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Date
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Incidents
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January 1
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The NIA is likely to appeal
for the custody of five unidentified IS sympathisers who were
arrested in October 2017 from Kannur city of Kannur District in
Kerala. These IS sympathisers were arrested while their attempt
to flee to Syria and join the terror organisation. They were sent
to the judicial custody and later lodged at Kakkanad District
Jail in Kochi, Kerala. The NIA had filed charges under Sections
38 and 39 of the UAPA, 1967.
During Investigation, it has
been revealed that two alleged IS operatives, Kasim Stimberwala
and Ubaid Mirza, played an important role in radicalising and
further recruiting Indian Muslims from Gujarat and other states
to join IS. The duo used to target and lure Indian Muslim youth
over a social media platform and later added them to the messaging
group or forums. After the assurance of their loyalty, the recruits
were contacted by Shafi Armar alias Zahed al-Hindi.
Apart from planning a ‘lone-wolf’ attack on synagogue in Khamasa
area in Ahmedabad District of Gujarat, the duo were main recruiters
for IS in India, said an unnamed senior Gujarat ATS official.
The body of third Fidayeen
(suicide squad) was recovered by the SFs as the operation against
JeM Fidayeens ended in Pulwama District. Earlier, as SATP
reported, five CRPF personnel and two militants were killed in
a Fidayeen attack on a CRPF camp in the early morning of
the December 31 at Letpora in Pampore in Pulwama District. As
the SFs were conducting searches last evening [December 31] and
removing debris, they were fired upon by the third Fidayeen
leading to heavy firing. However, the operation was put on hold
for the night and in the morning [January 1] it was resumed and
body of third Fidayeen was recovered. However, his identity
was not ascertained and he is believed to be Pakistani national.
According to the CRPF, three AK-47 rifles and eight grenades were
recovered from the site of the gunfight.
Special Director General of CRPF,
SN Srivastav, said that the operation continued throughout the
night. “Darkness was a limiting factor and it impeded our
operation. This morning [January 1] we continued the operation
and concluded it with the killing of last hiding militant. While
I am briefing you some amount of search operation is going on
as the campus is very big”, he said. “We want to discount chances
of anybody hiding anywhere, though the chances are bleak. But
still we want to be fully sure before calling off the operation.
There were no further casualties on our side today. Four of the
security forces personnel were martyred yesterday while carrying
out the operation and two militants were also killed. Third militant
was killed today”, he said. “And that the fifth (CRPF person)
died of a heart attack”, he added
Soon after thousands joined the
funeral of slain JeM militant Fardeen Ahmad Khanday in Tral in
Pulwama District, his hometown, the Pakistan-based JeM released
a video of 17-year-old Khanday, the son of a Police Constable,
in which he asks Kashmiris to join the "jihad" against
India to establish Islamic rule. "The rise in jihad has nothing
to do with unemployment, as claimed by India; it is a reaction
to Kashmir's occupation by India," the slain JeM militant
is seen and heard saying in Urdu in the video. "The kaffirs
have occupied our land, the modesty of our women is at stake,
so jihad becomes our duty ... therefore, it becomes your duty
to fight for azadi," he is heard saying. A resident of Nazeen
Pora in Tral, Fardeen Khanday had joined the terrorist outfit
in September 2017. His father is a serving Police Constable, Ghulam
Mohammad Khanday.
In the video, which went viral,
Fardeen is shown with an automatic rifle, surrounded by several
hand grenades and other ammunition, asking Kashmiri Muslims to
join the "jihad" as, according to him, India has taken
away "our resources and is using them for their betterment".
"Besides, our women are not safe and, equally, men are tortured
by Indian soldiers," Khanday says in the video.
Two boys from Kangan area of
Pulwama District in South Kashmir, who had gone missing and later
updated their pictures carrying a hand grenade over social media,
surrendered before Army in Pulwama. The boys Suhail Ahmad Dar,
a class 10th student and Arif Ahmad Dar, a 9th class student had
gone missing after offering Friday prayers at the local mosque
in Kangan. The duo then uploaded their pictures on Facebook,
carrying a hand grenade. However, the boys returned home and joined
their families, who presented them before the Army at the 55 RR
camp. The Army has assured the boys every help in their endeavor
to return to the mainstream and promised that no cases will be
pursued against them. The boys have handed over the hand grenade
to the Army. The officials at the 55 RR camp reiterated that anyone
who wants to shun violence and come back will be provided a dignified
exit into the mainstream from violence.
The PSO who was abducted on December
31 was rescued by a joint team of Dima Hasao Police and AR. Dima
Hasao SP stated that ZUF militants released the victim about 1.5
Kilometres from the abduction sight after rescue operations were
launched. SFs recovered .9mm carbine and a magazine with 30 rounds
of ammunition whole sweeping the area.
First draft of NRC for Kokrajhar
District, a total of 5,88,106 persons have been included in the
draft list, among them 1,80,730 are of Kokrajhar Revenue Circle.
Additionally, 97,442 are of Dotma Revenue Circle, and 1, 65,850,
73,577 and 70,507 from Gossaigaon, Bagribari and Bhawraguri Revenue
Circles have also been added. The District received a total of
203,906 application forms. Additionally 333,311 people of Chirang
District have been added in NRC draft. The percentage of the first
list is 64.35 per cent while remaining population of the district
is 186,662.
Police recovered an IED near
the main entrance of Mantripukhri in Imphal West District. According
to sources, a Police patrolling party found the IED on the road
side, along Imphal-Dimapur highway. Later Bomb Disposal Squad
disposed off the IED.
A KCP-Noyon militant was arrested
near Moreh Forest Gate in Tengupal District. According to authorities,
the arrested militant was working under the ‘finance secretary’
of the group , identified as ‘captain’ Ramesh alias Yangba
who is in Aucheng in Myanmar.
Churachandpur District Police
arrested 37 militants in 2017 and recovered 41 weapons (including
15 small arms), 28 detonators and 9 gelatin sticks. Two individuals
were also detained under the National Security Act.
Imphal West Police arrested 118
militants in 2017. Police also recovered two .32 pistols with
magazines and six live rounds, a, .32 revolver, three .9 mm pistols
with magazines and 16 lie bullet rounds, two Chinese hand grenades
with detonators, two hand grenades with one detonator, one AK-56
rifle with five magazines and 56 AK ammunition, one lethod gun
with 10 shells, 81 gelatin sticks, two TNT cases.
UCM a civil society organization
stated that GoI should confine the frame work agreement with NSCN-IM
to Nagaland. The President of UCM stated that "If the framework
agreement and its outcome is confined only to Nagaland, there
will be no issue and complications’.
He also added that ‘If the framework
agreement or any solution based on it is going to affect the interest
of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, then no solution should
be worked out without consulting the governments of these states
and stakeholders’. UCM president is the spokesperson for the eight-member
delegation of three citizens'' organisations who had met Union
Home Minister Rajnath Singh in December.
AR arrested an NNC-NA militant
identified as sergeant major’ Wongtong from Tuesang District.
One .303 rifle, 24 live rounds were recovered from him.
An arms dealer was arrested from
rom Indrapuri village in Tuensang District. The arms dealer has
been identified as K Haothiu Khiamniungan. One .22 pistol, and
a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were recovered from
him.
Nagaland has been declared "disturbed
area" for six more months, till June-end under AFSPA. UMHA
notified that it is of the opinion that the area comprising the
whole of Nagaland is in such a "disturbed and dangerous condition"
that use of Armed Forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.
GoI declared that whole of the said state to be a ''disturbed
area'' for a period of six months with effect from December 30,
2017.
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January 2 |
Punjab Police has claimed to implement
a ‘second line of defence’ to contain any infiltration by terrorists
from the International Border with Pakistan. The Security Personnel
deployment in the sensitive border zones has manifold of bullet-proof
SUVs, tractors, night-vision devices, and cameras. All the Nakas (checkpoints)
are strengthen as a part of ‘second line of defence’ with the
permanent posting of two Battalions of the Punjab Police and movement
of 4th IRB from Kapurthala in Kapurthala District
to Pathankot District, said an unnamed senior Police official.
Apart from these security measurements, a post of Asst. I-G of
Counter-Intelligence has been created in Pathankot District, Pathankot
(Punjab). The intelligence-sharing with the BSF includes the collection,
compilation and dissemination of the information between the Police
and other concerned agencies, said an unnamed SSP posted at Pathankot
District.
Six ‘anti-india’ outfits remain
proscribed in the UK’s list of ‘Proscribed Terrorist Organisations’
that includes 74 groups operating in and across various nations.
Out of six, four groups related to the terrorism in J&K, namely
Harakat-Ul-Jihad-Islami (HuJI), Harakat Mujahideen (HuM), Jaish-e-Mohammed
(JeM) and its splinter group Khuddam Ul-Islam (KuI), and Jamaat
Ul-Furquan (JuF). The list also includes Indian Mujahideen (IM)
which is described as an organisation that aims to establish an
Islamic state and implement Sharia law in India
using violent means. Apart from Islamist groups, the list includes
only Babbar Khalsa, a pro-Khalistan group which was described
as “a Sikh movement that aims to establish an independent Khalistan
within the Punjab region of India”. The International Sikh Youth
Federation (ISYF)—another pro-Khalistan outfit, was banned in
2001 but was removed from the proscribed list in March 2016.
A group of militants fired at
the Police Station Pulwama in Pulwama District with automatic
rifles and the Police guards fired back. The firing continued
for about 10 minutes. Police, CRPF and Army immediately launched
an operation in the area and searches are being conducted against
the militants, who fired at the Police Station. However, sources
said that the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief
S P Vaid said three more Kashmiri youth, who had taken up guns,
have surrendered before the SFs, taking the number of militants
who have surrendered in recent past to 10. “Three more Kashmiri
youth, who had joined militancy, have given up violence and returned
back,” Vaid said. He said the youth have returned back in response
to the call of their families. He said seven more youth had already
given up militancy and returned back in the recent past. “With
three more youth returning to mainstream, 10 youth, who had taken
up guns, have given up path of violence and militancy so far,”
he said.
The process of surrenders started
on November 17 after the footballer-turned-militant Majid Khan
nicknamed Ben Stokes surrendered before the SFs following passionate
video appeal from his mother. After Majid Khan’s surrender, mothers
of many youth, who had taken up guns and joined militancy, also
appealed their militant sons to give up militancy and return.
DGP Vaid said 10 militants, who have surrendered so far, hailed
from south and north Kashmir. Barring Majid, the identity of nine
other militants, who surrendered before the security agencies,
has not been revealed. The DGP once again appealed the local militants
to surrender and join the mainstream.
A CRPF jawan, Ashish
Patra (29), was killed during exchange of fire between CPI-Maoist
cadres at hills of Chakarbandha near Balthar village under Barachatti Tehsil in
Gaya District of Bihar. CRPF sources said that a search and destroy
operation was launched at around midnight on January 1 after receiving
intelligence input of some splinter group's movement in the area.
Commandos of CoBRA and regular battalion along with civil Police
of Gaya and Aurangabad Districts were involved in the operation.
Around 3.30pm on January 2, exchange of fire took place between
the splinter group and SFs during which Patra received bullet
injury in head and later succumbed to his injuries, CRPF sources
said.
The CPI-Maoist cadres are fast
losing support from the ‘Jan Militia’ members
and the people of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, SDGP, Anti-Naxal Operations,
D M Awasthi told reporters in Raipur. Sixty five per cent of Bastar
region had been freed of Maoists so far, he said while addressing
a press conference here to list out the achievement of Chhattisgarh
Police during 2017. “By year 2022, Bastar would be made completely
insurgency-free region,” Awasthi said. “Two years ago, there were
pockets in Bastar where venturing in was not possible. Now, the
movement in such regions has been made possible even for civilians,”
he said. After the forces mounted pressure on the Maoists, Awasthi
claimed, the rebels are now trying to get active in the forest
areas of Rajnandgaon, Kawardha and Balaghat regions that border
with Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. As of now,
16 out of 27 Districts in Chhattisgarh have been classified as
LWE affected of which eight are classified as hyper-sensitive.
He said the department has sent a proposal to include Kawardha
District in the list of the hyper-sensitive District in view the
Maoist presence in the forest areas of that District. Referring
to operation Prahaar I and II, carried out in Bastar to flush
out the rebels, Awasthi said offensive intelligence-based operations
in South Sukma, Maoist core areas and in Abujhmaad areas in Narayanpur
District was successfully conducted—inflicting heavy causalities
on the Maoist side. However, he said there were two consecutive
setbacks to CRPF in Bhejji and Burkapal in Sukma District. With
losing support of the ‘Jan Militia’ and the people
of Bastar, the Maoists are facing a tough time, he added. Awasthi
further informed that at present around 75,000 security personnel
are deployed in the State for anti-Naxal operations
and the situation is well under control. Additional Chief Secretary,
Home, BVR Subramaniam further added that the Naxals are
now restricted to a triangular patch in Kawardha region at the
borders of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
SFs recovered TPC, a splinter
group of the CPI-Maoist belongings like pamphlets, uniforms, mobile
sets, chargers, tarpaulin, blankets, torches, diaries, notebooks,
tracksuits and eatable items in MaholiaTand hills under Chhatterpur
Police Station in Palamu District of Jharkhand. The SFs gave a
hot pursuit to a TMC squad of 30 cadres during an offensive in
Kaual-Kurkutta region of Palamu District. The cadres of TPC managed
to escape to nearby densely forested areas, said Vimlesh Tripathi,
Chhatterpur Police Station in-charge.
CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Roopesh, Shyna, Anoop Mathew, Veeramani and Kannan were Coimbatore
District and Principal Sessions Court at Coimbatore District of
Tamil Nadu. Roopesh was brought under tight security from Kerala.
They raised slogans demanding release of Muslim convicts who are
lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison for more than 10 years, political
prisoners and Sri Lankan prisoners.
A Naxalite
cadre of the of the CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction,
identified as MD Rashid alias Venu surrendered
before the SP, N Koti Reddy in Mahabubabad District of Telangana.
Rashid is a native of Kambalapally village in Mahabubabad Mandal and
joined the CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction,
in 2016. He also worked for CPI-ML-New Democracy Chandranna
faction, for three years and got arrested by the Police in
West Godavari District. He spent three months in prison. After
release from the prison, he led his life by running an auto rickshaw.
He joined Naxalites at the request of Dubbaka
Yesobu of Manuguru, said SP, N Koti Reddy. Only single member,
Mokalla Sammaiah alias Nutan, is working presently
for the Naxalites as others either surrendered
before the Police or killed in an encounter on December 14 in
Kothagudem District. “I appeal to Sammaiah to surrender before
the Police,” added SP, Reddy.
The Government has no plans to
give general amnesty to the militants in Jammu and Kashmir and
Maoists who give up violence and arms struggle, the Lok
Sabha was informed. “There is no proposal for general
amnesty to the militants,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs
Kiren Rijiju said in a reply to a written question in Lok
Sabha. The reply came in response to a question on whether
the Government has any proposal for extending general amnesty,
along with a lucrative rehabilitation package, to the Maoists
and militants who give up violence and arms struggle. The Minister
said the Central Government was following a multi-pronged strategy
to deal with LWE and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern
States. The multi-pronged strategy comprises security-related
measures and development-related initiatives. “In Jammu and Kashmir
and NE States, the Central Government is also following a policy
of talks with those groups who abjure the path of violence and
seek resolution of their demands peacefully within the framework
of the Constitution of India,” he said.
Intelligence reports also indicate
ULFA-I leaders have found a location near the Namdapha national
park in Changlang of Arunachal Pradesh for setting up a transit
camp. About 70 cadres will be able to live here.
A report says that once the camp is ready, parts of Assam close
to south-east Arunachal Pradesh will witness a rise in violence.
SFs in Rangapara forest area
in Kokrajhar District busted a camp of NDFB-S. The Police suspected
that around 10 to 15 NDFB-S cadres were taking shelter in the
temporary camp for some days.
A civilian identified as Sukur
Ali was abducted from Lakhipur in Goalpara District.
Intelligence reports are indicating
increased activity and possible major attack between New Year
Day and Republic Day by ULFA-I and NSCN-K. An intelligence report
speaks of ULFA-I arranging for 25 pairs of warm track suits and
shoes. Additionally, intelligence reports also indicate ULFA-I
leaders have found a location near the Namdapha National Park
in Changlang of Arunachal Pradesh for setting up a transit camp.
About 70 cadres will be able to live here. A report says that
once the camp is ready, parts of Assam close to south-east Arunachal
Pradesh will witness a rise in violence.
Foreigners Tribunal of Assam
declared almost 20,000 people as foreigners till October 2017.
As per the monthly report of disposal of cases in FTs of Assam,
19,612 'D' (doubtful/disputed) voters were declared foreigners
till October 2017," Union Minister of State (Home) Kiren
Rijiju informed Lok Sabha. According to the Kiren Rijiju, issuance
of notice to the 'D' voters is a legal process and there is no
question of harassing people. 'D' voters are not detained. "Only
persons declared by FTs as foreigners are kept in the detention
centres”.
CM Sonowal said that his Government
wouldn't give any constitutional rights to the people who fail
to make it to the final NRC and would allow them to live in India
on humanitarian grounds until the Centre takes a decision on their
expulsion. He stated that people who are declared foreigners will
be barred from all constitutional rights, including fundamental
and electoral. They will have only one right; human rights as
guaranteed by the UN that include food, shelter and clothing."
The CM said the "historic" NRC draft would make the
distinction between a bona fide Indian and a foreigner.
An indefinite shutdown began
in Tseminyu area in Kohima District press the demand for up gradation
of Tseminyu sub-divisional headquarter into a full-fledged District
headquarters. The strike has been called by the Rengma Naga frontal
organizations in Kohima District.
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January 3 |
The Minister of State for Home
Affairs Hansraj Ahir informed the Rajya Sabha (the
Upper House of the Parliament of India) that the process of demonetisation
of Indian currency notes of INR 500 and INR 1,000, in November
2016 and onwards had severely hit the hawala transactions
and Pakistan-printed FICNs. Around INR 9.8 million
were recovered from LWE groups and the LWEs had also protested
expressing their discontentment against the demonetisation, said
Hansraj Ahir.
A BSF Head Constable, identified
as RP Hazra was killed in firing by Pakistani Rangers along the
IB in Samba sector in Samba District. According to report, RP
Hazra, whose 51st birthday falls on January 3, sustained a gun
shot in his abdomen while manning forward border post at Chak
Dulma in Samba sector at 4.20 pm January 3. Immediately after
ceasefire violation by Pakistani Rangers, the BSF jawans
from this side retaliated very effectively to silence the Pakistani
guns. Pakistani Rangers also opened firing at Manyari and Pansar
in Samba and Londi and Bobiya areas in Hiranagar sector for a
brief period, leading to exchanges. The firing stopped after sometime.
Pakistan army also violated ceasefire
for a brief period along LoC in Balakote sector of Poonch District
in the evening. However, there were no casualties or damage on
the Indian side. Indian troops retaliated effectively.
Unidentified militants shot dead
a 25-year old man, identified as Arif Ahmad Sofi in Sopore area
of Baramulla District in the evening. Police said that Arif Ahmad
Sofi son of Mohammad Maqbool Sofi of Wahipora Unisoo, Handwara
in Kupwara District (at present Herwan Bomia, Sopore with maternal
home) was shot at around 7:25 pm by militants at point blank range.
Army and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police cordoned off the area
soon after the incident and launched searches against the militants
responsible for the killing.
Police arrested three persons
including an OGW from Pattan area of Baramulla District. SFs identified
the trio as Miyser Majid Bhat, OGW, Muzafar Ahmad Hurra and Bashir
Bhat. The official said that arms and ammunition including a Chinese
pistol, one magazine, four rounds, one AK-47 rifle with two magazines
and 60 rounds were recovered from them.
The NIA opposed before a Delhi
court the bail application of an alleged stone pelter, arrested
from Kashmir Valley in a terror case, citing his "anti-national"
activities. The NIA, probing funding of terror and separatist
activities in the valley, told District Judge Poonam A Bamba that
24-year-old Javed Ahmed Bhat was involved in anti-national activities
and took active participation in stone pelting on SFs. The agency
said there were serious apprehension about Bhat fleeing from justice
as well as the country and that he could tamper with evidences
if released on bail. It further added that the investigation into
the case was still on and the accused remained non-cooperative
during the probe.
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire
by firing and shelling posts along the LoC in Rajouri District.
“The unprovoked fire from Pakistan started first from small arms
which later coupled with mortar shelling throughout the night”,
sources said.
SFs arrested seven CPI-Maoist
cadres indentified as Kunjam Joga (30), Muchaki Hadma (20), Madvi
Deva (25), Muchaki Payka (27), Kuhrami Sukka (21), Madkam Kosa
(45) and Madkam Hunga (41) under Bhejji Police Station in Sukma
District of Chhattisgarh. The arrested were cadres of the DAKMS,
a frontal organisation of the CPI-Maoist, and involved in an attack
on a Police team in Gacchanpalli forest in July, 2017. They are
also wanted in case related to torching of a car and a motorcycle
near Chikhalaguda in December 2017, said DIG, south Bastar range,
Sundarraj P.
CPI-Maoist has succeeded in establishing
RPC in many colonies on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border
and re-emerging in Kerala, says Intelligence Sources According
to the reports, G Krishnamoorthy, 'CC member' from Karnataka,
has taken charge of Kerala operations in place of Kuppuswamy aka Kuppu
Devaraj who was killed in an encounter at Nilambur in Malappuram
District on November 24, 2016. Krishnamoorthy has been successful
in organising meetings in these areas which were attended by PLGA
cadres. CPI-Maoist cadres are known to make their presence felt
initially with lightning appearances and distribution of leaflets
in potential areas of growth dare to form RPCs only after they
get feelers that the ground is fertile. Maoists have succeeded
in forming RPCs in half a dozen tribal colonies, including some
in Attappadi.
Union Cabinet approved an agreement
between India and Myanmar on land border crossing which the government
said would enhance economic interaction between people of the
two countries There are already free movement rights for people
ordinarily residing in the border areas of both countries.
The agreement will also facilitate
movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which
will enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries,
a statement said. It is expected to provide connectivity and enhance
interaction of the people from north-eastern states of India with
those of Myanmar. The agreement will safeguard the traditional
rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the border
which are accustomed to free movement across the land border,
the statement read.
The trader abducted on December
31 was released near the North Garo Hills District along the Assam-Meghalaya
border. He was released near near the Garo Hills border, at Kukurkata
in Goalpara District. The family of the victim allegedly paid
a ransom amount of INR 1 million for the release.
A hut belonging to a farmer of
Rangpur village in the Chungajan area in Golaghat District along
Assam-Nagaland boundary was set ablaze by unidentified assailants
from Nagaland.
SFs arrested on OGW of GNLA from
South Salmara Mankachar District. The SFs also recovered gelatin
sticks, 100 detonators and 15 bundles of detonating cords were
recovered from him.
Several Barak valley based organisations
expressed concern over the large number of names (from the Valley)
that are yet to be published and the huge quantum of errors in
the published list of NRC. The meeting said the names of 30-50
per cent people from the valley's three districts have been included
in the first list and these too are full of errors. In Hailakandi,
217,571 names, out of 719,840, appeared in the first list (30
per cent). In Karimganj, 507,840 names, out of 1,324,096, are
on the list (38.35 per cent). In Cachar, 642,679 names, out of
1,823,302, featured on the list (35.25 per cent). Further, the
Union Territory Demand Committee will take out rallies in Silchar
on January 16.
In a suspected extortion threat
a trader dealing in cement escaped unhurt when unidentified assailants
hurled a grenade at his shop at Khurai in Imphal East District.
Police said the grenade hit the roof of the shop and failed to
explode.
A KCP militant Athokpak Dinesh
Singh alias Mathoi was arrested from Pechi Mayai Leikai
in Thoubal District. It has been revealed that the militant was
involved in various extortion activities.
A PREPAK militant was arrested
from Imphal West District. The militant was identified as Kshetrimayum
Biken alias Pamel alias Nongdol.
Union Cabinet approved an agreement
between India and Myanmar on land border crossing which the government
said would enhance economic interaction between people of the
two countries There are already free movement rights for people
ordinarily residing in the border areas of both countries.
The agreement will also facilitate
movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which
will enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries,
a statement said. It is expected to provide connectivity and enhance
interaction of the people from north-eastern states of India with
those of Myanmar. The agreement will safeguard the traditional
rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the border
which are accustomed to free movement across the land border,
the statement read
One abductor who was involved
in the December 31st abduction of a trader from Krishnai town
in Assam was arrested from Resubelpara in North Garo Hills District.
The arrestee stated that seven- member gang including two former
GNLA militants, identified as Sengsan Momin alias Asong
and Kalu were part of the abduction gang.
Union Cabinet approved an agreement
between India and Myanmar on land border crossing which the government
said would enhance economic interaction between people of the
two countries There are already free movement rights for people
ordinarily residing in the border areas of both countries.
The agreement will also facilitate
movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which
will enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries,
a statement said. It is expected to provide connectivity and enhance
interaction of the people from north-eastern states of India with
those of Myanmar. The agreement will safeguard the traditional
rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the border
which are accustomed to free movement across the land border,
the statement read
Rh Raising, ‘convenor’ of the
Steering Committee of NSCN-IM said that in order to arrive at
an amicable solution for both the Nagas and GoI as agreed that
GoI and Nagas will co-exist as two entities and share sovereign
power between the two entities. Rh Raising stated that ‘the historic
Framework Agreement is the first Indo-Naga political agreement
that opens up an era of a new relationship between the two’ and
added that the agreement is the legacy of both NSCN-IM and GoI.
|
January 4 |
Addressing the threat of ongoing
radicalisation and to interact directly with the citizens, the
Punjab Police has aspired to launch its own Facebook, Twitter
and YouTube accounts in the month of January, said Punjab DGP
Suresh Arora. Providing the details of Punjab Police’s achievements
of 2017 and further plans in 2018, the Punjab Police had dismantled
eight terror modules with the arrests of 47 persons and seizure
of 43 different weapons. Around 21 foreign nationals were accused
of providing logistics and financial assistance to these terror
modules, said DGP Suresh Arora. Comparing the crime data of 2016
and 2017, the homicide cases came down from 771 in 2016 to 656
in 2017, attempt to murder from 862 in 2016 to 795 in 2017, kidnapping/abduction
related cases from 1591 in 2016 to 1462 in 2017, robbery cases
from 147 in 2016 to 116 in 2017, and cases of dacoits from 43
in 2016 to 26 in 2017, added DGP Suresh Arora.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan ordered the closure of the Peace International School
in Ernakulam in Ernakulam District which has been under scanner
for objectionable and non-secular content in the syllabus. The
action comes in the wake of reports filed by the District Collector
and the Education Department. The Kozhikode-based Peace Foundation
operates more than 10 schools under the name ‘Peace International.’
Whether the directive is applicable to other schools of the foundation
will be known once the Government Order is issued. The Chief Minister
has demanded that the students in the school, located at Chakkaraparambu
in Kochi in Ernakulam District, be shifted to other schools in
the region. The Police are trying to bring the school Managing
Director M M Akbar from abroad [Dubai, UAE]. Earlier, a probe
conducted by the Education Department found that the school does
not follow textbooks of NCERT, CBSE or SCERT. The District Education
Officer’s report had stated that teaching a syllabus giving prominence
to a single religion is violation of education rights. The Intelligence
agencies have found that Abdul Rashid and Yasmin Ahammed, who
are facing NIA probe for alleged links with the IS, have worked
in the school. Police probe has revealed that the school teaches
textbooks compiled by Burooj Realization, an Islamic education
institution based in Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra. Three people
who readied the text books were later arrested by Kochi Police
from Mumbai. Though there were allegations that they have links
with controversial preacher Zakir Naik, it has not been confirmed.
The NIA has forward its appeal
to the NIA court; seeking permission to interrogate two IS accused—Manseed alias Omar
al-Hindi and Safvan alias Rayyan, the first and
fifth accused, respectively in the Kanakamala (Kannur District
of Kerala) IS module case. Manseed was a resident of Thalassery
city of Kannur District whereas Safvan resided at Tirur town of
Malappuram District in Kerala. Both accused are IS sympathisers
who coordinated to attack key establishments and persons at various
places in South India. As a part of ‘Hadiya case’, the accused
persons knew Shafin Jahan and had communication with him. Therefore,
there is a need to confirm some information regarding the matter,
said an unnamed NIA officer. The NIA court will proceed to the
petition on January 5.
A Pakistani intruder was killed
as BSF personnel foiled a major infiltration attempt from across
the IB in Arnia sector in Jammu District during wee hours. Sources
said that BSF personnel noticed movement of a group of 4-5 terrorists
near the barbed wire fence under the cover of thick fog in the
area. The BSF personnel opened fire killing one of them, while
others managed to flee back to Pakistan side. The area has been
cordoned off. More details is awaited.
The BSF inflicted heavy casualties
and damages on Pakistan by killing and injuring a number of Rangers,
most likely around a dozen, smashing their two mortar posts and
thwarting an infiltration attempt along the IB in RS Pura sector
in Jammu District. Though there was no official word from the
BSF on ‘exact number of casualties’, both fatal and non-fatal,
suffered by the Rangers, reliable reports said the number could
be ‘around a dozen’. “Many Rangers have been killed or injured
in retaliatory firing by the BSF after the BSF Head Constable
RP Hazra was martyred yesterday [January 3] afternoon in Pakistan
firing at Chak Dulma in Samba sector,” reports said, adding that
there was panic among the Rangers, which was quite visible with
ambulances taking repeated rounds of forward areas of Sialkot
sector of Pakistan.
Three civilians were also injured
on Pakistan side as they were caught in the retaliatory firing
even though the BSF directly targeted the posts of Rangers and
not the civilian areas to avenge the killing of Hazra. “Two mortar
posts of the Rangers were located, targeted and destroyed in retaliatory
action by the BSF opposite Samba sector post-martyrdom of Hazra,”
reports said, adding these Pakistani posts were planning to target
civilian population in Samba sector by firing mortar shells in
the forward villages along the IB. However, the BSF undertook
pre-emptive action and razed to ground both the Pakistani mortar
posts across Samba sector. The Rangers manning these two posts
were either killed or injured, reports said.
The BSF has launched ‘Operation
Alert’ along over 200 kilometer long IB in Jammu to curb the increasing
movement of infiltrating militants from across the border. “There
are inputs that there is movement of militants and accordingly,
we have declared ‘Ops Alert’ on the border,” IG of BSF Jammu Frontier,
Ram Awatar said.
Pakistan-based terrorist outfit
JeM has been ‘secretly’ renamed as 'Al Murabitoon'. The rechristening
of JeM founded by Masood Azhar, who is wanted in India in connection
with several terror attack cases, has come at a time when India
has been lobbying hard at the UN for more sanctions against the
outfit. According to inputs received from the intelligence agencies,
the JeM is now using its new identity to secure entry into the
universities and colleges across Pakistan. Besides, the changed
identity of the outfit is also being used to secure more funds
for the organisation. The reports, claiming to have accessed
documentary evidence, said that Masood Azhar is using this new
identity for organising speech and debate competitions in schools
and colleges in Pakistani cities of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore
and Rawalakot.
If the intelligence agencies
are to be believed, the renaming of JeM is a well-calculated move
aimed at shielding the outfit from international scrutiny. However,
this is not the sole reason behind JeM's renaming. JeM's new identity
is also likely to help it in expanding its anti-India operations,
report said. In view of a tough competition from as LeT and the
Taliban, the JeM has been under tremendous pressure to increase
its influence in PoK and the Kashmir Valley.
Several pamphlets inviting entries
for debate competitions have been distributed in various schools
and colleges in Pakistan in the name of ‘Al Murabitoon.’ Interestingly,
top leaders of JeM have been invited to the events as guests.
Another thing which draws immediate attention is the prize – special
swords bearing the name of Masood Azhar as the 'Ameer of Mujahedeens'
– being given to the winners and the runner-ups. All this comes
to light at a time when the US President Donald Trump has threatened
to cut USD 255 million in aid to Pakistan over its alleged terror
activities.
Acting on a tip-off from a military
intelligence unit, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army personnel
arrested six persons involved in preparation and sale of fake
stamps and identity documents of Indian Army in Baramulla District.
SFs are jointly investigating a major security breach after nearly
10 SIM cards procured in the name of Army units using fake documents
were seized in Baramulla District. At least six SIM cards had
“ended up with the militants of the LeT”, sources said.
SSP, Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain
said that six persons had been arrested. They have been identified
as Sajad Ahmad Baba, Gowhar Ahmad Geelani, Abid Bilal Qadri, Mushtaq
Shah alias Mastan, Azmatullah Bhat and Kanwol Jeet Singh,
who runs a printing press. “Two more have been detained for questioning,”
Hussain said. The racket came to light after tracking LeT militants
for two months. “We have seized nearly 10 fake SIM cards so far.
They were used for criminal activities,” he said. Initial investigation
suggested that 30 SIM cards were issued on fake documents of Army
units in north Kashmir. The modus operandi of the module, apparently
operating at the behest of militants, was to create fake stamps
of Army units and print forms.
SFs recovered belongings
from a CPI-Maoist hideout at Madanpur Police Station
in Pacharukhiya Jungle of Aurangabad District in Bihar. During
the search operation, three Pithu, two blankets, two ground seats,
utensils, uniforms, soap and sweaters recovered by SFs.
The Union Government has sanctioned
around 5,500 kilometres of National Highways and State roads for
improvement of road connectivity in CPI-Maoist hit areas in eight
States, informed the Parliament. The Government had in 2009 approved
a RRP for LWE affected areas of 34 Districts in eight States -
Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. "Original
RRP envisages development of 5,565 km length of national highways
and state roads to two-lane at a cost of Rs 7,300 crore,"
Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mansukh L.
Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
"As per proposals received from state PWDs based on site
requirement, a length of 5,422 km was sanctioned for Rs 8,585
crore," he informed.
Indicating a significant presence
in the region and a sign of their growing strength in Kerala,
groups of CPI-Maoist cadres were spotted a total of 91 times along
the Kerala side of the inter-State border between Kerala and Tamil
Nadu throughout 2017, said, the Nilgiris District Police of Tamil
Nadu. No recorded instance of intrusion from Kerala side, claim
Police. These include both direct sightings by the Police and
those by locals living in the villages along the border. Officials
said that the Maoists, belonging to four Dalams – the Bhavani Dalam in
Palakkad, Nadugani Dalam in Malappuram, Kabani Dalam in
Wayanad and Siruvani Dalam in Palakkad – are
known to be active in the region. “Of the four, the Siruvani Dalam
is believed to be defunct, but we have intelligence that some
of their members could be active,” said a Police officer involved
with anti-Maoist operation. Though the number of sightings of
Maoists has increased over the last few years, the Nilgiris District
SP, Murali Rambha, said that there has not been a single incursion
of any radical left-wing groups into the Nilgiris.
Arunachal Pradesh Government
has taken all possible measures to prevent likely spill over of
illegal migrants into the state from neighbouring Assam, in the
aftermath of the NRC publication. An official release said that
CM Prema Khandu has sought detailed information from the Director
General of Police (DGP) about the status of the border areas in
the wake of part draft NRC publication. Assuring that the situation
is normal in the state, the DGP apprised the CM that all border
district SP’s have been alerted and directed to coordinate with
their Assam counterparts.
The Chungajan unit of AASU on
blocked roads at Chungajan and Gelabil near Nagaland demanding
arrest of the assailants who set fire to hut of the farmer on
Jan 3
Three NDFB-S militants and a
link man were arrested from Ambagaon in Udalguri District. The
militants were identified as Gwmsar Daimary alias Gwbrah,
Bwhwisat Basumatary alias Barhungkha and Ashish Daimary
alias Akhai and one linkman Anjalu Kachari Brahma. One
.9mm pistol with magazine and 3 rounds live ammunition, one 7.65
mm pistol with magazine, 5 rounds live ammunition and two grenades
were recovered from the militants.
A militant of LDCM commander’
Rohan Patir, was arrested from Guwahati. The arrested militant
was allegedly involved in the killing of local Indian National
Congress leader Hiranya Doley in May 2017.
A total of 67 per cent names
of people of Udalguri District figured in first draft of NRC.
Moreover, 73 per cent people of Lakhimpur District were also included
in the first draft of NRC. Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Barun
Bhuyan stated that ‘A total of 825,048 people out of 1,121,459
from 236,760 applicant families have been featured in the part
draft. On the other hand, the inclusion of the rest 27 per cent
people is on hold and the application and due documents supporting
their citizenship are being verified’.
GoI is likely to convene a tripartite
meeting at the political level to review implementation of the
Assam Accord. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed this
to a delegation of the All Assam Students Union (AASU).The student
body called on the Union Home Minister at his Parliament House
office accompanied by BPF MP Biswajit Daimary. The delegation
led by AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya was told that the Centre
was committed to implement the Assam Accord. The Union Home Minister
stated that meeting on the Assam Accord would be convened within
15-20 days with the AASU, in which Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
would also be invited.
Unidentified militant shot dead
a civilian identified as Loukrakpam Sananingthem Singh at Lamsang
Khunou area in Imphal West. UNLF later claimed responsibility
for the incident. The victim was earlier arrested in connection
with a sexual assault case in 2015.
Police have tightened security
to check the possible influx of migrants after a draft of the
NRC was published in Assam. DGP L.M. Khaute has supervised security
measures along the Assam-Manipur border. Manipur Chief Minister
Biren Singh stated that ‘Additional Police and paramilitary personnel
have been rushed to Jiribam District to ensure that undesirable
persons do not enter (our state)’. Police was also deployed along
the Assam-Tamenglong highway and Jessami in Ukhrul District.
Two NNC-NA militant identified
as ‘private’ Joel Zeliang and Ghoikhu Swu were arrested in Dimapur
for extortion.
An NSCN-R militant identified
as Angukavi Yepthomi was arrested for extorting money from new
Market area in Dimapur.
Meghalaya witnessed a sharp drop
in the number of violent incidents related to militancy in the
last three years with only 21 such reported cases in 2017 as compared
to 341 in 2014.DGP SB Singh said there were 310 militancy related
incidents in 2015 and 118 in 2016.
77 militants mostly from GNLA
were arrested and 48 militants had surrendered in 2017. Police
killed six militants and recovered 32 weapons during the year.
|
January 5 |
The Special MCOCA court rejected
a plea of Kafeel Ansari—an accused in Mumbai triple blast happened
on July 13, 2011. Kafeel Ansari—a suspected member of IM
was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS on May 19, 2012, for his involvement
in criminal conspiracy and providing logistic support to the perpetrators
for the blasts on July 13, 2011 which killed 27 and injured 127
people.
India and Indonesia has called
upon all nations to contain the providing of state-sponsorship
of terrorism and restrict their territories for being used by
the terror outfits as a ‘safe haven’. Addressing the fifth meeting
of the Joint Commission with Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs—Retno
Marsudi, India’s MEA Sushma Swaraj has emphasised the India and
Indonesia are ‘natural partners’ in the process of peace and prosperity
and both countries equally condemned terrorism in all of its manifestations,
irrespective of its origin and propaganda.
The Minister of Electronics &
Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad informed the Rajya
Sabha (the Upper House of the Parliament of India) that
in 2016, total 12,317 cases of cybercrime were registered which
depicts the significant growth in comparison to last three years.
The data provided by the NCRB and the CERT-In, around 79 phishing
attacks had affected 22 financial institutions, 13 cases were
related to affecting ATMs, Point-of-Sales (PoS) systems and the
UPI. The RBI has registered total of 12,520 cases of credit-card
frauds in the quarter of April-September 2017. As of now there
are no reports of any financial fraud related to BHIM application
but the Government is alert, said Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra
Modi, along with top Indian Police officials will be attending
three-day conference commencing from January 6 at BSF academy,
in Tekanpur of Gwalior District in Madhya Pradesh. Besides other
issues, cyberterrorism, the impact of social-media on society,
cross-border terrorism, and radicalisation of youth will be discussed
during the conference. The meet would be attended by UMHA Rajnath
Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, and the officers of DGP and IGP ranks from
all States and Central Police organisations, said an unnamed UMHA
official.
The Pakistani army resorted to
shelling and also fired from small arms and automatic weapons
along the LoC in Shahpur sector of Poonch District. “Pakistan
army resorted to unprovoked firing of small arms and automatic
weapons and also shelling from late this afternoon in Shahpur
sector of Poonch district along the LoC,” sources said. Indian
troops replied back, leading to heavy exchanges for some time,
they added. There were no reports of any casualties or damage
on the Indian side.
After New Year eve (December
31) fidayeen attack on CRPF camp in south Kashmir, the
security agencies in Kashmir Valley are apprehending more fidayeen
attacks by JeM militants and have increased the security around
the security installations. “Yes, there is apprehension of Fidayeen
attack on security force camps in the Valley,” IG CRPF Ravideep
Singh Sahi said. He said there are also chances of militants carrying
out grenade lobbing and hit-and-run attacks on SFs. “With Republic
Day approaching, there are chances that militants may resort to
attacks,” IG CRPF said.
He said the security of camps
has been reviewed after the New Year eve fidayeen attack
on CRPF camp by three JeM militants, two of whom were locals.
He said the security apparatus would be beefed up to foil any
militant attacks. Sources said three militants who launched fidayeen
attack on CRPF camp at Lethpora in Pulwama District on December
31 belonged to Afzal Guru Squad of Jaish. “The Afzal Guru Squad
was written in one of the AK-47 rifle of the militants killed
in the 36-hour encounter in CRPF camp,” they said. According to
sources, the militants who had participated in District Police
Lines Pulwama and Airport fidayeen attacks last year (2017)
had also written Afzal Guru squad on the wall and warned of taking
revenge of Afzal Guru’s killing. A Senior Police official said
a group of Jaish militants is on run and they may be planning
another fidayeen attack on security installations in the
Valley.
A research scholar from Kupwara
in Kupwara District has appeared in a photograph posted on social
media holding an UBGL, with a message claiming that he has joined
the militancy. Mannan Wani, son of Bashir Ahmad Wani, joined
the HM on January 5, states the message along with the photograph
that appeared on Facebook and WhatsApp. According
to Wani’s family, he was pursuing his PhD in applied geology at
AMU in Uttar Pradesh. Wani’s brother, Mubashir Ahmad, a junior
engineer, said: “We have also seen the picture on social networking
sites. But we have no idea (whether he has joined militants or
not). We lost contact with him on January 4 as his phone was switched
off. We thought he had switched it off for some reason or lost
it. As we couldn’t contact him, we lodged a missing report with
police on Saturday.”
Officials at AMU could not be
contacted for comment but the university’s official website states
that Wani (26), was pursuing a PhD on ‘Structural and Geo-Morphological
Study of Lolab Valley, Kashmir’. According to the website, he
received an award for the best paper presented at an international
conference on ‘Water, Environment, Ecology and Society’ in 2016.
It states that he enrolled in AMU after doing his Bachelor’s in
Geology and Earth Sciences from the University of Kashmir. He
completed his Master’s and M Phil in Geology from AMU, it says.
Wani’s brother said his brother
left home for Aligarh a month ago. “All this time, we thought
he was in Aligarh. He would talk to us regularly. We don’t have
any idea where he is,” he said. Sources said Wani was active during
the recent student elections at the university. He had also apparently
penned several articles on student politics on an online portal,
thecompanion.com. Wani’s biographical sketch on the portal
describes him as a research scholar at AMU who is a “student activist
having interest in geopolitics and Islamic revivalist movements”.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including
a woman cadre, were gunned down in an encounter in Muduvandi-Kawadgaon
forest axis in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. “The operation,
involving composite forces of CRPF's elite unit CoBRA 204th battalion
and DRG, was launched last night in the interiors of Gangaloor,
located around 450 kilometres away from Raipur,” DIG, south Bastar
Range Sundarraj P, said. After the encounter, during search, two
Maoists clad in ‘uniform’ were found dead at the spot. Besides,
one .303 rifle, one 12 bore gun and one country-made pistol, were
also recovered from there, the DIG added.
Jharkhand Police arrested a cadre
of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, identified as
Anuj Dhanvar alias Pankaj, at Silafari village
after an exchange of fire in Gumla District of Jharkhand. Two
PFLI cadres Prakash Uraon ‘area commander’ and Sanjay Tiger managed
to escape and hiding at Tongri.
Kerala Police recovered explosives
from under the Kuttippuram Bridge across the Bharathapuzha River
at Kuttippuram in Malappuram District of Kerala. The explosives
found are remotely operated and are made for the Indian Army in
Maharashtra. CPI-Maoist cadres are suspected to be in possession
of Claymore mines, used exclusively by the Indian Army, said Police.
The Police have arrested a ‘platoon
commander’ and two ‘militia’ members of the CPI-Maoist at Venkatapuram
of Jayashankar-Bhupalpally District in Telangana. The arrested
were identified as Madivi Pande alias Susheela alias Laxmi,
working as protection ‘platoon commander’ of the ‘CC member’ Katakam
Sudharshan aka Anand aka Duladadha,
and the militia members - Ramesh and Nandini of Bheeram village
in the District.
AAPSU President Hawa Bagang stated
that people of Arunachal Pradesh will never accept granting of
citizenship to refugees including the Chakmas and Hajongs. He
also added that asking for citizenship with unrelenting attitude
within Arunachal Pradesh will boomerang and the people of the
State will never accept it. The statement was made during a joint
high-power committee meeting on the Chakma and Hajong issue which
was attended by Arunachal Pradesh Home Secretary GS Meena, along
with Chakma and Hajong representatives.
SFs arrested arms peddler, identified
as Sumlianthang in Manja in Karbi Anglong. SFs also recovered
12 neogel sticks, 34 detonators and 12 fuse wires.
A civilian identified as Sukur
Ali, who was abducted on January 2 from Assam was rescued from
Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills District. The Police also arrested
four abductors identified as Jandal Ch Sangma, Julius Ch Sangma,
Brendil R Marak and Sangna A Sangma. The abductors had demanded
INR 12.5 million as ransom.
Six militants including two NSCN-K
and four NSCN-KN militants were arrested at Meluri town in Phek
District. SFs also recovered one carbine machine gun (CMG), two
pistols, ammunition of various calibers and one hand grenade along
with various incriminating documents. According to authorities,
the arrested militants were involved in extortion and threatening
local population.
The NIA court in Kochi of Ernakulam
District in Kerala granted permission to NIA for interrogating
two IS accused operatives, Omar al-Hindi and Safvan alias Rayyan
of Kanakamala IS module case as a part of Hadiya case of ‘love-jihad’.
The NIA team consists of IT experts would interrogate two accused
on January 8 at the Viyyur Central jail in Thrissur, Thrissur
District (Kerala), in the presence of jail superintendent. The
NIA team will question if Shafin Jahan, husband of Hadiya had
any connections with IS operatives or IS module in Kerala. The
Kanakamala IS module was planning to attack sensitive places and
key personalities in various regions in South India.
Telangana Police arrested three
cadres of CPI-Maoist indentified as Madivi Pande alias Susheela alias Laxmi
(29), Ramesh and Nandhini at Venkatapuram centre of Eturnagaram
in Jaishankar Bhupalpally District of Telangana. Madivi Pande
hails from Urren village, Bairanghad Tehsil in
Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. She worked at different levels
from 2009 in CPI-Maoist. She worked in the ‘jan militia’ from
2009 to 2010 and in the Marthur LOS from 2010 to 2011 and with
Bairanghad LOS, in 2013 with the Bairanghad Platoon, and in 2014
Gangaloor LOS. Madivi Pande has been working as the protection
‘platoon commander’ of 'central committee (CC) member' Katakam
Sudharshan aka Anand aka Duladadha,
and participated in several offences in Chhattisgarh and Telangana,
said Eturnagaram, ASP, Rahul Hegde. She was involved in set ablaze
of road construction vehicles at Tekulagdudem village of Wazeedu Mandal in
January 2015 and took part in exchange of fire with the Police
at Jella forest area near Kodijuttugutta in May 2015, added Hedge.
|
January 6 |
The NIA will seek support from
the Interpol in providing information regarding Pakistan’s ISI
involvement in the ‘targeted’ killings of Hindu leaders at various
places in Punjab during the last two years. The ongoing investigation
and interrogation of gangsters and Sikh radical group members
had revealed that the financial support was routed from Pakistan
to various members of radical groups based in the UK, Italy, France,
Germany, Canada, the US, and UAE in a proposal to revive Sikh
militancy in the state of Punjab, said an unnamed official of
Punjab Police. Some specific intelligence inputs does support
that ISI was keen to establish allegiance between Khalistani outfits
and LeT. The NIA had confirmed that Harmeet Singh alias PHD—
who is based in Pakistan, was an essential link between ISI and
Sikh militant outfits, said unidentified sources.
Four policemen were killed and
two others were seriously injured in an IED blast set off by suspected
militants in Sopore town in Baramulla District. Three of the four
Policemen were identified as Irshad of Doda, M Amin of Kupwara
Ghulam Nabi of Sopore and Parvaiz Ahmad of Vilgam Handwara, Police
said. The fourth Policeman succumbed to his injuries on the way
to hospital. According to official sources, militants triggered
an IED at Sopore, where a general strike was observed on Saturday
[January 6] as on this day 57 persons were killed in alleged security
force firing in 1993. Four Police personnel were killed they said
adding that the IED was planted beneath a shop. Several shops
were also damaged in the blast, sound of which was heard in the
entire town. SF and Police personnel were deployed in the town
to maintain law and order, report said. JeM claimed responsibility
for the blast.
Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres gunned
down the village Sarpanch of Chhindgarh village
near Kelang of Bastar District in Chhattisgarh. According to officials
they (Maoists) suspected that the sarpanch was
a ‘Police informer’.
A Maoist was gunned down in an
encounter with SFs in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The exchange
of fire took place at around 3pm in the forests of Karka village
under Gangaloor Police Station limits in which one Maoist was
killed, Bijapur ASP, Mohit Garg said. The identity of the killed
Maoist was yet to be ascertained, he said.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
vehicles, earth moving equipment and ransacked a computer room
at a bauxite mine at Kukutpat in Latehar District of Jharkhand.
Around 35 CPI-Maoist cadres arrived at Kukutpat set on fire one
dumper, two trucks, a compressor machine, two motorcycles, earth
moving equipment and a weighbridge before ransacking a computer
room as the company had not paid heed to their demand for ‘levy’
(ransom money), said Police. A total of 14 vehicles - two trucks,
two excavators, a JCB machine and nine vehicles were set ablaze
by CPI-Maoist. The area where the incident took place comes under
the jurisdiction of Samri Police Station of Chhattisgarh, however,
some parts falls under Jharkhand’s territory, said ADGP, RK Mallick.
SFs arrested ‘chairman’ of ZUF
identified as ‘major’ Naimeyning was arrested from Mahur in Dima
Hasao.
The Government of Kerala has issued
an alert to all of its DCs to take precautionary security measures
against the possible modules of IS operating in the state. Abdul
Rasheed—an operative and Emir of IS Kerala module, send an audio
message to other members of the group focusing on the assassination
or destroy the non-Muslims with any modus-operandi including poisoning
the drinking water and to carry-out massive killing through plying
trucks over the crowd in Indian festivals such as Thrissur Pooram
and Kumbh Mela, stated the confidential letter sent out on December
16, 2017 by the UMHA Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Vigilance)
Subrata Biswas. Number of IS threat messages are spreading out
on social media and all of such messages are getting checked for
their authenticity by the state Police, said Kerala Police Chief
Loknath Behera.
Acting upon the intelligence
inputs from the Central Intelligence agencies regarding terror
attacks through UAVs and Micro-Light Aircraft, the UMHA has issued
an advisory to the Chief Secretaries, DGPs and the CPs of eight
states including Delhi. Presence and operation of MLAs, UAVs and
similar Arial Vehicles of long range shall be prohibited within
300 kms the Delhi state on Republic Day and the Beating Retreat
ceremony. Only state-owned light aircraft carrying Governors and
Chief Ministers of States on-board are exempted during this restriction
period on 26 to 29 January.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
a poclain machine, one truck and a hyva truck at Hindalco bauxite
mines in Kudag area under Samri Police Station limits of Balrampur
District of Chhattisgarh. CPI-Maoist cadres also blew up a weigh-bridge
unit at Kudag and assaulted two guards before fleeing from the
spot, said Balrampur District Police.
Three Maoists were arrested and
a 10 kilograms tiffin bomb was recovered from their possession
in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The cadres were arrested
from the forest between Ranapal and Nawagaon villages under Mardapal
Police Station limits when a joint team of SFs was out on duty
to ensure security to the road construction work, according to
Kondagaon, ASP, Maheshwar Nag. The construction of road is underway
between Ranapal and Bayanar in Mardapal area, he said. The composite
squad, involving 41st battalion of the ITBP and local Police,
was carrying out patrolling to provide security to the construction
works, when it spotted three Maoists hiding in the forest between
Ranapal and Nawagaon, following which they were arrested, he said.
A 10-kg tiffin bomb, one bundle wire, one dry battery, Maoist
literatures and a Naxal banner in the name of
East Bastar Division of the outlawed CPI-Maoist were recovered
from their possession, Nag said.
Three powerful IEDs, suspected
to have been planted by Maoists were recovered by SFs from Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh. The home-made bombs, weighing 15 kilograms,
9 kilograms and 5 kilograms, were unearthed by a joint team of
the CRPF and the local Police from the forests under Basaguda
Police Station limits where a road construction work is underway,
according to Bijapur, ASP, Mohit Garg. A road is being built from
Basaguda (Bijapur) to Jagargunda in Sukma District, another insurgency-hit
District. The 49 kilograms road is not only strategically important
but also crucial for the people living in this inaccessible region,
he said. BDS immediately defused the explosives, which were spotted
when SFs were carrying out patrolling near an under-construction
bridge, the Police officer said.
Unidentified persons exploded
a grenade at Raj grocery store located at Phungreitang in Ukhrul.
The two injured persons were working as salesmen of the shop and
were identified as Anish Kumar from (Kanglatongbi) and Vijay Kumar
(from Bihar).
UNC the apex body of Nagas in
Manipur is confident that a final solution to the protracted political
dialogue going on between GoI and NSCN-IM.
|
January 6-7 |
Jammu and Kashmir Police along
with MARCOS arrested an OGW of LeT, identified as Idress Ahmad
Baba and recovered arms and ammunition from his possession in
Hajin area of Bandipora District in the intervening night of January
6 – 7. “Acting on specific information, a police party of Sub
Division Sumbal along with MARCOS launched a cordon and search
operation during the intervening night of 6/7th of January in
the fringes of Wular lake at Banyari in the jurisdiction of Police
Station Hajin under the supervision of SSP Bandipora,” said Police
spokesman.
“During the wee hours, a suspicious
person was noticed and was challenged to stop. When he found himself
encircled by the forces, he surrendered by raising his hands.”
He said that a pistol, pistol magazine, four pistol rounds, one
AK 47 magazine, 30 AK rounds, 2 UBGL grenades and a Chinese hand
grenade were recovered from his possession. The accused, he said,
was working with LeT.
|
January 7 |
The GRP officials of Mathura Railway
Station arrested a suspected terrorist from J&K, identified
as Bilal Ahmad Wani (32), from Delhi-Bhopal bound Shatabadi Express
train at Mathura Railway Station in Mathura District (Uttar Pradesh).
Later on while corroborating the intelligence reports, it was
learnt that Wani is a suspected terrorist. He has been taken
by Noida ATS for further interrogation, said an unnamed senior
Police officer. The interrogation of the suspected militant, Bilal
Ahmed Wani, has revealed the plans of terrorist attack on Delhi-based
Akshardham Temple and disruption of the Republic Day parade on
January 26 in Delhi. Bilal revealed that he and other two of his
companions identified as Mudsir Ahmed Wah and Mohammad Ashraf
checked-in to the Al-Rashid Guest House located near Jama Masjid
in Chandni Chowk of Central Delhi District, Delhi on January 2
and the trio vacated the room on January 6. The UP ATS and Delhi
Police has sent a high-alert in search of the alleged absconding
militants.
A Police constable was shot dead
by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
The deceased constable was posted in Bhairamgarh and was visiting
his home in Jangla village when the incident took place. The identity
of the constable is yet to be ascertained.
SFs arrested two linkman of NDFB-S
from Chagoliajhar area in Udalguri District. The linkmen have
been identified as Nijwm Basumtari and Nirob Boro.
The KSU has warned the Northeast
Frontier Railwayagainst continuing the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway
project work before the State comes up with measures to tackle
influx of illegal immigrants. General Secretary of KSU said the
state government should take action against NFR if it resumes
work. KSU and other pressure groups are demanding comprehensive
mechanisms to check immigration. The work on the Tetelia-Byrnihat
railway project in Ri Bhoi resumed recently months after it was
stalled due to stiff opposition by pressure groups.
The BSF had recovered 20 kilograms
of heroin worth INR 100 crores along with the Adhain India-Pakistan
border outpost in Gurdaspur District of Punjab. Upon noticing
the movement at the International Border, the BSF troopers challenged
the suspected smugglers, who managed to escape due to the dense
fog in the region. A search operation led to the seizure of 19
packets of approximately a kilogram each of heroin concealed in
a plastic pipe, said an unnamed BSF official.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police
has detained four youths for allegedly playing the Pakistani national
anthem before the start of a cricket match in Bandipora District.
The players, participating in a local cricket match, were detained
for questioning from Arin area.
A live mortar shell allegedly
fired by Pakistan Rangers earlier this month was found in a field
in a village in the border belt of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua
District, leading to panic in the area, Police said. SFs recovered
the live shell from Bobiyan village, an official said. The shell
allegedly fired by Pakistan Rangers along the IB in Hiranagar
and Samba sectors led to the killing of a BSF jawan on
January 3.
Two personnel of DRG, a special
wing of the Chhattisgarh Police used exclusively for anti-Naxal operational
duties in the Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh, and two women
were injured when pressure bombs, laid by CPI-Maoist cadres,
went off at three separate places at Gangaloor and Bhairamgarh
in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. In the first incident, two
women sustained splinter injuries when they stepped on an IED on
the outskirts of the Pusnar village. In another incident, a DRG
constable, Shankar Pulse, was injured in a blast near Burji village,
and Raju Kadti, another DRG trooper suffered minor injuries after
a pressure bomb exploded in the forest near Biriabhoomi village
in Bhairamgarh in the third incident, said Police.
The Centre has released INR 89.6
million to Andhra Pradesh under the SRE scheme. INR 89.6 million
has been released to Andhra Pradesh as reimbursement under the
SRE scheme by the UMHA recently, a Ministry official said. As
per the SRE guidelines, the amount is given if there is existence
of and activities by one or more of the organisations which were
banned under the UAPA. Eight Districts of Andhra Pradesh are hit
by the Naxal violence. They are: Anantapur, East
Godavari, Guntur, Kurnool, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam
and Vizianagaram, the official said. The amount is given for procurement
of arms, ammunition, vehicles and technical equipment for State
Police forces.
The CPI-Maoist cadres
accused some villagers of providing support to the Police and
threatened them to leave their village in Malkangiri District
of Odisha. Sources said, terrorised by the Maoists, two tribal
families in Kuruba village under the Kalimela Police Station in
the District, left the village with their belongings on January
6, and have taken shelter in their relatives’ house. Few days
back the Maoists had threatened the family of Mandra Madhi and
Banja Padiami accusing that they have been working as ‘Police
informers’ and warned them of dire consequences. Though they repeatedly
tried to counter their allegations and said that they were not
working as ‘informers’, the rebels did not buy their claims. Apprehending
threat to their lives, the two families constituting 13 members
fled from the village.
SFs launched massive search operations
against ULFA-I militants at Kakorani island village near Kotha
Reserve forest under Jagun Police Station in Tinsukia District.
According to army sources, ULFA-I militants were injured in the
encounter.
Local sources added that suspected
ULFA-I militants hurled a grenade on an Army convoy at Katabari
forest under Jagun Police Station, following which the encounter
ensued.
Intelligence sources said a team
of six-member ULFA-I rebels have managed to sneak into Tinsukia
district from its bases in Eastern Nagaland to carry out subversive
activities in the run-up to Republic Day.
VIPN has claimed responsibility
for grenade explosion o January 6. According to a statement by
‘publicity secretary’ of VIPN, S. Shirat the blast was part of
ILP campaign in the District.
|
January 8 |
SFs busted a temporary hideout of ULFA-I near
Namdapha Reserve forest in Changlang. According to Army PRO the
militants had been using the hideout as place of transit and had
been terrorizing and carrying out extortion from villagers of
Miao circle.
Addressing the conference of the
DGPs and IGPs, the Indian PM Narendra Modi advised the senior
ranks of Police officials from across the country to deal with
matters related to cybercrimes including online radicalisation
by terrorist organisations, on a ‘top-most’ priority basis. The
urge to tackle online radicalisation was in amidst of the radical
use of social media by transnational terror outfits such as AQIS
and IS. The recent videos from these outfits called upon the Kashmiris
to join the jihad for the cause of ‘freedom’ of Kashmir. The PM
also presented President’s Police Medals to the officials of the
IB for their distinguished services to the nation.
The UMHA is ready to launch an
‘online complaint’ system where people who are cybercrime victims
may registered their grievances on a real-time basis. In financial
crime where money is illegally withdrawn through someone’s credit
or debit card, the victim may log-on to the portal and registered
her/his complaint. The concerned bank would receive the complaint
and may take an immediate action, says an unnamed senior official
at the UMHA. As per India’s Computer Emergency Response Team’s
data, nearly 21% of increase in cybercrime incidents is reported
every year. The portal will be operational from January 10.
The evident information about
its members joining IS came as a ‘shocking’ to the Popular Front
of India (PFI) and it was expressed it through an internal circular
distributed among the PFI cadres. Though the numbers are insignificant
but events are the violations of organisation’s teachings that
poses as matter of a serious concern, stated as in the circular
(dated November 30, 2017) issued by the National Chairman of PFI—
E. Aboobacker. Since identifying the dangers inherent in IS, the
organisation has been guiding its members about the anti-religious
and anti-national nature of the outfit [IS]. The PFI also warned
its members to be cautious about the radicalisation performed
by the mysterious radical groups through various means including
social media, said Aboobacker. The circular was issued after at-least
15 PFI members, including former Divisional Convener from Kannur
District, Kerala, had joined IS.
According to unidentified sources
in Punjab Police, the foreign-based pro-Khalistani groups are
luring the young, educated, suave men and women from families
with no prior links with Khalistan movement and radicalising the
‘new brand’ of Sikh militancy in Punjab.. This is a new medium
of spreading terrorist propaganda. The young men and women are
getting radicalised via cyberspace. All investigations in such
cases are handed over to the NIA. It is unclear as of how many
such pro-Khalistani modules have been prepared for further anti-national
activities, said Punjab’s DGP Suresh Arora. A British citizen—Jagtar
Singh alias Jaggi Johal was arrested by Punjab Police on
November 4, 2017 and during preliminary interrogation he revealed
that top leaders of the KLF—Harminder Singh Mintoo and Harmeet
Singh alias PHD, are recruiting young Sikhs with support
of Pakistan’s ISI to revive the Sikh militancy and other anti-India
activities, said an unnamed Punjab Police official.
One LeT militant, identified
as Firdous Ahmad Mir was killed in an encounter with the SFs in
Chadoora area of Budgam District. A senior Police officer said
that they had information about presence of three militants including
two Pakistanis at village Kaneera, Patalgam in Chadoora area of
Budgam. A joint team of Army, SOG and CRPF cordoned of Kaneera
Patalgam village in Chadoora area in the morning. During the searches
SFs were fired upon by the hiding militants. SFs retaliated leading
to a fierce gun battle in which one militant was killed. The house
in which the militants were hiding was razed by the SFs and during
the searches of the debris one body was recovered. Two AK-47 rifles,
two shoes and two Army uniforms were also recovered. Sources said
that the two Pakistani militants managed to escape from the encounter
site. SFs have launched searches against them.
Soon after the news about the
encounter spread, the people mostly youth took to streets at Chadoora
and its adjoining areas and pelted stones on SFs. SFs resorted
to teargas shelling and used some aerial shots to disperse the
protesting people. Two protesters were injured during clashes
Militants fired at a SFs party
in Tahab area of Pulwama District without causing any damage.
SFs immediately cordoned off the area.
Pakistan army twice violated
ceasefire on the LoC in Hamirpur and Nowshera sectors of Poonch
and Rajouri Districts in which an Army jawan (trooper)
was injured. Reports said Pakistani troops opened firing in Hamirpur
sector of Poonch in the wee hours of January 8 morning causing
injuries to an Army jawan, who was evacuated from the site
and shifted to hospital. Indian side retaliated effectively, leading
to exchanges that continued for some time.
In the evening, Pakistan again
violated ceasefire at Bhawani, Numb and surrounding villages in
Nowshera sector of Rajouri District by resorting to firing, targeting
forward posts and civilian areas. However, no losses were reported
in Pakistan firing in Nowshera sector. Indian Army gave effective
reply to the Pakistani firing, reports said.
HM ‘operational commander’ Riyaz
Naikoo, in an audio clip, threatened to use acid against those
contesting in panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir that
are to be held next month. In an audio clip, Riyaz Naikoo, who
is based in south Kashmir, is seen telling another of the outfit’s
south Kashmir commanders, Sameer Tiger that a few drops of acid
should be poured into the eyes of those who contest panchayat
elections. Naikoo says the contestants will become a burden for
their families. The Hizbul commander also says that in 2016 because
of the pellets many youths lost their eyesight and young boys
lost their lives and that now the militants were planning similar
fate for those wanting to contest elections. In the clip, Naikoo
also says that this time they will neither kill people nor will
they issue threats to those who contest elections. ”We will go
to their homes and pour acid in their eyes so that they will become
a burden for their families,” he is heard saying.
The Hizbul commander further
says that in villages many people are unaware about the repercussion
of these polls and are being used by some political agents for
their personal benefits. “This time we will force them to reveal
the names of those people who force them to contest elections.”
Though separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has already asked people
to stay away from the panchayat elections, this is the
first time since the government’s announcement of polls that HM
has threatened possible election contestants.
