba Junction in Phek District. AR recovered four extortion money ‘collection slips’ from the arrested militant.

One of the youth among the 21 persons from Kasaragod District of Kerala suspected to have joined the Islamic State (IS) in June 2016, identified as Hafeesudheen T K, was reportedly killed in a drone attack at an IS-stronghold in Afghanistan. The information on Hafeesudheen's death reached the relatives in Padanna village in Kasaragod District on February 26 through a ‘Telegram app’ message from the account of Ashfaq Majeed, who is also a member of the 21-member group that joined the terrorist outfit.

According to Afghan media, at least six leaders of the IS were among 47 other militants killed in an air and ground operations carried by the SFs in Haska Meean and Bati Kot Districts of Eastern Nangarhar Province. As many 25 other IS cadres were also wounded in operation, the reports said.

However, the Kerala Police have intimated the relatives of Hafeesudheen that there is no immediate possibility to confirm the news. The Nangarhar Province is out of bound even for Afghan Government agencies and NIA has sought the help of Interpol to get the details of the Indians in the IS.

ATS arrested two suspected Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) operatives from Rajkot and Bhavnagar, who had conspired to carry out terror activities in the country and was planning to collect chemical explosives from cracker manufacturers in Gujarat. Two brothers, Wasim and Nathin, were arrested from Rajkot and Bhavnagar respectively, in an operation launched by the state ATS.

Dr Kosanam Ramamurthy, a physician of West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, who was abducted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants at Sirte in Libya in 2015, was reunited with his family members. Dr Ramamurthy, who was freed by the terrorists, thanked PM Narendra Modi, External Affairs Ministry and other agencies who made efforts for his safe release.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze two vehicles, in two separate incidents including a private passenger bus in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The bus was set ablaze near Gatam village and a MUV was set ablaze at Karcheli. Nobody was injured in the two incidents. SFs were rushed to both the spots and a combing operation was launched.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before Police in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The identity of the CPI-Maoist cadres is yet to be ascertained.

A 207th CoBRA jawan of West Bengal, identified as Om Prakash (32), was seriously injured in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at a hill near Basadera village under Ghatshila Police Station area in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

A Naxal, Shyam Pahan, carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head, was arrested by Haryana Police from a poultry farm at Yamuna Nagar District of Haryana. SP, Rajesh Kalia told, Shyam Pahan booked in more than 80 cases of murder and robbery among others. A country-made pistol was also recovered from him. Pahan is a resident of Khunti District of Jharkhand.

Army and Police laid an ambush in Ahmadpora-Tantraypora area of Magam in Budgam District in Central Kashmir. A joint party of 2 RR Gagarpora and SOG Magam laid the ambush late last night. One person was detained during the operation and shifted to Budgam.  His identification couldn’t be established. SFs also fired some gun shots in air as they had information about militant movement. 

Shutdown was observed in twin Districts of Pulwama and Shopian to protest against the arrests of youth on February 25. Over 12 persons were arrested in Pulwama on charges of stone pelting from Pulwama on February 25.

AR troopers arrested a NSCN-K cadre, identified as Machow Ngaimong, from Mulong village in Changlang District.

SIMI ‘chief’ Safdar Nagori and other 10 members of his terrorist outfit were sentenced to life imprisonment in a 2008 case of sedition by a special CBI court in Indore in Madhya Pradesh.  Special CBI judge B K Paloda convicted all 11 for sedition, collecting arms, ammunition and explosives with the intention to wage war against the nation and for being active members of a banned terrorist outfit. Nagori was the ‘general secretary’ of SIMI when it was banned. Besides 45-year-old Nagori, the others convicted are Hafiz Hussain (35), Aamil Parvaz (40), Shivli (38), Qamruddin (42), Shahduli (32), Qamran (40), Ansar (35), Ahmed Baig (32), Yasin (35) and Munroz (40).

"The judgment was delivered to 10 of the 11 accused through video-conferencing as they are lodged in Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad where they are being tried for the Ahmedabad blasts (Gujarat, 2008)," public prosecutor Vimal Mishra said. Only one of the accused, dental student from Karnataka Munroz, was in the Indore court and his father wept upon hearing the verdict.

UHM Rajnath Singh said that the Islamic State (ISIS) won't be allowed to become a threat to India. "The government has kept an eye on the ISIS, and that won't be allowed to become a major challenge for the country", said Singh in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Replying a query on the arrest of two suspected ISIS men on February 26 in Gujarat, he said that the ISIS would fail to influence Indian youth, as the people are alert and supportive to the government. "In fact the parents of some misguided youths contacted me and informed about their concerns," he said adding that the government is keeping eyes on them.

The two Islamic State (IS) terror group suspects arrested from Rajkot and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) on February 26 confessed to their plans of planting bombs in the thickly populated Trikon Baug and Gundawadi areas of Rajkot this week. The suspects Waseem Ramodiya and his brother Naeem were remanded to the custody of the ATS till March 10. Investigators have got names of at least 40 other persons from across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, who were engaged with the brothers regarding IS activities across the globe. "We are conducting verification of these persons to know the extent of their indoctrination," an official said.

A day after the startling message to his close relatives that Hafeezuddin (26), a native of Padanna village in Kasaragod District, who was among the 21 suspected to have joined the Islamic State (IS), was killed in a drone strike, the local Police are groping in the dark about the information. The Kerala Police are still ascertaining the veracity of the information even as a ‘WhatsApp’ message said to have been received by a relative of the ‘slain’ youth showed the photo of his body lying on the ground, Special Branch DSP V.T. Assainar said. “The local police could not as yet ascertain the whereabouts of the persons who went missing under mysterious circumstances in June last year and are said to have joined the IS later,” Assainar said, adding that only Central agencies like the NIA could get any information, a stance maintained by SP K.G. Simon too.

Two persons, identified as Rakesh Goyal and Mubashara have been arrested by the Police, along with FICN of face value of INR 1,50,000 from Sanjay Place, the commercial hub of Agra. The duo was carrying these notes from Delhi to Kanpur. They have confirmed that the fake currency was being printed in Karachi and Rawalpindi in Pakistan at the behest of ISI and being sent to India via Bangladesh.

Two persons were arrested along with four FICN of face value of INR 2000 near Farakka in West Bengal. The two, who hail from Murshidabad District, were caught and arrested when the Police found them moving around in a suspicious manner. They were produced at the local court which remanded them in Police custody for five days. Before demonetization Malda in West Bengal had become one of the main transit points for smuggling in FICN from Bangladesh before pushing it into the country.

AR troopers arrested a NSCN-IM cadre, ‘lance corporal’ Akha Wangsu, from Longding village in Longding District. A pistol, five rounds of A-K series rifles, two rounds of ammunition and opium were recovered from his possession.

AR killed one militant of NSCN-K, identified as Wahang Sumyen, at Lyangche village in Tirap District. A pistol and other war-like stores were also recovered from the killed militant.

According to data given by State Government, 13 illegal migrants were deported from the state till October 2016. This was preceded by the deportation of a single illegal migrant through whole of 2015. Previously in 2014, total 24 migrants were deported. According to the data on deportation of illegal migrants from the state tabled in the Assembly, 29,712 migrants were deported between 1985 and October last year, with the 2015 figures being the lowest during this period. Notably, the highest number of illegal migrants deported was 3,228 (in 1988).

Unidentified militants allegedly planted a bomb which later exploded outside the house of two editors located in Imphal. There were no reports of any casualty but a car was damaged. The editors work for a Manipuri daily and a local cable television, Police said.

The MNRF has appealed to all the Nagas of Manipur to stand against the oppression of NSCN-IM and cast their votes for the deserving candidates according to their own will. A press release issued by the ‘assistant secretary’, ‘information and publicity’ of the group stated that the Nagas of Manipur have been reeling under the pressure of the NSCN-IM to vote for their favoured candidates.

In a statement, the KSO asserted that the Kuki people must be consulted before a final settlement is worked out to the political dialogue going on between NSCN-IM and the GoI.

Unidentified militants abducted a coal labourer, identified as Azanur Islam, from a coal mine at Era Aning under Nangalbibra  in East Garo Hills District.

SFs busted an organized set up for collection of extortion money and arrested one NSCN-K, identified as Tokuto Aye, near BOC in Kohima District.

The AET of Dimapur Police arrested one assailant, identified as Khaka Yepthomi, in Dimapur District for collecting extortion money in the name of NSCN-IM. According to the source, the matter is under investigation.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Kotesu, died on the spot and a Sabari Committee ‘militia commander’, Kaaki Kannayya, suffered serious injuries while planting pressure bomb in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The spot where the incident took place was near National Highway 30.

Manoj Kumar Mahto, a JCB driver, who was abducted by Naxals from Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand on February 26. Mahto was released today.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze trucks and damaged a culvert on National Highway in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Two trucks were set ablaze by CPI-Maoist cadres in Kukanar Police Station of the District. The CPI-Maoist cadres also blew up an under-construction culvert near Pedakurti village under Dornapal Police Station in the District. The Maoist cadres damaged a slurry pipeline belonging to a private steel company in Gadiras area of the District bordering Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a timber depot at a forest and blocked a road in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. They (Maoists) blocked the Sironcha-Alapalli road by placing some tree trunks, thus disrupting the vehicular movement.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze the machines used for road construction at Mankidi village under Podapadar Panchayat in Koraput District of Odisha. According to sources more than ten Maoist cadres stormed into a contractor’s camp and set a JCB and a road-roller machine on fire.

An uneasy calm reigned over the interior tribal pockets in Bhadrachalam division in Khammam District of Telangana along the restive inter-State border AP and Chhattisgarh during the nation-wide bandh called by CPI-Maoist against “Operation Green Hunt”. The bandh had some impact on the bus services in the remote tribal areas in Charla and Dummugudem mandals adjoining the strife-ridden south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The Bhadrachalam sub-division Police also intensified road opening patrol in the interior areas bordering AP.

CRPF DG K Durga Prasad said the paramilitary force had taken the decision of modifying the pellet guns to minimise injuries. The modified version of pellet guns will have a "deflector", an attachment on the muzzle end to prevent the pellets from going up. The force has tasked a special BSF workshop to deploy metal 'deflectors' on the muzzle of these guns so that shrapnels in the pellets do not hit above the abdomen region. CRPF troops deployed in Kashmir Valley have been asked to fire the pellets aiming at the feet of the protesters now as against laid down procedure of hitting the abdomen area.

The CRPF is moving back to its ‘old mandate’ in J&K, when it was sent there in 1989 for carrying out counter-insurgency operations aggressively, said CRPF DG K Durga Prasad. He said that "we (CRPF) are now not just doing normal law and order duty in Kashmir. We are engaged actively in intelligence based counter-terror operations where our men hunt down the militants in their den." Prasad said that CRPF was originally sent to J&K two decades back for counter-insurgency operations only. However, this role had been reduced to normal law and order duty in disturbed areas in last several years.

SFs recovered a bomb near the gate of a residential building in Khongman Bashikhong Turel Mapal area in Imphal East District. The bomb was later defused safely by the SFs.

The Central Government of India clarified that it has not signed any final accord with the NSCN-IM though a framework agreement has been sealed. The issue figured at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on UMHA, which was chaired by former Home Minister P Chidambaram. Officials of the Home Ministry, briefing the members of the Committee, gave a broad account of the framework agreement, which has been kept under tight wraps. The ‘Framework Agreement’ between the Centre and the NSCN-IM was signed on August 3, 2015. Home Ministry officials explained that a final accord has not been signed as the Centre proposed to take along all Naga groups and the concerned State Governments of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

As many as nine Districts of the State are now Muslim majority, State Planning and Development minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the Assembly. As per 2011 census, Dhubri District has 79.67%, Barpeta District has 70.74%, Darrang District has 64.34%, Hailakandi District has 60.31%, Goalpara District has 57.52%, Karimganj District has 56.36%, Nagaon District has 55.36%, Morigaon District has 52.56% and Bongaigaon District has 50.22% people of Islamic faith.

SFs recovered one 7.65 mm pistol and three live ammunitions from Patradisa area in Karbi Anglong District. SFs also arrested five persons in connection with the recovery.

Red Horns Division of Indian Army launched a ‘large scale operation’ in the areas of East Karbi Anglong District on the basis of intelligence inputs about movement of armed militants of KLF. According to the report, the army is also keeping a strict vigil and maintaining a robust area domination and counter-terrorism posture in the disturbed areas of Upper Assam and East Arunachal Pradesh amidst regular inputs of terrorist groups trying to make their presence felt in the area and also seeking opportunities to cause attrition to the SFs.

A senior State Home Department official said in a statement that the fourth round of peace talks between Mizoram Government and HPC-D militant will be held in March (this month). Earlier the fourth round of peace talks scheduled to be held during mid-February, was postponed as the Home Department had to approach Law and Finance departments before the talk.

A special NIA court in Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh sentenced five Naxal sympathisers to ten years of imprisonment for acting as couriers of the CPI-Maoist and supplying explosives to them. Five sympathisers are identified as Babulal Sharma, Tarak Kundu, Katiyaram Nareti, Rajesh Dhurva and Shatrughan Vaishnav. The court also slapped a fine of INR 500 on each of them. Chhattisgarh has two NIA courts, one at Bilaspur District and another at Dantewada District. This is the first case in the state in which an NIA court has given its verdict.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by SFs near forests of Parcheli village under Katekalyan Police Station limits of the Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. Those arrested were identified as Hidma Vetti (22), Pojja Vetti (22), Somaru Mandavi (20), Somdu Vetti (20) and Fagnu Vetti (19), all natives of Parcheli village. They were involved in setting ablaze two vehicles, including a passenger bus, in Dantewada District on February 26.

SFs launched a hunt for the last squad of CPI-Maoist, led by Akash, secretary of the state organising committee in West Midnapore and Purulia Districts of West Bengal. The squad comprises seven to 10 cadres and is based near Ghatshila area in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. According to Police, the squad is active in and around Dampara area in Ghatshila sub-division. Atul Mahato, believed to be another cadre of the state organising committee, is also with the squad. The squad popularly known as Gurabandha squad was also involved in formulating policies for revival of Maoist armed units in Purulia and West Midnapore Districts.

A delegation of officials from the US met Indian counterparts in the Home Ministry and discussed ways to streamline the training programmes which include negotiations in hostage situations, terror crime scene investigation, besides new courses relating to cyberspace and maritime security. "India and the US are working towards strengthening bilateral ties on security front. Besides, the US will be introducing two new courses for Indian police officers this year," a Home Ministry official said.

India has asked Pakistan to reinvestigate the 26/11 (November 26, 2008) Mumbai terror attack case and put on trial JuD 'chief' Hafiz Saeed who is currently under house arrest in Lahore under the anti-terrorism law. India has made a fresh demand in a reply to Pakistan's request to send 24 Indian witnesses to record their statements in the case, Pakistan's interior ministry official said on March 1. "We have received a reply from Indian government in response to our letter regarding sending 24 Indian witnesses to Pakistan to record their statements in the Mumbai terror attack case. But instead of entertaining our request India has sought reinvestigation of the case and also demanded trial of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and LeT operation commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in the light of evidence it had provided to Pakistan," the official said.

SFs, after an encounter, arrested one militant ‘leader’ of NDFB-IKS from an unspecified area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary, of Sonitpur District. The militant leader was identified as Badaisa Basumatary. SFs also recovered a pistol, several rounds live ammunition and other warlike stores from the arrestee.

The ‘chairman’ of the GNLA, Champion Sangma was back in judicial custody due to the case of extortion in Baghmara of South Garo Hills District, in which he was charge sheeted by the Police. Earlier, on February 21 Champion Sangma was granted bail by the lower court in connection with another case.

The IPFT, a tribal-based party in the State launched a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the central Government’s citizenship bill and demanded a separate State in Tripura. The IPFT, along with two other tribal based parties - the INPT and the NCT-formed the ATIRPF to oppose the citizenship bill introduced by the BJP led Government.

The TPC ‘zonal commander’ Anil Kushwaha alias Rakesh Mishra and 10 cadres killed Jitendra Kharwar (18) over delay in serving them food in Rohtas District of Bihar. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Naxals of JTG set ablaze three vehicles involved in bridge construction work in Chatra District of Jharkhand. Anjani Kumar Jha, Chatra, SP, said, "The group left a poster at the spot, taking responsibility for the arson. They want to threaten contractors who do not pay levy to them."

According to Intelligence agencies, stone-throwing protests in Kashmir, which picked up after militant leader Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with SFs July 2016, have now spread to rural regions. Report said that authorities are worried as they say the crowds in the countryside are more belligerent. Boys as young as four and five are participating in the stone-pelting, said an officer. After being caught, many of these kids reveal that they have no idea what they are involved in.

The Central Government has given a major push to equip the Army and central paramilitary forces with advanced weapons and equipment in anticipation of increased militant activity in Kashmir valley in summer. Intelligence agencies have hinted that militant activity may reach an all-time high this summer, people familiar with the matter said. This was the first time in over a decade that any Government has overhauled the entire weapon system of SFs deployed in the Valley, the people said.

SFs arrested a HM militant, identified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat from Dahwatoo in Awantipora area in Pulwama District. Two Chinese grenades, one camouflage uniform, one knife and some other incriminating material were also recovered from Bhat’s possession, said Police. Bhat had joined the HM ranks recently, the official said adding a case under relevant sections of the RPC have been registered against him.

Kolkata Police neutralised a FICN racket and arrested five persons along with FICN amounting to INR 56,74,000 from Howrah District of West Bengal. "Five persons were arrested from the Fancy Market area in Kolkata's Watgunj and fake notes totalling Rs 56.74 lakh seized from them," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vishal Garg told. Garg said the five were caught while buying cell phones at Kabitirtha Sarani in Watgunj. "Accused Manohar Mollah, Syeed Rehan, Seikh Eklakh Ahamed and Seikh Abul Kalam Azad are residents of West Bengal's Howrah district while Balai Mondal hails from Bankura," the officer added.

The terror outfits that Pakistan created against India are now harming its host country, Indian Ambassador to UN said in Geneva. "Pakistan has created terrorist outfits against India. This monster is now devouring its own creator," Anil Kumar, India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN said. The most wanted terrorists of the world have found "succour and sustenance" in Pakistan in the last two decades, Mr Kumar said.

US Democrat Senator Mark Warner and his Republican colleague in the Senate Dan Sullivan expressed concern over Pakistani terror threat to India. Speaking at a programme in Washington DC, the US Senators said while India and the US have a very strong relationship between the intelligence community, there is an enormous concern not only about Pakistan’s role in the unrest in Kashmir, but also the terrorist organisations from Pakistan.

At least seven people were injured when a powerful IED blast was triggered by two suspected assailants at the residence of K Leishiyo (43) at Langol Laimanai Lanthungching in Imphal West District. The injured persons were identified as Mark Keishing (37), Gideon Keishing (50), Zeneatte Ningshen (30), Samson Maku (55), Fanny Grace (40), Reishang Ningshen (35) and Star Shinglai (30). The owner of the residence is contesting in the ensuing Assembly election from Phungyar Assembly Constituency on NPF ticket. Police suspect the blast is related to the upcoming Assembly elections but could not immediately identify those behind the attack. "We are investigating the case," a Police Officer said.

Manipur CEO Vivek Kumar Dewangan on March 2 announced that altogether 2,228 underground cadres belonging to various militant groups who are under SoO and MoU with the GoI will cast their votes through postal ballot at 14 designated camps across the State.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to NSCN-IM, identified as Withonbou (28), from Kadi-IV village in Tamenglong District. SFs also recovered NSCN-IM uniform, kit bag and INR 4,800 from the arrested militant.

The CRPF top brass are keeping their fingers crossed hoping that no major ambush is carried out by insurgents on its personnel deployed in the State. Sources within the CRPF have said that the personnel were fighting with their backs to the wall following the UHM refusal to provide them mine-protected vehicles and other enhanced security infrastructure despite intelligence inputs of possible attacks on SFs by insurgent groups. In January, 2017, the CRPF had alerted the UHM on how the "conduct of the Assembly election will be critical and challenging both from the insurgency and law and order point of view", considering the economic blockade on NH 2 and 37 since November 1 against the Okram Ibobi Singh Government's plan to create seven new Districts. "Intelligence input indicates infiltration of insurgent groups from Myanmar and other areas to attack security forces and disrupt the election process. To counter the threat of IEDs from insurgents during the elections, 10 mine-protected vehicles are required in the vulnerable and critical areas," the CRPF had written to the ministry. Besides, CRPF had also asked for 20 bunker vehicles, additional bomb detection and disposal squads and satellite phones.

Kuki Inpi (apex body of Kuki tribe in Manipur) submitted a memorandum to PM Narendra Modi appealing to settle the alleged ‘heinous acts’ committed by NSCN-IM and also to reveal the contents of the ‘Framework Agreement’ that was signed between the militant group and GoI.

Four unidentified KNA militants were arrested by AR at Sangaikot in Churachandpur District. AR also recovered two AK-56 rifles, two magazines and 142 bullets, a 9mm pistol along with a magazine, 6 rounds of ammunition and four mobile handsets from the arrested militants.

An overground cadre of ULFA-I, identified as Amulya Gogoi, was arrested by Police from Duliajan town in Dibrugarh District. The arrestee was involved in extortions on behalf of the militant group.

Three Bangladeshi assailants, who were involved in the attack on three persons, a woman and her two daughters on March 1, at Jarapata village in Karimganj District were arrested by the BGB and Bangladeshi Police and subsequently handed over to the BSF. The arrested Bangladeshi nationals were identified as Numan Uddin Aajmal, Jabir Ahmed, and Sahab Uddin. Jarapata hamlet is located on no man's land on the Indian side (between zero point of India-Bangladesh border and the Indian border fence). India has erected the border fence 150 yards from zero point. However, in some places the no man's land stretches beyond 150 yards, as a result of which many Indian villages have fallen on the other side of the fence.

On the basis of the security inputs, Police warned that ULFA-I militants might carry out sabotage activities in Guwahati and intensified patrolling and checking in the city.

The ‘c-in-c’ of the ASAK militant, Reding T Sangma alias Saljapang, surrendered before Police along with seven other cadres of the militant group at Baghmara in South Garo Hills District. The other cadres who surrendered along with Reding are identified as Tengrang A. Sangma alias Gring (18), Seldom K. Sangma alias Jorai (25), Pintu R. Marak alias Waira (19), Kiljang M Sangma alias Amrak (17), Hame Ch Marak (25), Biani Ch Marak (28) and Tengman M. Sangma (28). Police recovered a German made Heckler and Koch automatic rifle with 128 live rounds, three single barrel shotguns (SBBL), four walkie-talkie communication handsets and 22 electronic detonators and explosive powder from the surrendered militant.

AR arrested four cadres of NSCN-IM, identified as Asakha Kayni (29), Makavo (42), Ohehe (40) and Lokho (35), from Khuzama Junction along the NH-29 in Kohima District. The militants were involved in extortions. AR recovered 30 cash ‘receipts’, four mobiles phones, INR 8,730 in cash and 68 copies of ‘receipt’ of Dimapur Bus Owners Association from the arrestees.

A self-proclaimed CPI-Maoist leader Vijay Kharbar was arrested from Adhaura in Kaimur District of Bihar. SP, Harpreet Kaur said a rifle and 47 live cartridges were seized from his possession. Kharbar was wanted by Kaimur and Rohtas Police for his involvement in Naxalite related incidents.

One woman CPI-Maoist cadre killed in encounter with SFs at Jagdalpur in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. Arms and ammunition also recovered in search operation.

A top woman CPI-Maoist cadre Budhri alias Geeta surrendered before the Commandant of CRPF's 80th Battalion at Jagdalpur in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. Budhri, a member of military wing of CPI -Maoist - PLGA was absconding for several years and SFs had announced a reward of INR 800,000 on her head. She carried a 303 rifle with her.

The Home Minister of Chhattisgarh, Ramsewak Paikra, informed Chhattisgarh Assembly, in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh, that a total of 3,507 Naxal incidents took place in the State between 2010 to 2016, reports. The Minister informed that a total of 205 CRPF jawans, 43, SPO, 210 Chhattisgarh Police and 49 of other SFs were martyred during the period. He stated, a total of 2057 Maoists surrendered during the period, 4939 were arrested and 140 prosecuted. There are 34 Maoists against whom trials are yet to start.

CPI-Maoist cadres launched a poster campaign in Latehar District of Jharkhand to refute allegations of their involvement in promoting poppy cultivation. The posters have been pasted in Bandhua and Palheya village under Manika Police Station of Latehar District.

An explosion took place on Jugasaipatna road in Kalahandi District of Odisha. SFs suspected CPI-Maoist cadres might have planted landmines which led to the explosion on the road. No casualties have been reported in the explosion.

MLAs, cutting across party lines opposed the move to amend Clause VI of the Assam Accord (signed in 1985) and demanded its full implementation for the protection of identity of the indigenous Assamese. Sources said that INC MLA Abdul Khaleque had moved the resolution as a section of intellectuals had recently called for the replacement of 'indigenous Assamese' phrase with 'indigenous people' in the clause. Many have also said the word 'indigenous' would remove the concern from the minds of many ethnic communities. Clause VI of the Assam Accord calls for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards for indigenous Assamese people but the clause has remained unimplemented mainly because there is no consensus on who is an Assamese yet.

Former CM of the State, Tarun Gogoi, demanded assurance from the Centre that the Peace Accord between NSCN-IM and GoI will not affect the State. He also criticised the Cental Government of India for not making the ‘Framework Agreement’ public.

CM Mukul Sangma announced the appointment of Former State DGP, Rajiv Mehta, as the State's maiden security adviser. CM Mukul Sangma, explaining the logic behind the decision, said that the State required a dedicated and experienced person with a thorough knowledge of the State and the region while dealing with internal security. CM further said the security adviser will give suggestions and recommendations regarding strategies while dealing with state security, border issues with neighboring countries like Bangladesh, human rights issues and strengthening Police organisation, among others. The appointment is for the duration of one year.

In addition, the SSC has not decided whether officiating DGP S.B. Singh should be given full charge or if the panel should opt for a new DGP. The CM informed that the SSC would meet next week to take a call on the issue. The State is yet to have a full-fledged DGP.

A GNLA militant, identified as Chadam Ramed A Marak alias Mad alias Chitmang (22), surrendered before Police at Baghmara in South Garo Hills District. 

The State Government has made a shift in the Government’s approach to ending militancy in the State. Unlike in the past when there would be repeated appeals to militants for talks, the Government is now focusing on facilitating the rebels to surrender.

The AET of Dimapur Police arrested two persons, identified as Angukavi Yepthomi and Tovika Sema, at Purana Bazaar area in Dimapur District. According to the Police, one arrestee, identified as Angukavi Yepthomi is a militant of NNC-NA. AET also recovered demand slips of NNC-NA from their possession.

Two SF personnel of the CAF 10th battalion were killed and two others sustained injuries in an exchange of fire with the CPI-Maoist cadres near Cherli village under Mirtur Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh, when a joint team of CAF and District Police was out on a road security operation. The two slain SFs were Hemant Kumar, constable of the CAF and Gubba Ram, assistant constable of District Police.

Two OGWs of JeM were arrested by the Police in Baramulla District. The Police also recovered two Chinese pistols from their possession. The arrest comes a month after the Police busted an OGW network of the JeM in Handwara and arrested three persons. The OGW network, which was operating since April 2015, was involved in various subversive activities and determined to target political workers, SFs installations and Police establishments. The operators were providing logistic support to the JeM militants and were close associates of a top commander of JeM.

One civilian was killed and four others, including one CRPF personnel were injured in a grenade attack on a CRPF party in Murran Chowk in Pulwama District. According to sources, militants lobbed a grenade at a CRPF party in Murran Chowk, resulting in injuries to four civilians and one CRPF personnel. One of the injured civilians, identified as Mohammad Ayub Wani succumbed to injuries at a hospital. However, militants fled after carrying out the attack.

Protesters clashed with Police and SFs at Ratnipora and Kakapora in Pulwama District after Friday prayers. Protesters pelted stones on SFs who responded by firing tear smoke.

Stone-throwing clashes and protests also erupted in parts of Srinagar and in North Kashmir’s Sopore Town of Baramulla District after Friday congregational prayers. After culmination of Friday prayers, large number of youths came out of Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area here and started sloganeering.

SFs arrested 23 persons from Ratnipora and Kakapora villages of Pulwama District during nocturnal raids. 19 persons were arrested from Ratnipora and four from Kakapora on charges of stone-pelting. Sources said that these persons were wanted by Police for their involvement in stone-pelting during a PDP minister’s visit and bank robbery by militants in the village last month.

Several separatist JKLF activists were held by Police after they held a sit-in protest at Budshah Chowk in Lal Chowk in Srinagar District post-Friday prayers. The held leaders were shifted to Central Jail Srinagar.

One militant of newly formed militant group ARA, identified as Rohit M. Sangma alias Gettingson Sangma of Karbi Anglong District, Assam, was arrested after an encounter during Police checking at Thapa Darenchi village in North Garo Hills District. He is one of the close aids of the leader of the militant group William A. Sangma.  

A joint operation between the Army and the SOG of J&K Police was launched against militants on March 3 evening and the encounter is still (March 4) underway in Chilli Pora village in Shopian District. Officials said that troops of 55 RR and SOG of J&K Police launched the operation after SFs received specific input about the militant presence in the village. Officials said they had input that two to three militants had been hiding in the village.

The High Court of Manipur declared the more than four months old economic blockade of the UNC as illegal.

A joint team of 32 AR and State Police, during a search operation, arrested a NNC kilonser (minister), identified as N. Mar Longkumer (43), in Clock Tower area of Dimapur town.

Police arrested a man, identified as Mukulesh Mian alias Bhutto from Rathbari area in Malda District of West Bengal and recovered FICN of INR 2000 with a face value of INR 92,000 from his possession. "We have charged the man under IPC sections 489B (Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes) and 489C (Possession of forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes) and we are quizzing him to know more about his involvement with FICN (Fake Indian Currency Notes) trafficking racket," a senior official of Malda District Police told. However, the man was produced in a local court on March 5, and was remanded to Police custody for further interrogation.

The UPF and KNO, umbrella organisations of the armed Kuki Groups observing SoO with the Government, for the first time officially participated in exercising their adult franchise in the Manipur State Assembly polls 2017. Further the KNO ‘leader’ Seilen Haokip said that they were seeking settlement within the India Constitution.

An official source of IB said that the ULFA-I and GNLA have planned to carry major explosions and attack on security forces in Lower Assam and Garo hills. The IB source further said that, the outfit groups plan to use professional criminals and carriers to carry explosives and to plant IED and bombs. After intercepting telephonic conversation between two top leaders of ULFA-I and GNLA, IB officials managed to find out the planning of the outfits. The source said that, IB has already informed the UHM, Police and Home Departments of both States and other security agencies about the militants plan.

Eight CPI-Maoist militia members surrendered before the Police in the Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. Chintapalli Deputy DSP, Anil Pulaapaati said the CPI-Maoist militia members surrendered voluntarily at GK Veedhi Police Station limits. The eight members include Pangi Sobhan, Thambelu Lakshmana Rao, Korra Kameswara Rao, Vanthala Srinu, Lakshmana Rao, Malleswara Rao, Sana and Gemmali Balayya. All the surrendered Maoists hail from Lakkavarapu panchayat of Pedda Konda village, Pamurai village and Devarapalli villages of GK Veedhi in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh.

Lohardaga and Latehar Police, along with CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar, busted hideouts of the CPI-Maoist commanders Ravindra Gonjhu and Muneshwar Gonjhu, at Kisko Police station in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand. SFs recovered three powerful cylinder bombs, besides a 20-metre codex wire, planted along a road.

Khunti Police arrested a PLFI cadre Kanho Bodra from Tapkara Bazaar of Khunti District of Jharkhand. Bodra was earlier associated with PLFI ‘area commanders’ Dakwal Purti and Sanika Purti, who were gunned down in August 2015 during an encounter in Arki. Bodra is wanted in nearly five cases, including injuring cops in landmine blasts, abduction and murder. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

An IED planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres was discovered by villagers in Venkatapuram Mandal of the Jayshankar Bhupalapally District of Telangana. Local Police officials cautioned villagers and shepherds not to enter into the forest as they had no clue as to how many such IEDs may have been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres.

SFs had to call off anti-militancy operation in Shopian District of South Kashmir after militants holed up in a house managed to escape following intense protests and stone pelting from locals.

In an incident of terror, as many as 12 terrorists carried out a raid at a Policeman’s house and proceeded to ransack it thoroughly, virtually trashing the establishment in Shopian District. The people affected had been too terror-stricken to take the complaint to authorities initially as they feared being attacked again. Militants have been targeting Policemen in Kashmir as they have been maintaining law and order despite repeated protests welling-up in the region. Militants have warned cops to not obey orders from their superiors and to let the situation deteriorate.

AR arrested one arms dealer and another suspected militants in two separate operations in Dimapur District. In the first incident, AR arrested the arms dealer, identified as Ibomcha Khan (50) from Khermahal. AR recovered one 7.65 mm pistol, two magazine and 28 live rounds of 7.65 mm from the arms dealer. In the second incident, AR along with Police launched a search operation at Bus Station in Dimapur and arrested one cadre of KPLT, identified as Mukhim Rongti (28). One air gun pistol (country made) and air gun pen pistol (country made) were also recovered from the arrested militant.

Lohardaga and Latehar Police, along with the CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar, busted hideouts of the CPI-Maoist, ‘commanders’ Ravindra Gonjhu and Muneshwar Gonjhu, at Kisko Police Station in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand. SFs recovered three powerful cylinder bombs, besides a 20-metre codex wire, planted along a road.

Khunti Police arrested a PLFI cadre, identified as Kanho Bodra, from Tapkara Bazaar of Khunti District of Jharkhand. Bodra was earlier associated with PLFI ‘area commanders’ Dakwal Purti and Sanika Purti, who were gunned down in August 2015 during an encounter in Arki. Bodra is wanted in nearly five cases, including injuring Policemen in landmine blasts, abduction and murder. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

An IED planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres was discovered by villagers in Venkatapuram Mandal of the Jayshankar Bhupalapally District of Telangana. Local Police officials cautioned villagers and shepherds not to enter into the forest as they had no clue as to how many such IEDs may have been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres.

At least two militants, identified as Aqib Molvi of Tral and Umar of Pakistan and one J&K Police constable, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Naik of Uri were killed while an Army major and four CRPF personnel were injured during an encounter between SFs and militants which started on March 4 evening in Shikargah in Tral in Pulwama District.  According to reports, the house where the militants were hiding has been demolished by the SFs. The identity of the militants hasn’t been revealed yet. However, at least two HM terrorists, including the right hand man of slain Hizbul ‘commander’ Burhan Wani, Sabzar Bhat, were believed to be trapped in the encounter, sources said.

As the news about the encounter spread in the area, a law and order problem erupted, with civilians pelting stone at the SFs. One assailant hit an ASI and snatched his AK-47 rifle before disappearing into the crowd. A separate operation is on to recover the weapon. A top officer said, “Security forces were stopped by civilians. Resistance was shown. We had to rush in reinforcement. An ASI of CRPF was injured his weapon snatched by (the) belligerent crowd.”

The CISF, tasked with providing armed cover to 59 civil airports in the country, has embarked on a first-ever mission to prepare a ‘concept paper’ to standardise security gadgetry and infrastructure at these locations. Once in place, the country’s airports would be among some of the best secured across the world.

In a statement, the HNLC militant denied the surrender option of the State Government and said that it will continue ‘the struggle’. In the statement, the ‘publicity secretary’ of HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw, said that the ‘council’ has its own principles and till today they are receiving annual support in terms of finance, arms and ammunitions from ‘anti-India countries’ which when compared is far greater than the rehabilitation packages offered by CM Mukul Sangma.

The militant ‘leader’ William Sangma, who was planning to float a new outfit called UANF, managed to escape along with three others, leaving his vehicle behind during a Police check in North Garo Hills District.

A hardcore CPI-Maoist cadre, Waga Kawasi (35) alias Raju, involved in at least nine murders, surrendered before Malkangiri SP, Mitrabhanu Mohapatra in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The Odisha Government had declared reward of INR 100,000 for his capture. Waga joined the CPI-Maoist organisation in 2004 and has been an active member of the Kalimela Area Committee.

J&K saw a three-fold increase in cases of rioting and a substantial rise in arson cases in 2016 which also witnessed five-month-long unrest after killing of terrorist Burhan Wani, official data of Crime Branch of State Police showed. According to data, J&K has witnessed as many as 3,404 cases of rioting in 2016 as compared to 1,157 such cases in 2015, an increase of 2,247. Similarly, Police registered as many as 267 cases of arson in 2016 as compared to 147 such cases in 2015, thereby showing an increase of 120 during the period, it said.

Officials of the Crime Branch point towards this increase because of the 2016 unrest in Kashmir Valley for five months following killing of HM ‘militant commander’ Burhan Wani in July 2016. There has also been an increase of 143 cases of attempt to murder from 2015 to 2016. As many as 573 cases of attempt to murder have been registered in 2016 as compared to 430 such cases in 2015. There has also been an increase in murder cases. As many as 140 cases of murder were registered in 2016 as compared to 133 such cases in 2015, it said. The statistics reveal there has been no custodial death in 2016 and 2015.

The cases of communal riots have also registered an increase in 2016 as compared to 2015. As many as six such cases were registered in 2016 as compared to four in 2015, it said. The year 2016 also saw an increase in cases under UAPA. While 146 cases were registered under the Act in 2016, only 44 were registered in 2015 showing an increase of 102. The figures have further revealed increase in cases under Arms and Explosives Acts in 2016 as compared to 2015. While 180 cases were registered under Arms Act in 2016, as many as 146 such cases were registered in 2015. Similarly, 39 cases were registered under Explosives Act in 2016 as compared to 34 such cases in 2015.

Of the total 2,690 incidents of stone pelting, North Kashmir accounts for the highest number of 1,248 incidents followed by 875 incidents in South Kashmir and 567 in Central Kashmir, according to official data of State Home Ministry. Sopore, which is part of Baramulla District, has recorded the highest number of 492 incidents of stone pelting during the unrest, while the total number of such incidents in the entire Baramulla District is 810, the data said. Baramulla is followed by Srinagar and Kupwara Districts with 339 such incidents each reported, it said adding 271 such incidents took place in Anantnag District, followed by 264 in Pulwama, 173 in Shopian, 167 in Kulgam, 163 in Budgam, 109 in Bandipora and only 65 in Ganderbal District.

A day after HM ‘deputy chief’ Sabzar Ahmad along with some of his associates escaped from an encounter site in Tral area in Pulwama District of South Kashmir, CRPF has admitted that stone pelting is hampering anti-militancy operations in the Valley and many militants have escaped from the encounter sites during the clashes. “The stone pelting is hampering our anti-militancy operations,” said IG CRPF (Operations), Zulfikar Hassan. At least six CRPF personnel, including an officer, were injured on March 4 evening, in Hayena area of Tral in Pulwama District when locals pelted stones on Police, paramilitary and army men, who were laying siege around the village to conduct operation to flush out a group of militants hiding there. An INSAS assault rifle of a CRPF officer was snatched by the mob after injuring him. During the clashes between locals and security men, the HM ‘deputy chief’ Sabzar Ahmad along with some of his associates managed to escape from the area, Police sources said.

The ‘general secretary’ of UTLA/KNO, identified as Sehjahao Singsit alias Haopu Singsit alias Abunidhar was reportedly killed by the suspected cadres from his own militant group over unknown internal conflict at Songsang area in Thanlon sub-division in Churachandpur District. According to the sources, the UTLA leader’s killing may be related to the just concluded Assembly polls as he is believed to have a disagreement on the issue. 

Suspected militants abducted two persons and later released after beating them severely in Churachandpur town of Churachandpur District.

Indian Army troopers recovered an IED from a paddy field of Dubluhabi area of Charaipung forest division in Charaidew District. Army arrested one suspected person, identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi in this connection. According to the Army the arrested person was secretly working for the ULFA-I. 

The CPI-Maoist cadres demanded INR 800,000 ‘levy’, from Nutan Construction Company in East Champaran District of Bihar. Nutan Construction Company employee Sonu Singh registered an FIR  at Pakridayal Police Station in the District, saying some motorcycle-borne persons had visited the site of the construction firm and threatened to blow up its equipment if INR 850,000 was not paid as ‘levy’ to the CPI-Maoist. “One of them identified himself as CPI-Maoist ‘area commander’ Mithu Ram”, Sonu said. Nutan Construction Company is engaged in construction of approach road to a bridge on Patahi-Shikargunj road in the District.

SFs faced protests at Pinjoora area in Pulwama District of South Kashmir, where they had gone to conduct search operations after receiving inputs about presence of the militants. Later, the operation was called off after no militant was found. Asked what measures have been taken to prevent protests and stone pelting at encounter sites, IG CRPF said, “The local administration is taking steps to prevent people from staging protests and pelting stones on security men during anti-militancy operations in the Valley.”