The family of a PhD Scholar whose
picture went viral on social media holding an AK-47 has appealed
him to shun violence and return home. Manan Bashir Wani of Tekkipora
Lolab of Kupwara District joined HM on January 5. The family members
are in shock as they were not expecting their son who was pursuing
PhD in AMU, to join militancy. “Manan always used to discuss every
next step with me. He was like a friend to me. I had never expected
that he would make any decision without discussing with me”, said
his father Bashir Ahmad. His mother appealed him to come back
home. “I urge him to shun the path of violence and come back home.
The research scholar was expelled
by AMU authorities in the wake of reports alleging that he may
have joined a terror group after his photo appeared in the social
media showing him with an AK-47 rifle, said the report.
In a bid to convince Kashmiri
youth, who have recently joined Valley-based militant groups,
to give up arms, the J&K Police said they need not come to
police stations to surrender but can ‘simply join their families’
under the ‘no case no apprehension policy’. Police maintain the
exercise of surrender will take place in front of the families.
The policy, which for now sounds more likes an appeal, is for
militants who have not participated in any attacks or active militant
operations against SFs in Kashmir. But the lines have only been
drawn for those who don’t have any criminal cases registered against
them and ‘are not involved in any heinous acts’. The surrender
policy is just for local youth. The move comes in the backdrop
of a research scholar of AMU in Uttar Pradesh joining the HM.
“Police have appealed to local youth to give up arms and in return
neither will they be apprehended nor will any cases be lodged
against them,” a senior J&K police official said.
The Kashmiri youth and AMU scholar,
Manaan Wani has joined the HM, the terror group's Pakistan-based
‘chief’ Syed Salahuddin said in a statement to local media. "Joining
of Manaan Wani exposes the Indian propaganda that the youths of
Kashmir are joining militant ranks due to unemployment and economic
distress," Salahuddin said in the statement to a Srinagar-based
news gathering agency. "From years on, educated and qualified
youths of Kashmir have been joining Hizbul Mujahideen to take
this ongoing freedom movement to logical conclusion. This spirit
of youths is laudable," Salahuddin said, confirming that
Wani had joined Hizbul Mujahideen, in the statement in Urdu. Wani,
who belongs to Tikipora in Lolab area of Kupwara District, went
missing last week.
Kalimela Area Committee (KAC)
of the CPI-Maoist in Malkangiri District of Odisha, released a
letter, that read Police atrocities against tribal and Maoist
families are growing by the day and will not be tolerated any
more. The letter claimed that Maoists who had surrendered in the
recent past have done so due to pressure from the Police and people
who are inspired by the Maoist ideology will never lay down arms
and will continue to fight till last. Cowards surrender, Maoists
are not cowards. There rebel is for the right of tribal. Those
follow Maoism will never surrender. Police are spreading
false propaganda that Maoists are surrendering on their own. But,
the fact is that the security personnel are pressurizing rebels
to surrender. Police are also threatening the family members of
the Naxals the letter issued by the ‘committee secretary’
Randev stated. The letter also warned the surrendered rebels of
severe punishment as they have turned against the common man.
One Policeman was killed by suspected
CPI-Maoist cadres at a village market in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
Assistant constable Raju Lekam died after he was attacked with
sharp-edged weapons by suspected rebels at the weekly market under
Jangla Police Station limits, a District Police Official said.
Lekam was posted with Bhairamgarh Police Station of the District.
An NSCN-U militant ‘private’
Khungam Pansa arrested from Longding District.
Nagaland CM appealed to NSCN-K
to restart the peace process with GoI. He stated that had dispatched
a letter to the Myanmar-based NSCN-K leadership appealing to them
to re-consider their stand, revisit the ceasefire agreement with
GoI. NSCN-K had abrogated the cease fire agreement in March 2015.
In the run upto State Assembly
elections NLFT claimed that allegations that they have pledged
support to IPFT was baseless. The NLFT ‘president’ D. Yamrok stated
that NLFT would not support any political party in election.
The three-day conference of all state DGPs concluded
on January 8 in Madhya Pradesh, with the discussion on key areas
including cyber-security, LWE, image building of Police and the
Malimath Committee on Police reforms. Post demonetisation, there
was a sharp rise in cybercrime incidents and tackling them efficiently
is a big challenge for our Police officials. Controlling cybercrime
incidents and LWE are one of the focused areas, said Andhra Pradesh’s
DGP M. Malakondaiah. Over 40,000 cybercrime incidents were registered
in the state of Maharashtra whereas around 800 are registered
in Andhra Pradesh, said M. Malakondaiah. Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, UHM Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval took part in
the meet of the DGPs and the IGPs held at Tekanpur town of Gwalior
District in Madhya Pradesh.
|
January 8-9 |
The DRI had seized and arrested an unidentified
suspect with 211 FICNs in INR 2,000 denomination worth INR 422,000
while he was boarding a train bound to Malda, West Bengal, from
Old Delhi Railway Station in Delhi. Preliminary interrogation has
revealed that the arrested person works as a carrier for another
handler who belongs to an international racket. The FICNs were meant
to deliver at different places in Delhi and Haryana. The DRI initiated
the surveillance and arrested the unidentified handler on January
9 from Patna Railway Station, Patna, Bihar, said the statement issued
by the DRI. The investigation has also revealed a syndicate based
in Malda, acquired these FICNs from persons operating in Mohammadpur
Upazila of Magura District in the Division of Khulna, Bangladesh,
and further supply these FICNs in-and adjacent regions of Delhi,
said the DRI statement. |
January 9 |
Five persons were charged under
terror law provisions in a case related to the murder of a RSS
activist. The matter relates to the murder of Rudresh, an RSS
worker, when he was returning after attending a Vijayadashami
event in Bengaluru on October 16, 2016. The matter was heard in
the NIA court, where it held that Asim Sharif, Mohammed Muzeeb
Ulla, Wasim Ahmed, Irfan Pasha, and Mohammed Sadiq would be charged
both for murder and for committing a terrorist act under the UAPA.
Sharif, who has been named as the conspirator, was the Bengaluru
district president of the PFI and as a result the case had generated
headlines as it was seen as a direct conflict between the RSS
and the PFI. According to the NIA, the other four accused attacked
Rudresh with machetes. It also alleged that all the accused had
been indoctrinated by one Abdur Rehman, a leader of the Social
Democratic Party of India, which is affiliated to the PFI.
The court said it will fix the date of trial on January 27, 2018.
India and Indonesia held their
first security dialogue during which they agreed on operational
cooperation in security and counter-terrorism. The dialogue was
led by NSA Ajit Doval and Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for
Political, Legal and Security Affairs H Wiranto. "India and
Indonesia hold the first Security Dialogue ... Both agreed on
operational cooperation in security and counter-terrorism fields,"
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
The Crime Branch of the state
of Odisha has decided to issue a public advisory of “dos and don’ts”
in the midst of rise in the incidents of cybercrime. The
public advisory in the form of leaflets shall be published in
the state language—Odia, giving the awareness on common modus-operandi
opted by the con-men and expecting the common public to guard
against the e-frauds, said an unnamed CB official. Nearly 60%
of cybercrime incidents reported were related to banking frauds
and till October 2017 at-least 669 cybercrime cases were registered
in comparison to 378 such cases registered in 2016, said unnamed
Police sources. All the state Police stations were advised to
act swiftly in the cybercrime reported incidents and where necessary,
the Police must not hesitate to take assistance from the cyber-cell
of the Crime Branch, said DGP R.P. Sharma.
As per a study by the RBI, Aadhaar
Card may pose a vulnerability available to the cybercriminals
and India’s foreign enemies to breakdown the India’s technology
dependent businesses and administration that were impossible to
predict few years ago, reports by The Times of India on January
10. In its report titled ‘Biometrics and its impact in India’,
the RBI promoted Institute for Development and Research in Banking
Technology (IDRBT), the adjunct faculty—S. Anant emphasised that
in case of a cyber-attack on Aadhaar Card database, the loss occurred
to the Indian economy and its citizens would be uncertain.
A HM militant was killed in an
encounter in Kokernag area of Anantnag District, while a protester
was killed as SFs fired at them in Khudwani in Kulgam District.
SFs cordoned off Pehlipora village of Larnoo in Kokernag area
after reports of presence of two militants hiding there. Militants
fired at the SFs during the searches and they retaliated leading
to an encounter. One militant, identified as Farhan Ahmad Wani
son of Ghulam Mohammad Wani, resident of Redwani Khudwani in Kulgam
District was killed in the encounter. “One INSAS rifle, two INSAS
magazines and 42 rounds were recovered from the encounter site,”
Police said, adding that the slain militant was a hardcore stone
pelter.
As soon as the news about the
killing of the militant spread, the clashes reported in his native
village Khudwani in Kulgam District. The protesters took to streets
and pelted stones on the SFs who tried to quell the protesters.
Two protesters were hit by bullets during the clashes. One of
them, identified as Khalid Ahmad Dar (20), a resident of Khudwani
in Kulgam district was later succumbed to his injuries. A Police
spokesman said, “Two civilians sustained bullet injuries when
a mob pelted stones on the Army camp located at Khudwani. Reportedly
some unidentified militants from the mob also fired some shots
towards the Army camp.”
Police arrested two militants
and busted an OGW module by arresting its nine members who were
trying to recruit youth into militancy in Sopore in Baramulla
District. SSP Sopore, Harmeet Singh, said that acting on specific
information regarding the presence of militants in general area
of Watlab, a cordon and search operation was launched by Sopore
Police along with MARCOS of Navy and CRPF two days ago. “During
search operation, two terrorists who were hiding near a school
tried to open fire on the joint party but were overpowered and
arrested. These terrorists were identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Chopan
alias Haroon son of Ghulam Mohammad Chopan, resident of
Wagad in Tral [Pulwama District] and Shija-ud-din Sheikh son of
Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Sheikh, resident of Dadsara in Tral affiliated
with banned outfit HM”, he said. The SSP said that one AK47 rifle,
one AK magazine, 15 AK rounds, one pistol, one pistol magazine,
three pistol rounds and a hand grenade was recovered from their
possession.
The SSP said that during the
course of investigation, the names of nine persons surfaced who
are working as conduits of these militants and they have been
motivated to join the terrorist ranks. “These conduits are in
contact with the terrorists of South Kashmir namely Reyaz Naikoo
and Hamaad of HM and Ali and Qasim of JeM”, he said. He said that
Sopore Police along with MARCOS, 22 RR and CRPF arrested these
nine OGW’s working with HM and JeM. They were identified as Tajam-ul-Islam
Shah, Syed Tamiz-ud-Din, Ghulam Nabi Mir, Mudasir Ahmad Mir, Saleem
Ahmad Beigh, Muzamil Ahmad Ganie, Showket Ahmad Kaboo, Irshad
Ahmad Lone and Humaiz. The SSP said that mobile phones, letter
pads, posters, recruitment forms, and other incriminating documents
were recovered from these OGWs.
Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres dragged
a JVM-P leader out of his house in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand
and shot him dead. The 65-year-old JVM-P leader, Yugal Rana, was
killed as he had helped the Police in arresting two Maoists, said
‘notes’ left by the rebels at the spot. Rana, a resident of Gondalpura
in Barkagaon Police Station, was the president of JVM's Gondalpura Panchayat committee.
Four armed suspected Maoists forcefully took him out of his house
saying his presence was needed in a panchayat committee
meeting and gunned him down near a jungle some distance away,
SP, Anoop Birtharay said. The Maoists also threatened his family
members, who were following them, with dire consequences if they
inform the Police about the killing, he said.
Acting on information of the
presence of Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, personnel of the DRG and
the STF were on the search for three days near Bijapur border
in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. While returning, the Maoists
were trapped in the spike-hole and an exchange of fire took place
between the rebels and SFs in Hiroli-Dokkapar forest area under
Kirandul Police Station limits. After the firing, the injured
Maoists were successful in fleeing away. During search, the Force
recovered an inverter with two printers, a large cache of IEDs,
Tiffin bombs, Pithu, electric wire, computer cable, uniform including Naxal literature
and two color printers from Perpa-Hiroli jungle. In the encounter,
DRG's SI Sangram Singh sustained injury. Naxals have
been shot and they are also injured, Naxal operation
ASP, GN Baghel confirmed the incident.
Fourteen CPI-Maoist cadres were
arrested from Sukma and Narayanpur Districts of the Bastar Division
of Chhattisgarh, in three separate incidents. Nine CPI-Maoist
cadres were arrested in Sukma District and five cadres of CPI-Maoist
from Narayanpur District. In the first incident, Chhattisgarh
Police rounded up eight CPI-Maoist cadres at Bhejji Police Station
limits in Sukma District, identified as Madvi Manish (27),
Jan-Militia ‘deputy commander’, Madvi Hunga (24), ‘head’ of DAKMS,
a frontal of CPI-Maoist, Podiyam Ganga (34), ‘deputy head’
of DAKMS and Madvi Hidma (19), Muchaki Kosa (19), Madvi Bheema
(20), Madkam Aayta (26) and Madvi Baman (28), who are associated
as ‘Jan-Militia’ of CPI-Maoist and DAKMS. All of them were allegedly
involved in carrying out IED blasts targeting the SFs and firing
on Police teams in Bhejji and Maraiguda areas of Sukma District.
In the second incident, Madkami Pandu (26) a ‘Jan-Militia commander’
was arrested by Police team from Kukanar Police Station limits
of Sukma District. Pandu was accused of carrying out a blast and
opening fire on a Police patrol team in the forests between Baddugudem
and Munga in Sukma District in January 2018, said ASP, Jitendra
Shukla. In the third incident, five CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Bajaru Noharu, Mangatu Nag, Arjun Yadav, Amaru Patai and Sukhlal
Potai were arrested and produced before a court in Narayanpur
District. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were involved in various
offences such as murders, attack on Police teams and their camps
and bomb blasts and carried rewards on their heads, said Police.
Telangana Police arrested two
cadres of Naxalites of the CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy
Bata faction, identified as Bommani Narsimha alias Anand
alias Narsi Reddy alias Vishwanad along
with courier Samdhani at Apparajpally forest area under Gudur
Police Station limits in Mahabubabad District of Telangana. The
Police also seized a 12 Bore weapon and 25 rounds from the duo,
were waiting to contact a Dalam leader. Narasimha,
a native of Ankireddy Gudem village of Chowtuppal Mandal of
Yadadri Suryapet District has worked as the member of the PDSU
and later worked for the CPI-ML-Janashakti. He joined the
Veeranna faction in 1997 following the division in the party on
caste issues. He worked for the Veeranna’s faction CPUSI. However,
he joined the CPI-ML-Janashakti in 2004 following differences
with the party ideology and functioning. He worked as the Odisha
in charge from 2005 to 2008. He was also arrested by the Police
in Jajpur District as he spearheaded the agitation against the
Tata Steel factory. Since his release from the jail in 2014, he
has been working for the CPI-ML-Janashakti party led
by Kura Rajanna, said, SP, N Koti Reddy. Rajanna and Narasimha
made efforts to revive the party. They have decided to float a
new party called CPI-ML, Chandra Pulla Reddy Bata faction.
Five squads have also been formed by them. A case of extortion
has been filed against Narasimha at Sircilla Police Station, added
SP, Koti Reddy.
CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze
seven vehicles engaged in road construction at Jamakana under
Sadar Police Station of Kalahandi District of Odisha. Around 50
CPI-Maoist cadres attacked camp of the contractor involved in
the PMGSY road construction from Gunduri to Kadama. The rebels
asked the contractor to vacate the place and set ablaze the road
construction vehicles. The Police recovered CPI-Maoist posters,
which claimed that the vehicles were set on fire to oppose the
road construction work.
Extortionists served a demand
letter to a businessman in Nangapa bazaar in East Garo Hills for
INR 450,000.
|
January 10 |
The suspected LeT operative, Bilal
Ahmad Kawa, was arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police and Gujarat
ATS in a joint operation from Delhi Airport. He was arrested
after 17 years for his alleged involvement in the December 22,
2000 Red Fort terror attack. 37-year-old Bilal was apprehended
after the Gujarat ATS got a tip-off regarding his movement from
Srinagar to Delhi. Earlier, terrorist Mohammad Arif alias
Ashfaq, who was convicted in the case, had been awarded death
sentence.
A fortnight before the 69th Republic
Day celebrations, the intelligence agencies have alerted of 26/11
Mumbai-like terror attack or 9/11 style attack in Delhi and seven
other states. Sources in the security agencies said, “IB in its
latest alert has mentioned a host of intelligence inputs that
suggest terror outfits operating from Pakistan are planning multiple
terrorist attacks.” The UMHA has issued an alert to the security
agencies of all states, after intelligence agencies alerted of
a possible attack. The UMHA has asked police chiefs of Delhi,
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
to keep a tight vigil on all airborne crafts and beef up security
before in all major cities to thwart any terrorist attack. The
Ministry has asked the state DGPs to keep surveillance on light
aircrafts, helicopters and drones during and before Republic Day
celebrations. According to UMHA communique, Pakistan’s intelligence
agency ISI along with LeT, HM, Al Qaeda and JeM fidayeens and
members of sleeper cells have been activated to carry out terror
attacks in the country.
The Kolkata Police recovered
FICNs in denomination of INR 100, INR 500 and INR 2,000 and arrested
three unidentified men and an unidentified woman from Khardah
area of North 24 Parganas District of Municipality of Barrackpore
Subdivision in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Two persons were arrested on
charges of helping a Muslim man ‘forcibly’ convert a Kerala woman
and attempting to take her to Syria to be sold off to Islamic
State (IS) terrorists in Ernakulam District on January 10, reports
The Indian Express. Fayaz and Siyad, both natives of North
Paravur near Kochi, were arrested following investigations based
on a complaint by the 25-year-old woman, who was rescued from
Saudi Arabia and brought home last year by her family.
The two are friends of Muhammad
Riyaz from Thalassery in Kannur District, the prime accused in
the case. “They have been charged under the UAPA”, Ernakulam Rural
SP A V George said, adding a hunt is on to arrest eight more accused,
including Riyas, in the case. He said the police have begun a
probe into their alleged link with the Islamic State terrorists.
George said both Fayaz and Siyad were arrested based on the woman’s
complaint that she was allegedly tortured by them in a house in
North Paravoor before Riyaz took her abroad. The woman had alleged
that Riyaz pretended to be in love with her when she was studying
in Bengaluru (Karnataka) in 2014 and forced her to convert to
Islam and married her. The woman from Pathanamthitta District
was brought up in Gujarat. She had moved the Kerala High Court
last year seeking an NIA probe against Riyaz for attempting to
take her to Syria from Saudi Arabia and sell her to the Islamic
State terrorists as a sex slave. She has also alleged that her
marriage was registered using forged documents.
At least seven persons including
a Police constable and an engineer of PDC were injured during
clash between Police and villagers which led to ‘stone pelting’
at Parnai under Surankote Police Jurisdiction in Poonch District.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti vowed to break the ‘vicious cycle’ of youth taking
up arms on the death of a militant and said efforts were on to
ensure that those joining militant ranks return home. She said
that her Government would continue its efforts to bring back local
youth who had joined militancy to end the "vicious cycle"
besides strengthening panchayats after successfully conducting
the elections next month. JeM's "Afzal Guru Squad" that
has claimed responsibility for major terror attacks in the Valley
recently "is a challenge for not only the government but
for all of us", she said in her reply to the motion of thanks
on the Governor’s address in the State Assembly in Jammu.
The Indian Army killed 138 Pakistan
Army personnel in 2017 in tactical operations and retaliatory
cross-border firings along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, Government
intelligence sources said. The Indian Army lost 28 soldiers during
the same period along the LoC, the sources said. The sources said
the Pakistan Army usually does not acknowledge the deaths of its
personnel and shows them as civilian casualties in certain cases.
The Indian Army has been adopting a ‘tough’ approach in dealing
with ceasefire violations and terrorist activities in Jammu and
Kashmir in the last one year. The Pakistan Army has suffered 138
fatal and 155 non- fatal casualties in tactical operations and
retaliatory cross-border firings along the LoC in 2017, the intelligence
sources said. A total of 70 Indian Army personnel were injured
during cross border firings and other incidents. According to
official figures, 860 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistani
troops were reported in 2017 as against 221 in 2016.
A soldier of 8 RR, identified
as Kuldeep Sharma was injured in a landmine blast during patrolling
in Kamalkote in Uri in Baramulla District. He was rushed to Uri
hospital where from he was referred to Army hospital Srinagar
for specialised treatment, report said.
A woman CPI-Maoist cadre was
killed in an encounter with SFs in Bade Kedwal-Tumalpad forests
in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Several composite squads of
the STF, DRG, CRPF and its elite unit-CoBRA had launched the operation
in the southern forests of Sukma which is considered as a core
area of Maoists' military battalion no.1. When a team, comprising
STF and DRG personnel, was cordoning off jungles near Kedwal-Tumalpad,
it came under heavy firing from a group of rebels, leading to
a gunfight, SP, Abhishek Meena said. "After the encounter
ended, security forces searched the area and recovered the body
of a woman Naxal clad in uniform," Meena said. Troopers also
recovered some weapons and explosives from a Maoist dump in the
area. The identity of the killed Maoist was yet to be ascertained,
he said.
A QRT of the Gadchiroli Police
killed a CPI-Maoist cadre in an encounter in Tadapalli forest
area in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. "The incident
took place between 4.30 PM to 5 PM when the QRT team was conducting
a combing operation in the Tadapalli forest area," the Gadchiroli
Police said in a release issued on January 11. It said the Maoists
opened fire on troopers who retaliated. The QRT found the body
of the Maoist when they conducted a search operation after the
rebels fled the spot. Police also recovered a 0.303 rifle and
four cartridges from the spot. "The deceased Maoist is yet
to be identified," the release added.
The intervention by the CPI-Maoist
held up the construction of ten multipurpose watch towers in Kutku
range of PTR in Palamu District of Jharkhand. CPI-Maoist cadres
do not want watch towers to come up fearing this high rise tower
will make them most vulnerable. The work on remaining 40 towers
is in normal speed in North division. In the South division, CPI-Maoist
cadres threw the spanner when a ranger was manhandled and a tractor
was set afire in the South division, said A K Mishra Deputy Director
North division PTR.
Police arrested a suspected extortionist
identified as Kaiyenpaibam Sanjit from areas of Sagolband Tera
in Imphal West District. Police also recovered one 0.32 revolver
6 live rounds, 1 double barrel rifle ammunitions and one M 20
pistol with one life round.
Kuki militant groups under two
umbrella organisations KNO and UPF who are conducting talks with
GoI have demanded creation of a territorial council for the Kukis
in Manipur. The demand was placed in writing during talks held
in New Delhi. The militant groups had had signed a suspension
of operation agreement with GoI in 2008 and the January 10 talks
was the sixth round of talks. The demand memorandum was signed
by UPF ‘spokesperson’ Aaron Kipgen and KNO ‘negotiator’ Seilen
Haokip. Altogether 13 delegates from the two organisations participated
in the talks. Kukis have long been demanding creation of a separate
Kuki state out of Manipur. The groups also demanded "constitutional"
safeguards for Kukis in Manipur.
The 13 pro-ILP groups are dismayed
that no action has been made till date by Meghalaya Government
to set up entry and exit points to keep a check on illegal immigrants.
About 18 entry and exit points are supposed to be set up in three
phases.
KSU President stated that ‘We
want that the phase 1 should be completed. Phase 1 includes places
like Malidor (East Jaintia Hills), Byrnihat (Ri-Bhoi) and Athiabari
(Meghalaya-Assam border).’ HYC, another pro ILP group claimed
that Meghalaya was a safe haven for the suspected illegal immigrants
from Assam.
The Maoists blew up a bridge by
blasting an IED in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. According to
reports, the Maoists blasted the IED by blasting them near Dharampenta
at around 11 pm late. A part of the bridge has been badly damaged
by the blast. SP Abhishek Meena said that after the blast, CRPF
personnel fired at the Maoists who later escaped. On December
11, 2017, the same bridge was damaged by the rebels by blasting
it.
|
January 11 |
Delhi’s Commissioner of Police
Amulya Patnaik revealed that in comparison to 2016, Delhi Police
has recovered 14.81% more of FICNs in 2017. FICN worth of INR
5.74 Crores was recovered with 80 cases registered. Whereas, in
2017, FICN worth of INR 6.59 Crores was recovered in 46 registered
cases. The recovery of FICNs was an initiative taken by Delhi
Police and other associated agencies such as the RBI, the Central
Board of Excise and Customs and the IB, said Amulya Patnaik.
In 2017, Delhi Police has registered
362 cases under the NDPS Act, 1985, which is 25.26% percent higher
than the cases registered in 2016. As per the data released by
Delhi Police, 289 cases were registered with 370 people arrested
under various sections of NDPS Act in 2016. In 2017, 491 people
had been arrested under different sections of NDPS Act. Majority
of arrests in these cases were conducted by the Special Cell of
Delhi Police that also deals with terrorist activities in Delhi.
Drug-trafficking is our [Delhi Police] primary focus and it is
a part of terrorism which is recognised as a ‘narco-terrorism’,
said an unnamed Delhi Police official.
In 2017, the Delhi Police’s Cyber
cell had received 670 complaints, out of which 247 complaints
were investigated following the arrest of 146 people. The cyber
cell involved 723 computer teachers from 577 schools to spread
the cyber-awareness among the youngsters in the midst vulnerable
games, such as ‘Blue Whale’ that held responsible for multiple
deaths of youngsters around the globe. Along with the staff of
EOW had been training with cyber experts to collaborate with the
institutions in banking sector, the SEBI and the NSE. On monthly
basis, the cyber-training has been provided to the IOs from different
Police Stations and so far had trained 509 officials at EOW and
362 officials at the Police Training College, said Delhi’s DCP
of Crime Records Office Rajan Bhagat. To regard the success of
Cyber cell, Delhi’s Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik had
launched a website of ‘Cyber Safety Unit’ which is considered
as a ‘one stop window’ to complain cyber related incidents, says
report.
The NIA, which is probing the
five bomb blasts that took place in court complexes in South India,
including Mysuru in Karnataka, said that the accused targeted
the courts to avenge the hanging of 1993 Mumbai blasts case convict
Yakub Memon and the encounter of Imam Ali in Bengaluru in 2002.
The charge sheet filed before the special court indicates that
the outfit named ‘Base Movement’ carried out the attacks. The
outfit was named so after al Qaeda, which was ‘The Base’. The
outfit used the photo of Osama Bin Laden on all its letters and
videos with ‘al Qaeda’ written in Arabic and English. NIA has
named Ninar Abbas Ali, who worked as a painter and ran an Islamic
library named Darul Islam; Samsun Karim Raja, who ran Ahad Broilers
chicken shop at Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and also assisted his father
in SR Printers; and S Dawood Sulaiman, an engineering student
having knowledge of computers and English, in its charge sheet.
The outfit believed that Muslims accused of various crimes and
lodged in jails were being ill-treated and the courts were giving
them a raw deal.
SFs recovered two weapons and
over 400 rounds of ammunition hidden by militants in Rajouri District.
Acting on a specific input, a joint team of Police and the Army
launched a search operation in Jatta Malian forest in Kalakote
belt of Rajouri District and recovered the arms and ammunition,
reports said. The haul included one AK-47 rifle, one magazine,
400 rounds of AK rifle, one pistol with magazine, one hand grenade
and two IED circuits, reports said, adding that a case was registered
in this connection.
A surrendered militant, who was
wanted in cases of murder and attempt to murder etc, was arrested
by Police in Reasi District. The accused, identified as Manzoor
Ahmed (40), son of Haji Fareed of Kothian in Pouni tehsil, at
present Nawabad in Reasi District, was evading arrest in case
FIR number 55/2012, under Section 302, 307.458, 366, 382, 147,
148, 323, 376 and 120B RPC.
SFs launched a CASO against militants
in Kupwara District. They said that on a tip off about the presence
of militants, SFs and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched
a joint search operation at Hampora, Lagate Handwara in Kupwara
District. All the exit points were sealed and a massive search
operation has been launched. However, no one was arrested and
no contact was established with the militants.
GOC Kilo Force, Major General
AK Singh, said that the majority of youth in Jammu and Kashmir
want peace and those who join militancy are just a few. “I think,
we only talk about those few hundreds who have joined terrorism.
But we don’t talk about those 22 lakh Kashmiri youths who have
shunned away the path of terrorism and want peace and stability
in the Valley”, he said while speaking to reporters in Baramulla
in Baramulla District during a function. Singh said that recently
joined militant of HM Manan Wani was tricked into militancy. “I
think, Manan Wani is only an exception and he has been probably
tricked into this otherwise no militant gives his photograph like
this. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has used him so that he will not join
mainstream back”, he said. The Major General said that policy
of the security forces is to accept those youth into mainstream
who shun the path of violence. “But our policy is that any militant
who wants to join back mainstream, we always accept them”, he
said. “We will continue to fight back these incidents. Army and
all the security forces in Kashmir are ready and we will do our
best to stop those people who are involved in these incidents”,
he said.
Pakistan's ISI held a meeting
with terror outfits this month to plan how to counter Indian SFs
that have inflicted massive damage to them in Jammu and Kashmir.
At a meeting held in Rawalpindi (Pakistan), the spy agency had
lengthy deliberations with Hafiz Saeed-led LeT, Maulana Masood
Azhar-led JeM and senior Pakistan Army officials to find out the
reasons of losses in the Valley and LoC. LeT and other terror
groups expressed concern over massive losses during counter-terror
operations in Kashmir, leading to a decline in local recruits
to carry out attacks. Central intelligence agencies said that
the ISI's main concern is the killings of newly recruited Kashmiri
youths by Indian security agencies. The ruthless manner in which
the killings have happened has demoralised youngsters after, sources
said.
Also, the ISI is worried over
the Indian Army and the BSF's response during retaliatory firing
at border posts and growing casualties of its men. The ISI finds
difficulties to carry on its old strategy of BAT and sniper attacks
on Indian personnel as forces are giving befitting responses.
Indian agencies which were in the know of the meeting have begun
their counter preparations to tackle fresh designs that the ISI
will use to unleash in coming months.
The explosion in Sopore town
in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on January 6 by JeM is seen
by intelligence agencies as a "precursor" to new the
strategy unleashed by the ISI to create problems in the Valley.
Terrorists detonated a powerful IED that killed four Police personnel,
including an officer, in Sopore town. This is for the first time
since 2015 that terrorists have used an IED to target SFs in Jammu
and Kashmir.
An encounter between the CPI-Maoist
cadres and SFs took place at Chhotedongar under Irpanar Police
Station limits in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh. However,
there was no report of any casualty.
A wanted CPI-Maoist cadre identified
as Sagruram Sori (27) was arrested up by BSF and District Force
jawans after an exchange of fire during a search operation in
Bhomrapara forest under Koyelibeda Police Station area in Kanker
District. The SFs also recovered two firearms, explosives, Naxal
literature and other materials from the possession of the
Sori.
SFs arrested two cadres of CPI-Maoist
identified as Mantoo Yadav and his associate Nageshwar Yadav at
Govindpur village in Jamui District of Bihar. The arrested CPI-Maoist
cadres were residents of Govindpur and Fatahpur villages respectively
under Chakai Police Station of Jamui District. The Police team
raided Mantoo's house while he was asleep and arrested him. Nageshwar
was also arrested from Mantoo's house. One 9 mm imported pistol,
four live cartridges, one magazine, two mobile phones and two
motorcycles were also seized, said Jamui SP, JJ Reddy. Mantoo
has five criminal cases lodged with the Chakai Police Station
under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act, added SP,
Reddy.
Two ‘commanders’ of the TPC outfit
were killed in an encounter with a joint team of Hazaribagh District
Police and troopers of the 22nd battalion of the CRPF at Konai
Khurd village under Padma Police Station in Hazaribagh District
of Jharkhand. The raiding team recovered one AK 47 and INSAS assault
rifles besides around 200 live ammunition from the two dead rebels,
along with two mobile phones and posters and literature of the
banned group.
Police in an encounter killed
GNLA ‘deputy commander in chief’ Matchallang M Sangma alias
Vietnam at Bawe Duragre village in East Garo Hills District. An
AK 56 rifle with live ammunition, Chinese grenades, three kilo
grams of gelatin sticks and claymore box used for making IED were
recovered from the encounter site. Matchallang M Sangma was involved
in execution of surrendered GNLA ‘finance secretary’ Rakkam D
Shira at East Garo Hills District. His last known execution was
that of another surrendered militant by the name of Kamdak in
December.
GNLA ‘commander in chief’ Sohan
D Shira once again dared security forces on the lookout for him
as he visited his native village of Sasatgre-Nengmandalgre in
East Garo Hills District.
Amra Bangali (We the Bengali)
announced its decision to contest the coming Assembly elections
in Tripura. The party held a rally in Agartala (West Tripura District)
to protest against what it called the atrocities on ‘indigenous
Bengali people in Assam’ and condemned attempts to create separate
‘Tipraland’.
|
January 11-12 |
The Indian Army and Pakistani
Army exchanged fire and shelling along the LoC in Kamalkote sector
of Uri in Baramulla District in which several Pakistani bunkers
were destroyed. An official said that Pakistani troops violated
ceasefire by targeting Indian Army posts in Kamalkote sector of
Uri in the night. He said that they used heavy machine guns and
mortars to target the posts but there was no damage on Indian
side. The Army troops of 12 Dogra, 8 RR of Baaz battalions gave
a befitting reply and also fired mortars and used heavy machine
guns to target the Pakistani posts.
Sources said that several Pakistani
army bunkers were destroyed in the shelling in which Pakistani
troops suffered casualties. However, the number of casualties
was not immediately known and Army deployed in the forward posts
was trying to ascertain how many and what kind of casualties did
Pakistani troops suffer. The official said that the firing started
at around 11.30 p.m (January 11) and continued till 3.30 a.m (January
12) during which it was war like situations in the area. However,
in the morning the firing stopped but tension prevailed in the
sector.
|
January 12 |
The annual crime report presented
by the Pune’s Commissioner of Police Rashmi Shukla, depicts the
steep rise in the number of incidents reported in 2017 in comparison
to preceding years. In 2016, Pune’s cybercrime cell received 2,070
complaints of cyber-related incidents where as the numbers for
2017 are more than double with 5,741 complaints. The idea of establishing
the cyber Police Stations in the city has some technical roadblocks
as there are some prior criteria need to be met. But the Central
Government and the state Government is making joint efforts to
initiate cyber Police Stations. The steep rise in the cybercrime
is due to the lack of awareness about cybercrimes and safe online
practices, said Rashmi Shukla. Total of 54 cybercrime cases were
resolved in 2017 as compare to 33 cases resolved in 2016, resolved
independently by Pune’s cybercrime cell, says report.
Televangelist Zakir Naik, who
is being probed under terror and money laundering charges by the
NIA, is projected as a ‘hero’ in a school book in Aligarh in Uttar
Pradesh. The Islamic Mission School in Dodhpur area of Aligarh
District published a book ‘Ilm-un-Nafe’ for Class 1 that has chapters
on nine famous Muslim personalities. One of them features Zakir
Naik, founder of Mumbai-based NGO – Islamic Research Foundation.
The school management claimed that the book – aimed at enhancing
children’s general knowledge – was published two years back, but
in the new session the chapter on Naik would be removed from it.
“The book has chapters on renowned Muslims and one chapter is
on Zakir Naik,” said the author of the book, Kunen Kausar, who
is also the manager of the school. “When the book was published
two years back, there was no case against Zakir Naik. Now, the
chapter on him will be removed in the fresh book issued for the
next session,” added Kausar.
Ahead of the Army Day on January
15, the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, General Bipin
Rawat has said that the Indian Army is gearing up its strength
in cyber and Information Warfare, which is believe to be the next
theatre of operation besides battles with China along with the
‘LAC’ at the military level. Along with fighting at the border,
the Indian Army also ensuring the protection of its cyber networks
with the implementation of good firewalls and the capability to
handle them, said General Rawat.
Militants attacked a Police Post
in Keegam Police post maintained by Police and CRPF in Shopian
District. However, there was no damage but the Police and CRPF
retaliated and militants fled away. SFs immediately cordoned off
the area and established check posts at several places in the
area to trace out the militants responsible for the attack. However,
no one was arrested.
Security has been put on maximum
alert in Handwara area of Kupwara District after inputs about
possible Fidayeen (suicide) attack by JeM. Sources said
that a group of four JeM fidayeens are trying to carry
out an attack in Handwara and in order to prevent the attack,
security has been put on alert and SFs have established checks
points and have intensified security around SFs camps and other
installations.
In a significant statement on
anti-militancy operations in Kashmir, Army chief General Bipin
Rawat said that this year (2018) Army will shift its focus to
North Kashmir from South Kashmir in 2017 to prevent the infiltration
attempts and declared that troops would destroy all Pakistani
posts from where terrorists are launched into the Indian soil.
He said seeds of thought of some kind of ‘separate identity’ are
being sown in Government schools among the children, which have
separate map of the State besides that of India and called for
major revamp of education system in Jammu and Kashmir to deal
with the problem.
General Rawat said: “our focus
of operations in 2017 was South Kashmir. This year it will shift
to North Kashmir’s Baramulla, Pattan, Handwara, Kupwara, Sopore,
Lolab and some Northern areas of Bandipora so that the infiltration
can be thwarted there’’. Asserting that the people, who rush to
site of encounters between militants and SFs, were risking their
lives, the Army chief described it as ‘worrisome phenomenon’.
“This is becoming a worrisome phenomenon that people are just
rushing to operations to get successful and at time taking risks
well beyond their capacities. Why are they taking risks? They
are more concerned about tasks at hand to get success, that is
why sometimes it is leading to higher casualty rate,’’ the Chief
of Army Staff said.
The Army chief’s statement on
focusing North Kashmir this year assumed great significance as
it had been targeting South Kashmir, which had once become hub
of the militancy especially after the killing of HM ‘divisional
commander’ Burhan Wani in July 2016. However, last year, SFs killed
nearly 200 militants in the Valley including South Kashmir. He
declared that the Indian Army will destroy all those military
posts of Pakistan from where they launched militants and terror
strikes into Kashmir. “We target all those Pakistani posts from
where they launch terrorists for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.
Terrorists are a disposable commodity in Pakistan and Indian Army’s
approach is to ensure that Pakistan feels the pain,’’ Gen Rawat
said.
Referring to increased number
of ceasefire violations on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, he said
India will retaliate against any threat and will continue the
similar approach till it sees reduction in ceasefire violations.
“The casualties which Pakistan has suffered are three to four
times more than what we did. Pakistan is sending messages regularly
to return to the ceasefire. We are ready but we will continue
our approach till we see a decrease in ceasefire violations,’’
the Army chief said.
Jammu and Kashmir Government
said 51 persons were killed and over 9,000 injured, including
over 6,000 due to pellets, during the eight months- long unrest
in Kashmir after the killing of HM militant Burhan Wani in 2016.
In a written reply to the question of a National Conference MLA
Mubarakh Gul in the State Assembly, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti
said 51 people were killed in Kashmir division from July 8, 2016
to February 27, 2017 in the unrest.
She said 9,042 people were injured
in firing of bullets, pellets, PAVA -shells and others during
the period. Of these, 6,221 were injured due to pellets, 368 due
to bullets, four due to PAVA shells and 2,449 suffered other injuries,
she said. As many as 782 suffered eye injuries of which 510 were
hospitalized, she said, adding that 5,197 cases of pellet injuries
were treated at district hospitals and the rest were referred
to Super Specialty Hospitals. The highest number of deaths - 16
- took place in Anantnag District followed by 13 in Kulgam District,
seven in Pulwama and five in Kupwara, Mufti added.
Union Minister of State for
the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Prime Minister
Office, Dr Jitendra Singh said in Jammu that certain vested interests
do not want the militancy to end in Jammu and Kashmir. Over the
last 25 years, he said, militancy has developed as an industry
and the beneficiaries of it thrive in its continuation, but what
is more worrisome is that some of the so – called mainstream political
activists and political groups have also learnt to sustain their
political relevance in an atmosphere of instability and disturbance
resulting from continued militancy.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, those
who oppose the Panchayat elections are, in fact, scared
of grass-root democracy flourishing in the State because that
will mark an end of the game for the self-styled and un-elected
leaders from the so called separatist lobby, as well as some of
the so – called mainstream leaders who have mastered the art of
getting themselves elected with a meager vote percentage in the
shadow of militancy.
Based on information received
from SP, Prashant Anand, the Manika Police arrested JJMP cadre,
identified as Rajesh Shaw alias Rajeshwar Sahu,
from Matlong area in Latehar District of Jharkhand. Rajesh Sahu
is a resident of Sukri village under Latehar Block in the District.
Abhay Shankar, OIC, said that Rajesh was involved in an encounter
between JJMP and the Police in the Kumrahi jungle of Barabaiya.
JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
a bus after asking the passengers to alight, in Sukma District
of Chhattisgarh. However, there were no reports of any casualties
or injuries of the passengers in the bus. The incident occurred
under Chintagufa Police Station limits when the private bus was
on its way to Jagargunda from Jagdalpur, a local Police official
said. The official said that a group of Maoists, armed with sharp-edged
weapons and sticks, stopped the vehicle between Chintagufa and
Burkapal villages and after asking passengers to alight, set it
ablaze.
SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist
cadres, identified as Sodhi Prakash (35), Pedkam Ramesh (19) and
Buddallu Pulla (40) were arrested from two separate places in
Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Prakash, who was active as the
head of Karigundam Janatana Sarkar (KJS) squad of CPI-Maoist and
wanted in 17 Naxal related incidents including
attacks on Police party, triggering IED on Police teams, murder
and others, took place in Chintagufa, Chintalnar and Polampalli
Police Stations areas in Sukma District, was arrested from Chintagufa
Police Station limits. Ramesh and Pulla, were involved in set
ablaze of vehicles and thrashing labourers engaged in construction
of road near Kansaram rivulet of Sukma District on December 21,
2017 and triggered IED blasts in 2017 between Kansaram and Potakpalli
villages, were arrested from Kistaram Police Station area, said
SP, Abhishek Meena
Under the PMGSY scheme, the Kanker
District Police cleared a six kilometres road route traversing
a 650-metre inclined, forested and rocky landscape and the road
became operational in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. The connecting
road is set to link inaccessible settlements of the tribals who
live in the inhospitable terrain barely 15 kilometres away from
the Kanker District headquarters. “Ever since Independence our
villages had remained deprived of a route to connect us with the
main roads. Every election we raised our demands for road connectivity,
but all we got were promises and no action,” said Lachhanu Mandavi,
the Patel of Marrapi village. The road connects
more than 2,000 tribal families in around half-a-dozen remote
and undeveloped villages, including Marrapi, Useli, Kalmuchhi,
Marme-Kanali and Nilegondi.
The ATS of the Maharashtra Police
arrested seven CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Ajay
Dosri alias Krishna Lingaya alias Venugopal
(40), Shankarayya, Babushankar Banguri, Narsayya, Ravi Marpalli,
Ramesh Golala and Satyanarayan alias Sataya from various
places in Thane District of Maharashtra. ATS officials received
a tip-off that one of the key members of CPI-Maoist would arrive
in Kalyan and arrested Venugopal from Kalyan railway station.
Police teams were dispatched and six CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested
from Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Dombivli (east), after the interrogation
of Venugopal. The Police claimed the CPI-Maoist cadres were indoctrinating
youths in slum pockets and collecting finances for the GCC, which
includes Maharashtra and Gujarat and seized Naxal literature
and documents. CPI-Maoist cadres were led by Venugopal, ‘district
committee secretary’ in CPI –Maoist, who was underground for 20
years. He was active in trade unions in Mumbai to spread CPI-Maoist
ideology and carrying a reward of INR 8 00,000 announced by Telangana
Government. He is booked under the UAPA, 2008, and remanded in
Police custody, said DCP, ATS, Mohan Dahikar.
A militant of NSCN-R was arrested
from Khonsa town in Tirap District. The arrested militant was
identified as ‘sergeant major’ Manhua Wangpan. An AK-56 rifle,
live ammunition, extortion note, drugs and INR 5,000 were recovered
from him. According to the militant he was part of a nine men
team operating under ‘captain’ Eli Ketok and had come to Khonsa
for extortion.
In a bid to prevent misuse of
social media & networking sites to create unrest and other
untoward incidents in the State, Assam Police has decided to intensify
monitoring of users of such digital platforms. The decision has
been taken after receiving reports that a section of people and
organizations were making objectionable comments on vital social
issues including NRC. DGP of Assam Police stated that the move
aims at preempting any possible attempt by miscreants and anti-social
elements to misuse social media to create disturbance.
DGP also added that while appointment
letters among 2,000 new constables will be distributed on January
12 appointing another 5,000 constables will start soon. He also
added that over 300 Sub-Inspectors recently appointed are currently
undergoing training.
Suspected militants hurled hand
grenades and fired at an Assam Rifles post in Kangpokpi District.
Although AR personnel fired at the militants, they managed to
escape. No fatality was reported in the incident.
Three extortionists were arrested
unidentified locations for allegedly trying to extort money from
a businessman by using the name of GNLA. The arrested individuals
were identified as Wilberth T Sangma, Wister N Marak and Salgra
Ch Sangma.
AR arrested an arms dealer from
Burma camp in Dimapur and recovered a .22 pistol. The dealer was
identified as Neiwelhi Rume.
AR arrested NSCN-K militant Mhonthung
Tungie in Wokha town in Wokha District.
UMHA will send 300 companies
of CAPF’s for the Assembly elections in February. The CAPF contingent
will comprise of BSF, CRPF and ITBP.
The first lot comprising 25 companies
of CAPF arrived on January 12 while 50 more companies will reach
Tripura by January 20. Additionally 12 battalions of TSR will
also be available for election duties.
The state already has over 35,000
security force personnel comprising BSF, CRPF and TSR. During
the last Assembly elections in February 2013, around 20,000 CAPF
personnel were deployed.
A truck driver indentified as
Sorokhaibam was abducted by unidentified assailants near Lamlong
in Imphal East District.
|
January 13 |
A soldier was killed as Indian
Army and Pakistan Army exchanged fire along the LoC in Rajouri
District. An Army spokesman said that Pakistan Army initiated
‘unprovoked’ firing on Indian Army posts in Sunderbani sector
of Rajouri District. “Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively,”
he said. “However, in the exchange of fire, Lance Naik Yogesh
Muralidhar Bhadane (28), was grievously injured and succumbed
to his injuries,” said the official.
SFs averted a major tragedy when
they detected a powerful IED planted by militants in the city
outskirts on Srinagar-Baramulla road in Srinagar. Traffic on the
Srinagar to north Kashmir has been suspended and entire area has
been sealed. BDS summoned to defuse the IED. Official sources
said that a ROP of SFs noticed an IED planted by militants on
main road in the city outskirts. The area was immediately sealed
and traffic suspended as a precautionary measure. The separatists
had called for a general strike against the killing of civilians
in the Valley.
A 12-year-old boy, identified
as Mohammad Iqbal (12) was critically injured when an unexploded
bomb went off near the LoC in Shahpur sector of Poonch District.
According to reports, the boy found the bomb in an open field
near Qasba village around 11:45 am and started fiddling with it,
causing the explosion. “The boy suffered critical injuries with
both his hands blown up. He was rushed to hospital and his condition
is stated to be ‘critical’,” sources said, adding the mortar shell
had been fired by Pakistani troops during ceasefire violation.
An Army jawan, identified
as Pushkar Singh was injured in forward village of Malti in Poonch
District. Sources said fresh tensions on the LoC have spread wave
of fear and panic among the people living in villages located
within shelling and firing range in twin border Districts of Poonch
and Rajouri. The panic-stricken people were taking extreme precautions
while venturing out of their houses as they feel that frustrated
Pakistan army, which has suffered heavy losses at the hands of
Indian troops, could target the civilians to inflict casualties
and damages on them, said the report.
The state of J&K has witnessed
a sudden rise in cybercrime incidents with 51 cases registered
during 2017. According to the data released by the J&K Police,
38 cyber incidents were reported in 2015, whereas 25 incidents
were in 2016. The J&K Government claimed that all Police Stations
have been provided latest IT equipments to deal in cybercrime
incidents efficiently. To tackle cybercrimes in the state, three
cybercrime cells— each in Jammu, Srinagar and Crime Headquarters
in J&K has been established with sufficient numbers of IT
trained officers and staff to contain cyber offences, said the
J&K Government.
AR arrested two individuals in
Tethizu Hanging Bridge in Kiphire District. One .22 Rifle, one
magazine and live rounds were recovered from the arrested individuals.
Two suspected arms dealers were
arrested a joint operation in Blue Hill Station, Dimapur. One
.22 mm Pistol, one magazine, live ammunition, one detonator, two
Gelatin sticks and one Safety fuse were recovered.
EC has asked AR to increase its
presence in the 1643-km-long Indo-Myanmar border to prevent Indian
militants based in Myanmar from sneaking across the border and
creating disturbance in poll-bound Nagaland. Nagaland CEO also
stated that the inter-state and inter-District borders have been
tightened to ensure a peaceful election which is due next month.
The CEO added that GoI is sending 276 companies of additional
CPMF for poll duty of which about 40 to 50 companies are scheduled
to arrive in about three to four weeks.
The Union Government has asked
the four states that share unfenced border with Myanmar to distribute
“border pass” to all the residents living within 16 km from the
boundary line. It has also asked the governments of Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to enroll the border residents
under Aadhaar (unique identity card) on war footing.
A linkman of ULFA-I identified
as Swarup Jyoti Chetia was arrested from Chabua in Dibrugarh District.
Army stated that he was passing sensitive information about SFs
and suggesting targets for extortion to ULFA-I.
Moreover he had passed information
about Chabua Air Force station, ONGC , NEEPCO and other government
installations to ULFA-I militant identified as Bhaskar Gogoi alias
Astitwa Asom.
According Army sources, Swarup
was tasked by ULFA-I to collect information on aviation-carrying
turbine fuel (ATF) tankers entering Chabua Air Force station to
plan placing IED on ATF tankers entering the air base.
Additionally, sources stated
that an oil tanker bound for Dikom storage unloading point had
crashed at the railway track barricades, adjacent to the fencing
of the air force station on January 13. Although the driver claimed
it was an accident, security agencies have not ruled out involvement
of ULFA-I.
The Union Government has asked
the four states that share unfenced border with Myanmar to distribute
“border pass” to all the residents living within 16 km from the
boundary line. It has also asked the governments of Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to enroll the border residents
under Aadhaar (unique identity card) on war footing.
The Union Government has asked
the four states that share unfenced border with Myanmar to distribute
“border pass” to all the residents living within 16 km from the
boundary line. It has also asked the governments of Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to enroll the border residents
under Aadhaar (unique identity card) on war footing
The Union Government has asked
the four states that share unfenced border with Myanmar to distribute
“border pass” to all the residents living within 16 km from the
boundary line. It has also asked the governments of Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to enroll the border residents
under Aadhaar (unique identity card) on war footing.
|
January 14 |
Advocating a ‘politico-military’
approach in dealing with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Army
chief General Bipin Rawat called for political initiative to go
hand-in-hand with military operations in the State. General Rawat,
who has followed a hard-line approach in tackling terrorism, said
the armed forces operating in the State cannot be ‘status quoist’
and must evolve new strategies and tactics to deal with the situation.
The Army chief said, “The political initiative and all the other
initiatives must go simultaneously hand-in-hand and only if all
of us function in synergy, we can bring lasting peace in Kashmir.
It has to be a politico-military approach that we have to adopt.”
Rawat also asserted that there was room for ramping up heat on
Pakistan to cut the flow of cross border terror activities, clearly
indicating that the Army will continue its policy of hot pursuit
in dealing with militancy.
The state of J&K has witnessed
a sudden rise in cybercrime incidents with 51 cases registered
during 2017. According to the data released by the J&K Police,
38 cyber incidents were reported in 2015, whereas 25 incidents
were in 2016. The J&K Government claimed that all Police Stations
have been provided latest IT equipments to deal in cybercrime
incidents efficiently. To tackle cybercrimes in the state, three
cybercrime cells— each in Jammu, Srinagar and Crime Headquarters
in J&K has been established with sufficient numbers of IT
trained officers and staff to contain cyber offences, said the
J&K Government.
According to an unnamed Delhi
Police’s special cell official, the Intelligence agencies had
intercepted the conversations related to a threat of terrorist
attack on January 26 on occasion of the Republic Day celebrations
in Delhi. The Intelligence agencies had intercepted the phone
calls among three ‘ultras’ or terrorists from Afghanistan and
their handler based in Pulwama of Pulwama District in J&K.
Reportedly, these three terrorists had been hiding in the nearby
area of Jama Masjid in Delhi. In swift response to the inputs,
the CISF has elevated the security measures at Delhi’s IGI airport
and all Delhi Metro stations. These elevated security measures
have also includes Quick Reaction Teams and Dog squads at the
locations, said an unnamed senior Delhi Police official.
Several CPI-Maoist cadres were
reportedly injured in Police-Naxal encounter in Tetamadugu
Jungle near Tetamgarh in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. In the
encounter, the Police neutralised the Naxalites' camps.
Police claimed that half a dozen Naxalites of
the military battalion of the Maoists have been injured in the
firing, and some other managed to escape. Police has seized the
Maoist belongings kept in the camp.
SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist
cadres in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. A joint team of
Police and the CRPF was out on a search operation when the joint
team arrested them. All three were involved in many murder, robbery
and arson cases. One of the arrested Maoists was carrying a reward
of INR 100,000 on his head. The identities of the Maoists are
yet to be ascertained.
Six teenaged Rohingya Muslims
have been arrested in Tripura's Dharmanagar in North Tripura District,
bordering Assam. Tripura Police stated that the youngsters, all
from Myanmar and aged around 18 years, entered Tripura from Bangladesh
on January 12 and were trying to go Hyderabad by train.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze Kendu (Diospyros
melanoxylon) leaves storehouse at Barkani village under Sadar
Police Station limits in Bolangir District of Odisha. The Police
recovered CPI-Maoist poster from a tree near the storehouse. The
CPI-Maoist poster accused the kendu leaf DFO and Ranger of indulging
in corrupt practices. It also added that the construction of Kendu
leaf storehouses was incomplete and warned of further violence
if steps were not taken to stop corruption, said Sadar IIC Jyotirmayee
Bhucha.
One GNLA militant and an OGW
were arrested from Goalpara District. A pistol and ammunition
were recovered from the arrestees.
|
January 15
|
A rocket landed in the premises
of Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan has created a panic causing
a minor damage to a structure belongs to the embassy; however
no casualties in the incident were reported. The Charged’ Affaires
informed that all staff members of the Indian embassy in Kabul
are safe and no casualties has been caused in the incident, said
a tweet released by the spokesperson of the MEA Raveesh Kumar.
As of now, no terror outfit has claimed the responsibility, but
Taliban and the Haqqani Network had carried out such attacks in
the past.
India and Israel signed nine
key agreements to strengthen the cooperation in key areas including
cybersecurity, defence and counterterrorism. The cooperation
between India and Israel will strengthen the existing pillars
in areas of agriculture, technology and security, said Indian
PM Narendra Modi at a joint media event with Israel’s Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu. Two nations held delegation-level talks and
discussed regional and international issues of mutual interests.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat
asserted that the Army will not allow anti-India activities to
succeed in Jammu and Kashmir and it was ready to escalate military
offensive to combat cross-border terrorism if Islamabad forces
it to do so, reports Daily Excelsior. Talking about the
situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the Pakistan army has
been continuously trying to help terrorists sneak into India along
the LoC in J&K. “We will not let these anti-national elements
to succeed at any cost. If we are forced, then we may escalate
our military action and carry out (the) ‘other action’,” he said.
The Army has been adopting a ‘tit-for-tat’ approach in dealing
with ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops as well as foiling
infiltration bids by terrorists. The Army is using its might to
teach them a lesson,” the Army chief said, adding that, “terrorists
and their handlers are creating various challenges within the
country by adopting new tactics.” Rawat said the Army will continue
to give a befitting reply to Pakistani action along the border.
Addressing Army personnel on the occasion of Army Day, Rawat also
said that disputes along the Line of Actual Control with China
were continuing and the Army was trying to stop the Chinese transgressions.
“Ensuring security along the Line of Actual Control (with China)
is our main duty,” he said without elaborating further.
The Indian Army Chief of Staff
(General) Bipin Rawat said that if forced, the Indian Army is
all ready to launch its offensive strategy against Pakistan-based
terror groups and emphasised that no anti-India activities may
nurture in Indian state of J&K. Addressing the Army Personnel
on the occasion of Army Day, General Rawat quoted that Pakistan
Army has been trying to support the infiltration of terrorists
along ‘Line of Control’ (LoC) in J&K and Indian Army is using
its might to ‘teach them a lesson’. Since 2016, Indian Army has
adopted an aggressive anti-terror strategy in J&K and aggressively
responded with a ‘tit-for-tat’ approach to the ceasefire violations
by Pakistan’s Army along with the LoC.
The NIA has revealed a common
link between Pakistan-backed conspiracy of revival of Khalistan
and the killings of six Hindu leaders of RSS in various locations
in Punjab. The conspiracy has a focal agenda to provoke communal
violence that in turn fuels the revival of Khalistani movement
in Punjab. The NIA has been able to link the conspiracy and killing
through the scientific examination of the weapons seized in different
raids which firmly points to the involvement of Pakistan’s ISI,
said NIA’s D-G Y.C. Modi. Further investigation also revealed
that the funds for these operations were routed from Pakistan
to some operatives in Italy, Pakistan, Canada and the UK through
Hawala channels.
The three-day conference of all
state DGPs concluded on January 8 in Madhya Pradesh, with the
discussion on key areas including cyber-security, Left-Wing Extremism
(LWE), image building of Police and the Malimath Committee on
Police reforms. Post demonetisation, there was a sharp rise in
cybercrime incidents and tackling them efficiently is a big challenge
for our Police officials. Controlling cybercrime incidents and
LWE are one of the focused areas, said Andhra Pradesh’s DGP M.
Malakondaiah. Over 40,000 cybercrime incidents were registered
in the state of Maharashtra whereas around 800 are registered
in Andhra Pradesh, said M. Malakondaiah. Indian PM Narendra Modi,
UHM Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval took part in the meet of the
DGPs and the IGPs held at Tekanpur town of Gwalior District in
Madhya Pradesh.
SFs foiled an infiltration bid
near the LoC in Uri sector in the Baramulla District, killing
five JeM militants in the morning. A defence spokesman said that
five militants were killed. Earlier, DGP S P Vaid said four JeM
militants were killed at Dulanja in Uri sector in a joint operation
by the Army, Police and other SFs.
Indian Army undertook major offensive
against Pakistan to silence their guns, which were targeting forward
Indian posts on the LoC in Mendhar sector of Poonch District,
killing seven Pakistani soldiers including an officer and critically
wounding five others. According to reports, five posts and four
bunkers of the Pakistani army were destroyed in massive retaliatory
action of the Indian troops. Sources said that Indian action against
Pakistani troops, which came on the occasion of ‘Army Day’ was
necessitated as the Pakistani posts continued to engage in heavy
shelling in Mendhar sector targeting forward posts of the Indian
Army and were also planning to strike at civilian areas, which
was anticipated as the enemy was dumping large quantity of mortar
shells on their side. Also, according to sources, there was hectic
activity on Pakistan side of the LoC and some militants could
be seen moving across with a view to infiltrate into the Indian
territory with the help of Pakistani troops.
“Indian troops undertook major
action against the Pakistani troops this morning in which seven
Pakistan army personnel including an officer were eliminated while
five others seriously injured,’’ sources said, adding there were
inputs that five posts and four bunkers of Pakistan were razed
to ground in the hour long action. Major damage was suffered by
Pakistan in Jandrot area of Kotli sector, which was being manned
by 801 Mujahid battalion of Pakistan Army under 3 PoK Brigade.
Hectic activity was observed in Pakistani camp after the Indian
action and nearly half a dozen ambulances and Army trucks and
jeeps were seen shifting dead and injured jawans of Pakistani
troops to the hospital. Some officers of PoK Brigade could be
seen visiting forward posts to assess the damages.
Pakistan’s DG (SA & SAARC)
Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J
P Singh and lodged protest over killing and injuries of Pakistan
army personnel.
Police busted a network of OGWs
who were actively involved in radicalizing and motivating the
youth to join militant ranks and to send them across LoC and South
Kashmir for obtaining arms training. SSP Kupwara, Shamsheer Hussain,
said that on a tip off, Police arrested four OGWs identified as
Rashid Bashir Pir, Zakir Amin Pir, Saif-ud-din Khatana and Manzoor
Ahmad Najar. He said that two youth have also been rescued who
were radicalized and motivated to join the militant ranks.
The SSP said that during last
one year due to timely action and strenuous efforts made by District
Police Kupwara so far 17 youth have been rescued, who were radicalized
and motivated to join the militant ranks from areas close to LoC.
“After proper counseling, all the rescued youth have been handed
over to their parents. All the OGWs who were involved in motivating
the youth for joining the militant ranks have been booked. Four
top OGWs have also been booked under PSA recently”, Hussain said.
District Police Kupwara has also appealed the parents of the educated
youth in particular and society in general to foil the nefarious
designs of such anti-national/anti-social elements who are hell
bent to push the educated youth of the area into militancy cadres,
so that their lives and future can be secured.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat
asserted that the Army will not allow anti-India activities to
succeed in Jammu and Kashmir and it was ready to escalate military
offensive to combat cross-border terrorism if Islamabad forces
it to do so. Talking about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,
he said the Pakistan army has been continuously trying to help
terrorists sneak into India along the LoC in J&K. “We will
not let these anti-national elements to succeed at any cost. If
we are forced, then we may escalate our military action and carry
out (the) ‘other action’,” he said. The Army has been adopting
a ‘tit-for-tat’ approach in dealing with ceasefire violations
by Pakistani troops as well as foiling infiltration bids by terrorists.
The Army is using its might to teach them a lesson,” the Army
chief said, adding that, “terrorists and their handlers are creating
various challenges within the country by adopting new tactics.”
Rawat said the Army will continue to give a befitting reply to
Pakistani action along the border.
Addressing Army personnel on
the occasion of Army Day, Rawat also said that disputes along
the Line of Actual Control with China were continuing and the
Army was trying to stop the Chinese transgressions. “Ensuring
security along the Line of Actual Control (with China) is our
main duty,” he said without elaborating further.
An Army Captain, identified as
Bangoria was injured in Pakistan firing along the LoC at Chakan-Da-Bagh
in Poonch District in the night. Sources said Captain Bangoria
was injured in Pakistan firing on January 15 night and has been
airlifted to Military Hospital in Udhampur.
SFs killed a CPI-Maoist cadre
and destroyed a camp during a combing operation in Jhilmili forest
under Bakarkatta Police Station area in Rajnandgoan
District of Chhattisgarh. SP, Prashant Agrawal said the operation
was conducted by a joint team of the ITBP, the STF and the DRG.
SP, Agrawal said that the team attacked the Maoist camp housing
50 Maoists within Bakarkatta Police Station limits in the northern
part of Rajnandgaon District. In the exchange of fire, one Maoist
cadre was killed. The SFs recovered three weapons and a huge cache
of Naxal related material from the camp. “One
pistol and two 12 bore guns were recovered. The Maoist belonged
to the ‘Vistaar Platoon’ of the CPI-Maoist. Search operations
are on in the area,” SP, Agrawal said. The camp was located in
Jhilmili forest, about 160 kilometres from Rajnandgaon, bordering
Balaghat area of Madhya Pradesh.
Odisha Government will receive
INR 2.3 billion in four years for development of infrastructure
and services in Naxal -affected Districts under
the NPAP launched by the Union Government. Two Districts of Odisha
- Malkangiri and Koraput will be covered under the scheme. Each
District will receive INR 280.57 million for the next three financial
years taking the total to INR 1730.42 million. The State Government
will, however, receive INR 570.14 million for utilisation in 2017-18.
The Government will set up a State-level committee headed by the
CS to monitor implementation of the programme. The DLC to be headed
by the Collector will also have SP and DFO as members. Two Districts
in Odisha included under the NPAP will receive INR 20 million
each, to strengthen the vulnerable Police Stations every year.
17 Naxal affected Districts of Odisha will receive
INR 10 million each for strengthening of Police Stations, said
official sources.
The NIA had arrested two persons
in connection with the murder of former State Minister and JD-U
legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008. Both suspects, identified
as Prafull Kumar Mahto (27), and Jai Ganesh (37), residents of
State capital Ranchi, were arrested and have since been remanded
in agency custody for five days by an NIA Special Court in Ranchi
District of Jharkhand. Munda was gunned down by CPI-Maoist cadres
on July 9, 2008, while attending a programme at a school on the
outskirts of Ranchi. Maoist ‘commander’ Kundan Pahan's name figured
in the killing. Pahan had surrendered to Police in May 14, 2017.
The probe was handed over to the NIA in September 2017.
Assam CM stated that GoI and
Assam Government have decided to seal the Indo-Bangladesh border
by December 2018. The CM also claimed that people of both the
Brahmaputra and Barak valleys have extended full cooperation.
Tension prevails in and around
Joykochi village near Ishar camp Chowk under Baihata Chariali
Police Station in Kamrup District after a religious clash. According
to sources, the clash occurred after someone threw the stomach
of a goat under the Bridge of Kathalguri River during Bhogali
Bihu (an Assamese harvesting festival) and Hindu community
people mistook it to be the stomach of a cow.
A woman identified as Yendrembam
Sobita was wounded in a blast caused by remote controlled IED
near Raj Bhavan in Imphal East District. The incident was preceded
by another explosion when an unidentified militant lobbed a grenade
near at M Sector Defense PRO office also located in Imphal East
District. The twin blasts took place in one of the highest security
zones of the State and at a time when the State police are taking
up preventive measures for the coming Republic Day celebration.
Police have been conducting a
random mopping operation at sensitive places across valley areas,
particularly in Imphal and its outskirt since the last few days.
An unidentified man was wounded
in an IED explosion in an unspecified location in south Mizoram
along the Indo-Myanmar border.
A senior intelligence officer
stated that NLFT has around 13-15 hideouts in Bangladesh. The
camps exist in various areas such as Khagracherri, Bandarban and
Segunbagan in CHT.
Additionally the cadre strength
of NLFT is estimated at about 60-70 militants with its ‘army chief’
Sachin Debbarma, a former ATTF militant.
The intelligence official also
added that NLFT leadership is in such a pathetic condition, that
they will not be able to play any role during the Assembly elections.
Another official confirmed the fragile condition of the outfit
saying that the BGB has already established some BOPs in CHT.