However, despite these measures intense stone pelting takes place at some places during the encounters, Hassan said. According to him, most of the stone pelting incidents during anti-militancy operations have taken place in South Kashmir.

Pakistan-based terror groups finance terrorism in J&K by generating millions in donations through their charity organisations, said Atul Goel, SP, NIA. Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a charity run by terror outfits JuD and LeT, and Al Rehmat Trust, backed by another terrorists group JeM, have been supporting terrorists and funding terrorism in Kashmir, said Atul Goel, addressing a session at the 19th Asian Security Conference on 'Combating Terrorism: Evolving an Asian Response' in New Delhi. Goel said the NIA was looking into the activities of JuD, LeT and JeM and also the working of trusts associated with them in Pakistan. "These outfits collect donations from people in Pakistan and then pass on the money to finance terrorism in Kashmir through their overground workers," he said.

An operation against militants was called off in the Newa area in Pulwama District after people took to the streets and threw stones during the counter-insurgency operation. The Army’s 55 RR, the Police’s SOG and the CRPF’s 183 Battalion cordoned off the area around 10 p.m. on March 6. A tip-off suggested movement of LeT militants in the area. Police sources said the operation was called off at night when mosques in the area started blaring pro-freedom songs and residents from many adjacent villages marched towards the operation site.

One militant of KNA/ KRA-U, identified as Kamminlun Hmar alias Henry alias Pupu (27) was reportedly killed in a gun battle between a combined team of KRA, KRA-U under KNO and KNF under UPF at Khengjang village in Kangpokpi District. Both the formations are under SoO agreement; KRA-U is under KNO and KNF under UPF.    

The UTLA expressed its disappointment over the alleged abduction and threatening of Longpi village chief by NSCN-IM on February 27. The chief of Longpi village, Kailal Gangte Kuki, who is also the chairman of the area's Chief Association, was reportedly abducted by the NSCN-IM on February 27 and later released the next day after threatening him. NSCN-IM threatened him about participating in the Assembly polls to be held on March 8.  

According to some unofficial sources, ahead of the second phase Manipur polls scheduled on March 8, NSCN-IM, which is undergoing peace talk with the GoI have served threat to the villagers in Naga inhabited areas in the State to cast vote in favour of their ‘sponsored’ candidates.

State Government said that it has instructed all SPs to remain alert and tighten security at all sensitive places in view of the possibility of ISIS recruiting youths from the State. Replying to a discussion during the zero hour in the assembly, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said all the SPs have been ordered to keep a strict vigil and maintain a close watch on doubtful people. “We have also ordered to strengthen security along Indo-Bangla border and secure the river ways. Police have been strictly asked to maintain close coordination with various intelligence agencies,” he also said.

Besides, security and other agencies have been keeping a close watch on social media as these can be tools of influencing youths for joining the global terror outfit, he added. The minister informed the house that two trained members of JMB were nabbed from Nalbari District. Assam Police, he said, has so far arrested 56 JMB extremists after the Burdwan blast in West Bengal in 2014. “Apart from them 10-12 JMB members are absconding at present,” Patowary added without elaborating.

Three restaurants owned by Bengalis located in Golaghat town in Golaghat District were vandalized by unidentified persons. This incident comes after NBBUSS activists vandalized the office of the AASU in Silapathar in Dhemaji District. NBBUS held a procession after a daylong meeting demanding unconditional removal of the names of Hindu Bengalis from the list of D (doubtful) voters. AASU said it would organise Satyagraha (a form of civil disobedience) at all District headquarters in the State. AASU has further said that the BJP government's move to give citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis had instigated the incident.

Police recovered a 7.65 mm pistol from a person, identified as Michael Bhanglaluth (27) at Fulertal in Cachar District.

A joint team of 32 AR and State Police launched an operation and arrested an arms dealer, Igato Sumi (31), from Govinda Paira Colony of Burma Camp, in Dimapur District. The joint team recovered one .22 mm pistol and mobile from him.

Narayanpatna Police arrested four suspected CPI-Maoist cadres from Koraput District of Odisha. The arrestees are identified as Basanta Hantal of Kotiya village, Purno Tadangi and Rajiv Tadangi of Upar Gumandi village - all in the District - and S Murali Krishna, a contractor from Gajapati District of Odisha. Suspected Maoists had allegedly set fire to a JCB machine and other road construction equipment near Podapadar village under Narayanpatna Police limits on February 27.

In the first-ever strike in India by Islamic State (IS), a module radicalised by the terrorist organisation triggered a low-intensity blast in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train Madhya Pradesh, injuring 9 passengers. The incident occurred near Jabdi station in Shajapur District of Madhya Pradesh . A high alert has been sounded across the state after the explosion. IG (Law and Order) Makrand Deouskar said the explosion was caused by a pressure pipe bomb filled with ammonia nitrate kept inside a bag on the luggage rack.

Moments after the train blast, three men were held as they stepped off a bus near Pipariya in Hoshangabad District of Madhya Pradesh and after they were interrogated they revealed of other suspects in Lucknow and Kanpur. Following a standard protocol, the information was shared with Central Intelligence agencies, which alerted the Uttar Pradesh Police and the state ATS. Three men arrested in Pipariya, Madhya Pradesh are identified as Danish Akhtar alias Jaffar, Aatish Muzaffar alias Al Kasim (both from Kanpur) and Syed Mir Hussain alias Humza a native of Aligarh, in Uttar Pradesh.

The ATS in Uttar Pradesh carried out a massive search operation in Kanpur and arrested three persons linked with Bhopal-Ujjain train blast. The three held in Kanpur are identified as Mohammed Imran alias Bhai, Mohammed Faisal Khan (both are brothers) and Fakre Alam alias Rishu, a native of Etwawah. The Police said that they recovered a laptop, cellphones and found IS videos and literature in the laptop.

Balwinder Singh (41), a citizen of India, was sentenced to 15 years in a U.S. prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring while living in northern Nevada to plot terror strikes in his home country (India). U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno also ordered Balwinder Singh to remain under lifetime federal supervision upon his release from prison after prosecutors argued that Singh has had ties to known terrorist groups in India for more than two decades.

FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse of Las Vegas said the plot was foiled after a co-conspirator was arrested trying to board a flight in San Francisco bound for Bangkok, Thailand, with two sets of night vision goggles purchased by Singh at a Cabela's sporting goods store in Reno.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan said it's possible Singh still will be extradited to India where he faces criminal charges in connection with a terror attack on a passenger bus that killed three people in India in April 2006. "This isn't somebody who was just recruited like some of the young people who think it's really cool to go get involved with the Jihad," Sullivan said. "Mr. Singh has been involved with terrorism or terrorist organizations for over 20 years."

Growing public interference in anti-militancy operations forced the SFs to call off two anti-militancy operations in south Kashmir in the past 24 hours. A search-and-cordon team of the Army and the Police came under heavy stone throwing in Mohamadpora village in Kulgam District, thus delaying the operation. Police sources said the residents started throwing stones as the SFs were throwing a cordon after a tip-off about militants’ presence. “Heavy teargas shelling was used to disperse protesters from the site,” said a senior Police official. Several local people, including a woman, were injured in the process.

Mehmood Shah, an LeT spokesman, praised people for “ensuring the safety of the militants”. “We won’t let the people-militant bond to break. Till people are in the field, militants will continue to outsmart Indian troopers,” said the LeT spokesman.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that “at least a dozen youth who had picked up guns were brought back to their homes in the past two or three months”.

One AR jawan (trooper) and one poll official were injured when three IEDs exploded at two separate places of Phungyar Assembly Constituency under Kamjong District. The first two IEDs exploded almost simultaneously at a place near Aishi village where an AR jawan identified as R Vasnet injured. The second explosion took place near a polling station located at Ashang Khullen. One unidentified polling official sustained injuries in this second explosion.

Unidentified armed assailants abducted four unidentified workers of an independent candidate TS Warngam who is contesting in the second phase of the 11th State Legislative Assembly election from Chandel Assembly Constituency from a place in between Chandel and Chakpikarong in Chandel District.

Due to the UNC-spearheaded economic blockade on Manipur since November 1, 2016, there have been no talks between GoI’s Interlocutor for ‘Naga Peace Talks’ R.N. Ravi and NSCN-IM ‘leaders’ for over a month. According to the report, both sides used to hold both formal and non formal meetings almost on a regular basis but the UNC’s economic blockade appears to have caused some disruption. Ravi was also quoted as saying that the blockade had brought about serious misapprehension between the Nagas and non-Nagas in the Northeast and which would make his task of finding an early amicable solution to Naga issue difficult, added the report.

A tense situation continued for the second day at Silapathar in Dhemaji District even as the Indian Army staged a flag march after activists of NBBUSS ransacked the office of the AASU on March 6 demanding Indian citizenship for Hindu Bengalis who came to Assam from Bangladesh after 1971. 

Cutting across party lines, members of Assam Assembly ‘vehemently condemned’ the incident of attack on the AASU office at Silapathar by NBBUSS, demanding stern action against such divisive forces even as the State Government constituted a high-level inquiry to hunt down the culprits behind the incident. So far nine persons suspected to have been involved in the incident have been arrested. The Police prepared a list of about 20 persons suspected of involvement in the incident. The State Police also declared Subudh Biswas, the ‘president’ of NBBUSS, as an absconder and alerted all Police Stations across the State to hunt and arrest him.

Some unidentified miscreants set ablaze Mandal Hotel situated at Silapathar Namsuk area in Dhemaji District.

After a discussion with Golaghat DC and SP, CJCS [a student organistaion of Chutiya community] and six other organisations of ‘indigenous people’ withdrew their call for a bandh (shutdown) in the District for indefinite period.

AR troops have arrested, Naoba Metei (16), a cadre of the Manipur-based outfit KCP, from Kunsa village in Tirap District.

A joint squad of District Force and ITBP recovered two IEDs, allegedly planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres during a search operation in the interiors of Iragaon area in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The explosives, one IED weighed 10 kilograms, another was of around five kilograms, packed in steel tiffin boxes were seized from a dirt track near Churegaon village under the Iragaon Police Station limits, a District Police official said.

Delhi University Professor, G N Saibaba and four others were sentenced to undergo life imprisonment by Gadchiroli Sessions Court of Maharashtra, for their links with CPI-Maoist cadres. The wheelchair-bound English teacher of Ram Lal Anand College in New Delhi, Saibaba (47), with 90 per cent disability, was arrested in May 2014 from his home in Delhi by Maharashtra Police's ANO unit. The court also sentenced to life JNU student Hem Mishra, former journalist Prashant Rahi, Mahesh Tirki, Pandu Narote.

The CISF is raising a STW in Hyderabad District of Telangana. The STW are being raised on the lines of SWAT, and will cater to the needs of hypersensitive airports, and sensitive units in Naxal-affected areas. The role of bomb disposal squad and quick reaction team will be focused upon in STE to counter the aircraft hijacking and other contingencies like armed attack and IED threats, said CISF DG, OP Singh.

After 12 hours of intensive firing and the use of tear gas and smoke bombs, one Islamic State (IS) suspect was killed by ATS in Thakurganj area in outskirts of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, and the operation ended at around 3 am on March 8. At least six persons were reportedly arrested in an anti-terror sweep and combing operation was underway to flush out one suspect holed up in a house, hours after a low intensity blast in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train. The body the suspect holed up in the house was identified as Mohammed Saifurullah alias Ali, a resident of Kanpur.

Eight pistols, 650 rounds of ammunition, 50 fired rounds, explosives, gold, cash, passports, SIM cards and a train time table were found along with the body.

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said India has been dealing with terror attacks for long and is capable of tackling incidents like the one in Lucknow where a suspected Islamic State (IS) terrorist was killed. Bhamre said terrorism is a global phenomenon and there is a need to tackle this in a united manner.

Investigations in the suspected IS (Islamic State) terror module operating in India revealed that Ghaus Mohammed Khan, an ex-Indian Air Force officer was the leader of the group planning attacks in the country. According to a report Ghaus Mohammed Khan is currently absconding. Earlier yesterday, the Anti-Terrorist Squad managed to kill the terrorist hiding inside a house in Thakurganj area of Lucknow after 10 hours of long battle. However, it was the Counter Intelligence Cell of the Telangana Police that tracked, monitored and intercepted calls and messages of the suspected terrorists for months. According to sources, all the module members, including the slain, Saifullah, who was identified as their leader were reported to have been under electronic surveillance for months.

Uttar Pradesh ATS IG Aseem Arun revealed that the neutralised terrorist was a member of the IS Khorasan module. “We got the intelligence from a sister agency that a person named Saifullah affiliated to ISIS is hiding in a residential area in Lucknow. In 2016, the NIA had taken down Khalid Rizwan, as a part of a nationwide mission against the IS, resulting in the arrest of more than 20 people. In October 2016, the CIC had decoded texts between 6 men in Kerala recruited by an IS handler to plan terrorist attacks. In June 2016, the Telangana Police had provided the NIA with inputs to bust an IS terror module preparing to attack various Police Stations in Hyderabad.

The J&K Police busted a HM module by arresting its three suspected members, identified as Reyaz Ahmad Wani, Ikhlaq Ahmad Khanday and Tawseeul-Nabi in Bemina area of Srinagar District. The Police recovered two pistols, two pistol Magazines, 20 rounds, four grenades, one wireless set and a packet of explosive substance from the militants. During preliminary investigation the trio said they were working with Jehangir, an active militant in Kishtwar, the Police said.

DGP of J&K, Shesh Paul Vaid, on March 8 warned terrorists to desist from attacking the families of Police personnel in Kashmir valley. DGP Vaid said: "Don't bring in families in this conflict, you too have families. If you harass our families we will do same to your families." The remarks came a day after some terrorists ransacked the house of a Police officer and asked the families to tell the officer to quit the job else face the consequences.

With the onset of spring and melting of snow, BSF warned of increased infiltration along the LoC but said it along with Army is alert to tackle it. IG, Subsidiary Training Centre (STC), BSF, Sushil Kumar Shinde, said in Srinagar that the infiltration of militants increases after melting of snow. “Definitely after melting of snow, infiltration increases because during snow accumulation, it is difficult for them (militants) to cross the LoC. But after melting of snow, the infiltration increases…,” he said on the sidelines of a passing-out-parade at STC Humhama on city outskirts (Srinagar). However, the IG, BSF said that the infiltration could be prevented through alertness of Army and BSF. “Our alertness accordingly increases and (as a result) we are successful in securing our borders,” he said and added that as far as preparation (to tackle infiltration) is considered, they are always ready (to curb militant infiltration).

At least nine civilians were injured in a powerful IED blast carried out by unidentified militants in front of Vikas Pharmacy at Kasturi Bridge of Imphal Bazar in Imphal West District. The injured persons were identified as Dilip Kumar (26), Anil Kumar (28), Dinesh Prasad Sahu (40), Meera Roy (50), Dolly Roy (29), Khumanthem Modhubala (34), Yumnam Ibempishak (47), Yumnam Jiten (50) and Sapam Eros (44).

The polling official, identified as H Ramkating, who was injured in an IED blast in Ashang Khullen of Kamjong District on March 7, succumbed to the injuries.

Tension prevailed on the third day at Silapathar and its adjoining area with shops and business establishment remained closed over the issue of vandalism incident of March 6. Army, Police and CAPF carried out a flag march at Silapathar. Police have arrested 14 persons in this connection.

Over 10,000 people participated in a protest rally, led by activists of AASU along with 21 other local ethnic organisations, against Silapathar incident, in Dhemaji. The rally was in protest against the vandalism of AASU local office by the activists of NBBUSS [a group which is demanding citizenship for Hindu Bangladeshis and removal of their names from D-voter category] at Silapather on March 6.

The Special Director General of Police (DGP-law and order), Kula Saikia assured that all possible precautionary measures have been taken to prevent any conflict between linguistic groups following the Silapathar incident, which caused widespread repercussion all over the State. DGP Saikia said that instructions have been issued to all the district Police forces to keep close watch on the situation and to improve the intelligence network. The District Police forces have been directed to identify the vulnerable areas and increase Police and security presence in such areas. Police officers are asked to hold talks to people of different groups to ensure that peace and harmony is maintained between all sections of people.

One Bangladeshi security personnel of Griha Rakshi Bahini, identified as Nausad Mia (62), was lynched and another detained by the villagers at Siddhinagar village under the jurisdiction of Puran Rajbari Police Station in South Tripura District when 12 intruders attempted a robbery. Informing about the incident South Tripura District SP Tapan Debbarma said, “Twelve Bangladeshis comprising eight Griha Rakshi Bahini personnel (equivalent of Indian Home Guards), two Government employees and two civilians illegally crossed the India-Bangladesh border and tried to rob Indian villagers on Wednesday night.” Senior BSF and Police officers, along with reinforcements, have been camping in the tension ridden areas.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in an encounter with the 205th battalion of the CoBRA of the CRPF, at Baskatwa jungles under Gurpa Police Station in Gaya District of Bihar. Acting on tip-off of a meeting of top Maoist leaders in the area, the SFs launched an operation in the forest. On seeing the SFs, the rebels started firing leading to fierce encounter, in which the four rebels were killed. SFs found the four bodies of the rebels along with their arms lying close to them. The arms included two INSAS assault rifles, one SLR and one AK-47 assault rifle. The slain Maoist cadres were identified as Anil alias Deepak, ‘zonal commander’ of Magadh area committee action team, Rajesh Ravidas, ‘sub-zonal commander’, Nepali Yadav and Uttam.

A BSF officer was injured, when an IED, apparently planted by the CPI-Maoist, exploded while it was being defused by a BDS in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place near a BSF camp in Korenar village under Bande Police Station limits. The injured officer was identified as Assistant Commandant Pradeep M, attached to the BSF’s 171 Battalion. The home-made bomb was placed beneath the ground on a dirt track between Korenar village and the BSF camp, about 125 kilometres from Raipur, and it was spotted during a search operation by security personnel.

A landmine, planted by CPI-Maoist cadres, on a road leading to Palem Vagu irrigation project near Rachapally village at Venkatapuram Mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalapally District of Telangana was defused by the Police. SP, R Bhaskaran told that since the village was near the Chhattisgarh border, the CPI-Maoist group, in order to establish their presence, planted the landmine and tried to create panic among the locals. The landmine was spotted by the workers of the Palem Vagu project on March 4, and the Police was informed about it.

India asked Pakistan to take action against the increasing number of terrorists being spotted at "launch pads" along the LoC. "In the DGMO-level talks over the hotline, Lt-Gen A K Bhatt expressed concern to his Pakistani counterpart about the movement of terrorists noticed along the LoC," said an Army officer. With infiltration attempts on the rise once again as the snow in the mountain passes melts, sources said it was clearly conveyed to Islamabad that the "onus was on the Pakistan Army to take action against the terrorists and not allow them to cross-over into Kashmir." The Pakistan Army, on its part, "rejected Indian concerns on movement of terrorists along the LoC" and asked the Indian Army to "look inward, share evidence".

A Nepalese national allegedly killed in firing by the SSB along the border Indo-Nepal border at Lakhimpur Kheri District in Uttar Pradesh after SSB men tried to stop a group of Nepalese citizens from constructing an illegal bridge on no man's land. The Nepalese citizens allegedly responded to this by assembling a mob which pelted the SSB men with stones, injuring seven border guards. In response, the SSB fired in the air to disperse the crowd. Heavy security force has been deployed at the spot and the situation is being monitored by senior officials, who are also in talks with authorities across the border.

Two militants were killed in a fierce gun battle broke out between SFs and LeT militants in Padgampora area of Pulwama District in the morning. "The slain militants have been identified as Jehangir Ganai and Mohammad Shafi alias Sher Gujri," a senior CRPF officer said, adding that Ganai was involved in the killing of a local Policeman last year (2016). SFs from the CRPF and SOG of J&K Police have started search operations and cordoned off the area where two-three militants of the group were holed up even. Army was deployed to carry out combing operations.

A fifteen year old teenager, identified as Amir Nazir was also killed by a bullet-hit when he was throwing stones to disrupt the anti-terror operations of SFs against two hiding LeT terrorists at Padgampora in Pulwama District, DGP of J&K, Shesh Paul Vaid said. Amir Nazir was part of a mob pelting stones when a bullet hit him in the neck. The incident happened despite Army chief Bipin Rawat's recent warning against those attacking SFs during anti-militancy operations of "tough action". The SFs came under intense attack from stone pelters, which forced them to open fire, leaving several injured.

Locals hit the streets and started pelting stones on SFs near the encounter site. Additional SFs have been rushed to the area, where locals are pelting stones to disrupt the operation. Sources said there could be two to three militants in the area. SFs have sealed all roads leading to the village, including from Awantipora to prevent people from moving towards the encounter site

A HM militant, identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Seergojri was killed and an Army major injured in a shootout near Police Station in Bandipora in Bandipora District in the evening. A joint team of Army and SOG of J&K Police had laid a naka following specific inputs about the movement of militants. A militant who was travelling in a vehicle opened fire on Army in which Army Major was injured. In the retaliatory fire, the militant was gunned down. One pistol and a grenade were recovered from his possession.

The authorities placed separatist Hurriyat Conference (G) leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ayaz Akbar, Raja Mehrajudin, Mohd Ashraf Laaya and Umer Adil Dar under house arrest following a strike called by them against the killing of civilian. Security has also been intensified to prevent violence in Kashmir.

Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has expressed deep anguish and grief over the killing of a 15 year old Amir Nazir in Padgampora village of Pulwama District. Extending her sympathies to the bereaved, the Chief Minister said it was highly unfortunate that youth are caught in the vicious cycle of violence in the State which has consumed so many precious lives and left behind a trail of death and destruction.

  An Army jawan (trooper), identified as Deepak Jaganath was killed when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Poonch sector in Poonch District of Jammu region. Official sources said Pakistani troops opened fire at Indian posts around 2 pm at Gulpur area which was effectively retaliated by the Army. The sources said the jawan was injured in the firing from across the border and he was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries this evening.

One IED was exploded by unidentified militants targeting a security convoy at Singjamei Super Market in Imphal West District. The security convoy narrowly escaped and no injury was reported.

Imphal valley based militant group PREPAK, in a statement, claimed responsibility of the IED blast of Vikas Pharmacy at Kasturi Bridge of Imphal Bazar in Imphal West District.

A house of BJP candidate SS Olish at Kanankhu village in Chandel District was set on fire by suspected cadres of NSCN-IM as post-poll violence continues in various parts of the State. However no one was injured in the incident. According to the report, NSCN-IM threatened the villagers of Chandel Assembly constituency to cast their vote in favor of an Independent candidate earlier.

The ‘foreign secretary’ of GNLA, identified as Briyan R. Marak alias Millam (40) surrendered before Police without any arms at Baghmara in South Garo Hills District. According to Police, Briyan played a key part in forging close ties with the ULFA-I, NDFB and NSCN-U in Bangladesh. Briyan R. Marak’s surrender has come as another body blow for the elusive GNLA ‘c-in-c’ Sohan D. Shira after scores of senior leaders and cadres surrendered in the past one year. The GNLA ‘c-in-c’ is learnt to be with a handful (approximately 20) cadres and well armed, stated another source in the Police headquarters.

Assam Police sounded an alert across the State to prevent violence following the attack on the office of AASU in Dhemaji District and set up a SIT to investigate the incident. Assam Police also announced a reward of INR 1, 00,000 for information about Subodh Biswas, the key accused in the attack on the AASU office.

State Police has received intelligence inputs that NDFB-IKS militants would take to rhino poaching to shore up funds. The State Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma confirmed that the Special Branch of Assam Police has alerted the forest department about the NDFB-IKS cadres getting into rhino poaching. In her written reply to a question by Congress legislator Abdul Khaleque, Brahma said that a letter has been received from the ADGP (Special Branch), Pallab Bhattacharyya, informing the Government about the threat.

Reacting to the Silapathar incident, NDFB-S blamed the State Government for the whole incident and threatened that the outfit will not tolerate on the destructive policy of the Government to annihilate the ‘indigenous people’ of the State by giving soft heart to the illegal immigrants on the pretext of their political gain.

In a joint statement issued to the media after a joint meeting between ‘Working Group’ of NNPGs and NGBF held at Dimapur urged for initiating a separate ‘political dialogue’ between the GoI and NNPGs of present Nagaland State. The statement was signed by NGBF president, I. Shanlem Konyak and general secretary Shikuto Zalipu and NNPGs represented by Government of the GPRN/ NSCN-KK ‘ato kilonser’ and ‘convenor’ WG, N. Kitovi Zhimomi NNC parent body ‘general secretary & co-convenor’, V Nagi NSCN-R ‘president & co-convenor’, Wangtin Naga NNC/ NPGN & ‘co-convenor’, Hozheto Chophy and NNC/ GDRN & ‘co-convenor’, Kiumukam Yimchunger.

Nagaland CM Shürhozelie Liezietsu met a joint delegation of the JCC and the NTAC, the two groups which spearheaded the movement against holding of civic polls, in a bid to resolve misunderstandings.

One extortionist, identified as Himato Yepthomi was arrested by the AET while he was caught extorting money from the trucks at Bamunpukhuri area in Dimapur Town. Money in cash and incriminating documents in the forms of leaflets belonging to the NSCN-IM was also recovered from his possession.

A complete shutdown was observed in Kashmir, following a call by the Valley’s joint separatist leadership against the killing of a civilian during an encounter March 9, disrupting normal life. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed and the streets remained deserted. Hardliner Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and chairman of the JKLF Yasin Malik had given call for a complete shutdown and after-prayer protests on Friday (March 10) in the wake of Pulwama encounter (March 9).

Two teenage boys from PoK, against whom the NIA dropped charges of conspiracy in the Uri terror strike (September 18, 2016), were reunited with their families at the Wagah border after spending nearly six months in detention. Faisal Hussain Awan and Ahsan Khursheed had been handed over to the Jammu-based 16 Corps of the Army this week after the probe agency came to the conclusion that the two had strayed into the Indian side after a tiff with their parents due to the pressure of studies. The NIA had said that the evidence collected in the form of statements, technical analysis of their mobile phones, seized GPS devices and other circumstantial evidence collected by the NIA "did not reveal any linkage of the suspects with the Uri attackers". Earlier, the Army had detained the two on September 23, 2016 barely days after the terror strike, and claimed that the two had allegedly acted as guides of the four terrorists who carried out the attack on the Uri garrison in North Kashmir.

Junaid Qureshi, son of Kashmiri separatist leader Hashim Qureshi, said that Gilgit Baltistan is an integral part of J&K and Pakistan has no right to divide the state. "Gilgit Baltistan (region) is an integral part of (India's) Jammu and Kashmir State. Pakistan has no right to divide the state further and sell its resources under false rubric of infrastructure development," Junaid Qureshi said, adding that the "state is not for sale." Qureshi who also heads European Foundation for South Asian Studies, was speaking at the UN's Geneva convention. He also rejected the construction of CPEC along the line of control through Gilgit Baltistan region. "Construction of CPEC is illegal and a contravention of International law. It requires your (UN) urgent attention and intervention," he said.

One civilian, identified as P Loni (28), was injured when unidentified militants opened fire at a polling station at Purul Akutpa area of  Senapati District where re-polling was held.

The Dhemaji District administration has clamped indefinite curfew in Silapathar after six shops were set ablaze by unknown persons in the heart of the town. Miscreants also had set ablaze three houses at Sengajan and Majarbari in Simen Chapori despite the night curfew. When asked about the duration of their ‘ban’ on shops owned by Bengalis, the ‘general secretary’ of AASU's Dhemaji District unit, Krishna Ranjan Chutia, said that they would discuss the issue. Also, the AAJYS has called a 12-hour Dhemaji District bandh (shutdown) starting from 5 am on March 11. This bandh will take the number of days affected due to similar bandh in Silapathar to five. The situation has remained tense ever since the NIBBUSS activists allegedly vandalized the AASU office at Silapathar on March 6.  On that day, NIBBUSS had organised a meeting which was later followed a procession seeking removal of names of Bengali Hindus from the D-voters list.

Police arrested a NDFB-IKS militant, in connection to the abducting Ranjit Dutta (of Kokrajhar District), at Duttapur area under Runikhata Police Station of Chirang District. The arrested militant was identified as Mitichar Mushahary.

An indefinite hunger strike staged by ABSU and its allied organizations- PJACBM and the - NDFB-PTF, demanding early solution to the demand for creation of ‘Bodoland State’ and ensure political rights of the Bodos living outside the proposed ‘Bodoland’ area got underway in Kokrajhar Town.

One militant of NSCN-R, identified as Wangdi Tailong, was arrested by AR during an operation at Jungmaisung in Changlang District. A Pistol and live ammunition was also recovered from the arrested militant.

AR busted an abandoned hideout of NSCN-K at Nogna village in Tirap District.

Meghalaya CM Dr Mukul Sangma refuted claims by the opposition that his Government was yet to pay rehabilitation package to cadres of the disbanded ANVC and its splinter group ANVC-B. While replying during a debate, he informed that rehabilitation packages were disbursed to 363 out of the 367 cadres of the AVCB and 139 cadres of the disbanded ANVC-B. He informed the House that three of the members of the disbanded ANVC members did not avail the rehabilitation package while one expired.

Dr Sangma also informed that out of the 139 members of the disbanded ANVC-B only 11 have been able to take advantage of the rehabilitation package while 53 cadres their cases were sent for minor corrections and 74 cadres were yet to submit details of the bank accounts.

A former Sarpanch, Madvi Dula (55), was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres at in Tokanpalli forest under Chintagufa Police station in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh . Dula was abducted by Maoists, on March 9, on suspicion of being a ‘Police informer’.

Two women CPI-Maoist cadres, Tati Bheema and Kunjam Somdi, were arrested from Usoor Police Station area in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered a .303 rifle, 41 live rounds, electronic detonators and Maoist uniform.

About 200 Dongria Kondhs tribals of Niyamgiri Hills staged a demonstration in front of the Rayagada District Police Office of Odisha. Tribals were demanding release of Bari Pidikaka of Tahali village, Dashuru Kadraka and Saiba Pushika of Gortha village, who were arrested on charges of being Naxals. Ladda Sikaka, convener of NSS, said unable to fight the Maoists, Police is targeting innocent Dongria Kondhs branding them as Maoist supporters. They have threatened to stage mass protests from Rayagada to Bhubaneswar if their demands are not met.

As many as 474 civilians have been killed in Naxal violence in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra since 1982, Maharashtra Police issued a statement giving the statistics. According to the statement, the total number of civilian deaths in Naxal violence till now stood at 474. Also, 312 citizens were injured. As many as 191 Policemen were martyred in line of duty and 511 injured in the Naxal-affected District. Similarly, Government property worth INR 107,030,299 was destroyed, while loss of private assets stood at INR 185,007,016.

Three extortionists identified as ‘captain’ Athongba Sangtam, Zhaito Sumi and Khunu Sangtam belonging to NNC-NA militant was arrested by AET from Khermahal area in Dimapur Town.

Two persons were arrested by Railway Police at Mazhama railway station in Budgam District, along with old scrapped currency notes worth over INR 3.4 million. An official said that following a specific input, Railway Police officials intercepted two persons identified as Farooq Ahmad Labru and Mohammad Shafi Labru when they were about to board train at Mazhama railway station.

The ground situation in several parts of Dhemaji District still remains tense, even six days after the vandalism of Silapathar situated AASU office by NIBBUSS activists on March 6. Indefinite curfew imposed by the District administration is still in place. On that day, NIBBUSS had organised a meeting which was later followed a procession seeking removal of names of Bengali Hindus from the Doubtful-voters (D-voters) list.

The 12-hour Dhemaji bandh (shutdown-from 5 am to 5 pm) called by the Dhemaji District unit of AJYCS in protest against the vandalism and reportedly raising anti-Assamese slogans by NIBBUSS activists on March 6th passed off peacefully with some stray incident of motor tyres burning. AJYCS workers showed protest by burning motor tyres on the NH at Sissiborgaon, 15 km away from Dhemaji town. Normal life in Dhemaji was badly hit during the bandh as all shops, business establishments and financial institutions, including educational institutions at Dhemaji town and its adjacent areas remained closed during the bandh.

A joint forum of several organizations in Golaghat District had called a 12-hour Golaghat bandh (shutdown) protesting against the Silapathar incident passed off peacefully.All business establishments, Government and non-Government offices remained closed during the bandh.

Twelve CRPF personnel were killed and three others injured in an attack by the CPI-Maoist near Bhejji in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Senior Police officials of Sukma District said that Maoist opened indiscriminate fire on a ROP between Bhejji and Kottacheru. Reports said the rebels looted weapons from the slain security personnel and took away the wireless radio sets from the spot. Further, details are awaited as the operation is going on. The deceased CRPF personnel have been identified as Inspector Jagjit Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspectors H.B. Bhatt and Narender Kumar Singh, Head Constables Jagdish Prasad Vishnoi and P.R. Minde and Constables Mangesh Pal Pandey, Rampal Singh Yadav, Goraknath, Nand Kumar Patra, Satish Kumar Verma, K Shankar and Suresh Kumar.

Under the scheme of NFADP, East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand administration will be organising a Vikas Mela at Jualkanta in Ghurabandha Police Station area in Ghatshila sub-division on March 15. The Police and Paramilitary Forces are carrying out anti-insurgency operation in places bordering West Bengal's Purulia District and Odisha’s Mayurbhanj District in order to make the fair a success. SP, Shailendra Kumar Burnwal told, that after the surrender of top naxal leaders in February, the remaining naxals operating in the area have united. The idea to launch the operation is to force them to shun path of violence.

SFs recovered explosives from a shop at Goraimari in the Barpeta District. SFs recovered five explosives, each weighing approximately 500 grams, which were wound with rope and shrapnel and further packed with red tape. Another plastic bag with ‘white powder’ was also recovered, which was suspected to be potassium nitrate, a substance used to make explosives. One unidentified person was arrested in this connection so far.

A video of a scene of extortion in broad daylight at a fuel outlet in Kohima town by a couple of unidentified gunmen has gone viral on social media. However, with the witnesses denying any extortion activity, the Police did not register any case after the incident.

One person identified as Lukheyi Yepthomi was arrested by the AET while he was ‘collecting taxes’ in the name of the 'NPG’ from various commercial vehicles around Doshehe Market area in Dimapur Town.

Four cadres of the PLFI were arrested by the Police in two separate incidents in Khunti and West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist. In the first incident, three PLFI cadres, including a woman, Nirmala Kandulana, Jagai Pahan and Karam Singh Munda, were arrested when they came to collect ‘levy’ at Bhagat Singh Chowk in Khunti District of Jharkhand. In other incident, Police arrested PLFI cadre Rugu Gudia under Tebo Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. Police recovered two double barrel gun and 46 live cartridges from the spot of arrest.

Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing and mortar shelling in Krishnagati sector along the LoC in Poonch District.

One NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Agostin Mushahari (30), was arrested by Indian Army in Udalguri District. Sixteen live rounds of ammunition of 5. 56 mm AK 47, four mobile phones, a contact book and weapon repairing materials were also recovered from the militant.

State Police ordered a precautionary ban on the NBBUSS following acts of violence in Silapathar. The order means that NBBUSS will not be allowed to conduct any public meeting or activities.

The NSCN-IM, in a press release, threatened the people who are involved in money lending business to stop their business immediately in and around Dimapur Town.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a road construction machine and a two-wheeler at Badapadar village under Bijepur Police limits in Kalahandi District of Odisha. According to reports, a group of over five Maoists set ablaze a JCB and a motorcycle belonging to the contractor, identified as Rajendra Sahoo, protesting road construction work. “Last night a group of Maoists arrived at my home in search of me. However, I managed to hide following which they took the key of the JCB from driver and set the machine on fire on the outskirts of the village,” said Rajendra.

A former Sarpanch was killed by unidentified gunmen in Pulwama. Police said gunmen abducted former Sarpanch Fayaz Ahmad from his Kakoora residence in Pulwama, and his bullet riddled body has been recovered from Chewa Kalan village in the District.

Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and firing by automatic weapons along the LoC in Poonch District, prompting the army to retaliate. “There was unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector from 0640 hours today, using 82 mm mortars, automatic weapons,” a Defence spokesman said. There is no casualty on Indian side, he said. This is the second ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in Poonch District, since yesterday, in less than 24 hours.

Police, probing a case against Tabrez Tambe (28) from Mumbra (Thane District, Maharashtra), who had left to work in Egypt this January and allegedly joined the banned outfit Islamic State (IS), have found that he is in a Libyan jail. He was caught by the Libyan authorities in December, 2016. His detention has been confirmed by Dr Ramamurthy Kosanam, who saw Tabrez in IS custody. Kosanam, a native of Andhra Pradesh's Krishna District, was abducted by IS cadres one-and-a-half years ago. He was rescued by the Indian mission in Libya in February, 2017. Maharashtra ATS officials apparently showed Tabrez's photograph to Kosanam to establish if he was in a Libyan jail. Tabrez, had on December 5, 2016 called up his family and said he had been arrested by the Libyan government and requested them to file a missing complaint for him and approach the embassy for his release. He had also told them to uninstall the Telegram app, through which he was communicating with them.

Tabrez's brother, Saud, filed a complaint with the state ATS after his mother received his call. "My brother also gave us his Facebook and Gmail passwords and told us to delete his accounts," Saud told police. An ATS officer said they had contacted the Union home ministry about Tabrez. The home ministry contacted the ministry of external affairs. "We are trying to bring him back," said an officer. The ATS had registered a case under various sections of the UAPA against Tabrez and his associate, Ali. The family suspects Ali indoctrinated Tabrez and took him to Egypt, from there they went to Libya. Police have also found that Ali had sent around INR 4,00,000 to Tabrez last year for travel and other expenses.

In a development in the Lucknow Islamic State (IS) encounter, a purported message posted by a pro- IS Telegram channel has identified Saifullah, who was killed in an encounter in Lucknow earlier this week, as a soldier of the Caliphate. Officials said they are verifying the veracity of the post and has sought cooperation from foreign intelligence agencies. This is the first time that any IS supported channel on Telegram has owned up Saifullah, who was part of the alleged terror module, which planted a bomb on a train near Bhopal on March 7.

US based intelligence website Site Intel Group posted a screen grab of the Telegram message on Twitter, which said, “Pro-#ISIS Telegram Channel Incites for Attacks in #India, Points to Suspected IS Fighter Saifullah as Example.” The website also posted a photograph of Saifullah describing him as a “soldier of the Khilafah from India.” The photo was juxtaposed with a message in Urdu, Arabic and English. It said, “Think not of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead, Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.”

In another incident of ceasefire violation along LoC in border District Poonch of the Jammu region, the Pakistani troops targeted the forward Indian posts along the LoC for the third time in the last 24 hours, forcing the authorities to suspend the Poonch-Rawalkote bus service and postpone examinations.

SFs busted an extortion racket of the NSCN-K and arrested two militants of the outfit, identified as Belin Lego and Dibya Koch and a link woman, identified as Moina Basumatary from the Kalapani Chapori area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border under Sadiya Police Station in Tinsukia District. One AK- 47 rifle, 19 live ammunitions, one fired case, 14 rounds of. 22mm weapon, eight cell phones and SIM cards were also recovered from the arrested militants. 

The State Police arrested Binoy Biswas (55), one of the main accused who executed the March 6 vandalism incident at Silapathar in Dhemaji District, from Kakobari Dharmapur village in Dhemaji District. He is the ‘national organising secretary’ of NIBBUS. With the arrest, the total number of persons arrested in connection with the Silapathar incident has gone up to 43. The Dhemaji District administration also relaxed the curfew for four hours.

On the fourth day of their hunger strike to press for a separate Bodoland State, the hunger strikers said that they would not accept any medical aid until a formal assurance for a comprehensive political dialogue is given. The ABSU, NDFB-P and the PJACBM are together holding the indefinite hunger strike at Kokrajhar Government Higher Secondary & MP School playground.

SFs arrested one CPI- Maoist militant, identified as Tapan Mahatta (33) alias Prabhat alias Prakash Kurmi alias Ranjit from the ASTC bus stand in Tinsukia District during checking. Two SIMs and a mobile phone were also recovered from him.

A team of leaders of the UNTABA have met with Interlocutor for Naga peace talks RN Ravi and ‘general secretary’ of the NSCN-IM Th. Muivah recently. The UNTABA leaders had deliberations Th. Muivah “for the restoration of transferred Naga lands in Assam to Nagaland and in what manner traditional and historical boundary can be settled with Assam during the final political settlement.”

One extortionist, identified as Alferd Sumi, reportedly a ‘leacy’ of the ‘NPGN’, was arrested by the AET around Metro Hospital area in Dimapur Town while he was extorting money from the business establishments.

Four unidentified militants reportedly threatened two Mizoram forest guards who were guarding the forests along Meidili River near Assam-Mizoram border to curb bamboo smuggling. According to Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo Students’ Association), the two foresters were threatened at gun point by the four militants armed with AK-47 assault rifles and one pistol and told to stop guarding the riverine forest. However, Police said that they received the information of militants threatening foresters, but could not confirm it.