An Individual identified as Jitua
Tongchongya was seriously injured in a landmine blast near Mizoram-Myanmar
border pillar number two.
|
January 16
|
The Kerala Police team will be
expanding the investigation to Bengaluru (Karnataka) regarding
an alleged ‘forcible’ conversion of an unnamed 25 years-old woman
with intentions of taking her to Syria and join the IS. Regarding
the case, the accused Fayas and Siyad, will be taken too few places
in North Kerala and Bengaluru where the primary accused Muhammad
Riyas had stayed, said an unnamed senior official of the Ernakulam
Rural Police. The woman had escaped from 80 days ‘custody’ of
her husband Riyas, from an apartment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
She claimed that Riyas insisted her forcefully to watch videos
of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and attempted to take her to Syria.
The special cell of Delhi Police
has arrested Narender—a key member of an international syndicate
of FICNs and recovered FICN in denomination of INR 2,000 worth
INR three lakh. Acting-upon specific inputs a Police team spread-out
a ‘honey-trap’ near Red Fort metro station at Chandni Chowk of
Central Delhi District in Delhi, where Narender had come to deliver
a consignment of FICNs to his contact, but got arrested by Police
team, said an unnamed Police official. During the primary interrogation,
Narender revealed that he has been involved in this activity for
the last four years and he was getting new prints of FICNs from
Farraka of Jangipur Subdivision of Murshidabad District in West
Bengal. All seized FICNs are of fine printing and it is difficult
to distinguish from original Indian notes, said Delhi’s DCP of
special cell Pramod Singh Kushwah.
Two labourers, identified as
Bilal Ganie and Jehangir Wagay were injured in a blast at Khandroo
area of Anantnag District. The blast occurred inside an Army camp
at Khandroo after the labourers stepped over the mine. Two labourers
were injured. They were shifted to nearby hospital where from
they have been referred to Srinagar Hospital for specialized treatment.
Army has been put on heightened
alert along the LoC in Uri sector in Baramulla District after
intelligence inputs about militants waiting on launch pads in
PoK for infiltration. Army has inputs that militants of JeM and
LeT are on the launch pads along the LoC in PoK in Uri sector
where there is either no snow or very less snow due to dry weather
conditions prevailing in Kashmir for last several months. The
alert has been sounded in sub-sector Rampur, Torna, Rustum, Mike
where Army has reports that for last over a month in militants
are concentrating on launch pads to infiltrate through these areas
as in other sector like Gurez and Tangdhar there is heavy snow
along the LoC.
After January 15’s infiltration
attempt by the JeM in Uri sector in which five militants of JeM
who were on suicide mission to target an Army installation near
the LoC in the sector were killed, the Army has increased vigil
along LoC in the sector. Sources said that three more militants,
who were yet to infiltrate and were waiting for the boat to return
and fled under the cover of darkness, are injured. This is for
the first time that the militants used boat to infiltrate through
river Jhelum. In August 2011, militants used a Pneumatic boat
to cross the Kishanganga River in Gurez sector but Army foiled
their attempt and killed 12 militants and seized the boat.
A 43-year-old man, identified
as Mohammad Ayoub Mir succumbed to injuries, 28 days after he
was injured in Shopian District. On December 19, 2017, Mohammad
Ayoub Mir, received three bullets in his abdomen during the clashes
amid an encounter between the militants and SFs at Batmuran Kellar
area of the Shopian District. Two militants were killed, while
a woman died and over dozens of protesters were injured during
the gun battle and clashes. Mir had undergone treatment for more
than 15 days at SMHS hospital and was later discharged. He passed
away at his home in Chatergam on January 16.
The SOG of Police detained four
persons in separate raids in Pulwama (Pulwama District) and Handwara
(Kupwara District) areas. Three persons identified as Mudasir
Kumar, Ajaz Kumar and Sanju Ganie all residents of Chatapora Pulwama
were picked up by SOG after they raided their residences on January
16 morning. They were detained for questioning in a militancy
related case. One Fayaz Ahmad, a tipper driver was held by the
SOG two days back. He was detained for questioning over his alleged
links with HM.
Dozens of mines exploded in Mankote
and Balakote sub sectors near the LoC in Poonch District due to
forest fire. Official sources said that scare was created in the
forward villages when the fire broke out from that side of the
LoC. The fire then went on spreading on this side of the LoC and
the explosion of land mines started. A larger area came under
fire and the troops went on high alert. The Army was suspecting
deliberate attempt of the Pakistani troops to neutralize mines
and make way for armed terrorists from that side. The explosions
created scare in this entire belt while troops intensified patrolling.
Authorities again suspended cross-LoC
trade between Jammu and Kashmir and PoK on Poonch-Rawlakote route
in view of yesterday’s (January 15) tensions on the LoC in Mendhar
sector of Poonch District in which seven Pakistan army personnel
were killed and five others injured.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
road construction equipment, opposing the road work at Luler village
under the Maithili Police Station in Malkangiri District of Odisha.
Sources said the armed rebels raided the camp of a construction
firm and asked the staffs and labourers to leave the spot. Then
they set a tractor, road roller and other equipments ablaze. The
Maoists left a poster behind claiming the incident to be their
handiwork.
CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Chhathu
Sada was arrested at Saghran village under Dandari Police Station
area in Begusarai District of Bihar. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadre
was involved in killing SAP trooper by firing on him at Kusamhot
village under Chadpura Police Station area in the District in
2016.
Police arrested CPI-Maoist cadre
identified as Anuj Yadav alias Ramanuj Yadav,
who is absconding after setting ablaze a road roller and mobile
tower from Mirganj village, under Shakurabad Police Station in
Jehanabad District of Bihar. He demanded ‘levy’ (ransom
money) in the construction of bridge in Murrah village, said Police.
Police arrested CPI-Maoist
cadre Sakhalu Hemla (35) at Karekorma's Karrapara forest
in Rajpara in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The arrested CPI-Maoist
cadre was involved in case of killing a woman in the village Katekormama
village and accused of Dantewada jailbreak. He carries a reward
of INR 5000 on him declared by SP, Bijapur.
The Dakshina Kannada Police and
the ANF, on January 16, began combing operations in the Western
Ghats following reports on the movement of CPI-Maoist cadres in
Mittabagilu village near Shiradi in Dakshina Kannada District
of Karnataka. Sources said on January 14 night three persons,
believed to be members belonging to Naxal group,
armed with modern weapons, visited the houses deep in forest in
Uppin Angadi Police Station limits and collected essential commodities
including rice and other articles, adds UNI. According
to Leela, whose house they had visited, the Naxals assured
that they would not harm her and asked not to inform the Police.
The members identified themselves as Leela, Suresh and Purushottam.
Personnel of the 26th battalion
of CRPF and local Police seized a huge cache of arms during a
special operation against Naxalites at Chargi
Forest area in Peterwar Block (administrative unit) in Bokaro
District of Jharkhand. Acting on a tip off, a CRPF team headed
by ASP, Sanjay Kumar launched an operation in Chargi forest in
Peterwar block. During the operation the team detected an artificial
tunnel near Chargi forest which the rebels used for strong arms
and ammunition. Bokaro SP, Kartik S. said two country-made pistols,
45 cartridges, 318 piece of electronic detonators, three magazines,
one rifle of 315 bore, huge cartridges of SLR and others explosives
were recovered from the artificial tunnel. The arms were stored
by the members of Santosh Mahto in the forest to carry out an
attack by the Maoists on the SFs. Though some members of Santosh
Mahto of the banned outfit were present in the forest they preferred
to disperse from the spot after leaving behind their weapons,
the area is close to the border of Gomia Block, also Maoists hit
Block of the District.
Suspected militants set fire
on nine crude oil tankers, at Namchik checkgate in Changlang.
According to authorities, a group of at least 20 heavily armed
militants stormed the area and fired at the tankers and set them
ablaze. The tankers had been loaded with crude oil at Kharsang
oil fields in Changlang and were bound for Digboi oil refinery
in Tinsukia district of Assam. Police suspect ULFA-I or NSCN-K
to be behind the incident.
Mikir community is seeking restoration
of the lost APST and PRC status. The community residing at Chessa,
Kokila, Hollongi, Balijan and Tarasso in the foothills area of
Papum Pare district was enlisted as APST as per the Scheduled
Tribe Amendment Act of 1950. Members of the Mikir community were
given ST certificates, equal opportunities and benefits by the
State government on par with other indigenous communities of the
State. But they no longer get it. Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner
Tai Kaye stated that ‘ST certificate is only permissible for Mikirs
enlisted in the Schedule Tribe Amendment Act 1950, but is not
permissible for Karbis’.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
reviewed security situation in the North-eastern States. According
to official data, the security situation in the region has improved
and insurgency-related incidents have gone down by 85 per cent
in 2017 as compared to 2000. According to the data, there were
308 insurgency-related incidents in 2017, the lowest since 1997.
In 2000, 1,963 insurgency-related
incidents had taken place in the Northeast. Also, the death toll
of security personnel and civilians was lowest last year when
12 security forces personnel and 37 civilians were killed.
The number of cases of kidnapping
or abduction also went down by 40 per cent as 168 incidents were
reported in 2016, which came down to 102 in 2017.
An NSCN-K militant identified
as `sergeant major’ Bishnu Bhujel was arrested from Mullong village
in Tinsukia District.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
reviewed security situation in the North-eastern States. According
to official data, the security situation in the region has improved
and insurgency-related incidents have gone down by 85 per cent
in 2017 as compared to 2000. According to the data, there were
308 insurgency-related incidents in 2017, the lowest since 1997.
In 2000, 1,963 insurgency-related
incidents had taken place in the Northeast. Also, the death toll
of security personnel and civilians was lowest last year when
12 security forces personnel and 37 civilians were killed.
The number of cases of kidnapping
or abduction also went down by 40 per cent as 168 incidents were
reported in 2016, which came down to 102 in 2017.
Police recovered a Chinese grenade
from M-Sector in Imphal East District. The authorities stated
that the grenade was lobbed but had failed to explode. Earlier
on January 15 a grenade had exploded in the same area. No insurgent
group has claimed responsibility for either incident.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
reviewed security situation in the North-eastern States. According
to official data, the security situation in the region has improved
and insurgency-related incidents have gone down by 85 per cent
in 2017 as compared to 2000. According to the data, there were
308 insurgency-related incidents in 2017, the lowest since 1997.
In 2000, 1,963 insurgency-related
incidents had taken place in the Northeast. Also, the death toll
of security personnel and civilians was lowest last year when
12 security forces personnel and 37 civilians were killed.
The number of cases of kidnapping
or abduction also went down by 40 per cent as 168 incidents were
reported in 2016, which came down to 102 in 2017.
|
January 17
|
In a meeting chaired by the UMHA
Rajnath Singh to discuss action plan of the newly formed Cyber
& Information Security Division (CIS), it was announced that
an Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (ICCCC) and a Cyber
Police Force will be constituted under CIS, reports The
Statesman. The UMHA Rajnath Singh expressed a concern
over the rise in incidents of sharing of pornography over the
Internet and called for a stringent monitoring of cyberspace and
to block the websites that flouts Indian laws, especially child
pornography.
Pakistani Rangers in the night
resorted to shelling and firing on forward Indian positions along
the IB in RS Pura sector of Jammu District in which a BSF jawan
identified as A Suresh and a young girl, identified as Neelam
Devi were killed while five civilians injured. Reports said Pakistani
Rangers targeted forward posts of BSF and some civilian areas
in RS Pura, Suchetgarh and parts of Arnia sectors at about 10.30
pm. Reports also said that the BSF jawan who was injured in Pakistan
shelling and firing in RS Pura sector succumbed to injuries later.
The BSF retaliated effectively,
leading to heavy exchanges, which were going on when the reports
last came in, report said. There was panic among the villagers
living along the International Border, reports added.
The BSF retaliated effectively
and there were official reports of two killings and heavy infrastructure
losses
The people in Kashmir have realised
that it is very difficult to secede from India and they are also
getting tired of militancy, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said.
He laid emphasis on the campaign to bring back the radicalised
youth into the mainstream. This will put an end to the menace
of militancy in the State, General Rawat said. “They have seen
it for too long and they have realised (that) it hasn’t given
them what they had desired for. Let me tell you… With a country
like India, to seek independence from a nation where we have strong
armed forces, where we have a strong democracy, and a very strong
Government, you cannot secede from India. This is what the people
have realised,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Government
said that 195 SFs personnel have sacrificed their lives in the
past three years in terrorist attacks in the State. In a written
reply to the question of BJP member Ramesh Arora in the Legislative
Council, Minister In-charge Home said that during last three years
195 security personnel have lost their lives in terror attacks
across the State. The Minister further added that 195 security
personnel attained martyrdom in terrorist-related incidents and
out of these, 78 were martyred during 2017, 74 in 2016 while
43 during 2015.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Madvi Baman (30) and Harish Podiam (23), after an exchange
of fire between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres
in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The encounter took place
during an anti-Maoist operation launched at Galgam, Bhusapur
and Tekmela villages of Usoor by a joint team of the STF, CAF
and District Police. Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from
the forests near Bhusapur village under Usoor Police Station and
recovered directional bomb, detonator, bow and arrow and other
materials, said Police official.
Police arrested an active cadre
of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, identified as
Kale Dhanwar alias Lal Babu from Biramitrapur
Police Station limits in Sundargarh District of Odisha. The District
Police team raided the ward number-2 area of Biramitrapur and
arrested Kale Dhanwar. During interrogation Dhanwar admitted his
connection with the PLFI, said SP, Pinak Misra.
An ‘area commander’ of JJMP,
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, was killed in an encounter
at Jerpahari under Sadar Police Station limits in Latehar District
of Jharkhand. According to the Police, a joint team of the District
Police and JJ had launched a search operation in Jer hills under
Sadar Police Station area, following information about the movement
of a squad of JJMP, being led by Guddu Yadav. The joint team came
across the group and an exchange of fire took place the next day.“A
search operation was mounted this morning, which led to the recovery
of a body. It was identified as that of Guddu Yadav, a resident
of Kui village under Manika Police Station area. He had four cases
in Chandwa and Manika area,” said a Police officer. Police sources
said that an AK-47, four American-made rifles, one INSAS assault
rifle, among others were recovered.
The District Police foiled an
attempt by CPI-Maoist cadres to blow up a vehicle carrying
SFs after the seizure of two IEDs from Imamganj region in Gaya
District of Bihar. The two IEDs, each weighing 10 kilograms, were
planted under the road leading to Bodhia hills under Salaiya Police
Station. CRPF officer, Surendra Das said the Maoists had planted
the explosives near Tilakdih village to target the SF personnel.
CRPF's Assistant Commandant Sujeet Kumar said the seized explosives
were of high quality and enough to cause extensive damage to the
Police patrol vehicle. "Both the IEDs were defused by the
personnel of the bomb disposal squad in the presence of senior
officials of the central paramilitary force," Assistant Commandant
Sujeet added.
Begusarai Police arrested four
Maoists, who were evading arrest in several cases related to attack
on SFs in Begusarai District of Bihar.
An NSCN-IM militant was arrested
from Namtok village in Changlang. The militant was identified
as ‘private’ Kejen Ngongpa. A pistol and ammunition were recovered
from the militant
Assam DGP stated that militants
were using Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland as base for insurgent
activities in Assam. He stated that ‘four Districts of Arunachal
and two Districts of Nagaland provide them with the terrain and
access from Myanmar to Assam. According to defence sources there
are inputs that the militants would try to perpetrate similar
attacks in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia District in the run-up to
Republic Day on January 26.
A hide out of NSCN-K and ULFA-I
was busted at the Assam-Nagaland border area in Dewpani near Naginimora
in Shivasagar. One NSCN-K militant identified as Temjack Libek
was arrested and a pistol was recovered from him. However, 13-14
militants were able to escape and a search operation was launched
to detain the militants.
Meghalaya DGP stated that crime
committed by the militants in the State have come down with 21
militant-related incidents reported in 2017. State had witnessed
as many as 310 militant-related incidents in 2013, 341 in 2014,
310 in 2015, and 118 in 2016. The incidents include killings,
abductions, extortions and other criminal activities.
He also added that there are
only nine or 10 trained GNLA militants and four ot five untrained
GNLA militants following Sohan D shira of GNLA. DGP also added
that ULFA-I ‘commander’ Dristi Rajkhowa is also living with GNLA
cadres in the Garo hills. Dristi is dependent on them (GNLA) and
both Dristi and Sohan are not hiding in Bangladesh due to ongoing
operations against Indian insurgents.
|
January 18
|
Kerala Police said that one more
IS operative from Kannur District engaged in extremist activities
has been killed in Syria. According to Police, the death of the
youth, identified as Abdul Manaf P P (30), resident of Valapattanamin
Kannur District, was conveyed to the family on January 17 by his
friend and another IS operative from the District, Abdul Khayyoom
(25), who is also in Syria.Police have received information that
nearly 17 people from the State, who had been waging the so-called
holy war in Syria have lost their lives. At least six of them
are from Kannur. As per available information, the IS operative
Abdul Manaf was killed in November. Police said Manaf went to
Syria using a fake passport and there is a case against him in
this connection. He was a close associate of Shahjahan Velluva,
another IS operative who was arrested in Delhi a few months back.
He had also worked as the office secretary of the Popular Front
of India (PFI) for some time before leaving for Syria.Prior to
that he was named an accused in the murder of a CPM worker Bineesh,
in 2009, said Police.According to the investigating agencies,
it was through the network of Manaf that nearly 15 people out
of the 29 who left for Syria to wage 'jihad', reached there.
Responding to a question at the
Raisina Dialogue in Delhi on January 18, former Director-General
(Retired) of the US’ CIA—David H. Petraeus has declined the concept
of ‘Indian state-sponsored’ terrorism. Supporting the statement,
India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said that he was at the
Dialogue to talk about facts and not ‘fantasy’ stories. “As director
of the CIA, and commander of International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, I never once heard the term ‘Indian
State-sponsored terrorism’, said Petraeus.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has said his country and India "have some understanding"
should India decide to unilaterally carry out combative action
across the LoC against UN-designated terrorists, a statement that
is indicative of an endorsement of India's right to defend itself.
Netanyahu said, "Well, let's say this, we have some understanding
and I don't think I have to add beyond that," before adding
that the Indo-Israeli partnership is not directed against any
specific country. He added, "Israel does not claim to be
a perfect country. I don't know any country which is without problems.
But, we extend our hands in peace to our neighbours. It is unfortunate
that at least on the Palestinian side, we haven't seen a reciprocal
response." He also claimed, "Israel is no longer viewed
by most Arab countries as an enemy, but as an indispensible ally
in their battle against radicalism."
The trial of FICNs case in which
a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim—Aftab Batki is an accused,
has been initiated at the NIA. Apart from Batki, other accused
persons are identified as Abid Chullikulavan from Kalikavu of
Malappuram District (Kerala), Mohammed Haneefa from Kodungallur
of Thrissur District (Kerala), Abdul Salam alias Podi
Salam from Wandoor of Malappuram District (Kerala), and Antony
Das from Valaparai of Coimbatore District (Tamil Nadu). Abid Chullikulavan
was intercepted by the Indian Customs officers at the Nedumbassery
airport, Kerala upon his arrival from Dubai (UAE) on January 26,
2013. Around 1,950 of FICNs in the denomination of Rs 500 were
seized from him. During the investigations Abid revealed that
the counterfeit Indian currency was supplied by Batki.
Police detected and defused a
powerful IED, planted by the militants on roadside in Bharat area
of the Doda District. Sources said Police received information
from a civilian that the IED had been planted at village Pounda
on the main Bharat Road, about 12 kilometers from District headquarters.
The IED, weighing 10 kilograms, was successfully defused.
The NIA filed a charge sheet
against 12 persons, including LeT ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed and HM ‘head’
Syed Salahuddin, for ‘conspiring to wage war against the Government’
by carrying out terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu
and Kashmir. The NIA filed the 12,794-page charge sheet, along
with annexure, before a designated court here and sought permission
to continue its probe related to terror funding in the State,
the agency said in a statement in New Delhi. The agency has charged
Pakistan-based terrorists Saeed and Salahuddin along with 10 others
for criminal conspiracy, sedition, and under stringent provisions
of the UAPA, it said.
NIA officials said they had gathered
substantial material and technical evidence during the probe.
They said 60 locations were raided and 950 incriminating documents
seized. There are 300 witnesses in the case. Besides Saeed and
Salahuddin, the agency has also named the secretary of hardline
pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Bashir Ahmad Bhat,
businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali and photo journalist Kamran
Yusuf, who has been identified along with Javed Ahmad Bhat as
a stone pelter. Hurriyat Conference leaders Aftab Ahmad Shah,
Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias
Bitta Karate, Mohammad Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal
and Bashir Ahmad Bhat have also been charged by the agency.
The agency has charged the Hurriyat
leaders with acting under the overall guidance of and instructions
from Saeed and Salahuddin and their ‘Pakistani handlers’ and plotting
strategies to launch violent protests. They communicated these
to the people in the form of ‘protest calendars’ released through
newspapers, social media and religious leaders, it said. These
acts aimed at creating an atmosphere of terror and fear in Jammu
and Kashmir, the NIA alleged.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government
said that 213 terrorists were killed and 51 civilians died in
terror-related incidents last year (2017). In a written reply
to a question of BJP's Sat Sharma, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti
told the Legislative Assembly that 213 terrorists, including 127
foreign terrorists and 86 local terrorists, were killed in 2017
as compared to 150 terrorists, including 119 foreign terrorists
and 31 local terrorists, in 2016. Similarly, 51 civilians died
in 2017 and as many as 20 civilians died in 2016 in terror-related
incidents, she said.
The government has taken a number
of steps to check cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,
Mufti said. The Chief Minister said that these measures include
border-fencing and its electrification, installation of night-vision
devices, target-oriented inputs on infiltration, among others.
She said that the border is being manned by SFs who are adequately
equipped in terms of manpower and resources.
Meanwhile, in another written
reply to a question of Sharma, Mufti told the Assembly that 320
weapons, including 213 AK rifles, 101 pistols and revolvers, four
RPGs, one each sniper rifle and 303 rifle were recovered in 2017.
As compared to this, 178 AK-47 rifles, 81 pistols and revolvers,
7 RPGs and two each sniper rifle and 303 rifle were recovered
in 2016, she said. Similarly, police recovered 394 explosive devices
including 305 grenades, 76 detonators and 13 IEDs in 2017, followed
by recovery of 1,358 explosive devices in 2016, which includes
333 grenades, 1,038 detonators, 26 IEDs and one anti-personnel
mine, Mufti said. Besides, a large quantity of ammunition was
recovered by the police during the last two years, she said, adding
that 8 kg explosives were recovered in 2017 followed by 10 kg
in 2016. She said 46 wireless sets were recovered in 2017 and
54 in 2016.
The Police unearthed two illegal
mini-gun factories and seized three automatic pistols and five
magazines during an overnight operation in Munger District of
Bihar. Two persons identified as Manoj Yadav and Mohammad Israr,
were arrested in this connection. Munger SP, Ashish Bharti said
acting on a tip off a Police team conducted a raid at the house
of Mohammad Rabbani at Bakarganj village and seized two automatic
country-made pistols. Rabbani was wanted in connection with an
arms deal case lodged with Batganj Police Station in West Bengal.
SP, Bharti said Mohammad Israr and Manoj Yadav were arrested when
they had gone to purchase weapons from Rabbani. The Police later
arrested Rabbani from his hideout and produced him in the court,
which remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days.
Police arrested a CPI-Maoist
cadre from Shakurabad Police Station area in Jehanabad District
of Bihar. Police said the Maoist rebel identified as Sheodani
Thakur alias Sheodahin Thakur (30) was arrested by
the 32nd battalion of SSB Bela Muzaffarpur Bihar and a team of
Shakurabad Police Station from his hideout at Ratani village following
a specific intelligence input. Sources said that no firearm was
recovered from his possession. Thakur was a resident of village
Nihalpur, Paras Bigha Police Station in Jehanabad District of
Bihar and was an active member of Magadh range of CPI-Maoist.
Three IEDs suspected to be planted
by the Maoists were recovered by the 32nd battalion SSB from a
sugarcane field near Sonoalsubba village in Suppi Block under
Majorganj Police Station in Sitamarhi District of Bihar.
One DRG soldier sustained injury
an IED blast near Tumripara under Fulbagadi Police Station
limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. SP, Abhishek Meena said,
"There was an IED blast near Tumripara under Fulbagadi Police
Station in which a DRG soldier sustained injuries."Following
the blast the DRG team launched a search operation of the area
and arrested 11 CPI-Maoist cadres from Kistaram Maraiguda
area of the District. All the arrested Maoists were also involved
in setting 27 vehicles on fire, firing upon the soldiers in Kasalpada
and Dharampenta bridge blast.
CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a newly-established
CRPF camp in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. However, there was
no report of any casualties or injuries in the attack at the Malewahi
camp on the borders of Bastar and Dantewada Districts.
Maoist presence has been detected
at Kodenchery in Kozhikode District of Kerala. According to sources,
a team of four armed CPI-Maoists visited the house of an individual
identified as Abraham. After asking for tea, the Maoists asked
the family staying at the house to cook food for them.
Security sources suspect that
extortion demand by militants is suspected to be the main reason
for torching of nine tankers carrying crude oil from Kharsang
in Changlang District.
Militants might have reportedly
demanded ransom from transport companies which owned the tankers.
Though the identity of the militants involved in the incident
is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that members of NSCN-IM
incident as there were reports of movement of the cadres of the
outfit in that area.
SFs arrested a NDFB-S militant
identified as Mukta Bora from Chinakona-Khoirabari route in Udalguri.
A pistol, a magazine and four rounds of live ammunition were recovered
from him.
Former Union home secretary G.K.
Pillai stated that ULFA-I was outdated. He stated that ‘the name
of revolution the so called Ulfa (I) supremo Paresh Barua is just
maintaining a network of dissidents and some youths of the region
with a misguided concept’. He also added that ULFA-I was carrying
out certain activities with the support of NSCN-K Upper Assam
without any fruition. He also added that the arson incident in
Arunachal Pradesh on January 16 was committed by NSCN-K.
Dimapur Police arrested a suspected
extortionist identified as Atovi Aye for allegedly extorting from
truck drivers from Khushabill village in Dimapur.
Two HCC employees were abducted
from Kangchup in Imphal West District by KNF-MC.
|
January 19
|
Two bombs were recovered, following
a small-sound explosion in the midst of stringent security measures
for Dalai Lama’s stay at Both Gaya pilgrimage centre in Gaya District
of Bihar. The bombs were recovered from the surrounding
areas of the Kalachakra ground after an intense combing operation
by the Police team led by DIG of Patna range Vinay Kumar, said
IGP of Patna zone N.H. Khan. The small explosion caused panic
among the devotees who were gathered to hear the Dalai Lama’s
discourse. The explosion happened shortly after Dalai Lama completed
his discourse and rested for the day at the Tibetan monastery.
During the search operation, a burst thermal flask was found in
the kitchen area which might have caused the sound, said N.H.
Khan.
A Delhi court extended till February
5 the judicial custody of HM ‘chief’ Syed Salahuddin's son Syed
Shahid, arrested in a six-year-old terror funding case. Special
Judge O.P. Saini extended the custody after in-camera proceedings.
Shahid (42) a Jammu and Kashmir Government employee, was arrested
on October 24, 2017 after he was called for questioning at the
NIA headquarters. The NIA alleged that Shahid was collecting funds
from Aijaz Bhat, a Srinagar resident now based in Saudi Arabia
and a HM militant, on the direction of his father Salahuddin,
who is based in Pakistan. The money was meant to fund HM's activities
in J&K. The 2011 terror funding case pertains to money sent
through hawala (illegal money transfer) channels
by militants based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to Jammu and Kashmir.
The NIA filed two charge sheets against six accused in 2011. Four
of them - Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, one of the closest aides of Hurriyat
leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Sidiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani
Liloo and Farooq Ahmad Dagga - are currently in Delhi's Tihar
Jail.
During a high-level UNSC meeting
regarding Afghanistan, India’s permanent representative to the
UN Syed Akbaruddin said that Pakistan must change its ‘mindset’
that unleashes the terrorist activities in India and Afghanistan.
“Terrorism and externally induced instability pose the gravest
threat to Afghanistan’s peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.
“And the growing arc of terrorist violence endangers our entire
region.” said Akbaruddin.
During a press conference, Spokesperson
of the MEA Raveesh Kumar stated that there is a need for Pakistan
to realise the reality and take action against the mastermind
of 2008 Mumbai attack Hafiz Saeed. If someone enlisted as a designated
global terrorist, it has been done on the basis of concrete evidences
which are available in public domain. Pakistan may ‘close the
eyes’ and pretend like nothing happened but they must see what
is in front of them and take appropriate action against such people,
said Raveesh Kumar. Apart from India, the UN, the US, the UK,
the EU, Russia and Australia have also proscribed Hafiz Saeed’s
terror outfit—LeT.
The NIA has taken into custody
five terror suspects, including a person who was intercepted at
the Mangaluru International Airport in 2016, in connection with
their attempts to join the IS in Syria. The accused are Midlaj
(26), Abdul Rasak K V (34), Rashid M V (24), Manaf Rahman (42)
and Hamza U K (57), all residents of Kannur, Kerala. Manaf Rahman
was intercepted at Mangalore International Airport on December
23, 2016, when he attempted to travel along with his family to
the UAE, allegedly with the intention of travelling to Syria to
join ISIS. He was influenced by Hamza U K, who was also supposed
to travel to the UAE on December 25, 2016, and had booked air
ticket accordingly. But he dropped the plan after finding out
that Manaf Rahman was intercepted at Mangalore airport. The investigation
hitherto has revealed that Midlaj and Rashid had travelled along
with one Shajahan V K to Turkey in October, 2016, with the intention
of crossing over to Syria, but were apprehended by the Turkish
authorities and deported to India in January, 2017. Further, Abdul
Razak had travelled to Turkey through Tehran, Iran, along with
one Abdul Khayoom of Kannur in mid-April, 2017. Shajahan had again
reached Turkey in April/May, 2017, using a fake Indian passport
as part of his second attempt to migrate to Syria and join the
IS. Subsequently, Abdul Razak and Shajahan were apprehended by
Turkish authorities when they attempted to cross over to Syria.
They were deported to India on July 1, 2017. Abdul Khayoom managed
to cross over to Syria and join the Islamic State.
The pro-Khalistan movement posters
with the slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindawad’ (Long live Khalistan)
and ‘Khalistan Referendum 2020’ were spotted in Banga town and
its adjacent villages of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar District of
Punjab (India). The Tribune. The ‘Khalistan Zindawad’ slogan was
written in Punjabi language whereas ‘Khalistan Referendum 2020’
was in English language. The state Police has removed many such
posters and reached-out to the CCTV footage of nearby areas to
trace the persons involved in this activity.
Two civilians, including a woman,
were killed when Pakistani troops opened fire along the IB in
Jammu District. Three civilians were also injured in the heavy
shelling. The ceasefire violation took place at RS Pura sector
in Jammu District. According to sources, the deceased have been
identified as Bachno Devi of Sai Khurd and Sunil Kumar alias
Johny of Korotana in R S Pura sector.
Official sources said firing
from across the border restarted at around 6.45 am and it was
going on the entire border right from R S Pura in Jammu District
to Basantar river in Samba District. The BSF personnel were retaliating
strongly and effectively. Sources also said that apart from forward
BOPs, the Rangers were targeting civilian areas, causing panic
among villagers living near the IB.
Almost entire IB in Jammu, Samba
and Kathua Districts and LoC in the twin border Districts of Rajouri
and Poonch virtually faced war-like situation with intense shelling
by Pakistani Rangers and Army, leaving four persons including
an Army jawan (trooper), a BSF Head Constable and two civilians,
one of them a woman, dead and 35 others - two BSF jawans
and 33 civilians, injured, some of them seriously.
Three BSF jawans were
injured when mortar shells fell around their posts in Ramgarh
sector of Samba District. One of them identified as Jagpal Singh
died while being treated in the hospital and two others including
Adarsh SS and Sat Paul Singh were under treatment. The injured
were responding to the treatment.
Another Army jawan Lance
Naik Sam Abraham (34) was killed in Pakistan shelling and firing
in Sunderbani sector, bordering Pallanwalla in Akhnoor, of Rajouri
District.
Two civilians were killed when
mortar shells exploded inside their houses at Arnia and RS Pura
sectors, close to the IB in Jammu District. They have been identified
as Bachno Devi (45) and Sahil Kumar (25). Twelve persons were
injured in Arnia sector, eight in RS Pura, five in Samba, nine
in Kathua and one in Mendhar. With four deaths on January 19,
total number of killings in ceasefire violations by Pakistan during
last two days has gone up to six. On January 18, a BSF jawan and
a young girl were killed in shelling and firing in RS Pura and
Arnia sectors.
As heavy shelling and firing
continued for second consecutive day on January 19, large number
of people in RS Pura, Arnia, Ramgarh, Hiranagar, Kanachak and
Pargwal sectors left their houses for safer locations including
the relief camps set up for them by the administration while educational
institutions, falling within shelling and firing range, remained
closed, report said. Authorities in Rajouri District ordered closure
of all educational institutions within five kilometers of LoC
in 72 villages for next three days.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti
expressed grief and anguish over the killing of three persons
during the cross border shelling in the RS Pura, Suchetgarh and
Arnia sectors. The Chief Minister said that it is very unfortunate
that the people of border areas in the State continue to bear
the brunt of cross border fire power. She said today’s incidents
of shelling are a proof of her assertion that the people of the
State are the worst victims of acrimony between the two neighbouring
countries while appealing for cessation of hostilities on the
borders.
India summoned Pakistan Deputy
High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah and conveyed ‘grave concerns’
at the continued ceasefire violations and deliberate targeting
of innocent civilians by Pakistan forces. Shah was summoned by
the Joint Secretary in Pakistan division. The Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) has registered its ‘strong protest’ at the loss
of three innocent civilian lives besides injuries to nine other
civilians in ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces on 18 and
19 January 2018 in Hiranagar, Samba, Ramgarh, R S Pura and Arnia
sectors, an official release said. More than 100 such violations
have been carried out by the Pakistan forces on the LoC and the
IB so far during 2018. “It was conveyed to the concerned authorities
in Pakistan that deliberate targeting of innocent civilians was
against all established humanitarian norms and practises,” the
statement said.
Eight Police personnel were injured
in a grenade blast at Pulwama area in Pulwama District. Militants
lobbed a grenade towards Police Station Pulwama resulting in injuries
to eight Police personnel. “Soon after the attack, cops opened
some fire shots”, sources said. All the injured have been hospitalized
and have been identified as Mohammad Ishaq Shah of Hari Parigam,
Jagdish Raj of Kathua, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of Tral, Mohammad Shafi
Mir of Rajouri, Ghulam Nabi of Khaigam Pakherpora, Mushtaq Ahmad
Bhat of Ganderbal, Bilal Ahmad Lone of Khansahab Budgam and Farooq
Ahmad Lone of Tral. SFs have launched searches in the area against
the militants for the attack.
A Delhi court extended till February
5 the judicial custody of HM ‘chief’ Syed Salahuddin's son Syed
Shahid, arrested in a six-year-old terror funding case. Special
Judge O.P. Saini extended the custody after in-camera proceedings.
Shahid (42) a Jammu and Kashmir Government employee, was arrested
on October 24, 2017 after he was called for questioning at the
NIA headquarters.
The NIA alleged that Shahid was
collecting funds from Aijaz Bhat, a Srinagar resident now based
in Saudi Arabia and a HM militant, on the direction of his father
Salahuddin, who is based in Pakistan. The money was meant to fund
HM's activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The 2011 terror funding
case pertains to money sent through hawala channels by
militants based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to Jammu and Kashmir.
The NIA filed two charge sheets against six accused in 2011. Four
of them - Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, one of the closest aides of Hurriyat
leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammed Sidiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani
Liloo and Farooq Ahmad Dagga - are currently in Delhi's Tihar
Jail.
Two armed cadres of CPI-Maoist
identified as Nelli Ram Kashyap and Munna Istia surrendered
before the Police in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. Two Billfold
Holster guns, tiffin bomb and ammunition were recovered from the
surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres. The duo was fed up with the
hollow ideology and partisan attitude of the CPI-Maoist. Nelli
Ram Kashyap joined CPI-Maoist on the request of CPI-Maoist leaders, Ajay
and Deepak, four years ago and worked as ‘Jan Militia’ cadre in
Haandawada area. While, Munna Istia joined CPI-Maoist in 2013,
said ASP, Gorakhnath Baghel.
Kuki Chiefs’ Association Tengnoupal
District threatened to launch democratic forms of protest if the
newly created District was not made fully functional as a full-fledged
revenue District. Association’s general secretary LS Seikho Baite
alleged that government is yet to depute officials in adequate
strength for proper administration in the District
Two NSCN-IM militants were arrested
near Aoyimiti village junction Dimapur for abducting a trader.
The arrested militants have been identified as Toki Achumi and
Khetoho Jakhalu. The militant abducted the trader identified as
Subash Kumar Jain from MP road in Dimapur and he was later released
on the same day at Purana Bazar in Dimapur.
The accused Abdul Subhan Qureshi—a
most wanted terrorist who was accused of serial blasts in Gujarat
and Delhi in 2008, has been arrested by the Delhi Police Special
Cell officials after a brief gunfight in Ghazipur area of East
Delhi District in Delhi. Abdul Qureshi travelled
to Nepal with forge documents and was living there for many years.
He also went to Saudi Arabia between 2013 and 2015 and later,
returned to India to revive the terror network. Upon his arrest,
pistols and documents were recovered that depicts that he was
trying to revive the banned terror organization—the SIMI and the
IM, said Delhi’s DCP, Special Cell Pramod Kushwaha.
An Indian national Jitua Tongchongya
who was severely injured by a landmine along Indo-Myanmar border
on January 18 died
|
January 20
|
The designated teams of the Central
Intelligence agencies and the NIA have reached the Bodh Gaya Pilgrimage
Centre in Gaya District of Bihar after a low-density bomb exploded
and two ‘alive’ bombs were recovered from the temple’s premises
on the previous night. It will be too early to name any terror
outfit that carried out this act but the characteristics of the
explosives points to untrained Rohingyas that might be used by
Pakistan-based terror groups to carry out attacks at the Buddhist
temple complex in Bodh Gaya, said an unnamed senior officer of
NIA.
The Central intelligence agencies
has intercepted an encrypted message that meant to deliver to
the sleeper cells linked with few madrasas and tanzeem
(organizations) based in India, to carry out terrorist attack
at immediate basis. Indian intelligence agencies has sent out
an alert to all states to keep vigilant as sleeper cells are being
pressurised by Pakistan’s ISI to carry out terror attack as the
Republic Day celebration approaches, as per intelligence inputs.
Inputs from the intelligence agencies also claimed the meetings
between ISI and terror ‘commanders’ of LeT and JeM held at Rawalpindi
of Pakistan, to express outfits’ concern over the grave loss of
its cadre in J&K. Intelligence agencies are suspecting a fresh
‘evil’ design of the ISI to be unleashed in coming months.
Two civilians and an Army trooper
were killed in cross border firing along IB and the LoC across
Jammu region. The slain Army trooper has been identified as Mandeep
Singh. Four people, including an Army personnel, a BSF Head Constable
have been martyred, two civilians killed and 50 others including
two BSF troopers and civilians, injured, some of them seriously
while over 100 livestock has also been killed as a result of cross
border firing. Report said that 32 BSF posts along IB have been
retaliating to cross border firing from Pakistan. Cross border
firing has been reported from Jammu Districts of Arnia, Suchetgarh,
RS Pura, Pargwal, Kana Chak village, Gharkhal in Akhnoor.
Four people including a BSF jawan,
were injured after Pakistan violated ceasefire for the third consecutive
day. The BSF trooper was wounded in Pargwal sector in Jammu District.
According to officials, Between 8,000 to 9,000 people living along
the IB migrated to safer places.
An Assistant Constable, identified
as Jagat Ram Karma, was injured after CPI-Maoist cadres triggered
IED near a weekly market in Chhote Tumnar village under Geedam
Police Station of Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. Karma, posted
at Nelasnar Police Station of Bijapur District, was rushed to
a hospital in Bijapur and he is currently out of danger. The Police
have launched combing operations to against the CPI-Maoist cadres,
said Police official.
SFs recovered two pressure bombs
and petrol bomb from a bridge in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh.
The SFs conducted a search operation on the banks of Katari River
in Bethia Police Station area.
Senior CPI-Maoist cadres in Gadchiroli
District of Maharashtra seem to be taking their setbacks seriously,
as they are now conducting analysis after every incident. It was
said that the reds are also threatening villagers of adjoining
hamlets of dire consequences if they are found leaking information
to SFs. A District source claimed that senior cadres of Maoists
had come to the forest of Palle in Aheri sub-division to conduct
a ground-zero reality check, a couple of days ago. They were there
to collect insight into the firing incident, in which one of their
formations was cornered around a fortnight ago. Though there was
no casualty on their side, the camp had to withdraw following
mounting pressure of the C-60 personnel, leaving behind substantial
material of daily use and also literature, which had information
about their outfits and cadres involved in various activities.
The rebels had also ensured that
a few villagers from adjacent hamlets, like Rahpalli, Kurumpalli
and also Palle, were assembled at the forest where the firing
on them had taken place. The Maoist cadres, through their supporters
and militias, had ensured that none of the hamlets were left unrepresented.
The villagers were thoroughly quizzed by senior cadres, who tried
to collect every fine details of the incident, including movement
of the SFs, position of the rebels' camp that was stormed, the
directions from which the SF personnel had entered the forest
and such details. The Maoists also tried to pressurize the villagers
to share with them possible names of ‘Police informers’ or SPO
who work as volunteers for an honorarium in each village. SP,
Gadchiroli, Abhinav Deshmukh, said the Maoists are known to conduct
such analysis and record them for future reference. "They
mostly try to find out the police volunteers to choke our information
system and also gauge our movements," he said
CPI-Maoist cadres assaulted eight
villagers from Gagiaguda village under the Maithili Police Station
limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The villagers, identified
as Paradesi Durua, Sitaram Durua, Padia Kabasi, Musiki Durua,
Misi Kabashi, Lasimdhar Durua, Adam Padiami and Pandu Madi, were
abducted on January 17 by the Maoist rebels on the charge of being
‘Police Informers’ and assaulted them in a ‘Praja court’ at a
Maoist camp in a forest. The abducted villagers were released
(January 20), and warned the villagers not to provide information
about the Maoists to Police.
A NDFB-S militant Toni Ram Narzary
was arrested Mainaopur of Mazbat in Udalguri District.
|
January 21
|
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
said India has shown it can attack its enemies not only on its
soil, but also in a foreign territory, if need be. “A few months
ago, Pakistan, in an act of cowardice, attacked and martyred 17
of our jawans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi consulted all of us
on this serious issue, and the Indian Army entered the Pakistani
area and killed the militants,” Singh said at a public meeting
in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. “India’s image in the world has become
that of a strong nation and we have given a strong message to
the world that we can attack our enemies not only on our soil,
but also in their territory. India has developed this power,”
he said. Singh said India wants to maintain a friendly relationship
with Pakistan. “But Pakistan is not mending its ways,” Singh said.
“I want to assure you that our Government will not let India to
bow its head,” he said. Singh’s remarks come almost a month after
a group of five Army commandos crossed the LoC in Poonch sector
of Jammu and Kashmir and killed three Pakistani soldiers and smashed
a post, in a swift and daring operation.
The MEA strongly condemned the
terrorist attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul (Afghanistan)
and said that it is an evidence of safe havens to terrorists in
our ‘shared neighbourhood’ that need to deal with strongly. "India
stands in solidarity with the Government and the people of Afghanistan
in bringing the perpetrators of these terrorist attacks and their
supporters to justice," reads the statement released by the
MEA. The terror attack at the hotel in the Afghan capital killed
at least 17 people.
Two civilians and an Army soldier
were killed while two civilians injured as Pakistan in the night
heavily shelled on the IB in Kanachak and Pargwal sectors in Jammu
District and resumed intermittent shelling in RS Pura and Arnia
sectors while nearly a dozen Pakistanis, majority of them Rangers,
were reputedly killed in retaliatory shelling by the Indian side.
Pakistan Rangers resorted heavy
shelling and firing in civilian areas of Gajansoo, Gole Pattan,
New Kanachak, Old Kanachak and Pargwal, killing one civilian and
injuring two others. They also started shelling border villages
in RS Pura and Arnia sectors but intensity there was low as compared
to Kanachak and Pargwal sectors. Two brothers Gopal Dass Bawa
and Ram Dass Bawa sons of Bansi Dass Bawa, who were returning
to their house, were hit by a mortar shell at Kanachak town around
8.30 pm and were seriously injured. They were rushed to the GMC,
Jammu, where Gopal Dass was declared as dead while Ram Dass was
admitted in critical condition. A woman Kanta Devi wife of Rattan
Dass was also injured in Pakistan shelling in Kanachak.
Pakistan army initiated unprovoked
and indiscriminate firing of mortar, small arms and automatics
in Mendhar sector on the LoC in Poonch District last evening in
which an Army soldier Signalman Chandan Kumar Rai (25) was grievously
injured. He was evacuated from the spot and airlifted to Military
Hospital, where he died this morning (January 21). With these
killings, 12 persons including seven civilians, three Army personnel
and two BSF jawans (troopers) were killed during last four
days of ceasefire violations by Pakistan on LoC and IB.
Nowshera and Shahpur sectors
on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch Districts were also rocked by
fresh intense shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops on January
21 evening.
Sources said that Pakistan has
suffered more than dozen fatal casualties, majority of them Rangers,
while large number of others were injured in Phookaliyaan-Bajwat,
Chaprar, Harpal, Bajra Garhi, Charwah and Zafarwal-Shakargarh
sectors of Sialkot District in very heavy retaliation given by
the BSF to shelling and firing by the Rangers. More than 20 posts
and bunkers of the Rangers have been completely destroyed in retaliation
by the BSF, which, according to sources, was necessitated to teach
Pakistan a lesson for directly targeting the civilian population.
Sources said Pakistan suffered heavy casualties and infrastructural
damage in Sialkot.Sialk ot Deputy Commissioner Dr Farrukh Naveed
is reported to have confirmed to local media about more than dozen
killings of Pakistani Rangers and others in heavy shelling and
firing by the BSF. More than one lakh population of Sialkot in
Pakistan opposite Jammu sector, has deserted their homes for safer
areas, sources said.
Security along the IB in J&K
was beefed up following an alert by intelligence agencies about
possible infiltration attempts by Pakistan backed militants ahead
of the Republic Day (January 26), Police said. A group of three
to four terrorists were seen camping across the border at a village
in Pakistan, near a BoP, intelligence agencies are learnt to have
warned the Police and SFs. The agencies claimed that Pakistan's
ISI was trying to infiltrate this group of terrorists to create
disturbance and target SFs' camps, according to official sources.
The main reason behind ceasefire
violations and Pakistan shelling is to help infiltrate militants
from across the border, IG, Jammu Zone, SD Singh Jamwal said.
After the inputs from intelligence agencies, Police have beefed
up the security in border belts and increased round-the-clock
vigilance, he said. The Jammu and Kashmir Police on January 20
had sounded a ‘red alert’ and asked border dwellers to move out
of their areas as the situation was ‘sensitive’ in the wake of
continuous shelling by Pakistani troops.
UHM Rajnath Singh said India
has shown it can attack its enemies not only on its soil, but
also in a foreign territory, if need be. “A few months ago, Pakistan,
in an act of cowardice, attacked and martyred 17 of our jawans.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi consulted all of us on this serious
issue, and the Indian Army entered the Pakistani area and killed
the militants,” Singh said at a public meeting in Lucknow in Uttar
Pradesh. “India’s image in the world has become that of a strong
nation and we have given a strong message to the world that we
can attack our enemies not only on our soil, but also in their
territory. India has developed this power,” he said. Singh said
India wants to maintain a friendly relationship with Pakistan.
“But Pakistan is not mending its ways,” Singh said. “I want to
assure you that our Government will not let India to bow its head,”
he said. Singh’s remarks come almost a month after a group of
five Army commandos crossed the LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu
and Kashmir and killed three Pakistani soldiers and smashed a
post, in a swift and daring operation.
Unidentified persons abducted
a school teacher identified as Etwilthon D Sangma from Megua Songma
village in South Garo Hills District. The abductors are suspected
to have crossed over to Bangladesh.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs
planned to look at the Singapore’s counter-radicalization policy
to contain the growing threat of radicalization of the Indian
youth and save them from the influence of IS. The UMHA has also
directed the IB to prepare a ‘Standard Operative Procedure’ to
tackle the radical content freely floating over the social media
and other Internet-based platforms.
Telangana Police arrested three
CPI-Maoist couriers identified as Madivi Sammaiah, Nanda and Mirgam
Arjun from two different places of Bhadradri Kothagudem District
of Telangana. The Police arrested Sammaiah and Nanda from at Devanagaram
in Charla Mandal and Mirgam Arjun near Bhadrachalam
town during regular vehicle-check and seized several gelatin sticks,
detonators and bundles of electrical wire. Police registered cases
against the trio at Charla and Bhadrachalam Police Stations, said
SP, Amber Kishore Jha.
An ULFA-I militant identified
as Ujjawal Baruah alias Dadul was arrested from Desangmukh
Jailgaon area of Sivasagar District.
Two unidentified ULFA-I linkmen
were arrested from Charaideo District. Indian Army, CRPF and
Assam Police have increased security arrangements ahead of the
Republic day celebrations to be held on January 26.
According to intelligence source
a group of ULFA-I militants led by ULFA-I ‘zonal commandant’ Akoni
Axom, has been taking shelter in some parts of Charaideo District
and might carry out subversive activities ahead of Republic Day.
|
January 22
|
The Delhi Police filed a charge-sheet
against Zeeshan Ali—al Qaeda’s terrorist who was accused of provocative
speeches to recruit youth and establishing a base for the terror
outfit. Zeeshan Ali was deported from the Saudi Arabia in August
2017. Zeeshan Ali and 11 other operatives were exposed by Syed
Anzar Shah and other four members of the outfit who were arrested
in the case in 2015. Delhi’s ADJ Sidharth Sharma has postponed
the hearing till February 2.
Investigation has revealed the
involvement of pro-Khalistan module in the target killings of
religious-political leaders over the past two years in Punjab.
The module had paid more than INR 40 lakh to the alleged killers—Hardeep
Singh alias Shera and Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian,
to carry out the killings. When NRIs visits India, other
NRIs from their country hand-over some money and other things
to give to relatives or friends in India. In their modus-operandi,
instead of using direct transfer to bank accounts, the handlers
paid to killers through such NRIs. We are trying to reach the
NRIs,” said an officer on the basis of anonymity. These handlers
were supported by the KLF and used to communicate the addresses
of those NRIs through a messaging application—Signal, said another
unnamed senior officer.
Militants attacked the Police
Station near Azad Jung area of the old town Baramulla in Baramulla
District with a grenade at around 6.40 pm resulting in injuries
to a policeman who was performing his duty as sentry of the Police
Station. The injured sentry identified as Mohammad Rafiq has been
hospitalized. In retaliation, Police fired several rounds. However,
there was no immediate report of any casualty. A Police spokesman
said that militants hurled a grenade on Police Station Baramulla
this evening, resulting in minor injuries to a police constable.
“Immediately after the attack, Police along with SFs cordoned
off the area and search to nab the terrorists is going on”, the
spokesman said.
Militants hurled a grenade on
CRPF party near Khrew Chowk in Pampore area of Pulwama District
which exploded on the road side in which a civilian identified
as Mohammad Shafi Bhat (50) was injured. Soon after the attacks,
Police, CRPF and Army launched searches to nab the attackers.
SFs have intensified their vigil
in Srinagar and its outskirts after inputs about militant movement.
After eliminating more than dozen
Pakistani Rangers during ongoing skirmishes on the IB, the BSF
carried out pinpointed retaliatory actions against Pakistani Forces
and destroyed their firing positions, ammunition and fuel dumps,
in which the enemy suffered huge losses, which couldn’t be estimated
from this side immediately. Heavy shelling and firing from Pakistan
side on the IB in Kanachak, Pargwal, RS Pura, Arnia and Ramgarh
sectors in Jammu and Samba Districts continued throughout last
night (January 21) and stopped at 5.45 am on January 22. Official
sources said the BSF gave suitable and pin pointed retaliation
to unprovoked firing by Pakistani forces across IB in Jammu sector.
“At several locations, the enemy’s firing positions, ammunition
and fuel dumps have been destroyed by precision firing of the
border guards,’’ they added. The BSF also released two videos
in support of destruction of Pakistan’s firing posts, fuel and
ammunition dumps, which clearly showed enemy’s posts and dumps
going up in flames after the BSF action.
According to sources, the Pakistan
side has suffered huge devastation in destruction of their ammunition
and fuel dumps, apart from firing positions and there were reports
of heavy casualties and infrastructural losses of the enemy troops
in major offensive undertaken by the BSF. Sources said retaliation
to the Rangers was necessitated as Pakistani forward posts were
targeting Indian civilian areas in many locations on the IB. Already
more than a dozen Pakistani Rangers have been killed during ongoing
five-day long cross-border shelling and firing on the IB. Sources
said number of casualties on Pakistan side could further go up
following BSF’s fresh retaliatory action. Sources said the BSF
has fired over 9,000 rounds of mortar shells across the IB in
the past four days as part of “pinpointed” retaliatory action
against Pakistan’s unprovoked firing to destroy firing positions
and fuel dumps of the Pakistan Rangers at multiple places. Sources
said the situation along the 190-km IB in the Jammu area was “very
tense” as Pakistan had “opened” heavy fire in the entire stretch
since last evening (January 21).
Pakistani Rangers continued heavy
unprovoked shelling and firing on civilian areas in Pargwal, Kanachak,
RS Pura, Arnia and Ramgarh sectors in Jammu and Samba Districts
overnight. Shelling stopped at 5.45 am (January 22) and thereafter
there was no report of any ceasefire violations on the IB as well
as LoC. A BSF jawan (trooper), identified as Arun Verma
was injured in Pakistan shelling in Ramgarh sector on January
21 night. He has been hospitalized. A total of 12 persons including
seven civilians, three Army soldiers and two BSF jawans
have been killed and nearly 60 others, majority of them civilians,
left injured during last five days in Pakistan shelling and firing.
The LeT issued a diktat to Kashmiri
women threatening them to be prepared for ‘consequences’ if they
did not observe the ‘Islamic dress code’. The terror outfit circulated
handwritten posters, asking women to follow the Taliban-type dress
code and wear loose robes, which only leave the eyes exposed.
"The Kashmiri women, particularly from Shopian district,
are resorting to waywardness. So, they need to observe Islamic
dress. Even the hands of the women should not be exposed,"
read the posters with LeT stamps. The poster threatens that if
women do not observe complete 'purdah', they will be "responsible
for the consequences." The Police have taken the surfacing
of posters lightly, but we will keep an eye on any kind of mischief
against the girls in south Kashmir, a senior Police officer said.
Since the rise of militancy in
the 1990s, women have had to bear the brunt of Islamist militant
groups that threatened them with violence if they refused to observe
'purdah'. In the early 2000s, DeM ‘chief’ Asiya Anderabi tried
to impose burqa on Kashmiri women and the group attacked some
non-veiled women with acid. The DeM even tried to prevent Kashmiri
Muslim girls from visiting restaurants but had to abandon it due
to the valley-wide resentment against the move.
Seven-seven kilograms of two
Tiffin bombs suspected to have been planted by the CPI-Maoist
cadres to harm the Police and ITBP's search parties were recovered
in the forest of Jhansi Khaira of Dhur area in Rajnandgaon
District of Chhattisgarh. Acting on the information, the joint
Police party of the District Police force and the ITBP had launched
a search operation in the forest. During the search, the joint
party saw the bomb and the electric wires kept hidden among the
bushes. Police and ITBP team destroyed the bomb there in the forest.
Jharkhand Police arrested CPI-Maoist
sympathizer, identified as Manoj Yadav, from Dumri Police Station
area in Giridih District of Jharkhand. Police recovered INR 600,000
in ‘levy’ and CPI-Maoist pamphlets from Manoj Yadav, who is a
resident of Nagar Keswari of Sariya and sent to jail, said DSP,
Arvind Sinha.
UNLFW an umbrella group of rebel
groups on January 22 called for a total boycott of Republic Day
celebrations. Khango Konyak, the newly appointed ‘chairman’ of
UNLFW, in a statement said ‘(We want) a 24-hour total shutdown
on January 26 and to engage concerted refusal by not attending
or gathering at any governmental offices or public places within
24 hours of that day, except some emergency services
UNLFW an umbrella group of rebel
groups on January 22 called for a total boycott of Republic Day
celebrations. Khango Konyak, the newly appointed ‘chairman’ of
UNLFW, in a statement said ‘(We want) a 24-hour total shutdown
on January 26 and to engage concerted refusal by not attending
or gathering at any governmental offices or public places within
24 hours of that day, except some emergency services
UNLFW an umbrella group of rebel
groups on January 22 called for a total boycott of Republic Day
celebrations. Khango Konyak, the newly appointed ‘chairman’ of
UNLFW, in a statement said ‘(We want) a 24-hour total shutdown
on January 26 and to engage concerted refusal by not attending
or gathering at any governmental offices or public places within
24 hours of that day, except some emergency services.
An unidentified PREPAK-PRO female
militant was arrested from Wangkhei Andro Parking in Imphal East.
UNLFW an umbrella group of rebel
groups on January 22 called for a total boycott of Republic Day
celebrations. Khango Konyak, the newly appointed ‘chairman’ of
UNLFW, in a statement said ‘(We want) a 24-hour total shutdown
on January 26 and to engage concerted refusal by not attending
or gathering at any governmental offices or public places within
24 hours of that day, except some emergency services
SP of Police Lawngtlai stated
that over 1,400 Myanmarese nationals who took refuge in Mizoram’s
Lawngtlai district following clash between Arakan militants and
the Army in November 2017 have refused to return to Myanmar.
The refugees were mainly from
the border villages of Varang, Paletwa, Pakangwa and Mulaw in
Myanmar’s Chin state. On December 2017, authorities had stated
that registration of 1,600 Myanmarese nationals have been undertaken
to ascertain the number of refugees in Lawngtlai.
UNLFW an umbrella group of rebel
groups on January 22 called for a total boycott of Republic Day
celebrations. Khango Konyak, the newly appointed ‘chairman’ of
UNLFW, in a statement said ‘(We want) a 24-hour total shutdown
on January 26 and to engage concerted refusal by not attending
or gathering at any governmental offices or public places within
24 hours of that day, except some emergency services.
|
January 23
|
The alleged ex-member of the
SIMI and co-founder of IM—Abdul Subhan Qureshi who was arrested
by Delhi Police (Special cell) claimed his involvement in the
Mumbai train blasts (2006) and serial blasts in Gujarat (2008),
among other terror activities in India. Abdul Subhan Qureshi
was also wanted by the Police of Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Hyderabad and UP for his alleged involvement in various
terror cases. On January 21, he appeared before the court and
was sent to 14-days Police custody.
Investigations into the arrest
of IM militant Abdul Subhan Qureshi have revealed that he had
made several trips to Nepal during which he met senior operatives
of Pakistan’s ISI. These ISI officers, intelligence sources said,
directed Qureshi to revive IM operations in India and target important
cities. For his stay in Nepal, Qureshi had also forged some documents.
It is suspected that these meetings between Qureshi and ISI officials
were facilitated by some staff members of the Pakistan embassy
in Kathmandu and their role was being investigated. Senior intelligence
officials claimed Qureshi’s arrest has confirmed what they were
suspecting till now that ISI had been making desperate attempts
to revive IM, which mainly comprised of local youth, for terror
operations in the country.
The US’ Department of State (DoS)
designated an Indian-origin British Hindu—Siddhartha Dhar who
converted to Islam and joined IS, as ‘Specially Designated Global
Terrorist’ (SDGT). Another Belgian-Moroccan citizen—Abdelatif
Gaini was also designated as SDGT. Siddhartha Dhar was an ex-member
of defunct organisation named Al-Muhajiroum and later in 2014,
he left the UK and travelled to Syria to join IS. He is believed
to replace the famous IS executioner Mohammad Emwazi aka ‘jihadi
john’ and appeared in a January 2016 IS video of the execution
of several prisoners of IS accused of spying for the UK, said
a statement released by the DoS. As per the current designation
in SDGT list Dhar and Gaini will be denied the resources they
need to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks. Along with,
all of Dhar's and Gaini's property or interests in property subject
to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US citizens are generally
prohibited from engaging in any transactions with both of them.
UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres ruled out any mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue
unless all parties agree to it and asked India and Pakistan to
address their outstanding issues through talks amidst heightened
tensions along the border. The UN Secretary-General’s spokesman
Stephane Dujarric said that in principle good offices of the UN
chief are always available for mediation, but everyone needs to
agree on involving the world body. Asked about escalating tensions
between India and Pakistan due to ongoing skirmishes and firing
along the border, Dujarric said, “We’re obviously aware. We’re
following this… what’s been going on, really for the last 10 days.”
Asked why the Secretary-General
is not so keen to involve himself in this crisis, Dujarric said,
“In principle good offices of Guterres are always available for
mediation, but everyone needs to agree on involving the UN.” “As
a matter of principle I’m not talking specifically about this
issue, but about any issue where there is conflict between parties,
the Secretary-General’s good offices are always available,” he
said. “As in any issue…If there are multiple parties, everyone
needs to agree on involving the UN. That is true of any mediation
effort,” Dujarric said. “The Secretary-General would encourage
both sides to address any outstanding issues through dialogue,”
he said.
There is likely to be an increase
in militant attacks by Pakistan-based terror outfits such as JeM
and LeT outfits, intelligence agencies have said in their briefing
to the UMHA and the Jammu and Kashmir Government. UHM Rajnath
Singh was informed by these agencies that the two militant outfits,
especially the JeM, could take the lead in fomenting trouble in
Kashmir, giving HM ‘time to regroup’, a senior UMHA functionary
said. While JeM and LeT comprise foreign and Kashmiri militants,
HM is mostly a Kashmiri outfit.
Quoting intelligence inputs,
the official added that Pakistan-based militant outfits made the
decision after the killings of senior commanders of HM in the
last two years. This includes 21-year-old Burhan Wani, who was
killed by SFs in July 2016, sparking off a five-month violent
agitation in the Valley. “The home minister is personally monitoring
the situation and has directed security agencies to take all necessary
steps to fight off foreign militants coming from Pakistan,” said
the official. Intelligence documents suggest that the LeT is ‘all
set to campaign for growth in recruitment of militants’ inside
Kashmir.
From just eight in January 2017,
ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir
in January this year (2018) are already up to 134 according to
data with the Ministry of Defence. With 860 ceasefire violation
recorded in 2017, January is likely to record the highest number
of ceasefire violations along the LoC in 14 years. Of the 860
ceasefire violations in 2017, December accounted for 147, the
highest ever so far. Pakistan has claimed there were more than
1,900 ceasefire violations last year and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry
has alleged there were over 75 ceasefire violations by India in
January 2018, so far.
Sources in the Indian Army’s
Northern Command headquartered in Udhampur (Udhampur District
of J&K) said that they expect the number in January to go
past the ceasefire violations in December, which will make it
the month with the highest number of ceasefire violations since
October 2003. India and Pakistan agreed to a formal ceasefire
in 2003 along the LoC which, which lasted, with certain exceptions,
till late 2016. There were 271 ceasefire violations on the LoC
in 2016, a climb-down from 387 violations in 2015. Historically,
Infiltration during the snow-bound winter months has been low
and even the International Border (IB) in Jammu have witnessed
increased ceasefire violations over the last few days.
Sources said that the increase
in ceasefire violations is primarily due to two reasons: Pakistani
violates the ceasefire to provide cover to help militants infiltrate
across the LoC, which draws an Indian response and as part of
India’s proactive counter-terror strategy to target Pakistan army
posts on the LoC acting as terror launch-pads.
An encounter between the SFs
and CPI-Maoist cadres took place in the forests of Atapalli
of Basaguda Police Station in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
After the long encounter, the Maoists fled leaving behind their
weapons and escaped. Police recovered a pipe bomb, bottle bomb,
mobile and items of daily use from the encounter spot.
A joint team of the ITBP and
the District Police arrested nine CPI-Maoist cadres, including
two women cadres, from the forests near Becha and Kadenar villages
under Chhotedongar Police Station limits in Narayanpur District
of Chhattisgarh during an anti-Maoist operation. The arrestees,
identified as Sitaram Watti, Munna alias Ravishankar,
Shankar, Fagu alias Jaisingh, Sonadhar, Sukman
Korram, Lchhuram Neta, Jaldai Watti and Budhmati alias Phulbati,
are lower-rung cadres who are wanted for crimes like attempt to
murder, attacking Police party and loot, Narayanpur SP, Jitendra
Shukla, said.
Four CPI-Maoist ‘jan
militia’ members, identified as Pohduram Korram (45), Sonu
Netam (35), Sonsai Netam (45) and Kenvsi Kashyap (32), were arrested
by a composite squad of the STF and ITBP during a combing operation
at Rajadongri forests under Mardapal Police Station in Kondagaon
District of Chhattisgarh. The Police combing operation was to
ensure security to the road construction work in the area. The
arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were active as ‘jan militia’ members
and involved in loot, arson and attempt to murder, said Kondagaon
ASP, Maheshwar Nag.
A joint squad of Telangana Police
and the CRPF arrested four CPI-Maoist couriers
identified as Muski Bheema (36), Y Iithu (19), Muski Unga
(20), and M Bichem (28), from Lenin Colony village in
Charla Mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. The SFs
arrested Maoist couriers while they were proceeding towards Chhattisgarh
to deliver a consignment of medicines to CPI-Maoist cadres
based in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh. SFs have seized
two boxes containing various medicines, 28 saline bottles, more
than 200 syringes and surgical spirit worth INR 10,000. All arrested
Maoist couriers are from Kondapalli village in Bijapur District
of Chhattisgarh, said Police.
One cadre of the JJMP, a splinter
group of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Binod Yadav, was arrested
during a raid in the Bandua Teenmuhan area in Latehar District
of Jharkhand. Acting on information, DSP, Santosh Kumar Mishra,
arrested Binod, who was involved in a JJMP encounter with the
Police in Barwaiya's Kumularhi.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
a mixture machine and cement bags of a construction firm at Kaliaposh
village of Tulsikani Gram Panchayat under Bisra
area in Sundargarh District of Odisha. CPI-Maoist cadres were
demanding ‘ransom’ of INR 300,000 from the construction firm which
is building a check dam estimated at INR 3.5 million. They had
warned of the firm of dire consequences against resuming work
till their demands were met. A few days back, CPI-Maoist leader
Anmolda had sent a letter to the contractor demanding the ransom.
SKDC of CPI-Maoist called
for 48 hour bandh on January 25 and 26 in Odisha
and demanded Koraput SP, District Collector and DIG S. Saini to
immediately transferred after the Kunduli suicide incident. Aruna,
‘secretary’ of SKDC released the audio tape in Koraput District
of Odisha, which urged the people to boycott the Republic Day
celebrations across in Odisha and especially in Koraput District
of Odisha on January 26.
SFs are conducting security operations
into the dense jungles along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border
in Tinsukia, the Assam-Nagaland border in Sivasagar, the Assam-Bhutan
borders in Baksa, Jorhat, Golaghat and BTAD. Vital installations
like refineries, railway bridges, railway stations and airports
are also under special attention. According to sources militant
leaders of ULFA-I Udoy Asom and Drishtri Rajkhowa - may try to
create disturbances on January 26. Last year, militants had triggered
at least seven low-intensity blasts on Republic day in several
areas in Charaideo, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, and Sivasagar Districts.
SFs recovered a cache of ammunition
from Kassom in Imphal East District. The recovered weapons include
five pistols, two grenades and an assortment of ammunition.
In view of the Republic Day celebrations
to be held on January 26, Imphal East Police on January 22 conducted
combing operations in and around Hatta Golapati area and verified
around 367 individuals including 87 women, reports Assam Tribune.
Four people were detained during the operation.
A UNLF militant from Wangjing
Sorokhaibam Leikai in Thoubal District.
NSCN-IM opposed the Assembly
elections in Nagaland slated for February 27, saying it will be
a serious obstacle towards finding an early political solution
to the Naga problem. NSCN-IM in a statement said that they are
committed to an early negotiated political settlement, but the
election is "bound to undermine" the progress of the
ongoing talks between them and the Centre. They also said that
‘the decision taken by GoI Election Commission to hold election
is bound to undermine the progress of the ongoing talks and become
a serious obstacle towards finding an early political solution’.
On January 18, the Election Commission announced that elections
to the 60-member Assembly would be conducted on February 27.
NMA a civil society group urged
political parties not to contest the February 27 Nagaland Assembly
polls and demanded a solution to the insurgency problem first.
AR and NIA in a joint operation
arrested three militants of NSCN-KN from Zubsa in Kohima District.
The arrested militants were identified as ‘brigadier’ Aheto H
Chophy, Witti Marak and Mughahoto Sumi.Aheto H Chophy was wanted
in a case for clandestinely acquiring weapons and ammunition belonging
to Nagaland Police and for insurgent violence.
Between 2000 and 2012 as ‘brigadier’
Aheto H Chophy had bought 75 weapons of various types, 62 magazines
and 26,098 assorted ammunitions along with three bayonets from
a Police official. Type-56 rifle, 2 pistols, 176 rounds of ammunition
and INR 1,32,320 were recovered from the arrested militants.
|
January 24
|
The Kerala Police arrested two
persons identified as Saleem alias Sallu (38)—resident
of Vatakara of Kozhikode District and Abdul Latheef (42)—resident
of Perinthalmanna, Malappuram District, for distributing the FICNs.
The Police approached them on pretext to exchange currency and
seized the FICN in denomination of INR 2,000 and INR 500 worth
INR 49,000. After preliminary interrogation, the Police has recovered
additional FICNs of worth INR 2,67,500 from their houses, said
Rural SP M.K. Pushkaran. All the FICNs had threads and look like
the original currency notes that were printed in Wayanad District
of Kerala. The state Police is looking-out for another person
involved in this case.
Acting upon specific Intelligence
inputs on a Pune-based woman who entered Kashmir Valley to carry-out
a suicide attack, the Security agencies in Kashmir Valley are
elevated on alert. The woman is identified as Sadia Anwar Shaikh—a
resident of Yerwada of Pune District in Maharashtra, was stopped
by the Maharashtra ATS from joining the Islamic State (IS) in
2015 and efforts were placed to de-radicalise her. In 2015, Sadia
was a minor and could not be charged or arrested. Therefore, she
was counselled for de-radicalisation. Now, she is an adult and
it seems that she is still under the influence of radical forces,
hence she might have moved to Kashmir to plan some attack,"
said an unnamed official requesting anonymity.
The special court of the NIA
has commenced the trial of IS member Areeb Majeed, who returned
India in 2015. The court has recorded and examined
the statement of first witness, Fahad Sayed—a CEO of Rahar Travels,
whose services were used by Areeb Majeed and other three of his
associates in pretext to going for pilgrimage. Majeed contacted
Sayed on April 14, 2014 for a package tour of Haj for four persons
and on the same day he and another youth—Saheem Tanki visited
his office with the advance payment and all the relevant documents
for the booking. The remaining balance was paid to Sayed on May
17, 2014 by Majeed. Sayed informed the court that all four went
on tour on June 1, 2014 and later Sayed was informed by the tour
operator that all four youth went missing and one of the boy’s
relative had filed a missing report at Baghdad, Iraq. The prosecution
alleged that Majeed and his three associates left India in May
2014 to join the IS under the guise of the pilgrimage.
The Aligarh Muslim University
in Aligarh District of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) has awarded a ‘brilliant
student’ certificate to its research scholar—Mannan Wani, who
alleged to have joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). Although the University
promptly expelled Mannan when his photo with AK-47 appeared on
social media sites and the terror outfits ‘welcomed’ him to join
its ranks. The inquiry report submitted by the AMU to the state
Police described Mannan Wani as ‘brilliant student’ who had nothing
‘objectionable’ against him as the university is concerned. The
‘chief’ of HM—Syed Salahuddin had praised Mannan Wani and presented
him as the new poster boy of the outfit. The joining of Wani exposed
the Indian propaganda the youth of Kashmir is joining militant
ranks due to unemployment and economic distress, said a statement
by Salahuddin.
Acting upon an Intelligence input
from the Military Intelligence unit in J&K, the Punjab Police
in Batala of Gurdaspur District arrested a man identified as Gian
Singh as a part of an espionage ring that supplied the sensitive
Military information to Pakistan’s ISI. The Police have recovered
a mobile phone and two SIM cards from Gian Singh and he is charged
under various sections of India’s Official Secret Act (OSA).
The preliminary interrogation has revealed that Gian Singh was
in contact with an ISI agent based in Pakistan and his task was
to provide photos and videos of the Indian Army and the BSF deployment
and movement along with India-Pakistan border. Gian Singh also
revealed that Shamsher Singh alias Shera introduced
him with an ISI agent. The Punjab Police of Batala is in close
pursuit of Shamsher Singh.
Two HM militants, identified
as Sameer Ahmad Wani alias Maviya and Firdous Ahmad alias
Umar Bhai and a 17-year-old youth, identified as Shakir Ahmad
Mir were killed and two girls critically injured during an encounter
between militants and SFs in Chaigund village of Shopian District.
A joint team of Army’s 44 RR, SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police
and CRPF laid a siege to Chaigund in Keegam area of Shopian District
following specific inputs about the presence of militants in the
village. As the SFs intensified the searches, the militants hiding
in the house of one Ghulam Hassan Bhat opened fire triggering
an encounter. Shakir Ahmad Mir, a resident of Qalampora village
of Pulwama district, was killed and two teenage girls, identified
as Sumi Jan and Sabreena were wounded during the initial gun fight.
The encounter continued till evening and two militants of HM were
killed. During the searches of the debris of the house one AK-47
and two magazines and one INSAS rifle and two magazines were recovered.
Clashes broke out in the village
during the operation as protesters pelted stones at the SFs to
disrupt the operation. The SFs fired teargas to disperse them.
Meanwhile, Internet services were snapped in the twin districts
of Shopian and Pulwama to prevent the spreading of rumours and
violence.
A Police spokesman said that
on a specific information, the SFs laid a cordon at Chaigund area
of Shopian in South Kashmir. “The hiding militants under the clad
of Burka tried to break cordon and fired indiscriminately on the
search party. The security forces retaliated during which Burka-clad
militants were forced to go back into hiding. During indiscriminate
firing by the militants and the retaliatory fire one civilian
Shakir Ahmad Mir resident of Kalampora Pulwama got killed and
two ladies Sabreena Jan and Sumi Jan, both the residents of Keegam,
Shopian received bullet injuries. The injured ladies were taken
to SMHS hospital where from they were shifted to SKIMS Soura for
specialised treatment”, the spokesman said. The spokesman said
that Sumi Jan was a resident of the house in which the encounter
took place and Sabreena Jan is a sister of HM militant Sameer
Wani who was also hiding in the house and was later killed. “So
far one AK 47, one INSAS and two dead bodies of militants have
been recovered from the encounter site”, he said.
An IED planted by militants near
Pampore Railway Station in Kandizal-Tangpora village in Pulwama
District was defused by CRPF. The IED fitted inside a pressure
cooker was recovered at new bypass near Kandizal-Tangpora village,
opposite Pampore railway station, in the morning. A Bomb Disposal
Squad of the CRPF defused the IED, without causing any damage.
The IED was planted at a time when security has been heightened
and patrols intensified to prevent any militant attacks around
January 26 (Republic Day).
An Army jawan (trooper),
identified as Naik Jagadish who was injured in unprovoked Pakistani
firing on January 20 along LoC in Poonch District, succumbed to
his injuries. “Pakistan had resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian
Army posts in Krishna Ghati sector on January 20. During the exchange
of fire, Naik Jagadish sustained grievous splinter injuries. He
was immediately evacuated and provided intensive medical care
in Military Hospital,” a Defence spokesman said. However, despite
all efforts the gallant soldier succumbed to his injuries in the
early hours on January 24. With this, death toll during past about
one week of Pakistan shelling and firing on LoC and IB has gone
up to 13 including seven civilians and six security personnel
(2 BSF and 4 Army jawans) while over 65 others have been injured.
Two live mortar shells fired
by Pakistani troops exploded in the premises of a Government school
in Nowshera tehsil of Rajouri District. No loss of life or damage
to property has been reported in explosion of the shells.
After a brief lull, Pakistan
yet again violated the ceasefire agreement by firing on forward
Indian posts on the LoC in Rajouri District. “Pakistani Army started
unprovoked firing on Wednesday (January 24) evening along the
Line of Control in Nowshera sector of Rajouri,” report said. “Ceasefire
violation in Babakhori area of Nowshera in Rajouri was reported
tonight. No loss reported yet,” reports added.
Two masked gunmen barged into
the house of the principal of a high school in Pulwama and thrashed
him for letting girls participate in the upcoming Republic Day
(January 26) parade. In a video that went viral, the militants
are seen entering the house of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh at Pinglena
village and asking him to apologise for ‘pressurizing the girl
students’ to attend the January 26 parade in the District. "We
have our agents in the police department who are keeping a close
vigil on every movement. We will also identify the lady teacher
who teaches dance to girls," the men are heard saying in
the video.
The ‘warning’ comes just two
days after LeT issued a diktat to Kashmiri women, threatening
them to be prepared for ‘consequences’ if they did not observe
the ‘Islamic dress code’. Pulwama SSP Mohammad Aslam Choudary
said, "Militants are involved in issuing the threat and we
have launched an inquiry to identify them."
Acting upon specific Intelligence
inputs on a Pune-based woman who entered Kashmir Valley to carry-out
a suicide attack, the Security agencies in Kashmir Valley are
elevated on alert. The woman is identified as Sadia Anwar Shaikh—a
resident of Yerwada of Pune District in Maharashtra, was stopped
by the Maharashtra ATS from joining the Islamic State (IS) in
2015 and efforts were placed to de-radicalise her. In 2015, Sadia
was a minor and could not be charged or arrested. Therefore, she
was counselled for de-radicalisation. Now, she is an adult and
it seems that she is still under the influence of radical forces,
hence she might have moved to Kashmir to plan some attack,"
said an unnamed official requesting anonymity.
J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said
that as many as 25 civilians were killed and 152 injured in the
past two years (2016 and 2017) in cross border firing in different
parts of the State. “In the past two years, 25 people have been
killed and 152 got injured due to cross border firing,” Mehbooba
Mufti said in a written reply to the questions raised by the members
Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Pradeep Sharma and Yashpal Sharma jointly
in the Legislative Council. She said that in 2016, two people
were killed in Jammu, six in Samba, two in Rajouri and three in
Poonch while in 2017, one civilian was killed in Jammu, three
in Rajouri, seven in Poonch and one in Baramulla.
Giving details on injured civilians,
she replied that in 2016, 40 were injured in Jammu, nine in Samba,
four in Kathua, six in Rajouri, 20 in Poonch and four in Kupwara.
In 2017, she said that 18 got injured in Jammu, 10 in Rajouri,
47 in Poonch and four in Baramulla.
On property damaged during this
period due to shelling she said that in Jammu 80 houses were damaged,
in Samba 28, Kathua 13, Rajouri 13 and Poonch 31. However, in
Bandipora, 15 houses were damaged, two mosques and a school while
in Baramulla and Kupwara, one and 40 houses were damaged due to
firing, replied Ms Mufti, who is also in-charge Home.
On policy with the Government
for rehabilitation of victims and compensation paid to the victims,
she said, “as precautionary measures, people residing in the border
districts are shifted to safer places temporarily in Government
and private accommodations, where they are provided basic amenities
like health care, drinking water, power, temporary toilet, sanitation,
security. “Further security has been augmented in border areas
in border area and anti-infiltration grid strengthened,” replied
the Chief Minister adding that Police deployment was increased
and adequate security provided in the border villages to ensure
protection of property. “A committee has also been constituted
by Government of India to monitor the problems being faced by
the people residing near Line of Control,” said Mehbooba Mufti.
The J&K Government said 6,221
people suffered pellet-gun injuries during the unrest in Kashmir
after the killing of HM militant Burhan Wani in 2016. Replying
to a question in the Legislative Council, CM Mehbooba Mufti said
1,084 pellet-gun injuries were reported in Baramulla District,
followed by 1,041 in Pulwama, 1,031 in Kulgam, 888 in Kupwara,
873 in Anantnag, 808 in Shopian, 183 in Bandipora, 167 in Budgam,
110 in Srinagar and 36 in Ganderbal District. As many 51 people
were killed in Kashmir division from July 8, 2016 to February
27, 2017 in the unrest, she said.
The Chief Minister said 9,042
people were injured in firing of bullets, pellets, PAVA-shells
and others during the period. Of these, 6,221 were injured due
to pellets, 368 due to bullets, four due to PAVA shells and 2,449
suffered other injuries, she said. As many as 782 suffered injuries
in the eyes, of which 510 were hospitalized, Mufti said, adding,
5,197 cases of pellet injuries were treated at district hospitals
and the rest were referred to super specialty hospitals. Violent
protests had rocked the Valley after the killing of HM ‘commander’
Burhan Wani on July 8 in 2016.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL),
comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad
Yasin Malik, appealed to the people to observe January 26 (Republic
Day), as ‘black day’ and boycott all the functions. “India has
no right to celebrate its Republican Day as they have taken the
control of state with its military might. We appeal to the people
to observe 26th January as a black day and boycott all celebrations,”
the resistance leaders, in a statement today, said. “We have no
animosity with India or its people and they have every right to
celebrate republican day within its states but despite their being
rhetoric about democracy they have no ethical or constitutional
right to celebrate this in Jammu and Kashmir as our democratic
rights have been smashed and trampled,” they said.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed
four Police personnel and severely injuring eight others in an
attack in Abujhmaad area in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
Special DGP, anti-Naxal operations, D M Awasthi said two sub-inspectors
and two constables were killed when a joint team of STF and DRG
was out on anti-Naxalite operations in the forests of Irpanar
in Abujhmaad region of Narayanpur District. Over 60 jawans were
out on an operation when they were attacked by the Maoist ‘6 Company’
around 11 am. The slain jawans were identified as sub-inspectors
Vinod Kaushik and Moolchand Singh Kanwar and Constables Devnath
Pujari, Raisingh Markam.
A STF constable was killed and
a Policeman was injured when a pressure bomb planted by the Maoists
went off in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The incident occurred
in the forest near Hidmapara village under Basaguda Police Station
limits when a joint team of the STF and DF was returning after
conducting an anti-Maoist operation, a senior Police official
said. As per preliminary information, the explosion occurred after
the STF constable, identified as Lakhan Gadbale, unknowingly stepped
on the pressure IED connection near Hidmapara. "Gadbale succumbed
to injuries while being airlifted to Jagdalpur for treatment,"
the official said. DF, constable Ashish Tiwari who was walking
nearby Gadbale sustained minor injuries in the blast and was being
airlifted to Raipur for better treatment, he said.
CPI-Maoist posters were
recovered from Pottangi, Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon areas in
Koraput District of Odisha. The posters urged the people to observe
January 26 as ‘Black Day’ as a mark of protest against the Kunduli
gang-rape incident and demanded to save the tribals from the clutches
of moneylenders, liquor traders and contractors.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Ravindra Yadav and Musharu Yadav were awarded life sentence
by a Court in Munger District of Bihar. They were convicted for
the Kareli village massacre, which took place on July 02, 2011.
The court acquitted three other accused identified as Dhirendra
Yadav, Rakesh Yadav and Rajram Yadav due to lack of evidence.
Kareli village was attacked by a group of around 80 armed CPI-Maoist cadres,
who shot dead six villagers and abducted nearly a dozen others.
A redrawn counter-insurgency
strategy, backed by real-time intelligence through use of modern
technology like drones and involving coordinated day and night
operations by SF personnel, to target CPI-Maoist cadres deep inside
the jungles has brought down the number of districts afflicted
by Naxal violence to 58. Latest data compiled by CRPF
shows that the number of Districts under the grip of Maoist violence
has dropped significantly since 2015, with over 90 per cent of
attacks being reported from only four States — Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand and Odisha. While 75 Districts across nine States reported
violent attacks by Naxals in 2015, the number
came down to 67 in 2016, and dropped to 58 in 2017, touted as
the best year for the SFs engaged in anti-Maoist operations.
CRPF, DG, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar
said, "The past year, we have hit the Naxals in their den.
Our coordination with state police, intelligence agencies and
armed forces has been exceptional. The focus has been on leaders,
over ground operatives and sympathisers. The Naxals are not able
to move arms, funds and their senior leaders from one place to
another." He also said the influence of Naxals is
now restricted to only three pockets — Bastar-Sukma (having an
area of around 1200 square kilometres), AOB (Andhra-Odisha Border
— 2,000 square kilometres) and Abujhmaad forest area (4,500 square
kilometres). "There is a security vacuum and administration
has not been able to completely access these areas," CRPF,
DG, Bhatnagar said. In terms of operations, with over 150 cadres
of CPI-Maoist killed, 2017 was one of the most successful years
for the SFs. The anti-Naxal strategy was revamped
after UHM, Rajnath Singh met Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected
States in May 2017 following the killing of 25 CRPF personnel
in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. UHM, Singh has said that Naxal violence
has come down by 60 per cent.
In an internal policy document
of Naxals — 'Action Plan 2017-2022' — recovered
by intelligence agencies revealed that the Maoists themselves
admitted that 140 of their comrades, including 30 women, were
killed by SFs in 2017.
The UMHA has come out with an
analysis saying that LWEs violence is taking place only in Kerala
and not in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Though the three States-
Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (KKT) form the tri-junction where
CPI-Maoist cadres have been establishing their strong presence,
no LWE violence was reported in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu while
23 incidents were reported in Kerala between 2014 and 2017. The
report on LWE violence in KKT was submitted by Union Minister
of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in a written reply
to a question raised by Kodikunnil Suresh in Parliament.
As per the MHA, while no violence
was reported in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu since 2014, violence
data for Kerala was 2014 - eight, 2015 – ten, 2016 – five, 2017
- 0 (upto 15-12-2017).The MHA’s assessment of the LWE violence
in Kerala cannot be taken lightly by the Kerala Government as
the state has been witnessing heightened activities of the CPI-Maoist
in the past two years. “We don’t want to comment on LWE violence
data of the Union Government. But we have been taking necessary
steps which included strengthening the combing operations to flush
out Maoists holed up in forest regions in Wayanad, Kozhikode and
Kannur,” said Kannur Range IGP, Mahipal Yadav. Another
senior Police officer said: “we have launched a detailed probe
after armed suspected Maoists visited a house at Kodenchery in
Kozhikode District last week (January 18) and took away all the
rice from the house.”
An Army trooper was killed in
a militant ambush on an Army convoy at Nangtaw Khamti area of
Namsai. According to Army sources, a militant was also wounded
in the incident. CorCom and ULFA-I were involved in the attack.
Two Army vehicles were also damaged in the attack.
An IED was recovered by SFs from
NH 2 between Wangjing and Kamjong towns in Thoubal District. Police
bomb squad personnel removed it later and exploded it safely.
Moreover SFs conducted CASO operations at the general area of
Thangkangphai and Mata village in Churachandpur.
Police arrested ‘commander in
chief’ of KNF-MC Sonkhogin Kipgen alias Hegin
and his associate Ngamkholen Kipgen alias Lelen
from Churachandpur District.
|
January 25
|
Putting forward ‘the facts’—a
letter about the 1984 Sikh riots, the Indo-Canadians formed
a group in December 2017 named as the Harmony Committee to counter
the propaganda disseminated by pro-Khalistan groups active in
Canada and mailed that letter to every elected representatives
of the Canada’s Parliament and members of Provincial Assemblies
across Canada. The letter highlights that then-Indian Prime Minister,
Manmohan Singh, who is a Sikh, had offered an apology on the issue
in the Parliament. It also gives details of the different commissions
of inquiry that examined the violence following the assassination
of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “The total number
of Police officers indicted by the two committees was 147. In
all, 3170 people were arrested out of which 442 people were convicted
for their participation in the riots in Delhi. In Haryana, 15
people were convicted, and in other states, 13 were convicted,”
as stated in the letter.
Pakistan-based militant group,
JeM declared India as its number one enemy. This declaration was
made by Maulana Talha Siaf, the brother of JeM founder Maulana
Masood Azhar at a rally in Larkana, Sindh in Pakistan, recently.
"India is the number one enemy of the JeM. Modi (Indian PM)
is the number one enemy of Maulana Masood Azhar. Al Qalam is being
regularly read by Indian Muslims. Al Qalam has been published
online on Tuesday/Wednesday, and while you may not be able to
receive a copy of this paper, your relatives in India read Al
Qalam of Maulana Masood Azhar regularly. Indian media has launched
a campaign against Al Qalam, and by this way, our enemy is performing
our duties in India," Maulana Talha Siaf said. He also incited
Muslims to follow the path of `Jihad' to achieve something great
in life. "India is a mini super power of the region that
has created problems for Pakistan for the past sixty years, but
India's six lakh forces are facing a tough time in the Kashmir
Valley and are unable to announce their victory in Kashmir, said
Siaf provocatively. Maulana Saif also said, "Mothers and
daughters of Kashmir are calling us and we slaves are unable to
cross the borders of infidels, but today, free Mujahideen can
cross borders." He also raised the issue of the Ram Temple
in Ayodhya city, saying, "The Indian government is using
its machinery to attempt to build the Ram Mandir in place of the
Babri Mosque. Maulana Masood Azhar had announced that the Ram
Mandir would not be allowed to be constructed at the place of
the Babri Mosque. Now, every year, the government announces that
on such and such date the Ram Mandir will be built, and again
from this side, there is an announcement that they will not allow
the construction of the Ram Mandir in place of the Babri Mosque,
and still the Ram Mandir is not built."
A minor boy identified as Musharraf
Ahmad was injured when an unexploded shell went off at Chaigund
village in Shopian District. SATP had earlier reported that it
was at Chaigund village where two HM militants were killed during
an encounter between militants and SFs on January 24.
A radicalised Pune-based teenage
girl was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police night following
an intelligence input that she wanted to join banned Islamic State
(ISIS) terror group. The girl identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh
(18), had come from Pune (Maharashtra) and was staying in Bijbehara
in Anantnag District as a paying guest and planning to join the
ISIS, the Police have claimed. However, during her extensive questioning,
the school dropout turned out to be having radical thoughts who
had fallen prey to false propaganda on social networking site
about alleged suffering of the Kashmiri people at the hands of
SFs, the officials said. The State Police has got in touch with
her mother and aunt and she will be handed over to them as there
is no case pending against the detained girl either in the Valley
or Maharashtra, they said.
According to reports, it was
a case of misinterpreting an intelligence input by the Jammu and
Kashmir Police who were informed by central security agencies
that a Pune-based girl, who was detained on various occasions
by the ATS Pune, had shifted her base to the Valley and that surveillance
needs to be mounted. However, ADGP Munir Khan, who is functioning
as IGP Kashmir range, issued an alert to all districts naming
her and claiming she was a suicide bomber planning to disrupt
the Republic Day (January 26) function. The note signed by Khan
said that ‘there is a strong input’ that an 18-year-old non-Kashmiri
woman might ‘cause a suicide bomb explosion’ near or inside the
Republic Day parade in Kashmir. "All are directed to please
ensure that frisking of ladies at the (venues) is done meticulously
and with utmost caution so as to thwart the designs of ANEs (anti-national
elements)," the note, circulated on January 23, read. On
January 26, after understanding the gravity of the faux pas, Khan
refused to give any details and said, "We will be talking
to her and we will be talking to our sister agencies. We will
be covering every other lead to know what the facts are. After
doing proper investigation, we will come to any conclusion."
Shaikh had been questioned by
the Pune ATS in 2015, when it came to notice that she had been
radicalised after coming in contact with ISIS supporters abroad.
She was planning to travel to Syria, the ATS had then claimed.
The woman, a Class 11 student at a Pune college, was subsequently
sent for a de-radicalisation programme by the ATS.
After suffering heavy casualties
and infrastructural damages on the IB, Pakistan called for Sector
Commander-level flag meeting with the BSF, which was held in the
afternoon in which the BSF conveyed stern message to the Pakistan
Rangers that provocative acts by them were unacceptable and will
not be tolerated. The meeting lasted half an hour in Suchetgarh
sector in Jammu District and was attended by five officers of
the BSF and 10 from the Pakistan Rangers.
Thirteen persons-seven civilians
and six security personnel-were killed and 65 others injured in
Pakistani shelling along IB and LoC in Jammu region during the
last 10 days. However, losses on Pakistan side were very heavy,
both in terms of casualties and infrastructure. Pakistan’s ammunition
and fuel dumps and firing posts were destroyed by the BSF in retaliatory
action. The meeting was the first between the two sides since
“heavy shelling and firing was experienced on the IB during the
last week”, sources said.
The Nagpur bench of Bombay High
Court of Maharashtra rejected the bail pleas of Prashant Rahi alias Narayan
Sanglikar, and Vijay Tirki, both close associates of Delhi University
(DU) Assistant Professor G.N. Saibaba, charged under the UAPA
for alleged CPI-Maoist links, who challenged their conviction
by Gadchiroli sessions court on March 7 last year. A division
bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Murlidhar Giratkar
relied on the prosecution theory that "there was sufficient
evidence to prove their involvement in Maoist activities".
SFs arrested an NSCN-IM militant
from Longpha village, in Changlang District. A single bore rifle
and other incriminating documents were recovered from the arrested
militant.
ULFA-I circulated a video of
them burning the Indian national flag and calling for a boycott
of the Republic Day. The video featured at least 10 ULFA-I militants.
Two HCC employees abducted on
January 18 were rescued at Phailenkot range of Motbung area of
Kangpokpi District.
AR BDS team has been deployed
along Myanmar border after two landmine fatalities along the border
area in January.
An NLFT militant identified as
Uttam Debbarma alias Uphil surrendered at Dhalai District.
He surrendered with an automatic rifle.
|
January 26
|
The Pakistan-origin member of
the House of Lords, Nazir Ahmed organised an anti-India campaign
outside the High Commission of India in London, UK with the slogans
in support of Khalistan movement, ‘freedom for Jammu and Kashmir’
and separatist movements in India’s north-east region. The
anti-India campaign group was countered by the pro-India group
of people raising the slogans in support of Narendra Modi and
‘Vande Matram’. The local Police had tough time keeping these
two groups apart. However, the High Commission of India in London
did not release any official comment regarding the protests.
On the lines of the NIA that
deals with counterterrorism, the Government of India would set
up a National Cyber Investigation Agency (NCIA) to prevent, investigate
and resolve the cyber crime cases in the country. According to
the NCRB data, total 12, 317 cybercrime cases were registered
in 2016 as compare to 9,622 in 2014 and 11,592 in 2015; but cyber
experts believed that actual numbers are much higher than the
NCRB data. In India, cybercrime incidents mainly include child
pornography, cyberterrorism and breach of secured information
systems. The NCIA will consist of skilled cyber experts to
protect computer intrusions, theft of Intellectual Property Rights
(IPR) and personal information, child pornography and exploitation,
and online fraud. The agency will gather Intelligence and track
online terror activities too. "Almost every developed
country is indulging in cyber espionage and Government data is
the most vulnerable asset. There is a need to enhance our information
systems to secure all critical information. The policy is being
vetted by the NSA”, said an unnamed senior Government official.
Chennai Police busted a FICN
racket and arrested two persons, identified as Kamal and Pradeep
at Tiruvottiyur railway station in Chennai District of Tamil Nadu
while they were smuggling FICN worth of INR 4 lakh from Assam
in the Chennai Central-bound Guwahati Express train. Police also
recovered five pistols and 20 rounds of ammunition from their
possession. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the duo admitted
to smuggling the counterfeit currencies and arms from Assam at
the behest of racket's kingpin Rafiq, who is serving his term
at Puzhal prison in Chennai District.
JeM militants hurled a
grenade towards Police station Pulwama in Pulwama District. Official
sources said that militants threw the grenade which hit the roof
of the building and exploded with a bang. SSP Pulwama Mohammad
Aslam choudary said that a blast like sound was heard near Police
station and the investigations have been launched to ascertain
nature of the blast. The SSP, however, said that no one suffered
injury in the incident. Police and CRPF launched searches in the
whole area to trace those behind the incident. However, no one
has been arrested when this report was filed. Later, JeM claimed
responsibility for the grenade attack.
Pakistan-based militant group,
JeM declared India as its number one enemy. This declaration was
made by Maulana Talha Siaf, the brother of JeM founder Maulana
Masood Azhar at a rally in Larkana, Sindh in Pakistan, recently.
"India is the number one enemy of the JeM. Modi (Indian Prime
Minister) is the number one enemy of Maulana Masood Azhar. Al
Qalam is being regularly read by Indian Muslims. Al Qalam has
been published online on Tuesday/Wednesday, and while you may
not be able to receive a copy of this paper, your relatives in
India read Al Qalam of Maulana Masood Azhar regularly. Indian
media has launched a campaign against Al Qalam, and by this way,
our enemy is performing our duties in India," Maulana Talha
Siaf said. He also incited Muslims to follow the path of `Jihad'
to achieve something great in life.
"India is a mini super power
of the region that has created problems for Pakistan for the past
sixty years, but India's six lakh forces are facing a tough time
in the Kashmir Valley and are unable to announce their victory
in Kashmir, said Siaf provocatively. Maulana Saif also said, "Mothers
and daughters of Kashmir are calling us and we slaves are unable
to cross the borders of infidels, but today, free Mujahideen can
cross borders." He also raised the issue of the Ram Temple
in Ayodhya city, saying, "The Indian government is using
its machinery to attempt to build the Ram Mandir in place of the
Babri Mosque. Maulana Masood Azhar had announced that the Ram
Mandir would not be allowed to be constructed at the place of
the Babri Mosque. Now, every year, the government announces that
on such and such date the Ram Mandir will be built, and again
from this side, there is an announcement that they will not allow
the construction of the Ram Mandir in place of the Babri Mosque,
and still the Ram Mandir is not built."
CPI-Maoist leaders from
Bihar and Jharkhand have started concentrating in the region to
strengthen their base and are hiring new faces and creating special
committees in new areas to revive their network in the region
after security forces inflicted a series of attacks on them in
eastern Bihar Districts, says CRPF’s intelligence wing. The sources
in the CRPF's intelligence wing said the Maoists have extended
zonal and sub-zonal committees in eastern Bihar and areas in neighbouring
Jharkhand. The source also said that under the aegis of ERB, several
rebel wings, like Bihar-Jharkhand area committee, Eastern Bihar
Committee and Eastern Jharkhand special area committee have started
functioning. Bhagalpur divisional committee was formed recently
and Prabesh alias Sahadev Soren, a native of
Giridih District of Jharkhand, has been made in-charge of the
ERB.
Three CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Manku Varda (25), Khunta Varda (23) and Tangru Padda (22) were
arrested following an exchange of fire between SFs and CPI-Maoist
cadres from Alparas village under Koyalibeda Police Station in
Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered one muzzle loading
gun, one Naxal uniform, two detonators; two small
boxes of gun powder, couple of crackers and other Maoist-related
materials were recovered from the arrested CPI-Maoist cadres,
said Police official. In view of the Republic Day, separate composite
squads of BSF, STF and local Police had launched the combing operation
on January 24 towards Gattakal, Mindi, Kamteda, Kaknar, Irganar,
Alparas and Panidobir villages of Koyalibeda. SFs managed to arrest
three CPI-Maoist cadres, all natives of Kurushnar area of Narayanpur
District, when they were trying to escape into forest.
CPI-Maoist memorial was dismantled
by SFs in Gundul village of Koyalibeda Police Station in Kanker
District of Chhattisgarh.
An encounter took place between
SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres near Porhat forest in West Singhbhum
District of Jharkhand. Chakradharpur SDPO, Sakaldeo Ram said that
a CPI-Maoist squad led by its 'area commander' Jeevan Kandulana
fired on Police and CRPF personnel around 9.40am. The SF personnel
retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for over half an hour,
forcing the rebels to retreat, the officer said. During search
of the encounter site, a .303 rifle, which was looted from the
Police, was recovered along with 100 rounds of ammunition, six
powerful bombs, over 20 detonators, cordex wire and explosive-attached
arrows. The SFs, however, destroyed the CPI-Maoist camp after
the rebels escaped from the spot. The combing operation was launched
to hunt the CPI-Maoist leader Jeevan Kandulna, who was reportedly
active in Dogebera and adjacent villages in Porahat forest. After
100 rounds of firing, the CPI-Maoist cadres along with their leader
escaped from the site. Two CPI-Maoist cadres were reportedly injured
and the SFs are trying to trace them. The Police recovered a rifle
(looted from the Police earlier), a country-made pistol, several
bullets, detonators, wire, CPI-Maoist literature, medicines, food
and other daily use articles from the camp. The Police also seized
a can bomb of low intensity and defused it, said West Singhbhum
SP, Anish Gupta.
The cadres of the CPI-Maoist
observed a ‘Black Day’ on Republic Day in Chitrakonda block in
Malkangiri District of Odisha. The Maoists, as per their earlier
declarations, hoisted black flags on various schools and headquarters
of Papulur, Kurmanur, Jodamba, Janti, Panasput, Andarapalli, Gajalmamudi,
Valegada and Dhuliput Panchayats. They put up posters and
banners asking people to join their ‘fresh struggle for democracy’.
The posters were pasted on behalf of Kalimela Regional Committee
(KRC) of CPI-Maoist, a report said.
The ultras managed to prevent
people from celebrating Republic Day in various regions of Koraput
District of Odisha and observed bandh. While the Republic
Day was not observed in a project primary school of Sorisapadar
panchayat, the upgraded Government High School in the District
was also found locked. The students of Matiaguda primary school
in the panchayat too stayed away from the celebration.
The schools in Dekaguda and Bandaguda villages remained closed;
the roads wore a deserted look. People of Bhitarakota, Khasuguda,
Dumuriguda, Malimaula and Kotia supported the bandh call
given by the Maoists, a report said.
Three low intensity explosions
were reported, suspected to have been triggered by ULFA-I in Tinsukia
District. Two explosions were reported near Jagun Police station
while the third one occurred at Tirap colliery near the Ledo Police
station. No fatalities were reported from the explosions.
Three OGW of ULFA-I were arrested
from Jagun in Tinsukia District. The militants have been identified
as Ranjit Chutia, Bongday Sabuk Dora and Debemshor Gogoi.
A team of the NIA arrested one
Mohammad Hakim, a resident of Malda (Malda District, West Bengal)
in a case related to the seizure of FICNs worth INR 500,0000 that
were recovered from another accused, identified as Saddam Hossain,
in 2015 reports One India on January 30. The preliminary investigation
has revealed that Hakim had acquired the ‘high quality’ FICNs
from across the border, with intentions to distribute them through-out
the country. In 2016, the NIA branch based in Hyderabad of Telangana
had filed charge-sheet against two persons identified as Saddam
Hossain and Amirul Hoque.
|
January 26-27
|
Pakistan army shelled forward
posts and villages on January 26 and January 27 evenings on LoC
in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District. According to reports,
Pakistan army rained mortars and bullets in forward areas on the
LoC in three sectors including Nowshera, Krishna Ghati and Mankote
in Rajouri and Poonch Districts during last two days (January
26-27), causing injuries to an ex-serviceman while there were
reports that Pakistan has suffered heavy damages during retaliatory
shelling by the Indian troops.
|
January 27
|
SFs launched a cordon and search
operation in Watnard village in Anantnag District official sources
said. They said following specific information about presence
of militants, a joint search operation was launched by SOG of
State Police, 19 RR and 164 battalion of CRPF at village Watnard
in Anantnag.
Two civilians were killed and
one injured when Army fired on a group of violent protestors in
Shopian District of South Kashmir. The protestors pelted stones
on an Army Force convoy passing through Ganovpora village in Shopian
District. Army fired few rounds to chase away the protestors in
which several persons were injured. Two of the injured persons,
identified as Javaid Ahmad Bhat and Suhail Javid Lone, succumbed
to injuries. Another youth was rushed to a hospital in Srinagar
in a critical condition for specialised treatment. A Police spokesman
said that a convoy of 10 Gadwal of Army on its way from 12 Sector
headquarters Balpora Shopian to Maspora, came under heavy stone
pelting at village Ganowpora. “Pertinently, Ganowpora is the village
of militant Firdous Ahmad, who was recently killed in an encounter
on January 24, 2018 at Cheegund, Shopian”, said the spokesman.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed directed the district administration
to conduct a probe into the incident and come up with findings
at the earliest.
The APHC condemned the killing
of two youth and called for shutdown on January 28 against the
killings. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
and Yasin Malik appealed for a complete shutdown on January 28
against the killings of two youth.
Militants fired two grenades
at Police Post Warpora in Sopore area of Baramulla District in
the evening. Two Police men were injured in the attack. SFs immediately
cordoned off the area and conducted searches.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed a former
Maoist cadre and injured another, suspecting them of being ‘Police
informers’ in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. Maoists
shot dead P Jogaiah, who died on the spot in the attack in Veerapuram
village, while they opened fire on M Ramesh at Suryanagar in Bhadrachalam
town in the same District. However, Ramesh escaped with bullet
injuries on his hand. Both Jogaiah and Ramesh were former Maoists.
Police said they were attacked as Maoists suspected them to be
acting as ‘informers’ for Police.
The Maoists set ablaze four trucks,
two JCBs and a tractor of a construction camp at Bhupatiraopet
in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana. They also abducted
two workers from one of the trucks but later released them. The
Maoists left behind a letter saying their action was in protest
against the illegal sand mining in the area. About 40 to 50 Maoists
of the Odisha Special Zonal Committee, who had reportedly crossed
over from Chhattisgarh, carried out the attacks after forming
three teams. Following the attacks, Police sounded an alert in
the area and launched combing operations.
A CPI-Maoist leader identified
as Digambar Poddar alias Prahlad, surrendered before SP,
Jagmohan Meena in Malkangiri District of Odisha. SP, Meena said
Digambar had joined the Maoists in 2013. "He surrendered
before the Police after seeing immoral activities of some Maoist
leaders. He said he saw one senior cadre raping women in the cut-off
area at gun point. The leader had been assaulting and killing
people at will," the SP said. Digambar left the party opposing
these activities, the SP said adding that he will given a lump
sum, financial assistance to purchase homestead land, funds to
pursue studies and for vocational training. Digambar carried a
reward of INR 100,000 on his head for his involvement in several
crimes including murder.
Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist,
including one woman, were gunned down in an exchange of fire with
SFs in the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli villages under
Chintalnar Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh."A
joint team of CoBRA 201st battalion - a CRPF specialised unit,
and local Police had launched the counter-insurgency operation
in the jungles of Chintalnar, around 500 kilometres away from
State Capital, Raipur”, said Sukma SP, Abhishek Meena said. The
SFs were cordoning off the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli,
when they came under fire from a group of armed Maoists leading
to an exchange of fire, SP, Meena said. After the encounter, the
SFs searched the area and recovered the body of two Maoists including
one woman, along with two weapons, he said. The SFs also recovered
some detonators and other material from the encounter site. The
identities of the slain Maoists are yet to be ascertained.
A team of highly trained 60 women
commandos has been deployed by the CRPF to assist in the ongoing
anti-Naxal operations being carried out in forest areas
of the Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh. Armed with automatic weapons,
these women commandos will guard one of most dangerous patches
in south Sukma of Chhattisgarh where a road is being built from
Dornapal to Jagargonda, reports said. The road where the women
commandos have been deployed is about 56 kilometres and is under
construction.
SFs killed an NDFB-S militant
identified as Ricardo Hazuary alias Rekhai at Kokrajhar District.
A 9mm pistol was recovered from him. The Army Spokesman stated
that the militant was involved in the shooting of a local contractor
in November 2017.
SFs arrested a militant of unspecified
group from Borlangpher area in Karbi Anglong District. Two rifles
and 10 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the arrested militant.
Unidentified militants detonated
a remot controlled IED near the house of BJP MLA at Khurkhul Makha
Leikai in Imphal West District. No group has claimed responsibility
for the incident. While searching the area, the Police team found
that the remote controlled IED was placed near the compound wall
of the MLA’s residence.
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.
Darthang alias Nobar Sanat
‘financial secretary’ of HPC-D faction led by H. Zosangbera was
killed in an incident of fratricidal killing.
|
January 28
|
A 35-year-old woman, critically
injured in Pakistani firing along the IB in Kanachak in Jammu
District recently, succumbed to her injuries on January 28, raising
to 14, the number of deaths due to cross-border shelling since
January 18. Bimla Devi of Kana Chak was critically injured in
Pakistani shelling on January 22 and was undergoing treatment
at the Government Medical College hospital in Jammu. With the
killing of Bimla Devi, death toll in Pakistan shelling and firing
during past about 10 days, has gone up to 14 including eight civilians
and six security personnel. Besides nearly 70 persons, mostly
civilians, were injured.
Pakistan army again violated
ceasefire in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District. Reports said
an Army jawan (trooper) was injured in the firing. The
Indian side retaliated effectively. SFs remained on high alert
all along the LoC and IB to give befitting reply to any provocation
by Pakistani troops.
The NIA has taken over from Delhi
Police the case of absconding HM terrorist Nasir Safi Mir, who
is accused of funding Hurriyat leaders and is believed to have
fled the country after jumping bail, officials said in New Delhi.
The officials said the case was re-registered by the NIA recently
and it has initiated investigations into it. The NIA probe is
likely to ascertain how Mir alias Babul, managed to secure
a passport from a Southern State which he allegedly used in Nepal
in October 2008 to leave for Europe.
Time has not come for any rethink
on AFSPA or making some of its provisions milder, Army Chief General
Bipin Rawat said, asserting that the Army has been taking adequate
precautions in protecting human rights while operating in disturb
areas like Jammu and Kashmir. Rawat’s remarks assume significance
as they come against the backdrop of reports that several rounds
of high-level discussions have taken place between the defence
and home ministries on the ‘need to remove or dilute at least
some provisions’ of the AFSPA. The act gives the Security Forces
special rights and immunity in carrying out various operations
in disturbed areas. There has been a long-standing demand from
various quarters in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast to withdraw
it. “I do not think time has come to even rethink on AFSPA at
the moment,” General Rawat said in a recent interview when asked
about reports that Government was re-examining the demand for
a milder version of AFSPA in these states.
The Army chief said though AFSPA
has certain strong provisions, the Army is concerned about collateral
damages and ensuring that its operations under the law do not
inconvenience the local people. “We have never been strong in
applying the force the way it could be applied (under AFSPA).
We are very concerned about human rights. We are absolutely concerned
about collateral damage. So do not get too much concerned because
we are taking adequate measures and precautions,” he said. General
Rawat said the Army has rules of engagements for various operations
at every level to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the
people while it is operating under AFSPA. “The AFSPA is an enabling
provision which allows the Army in particular to operate in such
difficult areas and let me assure you that the Army has got quite
a good human rights record,” he said. Asked whether time has come
to adopt a combined approach involving all three services to deal
with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army
Chief did not give a direct reply but added that the armed forces
have ‘options available’ to conduct various kinds of operations.
Setting up dedicated cyber cells
in all Police Stations in Delhi, the Delhi Police is ready to
bid speedy investigations of cyber crimes in the virtual world.
Delhi Police officers with academic qualifications at graduate
level in technology or computer science will soon be selected
and deployed in these cyber divisions. All such officers will
undergo comprehensive trainings in cyber investigations and computer
forensics. In recent years, the counts of cybercrime incidents
are increasing and that further demands more Investigating Officers
(IOs) and Police Stations equipped with Cybercrime divisions.
Within a year, each Police Station in Delhi would have its own
cyber cell for speedy investigation, said an unnamed senior Police
official.
The Maharashtra ATS has revealed
that over the last three years, 86 Indian youths were prevented
from joining IS. Majority of these Indians were college-going
students with some of them pursuing higher education and some
of them were working professionals. With the implement of adequate
measures including de-radicalisation process, the Maharashtra
ATS not only stopped these people from joining the IS but also
prevented the vulnerability of anti-India activities in the country,
said an unnamed senior ATS official. "Our efforts are to
prevent youths from joining terror outfits. De-radicalisation
of youths under the influence of terror elements is one of the
prime steps. We can say we have managed to achieve the desired
results, but one must understand that de-radicalisation has its
limitations too," said Maharashtra ATS Chief Atulchandra
Kulkarni.
The Indian security agencies
suspect the involvement of Bangladesh-based terror outfit JMB
in planting three IEDs in Bodh Gaya to avenge the atrocities on
Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar by the Buddhists, The Times of India
reports on January 28. An officer involved in the investigation
of the blast followed by recovery of two IEDs close to the Tibetan
monastery on January 19, 2018 said it was the handiwork of JMB.
The banned terror outfit backed by Pakistan's ISI has active cadres
in West Bengal (WB) and Assam. It's several members are suspected
to be hiding in West Bengal. The JMB has not been involved in
any major terror attack in India. The officer said the evidence
strongly indicates JMB's involvement in the failed terror attack,
which had aimed to kill Buddhist monks and foreigners present
in Bodh Gaya to listen to the sermons of Buddhist spiritual leader
the Dalai Lama. "A series of calls were made to some locations
in West Bengal from Bodh Gaya just before and after planting the
three IEDs," the officer said, adding, "Calls were made
to locations known to Indian security agencies as covert bases
of JMB operating in WB for the past several years." He also
said the technique used in making the three IEDs is far different
from that by IM in Bodh Gaya and Patna in 2013 or other places
in the country in the past.
Four suspected Maoists attacked
a Police constable in Nakulnar town of Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
Constable, Divykant Markam, working as a personal security guard
of Chhattisgarh Congress leader Avdhesh Gautam, was attacked when
he had gone to the local market along with other security guards
of Gautam. The Maoists also snatched his AK-47 rifle and fled
from the spot. The Congress leader was not present in Nakulnar
when the incident took place.
One IED weighing at least eight
kilograms was detected and defused by the 85 Battalion CRPF on
Mahadev Ghati Bhopalpatnam road in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
A joint team of CRPF and District
Police arrested CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Lato alias Shanti
Soren from her house at Mahengaro village under Khaira Police
Station area in Jamui District of Bihar. She was associated with
‘zonal commander ‘of CPI-Maoist, Sindhu Koda for the last three
years. She had come to her residence on the occasion of a local
festival. Police recovered Naxal literature, a rucksack
and other incriminating objects from her.
In connection to the November
2015 terrorist attack in Paris (France), the French Police may
question an IS operative from Kerala—Subahani Haja Moideen, as
he had connections with two terrorist who conducted the Paris
attack. At present, Subahani Moideen is lodged in the Central
Prison at Viyyur in Thrissur District of Kerala and the French
Police may approach the Kerala High Court seeking permission to
interrogate him. The French Police would like to inquire if Subahani
had any prior information related to the Paris attack concluded
by IS operatives. The preliminary interrogation had revealed that
Subahani Moideen who is a resident of Thodupuzha of Idukki District
in Kerala, met two of the perpetrators of Paris Attack, identified
as Abdelhamid Abaaoud and Salah Abdelslam. Subahani was arrested
by the NIA team from Kadayanallur of Tirunelveli District in Tamil
Nadu on October 5, 2016.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has asked the CISF personnel to be prepared
for the new forms of terrorism and insurgency. The occasion was
of the graduation ceremony of the batch of 789 women cadets of
the CISF at their Regional Training Centre at Arakkonam of Vellore
District in Tamil Nadu. The Minister praised the CISF’s effective
use of technology at Delhi airport and Delhi Metro facilities
that not only improved the security, but also provided the satisfaction
to the passengers. The 2017 was observed as a ‘year of training’
as more than 18,000 cadets graduated from regional centre across
the country, said CISF ADG A.K. Pateria.
The Chintur Sub-Division Police
arrested CPI-Maoist 1st Battalion courier, identified
as Sanjith Mandal (37) at Pitchukalapadu T-Junction on Cherla–Bhadrachalam
road near Yatapaka in the East Godavari agency area in East Godavari
District of Andhra Pradesh. The CPI-Maoist courier was arrested
while he was transporting kit material to Maoists on his motorcycle.
The Police recovered six meters of Olive green cloth, 50 meters
of Rexene cloth, four wall posters with CPI-Maoist literature
besides INR 68,000 was seized him, said Chintoor, SDPO, Dilip
Kiran. Sanjith was attracted to Maoism since 2006 and helping
CPI-Maoist by supplying needful items. Sanjith also purchased
a bike with collected money and transporting essentials to CPI-Maoist
on his bike. He purchased green cloth and Rexene cloth at Vijayawada.
|
January 29
|
Addressing the Jaipur Literature
Festival (JLF) in Jaipur (Rajasthan), CNN’s National Security
and counterterrorism expert—Peter L. Bergen stated that even though
after the death of al Qaeda’s leader Osama bin Laden over a half-decade
ago, it will be very early to reject al Qaeda’s presence. Al
Qaeda has its presence in Syria with around 10,000 followers and
spanning towards North Africa and trying to place its strong hold
in the South Asian Subcontinent. It has a long-term plan with
a vision to avoid the mistakes that IS has done in Iraq and Syria,
said Bergen. Osama bin Laden’s son Hamza bin Laden has a surname
and followers of al Qaeda understand its importance. Soon, Hamza
bin Laden may emerge as a new leader of the outfit, added Bergen.
Speaking about a merger between al Qaeda and IS, Peter Bergen
ruled out such possibility as there are too many differences between
the two groups.
The
Centre is to allocate special yearly funds to 35 different Districts
across seven States in India, including six Districts in Bihar
that are worst affected by LWE. The funds would be allocated under
SCA for three consecutive financial years starting from 2017-2018.
Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, Muzaffarpur, Banka and Nawada Districts
in Bihar would get funds under the scheme. Jharkhand has maximum
number of 16 highly LWE-affected Districts while Chhattisgarh
has eight, Odisha two and Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
one each to be covered under the scheme. The UMHA would allocate
INR 285.7 million to each of the 35 Districts annually for carrying
out public-oriented development works on projects and proposals
after getting them approved from UMHA. A letter was received on
January 25, regarding formation of the approval committee headed
by Special Secretary Rank Officer of MHA, who monitors CPI-Maoist
activities across India, said State Home Department official.
The committee would approve District-level projects following
which funds would be allocated for carrying out construction works.
DLC headed by DM, SP and DFO will come with proposals to be further
looked into by a SLC headed by Chief Secretary. Finally, it will
be submitted before UMHA’s committee for approval. Bihar will
have to come up fast with development projects and proposals as
under this scheme, if any District fails to pick up the annual
fund, it will lapse and won't be adjusted in the next financial
year. If officials of the six Bihar Districts show proper interest
and act fast, the scenario in these Maoist-hit Districts will
change, added State Home Department official.
Pakistani troops violated the
ceasefire along the LoC in Uri sector in the Baramulla District
by opening fire at Indian posts, defence sources said. The sources
said the Pakistani troops fired towards Indian positions first
in the afternoon, which was retaliated by the Indian Army. After
a gap of nearly six hours, the Pakistani troops began fresh firing
that lasted nearly 30 minutes, the sources said. There was no
damage reported in the firing so far, the sources said.
Earlier in the day, Indian Army
noticed some suspicious movement along the LoC in Uri sector and
challenged the intruders. The alert jawans opened speculative
firing, forcing the intruders to retreat, an army official said.
Police filed a charge sheet against
LeT and 11 people for conspiring and carrying out the attack on
a bus in which Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were travelling that left
eight pilgrims dead on July 10, 2017. The 1,600-page charge sheet
was filed under various Sections of RPC and the anti-terror UAPA
before a sessions court at Anantnag. The probe into the incident
was completed in a record six months by the SIT headed by Deputy
Inspector General of Police (South Kashmir) S P Pani after the
first arrest was made in the case.
The 11 people in the charge sheet
include a juvenile. The charge sheet against the juvenile was
filed before Chief Judicial Magistrate (Juvenile Court) at Anantnag
in South Kashmir and he is on bail. The SIT during the course
of investigation has established that LeT was involved in the
attack. It on the basis of evidences collected during the course
of investigation established involvement of 11 people, of which
four persons including a juvenile were arrested while three are
still at large.
The main accused Abu Ismail alias
Haroon, a Pakistani National, was killed in an encounter in Arigam,
Nowgam in Srinagar on September 14, 2017 and Yawar Bashir alias
Ayaan Bashir Ahmad Wani of Habilsh Devsar and Maaviya and Furqaan
of Pakistan were killed in an encounter at Qazigund. Three accused
Khalid Muzafar Dar of Rehpora Khudwani, Tanveer Ahmad Dar of Rehpora
Khudwani and Sarjeel Ahmad Shiekh of Khudwani are absconding.
Three arrested persons including a juvenile are Aijaz Ahmad Wagay
son of Ghulam Qadir Wagay of Poshkreri Srigufwara, Bilal Ahmad
Reshi son of Mushtaq Ahmad Reshi of Iqbal Market Bijbehara and
Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh son of Mohammad Maqbool Sheikh of Sheikh Mohalla
Khudwani, Kulgam. Police said that the SIT during the investigation
has found incontrovertible evidences and brought it on record
establishing complicity of accused persons in the case.
The NIA charge sheet into stone
pelting and terror financing in Jammu and Kashmir will include
the role of a Pakistan High Commission official in funding separatists,
and has estimated the flow of at least INR 200 crore into the
Valley to fuel protests and stone pelting, it is learnt. The NIA
on January 19 had filed a 12,794-page charge sheet against 12
people including Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, HM chief
Syed Salahuddin and top rung separatist leaders. The court is
likely to take cognisance of the charge sheet on January 30.
Sources said the charge sheet
has included evidence against the Pakistan High Commission. UMHA
sources said that an officer of the rank of First Secretary has
been identified. “The Pakistan High Commission official allegedly
acted with Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmed Watali to facilitate
funds to top Hurriyat leadership,” sources said. Watali was arrested
by the NIA and is among the 12 charge sheeted. He is presently
in judicial custody.
According to an UMHA official,
“Investigations have delved into secessionist activities in Jammu
and Kashmir, the close nexus between Hurriyat and militant outfits
such as LeT and HM and how Pakistan is using these militants groups
and Hurriyat to create trouble in the valley. Evidence has also
been collected from open sources and speeches of Hafiz Saeed,
Salahuddin and Syed Ahmed Shah Geelani.” Investigators claimed
a sum of nearly INR 200 crore was pumped into the valley to fund
stone pelting and protests in 2016-17.
In a statement on January 19,
the NIA claimed the investigation brought out that the secessionist
and separatist leaders belonging to the APHC have established
a network throughout the Kashmir Valley who incite youth to attack
all symbols of Indian sovereignty, especially Indian security
forces deployed for the maintenance of law and order. “Under the
overall guidance and instructions from Hafiz Saeed, Salahuddin
and their Pakistani handlers, the separatist leaders of Jammu
and Kashmir and stone-pelters form strategies and action-plans
to launch violent protests and communicate the same to the masses
in the form of ‘protest calendars’ released through newspapers,
social media and religious leaders, creating an atmosphere of
terror and fear in the State of Jammu and Kashmir,” the agency
stated.
Army destroyed unexploded mortar
shells at village Bhour Jagir in Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu District.
As per defence spokesman Colonel NN Joshi, two bombs of 82mm mortar
fired by Pakistan Rangers were found by villagers in village Bhour
Jagir. These unexploded bombs were found inside the village in
proximity of houses and local population, he added. He informed
that the information was conveyed by the villagers to the Indian
Army. On receipt of information, Army’s expert bomb disposal team
from the local formation was dispatched to the village. Colonel
Joshi further stated that the team under great risk, dug out these
unexploded live bombs from the village and destroyed them at a
safe place.
Since 2014, the Maharashtra ATS
has blocked 530 URLs or web pages that propagated IS propaganda.
As one of the strategies to be used against the IS propaganda
in the state of Maharashtra, this practice will be continued to
use in the future, said Maharashtra ATS Chief Atulchandra Kulkarni.
The threat from the URLs that propagate IS ideology is of immense
level and has been used to radicalise the youths to join the terror
outfit. These URLs are being blocked in coordination and inputs
received from all Security agencies. Blocking the URLs helped
use to control the terror activities of the terror outfit, said
an unnamed senior ATS official. The ATS also initiating the plan
to ensue the technical training on Intelligence gathering and
monitoring of social media for their personnel, said another unnamed
senior ATS official.
The MEA has received a communication
from the authorities in Libya about Tabrez Tambe (30), a resident
of Mumbra of Thane District in Greater Mumbai area of Maharashtra
who left to join IS in January 2016, is alive as a ‘Prisoner of
War’ in a jail of Libya. The MEA has shared the same communication
with the UMHA that further directed the Maharashtra ATS to look
into the matter. The ATS team had send an official ‘Letter Rogatory’
to the Libya authorities to bring-in Tabrez Tambe, but the LR
is still unanswered. This could be a first case where an official
request has been forward to the judiciary system of a foreign
country to bring an IS operative for trial in India, said an unnamed
senior official at UMHA. If there would be positive developments
in bringing Tambe back to India, he will be the second Indian
national, after Areeb Majeed, from Maharashtra to be prosecuted
by Indian authorities for joining IS.
The NIA will be conducting a
three-day workshop on ‘terror-funding’ with the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police. Around 25-30 officials from both agencies will
take part in the workshop where the Indian team will be led by
the IG Anil Shukla. The NIA is investigating the terror cases
that have links with Canada. One of the cases is of Tahawwur Rana—a
Pakistan-origin Canadian citizen who conspired along with David
C. Headley—a conspirator in 26/1 1 Mumbai attacks. Although Rana
remains out of the clutches, the NIA has other cases related to
the Sikh radical groups.
The BSF would deploy the speedboats
to fill the security gaps, commonly termed in security establishments
as “Achilles’ Heel”, on rivers in J&K and Punjab that borders
with Pakistan. Earlier in January 2018, the Indian Army encountered
and killed five terrorists of JeM when they were intercepted at
the banks of the Jhelum River in Kashmir’s Uri sector. The BSF’s
water wing has acquired 43 speedboats from Cleghorn Manufacturing
Company Private Limited out of which 25 boats will be deployed
in J&K and Punjab Rivers bordering Pakistan, whereas remaining
will be used at the India-Bangladesh border.
The NIA is likely to interrogate
the Kerala woman who was allegedly forced to ‘conversion to Islam’
by her husband—Mohamed Riyaz (26) and later ‘almost sold’ to IS
in Syria. The unidentified woman who is resident of Pathanamthitta
of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala had approached the Kerala
High Court and claimed that her husband forced her to convert
to Islam and conspired to sell her off to IS in Syria. In her
plea in the court, the woman claimed that she is a ‘victim of
forceful conversion, fraud marriage, and an attempt of sexual
slavery’. Her father had filed an application seeking an investigation
to be carried out by the Central Investigation Agency. Intelligence
agencies are keeping an ‘eye’ over people from Kerala joining
jihadi groups active in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
Five persons including two former
CPI-Maoist cadres, natives of Jharkhand were arrested by Bisra
Police under Bisra Tehsil in Sundargarh District
of Odisha, for allegedly running an extortion racket in the name
of Maoists. Two out of five arrested were earlier associated with
CPI-Maoist, but later they had left the outfit. A pistol has been
seized from their possession. All the accused had vandalised a
construction camp and set ablaze a mixer machine at Kaliaposh
under Bisra Police limits after a failed extortion bid on January
23.
President of India, Ram Nath
Kovind said that the Union Government was ready for a dialogue
with anyone who shunned violence and reposed faith in the Constitution.
In his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament,
He said security situation in Naxal -affected
areas and insurgency-hit Northeastern States has improved significantly.
"My government has kept open the path of dialogue with those
who wish to shun violence and join the mainstream, while reposing
faith in the Constitution of India," he stated. President
Kovind also said due to regular efforts of the central and State
Governments, there has been a significant improvement in internal
security of the country. "The Northeast has also witnessed
an improvement in the security situation. There has been a reduction
in incidents of Naxal-Maoist [Communist Party of India-Maoist
(CPI-Maoist)] violence. For this, the enlightened citizens of
the region, our military, paramilitary and Police forces deserve
to be congratulated," he said. President Kovind said in the
past three years, maximum number of youth influenced by the Naxal-Maoist
ideology, have surrendered and joined the main stream.
Lohardaga Police recovered parts
of IED bomb during a joint operation of the District Police Force
and CRPF in Kerar area under Peshrar block in Lohardaga District
of Jharkhand. SP, Rajkumar Lakra said, “On January 27 the Police
got information that a team of Naxal organization is wandering
near the areas of Peshrar, Chainpur and Kerar. After that a team
was set up including Police Inspectors Vivek Kumar, RV Philip,
Girish Prasad of 158 battalion CRPF Lohardaga, Gyan, Ranjan Kumar,
Thana-in-charge, Bagru thana and Jaiprakash Police-in-charge Peshrar
picket.” SP, Lakra added the Police recovered electric line tester,
automobile clock, battery, bolt, wires transistor, Naxal literature
computerized printed and stainless steel box. The materials are
to be used to build IED device.
|
January 30
|
Pakistan resumed heavy shelling
along LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District, prompting the
district administration to make five relief camps again operational
in the town in which 700 to 800 border dwellers were camping while
the State Government on January 30 deputed a high-level team to
the border town for on-spot assessment of the ‘tense situation’
after the issue echoed in the Assembly. Pakistan army suddenly
started raining mortars and bullets with automatic and semi-automatic
weapons targeting half a dozen villages and forward posts of the
Army in Nowshera sector, forcing the Indian troops to retaliate
effectively to silence the Pakistani guns. Heavy exchange of shelling
continued for two hours.
Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar
shelling and firing along LoC at Dharati, Sohala and Panjani areas
of Balakote in Poonch District. The Indian side retaliated effectively,
leading to heavy exchanges.
The NIA accused Pakistan-based
terror outfits of ‘conspiring to wage war against Indian Government’
by providing funds to foment trouble in the Kashmir valley. NIA
told Additional Sessions Judge Tarun Sherawat that Pakistan-based
outfits have been passing on money through hawala channels
and alleged that officials of country’s High Commission were also
playing an active role. The NIA had on January 18 filed its 12,794-page
charge sheet, along with annexures, against 12 people including
LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and HM head Syed Salahuddin. Both Saeed
and Salahuddin are absconding, it said.
“A conspiracy under the supervision
of Pakistan-based organisations was hatched. The accused persons
were working in connivance with Saeed and Salahuddin to raise
funds for the terror activities,” special public prosecutor and
senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for NIA, said. The
submissions were made by the agency when the court asked what
evidence they had gathered to try the accused. The agency alleged
that High Commission officials were passing money through arrested
businessman Zahoor Watali, who would hand it over to separatists
after deducting his cut. He is currently in judicial custody.
Besides Pakistan-based terrorists Saeed and Salahuddin, and Watali,
the agency has also named hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son-in-law
Altaf Shah alias Altaf Fantoosh, Bashir Ahmad Bhat and
photo journalist Kamran Yusuf, who has been identified along with
Javed Ahmad Bhat as a stone pelter.
Hurriyat Conference leaders Nayeem
Ahmad Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Mohammad
Akbar Khanday and Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal have also been charged
by the agency. It alleged that the arrested accused were associated
with “Hurriyat Conference and were prominent members of the society
and that they had conspired to generate funds for the terror activities
to oppose the lawful government of Jammu and Kashmir”. The NIA
also submitted that a calendar, allegedly issued by the Hurriyat
Conference, was recovered from Altaf Ahmad Funtoosh, mentioned
the activities they conduct. Luthra said the “people who get hurt
or killed in action by the security forces were hailed as martyrs”
and claim “freedom as their goal”. “It’s a misconceived cause,”
he said. Letter heads of Hizbul Mujahideen were recovered from
some of the arrested accused, the agency claimed, adding that
Geelani had termed Afzal Guru a hero of Kashmir. The court posted
the matter for consideration of the charge sheet on February 1.