Naxals blew up the house of a para-teacher and held a ‘Jan Adalat’ at Baltharwa village atop Jhumra Hill under Mahuataad Police Station in Bokaro District of Jharkhand. At least 30 Naxals pasted posters across the village, branding the teacher Jailal Mahto as a ‘Police informer’. Mahto was not present at his residence at the time of the explosion. Naxals assaulted his wife Bijli Devi (27) and his father Moti Mahto. The group then blew up Mahto's house. Villagers in Baltharwa remained angry with the Police for not visiting the spot more than 24 hours after the incident.

A 26-year-old man, identified as A Shaikh, was detained in Khargone District of Madhya Pradesh by the Maharashtra ATS in connection with a case related to Islamic State (IS). He is being brought to Mumbai for questioning, a senior Police official said here. According to Police, Shaikh, who has completed his M.Tech, was allegedly in constant touch with one of the accused in the case, who was earlier arrested for his alleged links with the banned terror group. “Shaikh has not been placed under arrest so far. We are examining his role in the case,” the official said without elaborating further.

Arrested for alleged involvement in the October 2016 murder of an RSS worker in Bengaluru (Karnataka), Asim Shariff, leader of the District chapter of social and political organisation PFI, was associated with members of terror groups such as IM and Al Ummah, the NIA has alleged. The probe agency made its contentions while arguing in a plea filed by Shariff in Karnataka High Court. Shariff has questioned the invoking of provisions of UAPA, 1967, against him for the murder of RSS leader R Rudresh, and the suo motu decision of the UMHA to ask the NIA to probe the case. In the course of arguments, the UMHA and NIA have stated that provisions of UAPA are applicable in the case since it involves issues of national security.

The air base at Pathankot in Punjab has been put under high alert after a terror threat was reported. Choppers kept vigil at the air base in Punjab after the threat and search ops were underway around the air base, report said. According to local Police, the security has been beefed up on the basis on intelligence inputs. No suspicious person/ activity has been reported so far.

The NIA has registered a FIR in the latest Islamic State (ISIS) inspired cases in the Madhya Pradesh and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) terror operations. The principal focus of the investigators would now be to digitally track the mastermind behind the modules, who is believed to be abroad. The move is to ensure that further radicalisation of Indian youth is stopped. After forces managed to identify a Lucknow terror module linked to ISIS, top intelligence sources had confirmed that search activities were initiated to find 20 odd youths who might have joined the Islamic radical group earlier and are now back in the country. As per information, all the 20 members - mostly based out of Kerala - were in Syria recently and might have returned to India to act on the radical groups agenda. While there have been no ISIS related terror activities in India, the Lucknow terror module raised a lot of security concerns for the country. The Centre has pinpointed five states where ISIS activists could surface, including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Intelligence operations have already commenced in these states for monitoring any kind of terror activity.

Pakistan state sponsored terrorism where "good terrorists" are used against India is most lethal form of terror threats that countries in the Indian Ocean Region are facing, said Vice President Hamid Ansari. "Pakistan's use of terror as an instrument of state policy has been acknowledged by US state department. Pakistan uses good terrorists vis­a­vis India while battling bad terrorists at home," Ansari said in New Delhi without mincing any words while inaugurating third edition of Counterterrorism conference organised by noted Delhi­based think-tank India Foundation.

Warning of attacks in India, terror outfit Islamic State (IS) released a graphic depicting Taj Mahal as a possible target. According to reports, the graphic image showing an image of Taj Mahal in the backdrop with an IS terrorist standing next to it was posted by the Ahwaal Ummat Media Center on a channel of Telegram, the encrypted communication app.

Site Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadi activity on the web, has confirmed the report. The graphic also has an inset which shows another image of the Taj Mahal within crosshairs with the words “New Target” written below it. Also, there is an image of a van with the Arabic text “Agra istishhadi” (Agra martyrdom-seeker) written in English. The security agencies have claimed that some 75 Indians have so far joined IS. This includes 45 who went from India, mostly from Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka, while the remainder were Indians living abroad.

SFs arrested one suspected CPI-Maoist, identified as Malu Sethi, from Paharpur village near Lekhapani in Tinsukia District. Two guns, 3kg of explosives, a detonator, 20m of wire, 500gm of nails, switches and a mobile phone were recovered from the arrested militant.  

The ABSU, NDFB-P and PJACBM decided to end the indefinite hunger strike that began from March 10 after the Government assured to hold talks on Bodo issues before April 14.  

The Dhemaji District administration lifted day curfew in Silapathar town, even as it decided to continue with the night curfew. The curfew was imposed after the widespread violence when activists of the NIBBUS ransacked the office of the local AASU unit following a rally by the lesser known organisation on March 6. Police has arrested 46 persons since the March 6 clash between NIBBUSS activists and AASU members.

SFs arrested a militant of a newly formed militant group named ARA, identified as Sengman Ch. Marak alias Miksal alias Bacheng from Alda Cheran village near Songsak in East Garo Hills District. A US-made M-4 automatic rifle with ammunition, which allegedly belonged to William A. Sangma, a militant leader and wanted criminal who had escaped from Mendipathar Police Station in 2014, was recovered from his possession.

In wake of the continued rate of crimes committed against women and children in the State, the militant outfit HNLC announced its decision to ‘restart Operation Kyllang’ to punish rapists in the State.

SVC asked the NSCN-IM to take stringent action against one of its ‘kilonsers (cabinet minister)’ who had allegedly abducted and beaten up the VCC of Shangnyu village in Mon District on March 5.

Mizoram Governor Lieutenant General Nirbhay Sharma said that the final stage of peace dialogue between the State Government and the Manipur-based HPC-D militants was expected soon. Addressing the State legislature, the Governor said that three rounds of dialogue have so far been held. “During these talks, arms and ammunition snatched from the police by the HPC-D cadres were returned,” he added.

AR arrested two IS suspects, identified as Nazir Mohammad and Abu Bakir, both are from Tamil Nadu, at a border check post at Khudengthabi along the Trans Asian Highway No 1 in Chandel District. Fourteen SIM cards and some handsets, besides INR 75,130 and a huge amount in foreign currencies were recovered from the arrestees.  

A man identified as Kaushal Paswan (30) was shot dead by CPI-Maoist cadres near Mahuraushan village in Gaya District of Bihar. Paswan was a member of an anti-Maoist outfit – Bhakt Sangharsh Samiti – formed last year by some Dalits as a vigilante group against Maoists after they had killed some members of Bhuian and Paswan communities during assembly polls in 2015.

Assistant constable, Phagu Ram Mandavi (42) of the CRPF was killed by a group of CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Mandavi was visiting Bodli village 'Mela' (fair) under Bangpal Police Station.

UHM Rajnath Singh told Lok Sabha that “unprecedented success’’ by SFs led to “uneasiness” among Naxal groups. UHM Singh told that improved efficacy of the SFs is evident from the fact that the number of Left-wing extremist killed increased by 150 per cent in 2016. Similarly, surrenders and arrests registered a combined increase of 47 per cent over 2015. In 2016, SFs arrested 779 Naxals while 1,198 surrendered and 135 were eliminated. In 2016 there were 67 per cent encounters and exchange of fire that resulted in neutralization of LWE cadres as against only 36 per cent in 2015.Mr Singh said sustained operations by the security forces ensured that South Bastar districts saw a considerable fall in violence in 2016 — 252 incidents, as against 326 in 2015.

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Ahir, informed the Lok Sabha that although the Government had made significant headway in the areas affected by LWE, the Centre was willing to hold talks with the Maoist cadres, if the latter agreed to give up arms.

Two TPC armed ‘squad commanders’, Rajesh Ganju and Hiralal Ganjhu, were arrested by Jharkhand Police and the CRPF in Chatra District of Jharkhand. SFs recovered a US-made rifle and a carbine, seven other firearms, 450 cartridges, four mobile phones, six magazines and INR 56,000. TPC is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

Deva Madhi alias Raghu, a CPI-Maoist cadre, carrying INR 100,000 reward on his head, surrendered before Police in Malkangiri District of Odisha. Raghu was working as a member of LGS of Kalimela Dalam for the last four years. He was allegedly involved in the murder of Tulsiram Bedara, Jaga Madkami, Deva Madkami, Ganga Padiami, Madan Hantala, Gurumurti Madhi, Sama Padiami and Badu Hantala in 2013.

Two businessmen were arrested along with FICN having a face value of INR 6,20,000 in denomination of INR 2,000 in Hyderabad. Acting on credible information, sleuths of the Special Operation Team of Rachakonda Commissionerate arrested the duo, Sakethwala Ramesh and Mohammad Riyaz Baba, after raiding the latter's house in Ibrahimpatnam, Police said. Another accused Mohammed Hazi is at large. 

Inspector of SOT, LB Nagar zone, K Narsing Rao said Ramesh was the kingpin of the fake currency circulation gang. He was earlier arrested on November 26, 2016 as he attempted to circulate bogus notes which were photocopies of the original INR 2,000 currency notes. Ramesh had concealed the fake currency notes in the house of Riyaz. He was released from the prison on January 20, 2017 and since then he had planned to circulate FICN hidden with Riyaz, the Inspector said.

Calling Pakistan a terrorism factory, India said Pakistan's terror policies have alienated its own people through continued mistreatment of minorities. In the UN, India accused Pakistan of spreading terrorism and illegally occupying some territories in Kashmir. Exercising its right to reply during a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the Indian Representative said Pakistan must rein in its “compulsive hostility” towards India. “We ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any manner,” the official said.

Three LeT militants and a minor girl were killed while another minor boy and a SF person were injured in an encounter at Hyhama area of Kupwara District of North Kashmir. SSP Kupwara, Shamsher Hussain, said that three militants of LeT, identified as Abu Mala, Anas Bhai and Abu Mansoor (all of them were Pakistani nationals) were killed in gun battle at Jagityal Kulnard area of Kupwara this morning (March 15). A minor girl, identified as Kaneeza and a minor boy Faisal were injured when they were hit by bullets during the encounter. Girl Kaneeza succumbed to her injuries and boy was shifted to Srinagar for treatment. A Police constable identified as Danish Ahmad was also injured in the encounter. Three AK-47 rifles, six hand grenades, one GPS, one wireless set, six magazines and large quantity of ammunition was recovered from them.

The SSP said that these militants were active in Kralpora, Dardpora, Marhama, Awoora and its adjacent areas for last one year. He said that they had infiltrated last year (2016) and were part of reception party of LeT. He said that they were receiving infiltrated militants from Keran and Tangdhar sectors and providing them logistic support before launching them to Kashmir valley.

Cross LoC trade between India and Pakistan via Chakkan-da-Bagh trade point in Poonch in Poonch District has been suspended in view of the mounting tension along the LoC after ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops. The Pakistan Army has targeted Trade Centre complex during shelling on March 12 and March 13. A school building and another structure at Chakkan-da-Bagh have been affected with the shelling by Pakistan.

Militants hurled a grenade on District Police Lines Pulwama in Pulwama District in the night. However, no damage was done. Police and SFs immediately cordoned off the area and the searches are on for the militants responsible for the attack.

The NIA filed the first supplementary chargesheet in the special NIA court in Guwahati against Rabi Basumatary, a suspected cadre of NDFB-IKS, for his alleged involvement in the killing of seven people at Balapara village in Kokrajhar District on May 1, 2014.

SFs arrested two unidentified militants of NSCN-K from Ligiripukhori area of Sivasagar District.

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question by D.P. Tripathi in the Rajya Sabha said that the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 between the GoI and the NSCN-IM is a relevant document and details of the final settlement are being worked out within the parameters of the Framework Agreement. Hence, he added that it would be premature to make public the Framework Agreement.

One militant of NSCN-R, identified as ‘sergeant’ Bokito Sumi, was arrested while collecting extortion money from the commercial establishments in Dimapur Town.

In an address to a conference, via video conferencing from Raipur District of Chhattisgarh, on ‘’Counter-Terrorism’’ in New Delhi, CM Raman Singh, said that effective and good governance will spell the death-knell of Naxalism and terrorism. He added that LWE had been brought to an end in Surguja division. The authorities are working on the socio-economic front in Bastar division and the results will be known soon. Further, he told that the LWE had destroyed education, health, roads and communications links in the far-flung regions of Bastar division. He also elaborated that, medical services are being expanded in Bijapur District under the new innovative model. Five Prayas Residential schools had been opened in Raipur, Bilaspur, Ambikapur (Surguja), Jagdalpur (Bastar) and Durg Divisions to cater to the educational needs of children in the Naxalites’ violence affected Districts. He also informed that additional funds of INR 2 billion for Dantewada and INR 4 billion for Korba had been allocated under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s DMFP. It had created a positive environment in the regions.

Mohan Murmu and Sundar Soren of Ghurabandha squad of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the District administration in Jwalkata village under Ghurabandha Police Station area at Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand . They were aides of Kanu Munda, who is the former ‘secretary’ of JBORC of CPI -Maoist.

A group of 15 to 20 CPI-Maoist cadres abducted three villagers, Hari Pradhan, Banamali Naik and Sudarsan Naik of Narlapat village, from Thuamul-Rampur Police Station limits in Kalahandi District of Odisha. A senior Police official said the rebels either take the support of locals or resort to violence to trigger a fear psychosis among them to carry out their activities unhindered.

A report of the Home Department of Odisha Government, the standing committee chairman Ramesh Chandra Chaya Patnaik, told the Odisha Assembly that as 39 CPI-Maoist were neutralised while 23 civilians and three security personnel were killed in 2016. Report also stated that LWE situation remained challenging in parts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Bolangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Angul and Nayagarh Districts.

The Delhi HC upheld the Centre's decision to ban Zakir Naik's organisation the IRF. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva who was hearing the matter dismissed Naik's plea against the immediate ban observing that the UMHA had "sufficient material for immediate ban." On November 17, 2016, the UMHA had banned IRF for five years under the UAPA. Contesting the ban in January, Senior Advocate Dinesh Mathur representing IRF submitted that the ban was imposed without "any application of mind on the part of the government authorities." The petition further contended that "the impugned notification, in fact, discloses no grounds or conclusions that have been drawn from any facts and material that was before the government to sustain its decision."

UHM Rajnath Singh said countries and state-supported groups, which violate the definition of terrorism as prescribed by the UN, should be punished by the international community. The minister said coastal borders of 36 countries touch the Indian Ocean, and nations, including India, need to work together to ensure safety and protection of maritime domains and trade and economic activities through sea routes. “To achieve this, we have to accept the comprehensive definition of terrorism given by the United Nations. The nations which violate this definition should be punished and ostracised,” he said.

Singh said the “comprehensive definition of terrorism” should include state-supported groups and nations which are supporting such groups and they should be brought under this definition...Identification of state-sponsored terrorism and isolating such state-sponsored groups will certainly be most important encouraging factors,” he said.

Police disallowed a joint press conference of separatist leaders, including the chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, and took them into custody. The separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yaseen Malik were scheduled to hold a joint press conference at Geelani’s residence in Hyderpora in Srinagar District but Police did not allow Mirwaiz and Malik to enter into Geelani’s residence. Police took the trio into custody and did not allow the press conference.  Before being taken away, the Hurriyat leaders called for the boycott of the by-polls to two Lok Sabha constituencies of Srinagar and Anantnag which are going to polls on April 9 and 12 respectively.

India termed as “entirely unacceptable” any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region, bordering disputed PoK, as the fifth Province. Reacting sharply to reports that a committee headed by Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has proposed status of a Province to Gilgit-Baltistan, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said any such step would not be able to hide the illegality of Pakistan’s occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir which it must vacate, forthwith. Noting that the issue pertains to the sovereignty of India, he said the Government’s position is very well known on the matter.

“The entire State of J&K is an integral part, has been an integral part and will be an integral part of India. No attempt or unilateral attempt or step to change that would have any legal basis, whatsoever, and it will be entirely unacceptable. “Any such step would not be able to hide the illegality of Pakistan’s occupation of parts of J&K which it must vacate, forthwith. It will also not be able to hide the tremendous, very concerning human rights violations and denial of freedom that has been going on in parts controlled by Pakistan for the last 70 years,” the spokesperson said.

HM militant Zakir Rashid Bhat, who took over from Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter July 2016, has urged Kashmiri Muslim youths to pelt stones at SFs in the name of Islam, rubbishing Hurriyat's claim that the militant movement was "secular" or for "freedom" and Kashmiri "nationalism". In a 12-minute video, circulated widely on social media, Zakir Rashid Bhat, alias Zakir Musa, is seen preaching violence in the name of Islam. The terror outfit also separately directed voters to boycott the upcoming by-polls for two parliamentary seats and panchayat polls in the Valley. "When you pelt stones, don't think you're helping just one Musa or one mujahideen. You must do it to help and protect Islam," Musa said. "We'll hoist Islam's flag in our Kashmir one day," he proclaimed. Wearing an Afghan cap, a beige coat over a brown sweater, Musa appeared to be imitating Wani's strategy of using Islamic State (IS)-style videos and social media propaganda to lure youth into militancy. Calling Kashmiri informers and J&K Police "kafir" (infidel), Musa said both deserve to be killed. "We're fighting for Islam. We want to be martyrs for our Islam."

Two extortionists, identified as Heyito Aye and Atoshe Murru, both are members of FGN were arrested by AET at Murgipatti area in Dimapur town while collecting extortion money.

The ULFA-I, in a joint statement issued by its ‘chairman’ Abhizeet Asom, and ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Asom, hinted that it will continue ‘joint operations’ with the CorCom, an umbrella body of Manipur-based militant groups, against security forces of India. Last year, both the militant formations have carried out coordinated attacks on Security Forces under ‘operation Barak’.  The statement was issued on the occasion of ULFA-I’s ‘army day’ on March 16.

The Dhemaji District administration announced lifting of night curfew at Silapathar town which was imposed after the vandalism incident of AASU office by the NIBBUSS in Silapathar and the subsequent violence. Further, another accused of the vandalism incident, the NIBBUSS’s Dhemaji District unit ‘vice-president’ Sadhan Biswas (35) was also arrested from his residence at Number 2 Kashinath Chapori Mishing Gaon near Majarbari under Silapathar Police Station, taking the total arrestees to 49.

Members of CRPC, Assam, an organisation of Barak valley, have expressed their shock and anguish at the manner in which the government and its machinery are handling the case of the untoward incident that took place at Silapathar on March 6, till date. The organisation also demanded a high level impartial enquiry of the incident.

CM Sarbananda Sonowal appealed all the militant groups of the State for peace talks and said his Government wants to rid the state of the militancy, the illegal foreigners and the corruption.

The BJP-led Manipur Government appealed the UNC to immediately lift the indefinite economic blockade in a special meeting convened by CM Nongthombam Biren Singh. However, the UNC rejected the appeal to end the economic blockade of the State. UNC made it clear that the blockade would continue until the Government held talks with it over its demands.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in an encounter with SFs in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. The skirmish took place between a team of the DRG and CPI-Maoist cadres near Kochwahi village under Narayanpur Police Station limits. SFs recovered a .315 rifle, a country-made revolver, two wireless sets and Naxal LWE related materials. Two powerful IED weighing 25 kilograms each were also recovered. A massive combing operation has been launched in the region to trace the attackers.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, Bijja Poonem (26) and Raghu Kadiyam (31), were arrested from Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Two of them were carrying a reward of INR 5,000 on their head.

Eleven CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered during 'Police Mitra’ programme at the Ongnaar village under Benoor Police Station limits in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. Of the surrendered, Nemchand Gavde, Ramsingh Potai, Giluram Potai, Sonu Gavde, Manghal Singh Korram, Bholu Ram Potai, Dhansingh Vadde, Ghasia Potai and Sudu Ram Salam, were carrying low cash rewards on their heads. Besides, warrant was pending against Jamru Ram Potai and Sumita Kavde.

The Odisha Police neutralised a FICN printing unit at a slum in Bhubaneswar after seizure of certain materials used for making counterfeit notes. The seizure was made from Salia Sahi area. Sources said the Police got clue about printing of fake currency notes in the state after it arrested a college student from Baripada on March 9. The youth was identified as Shagen Tudu. He was caught while trying to use FICN of the face value INR 500 at a shop in Sunagadia area. Police have seized papers used in printing fake currency notes, colour printer and cartridge from the spot. Also 32 counterfeit notes of INR 500 denomination were seized. All the currencies bore identical series and serial number, the Police said. Shagen during interrogation had revealed that he had got the notes from a friend residing in Patia area in Bhubaneswar.