UHM Rajnath Singh slammed Pakistan
for continuously violating the ceasefire agreement with India
despite giving assurance not to do so, saying Islamabad should
not misinterpret ‘powerful’ India’s ‘decency’. Pakistani shelling
along the border in Jammu and Kashmir has increased over the past
two weeks. Fourteen people, including eight civilians, have been
killed in the shelling since January 18, according to the State
Police. “Three-four days ago, Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting
with our BSF DG. (The Rangers) assured that the ceasefire violation
would not take place. But despite this, Pakistan has been violating
ceasefire,” Singh said. “Not saying much, I just want to say our
politeness and decency has a limit and we want to maintain good
relations with all and also with our neighbours. But our decency
should not be wrongly interpreted,” he said. “India is no more
a weak country. India has now become a powerful country.” Singh
said Pakistan, being a neighbour, should have a friendly attitude
towards India, but added that the fencing of the Indo-Pak border
was underway at a rapid pace.
Reports said Pakistani troops
had also resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling for 15 minutes
in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in the evening. Besides
Krishna Ghati sector, Pakistani troops had pounded half a dozen
villages in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.
The NIA accused Pakistan-based
terror outfits of ‘conspiring to wage war against Indian Government’
by providing funds to foment trouble in the Kashmir valley. NIA
told Additional Sessions Judge Tarun Sherawat that Pakistan-based
outfits have been passing on money through hawala channels and
alleged that officials of country’s High Commission were also
playing an active role. The NIA had on January 18 filed its 12,794-page
charge sheet, along with annexures, against 12 people including
LeT ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed and HM head Syed Salahuddin. Both Saeed
and Salahuddin are absconding, it said. “A conspiracy under the
supervision of Pakistan-based organisations was hatched. The accused
persons were working in connivance with Saeed and Salahuddin to
raise funds for the terror activities,” special public prosecutor
and senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for NIA, said.
The submissions were made by the agency when the court asked what
evidence they had gathered to try the accused. The agency alleged
that High Commission officials were passing money through arrested
businessman Zahoor Watali, who would hand it over to separatists
after deducting his cut. He is currently in judicial custody.
Besides Pakistan-based terrorists Saeed and Salahuddin, and Watali,
the agency has also named hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son-in-law
Altaf Shah alias Altaf Fantoosh, Bashir Ahmad Bhat and
photo journalist Kamran Yusuf, who has been identified along with
Javed Ahmad Bhat as a stone pelter. Hurriyat Conference leaders
Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate,
Mohammad Akbar Khanday and Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal have also been
charged by the agency. It alleged that the arrested accused were
associated with “Hurriyat Conference and were prominent members
of the society and that they had conspired to generate funds for
the terror activities to oppose the lawful government of Jammu
and Kashmir”. The NIA also submitted that a calendar, allegedly
issued by the Hurriyat Conference, was recovered from Altaf Ahmad
Funtoosh, mentioned the activities they conduct. Luthra said the
“people who get hurt or killed in action by the security forces
were hailed as martyrs” and claim “freedom as their goal”. “It’s
a misconceived cause,” he said. Letter heads of Hizbul Mujahideen
were recovered from some of the arrested accused, the agency claimed,
adding that Geelani had termed Afzal Guru a hero of Kashmir. The
court posted the matter for consideration of the charge sheet
on February 1.
The UHM Rajnath Singh slammed
Pakistan for continuously violating the ceasefire agreement with
India despite giving assurance not to do so, saying Islamabad
should not misinterpret ‘powerful’ India’s ‘decency’. Pakistani
shelling along the border in Jammu and Kashmir has increased over
the past two weeks. Fourteen people, including eight civilians,
have been killed in the shelling since January 18, according to
the State Police. “Three-four days ago, Pakistan Rangers held
a flag meeting with our BSF DG. (The Rangers) assured that the
ceasefire violation would not take place. But despite this, Pakistan
has been violating ceasefire,” Singh said. “Not saying much, I
just want to say our politeness and decency has a limit and we
want to maintain good relations with all and also with our neighbours.
But our decency should not be wrongly interpreted,” he said. “India
is no more a weak country. India has now become a powerful country.”
Singh said Pakistan, being a neighbour, should have a friendly
attitude towards India, but added that the fencing of the Indo-Pak
border was underway at a rapid pace.
The Intelligence inputs suspects
that JeM and LeT may execute a 2016 Pathankot attack style terrorist
attack at Rajasansi airport of Amritsar, Punjab. In January 2016,
a heavily armed group of terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air
Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the IAF. The
gun battle resulted in five attackers and three SFs personnel
death.
Chhattisgarh Police arrested
four CPI-Maoist cadres including a woman leader in separate incidents
from Kondagaon and Bijapur Districts of Chhattisgarh. In the first
incident, SFs arrested Balmati Korram (21), an active member of
Amdai LOS, who was associated in several cases of Naxal violence
and ambush on Police parties, during a search operation in Chitpani
forest under Mardapal Police Station limit in Kondagaon District
of Chhattisgarh. She was carrying a reward of INR 300,000 on her
head, announced by State Government, said SP, Abhishek Pallav.
In the second incident, CRPF and District Force personnel arrested
three CPI-Maoist cadres from Jangla forest from Bijapur District
of Chhattisgarh. All the three arrested cadres, whose identities
are yet to be ascertained, were carrying a reward ranging from
INR 3,000 to INR 10,000.
A joint team of the CRPF’s CoBRA
and District Police arrested CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Sonali
Soren from her residence at Sukul Bathan village under Chakai
Police Station area in Jamui District of Bihar. She visited her
residence in connection with a tribal festival. Sonali Soren was
an active member of the CPI-Maoist women squad and she was absconding.
The Police recovered Naxal literature from her
residence.
CPI-Maoist Sabari Area LOS ‘commander’
Ubba Mohan alias Sunil surrendered to the Police
in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem District of Telangana.
According to Police, Mohan, an active armed cadre of the outfit
and was involved in several incidents of Maoist violence along
the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, gave himself up before Bhadrachalam,
ASP, Sunil Dutt in the temple town. He quit the armed struggle
due to deteriorating health condition.
The NIA filed a charge sheet
against three CPI-Maoist cadres for allegedly threatening a Police
Officer at Vellamunda in Kerala in 2014 for conducting anti-Maoist
operations. The accused CPI-Maoist cadres are identified as Kanya
(34), a native of Mavinakere village in Chikkamagaluru District
in Karnataka, and two absconders--Mahesh and Geetha of Raichur
and Dakshina Kannada Districts of Karnataka. The accused have
been charged under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy,
sedition, provisions of the Arms Act and anti-terror law
The State Government decided
to withhold counter insurgency operations by the SFs against the
KPLT till April 20 this year (2017). 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. The militant group also expressed its desire to come
to the mainstream in the interest of restoring peace and development
in Karbi Anglong Districts. The State Government decided to withhold
operations against KPLT as a ‘good gesture’ to the militant group’s
peace initiative.
|
January 31
|
During the probe of the conversion
case of an unidentified woman from Kerala, the NIA has found that
she was forced to follow the preaching and become a disciple of
an Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. Although, the NIA has registered
the case against nine persons accused for conspiring a fraud marriage
between Mohammad Riyaz/Riyas and the woman, and forcing her to
convert to Islam. Originally, the woman is a resident of Gujarat.
One of the founding members of
IM—Abdus Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer has confirmed that
Riyaz Bhatkal and Iqbal Bhatkal went to Pakistan in 2008 and living
in Karachi (Pakistan) under the ‘protection’ of Pakistan’s ISI
since then. During the interrogation, Subhan claimed that he had
gone to Pakistan in 2008 and recently travelled to Nepal. Upon
his return to India, his intentions were to revive the Indian
Mujahideen group. After the ban imposed on IM in 2002, the group
was directionless and divided into two sub-categories—a moderate
category believed in fighting a legal battle against the ban,
led by Shahid Badr Falahi, and a violent category that was led
by Safdar Nagori that believed in adopting violence to avenge
the ban, said Abdus Subhan.
The Indian PM Narendra Modi had
telephonic conversation with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani
and discussed the need to ‘end’ the terrorist safe havens in the
neighbourhood nation—giving a clear reference of Pakistan. The
20-minute telephonic conversation between Modi and Ghani reflected
the shared concern of terrorist attack in Kabul and assessment
of Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan, said an unnamed source
from the Cabinet Secretariat in New Delhi. In his tweet, the Afghan
President Ghani has stated that— “PM Modi called me to offer condolences
on the recent senseless killings of civilians across (sic) #AFG
by the enemies of humanity. We discussed the need for an end to
terrorist sanctuaries in our neighbourhood. India has always been
a good friend of Afghans, sharing our pain and grief.”
In connection to the low-intensity
blast at the Bodh Gaya temple in Gaya District of Bihar on January
19, the Kolkata Police on January 31 arrested two operatives of
JMB, identified as Paigamber Sheikh (24) and Jamirul Sheikh (31).
During the preliminary interrogation, both accused has revealed
their connection with JMB and conspiracy of planting an IED at
the Bodh Gaya temple during Dalai Lama’s visit, said the DCP of
the STF Murlidhar Sharma. Both accused Paigamber Sheikh and Jamirul
Sheikh are residents of Murshidabad of Malda Administrative Division
in West Bengal. The Kolkata Police arrested Paigamber Sheikh from
his residence in Kankuria Gram of Murshidabad in Malda District,
whereas Jamirul Sheikh was arrested from Phanisdewa of Darjeeling
District in West Bengal. The Central and State investigation agencies
are probing the matter and the guilty persons will be given stringent
punishment, said Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar while inaugurating
the ‘Bauddh Mahotsav’ at the Kaalchakra Maidan of the Bodh Gaya
temple on February 01.
Five Pakistani nationals who
were jailed for spying and other crimes have completed their respective
jail terms but remained ‘stranded’ at Lampur Detention Centre
in Delhi as their own country—Pakistan had disowned them. The
FRRO has written numerous letters with their origins, to the High
Commission of Pakistan in Delhi for their deportation over the
past five years but these request have been rejected or unanswered
by the High Commission of Pakistan in Delhi. These five Pakistani
spies were arrested between 2007 and 2013, and are identified
as Mohamad Hasan alias Mohamad Munir—resident of Khurd-Jhelum
of Punjab Province in Pakistan, Abdul Jabbar—resident of Karachi-Sindh
region, Mohamad Kamar alias Mohamad Kamil—resident of Lahore
of Punjab Province (Pakistan), Mohamad Hanif alias Danis—resident
of Karachi, and Mohamad Idrish—resident of Green town in Karachi.
All of these spies highly trained by Pakistan’s ISI and used against
India to execute covert operations, revive terrorist organisations
like IM and SIMI, or recruitment for sleeper cells, said an unnamed
senior official of Delhi Police.
A youth, identified as Rayees
Ahmad Ganie (19) who was injured in Army firing in Shopian District
on January 27, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS hospital in
Srinagar. As SATP reported earlier, two civilians were
killed and several persons injured when Army fired on a group
of violent protestors in Shopian District of South Kashmir on
January 27. The protestors pelted stones on an Army Force convoy
passing through Ganovpora village in Shopian District.
Thousands of people from Narpora
and its adjoining villages took part in the funeral of the youth
amid protests. A spontaneous strike was observed in Shopian District
on 7th consecutive day on January 31 while as the neighbouring
Pulwama returned to normal on January 31 after remaining shut
for five days but the District, however, observed shutdown again
on January 31 after Rayees’s death. Shops and commercial establishments
were closed in the twin districts while as transport was off the
roads.
Soon after the funeral of Ganie
was over, clashes erupted between youths and security forces at
Shopian, Pulwama, Muran Chowk and Rajpora Chowk. Police fired
teargas to disperse the protesters.
The Army has submitted its version
of the January 27 incident, when its convoy was attacked in Shopian
District, to the Jammu and Kashmir Police and explained its reasons
for opening fire at the stone pelting mob, officials said. According
to the Army’s narrative, submitted on January 30, the force’s
convoy was attacked by a group of stone pelters and its personnel
resorted to firing to save themselves, the officials said. The
Army’s version comes after the State Police registered an FIR
about the incident in Ganovpora area of Shopian in south Kashmir
in which two youths were killed. One more person succumbed to
his injuries on January 31, raising the toll to three. It has
claimed it opened firing in self defence after seven of its personnel
were injured. The Army has also submitted photographs of the vehicles
damaged in the stone pelting. The State Government has ordered
a magisterial probe into the incident.
Pakistani troops again violated
the ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri Districts, prompting
retaliation by Indian Army. The firing from across the border
in Mankote sector of Poonch District began around 5 pm and was
continuing intermittently from both sides, reports said. They
added that Pakistani troops targeted forward posts and villages
in Dabraj, Balnoi and Narh of Mankote with small and heavy weapons.
There was no report of any casualty in the Pakistani firing. Pakistan
again violated ceasefire in Nowshera in Rajauri District forward
by resorting to small arms firing and mortar shelling.
Delhi’s Patiala House court dismissed
the bail plea of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah in an
alleged money laundering case related to terror funding, reports
The Indian Express. The ED is probing a case of terror
funding against Shah based on a case first registered by Delhi
Police’s Special Cell after arrest of an alleged hawala
dealer named Aslam Wani, who reportedly claimed that he passed
on INR 2.25 crore to Shah. Wani was arrested in August 2005.
A three-member action team of
the CPI-Maoist killed Irpa Usendi, cousin to DVCM and ‘commander’
of Perimili LGS Sainath, at a busy weekly market in Etapalli taluka in
Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. Usendi, who was one of the
accused in the case of arson at the site of Surjagarh mining project
of Lloyds’ Mining and Energy Limited when 80 vehicles were set
ablaze by the Maoists on December 30, 2016. The rebels had strewn
pamphlets over the body in which they had labelled him as 'Police
informer'. Usendi, along with another person identified as Raja
Rajasthani, worked as labour contractors at the mining site. He
was initially quizzed by the Police for his role in the arson
but was not arrested. In February in 2017 Usendi was arrested
carrying cash INR 400,000 in a vehicle during a joint checking
of Police and Revenue Department prior to the elections. After
Usendi failed to explain the source of the cash, he was booked
for being a conduit between the mining company representatives
and the Maoists. He was later released on bail. Usendi had been
under scanner of the SFs as a covert Maoist sympathizer as he
had a habit of flaunting his connections to the top rebel leader.
Three CRPF personnel were
injured during an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres
in Madhuban Police Station area in Giridih District of Jharkhand.
A joint team of State Police and the CRPF were conducting search
operations in Parashnath Hills on the outskirts of Mohanpur village,
40 kilometres from Giridih District Headquarters and 200 kilometres
from State capital, Ranchi. Around 5.30am, SFs spotted some CPI-Maoist cadres
who opened fire as the team approached them, compelling SFs to
retaliate. The encounter lasted for around 15 minutes, but the CPI-Maoist cadres
managed to flee. Our preliminary inquiries suggest that Sunil
Manjhi's squad was involved in it. Sunil is a SACM of the CPI-Maoist.
There are 20-25 members in his squad and they have reportedly
taken shelter in Madhuban forest, said CRPF Deputy Commandant
cum Public Relations Officer, Prakash Chandra Badal. One of the
injured personnel was identified as CRPF constable,
Veer Singh, while the identities of the other two Police officers
are yet to be ascertained.
|
February 1
|
A Delhi court ordered the release
of nine persons arrested with a demonetized currency that was
alleged to be used for funding terror in J&K. The NIA special
judge Tarun Sahrawat directed their release with immediate effect,
if not required in any other case, after the central agency submitted
that the possession of the demonetized currency does not fall
under the UA (P) Act or any scheduled offence handled by the NIA.
Of the nine persons, three hail from J&K, two from Delhi,
two from Mumbai (Maharashtra), and one each from Uttar Pradesh
and Nagpur (Maharashtra). The NIA said on scrutiny of material
available on record, it appeared the nine were part of a conspiracy
to commit offences under Section 7 of the Specified Bank Notes
(Cessation of Liabilities) Act. "However, this conspiracy
is found to be distinct from the conspiracy for which a charge
sheet has been filed... in the court on 18 January against 12
other accused," the NIA said. On January18, the NIA filed
the charge sheet under stringent anti-terror laws against seven
jailed Kashmiri separatist leaders on charges of conspiring with
Pakistan-based terrorist leaders Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin
to wage a war against India to secede J&K.
In accordance to the Union Home
Ministry’s budgetary provision for the next fiscal year, the UMHA
has received INR 92,679.86 crores with 10.5 percent hike for 2018-2019.
The special emphasis has been given on the improvements of the
Police Forces. The Delhi Police that is responsible for maintaining
the law and order in Delhi, has been allocated INR 6,946.28 crores,
while INR 1,750 crores has been allocated for the development
of border infrastructure midst of the ‘tension’ ongoing at the
India-Pakistan and India-China International Borders. The CRPF
which engaged in the anti-militancy operations in J&K and
the sensitive regions of the North-East, and often deployed in
internal security duties, has been allocated INR 20,268 crores
for 2018-19. The BSF has been allocated INR 17,118.64 crores for
this fiscal year. In total, the budgetary provisions allocated
to the Central Armed Police Forces which includes CRPF, BSF, the
ITBP, CISF, SSB, the Assam Rifles and the NSG, is Rs 62,741.31
crores for 2018-2019. In the down-side of the UMHA budgetary provision,
the IB has been allocated INR 1,876.44 crores, which is INR 6.26
crores less than the amount allocated in 2017-2018 and the SPG,
which is responsible for the Security of the Indian PM, former
PMs and their close family members, has been allocated INR 385
crores, in comparison to INR 389.50 crores allocated in 2017-18.
Police arrested one Kerala youth,
identified as Riyazur Rehman alias Riyad, a native of Kallai
in Kozhikode District, for trying to join terror outfit IS in
April 2015. Riyad, who was hiding in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) for
the past two years, was deported to India through Delhi airport
(New Delhi) from where he was arrested by Kerala Police a few
days ago (unspecified date). Earlier, in Karipur (Malappuram District)
Police had registered a case against Riyad under Section 125 of
the IPC and Section 20 and 38 of the UA (P) Act. It was the first
IS-related case registered by Kerala Police. The Police said the
26-year-old man was indoctrinated while he was working in Ras
Al Khaimah. Riyad, along with a Bangladesh national, left Ras
Al Khaimah to join the IS in Yemen. He returned to Ras Al Khaimah
after the Bangladesh national disappeared. By the time Riyad's
disappearance became big news in the media; his brother was deported
to India along with some others who were suspected to have IS
links. Riyad was hiding in various locations in Ras Al Khaimah
and was engaged in small-time criminal activities for livelihood,
the Police said.
A witness in the 26/11 case has
positively identified the voice of alleged Mumbai terror attacks
mastermind and LeT operative Sayyed Zabiuddin Ansari alias
Abu Jundal from an audio recorded during the attacks. The witness,
a relative of Ansari, was made to hear a recording of an alleged
conversation between one of the terrorists and their handler in
Pakistan – Abu Jundal – taking instructions during the attack
at Nariman House. Ansari’s main defence, so far, has been that
he is being mistaken for Abu Jundal, one of the four handlers
from Karachi, Pakistan who was giving instructions to 26/11 attackers.
In special judge GA Sanap’s court, a 28-minute conversation between
the terrorists in Nariman house and their handlers in Karachi,
was played for the witness. After listening to the conversation,
the witness, who had identified his cousin in court on January
31, recognised one of the voices (the handler) as that of Ansari’s.
For a person’s voice to be identified
as per law, a forensic expert’s testimony is not considered conclusive
proof. The court demands ratification by a person who has heard
the subject’s voice several times. According to the chargesheet,
in 2010 Ansari had visited this relative at a hotel in Madina,
Saudi Arabia, where the latter had been worked as a receptionist
in a hotel since February 2009. Ansari had reportedly gone there
for Haj. The witness told the court that a few days before his
return to India, Ansari allegedly gave him 4,000 riyals and a
letter for a certain Kashif. However, when he visited the given
address, he could not find any person named Kashif. So Ansari
asked him to deliver the money to a common friend of theirs who
would, in turn, deliver it to Kashif.
A 10-year-old boy, identified
as Musharaf Fayaz who was seriously wounded at the site of an
encounter in Chaigund village of Shopian District on January 25
was succumbed to injuries. Musharaf Fayaz son of Fayaz Ahmad Najar
suffered critical injuries in his head and face on January 25
after a shell exploded at the encounter site while a group of
people were clearing the debris of the house which was razed to
ground by the SFs during the gun battle. On January 24, two local
militants were killed in an encounter while civilian minor boy
Shakir Ahmad Mir died and two girls were injured at Chaigund Audoo
in Shopian District. Musharaf Fayaz succumbed to injuries in the
wee hours on February 1 after battling for life for six days at
the ICU of the SKIMS.
Pakistan army opened new front
in Keri sector of Rajouri District on the LoC targeting villages,
which were untouched from shelling so far, while continuing shelling
in Nowshera sector. The Indian side retaliated firing and shelling
effectively at all the places. Sources said Pakistani troops opened
firing and shelling at Peer Badesar, Rattan and Basali villages
in Keri sector of Rajouri District at 8.40 am. “The shelling was
very intense and number of mortar shells fell in the civilian
areas. However, there were no casualties,’’ they said, adding
that the Indian side retaliated very effectively, leading to heavy
exchanges that continued till 12.45 pm but again resumed at 5.10
pm and continued intermittently till night.
In Nowshera sector, Pakistan
targeted Pukharni, Surla, Kanara, Lam, Janghar and Makri villages
in the morning. The shelling was heavy in the morning but continued
intermittently till the evening. There were reports that two BSF
jawans have sustained minor injuries in Pakistan shelling.
The Indian side retaliated Pakistani shelling at all the places.
Army foiled an infiltration attempt
along the LoC in Tanghdar sector of Kupwara District. Sources
said that a group of 3-4 militants tried to infiltrate in the
general area of Shiv post manned by 6 Garh Rif at around 4:30
a.m. However, alert Army troops challenged them and fired at them
forcing them to flee back. Army immediately launched an operation
in the area. A Defence spokesman said that an attempted infiltration
bid by militants was successfully repulsed by alert Army troops
in Tangdhar Sector in North Kashmir during the early hours.
“A group of four terrorists attempted
to infiltrate under the cover of darkness and thick jungles in
the mountainous terrain in general area of Kalban in Tangdhar
but were spotted by alert troops. They were engaged with heavy
fire and terrorists were seen running away into the thick jungles
towards the Line of Control”, said the spokesman. He added that
search operations in the sector were launched. He said that the
repeated attempts of infiltration in North Kashmir continue to
be foiled by the alert and watchful Army units based on sound
intelligence thus eliminating the nefarious designs of Pakistan
troops to foment trouble in the Valley.
A Delhi court ordered the release
of nine persons arrested with a demonetized currency that was
alleged to be used for funding terror in Jammu and Kashmir. NIA
special judge Tarun Sahrawat directed their release with immediate
effect, if not required in any other case, after the central agency
submitted that the possession of the demonetized currency does
not fall under the UAPA or any scheduled offence handled by the
NIA. Of the nine persons, three hail from Jammu and Kashmir, two
from Delhi, two from Mumbai (Maharashtra), and one each from Uttar
Pradesh and Nagpur (Maharashtra).
The NIA said on scrutiny of material
available on record, it appeared the nine were part of a conspiracy
to commit offences under Section 7 of the Specified Bank Notes
(Cessation of Liabilities) Act. "However, this conspiracy
is found to be distinct from the conspiracy for which a chargesheet
has been filed... in the court on 18 January against 12 other
accused," the NIA said. On January18, the NIA filed the chargesheet
under stringent anti-terror laws against seven jailed Kashmiri
separatist leaders on charges of conspiring with Pakistan-based
terrorist leaders Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin to wage a war
against India to secede Jammu and Kashmir.
BSF troops foiled an infiltration
bid along the IB in Samba District. “Suspicious movement was seen
close to the International Border in Samba sector late last night”,
sources said. Alert BSF troops fired upon the infiltrators forcing
them to return, they said, adding that no more movement was seen
later.
A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified
as Birbal Oraon, was killed in an encounter with SFs at Bhitar
Pandra village in Latehar District of Jharkhand. "We had
information that the squads have been active in the Garu area
for past several days and an anti-Naxal operation was launched
to apprehend them," SP, Prashant Anand said adding that the
Maoists have started firing at the approaching security personnel,
forcing them to retaliate. SP, Prashant Anand said a Maoist identified
as Birbal Oraon was killed while some others have received bullet
injuries in the cross firing. However, the Maoists managed to
escape, he said.
The Palvancha Rural Police arrested
underground ‘squad commander’ of the CPI-ML-New Democracy
Chandranna faction, identified as Mora Ravi (35), at
Reddygudem village in Palvancha Mandal in Bhadradri
Kothagudem District of Telangana. Ravi returned from Srikalahasti
in Andhra Pradesh after undergoing treatment for some illness,
a Police team swooped on his house at Reddygudem, arrested him
and seized a 12 bore tapancha with three live cartridges from
his possession. Ravi had earlier worked in the CPI-Maoist for
a brief period of less than one year, during which time he was
allegedly involved in the killing of local Congress leader Venkat
Reddy at Reddygudem in October 2012. He surrendered to the Police
in February 2013, but a few years later joined hands with the CPI-ML-New
Democracy Chandranna faction. He also allegedly killed Rayala
Bhaskar, a farmer of Narsampeta in Palvancha Mandal,
due to personal rivalry in August 2017 with others. Ravi was wanted
in several cases including murders, attempt to kill and extortion
registered in Palvancha Rural, Gundala and Bodu Police Stations,
SP, Ambar Kishor Jha.
CPI-Maoist cadres attacked the
base camp of a private construction company and set ablaze poclain
hydraulic machine on Dobh-Dhangai road under Barachatti Police
Station area in Gaya District of Bihar. A large number of CPI-Maoist
cadres attacked the base camp of a private construction company
engaged in construction of bridge over Harha River on Dobh-Dhangai
road and took all labourers in their custody. They (Maoists) set
ablaze the poclain machine of the company and also vandalised
its property. They managed to escape from the spot after the incident
and raids were being carried out to arrest them, said Police.
"Eight people had been taken into custody for interrogation,”
Police said and added that investigation was on to ascertain which
outfit of the Naxalites was responsible for the
attack.
An arms dealer identified as
T Paominlen was arrested from Churachandpur District. Recovered
items include 47 live rounds of 5.56mm, 12 rounds of 9mm calibre.
|
February 2
|
The Odisha Police arrested an
unnamed man who alleged to be a part of counterfeit Indian currency
notes racket, from Balasore District of Odisha and recovered 100
FICNs of denomination INR 2,000. The arrest was a lead from two
unnamed students who purchased clothes from a store in Baripada
of Mayurbhanj District in Odisha. Both students were detained
by the locals of Baripada town and later handed-over to Rasagobindpur
Police. During the interrogation, the accused has admitted to
purchase 100 FICNs by paying INR 10,000 to an unnamed man in West
Bengal, said ASP Dinanjan Nayak.
The NIA arrested Mohammed Riyaz/Riyas—a
resident of Kannur in Kannur District of Kerala, from Chennai
Airport in Chennai District of Tamil Nadu. Mohammed Riyaz was
alleged to force his wife to convert to Islam and attempted to
sell her to the IS operatives in Syria. We had prior information
about Mohammad Riyaz travelling from Jeddah city (Saudi Arabia)
via Colombo (Sri Lanka) and arrested upon his arrival at Chennai
Airport. He has been interrogated at NIA office in Chennai and
his arrest has not been officially recorded so far, said an unnamed
NIA officer. Mohammed Riyaz is also accused of using Fake Indian
Passport.
Authorities foiled the ‘Shopian
march’ programme called by the separatist APHC by clamping restrictions
in Srinagar’s old city and in south Kashmir’s Shopian District.
Authorities imposed strict restrictions in twin districts of South
Kashmir including Pulwama and Shopian and all roads leading to
Shopian were sealed by SFs. Barricades were erected at multiple
places to prevent movement of vehicles and people. Amid curfew,
people in several parts of Pulwama tried to march towards Shopian
but were stopped by Police. Strict restrictions were imposed in
Srinagar’s old city and Maisuma.
Both Syed Ali Shah Geelani and
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq defied the house arrest to march towards Shopian
but Police stopped Geelani and detained Mirwaiz outside his Nigeen
residence. Mohammad Yasin Malik had gone into hiding since January
31 and he managed to reach Shopain where he addressed people at
Jamia Masjid. He was arrested soon after he came out of Masjid.
A Police official said that overall
the situation remained peaceful in the twin districts. “There
were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the
Valley although some stray stone pelting incidents were reported
from some places,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti said that situation was not conducive for revocation
of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir even as she described ‘Mufti Sayeed’s
Vision’ of opening more cross-LoC roots and strengthening people-to-people
contact between two parts of Kashmir as only viable solution to
the Kashmir problem.
In her 47 minutes speech on the
grants of her Departments in the Legislative Assembly, Mehbooba
once again took on the separatists slamming frequent ‘Chalo calls’
given by them saying it leads to violence with youths becoming
victims and also denounced them for using Mosques for holding
meetings saying the people were fed up with such calls and want
peace. She also referred to the taunt of NC leader Omar Abdullah
and said she was ready to go to the hell if it helps the people
of Kashmir. Responding to the demand made by CPM veteran MY Tarigami
on revocation of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said: “we
too want that this should end. Footprints of the security forces
should be reduced. But is it realistic in a situation when large
number of people are gathering at the sites of encounters and
pelt stones on security forces?” She said she too wants that footprints
of security forces should be reduced and AFSPA go but presently
situation is not like that. “The more there will be use of guns
and stones, there will be more footprints of security forces.
Even when I was in Opposition, I too got many bunkers and camps
of security forces removed but in 2017, people came to us saying
they need camps as the militants won’t come in the areas where
there will be camps. And when there will be no militants, there
will be no searches,” she quoted people as saying.
Stone pelting incidents in Jammu
and Kashmir is ‘not a law and order issue’, rather these are outcome
of a cleverly drafted conspiracy by Hurriyat leaders, including
Syed Ali Shah Geelani and terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed
Salahuddin, orchestrated with the covert and overt support and
funding of Pakistan, the NIA claimed. "Stone pelting in Kashmir
has become a full-fledged industry wherein the cadres of Hurriyat
and its constituent groups have organised themselves at district,
tehsil, wards and mohalla level, and leaders at appropriate stages
have formed an armed wing represented by masked stone-pelters,
consisting mainly of youth of Kashmir Valley," says NIA chargesheet.
Terming separatists as the ‘political face of the terrorism in
Kashmir’, NIA said that APHC and terrorists have devised strategies
as part of their "larger plot to break Jammu and Kashmir
away from India".
There are planners, strategists,
fund raisers, cash couriers, logistic and support network, executors,
publicity managers and political propagandists who continuously
devise strategies and programmes by way of organising bandhs
(strikes), forcible closure of roads, government establishments,
damaging public property including burning of schools, arson,
bank looting and directing mass violence against security forces,
in general and at encounter sites, it said. The Hurriyat cadres
— called 'Rukuns' — collect funds from shopkeepers, businessmen
and residents of Kashmir, sometimes even threatening apple growers
to pay INR 5 to INR 10 lakh. These professional stone pelters
initiate violence in various urban, semi-urban and rural areas
of Kashmir, by coercing innocent people to attack Army, CRPF or
J&K Police, thereby using them as "cannon fodder".
To control the engineered violence, SFS deployed for maintenance
of law and order are "often compelled to use force, including
pellet guns", NIA says, adding that youth injured by pellet
guns are used as "trophies" by the separatists to highlight
their agenda.
Asserting that violence has affected
the economy of Kashmir, NIA said, "The long periods of shutdown
and massive violence/stone pelting has brought Kashmir to the
brink of economic collapse". NIA probe has further revealed
that Kashmiri students who go to Pakistan universities are either
relatives of former/active militants or known to Hurriyat leaders.
Over 40,000 personnel of the
Central Paramilitary Forces will be deployed to provide security
for the upcoming panchayat (village local administration)
elections in J&K. The UMHA has decided to deploy 300 companies
of CAPF of which 85 will be from the CRPF, 75 from the BSF, 55
from the CISF, 40 from the SSB and 45 from the ITBP. Apart from
these, 101 training companies of these forces, already present
in the State, will also be utilized for election purpose. The
State Government has decided to hold the elections from February
15.
Jharkhand Police launched Long
Range Patrolling (LRP) in Naxal affected areas
in Pakur District of Jharkhand. The Police launched LRP campaign
under the leadership of ASI, Satyendra Kumar Rai in the village
of New Kathledi, Amjari, Vishanpur, Dudhjore, Bargo and Khandokanta
in Pakur District of Jharkhand.
The C-60 personnel of Gadchiroli
Police exchanged fire with CPI-Maoist cadres during an inspection
of the area in Kumadpar forest area in Gadchiroli District of
Maharashtra. The Police recovered one .303 rifle, two 12-bore
rifles and other Naxal material after CPI-Maoist cadres
fled into the jungle, said Police.
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.
|
February 3
|
Suspected JMB operatives Mohammad
Paigambar Sheikh (24) and Jamirul Sheikh (31) told the West Bengal
Police that they had planned eight serial blasts in Bodh Gaya
to avenge the alleged atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
Indian passport, cellphone, laptop, electrical tapes, wires and
switches, gloves, incriminating documents and 50kg of ammonium
nitrate were recovered from their possession. Plastic lunch boxes
similar to that found in Bodh Gaya were also recovered. An officer
said the JMB members could not plant the other five IEDs as the
first one exploded near the Kalchakra Maidan in Bodh Gaya on January
19. One IED planted below a generator set near Kalchakra Maidan
had partially exploded leading to the recovery of two others just
a few metres from the entrance of a Tibetan monastery where Buddhist
spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was staying during that period.
The intelligence agencies had tracked several calls in West Bengal
before and after the January 19 incident, he said. "Ammonium
nitrate granules were also recovered from partially exploded IED.
It was perhaps to increase the destructive power of the bomb,"
the officer said. "Mohammad Sheikh had studied at several
madrassas in Bihar, including Gaya and Katihar. He was trained
in making bombs and explosions at a terror camp organized by JMB
at Bardhaman in West Bengal between 2012 and 2013," a Bihar
Police officer said. He also said Jamirul was an Arabic language
teacher at a madrassa in Darjeeling. "Mohammad Sheikh had
smuggled the explosives used in the three IEDs from Bangladesh.
Jamirul's role was to arrange human resource and transport for
carrying the explosion," he said and added that JMB, a banned
outfit in Bangladesh, was also linked with a couple of international
terror organizations. Sources said JMB has very active cadres
in West Bengal and Assam. Some of its members, wanted in Bangladesh,
are suspected to be hiding in Bengal.
The BSF recovered seven kilograms
of heroin from an unidentified area near the border outpost New
Dona Rai Dina Nath (DRDN) at the India-Pakistan border in Forezepur
Sector, Ferozepur District in Punjab, reports The Tribune. The
heroin was wrapped in seven packets, each of a kilogram, of polythene
and was concealed under the grass near the International border.
The international market value of the recovered heroin is worth
INR 35 crores, said an unnamed BSF official.
The NIA arrested Mahfuz/Mahfooz
Alam (22), a Gopalganj (Bihar) based man who had arranged accommodation
for LeT terrorist Abu Naeem Sheikh alias Sohail Khan alias
Zabbar Khan who had lived covertly in Gopalganj from December
2014 to March 2017, The Times of India reports on February 4.
Earlier, Sheikh was arrested from Varanasi on November 29, 2017and
on his indication later the NIA arrested Bedar Bakht alias
Dhannu Raja from Gopalganj on December 3, 2017. Earlier, Bakht
was also associated with NSUI. Later, the agency arrested Tausif
Ahmed Mallik from Pulwama in South Kashmir on December 9, 2017.
Sheikh, originally a native of
Aurangabad in Maharashtra, was on a covert reconnaissance mission
in India for LeT to identify potential targets for a terror attack.
He had conducted recce of hydropower projects and Israeli tourist
attraction spots in Himachal Pradesh, Gorakhnath Temple in Uttar
Pradesh, Patna airport, Bihar Regimental Centre, army and para-military
installations in South Kashmir and several other places across
India on commands of his Pakistan based LeT handler Amzad alias
Rehan who is in-charge of terror operations in India, Bangladesh,
Nepal and Maldives. Photographs of several vital installations
were recovered from Sheikh after his arrest.
It was on Mahfuz's indication
that NIA conducted raids at Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh on
February 3, and arrested two hawala (illegal money transaction)
operators Dinesh Garg and Adesh Kumar Jain who were pumping money
for Sheikh's terror operation after receiving it from UAE. Indian
currency of INR 42.84 lakh along with currencies of Saudi Arabia,
UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, USA, Japan, Thailand and Oman were seized
from shops and residence of the duo. Apart from them, two currency
counting machines, laptops, cellphones, firearms including a Chinese
pistol, three laptops, seven cellphones and some document. NIA
also got some cell phone number of suspects during the raids.
The NIA has been surveillance
over Tasleem alias Rocky—a resident of Kannur (Kerala)
but staying in the UAE, for allegedly financing the travel of
IS sympathisers from Kannur (Kerala) to Syria. Tasleem provided
financial support of 4,000 US dollars (approx. INR 2.5 Lakh) to
Mohammad Shajil alias Abu Dhain—a resident of Kannur (Kerala)
for meeting his travel expenses to Syria and stay-over in Turkey.
So far, Tasleem has not been charged as an accused but there is
a need to make sure if Tasleem has any links with IS and its active
module in Kerala, said an unnamed NIA officer. The NIA teams of
Delhi and Kochi are questioning other two cases related to the
migration of Kannur residents to Syria.
Four people were wounded as militants
lobbed grenades at a CRPF patrol in Batagund village in Pulwama
District. The wounded include two CRPF troopers and two civilians.
SFs arrested two Pakistan-trained
LeT militants in North Kashmir’s Baramulla District soon after
they returned. The militants, who had gone to Pakistan on valid
Pakistani visa to obtain arms training to undertake militant activities
in the Valley, were arrested during a joint operation by the Baramulla
Police, 52 RR of Army and CRPF. SF official said the militants
had obtained their passports specifically for the purpose of arms
training. “These militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba were nabbed immediately
after returning via the Wagah-Attari border before they could
formally join the militant ranks here in Kashmir,” said a Police
officer. He identified the arrested militants as Abdul Majeed
Bhat, resident of Kreeri, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, from Pattan.
The officer said that on questioning,
the duo revealed that they underwent training in Pakistan along
with a large number of Pakistani boys, most of whom were from
Balochistan and as young as 10 years. “The said terrorist training
camps are located near Burma Town in Islamabad, and being run
by a terrorist commander operating under code names Hanzala, Adanan
and Omar. Other terrorists imparting training to young boys are
operating with code names Osama, Naveed and Hataf,” he said.
He said that the arrested militants
were given Pakistani visas by the Pakistan High Commission in
New Delhi. “It is pertinent to mention here that in the past couple
of years, police have unearthed several such modules that lure
young boys to Pakistan to get trained and join militancy. In the
past, several such boys have been arrested, while some of them
were killed in encounters,” he added. A case was registered and
an investigation is underway. “Parents are requested to keep watch
on their wards. Their prolonged absence from home should be immediately
reported to police so that lives of these boys can be saved,”
he added.
One Policeman was seriously injured
as Maoists opened fire on a Police team in the forest area of
Tippapuram village in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. A composite
squad of security personnel, including the STF, DRG, District
Police, was out on patrol when the ultras opened fire, Police
said. The Policeman, identified as Constable Arvind Salaam, sustained
serious injuries in the attack. "After the naxal firing,
Police launched a retaliatory attack. The exchange of fire lasted
for around one-and-a-half hour following which the naxals fled
from the spot," Police said. There is a possibility that
some Maoists died in the Police firing, they said.
Maoists set on fire 10 vehicles
near Bhattiguda village under Modakpal Police Station limits in
Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Police officials said that construction
of road was in progress between Kongupalli to Bhattiguda. "This
morning, Naxals came to the spot and asked the labourers involved
in road construction to stop the work and then torched the vehicles,"
an official said.
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 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.
Anti- Naxal Force
from Kodagu, Mangaluru and Heggadadevanakote, along with Kodagu
Police team, began combing operations, at Sampaje forest area
in Kodagu District of Karnataka, after CPI-Maoist cadres were
allegedly spotted in the vicinity on February 2. The CPI-Maoist
cadres turned up in Guddagadde village near Sampaje (Kodagu-Dakshina
Kannada border) were clad in uniform that resembled the attire
of army men and introduced themselves as Maoists. According
to Shankappa, a resident of Guddagadde village, three CPI-Maoist
cadres came to his house and asked his family to prepare
dinner. The trio could be Maoist Vikram Gowda and his associates,
One of them could be aged around 60, said a villager. The combing
operation in Chadavu, Arekallu, Subramanya and other reserved
forest areas continued till late in the evening, said Kodagu SP,
Rajendra Prasad and DSP, Sunder Raj.
Prasanta Tapadhar Dikagre, a
manager of a firm was abducted from his home at Rongsa Awe in
South Garo Hills. Police stated that the abduction gang comprised
of ex- militants of GNLA.
|
February 4
|
Nudging out WhatsApp that has
been one of the most popular mobile applications among terrorist
outfits, private chat rooms available on Google Play Store that
do not leave any trail even for a single day are now becoming
the top picks of jihadis. Sources in intelligence agencies say
in the past few years many Android-based applications have come
up in the market that draw users by promoting the unique selling
proposition of end-to-end encryption. "Apps such as ICQ,
Wickr and Jabber are the most popular private messengers available
on Google Play Store. The terror outfits have been using these
apps for internal communication that includes radicalisation of
youths and for spreading motivational speeches. These apps are
now officially being used by the terror organisations for plotting
strikes," according to intelligence agency. Experts say jihadi
fanatics can now instantly talk to each other using software that
scrambles their messages so no one else can read them. IS extremists
were till recently using Viber, which also offers the ability
to encrypt messages, but have now ditched it because it allegedly
keeps a record of the messages users have sent.
Mumbai-bred terror suspect Abdul
Subhan Qureshi had allegedly approached the IM’s absconding ‘chief’
Riyaz Bhatkal for help, including weapons, to organise targeted
attacks on members of a political party in Gujarat after the arrest
of 13 senior SIMI leaders in March 2008. A then BJP MLA and a
party office-bearer were on the terror hit list, according to
counter-terror sources associated with the probe against Qureshi,
who was arrested in Delhi recently. But Bhatkal allegedly convinced
him instead to help in terms of manpower for his conspiracy to
conduct blasts, on the ground that target attacks were ‘small
work.’ Qureshi is being questioned for his alleged role in terror
activities, including the July 2008 Gujarat blasts conspiracy.
After the arrest of the SIMI leaders, including the then chief
Safdar Nagori at their safe house in Indore, Qureshi, alias
‘Touqeer’, took over the mantle of the banned outfit and allegedly
began re-organising, exhorting trusted operatives for ‘action’
as a retaliation against the arrests and the loss of Muslim lives
in the Gujarat riots of 2002, said a source. He allegedly arrived
in Ahmedabad in April and met SIMI members, he said.
An Army Captain and three soldiers
were killed and four persons including two Army and BSF jawans
and two teenage civilians were injured in heavy ceasefire violations
by Pakistan army almost across all major Sectors on the LoC in
the twin border Districts of Poonch and Rajouri in which Pakistani
troops also used missiles. Official sources said that Pakistan
army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms,
automatic, mortars and missiles on the LoC in Bhimber Gali sector
of Rajouri District. In the firing and shelling, four Army soldiers
including a Captain were martyred and another jawan was
injured in Tarkundi area in BG sector of Poonch District. The
Indian side retaliated effectively, leading to heavy exchanges
that continued till late night. The killed soldiers were identified
as Captian Kapil Kundu (23), Rifleman Ramavatar (28), Rifleman
Subham Singh (23), and Havaldar Roshan Lal (43).
Pakistan activated almost all
major Sectors on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch Districts including
Sunderbani, Nowshera, Manjakote, Poonch, Mendhar and Balakote
by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing in some of the
forward areas targeting Army posts and civilian areas. The Indian
side retaliated at all places. Two teenagers, Shahnaz Bano (15)
and Yasin (14), were injured when a mortar shell exploded close
to their house in Shahpur sub sector of Poonch District in the
afternoon. They were evacuated from the site of firing and shifted
to hospital, where they were responding to the treatment. A BSF
ASI was injured in Sunderbani sector in Rajouri District. Sources
said Pakistan side was also reported to have suffered heavy losses
in retaliatory shelling by the Indian troops at all the places.
Since January 18, death toll
in ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC and IB has gone
up to 18 as 14 persons including eight civilians and six security
personnel were killed during past fortnight. However, there has
been no ceasefire violation on the IB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua
Districts since January 22. Firing and shelling by Pakistan on
the LoC has become a regular feature. There was panic among the
border dwellers along LoC as Pakistan continued to target civilian
areas in both Rajouri and Poonch districts. During the past several
days, people were mostly confining themselves to their houses.
Schools also remained closed for past several days in shelling
hit areas on the LoC.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed Manoj
Podiyam (24), an employee of a road contractor, at Gatam village
under Katekalyan Police Station limits in Dantewada District of
Chhattisgarh. Podiyam, the deceased, was working as an accountant
with a private contractor engaged in road construction work in
the area. Maoists stormed into Podiyam's house at Gatam, around
400 kilometres from State capital, Raipur, and shot him in front
of his wife, the Police said. Podiyam's sister-in-law Muskan Mandavi
(10) was hit in the leg by a ricocheting bullet.
A Police Constable was allegedly
abducted and killed by the Maoists in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
“Assistant constable Sitaram Bagde, abducted last night, was found
dead near Kachlaram village under Farsegarh police station limits
on February 5,” DIG, south Bastar range, Sundarraj P said. The
Maoists set ablaze a passenger bus near Kachlaram between Farsegarh
and Toynar late on February 3, after asking its occupants to get
down, the officer said. Subsequently, they stopped some passersby,
including Bagde, who was on his motorcycle, at the spot. “When
Naxals discovered his identity, they took him to forest along
with them,” he said. Bagde’s body with his throat slit was spotted
by some locals this morning, the DIG said.
Two Maoists, who were carrying
a total reward of INR 1.1 million on their heads, surrendered
before Kondagaon, SP, Abhishek Pallava in Kondagaon District of
Chhattisgarh. The surrendered Maoists included ‘East Bastar Division
company number 6’ member Umesh Kumeti (18) and Bayanar LOS member
Sampo Korram (17), Police said. The State Government had announced
a reward of INR 800,000 on the head of Kumeti, while Korram was
carrying a reward of INR 300,000. Both rebels were wanted in connection
with the Tetam, Tushpal and Irpanar Maoist attacks on SFs during
2016 and 2017, Police said.
Police arrested Mahesh Singh
Kharwar alias Aditya ji, a ‘zonal commander’ of the CPI-Maoist,
from Taal village under Panki Police Station area in Daltonganj
City in Palamu District of Jharkhand. Palamu, SP, Inderjeet Mahtha
said “This is a big catch for us. We nabbed him while he was returning
from Patna in Bihar after medical treatment. He has confessed
to his involvement in encounters with the security forces at Burha
Pahar last January.” Acting on the inputs provided by Kharwar,
Police conducted raids at the house of one Umesh Yadav in Andag
village under Panki Tehsil of Palamu District during which
a desi katta, five live cartridges, a bundle of codex wire was
recovered. The SP said that Kharwar, brother-in-law of Maoist
‘commander’ Chhotu Singh Kharwar, had joined the Maoists ranks
in the age of 14 and had been working for them since then.
Over 30 percent of the 4,600
bulletproof jackets received by Maharashtra Police failed the
AK-47 bullet test during trials. The jackets returned to a Kanpur-based
manufacturing firm were from three different batches. The jackets
are primarily meant to be used by Police Personnel during anti-Maoist
operations in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra and in other
areas, the QRT of Mumbai Police and the Force One, the elite commando
force raised after the 2008 terror strikes. The State Police started
receiving the jacket consignments in the last quarter of 2017.
“We have sent back 1,430 bulletproof jackets to the manufacturer
as they did not pass our test with AK-47 bullets," said ADGP,
Procurement and Coordination, V V Laxminarayana.
The Maoists have given a call
for ‘Dandakaranya-Telangana’ bandh against State and Central
Governments for implementing anti-people policies, detaining innocent
tribal people and “killing Maoists in fake encounters”. The Police
beefed up security in all the Bhadrachalam agency areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem
District of Telangana along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border
and conducted vehicle checks extensively.
Tension has mounted on the AP-Telangana
border with the CPI-Maoist cadres resorting to violence during
the last few days. The Central Forces taking up anti-Maoist operations
in the border forests have sounded an alert. CPI-Maoist cadres
have restricted the Paramilitary forces from gaining entry into
Maoist strongholds by digging trenches and felling trees on the
roads. The CPI-Maoist leaders are holding meetings with the villagers
in tribal pockets. With the CPI-Maoist cadres intensifying their
movements in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, the Greyhounds parties have
been alerted and combing operations stepped up. PLGA cadres damaged
the roads, blasted a bridge and injured three persons including
a CoBRA of the CRPF personnel and two civilians in the last few
days. The AP Police recently stressed on deployment of more police
forces to curb Naxal activities. The Maoist problem is
an inter-State issue; we are holding discussions with our counterparts
in the Naxal -dominated States. The cooperation from the
officers is good. The Police are conducting medical camps and
sports activities to win the hearts of the public in tribal pockets,
said Police official.
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.
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.
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.
The West Bengal Police arrested
Azhar Hossain (22)—a suspected militant of JMB, and recovered
huge collection of ammunition and IED explosives from his possession
in Ratnapur village in Samserganj Tehsil of Murshidabad District
of West Bengal. The Police presented Azhar Hossain
before a court in Jangipur in Murshidabad District (West Bengal)
and sought 14-days Police custody. The Police charged Azhar Hossain
under Sections 120, 121, 122, and 123 of the IPC, 1860. The Police
team raided his house and recovered 75 rounds of ammunition, a
loaded magazine, 25 kilograms of explosives and jihadi literature,
said an unnamed officer of the District Intelligence wing. “Interrogations
of the arrested accused have revealed that several modules and
sleeper cells of the JMB are now active in Murshidabad and neighbouring
Districts of West Bengal. They have recruited several youngsters
so far,” said an unnamed Police officer.
The BSF South Bengal Frontier
recovered 97 FICNs in denomination of INR 2,000 which worth INR
1.94 lakh from nearby of India-Bangladesh border in Baishnabghata
of Malda District, West Bengal. Meanwhile, the courier
carrying the bundle of these FICNs took the advantage of fog and
darkness and managed to escape. Acting upon the Intelligence inputs,
the BSF troops laid an ambush around 11:30 pm (IST) as they spot
a man boarding a motorcycle approaching from the Kamat Bandi village
in Haldibari Tehsil of Koch Bihar District (West Bengal) and challenged
him to stop. The man turned his motorcycle and fled but a bundle
of FICNs fell from his possession, said an unnamed senior BSF
official.
Bihar’s Economic Offence Unit
(EOU) plans to formed Cyber Crime and Social Media Unit (CCSMU)
to tackle the cyber incidents in the state. The CCSMU will be
established in all 40 Districts including Bettiah and Naugacchia
and would function with skilled gadgets and experts to support
the local Police Force as they lack the skills and expertise in
tackling the cybercrime incidents. The EOU had received 333 cases
of cybercrime incidents in 2017 and it raised the need to establish
a CCSMU in all Districts to handle such incidents. The Central
Government has released around INR 82 crores out of which INR
3 crores have been used to form the CCSMU, said EOU’s ASP Sushil
Kumar. The money for this project would be coming out of the Nirbhaya
Fund that was implemented as an initiative to enhance
the safety of women and girls. The fund stands to INR 3,100 crores.
Five members of a FICNs gang
with links to a group based in Afghanistan in Cumbum town in Theni
District of Tamil Nadu, along with FICNs in denomination of INR
2,000 worth INR 2.61 Lakhs. During the interrogation,
one of the members identified as J. Ajmal Khan claimed that the
gang was involved in distribution of the counterfeit currency
notes and the notes were printed by his father in the same town.
Based on his claim, the Police raided his house and recovered
the FICNs. His father and other unidentified gang members were
also arrested said unnamed source of Tamil Nadu Police.
Around 100 armed CPI-Maoist
cadres blew up BSNL tower at Edira village in Venkatapur Mandal in Jayashankar-Bhupalapally
District of Telangana. CPI-Maoist cadres arrived at the Edira
BSNL tower spot and stopped vehicular traffic on the Venkatapur-Vajedu
road for about two hours. They planted bombs in the cabin and
solar system and blasted the tower. The BSNL tower was 35km away
from the Mandal headquarters and 15km from the
Chhattisgarh border.
Bihar Police arrested Eight CPI-Maoist
cadres, including one ‘commander’ of CPI-Maoist, from three
different places in Gaya District of Bihar. In the first
incident, five CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Shankar
Dayal, Sanjay Reddy, Siddhesh Kumar, Gopal Prasad of Padumachchak
village and Dilip Ravidas of the Mohanpur village, associated
with RCC, is a splinter group of the former MCC now CPI-Maoist, were
arrested by Barachatti Police. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres
have confessed of their involvement in set ablaze of poclain hydraulic
machine on Dobh-Dhangai road under Barachatti Police Station area
in Gaya District on February 1. The Police recovered two pieces
of detonator, five gelatin, one kilo phosphorus, sutar, Aadhaar
card, mobile and globes. These five Maoists were produced in court
and sent to jail. In the second incident, STF arrested two CPI-Maoist
cadres identified as CPI-Maoist commander Sunil Yadav
and his partner Dhananjay Ravidas in Gaya District of Bihar. The
duo have admitted of their involvement in burning of set ablaze
of poclain hydraulic machine on the Harrah river and also in Amas
and Gurua, said Barachatti Police Chief, Chetnanand Jha and
CRPF Inspector, Ajay Kumar Sahu. In the third incident, Police
arrested CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Shrikant Manjhi,
who is absconding for the last 11 years from Jarlahi village,
said Mohanpur Police Station In-Charge, Neeraj Kumar.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
stated that militant activities in northeast India have been checked
due to Bangladesh’s great help and support. The Minister stated
that ‘Bangladesh’s immense help and support facilitated India
to tame the terrorist activities in northeastern states. Our relation
with Bangladesh now at best place’.
Suspected NSCN-K militant, identified
as ‘captain’ Phuto Konyak was arrested from Aboi town in Mon District.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
on February 4 stated that militant activities in northeast India
have been checked due to Bangladesh’s great help and support.
The Minister stated that ‘Bangladesh’s immense help and support
facilitated India to tame the terrorist activities in northeastern
states. Our relation with Bangladesh now at best place’.
|
February 4-5
|
SFs killed an NDFB-S militant
at Belguri village in Chirang District. . A 7.62mm pistol, one
7.62 mm magazine and two rounds of 7.62 mm pistol live ammunition
were recovered from the militant.
|
February 5
|
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 Uttar Pradesh ATS has arrested
Sheikh Ali Akbar—a resident of Ghazipur District of Uttar Pradesh,
who had close connection with terrorist groups operating in Kashmir
Valley, reports The Times of India. Sheikh Ali
Akbar was arrested from Lohia Path (Road) in Lucknow, Lucknow
District (Uttar Pradesh). The four terrorist that were arrested
from Bandipora District in J&K on February 4 had informed
Police that Akbar was an associated with them and had taken INR
40,000 for supplying them weapons. Akbar’s mobile phone had several
‘terror videos’ and he was an active member of nine groups created
on social media sympathising terrorism, said ATS’ IG Aseem Arun.
The Kashmiri militant group affiliated
to al Qaeda—Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind (AGuH) released a video which
claims to highlight the last will of Afzal Guru from Tihar Jail
in Delhi. The ten-minute video released by AGuH’s media wing al-Hurr
has images of Indian PM Narendra Modi, Pakistan’s former PM Nawaz
Sharif, former US President Barack Obama and slain HM militant
Burhan Wani. The narrator in the video repeatedly provoked the
youngsters from the Kashmir Valley to jihad against the Indian
SFs and considered Kashmir as a ‘jail’ surrounded by the Indian
SFs till it gets free from India.
A civilian, identified as Arif
Lone was injured after the Army allegedly opened fire on protesters
in South Kashmir’s Kulgam District. The incident occurred after
few youth pelted stones on an Army patrol in Hawoora-Mishpora
village of Qoimoh in Kulgam. The injured youth was hit by a bullet
in his mouth.
Militants attacked an Army camp
with a grenade at Kakapora area of Pulwama District. Militants
attacked the army’s 50 RR camp in Kakpora with a grenade at around
8.30 pm. In retaliation, Army fired several aerial rounds. However,
there was no immediate report of any casualty so far. The area
has been cordoned off and searches are being conducted to find
out militants responsible for the attack.
Police filed a charge sheet against
four militants of LeT for the killing of SHO Achhabal and his
five security guards in June 16, 2017. The SIT headed by Tahir
Ashraf Bhatti, SP, carried investigation and during the course
of investigation it was established that LeT headed by Bashir
Lashkari were involved in the attack. On the basis of evidences
collected during the course of investigation involvement of eight
persons was established, of which two have been arrested. The
arrested include Sandeep Kumar son of Ramesh Kumar of Muzaffar
Nagar (UP) and Mohammad Ashraf Wani alias Molvi son of
Ghulam Nabi Wani of Branti Anantnag. The two main accused Bashir
Ahmad Wani alias Bashir Lashkari son of Ghulam Ahmad of
Soaf Shali Kokernag and Abu Maz of Pakistan were killed. The four
others involved in the killings Khurshid Ahmad Ganie of Branti
Dialgam, Mehraj- ud-din Bangroo of Narparistan Feteh Kadal Srinagar,
Sahir Ahmad Makroo of Arwani Bijbehara and Zeenatull Islam Shah
of Malnard Sugan Shopian are absconding.
Police busted an OGW module of
JeM by arresting five OGWs in Awantipora area in Pulwama District.
Police said that on the basis of a specific input, Awantipora
Police along with CRPF and 50 RR arrested a former Pakistan trained
militant, Sajad Ahmad Bhat son of Ali Mohammad Bhat of Hergam
Wuyan and after questioning he disclosed that he along with other
OGWs of the JeM outfit were involved in the grenade throwing incidents
in Pampore and Khrew areas. Police said that upon his disclosure
four OGWs were arrested and arms and ammunition were recovered
from them. They were identified as Umar Gani Sheikh son of Abdul
Gani Sheikh resident of Drangbal Pampore, Jan Mohammad Khanday
alias Jehangir son of Abdul Rashid Khanday resident of
Meech Pampore, Owais Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Rashid of Danak Mohalla
Khrew and Muzaffar Hussain Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad of Tulibagh
Pampore.
Police said that the JeM which
was earlier having strong basis in Tral had been dislodged from
the area by conducting intelligence based operations in which
some of the top commanders were eliminated and large number of
hideouts were busted. Police added that after continuous operations
in Tral they shifted their focus in Khrew and Pampore belts. They
said JeM ‘commander’ Noor Mohammad Tantray alias Noor Trali,
who was killed last year, was the key in creating this network
of OGWs. “After his elimination, the OGWs were operating under
the command/instructions of Mufti Waqas of Pakistan who replaced
Noor Trali as ‘commander’ of JeM in South Kashmir.
The Indian Army clearly indicated
it would take retaliatory action against the killing of four army
men in heavy shelling by Pakistani forces along the LoC in the
Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that its action
would speak for itself. Vice Chief Lieutenant General Sarath Chand
said the Army has been responding appropriately to Pakistan shelling,
asserting that India will continue to give a ‘befitting reply’
to such acts. “That (retaliation) goes without saying, I think
I don’t have to say that. (Our) action will speak for itself,”
he said when asked about the killing of a Captain and three other
Army men in the Rajouri sector.
Chand also accused the Pakistani
army of supporting the infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and
Kashmir. “We will continue with our process of giving a befitting
reply (to such acts),” he told reporters on the sidelines of an
event here, adding that there were even incidents of mutilation
of bodies of jawans last year. “We have been responding appropriately,”
he said. “There has been cross-border shelling from their (Pakistan’s)
side. And one of the shells landed near the officer and his men,
leading to the casualties,” he said when asked about yesterday’s
(February 4) shelling. Army sources said the Pakistan army had
used 120mm mortars and Anti-Tank-Guided Missiles on February 4
in the attack in which the four Army men were killed. Usually
the Pakistan army uses 80mm mortars.
The Kashmiri militant group affiliated
to al Qaeda—Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind (AGuH) released a video which
claims to highlight the last will of Afzal Guru from Tihar Jail
in Delhi. The ten-minute video released by AGuH’s media wing al-Hurr
has images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan’s
former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former US President Barack
Obama and slain HM militant Burhan Wani. The narrator in the video
repeatedly provoked the youngsters from the Kashmir Valley to
jihad against the Indian SFs and considered Kashmir as
a ‘jail’ surrounded by the Indian SFs till it gets free from India.
A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed
in an encounter with the Police in a forest area under Etapalli
area in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, during the day-long bandh called
by Maoists in the Dandakaranya region. The incident occurred in
Etapalli area at around 3 PM when the Maoists opened fire at a
patrolling team of C-60 commandos, the Gadchiroli Police said
in a release. "After the gun battle, the Maoists fled while
leaving the body of a male ultra behind," it said. An 8 mm
rifle and articles of daily use of Maoists were recovered from
the spot, according to the release. Police are trying to identify
the slain Maoist.
Maharashtra ATS arrested Saidul
Singapanga (36), for ‘Maoist links’ and produced in a sessions
court of Mumbai. Chief Public Prosecutor Lata Chheda told the
court that the interrogation of the seven others arrested earlier
had led them to Singapanga. “The current accused’s name had reflected
in the statements of other witnesses. Along with one of the accused,
he had gone to collect funds for the party,” Chheda submitted
before the court. “At the time of the arrest of the other men,
he was not at his house,” the investigating officer of the ATS
told the court. Earlier, SATP had reported that the seven
other persons, identified as Ajay Dosri alias Krishna
Lingaya alias Venugopal (40), Shankarayya, Babushankar
Banguri, Narsayya, Ravi Marpalli, Ramesh Golala and Satyanarayan alias Sataya, were
arrested from various places in Thane District of Maharashtra. The
Police claimed that the arrested persons working as labourers
and members of trade unions, were looking to recruit members for
the Maoist organisation. The court sent Singapanga to Police custody
till February 12.
The Bandh called
by CPI-Maoist in protest against repression by Centre
and State Government was peaceful and total in the forest Mandals, Charla
of Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana and Venkatapur in
Jayashankar-Bhupalapally District of Telangana. Shops and establishments,
including cinema theatres, petrol bunks and educational institutions,
remained closed.
Six wagons and the locomotive
of a goods train derailed on the Kirandul-Visakhapatnam railway
section in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh, after CPI-Maoist
cadres uprooted the rail tracks to disrupt train traffic
during a Bandh called by them. The CPI-Maoist
cadres uprooted the tracks between Bhansi and Bacheli, leading
to the derailment of six wagons and the engine of the goods train.
The train, loaded with iron ore, was on its way to Visakhapatnam
from Kirandul, derailed around 7 pm in the forests under Bacheli
Police Station limits and there were no casualties reported.
CPI-Maoist ‘(CC) member’, Vijay
Arya, allegedly involved in nearly two dozen cases of Naxalite
violence in different states including Bihar, Jharkhand and undivided
Andhra Pradesh will be soon presented in a Sub-Divisional Court
in Punjab in connection with a case registered against him. The
case against Arya was registered in Kharar Sub-Divisional town
of Punjab. Arya is currently lodged in Gaya Central jail. Jail
authorities have already received the production warrant from
the Punjab court. He has also been granted bail in all the three
cases registered against him in Gaya District. The other ongoing
cases are in various stages of trial. Being a high security prisoner,
Arya needs proper and well-trained escort. "I have requested
the SSP to depute Police personnel for taking Arya to the Punjab
court," said Jail Superintendent, Rajiv Kumar.
The total length of roads sanctioned
under RRP for development of roads in LWE affected areas in 34
Districts is 5422 kilometres. The total length awarded and constructed
so far is 5419 kilometres and 4486 kilometres respectively. The
total expenditure incurred since the inception under the scheme
upto March 31, 2017 is INR 62.1 billion. During the current Financial
Year 2017-18, an allocation of INR 7 billion has been made.
The ED has attached movable and
immovable properties valued at INR 8.6 million of a CPI-Maoist
leader, identified as Sandeep Yadav alias Vijay
Yadav, in-charge of Madhya Zone of BJSAC. This is the first ever
attachment of properties of CPI-Maoist leader by any agency in
India.
The attached properties include
three plots in the name of his wife Rajanti Devi in Aurangabad
District of Bihar, two similar plots in Gaya District of Bihar
and an advance payment amount of INR 1.43 million made by Yadav's
son-in-law for a flat in Dwarka area of Delhi. A few vehicles
and bank deposits have also been attached as part of the order
issued by the agency. The ED said it took cognisance of Yadav's
alleged criminal activities after going through over 100 FIRs
and charge-sheets filed by Bihar Police against him, his brother
Dhanik Lal Mandal and other family members, including his wife
and son. During investigation, it has been revealed that cash
to the tune of more than INR 10.50 million was infused in several
bank accounts and immovable assets held in the name of family
members of Sandeep Yadav out of which properties valued at INR
8.6 million have been detected and attached, said ED.
Police arrested an arms dealer
identified as Sabirul Ali alias Bhagin from Khundigarh in Goreswar
area of Baksa District. One 7.65mm pistol (factory made) with
one magazine and five 7.65mm live rounds were recovered from him.
Unidentified militant of unknown
militant affiliation from Karbi Anglong District. An IED was recovered
from the militant.
NIA chargesheeted ‘military
chief’ and ‘deputy chief’ of NDFB-S G Bidai alias Bishnu and
M Batha alias Binod, in connection to the killing of five Adivasi
at Pakriguri in Kokrajhar District in December 2014.
NIA had earlier filed charge
sheets against a total of 14 persons in the case. According to
the investigation, at least 14 heavily armed NDFB-S militants
of 'Serfanguri platoon' attacked Pakriguri village in Kokrajhar
District on December 23, 2014, following orders issued by Bidai
and Batha.
On December 23, 2014, NDFB-S
killed over 70 people in several areas of the State in a series
of attacks upon the Adivasi community.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
on February 4 stated that militant activities in northeast India
have been checked due to Bangladesh’s great help and support.