The `business' of FICN appears to be on the rise in Hyderabad, with the city Police arresting 10 people, involved in the crime, over the last one month. Officials, closely following the case, say that these photocopied notes are being brought into the city from places like Sircilla, Nizampet and Ibrahimpatnam. Confirming the rise in count of the fraudsters, Deputy Commissioner of Police (task force) B Limba Reddy said, "Only Non-Resident Indians have been given permission till March 31 to deposit old demonetised currency. Now, many scammers have also taken on the role of NRIs and tell their victims that they can deposit the money without any hassle, for a certain share."

There were 15 terror attacks on the Army in 2016 as the force lost 68 soldiers, the Lok Sabha was informed. The year 2016 also recorded 449 instances of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC and IB in J&K combined. In a written response to a question in Lok Sabha, Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State for Defence, said 10 cases of terror attacks were recorded in 2014, followed by 11 in 2015, 15 in 2016 and three until March 15, 2017.

2015 and 2016 also saw a spike in the number of deaths of army personnel, recording 67 and 68 casualties respectively in terror attacks and along the border. In 2014, 38 army personnel died in terror acts while 13 have lost their lives this year. Bhamre said, in 2016 the area along the LoC , which is under operational control of the Army, saw 228 instances of ceasefire violations while the area along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, under the control of the BSF, recorded 221 instances of ceasefire violations.

This accounts for more than one instance of ceasefire violation every day. In 2017, 30 instances of ceasefire violations were recorded along the LoC while six such instances along the international border were recorded until February 6, 2017 by the BSF.

An encounter broke out between SFs and militants in Pulwama District of J&K, according to Police. According to reports, the area has been cordoned off by defence personnel as the militants have fled from the spot. This comes two days after a clash between the militants and SFs in north Kashmir’s Kupwara District had killed three LeT militants and a minor girl.

At least three militants managed to escape from cordon after a brief gun battle in Batnoor village of Pulwama District of South Kashmir. A Police official said that SFs cordoned off village Batnoor during the night. Police official said that SFs and SOG of J&K Police launched search operations at several places in Pulwama after HM posters appeared asking people to boycott bypoll in Anantnag Parliamentary constituency on April 12. However, the operation ended as the militants managed to escape and no arrests were made.

A day after HM posters put up in Pulwama in Kashmir provoked the youth in Kashmir to “fight for Islam, not Kashmir,” posters have been put up by the LeT in the neighbouring District of Anantnag asking the people not to vote in the upcoming local polls. The posters have warned people to stay away from the election process and not to cast their vote. The J&K Police have taken cognizance of these threats and have launched a probe to check the veracity of these posters. “The terror outfits have trying their best to ensure terror in the valley through the posters but not much heed should be paid into it,” Colonel (retired) VN Thapar said. “The government shouldn't bring its own guard down; rather it should ensure swift action.”

There were 15 terror attacks on the Army last year (2016) as the force lost 68 soldiers, the Lok Sabha was informed. 2016 also recorded 449 instances of ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the J&K border. In a written response to a question in Lok Sabha, Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State for Defence, said 10 cases of terror attacks were recorded in 2014, followed by 11 in 2015, 15 in 2016 and three until March 15 this year (2017). 2015 and 2016 also saw a spike in the number of deaths of Army personnel, recording 67 and 68 casualties respectively in terror attacks and along the border. In 2014, 38 army personnel died in terror acts while 13 have lost their lives this year.

Bhamre said, in 2016 the area along the LoC, which is under operational control of the Army, saw 228 instances of ceasefire violations while the area along the IB in J&K, under the control of the BSF, recorded 221 instances of ceasefire violations. This accounts for more than one instance of ceasefire violation every day. In 2017, 30 instances of ceasefire violations were recorded along the LoC while six such instances along the international border were recorded until February 6 by the BSF.

ATS of the Karnataka Police arrested a suspect here having links with the 2005 terror attack at Bengaluru's IIS from the outskirts of Agartala town in West Tripura District. "The Karnataka ATS personnel, with the help of Tripura Police, arrested terror suspect Habib Mia (37), from Jogendranagar on the outskirts of Agartala," a senior Tripura Police official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The officials of BSF recovered FICN of new denomination worth INR 440,000 near the fence of Kushnimari border outpost in Dhubri District. They recovered the FICN in a packet containing 220 pieces of INR 2000 notes. However, the security personnel could not arrest anyone as they saw the bag being thrown from the Bangladesh side. The packet has been submitted to the authority.

The AASU and 28 other indigenous organisations demanded ban on the NIBBUS in Assam and arrest its leader Subodh Biswas along with his aide Sahadeb Das, who were involved in the vandalism of the AASU office in Silapathar on March 6.

CM N Biren Singh said that he would apprise the Central Government of India about reports of “unofficial designated camps’ of NSCN-IM in the State”. He said that a report would be soon compiled about the reported presence of “unofficial designated camps of NSCN-IM and lawlessness prevailing along the Indo-Myanmar border areas.” The “official designated camps are the duty of the Government” but the reported “existence of unofficial camps needs to be identified with photographs.”

State Government in its first Cabinet meeting in Imphal decided to initiate talks with UNC on March 19 to resolve the economic blockade issue in the State.

Chhattisgarh Police arrested Raju Korcha, a ‘platoon commander’ of CPI-Maoist, carrying reward of INR 800,000 on his head from Rengawahi area of Kanker District of Chhattisgarh.

Posters inviting youths to join Islamic State (ISIS) surfaced in  Rohtas District of Bihar, prompting the State Police to launch an inquiry to “get to the bottom” of the matter. The posters, pasted on electric poles, were first noticed at Sikrauli Bigha village in the State’s Nauhatta block, some 230 kilometers south-west of Patna. “ISIS come to Bihar and please new boys to join (sic),” was written in them. After a while more posters were seen around Nauhatta high school area. It said, “ISIS, please come to all Bihar districts”. The UMH) has been alerted after the development, the first instance of any pro-ISIS poster surfacing in the State.

A terror wave stares at SFs in Kashmir with a massive influx of Pakistani terrorists, and spiraling of local recruits pegging the number of armed radicals at 400 in the State, a three-fold increase following the killing of Burhan Wani in July 2016. A recent review done by the Army shows there are 250 local recruits and 150 Pakistani terrorists in Kashmir as of now. The increase from 91 locals and 60 Pakistanis respectively June (2016), a month before Wani, a local HM ‘commander’, was gunned down, has alarmed security agencies. Wani’s killing triggered months of unrest in the State with frequent violent clashes between civilians and SFs. Pakistani terrorists have also increased to 150, whereas the number was only 60 before Wani was killed. “With increased numbers and infiltration bids scaling, the forces are preparing for challenges in the summer,” said an Army officer.

A day after separatists asked voters to desist from participating in the bypolls to Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies, JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik was arrested from his office in Srinagar. "A posse of Policemen raided Abi Guzar office of the JKLF in the heart of Srinagar and arrested Malik to desist him from spearheading the poll boycott campaign," a JKLF spokesman said.

Police team arrested three extortionists, identified as Tengsrang Ch Momin (22), Mantu Ch Momin (35) and Suhrab Miah (35) from Ampati in South West Garo Hills District. According to the Police they were involved in extorting money from businessmen in the name of GNLA. 

In the 127th session of the KAAC Budget, a resolution for granting of an autonomous State by the Centre was adopted. Soon after the passing of the Council budget, the KAAC Chairman Bidyasing Tokbi gave time for discussion on the adoption of the resolution regarding demand for granting of Autonomous State as per Article 244(A) by the Central Government of India for the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. This was the third time that a resolution regarding Autonomous State issue was adopted. The CEM while referring to the signing of MoU between the then ASDC and Central government in 1995 and later the signing of MoS between the disbanded armed organisation UPDS and Central Government for granting of Statehood for the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, said it was signed by the leaders of the hill districts, but the Central as well as State Governments have not been serious enough in resolving the matter.

The ‘general secretary’ of the NSCN-IM, Thuingaleng Muivah and 19 other NSCN-IM leaders arrived in Camp Hebron of Dimapur from New Delhi to participate in ‘Naga Republic Day’ celebration. Muivah will deliver a speech at the celebration at Camp Hebron on March 21.

A woman and four other cadres of CPI-Maoist surrendered before Vizag Rural Police on Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. The Maoists cited a range of reasons from ill-health to harsh treatment from their leadership which prompted their decision to surrender. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres are Gemmili Chandramma alias Akhila (33) of ACM of Kalimela (Odisha) Dalam ‘commander’ of Armed Militia Lasingi Matchayya (27) alias Matsya Raju, Korra Subba Rao (27) and his uncle Korra Lakshmana Rao (55) and Takkiri Hedbeen (33). Hedbeen surrendered due to harassment from Maoists.

Six Maoists including a senior woman cadre and two Policemen were killed while three SFs personnel, including two SI were injured in a gun-battle in forests of restive Dantewada District in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh. An injured Maoist cadre was also arrested from the spot. IGP in-charge Bastar Range Sundarraj P said, "The skirmish took place at around 2 PM between a team of state Police's DRG and the ultras in the jungles of Burgum village under Aranpur Police station limits." During search, five bodies of ultras, including two women, belonging to Malangir Area Committee of Maoists, and a few weapons, including one AK 47 rifle and one INSAS rife, were recovered, the IG said, adding one injured Maoist was arrested. However, DRG constable Nirmal Netam and a Gopniya Sukram Gavde also killed in the exchange of fire, he added. Of the women Maoists killed in the encounter, one was identified as Palle, who was active as ‘secretary’ of Malangir Area Committee and member of Darbha Divisional Committee of Maoists and another as Vijje, a member of the same area committee, he said. Palle was carrying a reward of INR 800,000 on her head while Vijje was carrying a reward of INR 500,000, Police said. The identity of three other Maoists was being ascertained, he added.

Armed cadres of CPI-Maoist killed, Jotra Lohra (55), labelling him as a ‘Police informer’ in Gumla District of Jharkhand. CPI-Maoist cadres left a note proclaiming that Lohra was punished for being a ‘Police informer’. However, SP, Gumla District, Chandan Kumar Jha said: "Lohra was in no way associated with the police. He was a common man who eked out a living by working as a farm labourer. We are combing the nearby areas to nab the culprits."

Armed cadres of CPI-Maoist blew up the two-room house of a para teacher, Beerbal Ram, at Gowasarey village under Pandu Police Station, 52 Kilometers from Daltonganj in Palamu District of Jharkhand. Nobody was injured in the incident. SP, Palamu District, Indrajeet Mahatha said, "The Maoists suspect this para-teacher to be a sympathizer of a rival outfit TPC and we believe this was the reason behind this attack on his home." TPC is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.

One of the three villagers abducted by the cadres of CPI-Maoist, on March 15, was killed by the Maoists, while other two were released unhurt in Kalahandi District of Odisha. The body of Banamali Naik was found today in front of his house.

SFs arrested one militant of NSCN-IM, identified as ‘kilonser (minister)’ N. Kire (57), from Kohima Town. SFs also recovered one .22 mm Rifle, one .22 mm (GSG5) Rifle, one AK-47, one magzines .32 mm, 87 live round of assorted ammunition and 10 fired cartridges from the arrested militant. 

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs near Burgam village in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. SFs also recovered an AK series rifle from the encounter site.

Pakistan troops on March 19 violated ceasefire and resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing with automatic weapons in civilian areas and targeting forward posts of the Indian Army at Bhimber Gali (BG) and Balakote sectors along the LoC in Poonch District. Official sources said Pakistan Army started shelling with two inch mortars and firing with automatic and semi automatic weapons in several forward areas falling under BG and Balakote sectors in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch District at 6 am on March 19. “Troops from this side retaliated effectively, leading to heavy exchanges that continued for 45 minutes. The firing and shelling from Pakistan side stopped after befitting retaliation was given by the Indian side to silence the guns of enemy troops and prevent civilian casualties and loss of property,” they said. There were no casualties of Army or civilians on the Indian side in Pakistani shelling and firing. Also, no major damage was reported as majority of mortar shells fired by Pakistan fell away from the civilian population and exploded harmlessly. However, Pakistan side claimed that a 60-year old woman was killed on their side at village Thandi in Kot Kehera sector opposite Bhimber Gali in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops.

Sources described ceasefire violation by Pakistan army as totally unprovoked. They didn’t rule out the possibility of Pakistan army trying to push militants from other parts of the LoC after firing in one sector. The troops were already maintaining high alert along the LoC in anticipation of infiltration attempts by the militants under the garb of ceasefire violations by Pakistan army, which was trying to facilitate intrusions by the militants.

A Pakistani national, awaiting deportation after completing a jail term for illegally crossing the border, has been slapped with PSA provisions and sent to the Kotbalwal jail in the district, the Police said. The J&K Home Department issued a warrant under the PSA against Khalid Parvez alias Junaid, and it was executed by the Samba Police, a Police official said. Khalid has been lodged in the Central Jail, he said, adding that the detenue was awaiting deportation to Pakistan after completing his sentence.

The economic blockade on Manipur Highways by UNC over the creation of new districts in the State came to an end on the 139th day. The UNC agreed to lift the economic blockade after a round of tripartite talk involving both the State Government and the Union Government at Senapati District headquarter. The tripartite meeting was chaired by Ministry of Home Affairs, Joint Secretary (North East in-charge) Satyendra Garg. In response to the decision of the UNC, the State Government agreed to release UNC’s ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and ‘information secretary’ Stephen Sangkhel without any condition. All cases related to the economic blockade against them would be closed also. Apart from that, another round of tripartite meeting would be held at the political level within a month over the issue.

CPI-Maoist cadres released a press statement, at Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, carrying an image of assembled modern weapons they looted from the dead CRPF personnel. The picture along with the statement released by the South Bastar Divisional Committee of CPI-Maoist showed four AK-47 assault rifles, six INSAS assault rifles, one Light Machine Gun LMG, one UBGL two wireless sets and over 1130 bullet cartridges taken away by the rebels. The Maoists praised their cadres of PLGA -- the armed wing of the banned organisation-- that "carried out" the attack on a road opening party, killing twelve CRPF jawans in Sukma on March 11.

SFs recovered a powerful, nearly eight Kilograms, IED, suspected to be planted by CPI-Maoist cadres to harm a patrolling team, in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. The IED was later destroyed with the help of a BDS.

Posters written in Odia by the CPI-Maoist cadres of the Rayagada Area Committee affixed in tree trunks were found at Parsali Gram Panchayat office under Kalyan Singhpur Block in Rayagada District of Odisha. The posters depicted the pro-people works undertaken by the CPI-Maoist.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested, in two separate incidents, by SFs during a search operation in Bijapur District of Bastar Division of Chattisgarh. In the first incident, a CPI-Maoist, identified as Uika Baru (50), was arrested from an unspecified area under Basaguda Police Station. In other incident, four lower rank CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by CRPF’s 199th Battalion and District Force from an unspecified area under Mirtur Police Station. Those arrested were identified as Bhima Telam (25), Ayatu Banjam alias Bodda (30), Sukman Vanjam (25) and Baman Mandavi (25).

Three senior cadres of NSCN-IM, including one ‘kilonser (minister)’ identified as Tongsim Bengam Anal alias Prem (70) and two ‘deputy Kilonsers’ identified as Tongsin Thumwar (42) and Nula Hrangam Anal (45), were arrested by SFs from a place under Sekmai Police Station in Imphal West District. 

UNC ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and ‘Information and publicity secretary’ SK Stephen were released unconditionally by the court of CJM, Imphal East District. Kamei and Stephen were declared innocent by CJM, Imphal East Aribam Noutuneshwari Devi and acquitted. The court also closed six different cases against the UNC leaders. However, the leadership of UNC is still against the creation of seven new districts. After the release, ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei said that the issue of the districts creation will be brought up during the next round of tripartite talk.

AR arrested three militants from different places in two separate incidents. In the first incident, AR arrested two militants of NSCN-R, identified as ‘captain’ Kampong and ‘revenue secretary (industries)’ Longkam Tunghang in Changlang District. In the second incident, AR arrested one militant from NSCN-U, identified as ‘captain’ Khampai Wangsu in Longding District.

Different Naga militant groups greeted the ‘Naga people and its neighbors’ before the 38th ‘Naga Republic Day’, which will be celebration on March 21. NNPG/ NNC-NA, NSCN-K and NSCN-R/ GPRN are the militant groups who sent statements in media about their ‘celebration’.

An Indian Army source reveals that the ULFA-I, which suffered severe setbacks due to sustained operations, was forced to allow militant outfits from other States to operate in Assam. The source further said that, demonetisation of the old INR 500 and INR 1,000 currency notes also resulted in severe setback to the militant group. Army sources added that as it is not in a position to carry out operations on its own, the ULFA-I was forced to allow militant outfits from Manipur and Nagaland to operate in Assam.

Police have stepped up vigil in Districts bordering Bangladesh following reports of an increase in infiltration by militants. There have been reports that the Bangladesh government has informed the Union home ministry that over 2,000 HuJI and JMB militants had crossed into the Indian side and are hiding in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.

A report from the Bangladesh government to the UMHA over the recent spike in infiltration of terrorists to India has rung alarm bells in the security establishment. According to the report, 2016 witnessed an over-three-fold increase over 2015 in infiltration by HuJI and JMB extremists into the border states of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. The development assumes significance as the NIA has found overseas terror links and the direct role of JMB in the October 2014 Bardhaman blast at Khagragarh.

The report said approximately 2,010 HuJI and JMB operatives had entered the three states. While nearly 720 men made a safe passage through the Bengal border, the remaining 1,290 are suspected to have entered through Assam and Tripura. Bengal government officials are skeptical about the report, but even if just a close estimate, the number is disturbing as intelligence reports pegged the number of infiltrators in 2014 and 2015 at 800 and 659, respectively. "We are trying to gather information to confirm the veracity of the report," a senior Bengal home department official said. However, Assam Police is concerned about the development.

Armed with confessional statements of some of the witnesses, the NIA on March 20 issued a second notice to Zakir Naik asking him to appear before it on March 30, 2017 in a case filed against him under an anti-terror law. An NIA spokesman said that nearly 60 persons had been examined by the probe agency so far which included some of family members of Naik, some of his business associates, some employees and staff of the IRF as well as Harmony Media Private Limited, founded by Naik.

"Some of the witnesses have given statements before the Magistrate, wherein they have stated as to how Dr Zakir Naik had promoted enmity and hatred among the people of different religious beliefs, through his public utterances, and how he had hurt the religious sentiments of followers of other sects or religions," the spokesman said.

The notice has been sent to the Mumbai residence of Naik, who is believed to be staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after his activities came under scanner following accusations that he had inspired some of the terrorists who attacked a cafe in Dhaka last year.

ED attached his assets worth INR 18.37 crore in the form of mutual funds, properties and bank balance. ED and NIA sources claimed that if he ignores the summons, he stands the chance of being declared a proclaimed offender and a red corner notice would be issued against him through Interpol. Sources added that they are also in the process of finalising a chargesheet against him so that his extradition from Saudi Arabia could be initiated. ED said in a statement that Zakir Naik had been issued four summons by it but he has avoided all four of them.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested a former Khalistani terrorist, Gursewak Singh Babla (51) near Rajokri in Delhi. They seized a pistol and some live rounds from him. Police claim that the accused was planning to revive the terror outfit, Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), following instructions from his boss Paramjeet Singh Panjawar, now based in Pakistan. Babla claimed to be a close associate of slain militant, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed during Operation Blue Star in June 1984. He was involved in more than 50 terror cases. He was jailed for 26 years and released in 2010.

"He has been evading arrest ever since he was declared a proclaimed offender by a city court. A team led by DCP Bhisham Singh had laid a trap near Rajokri and arrested him with a loaded pistol and some rounds," said Praveer Ranjan, Joint Commissioner (crime). During interrogation, Babla told that he was in touch with former KCF 'chief' Jagtar Singh Hawara and some other militants of Punjab in order to revive the terror group. Police say that Babla and his associates have been targeting shops and ATMs in Delhi and Punjab in order to save money for terror operations.

A joint squad of District Force and CRPF’s 195th Battalion arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres from an area under Katekalyan Police Station in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The arrestees were identified as Hando Mandavi son of Budhram Mandavi and Kosa Mandavi son of Deva, both native of Metapal village. Maoists were carrying cash reward of INR 100,000 each.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres killed a para-teacher, identified as Charku Yadav alias Sandip Yadav (30), at Jori village in Gumla District of Jharkhand. CPI-Maoist cadres also left a pamphlet which labelled Yadav as ‘Police informer’ and accused Police of giving patronage to JJMP. JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. The pamphlets also decried Operation Green Hunt - an anti-Naxal drive that has been stopped long back - and urged the masses to support the Naxals in fighting Police oppression. They claimed that CPI-Maoist and their subsidiaries such as PGLA and JMP now stood united.

Ranchi Police arrested Ganesh Shankar alias Ganesh Kumar, a self-styled ‘commander’ of PLFI in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Nalanda SP, Kumar Ashish told reporters that Ganesh, son of one Nageshar Mistri, was wanted in connection with murders of a Jharkhand businessman and a Hilsa resident. He also added that Ganesh has over 12 criminal cases of heinous nature registered against him with different Police Stations in Nalanda, Bakhtiarpur in Patna District and Barhi in Hazaribagh District of neighbouring State, Jharkhand.

District Police arrested three CPI-Maoist sympathisers and recovered explosives from their possession at Charla forest region in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. Accused were identified as Mohan of Mahbubabad, Gunji Vikram and Sode Deva from Chhattisgarh. It is learnt that the arrested persons took INR 80,000 from the CPI-Maoist cadres to bring explosives from Yampuram market in Chhattisgarh.

The discovery of some handwritten letters with IS initials, hailing Pakistan and threatening destruction in eastern Uttar Pradesh has prompted police to beef up security in the area. The anonymous handwritten letters were found by the roadside in Mirzamurad Police Station area. "A case has been registered against unidentified persons after nearly 5-6 handwritten letters were recovered on which Pakistan Zindabad slogans and IS initials were scribbled along with threats given for carrying out destruction in Purvanchal," SP (rural) Ashish Tiwari said. An alert has been issued and Intelligence agencies are also probing the matter. "24/3/17 Ko Purvanchal Mein Tabahi. Bacha Sakte Ho to Bacha Lo (There will be destruction in Purvanchal. Save it if you can)," said the letter.

Asserting that terrorism continues to be the single most significant threat to their stability, India and six other countries in the region on March 21, decided to take concrete measures to enhance cooperation and coordination among their intelligence and security agencies. It was agreed upon during the first meeting of national security chiefs of BIMSTEC, which has India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal as members. The meeting decided to establish a Track 1.5 BIMSTEC Security Dialogue Forum among the strategic community, a MEA release said.

"Given that terrorism continues to remain the single most significant threat to peace and stability in the Bay of Bengal region, the meeting recognised the need for urgent measures to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation...And decided to take concrete measures to enhance cooperation and coordination among their law enforcement, intelligence and security organisations and enhance capacity building," it said.

Noting that BIMSTEC member states face common security challenges, the participants underlined the necessity of addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges to harness economic prosperity and human security in the region. The meeting underscored the importance of recognising the Bay of Bengal as common security space and agreed to work out collective strategies for common responses, the release said. Concerned over the emerging trends in cyber space that have security implications, the meeting decided to deepen cooperation among the respective cyber institutions through a Joint Forum on cyber security.

William Sangma, the wanted militant leader of Meghalaya, who newly formed a Garo militant group named ARA and his aide identified as Niksrang Sangma were arrested by SFs from Bongaigaon Town in Bongaigaon District.

SFs arrested two ULFA-I militants from Koriapani village at Jagun in Tinsukia District, near Assam-Arunachal inter-State boundary. The arrested militants were identified as Bitu Rajbanshi and Bitul Shimpo, Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said. A pistol, live ammunition and cash were seized from their possession. "On sustained interrogation, the duo admitted to their allegiance to ULFA-I. Rajbanshi further revealed that he had undergone training at Kachin training camp in Myanmar," the officer said.

Governor of the State, P B Acharya said that the Nagaland Government supports the ongoing dialogue between the Government of India and NSCN-IM and would strive for a final solution to the six-decade old Naga political issue. The Nagaland Government has also recently constituted the ‘Political Affairs Mission’ to spearhead the Government’s efforts in this area, replacing the erstwhile Political Affairs Committee of the State Government, Acharya said while addressing the budget session of the Nagaland assembly.

Celebrating their ‘38th Republic Day’, the ‘vice president’, ‘general (retired)’ Kholi Konyak of NSCN-IM militant at ‘council headquarter’, Hebron in Dimapur District, assured that the future of the Naga people is safe under the Framework Agreement signed between the GoI and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015. NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ and chief negotiator of the ‘Indo-Naga Peace Talks’, Th. Muivah also delivered speech in the occasion and asserted that integration of Naga inhabited areas and people is very much alive and within the ambit of the Framework Agreement.

NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Thuingaleng Muivah said that the Framework Agreement signed with the Centre two years ago recognizes NSCN-IM’s demand for territorial integration of all Naga- inhabited areas in the region. “NSCN had consultative meetings with the people on talks consecutively for eight times. The historic Framework Agreement recognizes the unique history, identity, sovereignty and territories of the Nagas. It also recognizes the legitimate right of the Nagas to integration of all Naga territories,” Muivah said in his address to NSCN-IM cadres at Camp Hebron, the group’s headquarters in Nagaland, on its’38th Republic Day’.

Two Police constables, identified as Budra and Mansai posted at Darbha Police Station were injured in an encounter between SFs and the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. Police recovered some Naxal documents, uniform and other related materials from the spot.

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Ahir, informed the Lok Sabha in New Delhi that 150 per cent jump has been witnessed in the number of Naxals killed, it is 222 in 2016 in comparison to 89 in 2015. The Minister said the Government has approved the 'Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas' that includes construction/ upgradation of 5,411.81 kilometer  roads and 126 bridges/cross drainage in 44 Districts of nine LWE affected states at an estimated cost of INR 117.24 billion. He also added, "There is no proposal under consideration to exclude 20 districts from the list of 106 LWE affected Districts.”

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed an abducted villager by slitting his throat and released other in Rayagada District of Odisha. According to reports, Mali Pusika and Mandu Pusika– two villagers of Sapalajhola under Muniguda Police limits in the District– were abducted by the Maoists on March 19. While Police recovered the body of Mali Pusika this morning (March 21), Mandu Pusika was reportedly freed by the Maoists.

The DGP of Odisha KB Singh reviewed anti-CPI-Maoist operations at the District Police headquarters in Kalahandi District of Odisha. Singh held discussions on shortage of Force and proposals for upgradation of the Police Stations particularly in border areas in the District. “Today, we reviewed the crime and naxal activities in Kalahandi where couple of incidents has been reported recently. We have detected movement of few naxal groups in the district and nearby areas for which we are framing our strategy, “said Singh. He further informed that Naxals are well under control and the process of recruitment to address shortage of Police personnel would be completed within six months.

The District Police arrested two suspected CPI-Maoist couriers while they were allegedly transporting detonator fuse wires in Khammam District of Telangana. The Police also seized 3,000 metres of fuse wire from Madivi Kosa (21) and Madakam Kamulu (23) both residents of Bijapur District of Karnataka had purchased the fuse wire from one Mohan for INR 40,000, on the instructions of Haribhishan, Damodar, Azad and others and were arrested during vehicle checking, said Charla Police. The arrestees are allegedly members of the Pamedu LOS and were working under their ‘commander’ Kamalakka, Police said.

A HM militant wanted for arson and looting last year, identified as Sabzar Ahmed Mantoo, was arrested from a house in Thakrakot area in Reasi District. According to Police, the captured militant was associated with HM outfit and had been involved in arson and looting incident under Police Station DH Pora in 2016.

Ahead of by-polls, Police have arrested at least 24 persons accused of stone-pelting in multiple raids at Pulwama and Kulgam Districts of South Kashmir. Police raided Murana and Kangan villages of Pulwama District during nocturnal hours and detained at least 21 persons, mostly youths. Police said all the detained persons were involved in stone-pelting. Three youths were also detained from Budroo and Chawalgam villages of neighbouring Kulgam District. The trio was detained over their alleged involvement in stoning recent election rally of ruling PDP that was held at Chawalgam in the District.

Deputy CM Nirmal Kumar Singh said terrorism has no religion and the people involved in carrying out heinous crimes against humanity need to be condemned by every section of the society. “We should all collectively synergize our efforts to beat the forces preaching secessionism and give befitting reply to the anti-national forces,” he said and added that such elements are hell bent to create disturbances in the country and are trying hard to disturb the social fabric of the nation.

DGP of J&K, Shesh Pal Vaid said that certain elements trying to radicalize young minds in the Kashmir valley wouldn’t succeed as the youth wouldn’t accept their ideology, which was also evident from thousands of youths turning up for the Army recruitment in Baramulla District, which was earlier a hub of stone pelters. Vaid said that some `Wahabi elements’ were trying to change mindset of the youth but they have out-rightly rejected them. “The youth of Kashmir are for peace. No one likes violence. Kashmir is the land of Sufis and Saints, which has been inhibited by them for centuries together. There has been no place for radicalization of the youth, who have themselves rejected this approach and want to grow with education and jobs,” he said.

A total of 88 Kashmiri youths joined militancy in 2016, the highest in last six years and the infiltration almost tripled last year as compared to 2015, said Central Government. In written replies to two separate questions in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir shared data about Kashmiri youths taking up arms, infiltration attempts and law and order situation in the Valley. The data shows a steady increase in the number of youths taking up arms in the Valley from 2014 onwards as compared to ones between 2010 and 2013. It, however, said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has “improved to a large extent” in the current year.

The NIBBUS ‘president’ Subodh Biswas was arrested along with one of his close accomplices Subhas Biswas from a remote village in North 24 Parganas District. Both the accused were brought to Guwahati later in the evening by air. Police arrested the duo for their role in allegedly inciting a mob to attack and vandalize the AASU office in Silapathar town of Dhemaji District in Assam.

Two persons were sentenced to life on March 22, for the 2007 Ajmer blasts, which killed three people and injured 15. The Special NIA Court also imposed a fine of INR 5,000 and INR 10,000 respectively on “RSS pracharaks” Devendra Gupta, 41, and Bhavesh Patel, 39. Judge Dinesh Gupta ruled out a death sentence citing mitigating circumstances, including the fact that the two had not been involved in any criminal activity prior to the blasts; they hadn’t been shown to be a constant menace to society; and they had been found guilty by drawing inferences from circumstantial evidence. At the same time, the court questioned the NIA on its clean chit to two other accused, Ramesh Gohil and Amit, as well as “suspicious persons” such as senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Pragya Singh, Rajenda Chaudhary and Jayant, stating that it could not be done without invoking appropriate sections of the CrPC. 

FICN with a face value of more than INR 15,00,000 has been seized along the Indian borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar post demonetisation, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told Rajya Sabha  (Upper House of Indian Parliament).

Rijiju said in a written reply that till now FICN of the face value of INR 14,76,000 have been seized from the Malda District while another such haul of INR 1,00,000 has been made from the Murshidabad District, both along the Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal. He said that another INR 1,000 worth of fake notes were seized from Tamenglong District of Manipur along the Indo-Myanmar border during the same period.

When asked whether out of the 220-km of the border area in Malda, only 150-km was fenced, Rijiju said “Some portion of Indo-Bangladesh border in Malda district is unfenced due to low lying or riverine areas, pending land acquisition etc.” He also added, “The government of India has decided to plug the gaps along the Indo-Bangladesh border by means of physical and non-physical barriers".

The MoS for Home Affairs clarified that surrendered militants without any criminal cases pending against them can contest in elections. Kiren Rijiju on the issue further informed that at least 15,314 militants have surrendered under the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy for the northeastern region. Altogether, 235 individuals are still undergoing rehabilitation under the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme as of financial year 2016-17.

Tabrez Tambe (28), a Mumbra resident who allegedly fled to Libya to join Islamic State (IS), is currently in custody of the Libyan army, according to sources in the security establishment, Indian Express reports on March 22. Efforts were under way to get him back to India and bring him to book. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has booked him under certain sections of the UAPA. “We have managed to trace him with the help of the Libyan authorities and he is currently in custody of their army. Now, we are working towards bringing him back,” said an official.

According to the sources, Tambe was identified by Dr Ramamurthy Kosanam, a doctor from Andhra Pradesh who was recently rescued and brought back to India from Libya in February, 2017. Dr Kosanam had been held captive by IS militants for around two years. He identified Tabrez as a medical attendant in the hospital where the doctor was forced to work by the militant group. “Upon his return, an ATS team visited him and showed him Tabrez’s photographs. Through the photographs, Dr Kosanam identified him and informed us that he was working as an attendant,” said the official. After the identification, security agencies mounted efforts to track him and subsequently the Libyan authorities confirmed Kosanam’s claims and informed the Indian agencies that he was in custody of their army.

The ATS probe has also revealed that Tabrez had booked a return ticket to India to avoid suspicion. “Tambe made a booking through an online travel portal. We interrogated the Delhi-based representative who made the booking. The investigation has revealed that he booked a return ticket just to show that he intended to return to India. However, our investigation has revealed that the plan to go to Egypt for employment was an alibi; the real purpose was to leave India to join the IS,” said an ATS officer, adding that the investigators were combing Tabrez’s social media profile and questioning his friends.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation in the Northeastern States of India and directed officials to enhance vigil along the international borders in the region. During the hour long meeting, the Home Minister was given a detailed presentation on the prevailing situation in the Northeast, especially militancy in the region. Singh was also told about the steps taken to ensure peace, especially in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, the four states considered to be affected by insurgency, official sources added.

SFs arrested NDFB cadre Debojit Basumatary from Tirap colliery, under Margherita subdivision in Tinsukia District.

The NIBBUS ‘president’ Subodh Biswas was arrested along with one of his close accomplices Subhas Biswas from a remote village in North 24 Parganas District. Both the accused were brought to Guwahati later in the evening by air. Police arrested the duo for their role in allegedly inciting a mob to attack and vandalize the AASU office in Silapathar town of Dhemaji District in Assam. NIBBUS claims to be spearheading the movement across the country for granting citizenship to Hindu Bengalis by amending the Citizenship Act.

NSCN-IM re-elected its ‘vice chairman’ ‘general’ Khole Konyak and ‘general secretary’, Thuingaleng Muivah for another term of six years during the meeting of the NSCN-IM council at council headquarters, Camp Hebron in Dimapur District.

NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’, Thuingaleng Muivah stated that the NSCN-IM is for “harmonious interdependent relationship with our neighboring peoples and nations on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of right.”

UNLF claimed responsibility for eliminating Ajay Kumar Shahu, whose lifeless body was recovered from the road connecting Langol Game Village and Lamdeng Khunou in Imphal West District on March 17. In a statement issued to the press, the outfit said that Ajay Kumar Shahu was eliminated, not because he was a non-Manipuri, but for pimping by running a pan dukan (shop) at New Checkon. Detailing, the outfit claimed that Ajay Kumar Shahu used to pimp for commercial sex workers and hence was eliminated for using women as commercial commodities.

One militant of KCP-N, identified as Kshetrimayum Jiten Meitei (44), was arrested by SFs at Kakching Bazar in Kakching District. One Chinese grenade and one pressure bomb were recovered from the arrested militant.

Police arrested three militants of NSCN-K, identified as Dagar Perme (30), Obang Lego (36) and Bobel Lego (32), after an encounter at Kalapani area of Dambuk in Lower Dibang Valley District. One automatic German made HK 33 Rifle along with one loaded magazine and 25 live rounds of AK 47 was recovered from the arrested militants. All these three militants were involved in several extortion cases.

The CPI-Maoist handed over the charge to Takkedapalli Vasudeva Rao aka Asanna as the new secretary of the east division. Asanna, the nephew of former AOBSZC member Gopanna, led the action team that attacked CM Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri in Tirupati in 2003. He is known to be a mastermind of deadly surprise attacks. Asanna also was a member of the action team that killed former Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Madhava Reddy while he was returning from Bhuvangiri in 2000.

An encounter took place between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres at Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. However, there were no reports of causalities.

A Policeman was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Bastar Division in Chhattisgarh. The incident took place at Kuprel village coming under Farsegarh Police Station limits when the Assistant Constable Tarun Sodi (29) had gone there for some personal work, Bijapur District SP KL Dhruv said. A group of Maoists reached into the village and shot Sodi before slitting his throat with a sharp edged weapon, the SP further said.

Taking stock of loses suffered in recent encounters in Chhattisgarh due to lack of a strong courier system, the CPI-Maoist is seeking to spread its activities and the outfit is planning to establish a faithful courier system in Khammam District of Telangana. According to information, the CPI-Maoist leadership is planning to recruit new cadres and also recruit couriers by offering huge amounts as they cannot survive without couriers as all materials, medicines and essential commodities including arms are supplied by the couriers to them. It is learnt that Maoist recruitment is ongoing near the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. Maoists are focusing on Guttikoyas and unemployed tribals and luring them with their preaching.

Two CPI-Maoist operatives from Belpahari area surrendered before the Police in West Midnapore District of West Bengal. Maniram Sardar and Kabita Sardar were part of the Madan Baske squad of the Maoists and had expressed desire to shun violence and return to the mainstream of the society, the Police said. The duos also laid down one rifle, 13 one-shutter pistols and live cartridges. Both Maniram and Kabita were wanted in as many as 12 cases in the District and neighbouring Jharkhand and were accused of being involved in the murders of JMM MP, Sunil Mahato, and Belpahari CPI-M leader Sudhir Singh Sardar, the Police said.

Terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir has declined in the aftermath of surgical strikes executed by the Army in September 2016, the Union Government said in Parliament. According to statistics furnished by the Government in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, terrorist incidents fell to 87 between October 1 and December 31, 2016, from 110 between July 1 and September 30, 2016. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told the House that 34 SFs were killed in the three months prior to the surgical strikes, while 19 died in the subsequent quarter. Civilian killings also fell from 7 to 6 in the corresponding period. According to sources, the fall in number of terrorist incidents is largely on account of weakening of violent protests that broke out after HM ‘commander’ Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in July. Law and order disturbances peaked in the Valley state between July and September 2016, but violence witnessed a sharp decline thereafter as the protests died down and normalcy returned to the State.

 Terror suspects Atif and Danish were arrested in Lucknow by the NIA in connection with the Lucknow terror operation. Sources in the NIA said the arrested duo will be taken to Kanpur and other places in Uttar Pradesh by the investigating agency for further investigation. Uttar Pradesh’s ATS had earlier on March 14 handed over the Lucknow terror operation probe to the NIA.

One senior militant belonging to AMEF, identified as Raksim Ch Momin alias Arikam (22) surrendered before Police and Church leaders at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills District. The militant was a cadre of GNLA earlier and later formed the ASAK along with another militant Reding T Sangma. He surrendered in 2014. But he managed to escape from Police custody and joined AMEF in 2015.

SFs of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh found three arrow bombs used by CPI-Maoist cadres in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. These bombs were planned and designed in Visakha Agency. Arrow bombs were designed and tested in Vizag Agency 10 years ago. These bombs are aimed in the air and not directly at the target. The bombs are made with detonators which blasts on hitting the target, said a senior officer involved in the anti-Naxal operations.

Simdega District Police arrested six PLFI cadres near village Mahuatoli under Parba Police Station in Simdega District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Police recovered two 7.62 mm bolt action rifles, several rounds of ammunition, three mobile phones and other paraphernalia from the operatives. The six men arrested included; ‘area commander’ Sachin Topno, Dubraj Topno, Ram Topno, Nitmohan Kongari, Ramesh Surin and Simone Kongari. The six were residents of Kamdara in Gumla District of Jharkhand.

The Central Committee of the CPI-Maoist, called a 24-hour countrywide bandh on March 29, in Ranchi District of Jharkhand, to protest the life imprisonment of CPI-Maoist ‘ideologue’ and DU Professor G.N. Saibaba and four others by Gadchiroli District (Maharashtra) court for aiding Naxal activities. 

The State Government of Odisha has pressed the MHA for mobilisation of two more Battalions of CAPF to strengthen anti-CPI-Maoist operations in Odisha. State DGP K B Singh informed media persons that the demand was made to CRPF Special DG (Central Zone). At present, 16 battalions of Central Forces have been deployed in Odisha in comparison to more than over 100 Battalions each in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Of the 16 battalions of Central Forces deployed in Odisha, eight are from CRPF, while one is a CoBRA unit of the CRPF.

Militants attacked the residence and official vehicle of Mohammad Yusuf Bhat, a MLA from Shopian in two separate incidents, in the Shopian District. Militants attacked the residence of MLA Bhat, at Memander in the District. Police said that militants fired several rounds at the residence of Bhat at Memander and the security guards deployed there retaliated. However, no one was injured in the attack. Earlier in the day, militants fired on his official bullet proof vehicle at Hajipora in Shopian. Several rounds of fire hit a Police bullet proof vehicles and his ambassador car. However, the MLA was not in his car at the time of attack. Police fired back but militants escaped.