The Minister stated that ‘Bangladesh’s immense help and support
facilitated India to tame the terrorist activities in northeastern
states. Our relation with Bangladesh now at best place’.
ULFA-I militants opened fire
at Borhat tea estate in Charaideo District. According to the Charaideo
SP militants came from reserve forest adjoining the tea estate
and went back there. They targeted the factory and office and
opened fire and hurled a grenade from the road in front of the
factory. The attack comes within 10 days of a similar attack at
Kanubari tea estate, 25km from Borhat tea garden, in the same
District. Two employees received minor wounds in the incident.
SFs have launched joint operation
from February 6 night in and around Kanubari Tea Estate area.
According to SFs group of about 20-25 militants have been seen
moving in the area.
Two AR troopers were wounded
when unidentified militants hurled two grenades at the Polo Ground
in Imphal West District which was hosting equestrian championship.
The wounded troopers have been identified as Uttam Kumar and Bahadur
Limbu. No militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the
attack.
All missionary schools including
the 72 Catholic schools, 17 higher secondary schools and three
colleges in the state in and around Imphal have been closed for
indefinite period following threats from the KCP-MC.
A school teacher identified as
Ethwilton D Sangma who was abducted by a gang of Bangladeshi criminal
gang from the border village of Dimapara in West Garo Hills on
January 21 was released at the Indo-Bangla border near Jatrakona
under Gasuapara police station in South Garo Hills District.
Mizoram Home minister R. Lalzirliana
said that State Government would hold peace talks stated with
H. Zosangbera led HPC-D on March 5. However the minister cautioned
that ‘The next round of peace talks will be on a political level
but we are not sure whether we will be able to settle all issues
within March [2018]. But we are desirous of solving the Hmar problems
and sign an agreement as soon as possible.’
|
February 6
|
The Delhi Court has framed terror
charges including conspiracy against IM operative Yasin Bhatkal
and other eight associates in a case of allegedly establishing
an ‘illicit’ arms factory. The Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth
Sharma framed the charges under Section 18, 20 of the UA(P) Act,1967.
Along with Yasin Bhatkal, other IM members including Zia-Ur- Rehman,
Tehsin Akhtar, Mohd Waqar Azhar, Mohd Maroof, Mohd Saquib Ansari,
Imteyaz Alam and Aijaz Shaikh, were also charged. The next hearing
is schedule on March 7.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs (UMoSHA) Hansraj Gangaram Ahir addressed the Lok
Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament) and stated that
UMHA has approved INR 33 crores for ‘E-Prisons’ project for 2018-2019,
which aims to modernise the prisons with efficiency in prison
management through digitisation. The e-Prison project
would assist the Prisoner Information Management System (PIMS)
meant for centralised access for recording and maintaining prisoner
information and other essential details.
The Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan
and Afghanistan Government officials on signed an agreement through
which India would provide a financial assistance of USD 100 million
for 108 small development centric projects in Afghanistan. India’s
assistance will certainly have a positive impact on the lives
of the people of the Afghanistan and there will be expected delays
in the implementation of the projects, said Chief Executive Abdullah
Abdullah at the signing ceremony. Pointing to the intervention
of Pakistan, Abdullah Abdullah has said that some countries in
the region could not achieve anything by firing missiles and suicide
attacks.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs (UMoSHA) Hansraj Ahir told the Lok Sabha (the Lower
House of the Indian Parliament) that in past three years, 400
Security Personnel were martyred while fighting terrorism in J&K
and counter-CPI-Maoist operations across L-WE affected states.
Between 2015 and 2017, 572 civilians and 199 Security Personnel
had lost their lives, while in J&K 72 civilians were killed
and 201 Security Personnel were martyred in terror-related incidents.
In 2017, there were 342 violent incidents were registered in J&K,
in which 80 Security Personnel were martyred. With a rise in killing
of 150 terrorists in 2016, 213 terrorists were killed in 2017.
In January 2018, 28 violent incidents were recorded in J&K
in which four Security Personnel were martyred and eight terrorists
were killed, said Hansraj Ahir. Replying to the separate question
about insurgency in North-East states, Ahir replied that in 2017,
308 incidents were recorded, which is a decline from 484 incidents
in 2016, 574 incidents in 2015, and 824 incidents in 2014. The
fatalities of civilians decreased to 37 in 2017 in comparison
to 87 in 2016; 12 Security Personnel were martyred in comparison
to 17 counts of the same in 2016. In total, 57 extremists were
killed in 2017 as compared to 87 in 2016, said Ahir.
The NIA team arrested a hawala (illegal
money transfers) operative named Abdul Samad in connection to
the LeT activities in India from Haridwar in Haridwar District
of Uttarakhand. Abdul Samad was produced before the
designated court. The court sends him to the NIA custody of six
days, said an unnamed NIA official. Allegedly, Abdul Samad is
a prominent hawala operative whose activities
area included Muzaffarnagar, Deoband, in Uttar Pradesh and Roorkee
in Uttarakhand. He also acted as a channel for a LeT financer
based in Saudi Arabia, said an unnamed NIA Spokesperson. In November
2017, Abdul Samad collected INR 5.50 Lakh from hawala operators
in Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) to deliver it to Shaikh/Sheikh
Abdul Naeem/Nayeem, an active LeT member. Shaikh visited and established
bases in Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and J&K on the directions
of his handler Abdul alias Rehan based in Pakistan,
said an unnamed NIA official.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir informed the Lok Sabha (the Lower House
of the Indian Parliament) that post-demonetisation, in total INR
21.54 crores of the FICNs in denomination of INR 100, INR 200,
INR 500, INR 1,000 and INR 2,000 has been recovered between November
9, 2016 and December 31, 2017 by various Security agencies. In
total, 39,604 FICNs in denomination of INR 2,000 and 74,155 FICNs
in denomination of INR 500 were recovered. Information received
from Security and Intelligence agencies also indicates the involvement
of Pakistan in manufacturing and smuggling of FICNs into India,
said Ahir.
The representatives of India
and the EU pledged to cooperate to deal with terrorism as both
[India and EU] seeks to share information and Intelligence on
terrorist outfits and their respective safe havens. India
and EU have a lot in common interests and EU is in close contacts
with the Indian authorities and organisations on counterterrorism
measures. EU is in favour to a rules-based International order,
said the Ambassador of the EU to India Tomasz Kozlowski during
a press conference. In a statement, both India and EU representatives
mutually agreed to strengthen the partnership for decisive actions
against the terrorists and terror outfits that are proscribed
globally, including Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, Dawood
Ibrahim, LeT, JeM, HM, Haqqani Network, al Qaeda, IS and their
affiliates. The cooperation would also focused on sharing information
on countering the online radicalisation, and to further enhance
the skills through trainings and workshops.
Two Police personnel were killed
in a daring attack by LeT operatives to free a Pakistani terrorist
from Police custody when he was taken to SMHS hospital in Srinagar.
Naveed Jat alias Abu Hanzullah (22) resident of Sahiwala
in Multan Punjab in Pakistan who was arrested on June 21, 2014
from Kulgam District of South Kashmir, fled from Police custody
when he was taken to SMHS hospital in Srinagar in the morning
from Central Jail Srinagar for medical checkup. Naveed along with
five other jail inmates were taken to hospital for treatment in
the morning. Sources said that two militants handed him a pistol
inside the hospital and in no time, he fired at the Police guarding
him, who were injured critically. The two militants and LeT ‘commander’
took the advantage of panic that gripped the hospital and fled
away. The two Police Personnel, identified as Head-Constable Mushtaq
Ahmad and Constable Babar Ahmad Khan who were being treated in
the SMHS hospital, later succumbed to injuries.
SSP Srinagar, Imtiyaz Ismail
Parray said that Naveed was brought from Central Jail Srinagar
for medical checkup. He had a scuffle with escorting Police party
and suddenly two persons appeared and opened fire. In the incident,
two Policemen suffered injuries, who later succumbed. Police and
SoG of Jammu and Kashmir Police immediately laid a cordon and
conducted searches in the area but the LeT commander and his associates
had already fled. An alert was sounded in Srinagar district to
intensify the searches to trace out the fleeing inmate and his
associates. However, no traces of the LeT commander and his associates
were found.
Naveed was ‘district commander’
of LeT for Shopian district and close associate of LeT ‘chief’
Abu Qasim, killed in 2015. Naveed was operating in South Kashmir
since July 2012 and before this he was operating in Lolab in Kupwara
District, for one year. He was involved in the killing of an
ASI in Pulwama in 2013 and a CRPF man in Shopian besides snatching
of two weapons from them, killing of two Policemen near the District
Court complex, Pulwama in 2014. A Police officer, who interrogated
him at the time of his arrest, said that Naveed is mentally tough
and was most dreaded militant when he was operating in South Kashmir.
He said that the LeT was planning to get him out of Jail for last
few months with an aim to rejuvenate the outfit. The officer said
that if not tackled immediately, Naveed has the potential to re-organize
the LeT which has been shattered due to successful operations.
Pakistani troops again resorted
to heavy shelling along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch Districts.
“There was heavy shelling by Pakistan troops along LoC in Tarkundi
and Manjakote sectors this evening [February 6],” sources. The
tension along the LoC has increased after a young Army Captain
and three jawans (troopers) were killed in Pakistani shelling
on February 4. However, there were no casualties or damage in
the shelling on Indian side. Indian troops retaliated shelling
at all places effectively.
Reports said that in the absence
of any diplomatic detente, the deadly war of attrition between
India and Pakistan along the 778-kilometers LoC and 198- kilometers
IB in Jammu and Kashmir has taken a sharp turn for the worse ever
since the ‘surgical strikes’ of September, 2016. There were as
many as 860 ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the LoC and another
120 along the IB in 2017, the highest-ever such tally in over
15 years. The number of CFVs has already touched 241 across the
LoC in the first 36 days of this year, claiming the lives of nine
Indian soldiers, as per Army statistics.
Army chief General Bipin Rawat
said the Pakistan Army is "suffering three to four times
the number of casualties compared to us" in the CFVs. Given
the current mood, these long and bloody tit-for-tat fire assaults
across the border, with even light artillery guns, heavy mortars
and anti-tank guided missiles often coming into play from both
the sides, are not going to ebb anytime soon. A day after a young
captain and three soldiers were killed in heavy shelling by Pakistani
forces in Rajouri district, Army vice-chief Lieutenant General
Sarath Chand on February 5 warned of strong retaliatory action
to avenge the losses. "That (retaliation) goes without saying.
I think I don't have to say that. (Our) action will speak for
itself," he said. Added another senior officer, "Pakistan
is hurt more than us...that's why the Pak Army refuses to give
its casualty figures to its own Parliament. We estimate 130-140
Pak soldiers were killed in our cross-border firings and tactical
operations last year." But Indian soldiers have also paid
a heavy price. Of the 62 who laid down their lives in J&K
last year, 15 were killed in CFVs, 17 in infiltration and other
incidents along the LoC and 30 in counter-terrorism operations
in the hinterland.
As many as 515 infiltration cases
from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir have been reported
in 2017 in which 75 militants were killed, the Lok Sabha
was informed. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren
Rijiju said that 515 infiltration cases were reported in 2017
in which 75 militants were killed in comparison to 454 cases in
2016 in which 45 militants were killed. In 2015, altogether 223
infiltration cases were reported in which 64 militants were killed,
he said replying to a written question. Rijiju said that SFs have
taken appropriate measures by strengthening over-all security,
including operational grid with enhanced human intelligence and
use of technical intelligence grid, at the borders as well as
in hinterlands to deal with such insurgency activities.
As many as 11,566 SFs personnel
were injured in 4,736 stone-pelting incidents in the Jammu and
Kashmir during the last three years, the Jammu and Kashmir Government
said. As many as 110 civilians and two Policemen also lost their
lives during these incidents, it added. In a written reply to
a question by Congress MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta in the Legislative
Council, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that as many as 9,670
Police personnel and 1,896 SFs personnel were injured in 4,736
incidents of stone-pelting during 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The year 2016 saw 9,235 personnel
getting injured in stone-pelting, the highest figure for these
three years. There were 1,198 such incidents in 2017 and 1,690
SFs personnel were injured. In 2015, 641 SFs personnel were injured
in 730 incidents in 2015, the Chief Minister said. As many as
110 civilians and two Policemen were killed during these incidents
in 2015, 2016 and 2017, she said.
The number of local youths joining
militancy in Jammu and Kashmir went up to 126 in 2017, a sharp
increase from 88 the year before, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti informed the Assembly in Jammu. “As many as 66
youths joined militancy in 2015, 88 in 2016 and 126 in 2017,”
the Chief Minister said while replying to a written question by
NC leader Ali Mohammed Sagar.
A report in December last year
(2017) said that 2017 had seen the highest number of local recruitments
to various militant groups in seven years. This was denied by
DGP S P Vaid.
Data for the number of youths
recruited is available from 2010. According to data placed before
Parliament in March 2017, there has been a steady increase in
the number of youths taking up arms in the Kashmir Valley from
2014 onwards, as compared to 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2010, 54
youths joined militancy. This dipped to 23 in 2011 and slipped
further to 21 in 2012 and 16 in 2013. In 2014, the number shot
up to 53 and went up to 66 in 2015 before touching 88 in 2016,
according to the data.
The spurt in locals joining militancy
began after the killing of HM)s poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter
in south Kashmir on July 8, 2016. Security officials feel there
is a difference between present day militants and those of the
early 1990s. The ideological conviction of the present lot is
stronger than that of the terror groups during the early days,
they said. There is concern that the Valley is witnessing a trend
of ‘pan-Islamisation’, where young boys are opting for terrorism
knowing full well that they are at the risk of being killed, the
officials said.
NC leader Ali Mohammed Sagar’s
question in the Assembly also related to separatists detained
in the past three years. According to Mehbooba, certain separatist
leaders, including two women, were detained under provisions of
the PSA to prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial
to the security of the state or maintenance of the public order.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of the Home Department,
said 2,694 people, including 96 women, are lodged in different
jails of the State. The 228 convicted prisoners include eight
women. Besides, there are 2,156 under trials, including 88 women.
Of the 213 detained under the PSA and NDPS Acts, one is a woman,
she said. She said details of prisoners (state subjects) lodged
in various jails outside the state are not maintained by the Home
Department. No person affiliated with any recognised political
party is under preventive detention as on date, she added
GoI’s Special Representative
on Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma visited border town of
Poonch and met a large number of delegations from all sections
of society including the people living on the LoC, which was tense
for past several months in view of continued ceasefire violations
by Pakistan. Sharma received memorandums and inter-acted personally
with the delegation members to know their problems and grievances
and assured them that the Centre and State Governments were committed
to resolve all issues including problems faced by the border dwellers.
The border people raised the demands like construction of bunkers,
increase in compensation for casualties and damages due to Pakistan
shelling and firing and some other issues. A number of local organizations
raised the issues of development in Poonch District, which, they
said, has been neglected. On February 7 (today), Sharma will meet
delegations in border district of Rajouri.
In what may well be a significant
achievement for security and intelligence agencies, terror outfit
Islamic State (IS) has not been made to make any significant inroads
into the Kashmir Valley, said Union Minister of State for Home
Affairs Hansraj Ahir. Hansraj Ahir informed the Lok Sabha
that last year, one incident related to ISIS was reported from
the Valley where slogans were shouted in support of the terror
outfit. The incident was reported last November from Srinagar.
Top intelligence sources claimed
that ISIS has been making sustained efforts to increase its footprint
in the country specially with increasing use of the social media.
However, Indian security agencies have been able to successfully
neutralise ISIS’ efforts, especially in the Valley due to which
it has not been able to make any presence in terror activities
in the region. “Our agencies which is closely monitoring ISIS
activities on social media have managed to either block or delete
a lot of material on these platforms which are aimed at attracting
the youth in the Valley”. “The trend continues in other parts
of the country also due to which apart from the Valley also ISIS
does not have significant presence despite sustained efforts in
the country,” a senior intelligence official said
The ‘Operation All Out’ - the
joint offensive launched by Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police,
BSF and IB to neutralise terrorists in Kashmir has 'triggered'
infighting among the top three Pakistani Army and ISI-funded terror
outfits in the State. According to an exclusive report of the
Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) of the IB, Hafiz Saeed-headed LeT and
Masood Azhar-led JeM have requested the ISI to replace HM ‘chief’
Sayeed Salahudeen with top HM ‘commanders’ like Aamir Khan or
Imtiaz Alam as ‘Operation All-Out’ continues to kill more militants.
In fact, according to the MAC
report, Salahuddin himself has expressed willingness to step down
with Khan, Alam and few others lobbying against him. Salahudeen
also heads the UJC, which was formed by the Pakistan Army and
maintains unified command and control over anti-Indian militant
groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Salahudeen has been the
Council's head with the approval of Saeed and Azhar. The UJC comprises
13 terror outfits like Harakat-ul-Ansar, Al-Badr and Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen
besides LeT and JeM.
Former Director General of Military
Operations Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia said, "Yes, LeT
and JeM have asked the ISI to replace Salahudeen because of operations
like Operation All-Out which are conducted on specific and right
intelligence provided by locals. Kashmiris are fed up of terrorist
organisations. LeT and JeM want to remove the breathing space
creating by Operation All-Out." "The Pakistani Army
and the ISI want to fuel violence in Kashmir. We should ensure
that there is no vacuum in the state, especially in South Kashmir,"
Bhatia said when asked that is it ISI's plan to get a new HM commander
to infiltrate more terrorists. "ISI will try to control the
infighting because it provides money and weapons to these outfits,"
he added.
Defence expert Shankar Prasad
said that the report is good news for India. "If the top
three or four terror outfits in Kashmir are fighting among themselves,
it is good news for India. It should be encouraged; it is part
of tactics," he said. Prasad also said that the ISI also
wants to control the outfits. "In the last four to five years,
these outfits have become like unguided missiles. They are becoming
increasingly independent and getting out of ISI's control. The
Pakistani Army and the ISI want to rein in these outfits under
pressure from America, which has squarely asked Islamabad to tackle
terrorism," he said.
Three CAF personnel were injured
in an IED blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District
of Chhattisgarh. Injured constables, Nitesh Dewangan, Anil Dhruv
and Bhaluram Toppo, were returning to their base camp after conducting
search operation in Kutru-Farshegarh area, DSP, Khoman Singh,
said. The SF personnel were returning after carrying out an anti-Maoist
operation when the blast occurred in a forest near Ranibodli village,
around 450 kilometres from State capital, Raipur.
A jawan of the BSF sustained
bullet injury in an early morning encounter on February 6, between
SFs and armed Maoists in Gome Pahadi under Koyelibeda Police Station
area in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. The exchange of fire
took place in a forest when a joint team of the BSF’s 35th battalion
and the District Force was out on an anti-Maoist operation, SP,
K L Dhruv said. When the SFs were advancing through the forest
between Gome and Gattakal villages, when a group of Maoists fired
on them leading to the gun battle, Dhruv said. However, the rebels
soon escaped from the spot, while Constable Virappa KB, belonging
to BSF’s 35th battalion had sustained injuries in his leg below
the knee in the encounter.
The CRPF deployed to combat CPI-Maoist
in Chhattisgarh has taken up the responsibility of educating the
children in the Maoist-affected villages, by providing free coaching.
In Cherpal village under Bijapur Tehsil of
Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh, where a group of 30 to 40 children
of age not more than 15 years can be seen sitting on a bench under
a tree and a CRPF jawan (trooper) of 85 Battalion teaching them
with the help of a board. Through this, the CRPF is not only trying
to improve the future prospects of these children but also protecting
them from getting recruited by Maoists who are known for training
young children for combat operations.
SFs recovered couple of IEDs
from a school toilet at Kukukala under Naudiha Police Station
area of the Palamu District of Jharkhand. The incident was planned
by CPI-Maoist squad led by Abhijeet Yadav and Sanjay Bodra to
inflict damage on the SFs but would have changed their plans at
the last moment as Security Personnel no longer stay there, said
Palamu SP, Inderjeet Mahtha. The SFs recovered the IEDs with 10
pieces of detonators, 30 meter of codex wire, batteries and bombs
were defused, added Chattarpur, SDPO, Shambhu Kumar Singh.
The Odisha Government has sought
deployment of two additional battalions of CAPF in LWE-affected
Districts in the State, MoS for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram
Ahir said. The MoS for Home Affairs also said the “level of violence”
in Kalahandi District of Odisha does not warrant it to be included
under the category of ‘Worst Affected LWE Districts’. The Odisha
Government has requested the Centre to include the District in
this category. “The Government of Odisha has requested for two
additional battalions of CAPF for deployment in LWE affected areas,”
Ahir said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Further,
the MoS said deployment of CAPF in LWE-affected States is a dynamic
process based on the situation, availability of forces and other
ground realities.
Currently, eight battalions each
of CRPF and BSF, as well as one battalion of CoBRA are deployed
in Odisha to assist the State Police in anti-LWE operations, he
added. To a query on whether the Odisha Government has requested
enhancement of bandwidth of mobile towers under LWE scheme, Ahir
said that in December 2017 the DoT approved enhancing bandwidth
from 512 kbps to 2 Mbps at all VSAT sites under the first phase.
“This includes all 144 VSAT sites of Odisha,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh Police neutralised
a CPI-Maoist dump at Amtakuru in Kurnool District of Andhra
Pradesh. The Police found a plastic drum hidden underground and
recovered one live grenade, one wireless set, 35 grenades and
explosive materials during a search operation in Nallamalla forests.
Two militants of NSCN-R arrested
from Songking in Changlang District. A pistol and ammunition were
recovered from the militants who were identified as Channong Matcha
and Jimreves Kimsing.
Two grenades exploded inside
the Transit Camp of AR located near Minuthong bridge in Imphal
West District. The wounded men have been identified as Amar Sargari,
Raj Kishore, Pradeep Sharma, S. Pradhan, Dependra Subardi, Rajesh
Kumar, Umesh Kumar, H. Konyak and Sanju Lambu.
Manipur Chief Minister Biren
Singh stated that a SIT will be constituted to investigate the
February 5 grenade attacks in which two AR troopers were wounded.
SFs arrested a PLA militant rom
Khurkhul Junction in Imphal West District. The arrested militant
has been identified as Naurem John Mark alias Kangleicha.
South Garo Hills Police commandos
of the SF-10 unit rescued an abduction victim identified as Prasanta
Tapadhar Dikagre forests near Rongsa Awe in South Garo Hills.
MBDPF the apex body of Bru refugees
lodged in six relief camps in Tripura has recently submitted a
memorandum to Indian Prime Minister and Union Minister for Home
Affairs. The memorandum stated that refugees had not received
cash assistance from the Government since July 2017. The MBDPF
also made several demands including allotment of minimum five
acres to each family after repatriation to Mizoram and enhancement
of rehabilitation and resettlement package.
Police arrested an extortionist
identified as Lalan Sharma from Kohima. Documents of FGN, NSCN-IM,
NSCN-K were recovered from him.
|
February 7
|
The NIA special court in Mumbai
found guilty an IM operative—Haroon Naik in a case related to
the FICNs and sends him for a six-year imprisonment. Another
accused of the same case—Asrar Tailor alias Sagari received the
similar punishment. Whereas the NIA court acquitted Azhar ul-Islam
Siddiqui alias Munna of all charges imposed on him in the same
case. In 2011, the Maharashtra ATS raided a guest house in Wadala
in Mumbai city District, Maharashtra and arrested Haroon Naik
with Indian currency notes in denomination of INR 1,000 and INR
500 worth INR 9.75 Lakh.
JMB terrorists, who had suspected
of planting three IEDs in Bodh Gaya on January 19, aimed for maximum
casualty of Buddhist monks by triggering blasts with the help
of three different techniques, according to intelligence sources.
Intelligence sources said these techniques were different from
the ones adopted in 2013 blasts at Bodh Gaya and Gandhi Maidan
in Patna. In those blasts, IM terrorists had used the techniques
suggested in an al-Qaida magazine. At Gandhi Maidan, water supply
pipes and household light bulbs were used along with analogue
timer, while at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, mini cooking cylinder
and timers were used for detonation. In the recent low-intensity
blast near the Mahabodhi Temple, the IED was kept in a plastic
lunch box placed below a generator set near Kalachakra ground.
Sources said the first IED exploded due to timer mechanism. "It
had an analogue watch as timer. Another mechanism - pressure release
technique - was also used. Had anyone opened the box before pre-set
time, it would have exploded," sources said, adding the IED
exploded only partially due to malfunctioning. "Ammonium
nitrate-based explosives and mining detonators were used,"
sources said. The remaining two IEDs were concealed in bags in
styrofoam plates and placed near gate number four of the Mahabodhi
Temple and below a tree near the Tibetan monastery, where Buddhist
spiritual leader Dalai Lama was staying.
Reacting to the recent edition
of the Outlook India that featured a photo of
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with the headline ‘Khalistan-II:
Made in Canada’, the Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and
a fellow Minister Amarjit Sohi—called the magazine’s heading ‘ridiculous’
and ‘offensive’ for accusing Canada for its involvement in the
rise of Sikh terrorism. The published article depicts several
alleged connections between the Canada and Khalistan movement
along with accusing Sikh-Canadians exploiting Canada’s political
system. “I have been a Police Officer and served my country [Canada]
and such allegations are absolutely ridiculous and extremely offensive,
said Harjit Sajjan.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha (the Upper
House of the Indian Parliament) that two new Divisions—Counter
Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) and the Cyber and
Information Security (CIS), have been established on November
13, 2017 within the UMHA to tackle issues related to terrorism,
radicalisation, cyber Security. At present, there
are 20 Divisions in the UMHA, added Rijiju.
The Mukkom Police arrested two
persons, both natives of Tamil Nadu, and seized FICNs worth INR
1 million, following a secret operation. One of the accused Suresh
Kumar, resident of Salem District in Tamil Nadu, was arrested
from a lodge room at Mukkom in Kozhikode District, along with
FICNs to the tune of INR 50,000, following a tip off received
by the Police. "On interrogation, we received information
that a woman named Nirmala from Salem also is involved in the
fake currency racket. Nirmala was arrested by a Police team from
Salem and counterfeit currencies to the tune of Rs 9.5 lakh and
equipment used for printing fake currency," said K P Abhilash
SI of Mukkom Police Station. The Police have seized FICNs in the
denomination of INR 2,000, INR 500, INR 200 and INR 100 from both
the arrestees. Investigation is on to identify the remaining members
of the network. According to Police, the some of the gang members
of the same group were arrested by Thrissur Police in May 2017,
with FICN to the tune of INR 300,000. The racket was trying to
distribute the FICNs in different parts of Kozhikode District,
Police said.
Three Army personnel were among
six people injured in a mine explosion along the LoC in Rajouri
District. An Army team was engaged in a security clearance operation
along the LoC in the Sundarbani sector when a mine exploded, sources
said. In the blast, three Army personnel and three porters were
injured. They were hospitalised, sources added.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police
claimed that they have arrested four members of a suspected Islamic
State (IS) or Daesh module in the Valley. They have been identified
as Waqar and Ashiq Hussain, both residents of Bandipora, Rizwan
from Handwara and Zeeshan, a resident of Raniwari in Srinagar.
A top Police official said that the arrested were under Police
surveillance for sometime on the basis of information provided
by Central intelligences agencies to Police. "They were in
touch with the Kashmir chief of Daesh in Afghanistan, Huzaifa,
who is a Kashmiri from Srinagar," the official said.
He said the youths had formed
a social media group to be in touch with other Daesh recruits,
radicalise youths and lure them to the terror outfit. "During
interrogation, they said that they used to talk via an application
on Internet and that Huzafia was their ideologue," the Police
official said. It was alleged that Daesh handlers in Afghanistan
had come in contact with them.
HM has claimed responsibility
for February 6’s attack on a Srinagar hospital during which gunmen
shot dead two Policemen and freed a Pakistani LeT militant brought
for treatment in custody. In a nearly eight-minute audio released,
Kashmir’s HM ‘commander’ Riyaz Naikoo claimed it was his men who
raided the SMHS Hospital to free LeT terrorist Naveed Jhatt. Naikoo
said Jhatt had ‘reached south Kashmir’ safely. On the killing
of the two Policemen guarding Jhatt, Naikoo said, ‘They were forced
to kill Kashmiris to free their Pakistani brother.’ Naikoo, who
took over as HM ‘commander’ after Yasin Itoo’s death, added, “When
we saw the children of the two policemen, we were heartbroken
because we don’t want to kill any Kashmiri, but people who are
aligning with India are forcing us to kill them.”
The HM message pointing to collaboration
between militant groups did not surprise the security establishment.
Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid said such coordination was seen
in many other attacks. “All the militants groups are now working
together. It’s not just this incident. Lately, we have been seeing
many joint attacks by various groups,” he added. The HM is primarily
an indigenous group, while the LeT comprises Pakistani nationals
who infiltrate into India. The HM mostly trains cadre in forests
across Kashmir, while Lashkar terrorists get commando training
across the border. LeT spokesperson Abdullah Ghazanwi acknowledged
militant outfits were coordinating at all levels and commended
Kashmiri militants for the hospital raid to free Jhatt and described
it as a “historic” feat. “The incident was an outcome of close
coordination and cooperation among various Mujahideen organisations,”
Ghazanwi said in a WhatsApp text to the local media. Such
collaboration is a departure from the earlier strategy of Pakistan-based
outfits to claim credit for attacks, according to a police officer
tracking militancy in the Valley. “Now, there is a concerted effort
to give attacks on security forces a more local name. Pakistan-based
outfits are also trying recruit more locals,” the officer added.
LeT claimed responsibility for
the attack at the SMHS hospital. LeT ‘chief’ Mahmood Shah owned
up the attack in an emailed statement.
CM Mehbooba Mufti said in the
state Legislative Council that 12 militants in Jammu and Kashmir
had shunned the path of violence and returned to the mainstream
in the last three years. From 2015 to 2017, 12 militants shunned
the path of violence, but none of them gave representations for
their rehabilitation under the Rehabilitation Policy 2004, the
Chief Minister said. The number of local youths joining militancy
in Kashmir went up to 126 in 2017, a sharp increase from 88 in
2016, Mehbooba informed the House on February 6. “As many as 66
youths joined militancy in 2015, 88 in 2016 and 126 in 2017,”
she said replying to a question by NC’s Ali Mohammed Sagar.
Stone-pelting incidents in Jammu
and Kashmir declined to 1,261 last year from 2,808 in 2016, Union
Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir informed the Rajya
Sabha. The unusually high cases of stone-pelting incidents
in 2016 were largely on account of violent protests that broke
out after the killing of HM terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter
in July of that year. The total stone-pelting incidents recorded
in 2015 were 730.
Hansraj Ahir, in written reply
to another question in the Rajya Sabha, said 13 protesters
were killed in 2016 due to pellets fired at them, while there
were four fatalities from pellets last year (2017). All the 13
killings in 2016 pertained to the four months of unrest following
Wani's killing. Ahir said the central Government had constituted
an expert committee in July 26, 2016 to explore possible alternatives
to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons. The recommendations of the
committee were taken into account by the Government for appropriate
implementation and accordingly, various measures, including the
use of such as using PAVA-Chilli (shells and grenades) and STUN-LAC
(shells and grenades) and tear smoke shells were used to disperse
the unlawful violent protesters before the use of pellet guns,
he said.
An ITBP Head constable, identified
as Yelappa Koppad was injured in an IED explosion triggered
by CPI-Maoist cadres in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
The IED blast occurred two kilometres from Dhanora Police Station
on Dhanora-Orchha road, when SFs were carrying out the
road opening duty. Koppad was injured and taken to Narayanpur
for treatment, said Police official.
SFs arrested a CPI-Maoist
cadre from forest area of Basaguda in Bijapur District of
Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered detonator, wires and other equipment
from him. The identity of the arrested CPI-Maoist cadre is yet
to be asserted.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Jaya alias Shanti Masu Mattami and Ranita alias Sunita
Namdev Kodape surrendered to the Police in Gadchiroli District
of Maharashtra. The duo surrendered in the presence of SP, Abhinav
Deshmukh. Mattami joined the military wing of the PLGA, in 2012
as a cadre of Bhamaragad Dalam. In 2013, she was shifted
to the PLGA Platoon No.14, and in 2017, she was made the ‘deputy
commander’ of the platoon. She was wanted in 29 cases including
11 murder cases, six cases of arson, and 12 cases of attack on
Police teams. She carried a reward of INR 400,000 on her head.
Kodape joined Aheri Dalam in 2013, and was transferred
to Sironcha Dalam in 2016. She was an accused
in eight cases of murder, four cases of arson, and 11 cases of
attack on Police teams in the District. She carried a reward of
INR 200,000 on her head. CPI-Maoist cadres had forcibly
taken away Kodape from her parents when she was 13 years old.
We hope these two surrenders will encourage others to shun the
path of violence, said Police statement
SFs arrested two NSCN-K OGWs
from Kherang Bisa village in West Siang District. The arrested
militants have been identified as Dumai Singpho and Chojagam Singpho.
The OGWs were involved in providing administrative support, covertly
carrying out extortion and also peddling drugs for the group
SFs busted an arms and drug racket
operating at Lilong in Thoubal District. A female member of the
racket was arrested. SFs recovered three live rounds of ammunition.
Manipur CM formed the State Assembly
that the NIA will probe the three explosions which took place
on January 15, February 5 and 7 in Imphal’s high security areas.
UNLF claimed responsibility for
February 7 grenade attack in AR transit camp. UNLF in a statement
claimed that the attack was carried out by a special team of MPA
carried out the attack.
UNLF statement also claimed responsibility
for the February 5 grenade attack in which two AR men were wounded
as well as the explosions on January 15 in M-Sector in Imphal
East.
KCP-MC progressive issued a statement
claiming that the ban imposed on Catholic Educational Society
was ‘for the sake of the people’. The statement also claimed that
they had not put the ban for making gains, demands or admission
quota.
An arms smuggler identified as
Thongkhansang alias Sang Suite was arrested at Khomintang in Churachandpur
District. An M-16 rifle was recovered from him.
Mizo Zirlai Pawl lodged a complaint
with Kawnpui Police against six Chakma families allegedly residing
illegally in an area under Hortoki village council in Kolasib
District. The students union claimed that the six Chakma families
who came from neighbouring Assam were illegally residing in makeshift
huts at Hrangakai Suar and Rawthla Li Zawn in Hortoki in Kolasib
District.
One individual was arrested with
arms from Tenning in Peren District. One pistol and eight live
rounds were recovered from the arrested individual, identified
as Gaubeu Zeliang.
AR arrested three extortionists
from GS Road and Kalibari in Dimapur. The arrested individuals
have been identified as Rajendra Prasad Yadav, Suraj Jain and
Paras Jain. Incriminating documents including extortion notes
and INR 553,710 were recovered from the arrestees.
|
February 8
|
The NIA arrested two persons—Dinesh
Garg alias Ankit Garg (34) and Adish/Adesh Kumar
Jain (57) from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh in connection to the
ongoing probe of terror-funding to LeT for its activities in India.
Including the arrest of Dinesh Garg and Adish Kumar Jain, the
total number of people arrested in Hawala (illegal
money transfer) risen to seven. Both, Dinesh and Adish were working
as Hawala operators and were associated with
some Indian gold smugglers based in Saudi Arabia. One of their
channels was Abdul Samad who was also a Hawala operator
and got arrested on February 6. The NIA team had raided Dinesh
and Adish’s shop and house premises in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
regarding the same matter on February 3, said an unnamed NIA Spokesperson.
The Delhi Police arrested IAF
officer Group Captain Arun Marwaha (51), for passing on the confidential
IAF documents to Pakistan’s ISI agents who were masquerading as
‘models’ in two profiles on Facebook during mid-December 2017.
Allegedly, Arun Marwaha had been lured through seductive
conversation through Whatsapp for a week or longer and used to
click the pictures of classified documents related to IAF’s combat
exercises including ‘Gagan Shakti’, placed at the IAF Headquarters,
said DCP Special Cell Pramod Khushwah. Marwaha was produced before
the court of Judge Deepak Sehrawat at Patiala House Court in Delhi
and taken on five days of police remand by the special cell of
Delhi Police. Marwaha's mobile phone has been seized and sends
for a forensic examination. He also confessed to have had access
to many secret documents and plans to leak them to ISI during
his posting at the IAF Headquarters. A FIR has been filed against
Arun Marwaha under Section 3 and 5 of the Officials Secret Act
(OSA) on the complaint from an unnamed senior IAF official.
In a joint operation based on
Intelligence inputs, the BSF and Punjab Police arrested Hans Singh—resident
of Gajniwala Village, with two Kilograms of heroin, packed in
four packets, worth INR 10 crores in international market, from
nearby of India-Pakistan border outpost of Dona Raja Dina Nath,
Amritsar Sector of Amritsar District in Punjab. The SFs also recovered
a Pakistani mobile SIM card along with heroin buried under the
soil.
The alleged IS operative Areeb
Majeed forwarded his request seeking permission to ‘fight’ his
case himself before the NIA Special Court and to discontinue the
services of his appointed lawyer. Areeb Majeed is
under judicial trial facing the various charges of the UA (P)
A 1967 and Section 125 of the IPC for joining the banned terrorist
organisation—IS. He had been appointed former Chief Public Prosecutor
and NIA’s Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian to defend his
case in the court of law. The Prosecution was schedule to start
the proceedings of the case but, Majeed forwarded his application
before the designated Court. The court has adjourned the case
for hearing on the application and Majeed have to obtain a ‘No
Objection Certificate’ or NOC from his lawyer as per the legal
procedure.
During a meeting the UMHA Rajnath
Singh reviewed the measures taken to counter terrorism and FICNs. Rajnath
Singh suggested the assessment of State’s Special Forces’ capabilities
as they are the first responders to the incidents of terrorism.
The Minister also emphasised on the ‘zero tolerance’ for terrorism
and stated that all efforts must be synchronised to curb this
evil from its root
A woman, identified as Zainab
Bi was killed in fresh spell of heavy mortar shelling and firing
by Pakistan army on the LoC in Poonch District. The Indian side
retaliated shelling and firing effectively. Official sources said
Pakistan started heavy mortar shelling and firing with automatic
and small fire arms at Krishna Ghati, Mankote and Balakote sectors
in Poonch District at 4.20 pm. The shelling and firing continued
till 6.30 pm. The Indian side retaliated very effectively at all
three places. Zainab Bi was hit by splinters or mortar shell,
which exploded near her house in Balnoi and died on spot. Sources
said fresh spell of shelling and firing left the people panicked
as they again confined themselves to their houses and bunkers.
Police achieved a major breakthrough
by unearthing the escape plot of LeT ‘commander’ Naveed Jhat and
arrested 16 militants and their OGWs in this connection. The SIT
investigating the escape of LeT commander from SMHS Hospital,
picked up 16 militants and OGWs from South Kashmir and Budgam.
Ten militants and OGWs were picked up from South Kashmir while
six suspected were rounded up from Budgam. However, ADGP and IG
Kashmir, Muneer Khan told a press conference in Srinagar that
four persons including militants and OGWs were arrested in connection
with the escape of Naveed. “To expedite the investigations, a
SIT has been constituted by DIG CKR, Srinagar. The SIT so constituted
conducted initial investigation and during investigation names
of the following terrorists and OGWs involved in the commission
of this act of terror, have surfaced”, he said. He said Shakeel
Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Ramzan Bhat of Lelhar Kakapora Pulwama,
Tika Khan son of Abdul Ahad Khan of Singu Narbal Pulwama, Syed
Tajamul son of Syed Mohd Syed of Pahu Pulwama and Mohammad Shafi
Wani son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Wani of Singu Narbal Pulwama were
arrested while Hilal Ahmad Rather son of Ghulam Rather of Begam
Bagh Khan Mohalla Kakapora, Pulwama is still at large. However,
sources said that Rather has joined HM.
Khan said that from the possession
of Shakeel Ahmad Bhat and Tika Khan a pistol each with ammunitions
has been recovered. “During the course of investigation it was
established that Hilal, Shakeel, Tika Khan were masterminds in
the whole conspiracy. Tika Khan has also been a frequent visitor
to Central Jail Srinagar and was in contact with Naveed Jhat.
He visited Central Jail on different pretexts. Moreover, Naveed
and rest of the gang were in communication using mobile devices
during the conspiring stage”, he said. He said that the escape
of Naveed was hatched some months back from Central Jail and LeT
and HM were actively involved in it. “However, the final planning
to effect the conspiracy was done few weeks back at the residence
of Tika Khan along with Hilal Ahmad Rather, Syed Tajamul, Shakeel
Ahmad Bhat and Mohammad Shafi Wani”, he said.
A picture of Naveed Jhat has
surfaced on the social media in which he is seen with HM ‘commander’,
Saddam Padder from Shopian posing for a picture and carrying AK-47
rifles. After escape of Naveed, Police on February 8 raided the
Central Jail Srinagar and recovered mobile phones and laptops
from jail imitates. Police also shifted five detainees to various
jails in Jammu division.
Government suspended Superintendent
of Central Jail Srinagar, Hilal Ahmed Rather, two days after LeT
‘commander’ escaped from SMHS Hospital after a shootout in which
two Police personnel were killed.
Three Army personnel, identified
as Havaldar Lakhvinder Singh, Havaldar Balvir Singh and Lance
Naik Charandeep Singh, were injured in Pakistani firing on the
LoC in Poonch District. Earlier, SATP reported that a woman,
identified as Zainab Bi was killed in Pakistan army firing on
the LoC in Poonch District. Firing was also reported from Gulpur
and Balakote sectors, however, there were no reports of loss of
life.
A CPI-Maoist ‘jan militia commander’
was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) near Hiroli
village in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The exchange of
fire took place late on February 7 evening in Dokapara forest
under Kirandul Police Station limits when a joint team of SFs
was out on an anti-Naxal operation, ASP, Gorakhnath
Baghel said. "The composite squad of STF and DRG was cordoning
off the forest area on the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts,
around 450 kilometres away from the capital, Raipur, when it came
under heavy fire from ultras in Dokapara, leading to the gun-battle,"
he said. After the guns fell silent, the SFs recovered the body
of a Maoist along with one 315 bore gun from the spot, the ASP
said, adding that the Maoist has been identified as Ungami alias Chakra,
who was active as a ‘jan militia commander’.
An exchange of fire took place
between the Maoists and a CISF team, when a group of around 40-50
armed Maoists was spotted near a depot of the NMDC plant in Bacheli
area of the Bailadila Mines in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
“The CISF neutralised the Maoists [who] ran towards Bijapur District
… normal operations at the mining area have resumed,” a Police
officer said.
The Police arrested three Maoists
from Ketulnar village forest under Kutru Police Station limits
in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The cadres, identified as
Hadmo Podiyami (35) was active as a ‘militia commander’, while
Raju Tati (30) and Budhram Podiyam (35) as a militia member and
DAKMS member, were arrested from Ketulnar village forest under
Kutru Police limits when a joint team of the DRG and local Police
was out on a search operation, a senior Police official said.
All three were wanted for the killing of a Police Constable, Suklu
Gota, in Farsegarh area of the District in 2017. They were also
wanted in cases related to loot, arson and the Arms Act.
The Police arrested CPI-ML-New
Democracy’s Mahabubabad Division ‘secretary’ Bandaru Ilaiah alias Veeranna
(50), in Mahabubabad District of Telangana. Police seized a 9mm
carbine, a 9mm revolver and 28 rounds of ammunition and Rs. 33,000
from his possession. SP, N. Koti Reddy said they also arrested
one Bhanot Ramu alias Bheemudu. Ilaiah belonged to
Irusulapuram of Bayyaram mandal and joined the Naxal party
three years ago after doing petty works. He was involved in shooting
of S. Satyanarayana, another Naxal leader. He
was also involved in eliminating three others M. Biksham, S. Veerabrahmam
and Raghu belonging to Praja Pratighatana group.
The CPI-Maoist dalam member
of Malkangiri District of Odisha, in the AOBSZC region, Muttha
Rayi alias Beerayya (29), surrendered before
SP, Vishal Gunni, along with wife and children, in East Godavari
District of Andhra Pradesh. SP, Gunni said Rayi, who belongs to
Penkurayi village of Kalimela mandal in Malkangiri
District of Odisha joined the RPC dalam in 2004
and continued till 2012. He was elevated as ‘member of action
team’ in 2005 and was armed with a SLR rifle and a pistol. After
being elevated to the post of ACM in 2012, he left the movement
and was reportedly hiding in Chennai, State capital of Tamil Nadu,
fearing arrest by the Police. Rayi was allegedly involved
in the killing of ‘Police informer’, Kimudu Harinath of Marriguda
village under Donkarayi Police Station limits in East Godavari
District of Andhra Pradesh, killing of a Constable of Odisha Police
in Rajakonda village of Kalimela area in Malkangiri District in
2007, and was also involved in killing of two CRPF jawans (troopers)
in 2007. The SP said that Muttha Rayi was also allegedly involved
in the killing of 21-personnel of the SOG team of Odisha that
was travelling in landmine proof vehicle in 2008, and in killing
of several persons branding them as ‘informers’.
KCP militant was arrested from
Imphal East. The arrested militant has been identified as Nandeibam
Saratjoy Singh. A pistol, two live rounds and an IED were recovered
from the militant. This is part of the security measure taken
up by Imphal East Police personnel in connection with the ban
imposed against Catholic Schools.
Few missionary schools reopened
in Imphal amidst tight security after reports of threats from
militant groups forced them to remain shut for two days.
NSCN-IM has clarified that they
will not use ‘force or coercion’ to make people boycott the upcoming
election. NSCN-IM was first to announce its call for ‘solution
before election’, which was later picked up by the larger Naga
civil society.
An individual identified as Naresh
Chakma , was arrested with three .22 caliber pistols and 500 rounds
of live ammunition at the railway station in the Badharghat area
of Agartala in West Tripura District. According to authorities,
the arrested individual stated that he was about to sell the weapons
across the border in Bangladesh.
A local Court in Karnataka convicted
Bilal Ahmed Quta alias Imran Jalal—an operative of LeT,
to seven years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) in a case related
to terror financing and money laundering. Bilal who mainly
operated in Karnataka, was also subjected with fine of INR 50,000
by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)’s Special Court
Judge Shivshankar Amarannavar. Bilal was arrested in January 2007
and the Karnataka Police had recovered an AK-series rifle, 200
bullets, five hand-grenades and a satellite phone from his possession.
|
February 9
|
The Murshidabad Police arrested
three unidentified person and recovered FICNs worth INR six Lakhs
in Murshidabad town in Murshidabad District of West Bengal. All
three accused are residents of Malda District in West Bengal.
Total of 388 FICNs in denomination of INR 500 and 203 FICNs in
denomination of INR 1,000 were recovered.
Meanwhile, the BSF has
recovered FICNs worth INR 8.98 Lakhs nearby Daulatpur border outpost
in Malda District of West Bengal. The joint operation
conducted by the Special Operations team and representatives of
the NIA had suspected some movement inside a house in Daulatpur
village in Malda District (West Bengal) and arrested an unnamed
man in this case, read a statement released by the BSF. Upon thorough
search of arrested man’s house, total of worth INR 8.98 Lakhs
of FICNs in denomination of INR 500 and INR 2,000 were recovered.
The seized FICNs have been handed-over to the Police of Baishanbnagar
Police Station for further action in the matter.
Three persons identified as Palle
Raghava Reddy alias Raghunath Reddy, Bandi Raju
and Adabala Anjaneya Murthy, arrested for the printing and circulating
the FICN at Pundit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada in Krishna
District of Andhra Pradesh. A total worth of INR 12
Lakhs FICNs, INR 53,500 genuine Indian currency, a printing machine
and papers used for FICNs were also recovered from their possession,
said an unnamed source in the Police. To make ‘quick’ money, they
chose this path and procured the counterfeit currency in denomination
of INR 500 from Adabala Murthy in Tuni Mandal of East Godavari
District (Andhra Pradesh). For INR 30,000 of genuine currency
notes for FICNs worth a Lakh, Palle Reddy took five Lakhs and
exchanged few FICNs in Tuni in East Godavari District and Vijaywada
in Krishna District, said ACP of South Division Kanche Srinivas.
Once again in a fresh plea, Abu
Salem plead to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to cancel
his extradition to India as he is convicted by Indian Government
for 1993 Mumbai blasts. Abu Salem raised doubts over the verdict
of the TADA court dated June 16 and September 7, 2017 that he
has been convicted for the charges imposed and exceed the ‘Order
of Extradition’ given by the Portuguese Government. Salem requested
that Portuguese Government must take immediate action against
the Indian Government as the Indian Government failed to meet
the commitment and asked for his extradition in the matter, read
a plea written by Abu Salem. Earlier in its order dated July 5,
2012, the Constitutional Court of Lisbon in Portugal had observed
that the criminal court of India is not empowered to judge the
offences mentioned in the extradition order of Abu Salem.
The Minister of Electronics and
Information Technology (ME&IT) Ravi Shankar Prasad on February
9 informed the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament)
that over 53,000 incidents related to cyber security were observed
in India during 2017. As per the data of CERT-In, in 2017 total
53, 081 cyber security incidents including phishing, web-intrusions
and defacements, virus and ransomware attacks were reported whereas,
50,362 incidents in 2016, 49,455 incidents in 2015 and, 44,679
incidents in 2014 were observed. With the emergence and expansion
of IT enabled-services, there has been a rise in cyber crimes
in India likewise any other country in the world, said Prasad.
According to the data from the NCRB, in 2016 total 12,317 cybercrime
cases, 11,592 in 2015, and 9,622 in 2014 cybercrime incidents
were registered.
Security agencies are on high
alert across Jammu and Kashmir concerned about the possibility
of a strike by JeM to mark the fifth anniversary of the hanging
of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on February 9. “We are
always on alert but February 9 and 11 are important days in Kashmir
so we are taking extra precautions,’’ DGP S P Vaid said. While
the anniversary of Guru’s hanging is on February 9, JKLF founder
Maqbool Bhat was hanged in Tihar jail on February 11, 1984.
A SSP in north Kashmir said that
though they (JeM cadres) are mostly concentrated in south Kashmir,
the latest alert is that they may try and strike in north — particularly
Sopore and Handwara. “There is no doubt that if we lower our guard
even a bit, they will strike’, said ADGP, Kashmir zone, Muneer
Khan. He said that there are around 22 JeM militants active in
the Valley of whom 15 are in South Kashmir while the rest in the
north. “Though Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar are still bigger
in numbers, Jaish has come to the forefront. After we killed Dujana
and Ismail, Lashkar has become leaderless… that helped Jaish to
take centre stage. All fidayeen attacks carried out over
the last year were done by Jaish.” Khan said that Jaish’s revival
in Kashmir took place after two of their groups infiltrated through
Kupwara. “One big group infiltrated via Poonch (in Jammu province)
too. This happened last August,’’ he said. “We have killed around
13 from those groups. The rest are still around”.
Life in Kashmir valley was disrupted
due a shutdown called by separatists and restrictions imposed
by authorities in parts of Valley on the occasion of fifth anniversary
of Afzal Guru’s hanging. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani,
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Yasin Malik had called for shutdown and
protests to observe the anniversary of Parliament attack convict
Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat, a JKLF founder who were hanged in
Tihar Jail in 2013 and 1984 respectively. Despite restrictions,
the separatist leaders visited the residence of Afzal Guru in
Jageer Ghat, Dubgav village of Sopore in North Kashmir. However,
chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah
Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to remain under house
arrest while Mohammad Yasin Malik has been lodged in Srinagar
Central Jail.
Clashes were reported from Sopore,
HMT Srinagar, Machowa-Nowgam railway track, and Memander in Shopian.
At least five persons are said to have received pellet injuries
in Machowa-Nowagam railway track and Memander, Shopian. The injured
youth have been hospitalised. A Police spokesperson, however,
said that the overall situation remained peaceful barring few
“stray incidents” of stone pelting.
SFs achieved a major success
when a top terrorist, who had travelled to Pakistan on valid visa
for arms training in LeT camps, surrendered before a joint team
of Police and Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir. "He was
motivated to join terrorist ranks and moved to Pakistan on Visa
through the Wagah Border for getting weapons training", said
an army spokesman at South Kashmir based Victor Force headquarters.
Sources said Pakistani agencies have embarked on a new strategy
to grant valid visas to gullible youth to travel to Islamabad
where they are imparted terror training and sent back to replenish
the terrorist cadres in Kashmir. The new strategy has been prompted
after Indian army strengthened the anti infiltration grid making
it difficult for the terrorists to sneak-in through the LoC.
The youth, whose identity has
not been revealed due to security reasons, was trained in handling
small arms and making IEDs. The training was imparted by Lashkar-e-Toiba
terrorists code named Hanzallah Adnan and Malik Sahab. Two other
groups comprising few youths from Kashmir code named Abu Hatf,
Noor Gul and Abdullah Bhai were also involved in the training.
"His decision to come back is of great significance as it
sends out a clear message regarding the commitment of security
forces to encourage youth to shun path of violence", said
the spokesman. The surrender of Pakistan trained terrorist comes
six days after Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two terrorists
who had traveled to Islamabad on a valid visa to undergo arms
training in Lashkar-e-Toiba camps before returning from Wagah.
Minister for Relief, Rehabilitation
and Reconstruction and Floriculture Javid Mustafa Mir informed
the Legislative Assembly that Government has so far paid INR
436.11 crore to 8851 displaced families of Pakistan occupied Jammu
and Kashmir (PoJK). Responding to a Calling Attention Notice of
Sat Paul Sharma, the Minister said till January 31, 2018, no case
was pending with the Relief and Rehabilitation Department. However,
847 new cases were received by the department on February 4, 2018
and these will be uploaded and approved within a week’s time.
The Minister further informed
that 2699 cases are pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs
as on January 31, 2017. He said the department is processing these
cases on top priority and the details are shared with the Divisional
Commissioner, Jammu, the Nodal Officer for the scheme- for hosting
the same on his official website for the information of general
public and beneficiaries. He also informed the House that department
has recently shared all the details of the beneficiaries both
in hard and soft copies with the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu
for the information of the general public and the beneficiaries
also.
The CPI-Maoist cadres killed
a former colleague, branding him a ‘Police informer’, at his native
Phulpar village under Baikunthpur Tehsil in Koriya
District of Chhattisgarh. Hinga Madkami, who had surrendered in
June last year (2017), was shot dead by rebels at his native Phulpar
village under Kuakonda Police Station limits, a senior Police
official said. After quitting the CPI-Maoist outfit, Madkami was
working as an informer for the STF in the area, the Police official
said. On February 8, Madkami had gone to Phulpar, located around
450 kilometres away from the State capital, Raipur, to take part
in rituals being performed at his house following the death of
his mother, the official said. The rebels stormed his home, attacked
him with sharp weapons before shooting him, the official informed.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including
a ‘deputy commander’, were killed in an exchange of fire with
SFs in the forest of Bodla village under Gatapar Police Station
limits in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh. The encounter
took place at around 12.30 pm in the forest when a joint team
of ITBP, DRG, District Force and Hawk Force of Madhya Pradesh
Police was out on a counter-insurgency operation in Gatapar, located
around 160 kilometres away from the State capital, Raipur, SP,
Prashant Agrawal said. "After the guns fell silent, security
forces searched the area and recovered bodies of two naxals along
with two weapons," Agrawal said. The slain Maoists were later
identified as Vinod alias Daven Sherku Ram, ‘deputy
commander’ of military platoon no. 55 of Maoists, who was a native
of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, and Sagar, who hailed from south
Bastar and was a member of the platoon, he said. Vinod and Sagar
were carrying cash reward of INR 800,000 and INR 200,000 on their
heads respectively. Arms and ammunition and some other items of
daily use were recovered from the encounter site.
A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed
and another injured during an encounter with the SFs in Palamau
District of Jharkhand. The encounter took place in Jhunjhuna jungle
under Naodiha Police Station, the Police said, adding, four firearms
and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the spot.
Another Maoist, a 15-year-old girl, suffered splinter injuries,
said SP, Indrajeet Mahatha. The girl who was later taken into
custody told Police that she had joined the Naxal outfit
out of poverty, Mahatha said, adding, she would be rehabilitated.
She also told police that three to four other Naxals fled
after they received bullet injuries, the SP said.
Maharashtra Police arrested
CPI-Maoist leader identified as Rammana alias Shrinivas
Vitthalanna Madru alias Ravi alias Suresh
(65), along with his wife Padma Kodape alias Sammakka alias Lata(55)
from Ballarshah town of Chandrapur District of Maharashtra.
Rammana headed the technical department of the CPI-Maoist in
Chhattisgarh. He was working in the Maoist movement since 1976-77.
He was given the responsibility of the CPI-Maoist technical
wing in 1995. He worked for the Maoists in Kondagaon, Maad, Tipagarh,
Aheri and Bastar area after 1996. He was involved in the manufacture
of weapons for the CPI-Maoist. He also worked as a trainer
to the young CPI-Maoist cadres in weapon training. He
carried a reward of INR 2.5 million on his head. Ramanna’s wife
Padma Kodape was working for the CPI-Maoist since 1992
and carried a reward of INR 600,000 and was believed to be involved
in violent incidents in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra,
said Police statement. The Maoist couple are associated
with DKSZC, presently the most powerful entity within the CPI-Maoist
operational setup as members, were going from Allapalli to
Hyderabad on February 9. The Police recovered INR 50,000
and two pen drives from them which revealed that Maoist couple
used to allegedly give technical support like assembling and disassembling
of weapons and wireless support, said SP, Niyati Thaker.
Anti-Naxal QRT team, constituted
by ADG, Varanasi Zone launched anti- CPI-Maoist campaign in the
forests of Mau Kala and Louva in the Rampur Barkoniya
Police Station area in Sonbhadra District of Uttar Pradesh. The
QRT team also discussed with villagers about their problems after
the search operation at Jan Choupal program.
SP, Laxman Nimbargi said that
there is no Naxal activity in Udupi District of Karnataka.
The Police had been holding regular meetings with people in areas
that were considered Naxal-affected in the District. There
were four camps of the Anti-Naxal Force in Jeddinagadde,
Shankarnaryana, Hebri and Karkala Rural Police Station limits
in the District and there was also the Anti Naxal squad
of the Police
A national highway contractor
was abducted from Bordumsa in Changlang District. NSCN-IM had
reportedly demanded INR 100 million, of which a partial payment
was made by the victim.
Unidentified militants and Police
exchanged fire near the village of Era Aning in South Garo Hills.
Although the group affiliation of the militants has not been established,
Police suspect the militants belonged to GNLA.
SFs arrested an NSCN-KN militant
identified as Neingumelie from Themazie Colony in Kohima District.
GoI is learnt to have assured
Naga groups, political parties and armed organisations that all
options are open, including re-elections in Nagaland, whenever
an accord is finalized with NSCN-IM and other naga groups. Elections
are expected to be held on February 27 in the state and results
will be declared on March 3.
GoI has also reportedly assured
that militant cadres may be absorbed after arriving at a solution.
According to an official, ‘There are a few options that we are
looking at and we have sought an opinion from the rebel groups.
One of them is to raise an All Naga IrBN. at the disposal of the
state but the Centre can help fund and train them.
Chhattisgarh State Government
allotted INR 43.09 billion in the budget of 2018-19.The outlay
includes creation of SOG to strengthen anti-terror activities,
new Police Stations, Outposts, 225 posts of traffic management,
special women crime cell in six Districts, installation of CCTVs
in 232 Police Stations, C & D category fire-stations in 17
Districts, 30 barracks to reduce congestion in jails apart from
INR 2.3 billion for SCS for LWE affected districts.
State Home Minister R. Lalzirliana
said that first political level talks between HPC-D Mizoram Government
is optimistic about the outcome of the ongoing peace talks between
Government and Hmar militants as it is nearing the final stage
with good prospects” said State Home Minister R. Lalzirliana.
|
February 10
|
The teams of Intelligence agencies,
including the NIA, the IB and the Gaya Police, arrested three
IS suspects—Mohammad Anwar Hussain (24), Mohammad Shammi (22)
and Mohammad Shaad (22) along with arms and ammunition from different
locations in Gaya District of Bihar. All three suspects had associates
in J&K, Maharashtra, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. Based on the
specific intelligence inputs, the trio were under surveillance
for many weeks. Anwar had a marble-cutting business but behind
the scenes he and other were involved in covert operations of
IS to build its network for terror attacks across India, said
an unnamed senior Intelligence officer.
Salahuddin Salehin and Jahidul
Islam alias Bomaru Mizan—Bangladesh’s ‘Most-Wanted’
terrorists had launched an Indian Chapter of banned terror outfit
JMB. In an interval interview given by Salehin to JMB’s media
wing Sahm al-Hind, he mentioned that the Indian chapter
is named as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India (JMI) and the module would
ensure that Hindustan turned into the centric
point of Hijra (Migration for religious battle)
and Jihad so that Indians could play an important role in the
foundation of next Caliphate. “We are unaware of any interview
given by Salehin, said DCP of STF Kolkata Police Muralidhar Sharma. In
connection to Khagragarh blast in Burdwan District of West Bengal,
the NIA had declared rewards of INR 5 lakhs for any inputs on
the duo—Salahuddin Salehin and Jahidul Islam. Bangladesh’s Counter
Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTCU) of Dhaka Metropolitan
Police also had announced rewards of 5 lakhs Bangladeshi Taka
on both.
The Central Government would
aid in the security infrastructure of 973-kilometres coastline
in Andhra Pradesh to ensure the better coastal security measures.
The Central Government would provide special assistance so that
the coastal security is ensured. Under the aid, the Centre agreed
to deliver some boats and cost of fuel would be borne by the Centre
only, said the Principal Secretary, Home Department of the Government
of Andhra Pradesh A.R. Anuradha. Few years ago, the state Police
had alerts about the entry of the Students of SIMI terrorists
along the state’s coastline, including the coastline of Nellore
District. With more boats and rigid security measures, the Police
would be in better position to ensure the Coastal Security, said
Anuradha.
A woman was killed in Pakistan
shelling on the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District. The
deceased woman has been identified as Parveen Akhter, wife of
Mohammad Mushtaq, a resident of village Lairan in Pukharni area
of Nowshera sector. According to reports a mortar shell exploded
close to the house of Parveen Akhter, in which she sustained splinter
injuries and later died succumbing to her injuries.
Pakistani troops launched mortars
shells at civilian areas along the LoC in Poonch District. However,
there was no loss of life or injury reported in the shelling.
“The Pakistan Army launched mortar shells in Khadi Karmara forward
areas in Poonch around 1100 hours today (February 10),” the official
said. The Pakistan troops also launched shells along the LoC in
Chakan Da Bagh forward area in Poonch, the official added.
A teenage girl, identified as
Saima Wani (18), daughter of Hilal Ahmad Wani of Shopian village,
who was injured in an encounter in January at Chaigund village
of Shopian District and admitted in the SKIMS hospital for 18
days, succumbed to injuries. Earlier, SATP had reported on January
24, two HM militants, identified as Sameer Ahmad Wani alias
Maviya and Firdous Ahmad alias Umar Bhai were killed in
an encounter while civilian minor boy Shakir Ahmad Mir died and
two girls including the Saima Wani, sister of the deceased militant
Sameer Ahmad Wani were injured at Chaigund village of Shopian
District. Police said that Shakir and the girls were caught in
cross firing.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified
as Bodki Kowasi alias Sukhram (33) and his wife Ganga Madkami
alias Manila (30), surrendered before the Senior Police
officials in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Kowasi, was active
as LGS, ‘deputy commander’ under KAC of CPI-Maoist and carrying
a reward of INR 300,000 on his head. His wife, Madkami was working
as a member of Matwada LOS and carrying a reward of INR 100,000
on her head. The CPI-Maoist duo expressed disappointment over
the hollow ideology of the Naxal movement and violence.
A cash of INR 10,000 each was given to them as encouragement amount,
said Police official.
A joint operation by Tiruvallur
Police and the ‘Q’ Branch of the State Police arrested three CPI-Maoist
cadres identified as D Dasarathan and his wife, Kanimozhi and
Dasarathan’s brother Vetriveerapandiyan in Pullarambakkam, near
Pondicherry in Tiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu. Dasarathan,
Maoist leader has been hiding since 2003, while his wife, Kanimozhi
was underground since 2008. They were booked under various sections
of the IPC and the UAPA for offences including criminal conspiracy
and starting a war. They were produced before the magistrate and
sent to judicial custody on February 11, said Senior Police Officer.
MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
stated that GoI has revised stipend amount and fixed deposit for
the surrendered militants in Northeast. The new surrender scheme
will come into effect from April 2018. The monthly allowance would
be increased from INR 3,000 to INR 6,000. Moreover, the militants
will be given a relief amount of INR 400,000 which was earlier
INR 1, 50,000.
MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
stated that GoI has revised stipend amount and fixed deposit for
the surrendered militants in Northeast. The new surrender scheme
will come into effect from April 2018. The monthly allowance would
be increased from INR 3,000 to INR 6,000. Moreover, the militants
will be given a relief amount of INR 400,000 which was earlier
INR 1, 50,000.
NIA filed a charge sheet against
three militants of KCP for conspiring and raising funds for terror
activities. One of the charge sheeted militants has been identified
as Laishram Ranjit Singh Meitei alias Tamnganba, the ‘commander
in chief’ of KCP-PWG. Other militants were identified as Khumanthem
Naobicha Singh who is the ‘finance secretary’ of KCP- Lamjanba
Khuman faction and Thoudam Chaothoi Singh a militant of Lamjanba
Khuman faction. The three militants were arrested in New Delhi
in 2017.
MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
stated that GoI has revised stipend amount and fixed deposit for
the surrendered militants in Northeast. The new surrender scheme
will come into effect from April 2018. The monthly allowance would
be increased from INR 3,000 to INR 6,000. Moreover, the militants
will be given a relief amount of INR 400,000 which was earlier
INR 1, 50,000.
BSF has increased its manpower
along the Indo-Bangla border in view of the forthcoming Assembly
polls. An official stated that BSF will also launch special operations
a few days before the polls to ensure that there is no smuggling
of any contraband items in the border areas of the State during
the polls.
80 companies of CAPFs presently
deputed in Tripura will add to the security apparatus in the Meghalaya
process of electioneering by the third week of February. CAPF
deployment includes 16 companies of the BSF of which five have
been deployed, 14 companies of CRPF, 10 Companies of CISF, and
five companies of SSB and five ITBP and SSB companies.Already
20 additional companies of the CAPF are in place to assist the
existing force strength.
MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
stated that GoI has revised stipend amount and fixed deposit for
the surrendered militants in Northeast. The new surrender scheme
will come into effect from April 2018. The monthly allowance would
be increased from INR 3,000 to INR 6,000. Moreover, the militants
will be given a relief amount of INR 400,000 which was earlier
INR 1, 50,000.
HPC-D expressed optimism that
political-level talks with the Mizoram government in March would
yield a solution to the Hmar problem. The militant leaders, based
in Manipur, said that they were yet to decide on the members of
the delegation while confirming that the ‘working president’ of
the insurgent group, Lalthalien Hmar, would be in the delegation
and would continue to be the spokesperson. The first round of
political level talks is scheduled for March 5 in Aizawl. The
talks, initially proposed to be held before Christmas last year,
got delayed as Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawala constituted
a three-member committee of legislators to examine the draft legislation
on the formation of Sinlung Hills Council. The talks held in August
2016 and September 2017 mainly revolved around giving more autonomy
to the existing Sinlung Hills Development Council.
MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
stated that GoI has revised stipend amount and fixed deposit for
the surrendered militants in Northeast. The new surrender scheme
will come into effect from April 2018. The monthly allowance would
be increased from INR 3,000 to INR 6,000. Moreover, the militants
will be given a relief amount of INR 400,000 which was earlier
INR 1, 50,000.
MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
stated that GoI has revised stipend amount and fixed deposit for
the surrendered militants in Northeast. The new surrender scheme
will come into effect from April 2018. The monthly allowance would
be increased from INR 3,000 to INR 6,000. Moreover, the militants
will be given a relief amount of INR 400,000 which was earlier
INR 1, 50,000.
MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju
stated that GoI has revised stipend amount and fixed deposit for
the surrendered militants in Northeast. The new surrender scheme
will come into effect from April 2018. The monthly allowance would
be increased from INR 3,000 to INR 6,000. Moreover, the militants
will be given a relief amount of INR 400,000 which was earlier
INR 1, 50,000.
An exchange of fire took place
between CPI-Maoist cadres and Police at Toogudem Police base camp
under Pamed Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
The temporary Police base camp was recently established to facilitate
construction of roads in Naxal affected areas
of Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. CPI-Maoist cadres have tried
to attack this Police base camp thrice in a span of seven days
and fled from the encounter site after Police retailed fire.
SFs rescued four abducted civilians
from Sugnu in Thoubal District. A Police press release stated
that two people were abducted on February 8 from Pallel area in
Thoubal District. During the investigation it was revealed that
same abductors had abducted two more people separately from an
unspecified location. Moreover, one of the abductors identified
as R. Pritam Chothe was arrested from Jiontlang in Chandel District
in the intervening night of February 19 and 20.
|
February 10-11
|
A total of nine persons, including
five Army personnel, a civilian and three militants were killed
and another 10 persons were injured in the JeM’s fidayeen
attack which started on the early hours of February 10 at the
Sunjuwan Military Station, close to Jammu City in Jammu District.
Of five Army fatal casualties, four soldiers, including a JCO,
belonged to Kashmir Valley, while another JCO hailed from Hiranagar
tehsil of Kathua District in Jammu region. A dead civilian,
who happened to be father of one of the soldiers, was also a resident
of Kashmir. Official sources said that since 1st JAKLI
had been deployed inside Sunjuwan Military Station, majority of
casualties (both dead and injured) hailed from the State. All
Army and civilian casualties took place during initial round of
firing by the militants, in the morning of February 10. Two soldiers,
including one JCO, were killed on February 10, four others, three
of them jawans and a civilian, succumbed to their injuries
in the hospital overnight.
While two fidayeens were
eliminated on February 10, the third one was killed in wee hours
of February 11 morning and since then no gun shots have been heard
from any area of Sunjuwan Military Station. However, the Army
hasn’t declared the operation as formally over and Para Commandos
remained deployed inside the Station, report said. Late in the
night (February 11), Army fired mortar shells towards family quarters
and surrounding isolated areas to ensure that militants, if any,
are neutralized. Operation will be declared as complete only after
entire area is sanitized and no further movement of militant(s)
is observed. “Sanitization and clearance operations were now in
progress. Entire complex was being sanitized to ensure that the
militants hadn’t laid any booby trap inside the complex to target
Army soldiers and their family members. The movement of the families
of jawans and others inside the Military Station would be allowed
only when the area is completely sanitized by the Bomb Disposal
Squad,” sources said.
Report said that the attackers
were all Pakistani citizens who had been operating in the Kashmir
valley since last year, and had travelled to Jammu just days before
the attack, an official said on February 11. “The militants were
wearing army combat fatigues and were heavily armed. AK-56 rifles,
grenade launchers, grenades and other ammo were recovered from
them,” said a security official familiar with the initial probe
into the attack. An initial probe suggested the attackers had
entered from a spot at the rear of the camp where the boundary
was secured only with metal sheets. “One of the attackers, Qari
Mushtaq alias Chotu, was active in Tral in south Kashmir.
The two others have been identified as Mohammed Adil alias
Irfan Bhai, who was operating in Sopore and Pulwama sectors, and
Mohammed Khalid Khan alias Rashid Bhai, who was also active
in Pulwama,” said the central security official, who asked not
to be named. Investigators have found syringes where the militants
hid in the camp’s residential quarters before the attack. Suicide
attackers have been known to take shots of morphine before launching
attacks.
The UMHA has decided to hand
over investigations of the terror attack to NIA.
|
February 11
|
Pakistani troops launched heavy
mortar shells and fired at civilian areas along the LoC in Rajouri
and Poonch Districts for the fourth consecutive day while an Army
jawan, injured in Pakistan shelling at Shahpur, Poonch
on February 4, succumbed to his injuries in the Military Hospital.
The slain jawan has been identified as Gunner Kishore Kumar
Munna resident of Barmaha in Chautham in Bihar. Sources said Pakistani
troops launched heavy shells in Tarkundi, Naika, Panjgrain, Khorinar
and Rajdhani villages of Manjakot in Rajouri and nearly half a
dozen villages in Balakote sector of Poonch on February 11 morning.
There was no casualty in the firing in Manjakote and Balakote
sectors on February 11, sources said. They said Indian troops
guarding the LoC also fired in retaliation and the firing stopped
from both sides around 1 pm.
The CRPF is expected to get at
least 7,000 AK-47 rifles out of the 39,000 AK-47 rifles procured
from Bulgaria for the Central Armed Police Forces and State Police.
Of the 7,000 AK-47 rifles to be allocated for the CRPF, huge lot
will be sent to Jammu and Kashmir while the rest of the weapons
will be sent to fight Naxals (Left Wing Extremism) and
insurgency in the Northeast. DG of the CRPF, RR Bhatnagar said,
"We will soon be getting the procurement of the AKs and we
will be sending it to fill vacancies (of weapon) against authorised
strength." He, however, confirmed that majority of it will
be sent to Kashmir Valley.
A DRG jawan, identified
Sondhar Hemla, was killed in a IED blast, suspected to be planted
by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
The incident took place when the DRG team was out for an area
domination operation in the forest near Tippapuram, nearly 500
kilometres south of Raipur. DRG Assistant Constable, Sondhar Hemla,
unknowingly stepped on IED and died on spot. The Police launched
combing operation in the area against CPI-Maoist cadres.
A joint team of CRPF and District
Police arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre identified as from Sanjay Hansda
from Hasikol forest in Jamui District of Bihar. The arrested CPI-Maoist
cadre is an associate of ‘area commander’ of CPI-Maoist, Siddhu
Koda. He was involved in demanding levy (ransom money) from private
companies and accused in various cases of loot, kidnapping and
murder registered at various Police Stations in the District.
He is also wanted by Jharkhand Police, said SP, Jagannath Reddy.
According to Minister of State
for Home Kiren Rijiju, Arunachal Pradesh recorded 61 insurgency
related incidents in 2017. State also recorded three civilian
fatalities in 2017.
According to UMHA insurgency
incidents in north-east declined by 63 per cent as compared to
2014 in and 36 per cent compared to 2016 as the year 2017 witnessed
the lowest number of insurgency related incidents since 1997.
There were 824 insurgency related incidents in 2014, 574 incidents
in 2015, 484 in 2016, 308 in 2017. Civilian casualties has also
recorded a decrease by 83 percent, from 212 in 2014 to 37 in 2017
while casualty rate of SFs declined by 40 percent, from 20 in
2014 to 12 in 2017.
Minister for State Kiren Rijiju
stated that Assam recorded 33 insurgency related incidents in
2017. The state also recorded six civilian deaths and three SFs
death in the same year.
According to UMHA insurgency
incidents in north-east declined by 63 per cent as compared to
2014 in and 36 per cent compared to 2016 as the year 2017 witnessed
the lowest number of insurgency related incidents since 1997.
There were 824 insurgency related incidents in 2014, 574 incidents
in 2015, 484 in 2016, 308 in 2017. Civilian casualties has also
recorded a decrease by 83 percent, from 212 in 2014 to 37 in 2017
while casualty rate of SFs declined by 40 percent, from 20 in
2014 to 12 in 2017.
SFs three arms and weapon smugglers
from Khongjom in Thoubal District. A double barrel shotgun and
live rounds were recovered from the arrestees.
Kiren Rijiu stated in the parliament
that Manipur had the highest number of insurgency related incidents
amongst northeastern states in 2017 with 167 insurgency related
incidents.
According to UMHA insurgency
incidents in north-east declined by 63 per cent as compared to
2014 in and 36 per cent compared to 2016 as the year 2017 witnessed
the lowest number of insurgency related incidents since 1997.
There were 824 insurgency related incidents in 2014, 574 incidents
in 2015, 484 in 2016, 308 in 2017. Civilian casualties has also
recorded a decrease by 83 percent, from 212 in 2014 to 37 in 2017
while casualty rate of SFs declined by 40 percent, from 20 in
2014 to 12 in 2017.
MoS for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju
stated that Meghalaya recorded 28 insurgency related incidents
where two civilians were killed.
According to UMHA insurgency
incidents in north-east declined by 63 per cent as compared to
2014 in and 36 per cent compared to 2016 as the year 2017 witnessed
the lowest number of insurgency related incidents since 1997.
There were 824 insurgency related incidents in 2014, 574 incidents
in 2015, 484 in 2016, 308 in 2017. Civilian casualties has also
recorded a decrease by 83 percent, from 212 in 2014 to 37 in 2017
while casualty rate of SFs declined by 40 percent, from 20 in
2014 to 12 in 2017.
MoS for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju
stated that Nagaland recorded 19 insurgency related incidents
in 2017 in which three civilians were killed.
According to UMHA insurgency
incidents in north-east declined by 63 per cent as compared to
2014 in and 36 per cent compared to 2016 as the year 2017 witnessed
the lowest number of insurgency related incidents since 1997.
There were 824 insurgency related incidents in 2014, 574 incidents
in 2015, 484 in 2016, 308 in 2017. Civilian casualties has also
recorded a decrease by 83 percent, from 212 in 2014 to 37 in 2017
while casualty rate of SFs declined by 40 percent, from 20 in
2014 to 12 in 2017.
Delhi Police’s Special cell arrested
a man—Mohammad Mumtaz Ansari alias Mumtaz (48) along with
the FICNs worth INR 200,000, from Jahangir Road area nearby Central
Government Quarters at Minto Road of Central New Delhi District
in Delhi. As per specific Intelligence inputs, Mumtaz had
arrived to deliver 100 FICNs in denomination of INR 2,000. He
was linked to Malda District (West Bengal) FICNs network which
circulates the FICNs allegedly printed in Pakistan and smuggled
into via India-Bangladesh border, said DCP Special Cell Pramod
Singh Kushwah.
SFs arrested two KYKL militants
NH 102 in Imphal West District. Two pistols and ammunitions
were recovered from them.
Grenade was lobbed into the house
of an individual identified as Than Khonglah at Dawki in West
Jaintia Hills District.
|
February 12
|
Mizoram CM Lal Thanhawla asked
GoI to tighten security along the border with Myanmar as the state
could face threats from the armed conflict between the Myanmar
army and militants in Arakan state. The CM informed the Union
Home Minister that Mizoram could face a security threat owing
to the entry of refugees from Myanmar. CM also asked the Home
Minister to deploy more security personnel along the border with
Myanmar to avoid any untoward incident. Mizoram saw an influx
of over 1,400 refugees from Chin state in Myanmar, who are taking
shelter at Hmawngbuchhuah village in Lawngtlai district.
The displaced people fled their
country following a crackdown launched by Myanmar army on Arakan
Army militants. Although some families have returned to their
villages, over 1,000 people are reluctant to return to Myanmar
fearing the armed struggle between the Myanmar army and militants
may begin again.
Chinese grenade was recovered
from a vehicle of a congress supporter identified as Mike Pakyntein
in West Shillong in East Khasi Hills. The owner of the vehicle
called the Police after seeing the grenade in his vehicle. Pakyntein
is a former supporter of UDP who shifted his allegiance to Congress.
The Police and CPI-Maoist cadres
exchanged fire during a raid on a camp of the Maoists near Tikarpadu
under Jodamba Panchayat of Chitrakonda Police
limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The heavy exchange of
fire took place inside the jungle near Tikarpadu when a joint
squad of Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh and SOG of Odisha Police
Forces swooped down a Maoist camp during a joint combing operation.
However, No casualties have been reported during the exchange
of fire. Malkangiri SP, Jagmohan Meena said there were around
50 Maoists, including some leaders, at the camp at the time of
firing. "Specifically, we can't divulge as which Maoist leader
was present at the camp, but there were a few Maoist leaders.
Unable to face heavy firing from our side, the Maoists fled the
spot," Meena said. According to reports, taking advantage
of the difficult terrain and dense jungle as many as 50 Maoists,
including their top leader Akkiraju Haragopal aka Ramakrishna aka RK
managed to escape. Police suspect that top rebel leaders had congregated
at the camp to chalk out their strategy to carry out a major attack.
At least 45 Maoist kit bags, six AK fire ammunition, two INSAS
assault rifle rounds, six live 303, wire bundles, gas cutters
9 mm carbine magazine, explosive slurry and detonators were recovered
from the camp.
The work on the Gurupriya River
Bridge, which aims to connect about 151 villages of seven panchayats with
Malkangiri District of Odisha, has been extended for the fourth
time after missing three deadlines. An official said the bridge
was expected to be operational by March end. "Out of the
22 concrete slabs, work on 19 has been completed. We hope to complete
the work before the March end," said the Malkangiri PWD's
Executive Engineer, Arun Kumar Sahu.
Four CPI-Maoist cadres were
arrested in two different incidents in Giridih District of Jharkhand.
In the first incident, two CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Sanjay
Hansda, and Sukhdeo Murmu, who are associated with Sidhu Koda’s
squad were arrested by SFs at Barkhutia forest from
Chakai Police Station limits in the District. One 315 loaded rifle,170
live cartridges, one local made pistol,315 cartridges, and a cache
of Maoist-related items, including material used in making explosives
were recovered from them. The SFs chased the CPI-Maoist cadres between
Tetaria and Bhatuakura forest and arrested them, SP,
Surendra Kumar Jha. In the second incident, two armed CPI-Maoist
cadres identified as Prakash Murmu, and Ambu Marandi were
arrested in Barkhutia forest of the District. The CPI-Maoist
cadres were armed with explosives and arms and part of Sidhu
Koda’s squad, added SP, SK Jha.
CPI-Maoist cadres attacked forest
guards at two outposts inside Kanha National Park in Mandla District
of Madhya Pradesh. Around 20 CPI-Maoist cadres snatched wireless
set and mobiles, and set fire to the maps and topography sheets
during the attack. This is the first time CPI-Maoist attacked
forest officials in the tribal District of Mandla, situated some
400 kilometres east of Bhopal. The CPI-Maoist cadres were part
of Vistaar Dalam, with its presence in Balaghat. The Vistaar
Dalam is believed to have between 70 and 100 CPI-Maoist
cadres. The CPI-Maoist attack was confirmed by Additional Director
General of Balaghat zone, J Janardhan.
A KLF militant was arrested
from Sungjang in Karbi Anglong District. A .22 mm factory made
rifle, few.22 mm bullets and one olive green combat dress were
recovered from him.
|
February 13
|
In a case of 2008 serial blasts
in Delhi, the Delhi Court framed charges against co-founder of
IM Yasin Bhatkal and his associate—Asadullah Akhtar, for the conspiracy
and other terror activities. The ASJ Siddharth Sharma charged
Bhatkal and Akhtar for various offences punishable under the UA(P)
Act 1967, IPC and ES Act. Both, Bhatkal and Akhtar, along with
others, were part of terror activities and carried out the blasts
at several places in Delhi on September 13, 2008, said an unnamed
Police official. The court scheduled further proceedings on February
28, 2018.
During the visit of Indian PM
Narendra Modi to the UAE on February 10 and 11, India and the
UAE would sign the MoU regarding sharing and exchange of Intelligence
on money laundering and terror funding. “This MoU is a significant
development over the matter related to money laundering and financial
crimes with a bearing on National Security. This pact would go
a long way in addressing our mutual concerns on the issue of terrorist
financing as terrorism is an issue of mutual concern for both
countries [India and UAE],” said India’s Ambassador to the UAE
Navdeep Suri.
In his testimony before the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence, the US’ Director of National
Intelligence Daniel Ray Coats warned that Pakistan-backed terror
organisations would continue their terror operations against India
that further escalate the tensions between India and Pakistan.
Coats’ statement came a day after JeM terrorists attacked
the Indian Army camp in Sunjuwan in J&K. “Militant groups
supported by Islamabad [Pakistan] would continue to take advantage
of their safe haven in Pakistan to plan and conduct attacks against
and in India and Afghanistan, including US interests,” said Coats
said during the hearing on ‘Worldwide Threat Assessment’ of the
US Intelligence Community.
The Delhi Police’s special cell
arrested Ariz Khan alias Junaid (32)—a ‘bomb-maker’ in
IM, from Nepal. Ariz Khan was a core-member of IM’s Azamgarh (Uttar
Pradesh) module and masterminded the serial bomb blasts in Delhi,
Jaipur (Rajasthan), Uttar Pradesh and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) in 2007
and 2008, said DCP P.S. Kushwah. According to Intelligence inputs,
Ariz Khan was coming to Uttar Pradesh from Banbasa at India-Nepal
border to meet his associate. Acting on the input, a trap was
made and successful operation of his arrest was carried out, said
Kushwah. In 2008, following the serial blasts in Delhi, a team
of Delhi Police’s special cell raided the hideouts of IM suspects
in Batla house in Delhi and two IM members were arrested whereas
Ariz Khan and Shehzad managed to escape the raid.
Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Chandra Mohan Patowary informed the State Assembly that no part
of the State would be allowed to be included in any proposed ‘Nagalim’.
He also stated that the government would strongly oppose any move
to do so in the future also.
NIA summoned OSD to CM and two
of his office staff for questioning in connection with a case
of alleged terror funding. The case pertains to extortion attempts
by NSCN-K, NSCN-IM and NNC from 14 different government departments.
Earlier on January 18, 2017, the NIA conducted searches in various
government departments in Nagaland and seized receipts that showed
payments.
NIA stated that these seizures
prima facie indicate the connivance of these government organisations
in funding various underground organisations operating in Nagaland.’
The departments include 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. In November, massive protests rocked Kohima after seven
government officials were reportedly arrested for funding underground
groups, called Naga National Political Groups, through taxation.
Spokesperson of MEA stated that
it will continue to support the peace process and that national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also benefit the north-eastern
states. The spokesperson stated that comprehensive peace and national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also be conducive for peace and
prosperity in India’s north-eastern region. The statement came
after two militant groups in Myanmar MNSP and LDU signed the NCA
and joined the peace process.
Road contractor who was abducted
on February 9 was released by NSCN-IM at Kharsang in Changlang
District.
Spokesperson of MEA stated that
it will continue to support the peace process and that national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also benefit the north-eastern
states. The spokesperson stated that comprehensive peace and national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also be conducive for peace and
prosperity in India’s north-eastern region. The statement came
after two militant groups in Myanmar MNSP and LDU signed the NCA
and joined the peace process.
CM Biren Singh announced that
a new and ‘attractive’ surrender and rehabilitation policy for
militants in the state would be in place in a couple of months.
The CM stated that ‘the Centre is examining a proposal sent by
the state government and the new revised comprehensive policy
is likely to be implemented by April this year’. Following a cabinet
decision taken in May 2017, state Government proposed to hike
the monthly stipend of surrendered insurgents from INR 4,000 to
INR 8,000 for three years. Of the INR 8,000, INR 2,000 will be
counted as ration money. Additionally, one-time financial grant
provided by the government to surrendered militants will be increased
from INR 2, 50,000 to INR 4, 00,000.
Spokesperson of MEA stated that
it will continue to support the peace process and that national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also benefit the north-eastern
states. The spokesperson stated that comprehensive peace and national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also be conducive for peace and
prosperity in India’s north-eastern region. The statement came
after two militant groups in Myanmar MNSP and LDU signed the NCA
and joined the peace process.
Spokesperson for MEA stated that
it will continue to support the peace process and that national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also benefit the north-eastern
states. The spokesperson stated that comprehensive peace and national
reconciliation in Myanmar will also be conducive for peace and
prosperity in India’s north-eastern region. The statement came
after two militant groups in Myanmar, the MNSP and LDU signed
the NCA and joined peace process in Myanmar.
HNLC claimed responsibility for
the grenade attack in Dawki in West Jaintia Hills District.
HNLC criticized Chief Minister
Mukul Sangma for contesting the ensuing assembly elections from
two seats Ampati and Songsak.
Three CPI-Maoist cadres
identified as Nildhar alias Guddu (25),
LOS member, Ginnu (25) and Ghassuram (30) ‘Jan Militia’ cadres
were arrested near Ehakli rivulet in forest under Mardapal Police
Station in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. SFs arrested the
trio during a search operation. Guddu was carrying a reward of
INR 300,000 over his head. An 8-kilogram tiffin bomb, CPI-Maoist banners
and literature were recovered from the possession of the two ‘Jan
Militia’ members. They admitted that the explosive was meant to
target the SFs during their operation in the region.
The trio was allegedly involved in several incidents, including
planting of IED and attacks on Police parties, said ASP,
Maheshwar Nag.
The NIA files a 35 page main
chargesheet with a 1,000 page annexure in a Naxal funding
case against CPI-Maoist top ‘central committee (CC) member’ Sudhakar
as the main accused along with four others. The agency has sought
prosecution sanction from the MHA against the five accused. The
case related to August 2017, where Ranchi Police had arrested
Sudhakar's brother, B Narayan and business partner Satyanarayan
Reddy at Ranchi station with INR 2.515 million in cash and over
half a kilogram of gold biscuits worth about INR1.2 million. The
delivery of cash and gold was meant for Sudhakar's family in Telangana.
The NIA has been able to unearth the conspiracy of the inter-state
module involving Jharkhand and Telangana. Though scientific evidence
has been put forth in the chargesheet, the agency has mentioned
details of a conspiracy from open sources like the web. Sudhakar
has been extorting money from businessmen involved in mining,
road construction and others in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and
Odisha's forested areas. Sudhakar has also allegedly collected
levies from Jharkhand's Koyal Sankh Zone of the CPI-Maoist.
A CRPF trooper, identified as
Mujahid Khan was killed and a Police man, identified as Javid
Ahmed was injured as they foiled an attempt by LeT fidayeen
(suicide squad) to storm into their 23rd battalion
camp at Karan Nagar area of Srinagar early on February 12. A CRPF
spokesman said that in the wee hours on February 12, fidayeen,
carrying bags and armed with AK 47s, were seen approaching towards
the CRPF camp.
On February 13, two fidayeens
of LeT were killed in a 32-hour long gun battle by SFs in Karan
Nagar area of Srinagar. The SFs operation to flush out the Fidayeen
from the under-construction building in the heart of the city
was carried out by a SOG of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the
CRPF. The fidayeen after failing to storm the camp were
trapped in an adjacent under-construction building. Huge explosions
continued since February 12 till February 13 afternoon. The gun
battle ended in the afternoon after SFs eliminated both the militants.
SFs recovered two AK-47 assault rifles and eight magazines from
the site. Earlier on February 12, as the SFs searched the building,
the hiding militants opened fire in which one CRPF man was killed
and another Police man was injured. Police and CRPF rescued around
20 persons including children and women from the area. They were
taken to safer locations before assault was launched against the
fidayeen.
IGP, Kashmir, S P Pani said that
the militants who tried to attack the CRPF camp in Karan Nagar
area early yesterday (February 12) morning belonged to the LeT
group. “The materials we recovered from the site of the encounter
suggest that the militants belonged to LeT. But the militants
have not been identified yet and we are trying to ascertain their
identity,” he said. Pani said it was a clean operation without
collateral damage, adding that it continued for long as the building
where the terrorists were hiding was a five-storey structure.
SFs launched a massive search
operation after Army personnel foiled a suspected terrorist attack
on their camp in Jammu in Jammu District. “An attack (on a camp)
was averted and the terrorist fled away,” Jammu-based Army spokesperson
Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said. A senior Police officer
said two motorcycle-borne terrorists are believed to have approached
the main gate of the camp at Domana on Jammu-Akhnoor road around
0430 hours and fired on the sentry post after security officials
signalled them to stop, prompting retaliation. “An investigation
has started and a search operation is underway to track down the
fleeing terrorists,” the official said adding that an alert has
been sounded in the area.
The UHM Rajnath Singh was reported
to have directed for strengthening entire security apparatus in
the hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of two consecutive
Fidayeen attacks in Jammu and Srinagar and another thwarted
Fidayeen attempt at Domana as he held second high level
review of security situation in the State in as many days in the
Union capital. NSA Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba,
top officials of the UMHA in charge Jammu and Kashmir and heads
of CAPFs were present at the meeting that was chaired by Rajnath
and lasted more than an hour in which situation prevailing in
the State in the wake of twin terror attacks and the borders was
discussed threadbare
Sources said that the Central
Government has offered deployment of NSGs in some of the security
camps, located in the sensitive areas of the State, which could
become soft targets for the militants. Sources said Rajnath has
directed for enhanced surveillance along nakas (checkpoints),
which were close to security installations to ensure that the
militants are trapped before they could strike or enter the camps
to cause casualties. Alert CRPF Sentry at Karan Nagar, Srinagar
had reacted immediately on February 12 and thwarted attack on
the camp after which the militants intruded into a building and
were killed on February 13. Similarly, Army thwarted a suspected
Fidayeen attack at their camp in Domana on February 13.
It was also pointed out that two militants died in a road accident
in Kashmir on February 12 as they were over speeding to escape
a naka. However, according to sources, the UMHA has taken
note of the fact that four militants along with arms, ammunition
and explosives managed to reach Sunjuwan Military Station, located
very close to Jammu City and attacked the Military Station, causing
seven casualties-six Army personnel and a civilian.
Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Chandra Mohan Patowary informed the State Assembly that no part
of the State would be allowed to be included in any proposed ‘Nagalim’.
He also stated that the government would strongly oppose any move
to do so in the future also.
|
February 14
|
In a press conference Indian
Army’s Lt. Gen. Devraj Anbu informed that more than 300 militants
of Pakistan-based terror outfits are waiting to cross the LoC
to enter into India. A total of 185-220 terrorists in the South
and 190-225 terrorists in the North of Peer Panjal Range in J&K
are ready to infiltrate. Conducting operations along the LoC is
complex and challenging and there is no need to do ‘tit-for-tat’,
said Lt. Gen. Anbu.
An unidentified NDFB-S militant
involved in December 2014 killings in Kokrajhar was arrested in
Guwahati in Kamrup Metropolitan District.
CM Manik Sarkar stated that NLFT
was active in Tripura and Bangladesh. He also alleged that IPFT
was the façade of the NLFT. IPFT has been demanding Twipraland,
a separate state for indigenous communities.
Manipur CM Biren Singh stated
that Police and Paramilitary have been asked “to stop forthwith
harassing former insurgents” who have joined the mainstream. The
CM also stated that that if there were any further reports on
harassment and torture to the former insurgents, strict disciplinary
action would be taken up against the security personnel.
SFs busted a CPI-Maoist camp
located in the hills of Jongeras under Kukanar Police Station
limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh and recovered a huge
cache of explosive materials. A joint team of DRG and District
Force of Police carried out the operation, DIG, south Bastar,
Sundarraj P said. “After a brief encounter Maoists escaped from
their camp taking benefit of the dense jungle,” he said. During
search, eight bullet-proof jackets looted by Naxals from CRPF jawans after
ambushes, a huge quantity of detonators and gelatin rods, cordex
wire, batteries, five steel tiffins of various sizes used to make
explosive devices and Maoist uniforms were seized from the camp,
he added.
Nine CPI-Maoist militia members
surrendered before Narsipatnam’s ASP, Ariff Hafeez, in Visakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh. According to Police, the surrendered
militia members were identified as J Bobbili (28), V Veeranna
(45), J Bala Raju (48), P Magae (45) J Gangamma (40), K Parvathi
(20), J Seetamma (40) and K Laxmi (38). All the members hail from
Manta Bheemavaram panchayat in Mandapalli village of Koyyur mandal in
the District. ASP Hafeez said that the nine members were threatened
by the Maoist leaders to assist them in anti-social activities
in the agency. Maoists also utilised them as informers and demanded
them arrange food to the group members. Unable to consider their
demands, pressure to involve in anti-social activities, the members
surrendered before the Police, the ASP explained.
Pakistan army violated ceasefire
again by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing on civilian
areas along the LoC in Rajouri District. “Pakistan army initiated
ceasefire violation by resorting to small arms, automatics, and
mortar firing in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district from 1815
hours today”, sources said. The Indian Army retaliated effectively,
they said.
SFs fired few rounds in air as
their vehicle was pelted with stones in Kareemabad village in
Pulwama District. A group of youth pelted stones at a SFs vehicle
with stones in Kareemabad village in the morning. SFs fired in
air to disperse them. However, no one was injured in the incident.
Clashes also erupted in Soaf-Shali
village of Anantnag District after SFs laid cordon of the village.
An official said that searches were launched in the village after
inputs about the presence of militants. However, operation was
later called off.
Northern Command chief Lieutenant
General Devraj Anbu said that three major militant groups including
HM, JeM and LeT have joined hands whether it’s Kashmir Valley
or Jammu and are jumping from one outfit to another to carry out
terror attacks and declared that anyone, who picks up arms and
is against the State, is a terrorist and the Army will deal with
him. “Enemy is frustrated and is trying soft targets. When
they fail at border, they attack camps,” Lieutenant General Anbu
said. The top Army Commander maintained that situation in South
Kashmir including Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts has considerably
improved and though these areas were once called “liberated zones”,
now the political leaders and elected representatives are moving
freely there. At the same time, he cautioned that around 300 militants
are camping at the border and launch pads on Pakistan side waiting
for infiltration into the Indian Territory.
Terming the misuse of social
media by Pakistan as a ‘time bomb’, Lieutenant General Anbu said
coming together of HM, LeT and JeM is a matter of concern for
the security agencies but would be taken care of. “HM, LeT and
JeM are hand in glove with each other after coming together in
the later part of the last year. Though there is no differentiation
as the terrorists keep jumping from one outfit to other and as
far as we are concerned any one picking up the arms against the
State is a terrorist and will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
He said all the three outfits coming together was definitely a
matter of concern as if someone is weak or strong somewhere it
will benefit the other. The Army Commander also expressed hope
to reverse the trend of local youth joining terrorist ranks and
said everybody has to play their role especially the civil society
and the parents of such youth to bring them back to contain level
of violence in the State.
An unidentified NDFB-S militant
involved in December 2014 killings in Kokrajhar was arrested in
Guwahati in Kamrup Metropolitan District.
|
February 15
|
The UMHA has proposed the programmes
for judicial officers, prosecutors and Police officers to learn
skills required tackle cybercrime incidents efficiently. This
is a first of its kind of upgrade to the quality of cybercrime
investigations. The cases such as 2004 Delhi Public School (DPS)
MMS, frauds related to cryptocurrency, cyber-stalking, fake social
media profiles, ransomeware, dark web, steganography, among other
cases would be part of the programme. With the significance rise
in cybercrime and the use of computers and the Internet, under
the Nirbhaya fund, the proposed scheme would train 27,500 Police
officers, prosecutors, and judicial officers in cybercrime awareness
program of three days and with 13,500 officials in five days,
read the statement released by the UMHA to the Chief Secretaries
of States and UTs. An important focal point of this exercise would
on understanding the cybercrime incidents against women and children,
said unnamed source in UMHA.
According to the Intelligence
inputs, the ‘Chiefs’ of Pakistan-based terror outfits, LeT and
JeM are leading the campaign against the ‘Chief’ of HM Syed Salahuddin
to step down as the leader of the outfit—further points to the
development in the rivalries in the ranks of Pakistan-based jihadi
outfits that operates against India. Syed Salahuddin—who headed
the HM and the UJC with support of Pakistan’s ISI has been facing
decline in the influence over Kashmir-centric operations and growing
ambitions of other terror outfits. ISI is under pressure to remove
Syed Salahuddin whereas LeT and JeM have made Salahuddin’s commanders—Amir
Khan, Imtiyaz Alam, against him, read an Intelligence input.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told that Kerala Government had seek
a ban on the Islamic organisation—PFI which is mainly operating
in the state. In an annual meet of DGPs of all states held Tekanpur
of Madhya Pradesh in January 2018, the Kerala’s Police Chief and
DGP Lokanath Behera presented a detailed presentation of PFI’s
growth and activities in Kerala. The meeting was attended by the
Indian PM Narendra Modi, UMHA Rajnath Singh and other senior officials
of Security establishments. In the case of PFI’s activities, the
Kerala Government urged for a ban on PFI and at present, UMHA
is examining the issue, said Rijiju.
Two unidentified militants of
KLO were arrested by SFs from Kokrajhar District. Two pistols
and ammunition were recovered from them.
NIA arrested a NDFB-S militant
Swadab Rava, in connection with its probe into the killing of
five persons at Pakriguri in Kokrahjar district in 2014. He was
arrested from Jugibasti village Sonitpur District.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Chandra Mohan Patowary stated that law and order situation has
been peaceful except for one or two minor incidents. He also added
that insurgency has been contained and the overall situation is
conducive to growth of trade and industry.
Three crude bombs were recovered
from Uttarpara area in West Tripura District hours before the
arrival of Prime Minister of India. A BJP leader stated that CPIM
were behind the incident. The state Assembly polls are scheduled
for Feb 18.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested
by Police in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The arrested
Maoist couples, identified as Ramdhar Sorey (20), and Parvati
Corram (20), both residents of Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh,
were ‘Jan Militia’ members. "18 kgs of Tiffin bomb, Naxalite
banner, literature, wire and other items were recovered from their
possession," Police said.
Militants fired a few shots towards
a CRPF camp in Awantipora area of Pulwama District. “Militants
fired a few shots at the CRPF camp at Panzgam in Awantipora area
at 8.10 pm,” a Police official said. He said the jawans
from the camp returned fire, forcing the militants to flee. No
casualties have been reported in the incident, the official said.
A search operation has been launched in the area to track down
the militants, the official added.
With no let up in tension on
the LoC in twin border Districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu
and Kashmir, Indian Army gave free hand to its Field Commanders
on the LoC to take any steps including ‘punitive fires’ and ‘pre-emptive
actions’ to tackle infiltration attempts and other kind of misadventures
by Pakistani troops and militants under the cover of ceasefire
violations. Sources said that Indian army was reported to have
launched major fire assaults on the Pakistani troops along LoC
especially the areas, where ‘unusual activity’ was observed to
ensure that any attempt by Pakistan to push militants into the
Indian side or indulge in ‘other kind of mischief’ was effectively
thwarted. Indian Army has used its posts at Balnoi, Sarla, Mendhar,
Laleali, Doda, Banwat, Kalal and Keran among others in Rajouri
and Poonch Districts to launch coordinated fire assaults in which
several Pakistani army posts have been destroyed. India has used
Light Field Guns, heavy 120mm mortars and anti-tank guided missiles
to target Pakistan posts where militants were reportedly given
shelter for infiltration into the Indian territory.
The massive action by India has
forced Pakistan army to issue 35 red-alerts to its forces. Pakistan,
according to sources, has now pressed panic buttons all along
the LoC. “The Indian Army, with all its Commanding Officer along
the LoC being given adequate freedom of action, is hammering and
bleeding the Pakistan army to deny it any tactical advantage of
moral ascendancy along the LoC,” sources said.
Sources said the Indian Army
has been inflicting heavy casualties on Pakistani troops while
replying to Pakistani shelling along the LoC in the last few weeks.
The Army sources claimed that a total of 20 Pakistani army personnel
were killed this year while the number was 138 in 2017.
If India lost 32 soldiers in
ceasefire violations, infiltration and other incidents along the
LoC in 2017 (another 30 laid down their lives in counter-terrorism
operations in the hinterland), sources said nearly 130-140 Pakistani
troopers were killed in the same year. The assessment is there
are over 300 terrorists (the number could be even around 400)
in and around launching pads along the LoC on Pakistan side looking
for an opportunity to enter into the Indian territory. “In view
of massive presence of militants along LoC, Indian troops are
bracing up for “hot summer” both on LoC and hinterland and even
possibility of tension defusing on the LoC also seems to be remote.
“Full freedom has been given to commanders of Army posts along
LoC in Jammu and Kashmir to effectively respond to any act of
violence by Pakistani troops,” sources said.
AR arrested an NSCN-IM militant
from Chekiye village in Dimapur District. The militant was identified
as Pukhato and a .22 pistol with magazine and INR 17, 150 were
recovered from him.
Two unidentified militants of
KLO were arrested by SFs from Kokrajhar District. Two pistols
and ammunition were recovered from them.
NIA arrested a NDFB-S militant
Swadab Rava, in connection with its probe into the killing of
five persons at Pakriguri in Kokrahjar district in 2014. He was
arrested from Jugibasti village Sonitpur District.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Chandra Mohan Patowary stated that law and order situation has
been peaceful except for one or two minor incidents. He also added
that insurgency has been contained and the overall situation is
conducive to growth of trade and industry.
|
February 16
|
Four ULFA-I OGWs arrested in
Malugaon village under Changlang District. he arrested OGWs have
been identified as Pradeep Barua, Rupam Rajbanshi, Munna Shah
and Diganta Gogoi. One pistol was recovered from the arrestees.
NPP candidate T Chalukumba,
who is contesting the February 27 assembly elections, escaped
an attempt on his life in Mokokchung District.
CM Biren Singh who is also in
charge of Home Department has stated that the current strength
of Manipur Police including Home Guards is 16319. He stated that
existing manpower of Manipur Police includes 9226 Constables,
2769 Head Constables, 917 ASIs, 1029 SIs, 246 Inspectors and 2132
Home Guard personnel. Till February 1 this year, 33 Inspectors,
234 SIs, 271 ASIs, 876 Head Constables and 1540 Constables have
been posted in Imphal West. 22 Inspectors, 120 SIs, 135 ASIs,
338 Head Constables, 1317 Constables have been posted in Imphal
East district; 18 Inspectors, 102 SIs, 113 ASIs, 304 Head Constables
and 1337 Constables in Thoubal district; 18 Inspectors, 83 SIs,
54 ASIs, 152 Head Constables and 743 Constables in Bishnupur district.
CM also added that Nine inspectors,
44 SIs, 61 ASIs, 161 Head Constables and 562 Constables have been
posted in Chandel District, eight Inspectors, 56 SIs, 38 ASIs,
117 Head Constables and 523 Constables in Churachandpur District;
nine Inspectors, 50 SIs, 42 ASIs, 86 Head Constables and 395 Constables
in Tamenglong district. 17 Inspectors, 76 SIs, 66 ASIs, 192 Head
Constables and 610 Constables have been posted in Senapati district;
12 Inspectors, 55 SIs, 34 ASIs, 137 Head Constables and 347 Constables
in Ukhrul District.
AR BDS defused a landmine in
Lawngtlai District, along the Mizoram-Myanmar border. AR on January
23 had issued an advisory asking the local people not to venture
in the border areas as there was strong possibility of the presence
of hidden mines. One Indian national has been killed and another
wounded in mine explosions in January 2018. According to officials
of AR , area between Pillar 1 and Pillar 11 has been sanitized.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Sanni alias Kunjam Lakkhe and Nanda Gurdum were killed
during an exchange of fire with SFs in a forest near Tokanpalli
village under Chintagufa Police Station in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.
Sanni was working as the LOS cadre of CPI-Maoist in Nagaram area
and Nanda was working as CPI-Maoist militia. Police recovered
two weapons from the encounter spot and other Maoist material,
said south Bastar range, DIG, Sundarraj P.
Around seven CPI-Maoist cadres
killed a civil contractor identified as Shiba Shankar Dash alias
Tunu Dash at a site near Paji Bahali under Bijepur Police limits
in Kalahandi District of Odisha. CPI-Maoist cadres reached the
spot in three motorcycles and fired four bullets into Dash’s body,
said Police. The motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained,
however, the rebels reportedly raising ‘Maoist Zindabaad’ slogans
fled the spot after firing at Dash. “The armed miscreants came
and asked Shivashankar for payment. He told them to get money
from his clerk. They fired six rounds at him,” said brother of
the deceased, Ramashankar Das.
The CoBRA Battalion of the CRPF
and CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire deep inside forest at Barsuddi
village under Barachatti Police Station in Gaya District of Bihar.
CRPF teams were dispatched after receiving information of around
40 CPI-Maoist cadres lead by Maoist leader Alok alias Gulshan,
who carries a reward of INR 500,000 on his head. During search,
few cell phones, umbrella, back packs were recovered by the CRPF
from the encounter site. The number of injured Maoists is not
known yet but lot of blood stains were spotted at the site of
encounter, said Gaya SSP, Garima Mallik.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres of the
Galikonda Area Committee and two militia members of the dalam
surrendered before SP of Visakha Rural, Rahul Dev Sharma in Visakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh. The Maoists were identified as Vanthala
Lakshmana Rao alias Das (28), and Pangi Lakshman alias
Venkat (25). The militia members were Pangi Sombra (18) and a
juvenile in conflict with law. SP, Rahul said that Lakshmana Rao,
a native of Annavaram of Koyyuru mandal, had joined the outfit
in 2007 and was involved planting landmines, blasting APFDC’s
coffee pulping units, threatening and attacking the surrendered
Maoists. Lakshman was involved in over seven offences, including
the killing of a trader, Gundu Rao, setting on fire earthmoving
machines, and abducting a few local TDP leaders. The militia members
are residents of Nakkabanda of G.K. Veedhi mandal in Visakhapatnam
Agency. “The Galikonda area has almost been cleaned up of the
Maoist presence,” the SP said. The accused were reportedly fed
up with the high-handedness of the Maoist party and decided to
join the mainstream and lead a normal life, the Police said. “The
number of surrenders has been increasing in the Visakhapatnam
region, and it will help in the development of the remote areas
in the Agency,” SP, Rahul added.
Jharkhand Police arrested TPC,
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, ‘zonal commander’ identified
as Devendra Ganjhu alias Kanhaiji alias Manikantji
alias Chaudharyji from Lawalong Police Station area in
Chatra District of Jharkhand. He was wanted in more than a dozen
cases of Naxal violence in Chatra, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh
Districts. The Police was tipped off about the assembly of a TPC
squad led by Kohramji and comprising 15 members at Sauru Nawadih
village under the Lawalong Police Station. They were planning
to execute some crime when the joint team of District Police and
CPMF personnel raided the area. Devendra was arrested while others
managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness. A loaded carbine
and live ammunition were recovered from him, said SP, Akhilesh
B Verior.
Union Government sanctioned INR
5.47 billion for the laying of 20 roads in Telangana under the
RCPLWEA. While the Central Government will provide funds to an
extent of INR 2.87 billion and Telangana State Government will
bear the remaining cost of INR 2.59 billion. The Central Government
gave approval for construction of 20 major roads which includes
three major bridges at Parnashala and Mukkanuru-Burgugudem on
Godavari River and also at Arenda on Munneru River. The 452 kilometer
long roads will be laid covering the erstwhile Districts of Adilabad,
Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam connecting the Maoist affected
areas of Telangana with those in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
Tasked with developing a 250
kilometres new ‘red corridor’ in the jungles of Chhattisgarh and
Madhya Pradesh, the 60-strong ‘Vistaar Dalam’ of CPI-Maoist is
on the move and was spotted on the border of Kawardha (Kabirdham)
District of Chhattisgarh and Mandla District of Madhya Pradesh.
The group of 10-20 armed Naxals, which included women,
was seen multiple times in the area near Motinalla village in
Mandla, according to the reports. “All anti-Naxal forces, including
police in Mandla and Balaghat Districts have been alerted following
specific Intelligence inputs about recent movement by the Vistaar
Dalam cadre near Motinalla,” said IGP, Intelligence, Makarand
Deuskar, in Bhopal. The movement of the ‘Vistaar Dalam’ assumes
significance, as it comes close on the heels of the gunning down
of two wanted Naxal extremists, Vinod and Sagar on February 9
in a joint operation by Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh Police and
the quick reaction teams of the ITBP on the Balaghat-Rajnandgaon
border. The report of the movement of the ‘Vistaar brigade’ was
also reported a month after Ramesh, a ‘deputy commander’ of one
of two platoons of the brigade, was killed by the Police in the
same area on January 15. The security establishment has been on
its toes since then apprehending reprisal attacks by the Naxals.
The BSF arrested a North Korean
national identified as Jhung Ho (mid 30s) who entered India illegally
through India-Bangladesh international border in North 24 Parganas
District in West Bengal. In preliminary investigation, Jhung Ho
revealed that he has a valid North Korean passport but entered
India without Indian visa. He had been employed with a North Korean
firm that makes mining equipment which is based in Bangladesh.
He wanted to see India but could not get the tourist visa therefore
he tried the illegal way to enter India. He learned few words
of Bengali and English, said an unnamed BSF official. Jhung Ho
was handed-over to the Police officials at Swarupnagar Police
Station in North 24 Parganas District (West Bengal) where he confessed
that he paid good amount to a tout to be taken across the border.
Jhung Ho was awarded a Police custody by the local court. The
counterparts in Bangladesh confirmed Jhung Ho’s profession but
he is unable to satisfy the investigators over his decision to
illegally enter India, said an unnamed Police officer at North
24 Parganas District.
While attending a programme at
Rohilakhand University in Uttar Pradesh on February 16, the UMHA
Rajnath Singh has said that India is giving a befitting reply
to Pakistan’s nefarious activities. Regarding the withdrawal of
cases against the stone-pelters in J&K, Rajnath Singh replied
that the Government never favour to confine someone in jail but
expect them to join back the mainstream. Actions will be taken
against those who involved in wrong tactics.
Addressing the ‘North India Cyber
Security Hackathon’ conducted by the Indian School of Business
(ISB) on February 16, cybercrime experts believed that there is
a need to include course on cybercrime as a subject in school
and colleges. There is a need to create awareness on the matter
and the events like Hackathon may work as a learning platform
on how to counter such crimes. According to a survey, around 53,000
cybercrime incidents were reported in India, said Head of Cyber
Security Research Centre (CSRC) at PEC University Dr Divya Bansal.
The three-day of ‘Hackathon’ concluded on February 16 with a massive
participation of around 60 hackers, coders, programmers and web
developers.
The slain Sikh militant and important
leader of Khalistan movement—Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s home
at his ancestral village in Baghapurana sub-Division of Moga District
in Punjab has been converted into a ‘Gurdwara’ (Sikh temple) and
opened for general public on February 16, reports The Indian Express.
The Gurdwara is dedicated to his [Bhindranwale] martyrdom and
named as ‘Gurdwara Sant Khalsa’. His home condition was in shambles
therefore it was decided to convert into a ‘place of worship’.
The Gurdwara was built by the Damdami Taksal with no financial
assistance from the previous Punjab Government led by the coalition
of SAD-BJP, said Head of Damdami Taksal Harnam Singh Dhuma. No
one in village opposed the construction of the Gurdwara and it
was highly supported by the youths as they remember him [Bhindranwale]
fondly, said a village resident Jaswinder Singh Brar.
According to the Intelligence
inputs, the ‘Chiefs’ of Pakistan-based terror outfits, LeT and
JeM are leading the campaign against the ‘Chief’ of HM Syed Salahuddin
to step down as the leader of the outfit—further points to the
development in the rivalries in the ranks of Pakistan-based jihadi
outfits that operates against India. Syed Salahuddin—who headed
the HM and the United Jihad Council (UJC) with support of Pakistan’s
ISI has been facing decline in the influence over Kashmir-centric
operations and growing ambitions of other terror outfits. ISI
is under pressure to remove Syed Salahuddin whereas LeT and JeM
have made Salahuddin’s commanders—Amir Khan, Imtiyaz Alam, against
him, read an Intelligence input.
Pakistan is reported to have
suffered heavy damages and casualties (both fatal and non-fatal)
in massive retaliatory action undertaken by the Indian Army on
the LoC across twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Sources
said that ‘minimum of seven to eight’ Pakistani posts have been
hit and destroyed completely in retaliatory action by the Indian
troops across Rajouri and Poonch Districts. Pakistan has suffered
three to four fatal and non-fatal casualties inside the posts
and the number could go up.
Sources said Army has responded
to ceasefire violations by Pakistan ‘more than aggressively’ causing
heavy damages and casualties on their side. However, they added,
since Pakistan army controls their media, the number of casualties
of Pakistani troops is blacked out. “They give the figure of only
civilian casualties and don’t mention about Army fatalities. Not
even Pakistan Parliament is briefed on the casualties. Pakistan
only lists the casualties suffered by them on Afghanistan border
and blacks-out the losses faced along the Indian borders,” they
added. Asserting that this strategy was being followed by Pakistan
since long, sources said this was aimed at boosting morale of
their troops, which was at its low. “If Pakistan would show up
exact number of fatalities suffered on the Indian borders, not
only their troops but the people would be shocked,” they added.
“In every engagement, we have with Pakistan army, we have inflicted
heavy casualties and damages on Pakistan side,” sources said,
adding that retaliatory actions against Pakistan army have been
necessitated to target their posts, which hit Indian civilian
areas and give shelter to the terrorists to facilitate their launching
into this side.
As Pakistan has suffered heavy
casualties across Mendhar sector, their army came out with a fake
video showing destruction of the Indian post, sources. The civil
administration in Mendhar today also contradicted the Pakistani
claim of destruction of an Indian Army post saying no such incident
has taken place in Mendhar. “No post of Indian Army has been hit
at Tatta Paani in Mendhar sector or anywhere else in Rajouri and
Poonch districts as claimed by Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor in a video uploaded on twitter.
Ghafoor’s claim is absurd. There is no truth in the claim that
five Indian soldiers have been killed in destruction of the post,”
sources said, adding that after suffering heavy casualties and
damages, Pakistan was now resorting to absolute lies for face
saving. The Army sources claimed that a total of 20 Pakistani
Army personnel were killed this year while the number was 138
in 2017.
Militants fired indiscriminately
and lobbed a grenade before escaping from a SFs cordon in Palhallan
area of Baramulla District. SFs jointly launched the operation
following inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
Sources said that the SFs had information about presence of a
group of LeT militants in Tantraypora area of Palhallan and cordoned
it off at around 11:30. last night (February 15). As the SFs conducted
searches, militants fired at the troops and hurled a grenade and
heavy firing followed from both the sides.
However, people took to streets
and clashed with the security forces to help the militants escape.
A group of locals resorted to stone-pelting to disrupt the gunfight.
SFs responded by lobbing teargas shells triggering clashes. A
Police spokesman, meanwhile, said that the operation was launched
following information about the presence of some militants in
the area. “While the cordon was being established and civilians
evacuated from the area, militants fired indiscriminately and
managed to escape taking advantage of darkness,” the spokesman
said. Sources said that there was a group of LeT militants hiding
in the village but they had left before the operation was launched
and one militant Mohammad Yusuf of Check Kawoosa in Budgam district
was, however, hiding in a house. He fired at the troops, jumped
out of window and fled from the village.
Court of Special Judge NIA has
granted seven days Police remand of five persons, who were arrested
for their alleged involvement in the escape of LeT militant Naveed
from the Police custody. Special Judge NIA Haq Nawaz Zargar, after
considering the remand application of NIA, granted seven days
police remand of accused namely Mohd Tika Khan, Shakeel Ahmed
Bhat, Syed Tajamul, Mohd Shafi Wani and Jan Mohd Ganie, all the
residents of Pulwama. They were produced before the court by Rakesh
Sharma, SP, CIO, NIA with the prayer that accused were required
to be interrogated thoroughly to unravel the criminal conspiracy
whereby accused persons have killed two police men and facilitated
the escape of Naveed in the shootout in SMHS Hospital Srinagar.
Pakistan has refused to accept
bodies of its three nationals, who had carried out fidayeen
attack at Sunjuwan Military Station on February 10 in which six
Army personnel and a civilian were killed while troops had eliminated
all three fidayeens. Following Pakistan’s refusal to claim
bodies of its nationals, Police on February 16 buried the bodies
of all three fidayeens with all religious formalities.
Official sources said that the MEA had got in touch with Pakistan
Embassy and asked them to claim dead bodies of all three Pakistani
militants, who were killed in Sunjuwan Military Station attack,
as it had been established that all three were Pakistani nationals.
The MEA had given evidence to Pakistan in support of Indian claim
that slain militants were Pakistanis. Sources said there was pressure
on Pakistan Government to accept bodies of its nationals but it
refused as this would have exposed the neighbouring country that
it was openly sponsoring terrorism in India by sending trained
militants into Jammu and Kashmir for carrying out subversive activities.
Top Police officers of Army,
Jammu and Kashmir Police, BSF, CRPF, IAF and other agencies met
to devise strategy to jointly counter the fidayeen attacks
in future. IGP, Jammu Zone, Dr SD Singh Jamwal presided over the
meeting. Sources said the authorities decided to formulate ‘pro-active’
and ‘aggressive approach’ to ensure that the militants don’t manage
to carry out the terror attacks anywhere including security installations
and civilian areas. And if they succeed in carrying out the attack,
the joint mechanism should be in place to immediately thwart the
attack and minimize the casualties. The meeting reviewed in detail
the Sunjuwan Military Station attack and decided to overcome the
drawbacks, if any, especially strengthening of naka system
to observe and neutralize movement of the militants well in advance
before they could succeed in carrying out the attack.
A general alert was sounded in
border town of Samba after suspicious movement of the militants
was observed in Katli area. SSP Samba Anil Magotra said that joint
teams of Army, Police, CRPF and other agencies carried out the
search operation in and around the area, where there were reports
that movement of two suspected militants carrying arms and ammunition
with them was reported. “Searches continued throughout the day
but no contact with the militants was established,” sources said
but added that security agencies remained on high alert all along
the border areas of Samba and the town to ensure that the militants,
if any, are neutralized before they could strike.
The three heavily-armed JeM terrorists
who carried out the audacious attack on Sunjuwan military camp
in Jammu had infiltrated into Kashmir from Pakistan in June last
year, sources said. According to preliminary investigation of
the Army, the three terrorists were hiding in various parts of
Jammu and Kashmir for the past seven months and were looking at
carrying out an attack. The JeM terrorists who carried out the
attack had crossed over to India from Pakistan in June last year
when infiltration had gone up, the sources said. They said a detailed
investigation is being carried into the Sunjuwan attack and the
probe report will be examined by top echelon of the Army. The
sources said immediate steps are being taken to ensure that such
attacks do not recur.
Army chief General Bipin Rawat
called upon the youths of Jammu and Kashmir to desist from terrorism
and stone pelting and instead contribute in nation building process
by joining Armed Forces. He gave this advice to Jammu and Kashmir
youth through students of the border district of Rajouri, who
inter-acted with him in New Delhi as part of their tour programme
sponsored by the Indian Army from February 11 to 21. An official
handout issued by the PIB said the Army chief shared his experiences
with the students and motivated them to work hard and contribute
actively in the nation building process. He called upon the youths
to join the Indian Armed Forces and serve cause of the nation.
The Army chief, who had returned
from three-day tour of Nepal yesterday (February 15) and held
high-level review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially
the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, was reported
to have told the youth that some “external forces”, a point towards
Pakistan, were trying to misguide the youth of Jammu and Kashmir
and that they shouldn’t fall in their trap as it would spoil their
career. General Rawat advised the school children to desist from
terrorism and stone pelting and reminded them that certain external
forces are creating differences and misguiding the youths and
that it was their (the students’) duty to thwart mischievous designs
of the enemy as they have to build their career. “Terrorism has
never benefitted anyone. It is only the common man who has to
suffer because of these activities and we will not let it to happen,”
the Army chief said while interacting with visiting students from
schools of the border areas of Rajouri district in Jammu region.
In an audio clip, JeM chief Maulana
Masood Azhar brags to his cadres, "Indians are baffled at
how our 'mujahideen' reached Jammu from Kashmir. Sunjuwan is not
on the border but inside the heart of Jammu". Azhar reveals,
in the audio clip, how the simultaneous attacks in Sunjuwan and
Srinagar's Karan Nagar was part of the same plan. "While
Jammu terror siege was still on, our men set Srinagar afire,"
he is heard saying. The terror mastermind also revealed how he
and his cadres were working with other terror outfits to launch
these simultaneous attacks and mocked Indian agencies for not
having a whiff about it.
According to media reports, Indian
intelligence agencies came across the audio clip a week after
three JeM fidayeens launched an attack at 36 Brigade campus
in Jammu. Pakistan on the other hand, seems to be indignant at
the allegations made by Indian authorities.
While attending a programme at
Rohilakhand University in Uttar Pradesh, the UHM Rajnath Singh
has said that India is giving a befitting reply to Pakistan’s
nefarious activities. Regarding the withdrawal of cases
against the stone-pelters in J&K, Rajnath Singh replied that
the Government never favour to confine someone in jail but expect
them to join back the mainstream. Actions will be taken against
those who involved in wrong tactics.
GNLA militant identified as Bhim
Bahadur Chetry alias Kancha surrendered to the BSF at Nongalbibra
in South Garo Hills District. He also surrendered one country
made shot gun and 26 rounds of live ammunition. The surrendered
cadre further revealed that the strength of the outfit now stood
at about 18.
He also revealed that GNLA was
operating in two groups with one group of 11 cadres, who were
moving around with the ‘commander in chief’ of the outfit, Sohan
D Shira, currently around South Garo Hills. Another group with
seven militants which was led by Dristhi Rajkhowa of ULFA-I was
operating in West Khasi Hills District.
|
February 17
|
A linkman of ULFA-I was arrested
from Tinsukia District. Detonators and large quantity of explosives
were recovered.
Three women CPI-Maoist cadres
were arrested during a raid conducted in Katuapadar Forest under
Mathili Police Station area in Malkangiri District of Odisha.
The arrested Maoists have been identified as Jogi Kabasi, Jamali
Kurami and Idme Mandabi. Informing on the arrests Malkangiri SP,
Jagmohan Meena said after getting a tip-off on a Maoist training
camp functioning at the foot hills of Taulasi Dongri Hill, a joint
team of Malkangiri Police and DVF conducted a raid. During the
raid three women Maoists were arrested. “The arrested Maoists
were members of Kangerghati Area Committee and were active in
Tulsi Dongri area. One of the arrested Maoist Jogi Kabasi was
carrying a prize of Rs 4 lakh on her head and the other two were
carrying Rs 1 lakh each. They have been forwarded to court,” said
SP, Meena.
In a joint press conference on
February 17, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian
President Hassan Rouhani signed 13 essential agreements over taxes,
travel, commerce, healthcare, extradition and Chabahar project.
It gives India an immense pleasure to welcome Iranian President
Rouhani after a gap of a decade. His visit would deepens and strengthen
the relationship bound by the threat of ‘Sufism’, said Indian
PM. The Indian PM stressed on the coordination of India and Iran
for the prosperity and security in neighbouring nation—Afghanistan.
Regarding the sponsoring of terrorism, both countries believed
to see their neighbourhood ‘free’ from terrorism and strongly
committed to act against those who support terrorism, cybercrime
and narcotics trade.
A BJP candidate escaped a suspected
assassination attempt by unidentified assailants on February 17,
near Yimpang village in Wokha District. The assailants reportedly
first ambushed the convoy with machete and later resorted to firing.
Three people were also wounded in the incident.
|
February 18
|
An OGW of GNLA was arrested from
South Salmara in Mankachar District.
Four people including NCP candidate
from William Nagar constituency and two security personnel were
killed when militants ambushed the convoy of the candidate and
exploded an IED at Samanda in East Garo Hills. An ex GNLA militant
Nikam Ch Momin alias Baichung who was accompanying the
candidate, was also killed in the attack.
A Security Personnel killed in
the incident was identified as Sameer Hassan. Three people were
wounded in the incident. Police suspects GNLA was behind the killing.
The militants had earlier issued warning against the NCP candidate
and warned people of dire consequences if they supported the NCP
candidate.
HPC-D leaders have expressed
optimism that political level talks with Mizoram Government in
March would find a solution to the Hmar problem. Mizoram Home
Minister R Lalzirliana had recently announced that the first round
of political level talks with HPC (D) was likely to be held on
March 5 in Aizawl. Home department officials said that former
Labor Minister Lalrinmawia Ralte was likely to head the Government
delegation.
Two Policemen were killed and
six others injured in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres
in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The encounter took place in
a forest under the Bhejji Police Station when a joint team of
the STF, DRG and local Police was out on an "area-domination
operation", DIG, South Bastar range, Sundarraj P said. As
the team was passing through the forest between Bhejji and Elarmadgu,
around 500 kilometres from State capital Raipur, it came under
heavy firing from the ultras, leading to the gun-battle, the DIG
said. "Assistant constables Madkam Handa and Mukesh Kadthi
of the DRG were killed and six other jawans were injured,"
the DIG said.
Along the stretch between Bhejji
and Elarmadgu, where a road construction project is underway in
Sukma District of Chhattisgarh, the Maoists killed Anil Kumar,
the supervisor of the private contractor, and set vehicles engaged
in the road construction work ablaze. "The heavily-armed
ultras also killed a contractor's supervisor and set ablaze nearly
one dozen vehicles -- which were engaged in road laying works
on the sensitive Chintagufa-Injaram road," SDG, Anti-Naxal
Operation, DM Awasthi said.
In one encounter in Errabore
village area, the body of one Maoist, identified as Bhamiya Gad,
who was killed in the encounter with Police has been recovered
in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Bhejji and Errabore are around
450 kilometres south of Raipur.
Bihar Police arrested CPI-Maoist
cadre identified as Pachu Pujhar at Pipra-Tillha village under
Belhar Police Station area in Banka District of Bihar. The Police
arrested the CPI-Maoist cadre after information was received that
the Pachu is going to come to his village Pipra Tillha. There
are many criminal cases registered in different Police Stations
in the district against him, said Police Deputy Inspector, Vinod
Kumar Gupta.
An infiltrator, suspected to
be a Pakistani militant, was killed while three Army soldiers
were injured, in a major infiltration attempt on the LoC at Khari
Karmara in Poonch District in the night. However, the report added
that the death toll of the infiltrators could go up as a couple
of them were reportedly injured during the intrusion bid. Sources
said that troops observed infiltration attempt by the militants
under the cover of heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani
troops at Khari Karmara in Poonch sector in Poonch District in
the evening and opened firing. While retaliating Pakistani shelling,
the troops engaged the militants, numbering between three to four,
who were making desperate bid to sneak into this side. Heavy exchanges
took place between the two sides for about an hour in which an
infiltrator was killed while at least three Indian Army soldiers
were injured. Intermittent exchange of firing continued till late
in the night.
Three Army soldiers injured in
Pakistan shelling have been identified as Sepoy Abhishek Pise,
Shiva Ji Bhosare and Ashish Singh. They were evacuated from the
site of shelling and admitted to the Military Hospital. Sources
said Pakistani troops and infiltrators simultaneously targeted
forward Army posts as desperate militants, who were equipped with
arms, ammunition and explosives, made determined attempt to sneak
into this side. “The infiltration attempt was foiled,’’ sources
said, adding that at least one of the infiltrators has been killed
while the toll could rise to two. This was second major infiltration
attempt during past four days in Poonch district. The first such
bid took place in Mendhar, which was also thwarted by the alert
troops. There were reports that a couple of militants had been
killed in failed infiltration bid at Mendhar though their bodies
were not recovered on this side.
According to sources, there are
over 300 terrorists (the number could be even around 400) in and
around launching pads along the LoC on Pakistan sides looking
for an opportunity to enter into the Indian territory. “In view
of massive presence of militants along LoC, Indian troops are
bracing up for “hot summer’’ both on LoC and hinterland and even
possibility of tension defusing on the LoC also seems to be remote.
“Full freedom has been given to Commanders of Army posts along
LoC in Jammu and Kashmir to effectively respond to any act of
violence by Pakistani troops,’’ sources said.
SFs launched massive operation
in Handwara area and adjacent forests of Kupwara District after
reports about presence of militants. The 30 and 32 RR of Army
and Handwara Police cordoned off Gundkalan area of Kralgund in
Handwara. Sources said that they had information about presence
of a group of militants of LeT in the area. However, during the
house to house searches, no militant was found.
SFs also conducted searches in
the forests in Gundkalan Kralgund area as they suspect that the
militants might have fled to nearby forest area. However, in the
evening operation was suspended but the SFs are keeping a close
eye on the area to monitor the movement of these militants.
Sources said that the Police
is receiving inputs about presence of militants from various area
of Srinagar city. And sources said that in this connection one
person was arrested from Dalgate area of Srinagar. However, it
was not immediately known whether the person is a militant or
OGW. He is being questioned by the SFs. Sources said that of late
militants have established a strong network in Srinagar and they
are trying to conduct strikes in the city. However, the SFs are
continuously putting pressure on them but so far they have not
been able to break their network. Earlier, there was no presence
of militants in Srinagar and they were using it as transit only.