SFs cordoned off Moshward village in Keller area of Shopian District, after inputs about the presence of three militants. However, the operation was later called off after no militants were found in the village.

AR arrested one militants of NSCN-K, identified as Narang Hakum (34) from Malo Pahar of Ledo in Tinsukia District. One 9 mm pistol and two live rounds of ammunition were recovered from the arrested militant. The militant was involved in extortions.

Three militants of NSCN-IM, identified as Ato Rengma, Ating Muisao and Hotobi Rengma were arrested by CRPF while conducting a routine check of a passenger vehicle plying to and fro between Dimapur and Golaghat Districts. Nine bullets of 12-bore rifle, many pairs of camouflage outfits and substantial incriminatory documents were also recovered from the militants. In the primary investigation it was revealed that the trio was bound for Jangfai, a remote Rengma Naga village in the hills of Karbi Anglong District. The arrest hint at a possible bid by Naga rebels to establish control in Rengma Naga-dominated areas of Karbi Anglong Hill District of Assam which had earlier in December 2013 witnessed a series of bloody turf battles between the KPLT and RNHPF for territorial control and major share of the extortion pie.

In a statement, the ULFA-I criticised the Assam Government for spending INR 0.14 billion to organise the five-day Namami Brahmaputra Festival, beginning on March 31. In the statement, militant group express its suspicions that organising Namami Brahmaputra on the lines of Namami Gange programme ‘could be a prelude’ to linking the Brahmaputra with the Ganges and it ‘vowed’ to oppose linking of any river of Assam with any river outside the State.

Following the raging controversy over NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Thuingaleng Muivah’s sensational declaration on territorial integration of all Naga-inhabited areas in the Northeast on March 21, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, clarified that no discussion has taken place with the Central Government of India regarding the demand of Nagalim. Reacting on Muivah’s statement, the AASU ‘president’ Dipanka Kumar Nath and ‘general secretary’ Lurinjyoti Gogoi, in a statement warned that nobody can take one inch of Assam’s land. The AASU also sent a letter seeking clarification on whether the Framework Agreement contains parts of Assam for the proposed Nagalim to PM Narendra Modi and CM Sarbananda Sonowal.

Following the sensational declaration on territorial integration of all Naga-inhabited areas in the Northeast on March 21 by ‘general secretary’ Th Muivah of NSCN-IM, confusion and anxiety raised among the masses in the State. Referring the statement on the Framework Agreement, the Manipur Congress demanded an unambiguous clarification from the Central Government India as well as the State Government. 

The Chhattisgarh High Court at Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh rejected the bail application of the seven activists from Telangana, who were arrested by the Chhattisgarh Police in Sukma District in December 2016. They were charged of carrying CPI-Maoist literature and banned currency. They were booked under Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act.

Police arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres, wanted in about a dozen cases, Rohtas District of Bihar.  Police also recovered two country-made rifles, detonators and live cartridges from their possession.

Three cadres of the TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, were killed after an internecine clash at Seeta Chuan under Mohammadganj Police Station in Palamau District of Jharkhand. One of the killed TPC cadre was identified as, ‘zonal commander’ Ajay Yadav, who has a reward of INR 500,000 on his head. Yadav was involved in the Kala Pahad IED blast case in which seven Police personnel were killed in Palamu on January 27, 2016. The other two killed were identified as ‘area commanders’ Krishna Kharwar and Ravindra Mahto. Police also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one INSAS rifle, one semi automatic rifle, one 303 rifle and one 0.315 bore gun along with 630 live bullets, 23 magazines, 11 cell phones, several IEDs ,50 meter of Codex wire, flash and 6 back packs. A person Uday Oraon was also arrested from the site. Palamu Deputy DIG Vipul Shukla said, “It appears that the loss of life is due to the inner fight.”

Police recovered cash worth INR four million, sophisticated weapons such as AK-47, self-loading rifle and a .315 bore rifle and over 100 cartridges from a TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, hideout in Balumath area of Latehar District of Jharkhand. The raid was followed by an exchange of fire between Police and the rebels. However, there was no report of any casualty or arrest.

In order to deny compensation to the family of ‘Naxal’ Varghese shot dead by Police in 1970, the Kerala Government told Kerala High Court, in Kochi District of Kerala that Varghese was a "notorious criminal" and the conviction of former Inspector IGP, K Lakshmana, for ordering his extra-judicial killing doesn't vindicate Varghese's character.

Claiming that the MLA from Jiribam assembly constituency, Ashab Uddin, is a ‘non-indigenous person’ of Manipur, the DESAM announced a 17-hour Manipur bandh (shutdown).

Police launched massive search operation to arrest Mahendra Gogoi, a suspected linkman of the ULFA-I, who has been serving extortion notes in Majuli Island District for the last several weeks. Majuli Police have announced cash award to anybody who can give specific information about the ULFA linkman who has been collecting money in name of the banned outfit, informed Police sources. However, Police so far recovered several extortion pads and notes and two mobile phones, eight chargers and list of people’s names.

A massive public protests following the sensational declaration of NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Th Muivah on the Greater Nagalim issue was registered in Golaghat District. As the District has been suffering a lot of harassment following the boundary dispute over the last few decades, the people of the District have come out to protest the proposed inclusion of the land of the District in Nagalim. The people here have demanded the Centre to make public the Framework Agreement signed between the NSCN-IM and the Central Government of India on August 3, 2015.

The UHM clarified that there was no decision to carve out Nagalim from areas of states bordering Nagaland. The statement comes after demands from several organisations and political parties in Assam and Manipur that the Centre clarify its position on the claim of the ‘general secretary’ of NSCN-IM, Thuingaleng Muivah, over the issue of integration of Naga areas. “Some media reports have appeared recently to the effect that the Government of India has agreed to carve out a larger Nagaland State by taking away the territories of the states contiguous to Nagaland. Such reports are erroneous. It is clarified that there is no such agreement or decision of the Government of India,” said the UHM statement. 

The AATS, during a central executive meeting sought the creation of a separate autonomous council to safeguard members of the Bodo-Kachari tribe living outside the BTAD area.

SFs destroyed a solar-powered printing press installed by the CPI-Maoist on a mountain top in a remote forest of Madopara in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The printing unit was reportedly used to publish documents, statements and other publications of the banned organization. “During a search operation, the forces found a small printing press set up, powered by portable solar panels. Some printed documents and other publications of the Maoists were traced at the location. This is the first time that the police have found out such a setup used by Maoists,” said a senior Police officer. Acting on a tip-off about the location of Maoist leaders, a joint team of District Police Force and the DRG launched a search operation and reached the area. “The rebels, after being cornered, had opened fire on the troopers. There was exchange of fire following which the ultras fled. The forces further continued their movement and found the printing press unit, heavy batteries and solar plates on the mountain”, the Police said.

Three wanted cadres, including two women of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered before the District Police in Malkangiri District of Odisha, citing exploitation from their leaders and ill health as the reasons. Each of them carried a reward of `one lakh on their heads. The trio, Malle Bedingi alias Malle, Merry Karnem alias Divya alias Laxmi and Deba Madkami alias Deba belonged to Kalimela LOS under the AOBSZC of the CPI-Maoist. All three were active members of Kalimela Area Committee under the Malkangiri division of the AOBSZC.

Two persons including a Bangladeshi national were arrested from Samsherganj in Murshidabad District, when they were trying to smuggle in FICN by crossing a river. The Police have recovered FICN worth INR 5,00,000 and all the notes were of INR 2,000 denomination. Police arrested Babu Sheikh, who is a resident of Shibganj at Chapai Nawabganj District of Bangladesh, and his Indian counterpart Salim Sheikh who is a resident of Baishnabgarh in Malda District.

The Police suspect that Babu might be involved in an international fake currency racket. They will be interrogating both the accused to know about their associates who are operating to circulate fake currency in India. The Police feel that Babu is also involved in terror activities. The reason being that the circulation of fake currency is a task which members of terror outfits take up to earn money. The police are trying to know whether Babu is in any way linked with terror outfits like JMB.

Officials from the MEA have allegedly established contact with Mumbra’s alleged IS recruit Tabrez Tambe (28), who left the country in September, 2016 to join the terror outfit’s fighters in Libya. The MEA allegedly asked Tambe, who is wanted in a case, registered by the Maharashtra ATS under the anti–terror UAPA last December, to return to India and face the probe.

Sources from the ATS said that MEA officials spoke to Tambe on the telephone on “encrypted channels”. “We traced Tabrez through sources and later made MEA officers talk to him two weeks ago on encrypted channels,” said an ATS source. After contacting Tambe, the ATS shared the contact details with the MEA. Sources from the MEA were tight-lipped about the exact details of the encrypted conversations with Tambe as the process is still underway. The MEA has begun approaching the various power centres in Libya to facilitate Tambe’s return. He is allegedly under the custody of Libyan authorities.

A tensed situation prevailed over disputed land in Nagaland-Assam border (Dimapur and Karbi Anglong District areas) over the allegation of intrusion of Assam Police in Rilan village. The villagers alleged that over 30 armed Assam Police personnel including forest guards had come inside the village and destroyed boundary fences and plantations. They also claimed that while leaving the village Assam Police fired some blank shots in the air. The Nagaland Police reached the place soon after Assam Police left the site.

Reacting on the claim of greater Nagalim by the ‘general secretary’ of NSCN-IM, Th Muivah, the CM of the State, Nongthombam Biren Singh said that the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected at any cost.

The 17-hour State wide strike called by DESAM to protest the induction of independent MLA, Ashab Uddin, as parliamentary secretary partially affected normal life in the State capital.

The PREPAK militant, celebrated their ‘37th Red Army Raising Day’ at different undisclosed places with different communities. The militant group announced about their celebration in a press release to media houses.

UHM Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation in Assam along with CM Sarbananda Sonowal and top officials of both Central and State Governments. During the meeting, Rajnath Singh was briefed about the steps taken to check violence perpetrated by the militants, ongoing process of preparing the NRC and security along the Indo-Bangladesh border, besides other. Singh directed that action should be taken against those who continue to indulge in violence, official sources said. Further, the Minister expressed hope that the work on NRC would be completed at the earliest without anomalies.

Two Naxals of JJMM were arrested from Dega Degi riverside, under McCluskieganj Police Station area in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. JJMM is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

A  PLFI cadre and cousin of late PLFI ‘Commander’ Mahadeo Munda, Shankar Munda was arrested from Charam Bartoli under Khunti Police Station area in Khunti District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

District Police recovered a bagful of Naxal literature from Daltonganj in Palamu District of Jharkhand. The SP of Palamu, Indrajeet Mahatha told reporters that Naxals have set up Gram Kranti Committee and there is a huge list of villagers drawn from many places. Mahatha said the documents showed how deep is the inroads of the Maoists in zameen vivad which used to be settled on caste line more than on another consideration like possessing of land etc.

CM Raghubar Das reiterated the stand of the Government and extended a fresh appeal to the Naxals active in Jharkhand to shun violence and join the mainstream in Nagar Untari of Garhwa District of Jharkhand.

Two militants of the HM were killed in an encounter with SFs in Awantipora area of Pulwama District, after they fired at the vehicle of a Police officer. A Police officer said that ASP Pulwama, Chandan Kohli, was on his way from Pulwama to Anantnag in a car along with two PSOs when a group of militants coming from opposite directions in another car fired at the bullet proof vehicle of the ASP near Padgampora village leading to an exchange of fire in which two militants were killed on the spot while two of the militants fled from the spot leaving behind the car. The slain militants have been identified as Shahbaz Shafi Wani alias Rayees Kachroo, resident of Beloo Rajpora of Pulwama and Farooq Ahmad Hurrah, resident of Nazneenpora of Shopian. “Both of them belonged to Hizb ul Mujahideen. The dead bodies have been handed over to the legal heirs for last rites”, the Police officer said. One AK rifle, one SLR, one AK magazine, 2 SLR Magazines, 2 pouches and a grenade was recovered from the spot. The car in which militants were travelling was also seized by the Police. IGP Kashmir, SMJ Gillani said, “An AK-47 rifle and one SLR were recovered from them. Interestingly, the SLR weapon was snatched from a minority picket in the month of October”.

Soon after the encounter clashes broke out between SFs and stone throwing protesters at Beloo, Padgampora, Awantipora and Pulwama. SFs fired tear smoke to disperse the protesters. And this morning (March 27) 1-RR of army and Kulgam Police launched a cordon and search operation at Gretbal Qaimoh area of Kulgam District. One SLR, three magazines and 132 rounds of SLR ammunition were recovered during the searches.

Militants snatched five SLRs from the security guards at the ancestral house of Minister of State, Syed Farooq Indrabi, in Dooru area of Anantnag District. A Police officer said that at least 13 militants including their OGWs attacked the ancestral residence of Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Hajj and Auqaf and Power Development Department, Syed Farooq Indrabi, at Shestargam in Dooru area of Anantnag District. One of the security guards, Gulzar Ahmad, of the Minister was injured in the attack.

Police arrested two more suspects – one from Ban Toll Plaza at Nagrota and another from Shopian taking total number of arrests in AK-47 rifle snatching of Police constable to three, while the main accused remained at large along with the rifle. IGP, Jammu Zone, SD Singh Jamwal told that one of the suspects was arrested this morning when he was trying to flee to Kashmir while another one was captured from Shopian. “We are on the job to nab the main accused, who is absconding with AK-47 rifle of police constable,’’ Jamwal said, adding a high alert is being maintained throughout the region to nab the accused and recover the snatched weapon,’’ Jamwal, who was monitoring the search operation, said.

Reliable sources told that Shahid Ahmad, a resident of Memander in Shopian was arrested by the Police from Ban Toll Plaza at Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this morning (March 26), when he was fleeing from Jammu in a Tavera taxi car to Kashmir. Another accused Mohammad Asif, resident of Shopian has been arrested by the Police from Shopian on a tip off given by Jammu Police to their counterparts in Shopian. The main accused Amir Hussain, resident of Hallpora, Ratnipora of Shopian is absconding along with AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds. Fourth accused Masrool Ahmed, resident of Ratnipora in Shopian was arrested from the spot yesterday (March 25). Two motor-cycles have also been seized from the accused.

The SOG of Bhavnagar Police arrested two persons from Atabhai Chowk in Rajkot city along with FICN145 of INR 1,000 denomination.The arrested accused were identified as Ashish Agrawal, 26, a resident of Devki Nandan Apartment near Atabhai Chowk and Abdul Rashid Khursheed Sheikh, 20, a native of Daulatabag in West Bengal. One fake note of INR 2,000 denomination was also seized from them. H A Jadeja, Police sub-inspector, SOG said that the duo were probably trying to pass off the fake notes to someone for commission as RBI is accepting the invalid INR 500 and INR 1,000 notes till March 31, 2017. Agrawal, who is also a native of West Bengal, is engaged in gas welding work at the Alang ship breaking yard.

Two of the three men arrested from Madhya Pradesh within hours of an explosion on board the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train on March 7 have told the NIA that their original target was not this train but the Lucknow-Bhopal Pushpak Express on which they travelled the previous night, Indian Express reports on March 28. Atif Muzaffar and Syed Mir Husain told the NIA that they travelled in the Pushpak Express on March 6 with an explosives-filled bag, but could not plant it because of the “heavy rush” and “alert passengers”.

Official sources said Atif bought three tickets for the Pushpak Express but throughout the journey, they could not find a suitable spot or the right time to plant the bomb. They got off at Bhopal railway station on March 7-morning where Atif and Danish made a last-minute decision to place the bomb on the passenger train that was waiting to leave for Ujjain. “After their failure to plant the bomb on the Pushpak Express, they got desperate. They managed to get into the last coach of the Bhopal-Ujjain train that was about to leave the station, left the bag filled with explosives and got off”, sources said. The explosion left 10 persons injured.

From the question of the arrested men, the NIA has learnt that the four Saifullah included met each other in December 2015 and two months later, in February 2016, they decided to form a group in the name of jihad. “They rented a room in Lucknow where they gave themselves “code” names — Jiya Abu Ibrahim for Atif; Jafar Abu Ismail for Danish; Ali Abu Makaiel for Saifullah; and, Hamza Abu Waqas for Husain,” sources said. Syed Mir Husain told his interrogators that they used the code names while interacting with each other, and also with the intention of hiding their original identities. “Saifullah had even made a fake ID card in the name of Ali,” sources said.

For one year, from February 2016 to February 2017, the four travelled across the country, hoping to cross over into Pakistan from Jammu, Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan; or into Bangladesh, but found it was not as simple as they had imagined.

They also went to Kozhikode in Kerala to explore ways of “migrating to the Caliphate”. While they did not meet with much success, they met several persons who they thought could help them establish contact with the IS, sources said. In July 2016, during Ramzan, Atif became the ameer (chief) of the group and the four took the oath of allegiance to the Islamic State.

SFs recovered an IED, planted on the Ukhrul-Imphal road near the abandoned cement factory, at Hundung in Ukhrul District. 

SFs arrested one arms smuggler, identified as Mohammad Najir Ali (37), from Arapti Bridge under Lilong Police Station in Thoubal District. One 9 mm pistol was also recovered from the arrestee.

After the new initiative of CM Nongthombam Biren Singh, who invited the JAC-AATB to a meeting, the Joint Action Committee continued its series of consultations with various sections of the tribal society. Earlier, on March 24, the JAC-AATB said that they were not in a position to attend a meeting arranged by the Manipur CM over the current agitation in the hills, saying they were in the process of holding a series of consultations with various sections of tribal society.

The AAPSU termed the comments of NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Th Muivah on integration of Naga-inhabited areas as ‘disturbing.’ The apex students’ body of the State stated that the people would not accept any solution at their cost and that of the land of the state.

A 24-hour bandh (shutdown) called by the NCHIPF seeking bifurcation of the Dima Hasao District, crippled life across the Hill District. Addressing the media in Haflong, NCHIPF working ‘president’ S Zemi and ‘general secretary’ Vairinsingh Verte said that the bandh has been called seeking bifurcation of the Hill district between the Dimasas and the non-Dimasa ethnic groups.

After UHM Rajnath Singh termed NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Th Muivah’s statement that New Delhi has said “yes” to integration of Naga areas as “erroneous”, there was no reaction from the militant group and instead it maintained a studied silence over the Government of India’s flat response over Muivah’s statement.

Suspected PLFI cadres killed David Soy (20), outside his house in Gompilla under Torpa Police Station in Khunti District of Jharkhand. The rebels suspected Soy of being a ‘Police informer’. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Suspected militants opened fire on the house of two Policemen, who are brothers, in Shopian District. The militants opened fire on the houses of ASI, Dilbar Ahmad and Constable Reyaz Ahmad at Keegam in Shopian. A Police official said the militants broke some window panes of the house and vehicle of the Policemen before fleeing. However, no one was injured in the attack.

SFs busted a HM militant module in Kulgam District, and arrested eight of its members who were tasked to carry out attacks on SFs and snatch weapons. SP of Kulgam, Shridhar Patil, said that the District Police and Army received a specific intelligence input on March 21 that HM militant has constituted a module of about a dozen OGWs to carry out attacks on SFs, Police personnel and snatch weapons. Patil said that the module was formed by district ‘commander’ of the outfit Altaf Dar alias Al-Kachroo and Towseef Sheikh  alias Mossad. “We registered a case on the basis of this information and during the investigations, it came to the fore that Zubar Ahmad Badar, a resident of Nai-Basti in Qoimoh area of the district  was the main king-pin of this module and he was subsequently arrested along with one of his associates”, he said. The SP said that during further course of questioning, it became evident that leader of this module and other members were having large quantity of arms/ammunition for conduct of subversive activities.

No ‘high quality’ FICN have been recovered post demonetisation, although some scanned/photocopied notes were seized by BSF  and NIA at the Indo-Bangladesh border, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal stated. He also said the government has been taking a host of steps, including setting up of a special cell in the UMHA to deal with the menace of FICN.

In a written reply to the  Rajya Sabha  (Upper House of Indian Parliament) Meghwal said: “No high quality FICN has been recovered post demonetisation.” The government had scrapped old currency of INR 500 and INR 1,000 on November 8, 2016 and replaced them with new INR 500 and INR 2,000 notes. As regards seizure of FICN of 2,000 denomination by BSF and NIA on the Indo-Bangladesh border, Meghwal said: “The forensic lab had reported the use of stamp paper in printing these notes. These notes have been scanned/photocopied. Examination of the specific parameters reveals that the notes are of low quality.”

The government on its part, he added, has taken various measures to combat terror funding and check smuggling and circulation of fake notes. These initiatives including setting up of a special CFT cell in the UMHA of coordinate with the central intelligence/enforcement agencies and state law