But of late as the pressure on militants in South and North Kashmir
increased they have established network in Srinagar especially
old city area. Sources said that there is sizable presence of
militants inside Srinagar which is a major challenge for the SFs.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister,
Mehbooba Mufti, asked youth to shun violence as it will yield
nothing except death and destruction. Speaking to a public rally
at Kund in Devsar in Kulgam District, Mehbooba asked against youth
joining militancy as it will bring more troops and military camps
to Kashmir. “If you will pick up one gun, 1000 guns are ready
to fight you back. I came here to tell you that militancy will
yield nothing. One thing will happen that Army camps will be established
everywhere and it will take 100 years to remove these camps”,
she said. Appealing youth to desist from going on the path of
violence, the Chief Minister said world is witness to the fact
that violence has not resolved any issues rather it gives birth
to many more. “Resorting to more violence leads to a response
which ultimately leaves behind scars only”, she said.
Mehbooba appealed people to play
their role in maintaining peace so that the process of dialogue
and reconciliation is carried forward, more routes across LoC
in the State are opened and people on the both sides of the divide
march together on the path of growth and progress. “Give me peace.
I will purse dialogue, opening of routes like Kargil-Skardu, Jam-mu-Sialkote,
Nows-hehra-Jhangar etc. If there is peace I wish people on both
sides would march together on the path of growth and development”,
she said in her address. She appealed youth to give peace a chance
so that Government will open cross Line of Control roads like
Government did in the past.”
More than 20 CPI-Maoist cadres
were killed in an encounter with SFs in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh,
said Special DG, anti- Naxal operations,
D.M. Awasthi. The SFs gave a befitting reply to the CPI-Maoist
cadres during the encounter which lasted for around 5 hours,
in which two of our personnel died. More than 20 Naxals were killed
in the firing, added DG Awasthi.
CPI-Maoist cadres abducted
a trader, identified as Ganapati Muduli in Malkangiri District
of Odisha, because of suspicions that he might have shared information
about their camp with the Police that led to the gun-battle. The
Police said the rebels took villagers along with them to carry
their belongings from one place to another inside the forest on
certain occasions.
|
February 19
|
UMHA report also stated that
militancy in the Northeast is on the decline. According to the
report, the seven states in the northeast registered 308 militancy-related
cases last year, down from 484 in 2016. In 2015, there were 574
insurgency-related cases reported while the year before that registered
a staggering 824 such incidents. Manipur, with 167 cases reported
last year, was found to be the most disturbed state, primarily
owing to the activities of CorCom.
Meghalaya Election Department
as sent a report to the EC on the killing of NCP candidate and
sought deployment of additional forces in Garo hills region. Meghalaya
Chief Electoral Officer F.R. Kharkongor stated that they have
sought 10 additional companies of CAPF for Garo hills, especially
in the militant-infested areas, and in the bordering West Khasi
Hills District. Eighty companies of CAPF, already sanctioned for
Meghalaya, will arrive from Tripura this week.
Chief Electoral Officer F.R.
Kharkongor stated that the election in Williamnagar, where Jonathone
was contesting has been deferred. The next date for elections
would be declared later.
NCP has demanded NIA investigation
into the killing of its candidate in East Garo Hills District.
A UMHA report has stated that
Meghalaya registered 28 militancy related incidents. UMHA report
also stated that militancy in the Northeast is on the decline.
According to the report, the seven states in the northeast registered
308 militancy-related cases last year, down from 484 in 2016.
In 2015, there were 574 insurgency-related cases reported while
the year before that registered a staggering 824 such incidents.
UMHA report also stated that
militancy in the Northeast is on the decline. According to the
report, the seven states in the northeast registered 308 militancy-related
cases last year, down from 484 in 2016. In 2015, there were 574
insurgency-related cases reported while the year before that registered
a staggering 824 such incidents. Formation of UNLFW an umbrella
body of at least four militant groups had caused an increase in
insurgency related incidents in Arunachal Pradesh.
The resurgence of Independent
faction ULFA-I and NDFB-S caused more disruptions in Arunachal,
which registered the second highest militant activity with 61
incidents. Assam DGP stated that UNLFW an umbrella body of at
least four militant groups had caused an increase in insurgency
related incidents in Arunachal Pradesh. He added that The formation
of UNLFW has aided the revival of ULFA-I, which now receives support
from NSCN-K in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
UMHA report also stated that
militancy in the Northeast is on the decline. According to the
report, the seven states in the northeast registered 308 militancy-related
cases last year, down from 484 in 2016. In 2015, there were 574
insurgency-related cases reported while the year before that registered
a staggering 824 such incidents. Tripura and Mizoram emerged as
the most peaceful states in the region.
UMHA report stated that seven
states in the northeast registered 308 militancy-related cases
last year, down from 484 in 2016. The trend has been a downward
one. In 2015, there were 574 insurgency-related cases reported
while the year before that registered a staggering 824 such incidents.
Formation of UNLFW. Nagaland registered 19 militancy related incidents.
Assam DGP stated that UNLFW has
aided the revival of ULFA-I, which now receives support from NSCN-K
in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
A woman, identified as Zulekha
Begam was injured after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along
the LoC in Uri sector of Baramulla District in the afternoon while
Indian troops destroyed a Pakistani bunker in retaliation. Sources
said that Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts of 17 Jat Regiment
along LoC at Pika Post in Churanda area of Uri at 5.15 p.m. “The
Indian troops fired back and one Pakistani bunker was destroyed
in the firing and there are some casualties”, they said. Churanda
is the most vulnerable village in Uri sector as the population
in this village is upto zero line and whenever there is firing
in the area, the civilians become the target.
Srinagar based Defence spokesperson
Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked
ceasefire violation in Uri sector at 17:15 hours. “Own troops
retaliated appropriately, unconfirmed reports indicate causality
on Pak troops”, the spokesperson said. He said that Pakistani
posts are now targeting civilian population in Churanda village
near Line of Control.
Pakistan army also violated ceasefire
along the LoC in Mankote area of Mendhar sector in Poonch District
by resorting to mortar shelling and firing on forward Indian posts
and civilian areas in the night. This was second ceasefire violation
by Pakistan army in Poonch district in as many days. On February
18, Pakistan had violated ceasefire agreement in Khari Karmara
area of Poonch. Sources said Pakistani troops fired some mortar
shells and used semi-automatic and automatic weapons to target
forward Indian posts and civilian areas. The Indian troops retaliated
effectively, leading to exchanges that continued for some time.
However, there were no reports of any casualties on the Indian
side in Pakistan shelling and firing.
Sources said the ceasefire violations
by Pakistani troops have become a routine on the LoC in twin border
districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Pakistani troops were trying
to push militants into the Indian territory under the cover of
ceasefire violations, they added.
SFs busted a militant hideout
and recovered arms and ammunition in Kupwara District. SSP Shamsher
Hussain said that based on a specific input a joint operation
was launched by SOG Kupwara, 41 RR of arm and 98 Battalion of
CRPF last night (February 18) in Lashtiyal village and its adjoining
forest area. He said that during intensive search of the area
a militant hideout was busted in dense forest area. He said that
this afternoon (February 19) arms, ammunition and other items
were recovered. They include six hand grenades, one Chinese pistol,
15 rounds of pistol, 2 pistol magazines, 335 AK rounds, 3 UBGL
(Underbarrel Grenade Launchers) shells, 2 kilograms IED, one power
protein box, two IED spray, 7 detonators, 3 pherans and one blanket.
He said that a case (FIR No 29/2018 U/S 7/25 Indian Arms Act)
has been registered at Police Station Kupwara and Investigations
are in progress.
SFs busted another militant hideout
in Tral area of Pulwama District. A Police official said that
cordon and search was launched at Nagwadi Pinglish forests area
of Tral by SOG Tral, 42 RR of Army and CRPF and busted a hideout.
He said that some utensils and eating items were recovered from
the hideout. These include one gas cylinder, one pressure cooker,
four steel plates, three pots, 30 kilograms of rice, three blankets
and three pillows.
SFs launched cordon and search
operation at Nuli Poshwari in Imam Sahib area of Shopian District
after inputs about presence of militants in the village. Army’s
44 RR, SOG of Shopian and CRPF laid a joint cordon around the
village but the militants, who were hiding in an orchard, fired
at the troops. SFs later launched searches in the orchards but
militants had fled.
The NIA, which has been asked
to probe the escape of dreaded LeT terrorist Mohammed Naveed Jhatt
alias Abu Hanzalla from a busy hospital in Srinagar, will
investigate conspiracy angles, including how he got ‘favourable
orders’ from doctors and jail authorities, officials said in New
Delhi. Senior UMHA officials said that on the Centre’s advice,
the State has already shifted 25 terrorists, of which 16 are Pakistanis,
to various jails outside the Kashmir valley since the escape of
22-year-old Jhatt, a Pakistani national who infiltrated into the
Valley in 2014. The officials said the NIA probe will disclose
the conspiracy angle and ascertain how such a dreaded terrorist
managed to get favourable orders from jail authorities and doctors.
The UMHA has also asked the Jammu
and Kashmir Government to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit
a report within 15 days on measures required for revamping security
of jails in the State on the basis of inputs received from security
agencies. The NIA has already taken custody of five accused arrested
in connection with Jhatt’s escape from the SMHS hospital and are
at present on remand for seven days since February 16. The five
accused were nabbed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on February
8, two days after Jhatt escaped from the hospital. Jhatt had managed
to escape on February 6 after at least two other militants attacked
a police escort team at the hospital, where he was brought in
for treatment.
India charged that Pakistan continued
to indulge in nefarious designs of supporting and abetting infiltration
by the militants along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and has failed
to respect ceasefire agreement and commitment on not allowing
its soil or territory to be used for terrorism against India.
In a hard-hitting statement after thwarting Pakistan’s BAT plot
on February 18 night to target Indian troops in Khari Karmara
area of Poonch sector in Poonch District, the Indian Army said
it was clear that Pakistan had never been interested to bring
about peace and tranquility in Jammu and Kashmir as they were
responsible for vitiating atmosphere both along LoC and hinterland.
“The statement by Pakistan’s COAS at Munich conference in Germany
that there were no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, has proved
to be hollow. Pakistan has been supporting terrorism in a systematic
manner with complete support of their army,” an official statement
released to the media in Srinagar on February 19 evening by the
Defence spokesman, said.
The statement was in reaction
to February 18’s BAT attack by three militants at Khari Karmara
on the LoC in Poonch District, which was successfully thwarted
by the Indian troops by eliminating one of the BAT members-who
happened to be a Pakistani terrorist-and recovery of huge quantity
of arms, ammunition and explosives from their possession. Two
BAT members fled back to Pakistan following effective retaliatory
firing brought down by the Indian troops. The Defence spokesman
said Pakistan’s continued support to infiltration from across
the LoC was contrary to their stated position of making ‘Water
tight arrangements along LoC to check terrorist movement’. Pakistan’s
statement has been amply quashed by this (the BAT action) attempt
on the LoC.
Pakistan army had resorted to
ceasefire violations on the LoC in Khari Karmara by resorting
to mortar shelling and firing with a view to give cover to the
BAT members to cause action on the Indian side. However, alert
troops had thwarted the attempt of the BAT, backed by the Pakistani
troops. The Army statement said: “Pakistan has repeatedly failed
to respect and fulfill its ceasefire agreement of 2003 and January
2004 commitment that it wouldn’t allow its soil or territory under
its control to be used for terrorism against India. “It is clear
that Pakistan had never been interested to bring about peace and
stability in Jammu and Kashmir. Rather, they have been vitiating
the atmosphere along both Line of Control and hinterland”. The
spokesman said the ‘White Knight Corps’ (16 Corps headquartered
at Nagrota under whose jurisdiction the twin border districts
of Rajouri and Poonch fall) was keeping strict and constant vigil
across the LoC and all security forces are prepared to thwart
any kind of nefarious designs by the Pakistan sponsored terrorists.
J&K Public Works Minister
and official spokesman of the J&K Government Naeem Akhtar
said that China is on its way to assuming a ‘much bigger role
in Kashmir’ and the JeM, the group responsible for most of the
terror attacks, has been veritably ‘adopted’ by Beijing. It’s
the ‘growing influence of China’ which has made it imperative
to engage with Pakistan, he said. “Unlike earlier, the great game
is literally being played inside Kashmir,” Akhtar, a senior PDP
leader, said. “The Kashmir issue isn’t limited to the fight between
India and Pakistan now. There is another major factor involved.
It isn’t Pakistan alone, it is China too. General (Bipin Rawat)
said that the Army is ready to fight on both fronts. But there
aren’t two fronts anymore. Now it is one single front, circling
around. From Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Valley to Jammu,
Sri Lanka and Maldives, it is all one front. Pakistan and China
aren’t separate”.
“All the big attacks inside J&K
or even outside during last more than three years are attributed
to Jaish-e-Mohammed, a group led by Masood Azhar,” said Akhtar.
“How can one not see that he (Masood Azhar) has been adopted by
China? There are reports of some action taken against Hafiz Saeed.
What about Masood Azhar? Even a lesser figure like Salahudin has
been listed as a global terrorist in UN but the great wall of
China has been erected around Azhar. China has been regularly
vetoing attempts to designate him (Azhar) as a terrorist in United
Nations. Such things don’t happen without reason. Why only him?
Why not others? Why didn’t China block such moves in UN against
other people? The China connection needs to be understood”.
“At this point, talking to Pakistan
and initiating policies of reconciliation inside Kashmir is in
the national interest. It is in our national interest that Pakistan
doesn’t get irretrievably sucked up by China,’’ he said. “And
when we say talk to Pakistan, we are addressing our own Central
government because they have to take that step. We aren’t seeking
anything from anybody other than the central government. That’s
our right”.
To counter the increasing frequency
and lethality of militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, the CRPF
has armored itself with the French-made Renault Sherpa Light Scout
Armored Personnel Carrier. Manufactured by Renault Trucks Defense,
the shiny black Sherpa Light vehicle - equipped with protection
systems against bullets and improvised explosive devices - was
used by the paramilitary force for the first time in Kashmir during
the recent encounter with two LeT fidayeen near the CRPF
camp at Karan Nagar in Srinagar. A security official said the
Sherpa vehicle is bullet-proof and fitted with cameras. There
is a screen fitted next to the driver’s seat where CCTV footage
is displayed and personnel inside can know what is happening outside
and how to react to the situation. The use of the vehicle assumes
significance in view of the fact that in at least two encounters
with SFs, militants had used armor-piercing bullets to cause casualties
among the SFs.
Ravideep Singh Sahi, IG of CRPF,
said that the vehicle had been hired from the NSG. “It is a slightly
advanced bulletproof vehicle…. It is more comfortable and manoeuvrable.
The shape is different and size is small,” Sahi said. Another
security official said the vehicle could accommodate at six to
seven persons, including the driver, who can fire from inside
to target with accuracy militant positions without facing any
threat of receiving bullets from the other side. The official
said the vehicle was suited for reconnaissance, patrol, surveillance
and surprise operations. “Since the vehicle is special, therefore
personnel have to be trained to use it proficiently during anti-militancy
operations.
|
February 19-20
|
An abductor was arrested in connection
with abduction on February 8. An abductor identified as R. Pritam
Chothe was arrested from Jiontlang in Chandel District in the
intervening night of February 19 and 20.
|
February 20
|
The Jharkhand Government banned
the Kerala-based Islamic organization—PFI for its alleged links
to IS. The Government of Jharkhand banned PFI, which is active
in Jharkhand as well; mainly in Pakur District, under the Criminal
Law (Amendment) Act, 1908. The Home Department of Jharkhand Government
also recommended the ban. Reportedly, some PFI members in Kerala
had travelled to Syria and joined IS, read a statement released
by the Government of Jharkhand.
The Gujarat High Court issued
a notice to the NIA over a bail plea filed by the Naeem Ramodia
who was arrested for allegedly conspiring IS-style ‘lone-wolf’
attack in Gujarat. According to Ramodia’s plea, the FIR and other
materials filed against him—labeled him as a ‘misguided youth’.
Both, Naeem and his brother Vaseem had been charged for planning
a lone-wolf attack in Gujarat. In his petition, Naeem argued that
he and his brother were too ‘fearful’ to commit the crime alleged
against both of them; hence the bail shall be granted. Naeem and
his brother had no prior criminal antecedents. It is an interest
of the nation that both of them must keep away from criminals
and moved to reform house for psychological treatment for some
time, read the petition filed by Naeem’s advocate M.M. Shaikh.
Whereas, the NIA stated in their Chargesheet that the Gujarat
ATS had credible information about few youths from Gujarat were
radicalized by Mufti Abdus Sami Qasmi alias Samiullah.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed a villager,
after charging him to be a ‘Police Informer’ at Orapadar
village inside the cut-off area across the Balimela reservoir
in Andrahal Panchayat in Malkangiri District
of Odisha. Around 20 CPI-Maoist cadres entered into the house
of the person and kidnapped him. The CPI-Maoist cadres later
killed him by slitting his throat on the outskirts of the village.
The identity of the deceased is yet to be established, said SP,
Jagmohan Meena.
A total of 29 road projects estimated
at INR 3.5002 billion were approved for the CPI-Maoist-affected
Malkangiri and Koraput Districts of Odisha in the first governing
body meeting of the newly constituted Odisha State Rural Connectivity
Project Agency (OSRCPA) held at State capital Bhubaneswar. Chief
Secretary Arvind Prasad Padhi presiding over the meeting directed
the concerned department to expedite the processes of tender,
award of work and complete the projects before the scheduled time,
and to ensure quality in construction through regular check and
monitoring. Of the sanctioned roads, 13 would be constructed in
Boipariguda, Koraput, Lamatapur, Narayanpatna and Semiliguda blocks
of Koraput District and 16 roads to be built in Kalimela, Khairaput,
Korukonda, Kudumulu Gumma, Malkangiri, Mathili and Podia blocks
of Malkangiri District. The Centre and State Government would
share funds at 60:40. The main objective of OSRCPA is to provide
seamless road connectivity in the Maoist-hit areas of the State.
As per the decision, a three-tier quality monitoring system would
be put in place.
Police launched a special drive
to seize properties of CPI-Maoist cadres and their relatives under
the UAPA in Jharkhand. The Police seized the land documents
of CPI-Maoist ‘sub-zonal commander’, Abhijit Yadav's
wife Gita Devi. Abhijit purchased four plots in different parts
of Palamau District in his wife’s name. SFs have also frozen bank
account of Abhijit Yadav’s wife. The special drive is launched
following DGP D.K. Pandey's instruction.
The NIA filed a charge sheet
in the Ranchi NIA Special Court of Jharkhand against five accused
persons for conspiring to wage war against the Government of India
and the State of Jharkhand. The five accused are Buredi Narayana,
brother of - Naxal commander Sudhakar, Satwaji, Naxal Commander
of Jharkhand, Madhvi, Prabhu Prasad Sahu and Sujeet Kherwar.
Five CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Sodhi Malla (25), Dirdo Deva (30), Vetti Masa (28), Tati
Hunga (28) and Vetti Lakhma (30) surrendered before the Police
in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. All the five CPI-Maoist
cadres were active as DAKMS and carrying permanent warrants
against them. The surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres will
be benefited under the rehabilitation schemes and other schemes
of Government.
A militant of UNLF identified
as Khangembam Logmanyachandra Meitei was arrested from Moreh Forest
Gate area in Tengnoupal District. The arrested militant has three
month training at Lazang Village in Chandel District and had joined
the group in May 2006.
SFs recovered an IED at Nengmandalgre
in East Garo Hills. Police suspect GNLA to be behind the incident.
Police Observer for West Garo
Hills District along with General Observer reviewed the law and
order situation in East Garo Hills. The Police observer stated
that they were in touch with Border Security Forces with regard
to movement of militants in border areas. Moreover, the election
candidates and their agents have placed their request for additional
security while highlighting few sensitive polling stations in
their respective constituencies.
Meghalaya Police suspect GNLA
‘chief’ Sohan D Shira was behind the February 18 IED blast in
Sawilgre village in East Garo Hills District. East Garo Hills
SP stated that ‘We are strongly suspect the involvement of the
GNLA chief behind this IED blast since we had carried out an operation
on February 19 night after receiving inputs that Sohan was a village’.
However the militant escaped following which operations have been
intensified in the whole area.
Meghalaya DGP stated that evidence
to the killing of the NCP candidate points to the role of the
GNLA outfit and said credible leads are being obtained. While
clearly indicating the role of GNLA, DGP also voiced concern over
the presence of surrendered rebels in the company of the slain
politician. He also added that they were seeking more Paramilitary
Forces from the Government of India.
DGP also added that standard
security procedures were allegedly not followed by the NCP candidate
leading to the attack. The NCP candidate is said to have informed
district authorities about his election campaign meetings for
a few select villages in Samanda block. But, he reportedly overstepped
his area of campaign by going deeper into the remote region where
previous militant activities have taken place.
DGP also added that ‘It is a
known fact that GNLA chief Sohan Shira has been targeting former
members of his group who surrendered to authorities. Last year’s
killing of their surrendered finance secretary Rakkam Shira and
former ‘action commander’ Kamdat are examples of the outfit’s
intention’.
Threatening posters against the
NCP candidate who was killed on February 19 earlier were found
in Chimagre, Nengkhra Darimgre, Damagre, Chisobibra and Samanda
Dolwagre in East Garo Hills District. Similar posters were visible
even prior to the 2013 Assembly polls in parts of Williamnagar
and the role of the suspected GNLA outfit was pointed out then
by the deceased candidate. According to sources, the militants,
though less in number had better human intelligence network compared
to police as far as the incident in Williamnagar is concerned.
Moreover, the Police and election authorities’ machinery had not
expected such a violent incident since militancy was on the downslide
in Garo Hills.
A BJP candidate escaped a suspected
assassination attempt by unidentified assailants near Yimpang
village in Wokha District. The assailants reportedly first ambushed
the convoy of the candidate with machete and later resorted to
firing. Three people were also wounded in the incident.
DC and District Electoral Officer
Mokokchung, Sachin Jaiswal, has promulgated prohibitory order
under Section 144 CrPc at Longkhum village in Mokokching District.
According to an official bulletin, the prohibitory order was imposed
in view of the apprehension of the possible breach of peace and
disturbance of public tranquillity thereby vitiating the smooth
conduct of election in the village. Under the order, the assembly
of five or more persons and carrying of fire arms, stones, batons,
explosive materials or any such items are prohibited.
DC and DEO Mokokchung, Sachin
Jaiswal, has promulgated prohibitory order under Section 144 of
CrPc at Longkhum village in Mokokchung District. According to
an official bulletin, the prohibitory order was imposed in view
of the apprehension of the possible breach of peace and disturbance
of public tranquility thereby vitiating the smooth conduct of
election in the village. Under the order, the assembly of five
or more persons and carrying of fire arms, stones, batons, explosive
materials or any such items are prohibited.
ULFA-I stated that it supports
the definition of "indigenous" people that was recently
announced by Khilonjiya Mancha Asom, an organization
led by Anup Chetia of ULFA-PTF.
The Anup Chetia led organization
had recently said that those who resided in Assam before the Yandabu
Treaty of February 24, 1826 (when Assam was annexed to the British
Empire) were indigenous people. Those who settled in the state
thereafter and accepted Assamese culture as their own were accepted
as Assamese but were not indigenous people. The statement said
tea garden communities who were brought from Jharkhand, Odisha
and Chhattisgarh by the British to work in tea gardens of Assam
and accepted Assamese language and culture as their own were also
Assamese but they could not be considered as indigenous people.
The outfit talked the same about Gorkhas and Nepalis living in
Assam. ULFA-I ‘assistant publicity secretary’ stated that ‘We
support the definition of indigenous people announced by the Mancha
in its Guwahati Declaration which was resolved after a convention
on February 12 and 13. Many local organisations and political
parties, despite knowing the definition of indigenous people,
have not yet made it public for their political gains and it is
significant that the Mancha has done it’.
The Supreme Court has set June
30 as the deadline for publication of NRC The first part of NRC
containing 19 million names was published on December 31. A bench
of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R.F. Nariman, on February
20 asked the NRC authorities to complete the verification of documents
by May 31 so that the final draft could be published by June 30.
A BSF jawan, identified
as Sunil Kumar Murmu was killed after he was hit by a Pakistani
sniper fire from across the LoC in Tanghdar sector of Kupwara
District. He was deployed at a forward defended location (FDL)
along the LoC in the area, when a Pakistani sniper shot hit him
in the abdomen. The solider was removed to hospital and later
succumbed to injuries at the hospital in the night. Army has intensified
its vigil in the area along the LoC to prevent any infiltration
from the sector. The patrols have also been intensified near the
fence.
Troops along LoC in Uri sector
of Baramulla District have been put on high alert after Indo-Pak
troops exchanged fire on February 19. Pakistani troops on February
19 violated ceasefire and targeted Army posts in Churanda village.
Army retaliated and firing continued till late in the evening
on February 19, during which a woman was injured.
Pakistan summoned India's deputy
high commissioner J P Singh in Islamabad in Pakistan to condemn
the ‘unprovoked firing’ by Indian troops across the LoC which
killed an 8-year-old boy. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry claimed
that the boy, Ayan Zahid, was killed after Indian troops opened
fire on February 19 in Khuiratta Sector in the PoK. Pakistan army
on February 19 claimed that at least two Indian soldiers were
killed when it destroyed an army post that was used to kill the
minor across the Line of Control, a claim rejected by the Indian
Army as ‘baseless’. Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad
Faisal summoned Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire
violations" by Indian forces, the foreign office said in
a statement. "The deliberate targeting of civilian populated
areas especially children is indeed deplorable and contrary to
human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws,"
Faisal said.
He alleged that India committed
more than 335 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working
Boundary in 2018, resulting in the deaths of 15 civilians and
injuries to 65 others. "This unprecedented escalation in
ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017
when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations,"
he said. Faisal said the ceasefire violations by India are a threat
to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.
Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement
and investigate the repeated incidents of ceasefire violations,
the statement said.
An attempt by two-three militants
to attack a Water Pump House outside Air Force Station at Awantipora
in Pulwama District was foiled by alert guards. “2-3 (militants)
fired and lobbed grenade at the Air Force Water Pump House Malangpora
located outside Air Force Station Awantipora at around 1730 hours
today [February 20]. The fire was effectively retaliated by alert
sentries,” a Defence Ministry spokesman said. “The (militants)
fled. There is no loss of life or property (in the incident),”the
spokesman said, adding searches have been launched to trace the
attackers. “The search operation is underway,” the spokesman said.
A Police officer said that Army and Police cordoned off area but
militants managed to escape. “No arrests were made so far,” the
officer said.
Police and 55 RR of Army cordoned
off Narbal village of Pulwama District after reports about presence
of militants in the village in the evening. As the SFs laid the
cordon, people of the village came out and pelted stones at the
SFs who fired in air to disperse them. They also fired tear smoke
to disperse the protesters. The cordon was, however, on when last
reports came in.
The Srinagar Central Jail is
a hub for recruiting militants with inmates establishing a ‘parallel
administrative’ set-up, ignored by local Police despite warnings
by prison authorities, said a report by the Jammu and Kashmir
CID. The role of the Central Jail is presently so important that
every new militant is recruited only after approval from inside
the prison, the report said, quoting reliable sources. “However,
as to who gives such an approval is being ascertained,” it said.
DGP S P Vaid sent the report, prepared under A G Mir, Inspector
General of the State CID, to the State Government last year (2017).
He also sought stricter vigilance within the prison.
According to the report, the
inmates have a ‘parallel administrative set up’ with an ‘Ameer-e-Zindaan’
(chief of prison) appointed by a self-styled ‘shura’ (a consultative
council) for six months. Former Director General of Prisons S
K Mishra, who was recently shunted following the escape of LeT
terrorist Mohammed Naveed Jhatt on February 6, said in a lengthy
reply to the report that he had long been highlighting the issue.
He said he had told the State Government about several communications
to former IGP-Kashmir, Muneer Khan and the Deputy Inspector General
for a thorough search of jail but this was not done.
In his reply to the Government,
Mishra also said he had flagged issues related to poor infrastructure
in the jail which does not allow for proper segregation of the
inmates. Mishra, who is the senior-most IPS officer of the State
and is now Chairman-Managing Director of JK Police Housing Corporation,
also said that he had decided to shift many hardened terrorists
and their sympathisers outside Kashmir but this could not be done
following orders from various courts. “At a time five to 20 people
remain inside to guard the 300 prisoners and it cannot be expected
with this thin force to discipline the inmates with iron fist.….Request
for deputation of 150 police personnel to supplement the requirement
of security of Central Jail and other jails have not been considered
by the Government,” the reply said.The Central Jail, he said,
is located in the heart of downtown Srinagar and high profile
terrorists lodged there have links with locals in the area. “They
(militants) directly or indirectly threaten the staff,” he said,
adding that this was not brought to the notice of senior jail
officials.
A week after two unidentified
gunmen killed former militant commander and Kashmiri separatist
leader, Mohammad Yusuf Rather, shooting him dead inside a passenger
vehicle, the Police is investigating claims made by al Qaeda's
Kashmir head, Zakir Musa, that the killing was carried out to
warn Hurriyat parties against pursuing secularism. Rather, who
was associated with APHC-G chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani for
the last 14 years, was killed by two gunmen on February 12, when
he was travelling from Beerwah in Budgam to his house in the same
district. Two pistol-wielding men who were sitting in the back
seat of a vehicle fired at his head and later fled from the place.
Later, Zakir Musa allegedly released
an audio file claiming that he ordered his men to kill the Hurriyat
leader. He also said that Kashmir's battle will not be political
but in order to establish the rule of Islam. "These dishonest
Hurriyat leaders don't understand. If they want to run their politics,
they shouldn't become a thorn in our way, or else we will chop
off their heads and display them at Lal Chowk. This is why we
had to kill Mohammad Yusuf Rather," he can be heard saying
in the audio clip. "Our Kashmir's battle is for ensuring
glorification of Islam and we will establish the Shariah system
of Islam. My appeal to all who want to enforce religion is that
it should be followed first by oneself. We should become dear
to Allah and tie the rope of the Almighty with strength and not
repose faith on anyone else," he added.
Zakir Musa is the head of al
Qaeda affiliate Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, and the fresh audio release
came a few months after he had accused Pakistan of ‘back-stabbing
militants’, following US' attack on Afghanistan. In his previous
audio message, he had said that even as foreign militants were
fighting in Kashmir, the Pakistani government got militants killed,
and even closed the training camps.
However, the Deputy Inspector
General of Police, Central Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat,
said that a case has been registered after Rather's killing, and
they are looking into the audio clip as well. "We are also
going through call records of the deceased, and have questioned
the driver in whose vehicle Rather was heading home," Bhat
said. According to Police officials, two pistol-wielding persons
were sitting in the back seat of a vehicle on February 12. At
around 4.40 pm, they fired at Rather, killing him immediately.
The police then handed over his body to Rather's family members,
after which a case was registered.
APHC-G spokesman Gulam Ahmad
Gulzar said that as the general secretary of the separatist outfit
Tehreke Wahadati Islami, Rather was associated with the Geelani-led
faction since 2004. He said that he was the deputy chief commander
of the now non-existent militant outfit Hizb-ul-Momineen in the
early 1990s before he joined the separatist conglomerate. "He
was an important Hurriyat (G) leader and a member of our executive
council," he said.
|
February 21
|
The Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
that his country [Canada] did not support any Sikh separatist
movement in India or elsewhere. During his 40-minutes meeting
with the CM of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh, Trudeau assured
the CM Amarinder Singh that Canada does not believe in Sikh separatism,
even though the latter handed-over the list of nine Canada-resident
operatives alleged for promoting radicalism. Capt. Amarinder Singh
urged Canadian PM’s cooperation in dealing with separatism and
hate crimes caused by a tiny proportion of Canada’s population.
The Punjab CM also handed over to Trudeau a list of nine Canada-based
operatives of Category “A”— allegedly involved in hate crimes
in Punjab by financing and supplying weapons for terrorist activities,
and also engaged in radicalising youth here. In 2017, Punjab’s
CM accused Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan for being
a ‘Khalistan sympathiser’ and refused to meet him during his visit
to India. “Really happy to received categorical assurance from
Canadian PM that his country does not support any separatist movement.
His words are a big relief to all of us,” said Punjab CM (Capt.)
Amarinder Singh.
The NIA may Chargesheet former
Pakistan diplomat—Amir Zubair Siddiqui in the case of conspiracy
to attack key establishments in India. Amir Siddiqui was employed
as ‘visa counsellor’ at the Pakistan High Commission located in
Colombo, Sri Lanka. Upon specific intelligence in 2013, the ‘Q’
branch of CID of Tamil Nadu Police arrested Mohamed Zakir Hussain
who was involved in the espionage activities as an agent of Pakistan.
Zakir’s task was to cause blasts at the foreign Consulates/High
Commissions, Defence and Nuclear establishments in India. During
his arrest, confidential documents and FICNs were recovered from
his possession. During the interrogation, Zakir admitted that
he was following the orders from Mr. Siddiqui, an official of
Pakistan Consulate in Colombo (Sri Lanka). There are concrete
evidences that prove Mr. Siddiqui’s involvement in the terror
conspiracy and soon a supplementary chargesheet will be filed,
said an unnamed Police official.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Sukaram Salaam (23) and Lamkuram Korram (21) were arrested
from the forest between Aadnar and Chema villages under Bayanar
Police Station limits in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The SFs
arrested the CPI-Maoist cadres during a search operation
and recovered 16 kg tiffin bomb, one 16 kg IED, detonator,
electric wire, Maoist banners and literature. The duo admitted
that they were active as ‘janmilitia’ cadres in Temrugaon village
of Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh, said ASP, Maheshwar Nag.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian,
identified as Dinesh Yadav, Head Master (In charge) of Naveen
Primary School at Charkapathar under Khaira Police Station area
in Jamui District of Bihar. He was native of Takhar village in
the District. The CPI-Maoist cadres were annoyed over
his role in surrender of an area commander of CPI-Maoist,
said Police.
CRPF recovered arms and ammunition
from Naxal -affected Lalgarh area in Jhargram
District of West Bengal. The SFs recovered two county
made rifle, one country made air pistol, one sixer revolver, 50
round bullets of AK -47 and two empty pipes from the area.
CRPF conducted search operations in the Jhitka Forest area, near
Podia Canal Bridge and dug out the weapons.
Jharkhand Police arrested two JJMP,
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Vishal
Paswan and Sanjay Paswan from near the Hadahi river bridge of
Chhatarpur road of Palamu District of Jharkhand.
The duo were arrested with their looted mobiles by the Police
and sent to jail and involved in robbery cases filed against them.
A Senior Lawyer, identified as
Upendra Nayak was arrested by the Police at Paralakhemundi in
Gajapati District of Odisha. He was arrested for his alleged links
with CPI-Maoist and produced in court in Mohana. At
least 11 cases, all related to CPI-Maoist, are pending
against Nayak in G. Udayagiri and Adaba Police Stations. Nayak
was in touch with the CPI-Maoist when they were active
in 2009-10. Besides he had also provided logistic support to the CPI-Maoist cadres
during the period, said Police.
During their official meeting,
the Punjab’s CM Captain Amarinder Singh handed-over a list to
Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau, with details of active handlers, based
in Canada, of Khalistani terrorists operating in Punjab. Most
of the operatives in the list belongs to the banned outfit—ISYF
and KTF. The details about operatives included their last visit
to India, how the funding for firearms managed and how these groups
received terror funding from Pakistan. Out of the nine, the list
included five most-wanted operatives namely, Gurjeet Singh Cheema,
Gurpreet Singh, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Gurjinder Singh Pannu, and
Malkeet Singh alias ‘Fauji’.
State Home Minister R. Lalzirliana
stated that first round of political level talks between HPC-D
and Mizoram Government has been deferred to March 7. Earlier the
scheduled date was March 5. R. Lalzirliana said the proposed peace
talks, led by H. Zosangbera, has been deferred to March 7 as some
of the HPC-D and Government delegates were not ready for it owing
to personal obligations. He said the talks will be held at the
state guest house in Aizawl.
Former labour minister Lalrinmawia
Ralte, who was recently appointed political adviser to the Chief
Minister, along with Mizoram Law Commission chairman and MLA John
Siamkunga, will head the state government delegation, while HPC-D
delegation would be headed by HPC-D ‘working chairman’ Lalthanglien.
The talks mainly revolved around
strengthening the existing SHDC). The name of the council has
been proposed to be rechristened as Sinlung Hills Council (SHC),
which will have 14 members, including two nominated members, preferably
from minority communities. In the last official-level talks held
on September 21 and 22 2017 both the sides had approved in principle
the draft of MoS and SHC bill.
The name of the council has been
proposed to be rechristened as SHC, which will have 14 members,
including two nominated members, preferably from minority communities.
In the last official-level talks held on September 21 and 22 2017
both the sides had approved in principle the draft of MoS and
SHC bill.
Manipur CM Biren Singh stated
that KNO militants number 1122 and UPF militants number to 1059.
Both are under SoO with GoI. The CM also added that no new militant
cadre can be included in the list of cadres as per guidelines
of agreement. For giving stipend to cadres, the GoI is providing
INR 7, 85, 16,000 per year.
Biren Singh also added that demand
for creation of a separate state by militant groups having SoO
with the GoI was unacceptable. He added that there was a ground
rule against such demands. On giving stipend to SoO militants,
Biren said GoI has a role in tackling the problem of SoO and in
sanctioning stipends for the surrendered militants. On alleged
illegal activities by SoO cadres, Biren said there are reports
that groups of people supported by SoO have indulged in extortion
and kidnapping.
Replying to a question regarding
threats to a Aimol community, the CM stated that to prevent merger
of small tribe Aimol to major tribe Naga forcibly Manipur Government
has opened two IRBN posts at Aimol Ngairong and Molnom Kuk in
Chandel District. He also added that state police could not find
out any culprit involved in the alleged attempt to convert the
Aimol community to another.
A surrendered GNLA militant stated
that the militant group has planted 30 IEDs in and around East
Garo Hills to sabotage the ensuing Assembly Elections. Three of
the 30 IEDs have been accounted for. One IED was recovered on
February 3 while another one was recovered on February 20. Sources
suspect that GNLA is trying to impose a sense of insecurity amongst
the voters in Williamnagar as well as Songsak constituency with
an intention to sabotage the election.
Family of Congress Minister and
party candidate from Williamnagar, Deborah C Marak, has been shifted
out of Garo Hills under armed protection due to a threat perception
reportedly intercepted by intelligence agencies. The decision
to shift the family out of Williamnagar was taken following credible
inputs about a threat perception to the family members of the
candidate in the light of the recent IED attack.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma alleged
that saying the proposals of the State Government to strengthen
Police Stations was withheld by the Central Government. Stating
that the Meghalaya Government has never compromised on tackling
insurgency and restoring peace, the Chief Minister also added
that sophisticated arms and IEDs come to the Indian side through
the porous India-Bangladesh border.
SFs recovered a .22 rifle with
magazine & live rounds, one 12 bore double barrel gun, one
12 bore single barrel gun with live rounds from Mount View Colony
in Dimapur.
Mon District Magistrate issued
an order on February 21 promulgating the prohibitory order under
section 144 Crpc enforcing night curfew for three months until
May 21. The prohibitory order has been issued for areas of the
Indo-Myanmar border in the 3 km belt under Mon District.
‘commander in chief’ of HPC-D
Lal Minthang Sanate was arrested from Tezpur in Sonitpur District
in connection with killing of NCP candidate in Sawilgre village
in East Garo Hills.
HPC-D militant leader Lalmingthang
Sanate who was arrested on February 21 from Sonitpur District
was arrested for killing of Darthang, the ‘financial secretary’
of the ceasefire faction of HPC-D. Darthang alias Nobar
Sanate was the ‘finance secretary’ of HPC-D action led by H. Zosangbera
and was killed on January 27.
HPC-D has split into two factions,
one led by H. Zosangbera, who is currently holding talks with
the Mizoram government, and the other by Lalhmingthang Sanate.
At least two Pakistani soldiers
were killed as Indo-Pak troops traded heavy firing along the LoC
in Tanghdar area of Kupwara District. Sources said that Army foiled
a BAT strike of Pakistani troops in Tarr area of Tanghdar along
the LoC in the evening at around 4 p.m. They said that as the
BAT tried to cross the LoC, they were targeted by the Army that
was alert since February 20 and forced them to flee. They said
that no damage was done in the foiling of the BAT strike as troops
were anticipating it. Soon after the foiling of the BAT action,
Army targeted the Pakistani posts in the area. They fired rockets
and mortars at Pakistani posts. Sources said that at least two
Pakistani border guards were killed after their post was hit in
the area.
An official said that Pakistani
troops also targeted the Indian posts in the area but there was
no damage. The heavy firing in the area continued till 8 p.m.
and it has stopped later, report said. The official described
the situation as tense and Army has intensified its vigil along
the LoC in the sector and started patrolling in the nearby forest
area to foil any infiltration bid.
A Pakistani military’s Mi-17
helicopter came within 300 meters of the LoC in Pakistan-occupied
territory near Poonch sector in Poonch District but there was
no hostile action by any side. The Pakistan military’s helicopter
flew just about 300 meters away from the LoC in Khari Karmara
sector of Poonch District between 9.45 am to 10 am,” sources said
but added that it flew back to their territory thereafter. According
to laid down norms by both the sides, rotary wing aircraft should
not come within one kilometer of the LoC and fixed wing aircraft
should not be within 10 kilometers of it. The helicopter later
went back, the sources said, adding although it was not a violation
of airspace, but it was a breach of an understanding between the
two sides. Sources indicated that the matter will be taken up
with the Pakistani side.
According to sources, three helicopters
were seen in the area and only one was spotted within the 300-metre
distance from the LoC. The helicopters were spotted opposite Khari
Karmara sector, they said. There has been a spurt in ceasefire
violations by Pakistan along the LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir
which have left 21 persons, including 12 security personnel, dead
and over 75 others, mostly civilians, injured this year. However,
this was for the first time after a long gap that Pakistani military’s
helicopter came so close to the LoC though it didn’t show any
aggression.
Army and Police launched a search
operation at Kesna forest area of Kishtwar in Kishtwar District
and destroyed a hideout of the militants. Recoveries made from
the hideout included two AK-56 rifles, three 9mm pistols, one
country made pistol, 15 magazines of AK-56 rifle, 98 Pika rounds,
two UBGL rounds, one RPG round, two binoculars, 12 detonators
and two radio sets. “Recovery of war like stores will deal a severe
blow to the nefarious designs of terrorists to revive militants
in Kishtwar,” a Defence spokesman said.
Meanwhile, SFs conducted searches
at a few places in and on the outskirts of Srinagar after reports
of presence of militants in the area. SFs conducted searches in
Machu and Nowgam areas in the Southern outskirts of Srinagar.
They also conducted searches in Northern outskirts of Srinagar
in Buchwara area and Gulberg colony. However, no one was arrested.
SFs also conducted searches in Balgarden area of Srinagar. Residents
said that for last few days, the SFs are continuously conducting
searches in the area.
The Kashmiri separatist leaders
criticised a CID report which said that the Srinagar Central Jail
was a hub for recruiting terrorists, with inmates establishing
a ‘parallel administrative’ set-up, ignored by local Police, despite
warnings by prison authorities. The JRL in a statement claimed
that the Ameer-e-Zindan institution was a forum facilitating good
relations between jail authorities and inmates since Plebiscite
Front days. The separatist leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz
Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, alleged that this was a
deliberate attempt to shift blame as it was not the central jail
but actions of the Police which were forcing youths to join militancy.
"One inmate escaped from SMHS but five others who were with
him at the hospital returned to jail on their own. Nobody is discussing
this aspect of the story but instead those who chose to return
are now being victimised and terrorised by the Police, CID and
agencies, and are being blamed for recruiting militants,"
they alleged. They were referring to LeT terrorist Naveed Jhatt's
escape from SMHS Hospital.
|
February 22
|
Attending the inauguration of
a Gurdwara build in the memory of slain Sikh militant Jarnail
Singh Bhindranwale in his village, the representatives of major
Sikh organisations described Bhindranwale as a ‘Martyr’ of 1984’s
Operation Blue Star. The Gurdwara is located in Bhindranwale’s
native village of Rode in Moga District of Punjab. The inauguration
ceremony was attended by the heads of SGPC, DSGMC, the Damdami
Taksal and the Jathedars (leaders of Akal Takht) of five Takhts
(seat of authority). The event was dominated by the discussions
over the storming of the Sikh Holy Shrine—the Sri Harmandir Sahib
or mostly known as the Golden Temple, and killing of Jarnail Singh
Bhindranwale in Amritsar, Amritsar District of Punjab in June
1984. The representative accused the Indian Government led by
then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for the incidents.
Around 28 youths from Tamil Nadu
are under scanner of the NIA for alleged links with IS. Out of
28, 20 people are residents of Coimbatore District, said an unnamed
senior NIA official. The majority of youths, with age between
20-25 years, belong to the State of Kerala, and residing in Tamil
Nadu for over a decade. The suspicious overseas travelling details
of these youths raised an alarm to NIA and soon the agency started
collecting their cell phone and social media details, said an
unnamed senior NIA official. All of them are well educated—with
graduate degrees and some of them are postgraduate too.
Following the possibilities of
threat from IS, the Indian Paramilitary Commandos would be deployed
to ensure the security of the Indian Embassy and Diplomatic staff
in Iraq. The approval of deployment of the armed squad at the
Indian Embassy located at Al-Mansour area of Iraqi capital Baghdad,
had been recognised by the UMHA and the MEA, says report. Given
the constant threat from IS in Iraq, it was being discussed for
a long time that the Indian Embassy in Iraq must have a professional
security cover. Therefore, the proposal to send the Paramilitary
Commandos is a move in that direction. However, the final approval
for deployment of the armed squad in Baghdad (Iraq) is yet to
be given by the Indian Government. The Commandos with field-experiences
of the anti-Maoist operations, the Forces’ elite Commando squad
for jungle warfare—CoBRA and who have been the “best performers”
will be part of the proposed contingent for the deployment in
Iraq, said an unnamed senior official.
The STF of Kolkata Police arrested
Noor Mohammad—an operative of JMB, from Dhulian in Jangipur Subdivision
of Murshidabad District, West Bengal. The Special team comprised
of senior officials that raided several locations in Murshidabad
District and arrested Noor Mohammad. Following day, Noor appeared
before the Bankshall Court while being remanded to Police custody
for 10 days. During the raid, the STF recovered a Passport and
several documents. Noor Mohammad was involved in the Bodh Gaya
incident of January 20 in Bihar.
A Special team of Hong Kong Police
arrested Punjab-based gangster Ramanjit Singh alias Romi in a
robbery case in Hong Kong. Ramanjit Singh, who faced several criminal
charges in India, was involved in plotting the Nabha jail break
in 2016. In 2016, over Patiala Police’s request— the Interpol
had issued a ‘Red Corner Notice’ (RCN), but Ramanjit Singh disappeared.
In 2016, he was arrested but released on bail. He jumped the bail
and fled to Hong Kong. Being in Hong Kong, Ramanjit kept in contact
with Gurpreet Singh Sekhon—a key plotter and one of the prisoner
to escape the Nabha jail in November 2016. Ramanjit Singh would
be investigated for his suspected involvement in the killings
of RSS leaders in the state of Punjab and his connection with
Pakistan’s ISI where he acted as a middle-man between the terrorist
outfits and gangsters based in Punjab. Punjab Police would investigate
the probabilities of nexus between the KLF and ISI in the killings
of RSS leaders in Punjab.
A joint team of the NCB, Gaya
Police and State Environment and Forest Department destroyed poppy
crop spread over eight acres of Government land in the Barachatti
Police Station area in Gaya District of Bihar. The illegal crop
was believed to have been sown by CPI-Maoist cadres for
revenue generation purpose. Opium obtained from poppy fetches
high price in illegal markets. The cultivation was done in virtually
inaccessible areas of the CPI-Maoist affected Barachatti
Police Station area, said Police.
The Kasansur LOS, a formation
of the CPI-Maoist in South Gadchiroli killed Police
Warden (patil) Katiya Peka Pungati (Kumoti) (55) outside Lanji
village in Etapalli Taluka in Gadchiroli District
of Maharashtra. He was abducted and his dead body was found with
his throat slit, and the face and head smashed with a stone, outside
Lanji village. The letter of CPI-Maoist cadres considered Pungati
to be a ‘Police Informer’. The Kasansur Dalam, led
by ‘commander’ Mahesh Gota, has claimed that they held Pungati
responsible for the information of their presence in the forest
of Tadapalli in Etapalli on January 10, 2018.Pungati had gone
to his farm along with son, daughter-in-law and wife to guard
the crop. Pungati’s wife had a verbal tiff with the armed CPI-Maoist
cadres when they came in a group of around 15 to take him
away. She tried to challenge them, but was overpowered by the CPI-Maoist
cadres. Pungati did not return later and the body was discovered
outside the village, said ASP, Mahesh Reddy.
A group of five to six persons,
alleged to be Naxals knocked on the door of a
woman’s house at Jadkal Bridge on the way from Onse to Kollur
in Udupi District of Karnataka and demanded food. Laxmi Mogaveera,
the woman peeped out of her window and saw the six persons were
carrying rifles. She got scared and did not open the door. The
persons (suspected Naxals) locked the door from outside
and went away. Confirming the incident, SP, Laxman Nimbargi said,
“A few men knocked the door of the house at Jadkal and asked for
food. The old lady living in the house only saw them from the
window and could not identify their dress. As she did not interact
with them, we cannot confirm if they were Naxals. However four
camps of the Anti Naxal Force at Jeddinagadde (Amasebailu), Shankarnaryana,
Hebri and Karkala have started combing operation and we will keep
a watch in and around these areas.”
NIA has arrested a militant identified
as Moirangthem Nimaichand Meitei of KCP-Noyon The accused was
produced before the special judge on February 20 where he was
remanded in NIA custody. The details of the place of arrest were
not given out by the NIA, however sources state that the militant
was arrested on February 3 Ningthoukhong in Bishnupur District.
NIA has also ascertained that the total number of militants in
the attack was 23, out of which two were killed in retaliatory
fire.
Separately, seeking necessary
steps for permanent settlement of the 37th Battalion of AR at
Latingkhal-Makhabasti and Guakhal in Jiribam a delegation is slated
to meet Union Home Minister in March. The delegation will comprise
members of the civil organisations namely All Jiribam Linguistic
Minority People's Organisation, United Minority People's Organisation,
United Minority People's Front, All Manipur Bengali Students'
Union and Nari Jagoron Jouta Mancha. The organisations stated
that Jiribam and its adjacent areas are always affected by militant
activities and the camps have been playing a vital role in keeping
the law and order situation under control. There are 45 villages
combining the areas around the camps at Latingkhal Makhabasti
and Guakhal with a population of 13,000.
Information has emerged that
that Sohan d Shira of GNLA is planning an IED attack at on Siju-Baghmara
road in South Garo Hills and Nengkhrah – Williamnagar road in
East Garo Hills. According to a surrendered GNLA militant IED
attacks have been planned at Siju-Baghmara road and Nengkhrah
– Williamnagar road before the Assembly elections.
It has been reported that at
present Shira has over five IED’s weighing around 35 kilograms
and their main target are the security forces. However SP of East
Garo Hills stated that there is no confirmation as to how much
the information holds weight. He added that ‘We are not taking
any chances and necessary actions are being initiated’. He also
added that As of now we are not sure but combing operations of
police along with the bomb squad is on to clear the area of any
IED’s if found and we are sanitizing the area’.
CEO FR Kharkongor, stated that
for the smooth conduct of elections, ten additional companies
of Para military force will be posted in the Garo Hills Region
along with the five companies of the state’s elite SF- 10 commandoes.
The CAPF has started deploying
across the state to prevent post poll violence. The forces comprising
of CRPF, BSF, CISF, personnel will perform duty during the counting
process in twenty centers across the state on March 3. According
to IG law and Order ‘‘There will be 60 companies of CRPF for area
domination purpose after counting of polled EVMs to prevent any
kind of violence or intimidation’. Moreover, there will be twelve
battalions of Tripura State Rifles to assist the central forces
in maintaining law and order after the counting process.’
One individual was killed and
another wounded in poll related violence in Tuli in Mokokchung
District. The incident happened when supporters of a candidate
pelted stones at the vehicle in which supporters of rival candidate
was travelling.
AR recovered one 9 mm country
made carbine with magazine, one 9 mm pistol with magazine, 14
live rounds and a radio set from Lozaphemi village in Phek District.
PM while addressing an election
rally in Tuensang stated that GoI is working towards finding an
honorable settlement to the vexed Naga issue. PM stated that ‘We
are working to end the political problems in Nagaland. I believe
we’ll be able to hammer out a political solution to the Naga problem
within the next few months, which will be honorable and well-deserving
for the people of Nagaland’.
An Army commando, identified
as Gobind Singh was injured in a gunfight with militants, who
managed to escape, in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir.
SFs launched a counter-insurgency operation in the Hajin area
of Bandipora in the morning following information about the presence
of four militants there, the sources said. As the troops were
laying a cordon in the area, the militants opened indiscriminate
fire at them and fled the spot. One Army commando of 31 RR was
injured in the firing, the sources added.
People took to streets and staged
protests in a bid to help the militants escape.
Indian Army destroyed a Pakistani
post on the LoC in Balnoi sub sector of Poonch District while
Indo-Pak troops traded heavy shelling in Uri sector of Baramulla
District forcing the administration to shift dozens of families
from near the LoC. Sources said that Indian Army destroyed a Pakistani
post opposite Balnoi sub sector in Poonch District after observing
movement of suspected militants, who had been camping there with
a view to infiltrate into the Indian territory. “The post was
razed to ground,’’ sources said, adding that all Pakistani troopers
inside the post were believed dead. However, so far, there was
no official confirmation of Pakistani casualties. Normally a Pakistani
post has three to four soldiers, they said.
According to sources, the Indian
action against Pakistani troops was necessitated as Pakistani
troops could have aided infiltration attempt by the militants.
Army has been maintaining high alert all along the LoC in twin
border districts of Poonch and Rajouri following presence of militants
across the LoC and reports that they could attempt infiltration
under the cover of ceasefire violations.
Army and Pakistani troops traded
heavy shelling in Uri sector of Baramulla District forcing the
administration to shift dozens of families from near the LoC.
A senior official said that Pakistani troops suffered heavy damage
in the sector as Army fired rockets and mortars in response to
Pakistani ceasefire violation. He, however, said that exact estimated
loss is not known. Pakistani troops targeted Army posts at Hatlanga,
Churanda and Tika Post along the LoC in Uri sector of Baramulla
district early on February 22. “Pakistan troops started firing
at around 8:00 am which was responded strongly by the soldiers
manning the LoC in the sector”, the official said. The firing
from both the sides continued throughout the day during which
both the sides used rockets and mortars besides firing from heavy
machine guns.
The terror stricken residents
in the shelling hit areas remained indoors to avoid casualties.
Two houses suffered minor damage in the shelling at Churanda near
the LoC. The intensity of the cross-border shelling was such that
villagers living near the LoC were shifted to safety by the Police
and local administration. An official said that around 25 families
living in Tillawari, Silikote and Balkote comprising of 120 people
were shifted from their areas. He said that around 80 people have
been accommodated in Higher Secondary School Uri and over 35 people
have shifted to their relatives places.
IG of BSF, Sonali Mishra, said
that troops are on high alert after inputs that 175 militants
are waiting for infiltration in PoK. “We have a high level of
alertness here but we have raised the alertness for infiltration,
BAT action, firing, and sniping. We are always ready as nearly
175 militants are ready on the launching pads for infiltration.
“, she said. Mishra said that all the agencies are alert and ready
to counter any attack. She said that Pakistan always tries to
disrupt the peace and prosperity of India and use different tactics
including ceasefire violations, sniping and BAT action. “In order
to disrupt the peace in the hinterland, they carry infiltration”,
she said. “Ceasefire violation has always happened and we cannot
deny the fact that Pakistan uses it as a strategy to carry infiltration”,
the BSF IG said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government
approached the MEA for deportation of around 25 militants and
other prisoners of three neighbouring countries including hostile
Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh as their prolonged stay in different
jails of the State, is being perceived as ‘security risk’ especially
in the wake of day-light escape of LeT terrorist Naveed Jatt from
Srinagar hospital few days back. Official sources said that there
were around 25 militants and prisoners from Pakistan, Bangladesh
and Myanmar, who have been kept in different jails under the PSA
after they had completed the term of the sentence given to them
by the courts for the offences committed by them including subversive
activities, illegal border crossing, drug trafficking etc. “We
have written to the External Affairs Ministry through the official
channels mentioning details of terrorists and prisoners, whose
cases were fit for deportation to their countries, to take up
the issue with Embassies of Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladeshis
on the ground that their prolonged stay in the jails of Jammu
and Kashmir is not in the interest of the State,” sources said,
adding that the MEA has been asked to take up the matter urgently
with Embassies of three nations to ensure early deportation of
the foreigners.
“Security audit of all jails
of Jammu and Kashmir is already on under the instructions of Union
Home Ministry and Jammu and Kashmir Government to prevent Naveed
Jatt like escape in future,” sources pointed out. Sources, however,
declined to share name of the militants and prisoners and the
jails they were lodged in view of ‘security considerations’ but
put their number ‘around 25’. They said majority of them were
Pakistani militants while few others belonged to Bangladesh and
Myanmar. “All Pakistani nationals were terrorists while those
hailing from Bangladesh and Myanmar were involved in either illegal
border crossing, drug trafficking or other such activities,” sources
disclosed. The Pakistani militants, due for deportation, belonged
to different outfits including LeT, JeM and HM and had operated
in different areas of Jammu and Kashmir before being arrested
by SFs.
Sources attributed delay in deportation
of foreign criminals to ‘non-cooperative attitude’ of Pakistan
and Myanmar Governments but noted that Bangladesh Government was
quite liberal in this regard, mainly due to good friendly relations
with India. While Pakistan, most of the times, refuse to recognize
their nationals despite being given very ‘credible evidence’ especially
those, who were involved in major terror acts, Myanmar out rightly
refused to take back their nationals. However, it was only Bangladesh
which accepts their nationals and agrees for their deportation
after their nationality is established.
The Central Government’s special
representative, Dineshwar Sharma began a tour of three districts
in South Kashmir, which has been trouble spot for last few years.
Sharma began his tour from Shopian and will cover Anantnag and
Kulgam during his visit. He spent the day in Shopian and met several
delegations comprising representatives, among others, of passenger
vehicle drivers, SC/ST communities and family members of a Policeman
killed in militant attack. He said that his meetings went fine.
“I met around 18-20 delegations. I am next going to Anantnag and
Kulgam,” he said.
Sharma also went to Anantnag
and met some delegations. A youth delegation led by senior political
and social activist Imran Amin Shah met the interlocutor at Dak
Banglow. The youth delegation appraised the Interlocutor about
the problems and constraints faced by youth and urged him to convince
central leadership for engagement of all stakeholders to address
the long pending issue of the State. They also urged for concrete
initiative for return of power projects to resolve power crises
and revenue generation including vacation of army from high ground
Anantnag to be used for establishment of some industrial or educational
institution in the area. Sharma gave patient hearing to the delegation
and assured every possible support from the centre to bring Anantnag
on the peace and developmental arena.
At least two to three members
of Pakistan’s BAT were reported killed in Indian Army’s action
across Balnoi in Mendhar sector of Poonch District in the night
in which two Pakistani posts and a bunker were destroyed. Indian
troops also thwarted another BAT attempt to strike on its posts
along the LoC in Tanghdar sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara District,
where Indo-Pak troops traded heavy shelling.
Sources said that there were
reports that at least two to three members of Pakistan’s BAT were
killed in last night’s (February 22) action by the Indian Army
across Balnoi sub sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district
in which two posts and a bunker of Pakistani troops were razed
to ground.
The video available with the
Daily Excelsior showed Pakistani posts and bunkers going
in flames after being hit by anti-tank guided missiles, which
were being used by the Indian troops to neutralize the BAT members
and other infiltrators, who have been camping either inside or
close to Pakistani posts waiting opportunity for infiltration
into the Indian territory. “The BAT members had reportedly taken
shelter in the Pakistani posts and were believed to be dead,’’
sources said, adding some Pakistani troops might have suffered
fatal or non-fatal casualties in the “pre-emptive and aggressive
action’’ that was taken to thwart BAT action and infiltration
attempt by the militants along LoC.
|
February 23
|
The Jharkhand Police raided the
offices of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Pakur District of Jharkhand.
The Government of Jharkhand had imposed ban PFI on February 21
for alleged links of the organization with IS. Though, there were
no arrests during the raid but the Police team recovered PFI’s
flags, banners, pamphlets, computer systems and other devices,
said officer-in-charge of Mufassil Police station Santosh Kumar
in Giridih District of Jharkhand.
The Delhi Court extended the
Police remand of alleged IM member Abdul Subhan Qureshi for another
five days. Qureshi was the mastermind behind the bomb blasts in
Delhi and Gujarat in 2008. He was considered as India’s ‘Osama
bin Laden’ and had been on ‘Wanted List’ of the NIA. Qureshi was
arrested in January 2018.
In a flag meeting, the BSF and
Pakistan Rangers agreed for their commitments to maintain peace
at the International border. Sector Commander-level flag meeting
held between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers in Suchetgarh area of
Jammu District in J&K. The flag meeting comprised of nine
officers’ team led by DIG of BSF Jammu sector P.S. Dhiman representing
India and 11 officers of Pakistan Rangers led by the Sector Commander
of Sialkot (Pakistan Punjab) Brigadier Amjad Hussain representing
Pakistan. The flag meeting concluded with cordial atmosphere,
said an unnamed BSF official.
In a joint statement post the
bilateral talks between the representatives of India and Canada,
both countries [India and Canada] agreed on a ‘Framework for Cooperating
on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism’. Under the framework
that based on ‘fundamental respect for the sovereignty, unity,
and territorial integrity of India and Canada, both countries
are committed to act together against the threats from terrorist
outfits such as al Qaeda, IS, the Haqqani Network (HQN), LeT,
JeM, BKI and the ISYF. It is essential for both nations to work
together to fight the evil of terrorism. Those who challenge the
sovereignty and integrity of India and Canada, cannot be tolerated
and no place shall be there who misuse religion for political
goals, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his joint statement
with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police
handed over the custody of alleged IM operative Ariz Khan alias
Junaid to Crime Branch of Delhi Police. After his arrest on February
13 from Banbasa near India-Nepal border, Ariz Khan was in the
custody of the Special Cell of Delhi Police. Ariz Khan was key
accused of multiple bomb blasts in Uttar Pradesh, Jaipur (Rajasthan),
Gujarat, and Delhi during 2007 and 2008.
A commando of CoBRA Battalion
of the CRPF was injured in an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist
cadres in the interiors of Kistaram near Komalpad forests
in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. The incident happened after SFs,
from Palodi camp, and CPI-Maoist cadres came face to
face as part of an anti- Naxal LWE combing operation.
The CPI-Maoist cadres opened indiscriminate fire which
injured the CoBRA jawan and managed to flee, said Police.
SFs recovered a large
cache of arms and ammunition in joint operation conducted by the
District Police and the CRPF in Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh.
The Police also seized four Naxal uniforms, various
medical kits and blankets from the location. The CPI-Maoist
cadres managed to flee from the location.
Nine CPI-Maoist cadres were
arrested from three different locations under Chinagappa,
Dornapal, Polpalli and Kukanar Police Station areas in Sukma District
of Chhattisgarh. The SFs raided CPI-Maoist hideouts in
Chintagufa forest, Kukanar forest and Dornapal forest and arrested
three CPI-Maoist cadres from three different locations. The arrested CPI-Maoist
cadres were active members of CPI-Maoist militia,
village committees and DAKMS and wanted by the State Police for
various incidents, said CRPF official.
A CPI-Maoist cadre identified
as Rajinder Bhuiyan (18) surrendered before the Senior Police
officials in Palamu District of Jharkhand. He is the first young CPI-Maoist
cadre of 18 years of age to surrender in Palamu as seven others
who had surrendered so far are all above 40 years of age. Bhuiyan
is a TB patient he used to visit his doctor in Chhatterpur,
He was seen by Rakesh Bhuiyan, ‘sub zonal commander’ of CPI-Maoist,
who took his prescription and coerced him to run with the CPI-Maoist in
the year 2017 and he did what he was told by the CPI-Maoist
cadres, said SP, Indrajeet Mahatha.
Odisha Government would seek
INR 700 million from the Centre under the SRE scheme for the financial
year 2018-19. The amount would be spent to strengthen Police Infrastructure
in 19 LWE-hit Districts of the State.
106 CAPF companies arrived in
Meghalaya to assist the 21,574 poll personnel already in the State
for the February 27 Assembly polls. CEO FR Kharkongor stated that
out of these, 54 companies have been deployed in Garo Hills region,
which has 24 constituencies. The rest are deployed in the Khasi
Hills region for the 36 seats. The deployment would also consist
of four companies of bomb disposal squad and an equal number of
dog squad.
In an effort to resolve the long
standing Bru refugee crisis in Tripura, UMHA Special Secretary
for Internal Security Mahesh Kumar Singla arrived in Tripura.
Officials stated that MHA envoy would join discussions with District
Collectors and SPs from three Districts of Mizoram at BSF’s sector
headquarters at Panisagar in North Tripura.
With less than two weeks to go
for counting of ballots Tripura Government has started deploying
CAPFs to prevent post-poll violence. IG Law and Order stated that
‘There will be 60 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
for area domination purpose after counting of polled Electronic
Voting Machine (EVMs) to prevent any kind of violence’.
Two MULTA linkmen identified
as Jakir Hussain and Ibrahim Ali at Rangiya under Kamrup District.
The arrested linkmen were involved in extortion, highway robbery
and weapon smuggling. One country-made pistol and four rounds
ammunition were recovered from the apprehended.
Nearly 450 militants of two outfits,
namely BLAU-Barak Valley and UDLA will soon lay down their arms
and join the mainstream. The physical verification of the militants
was carried out recently by police and AR at Riflemara in Hailakandi
District. A senior Police officer said the number of militants
who will surrender is still under scrutiny. Earlier on August
2017 IG Police held a meeting with leaders of the outfits at Ramnathpur
in Hailakandi and finalized the surrender plan.
The rehabilitation package will
be decided after the preparation of the list. The militants insisted
on a development package for Reang-dominated villages in Barak
Valley by forming a Reang Autonomous Development Council their
main criterion for surrender. Another demand was to reserve two
Assembly seats for Brus (also known as Reangs). In the proposed
council, 40,000 Reang people will be covered and 60 villages from
Hailakandi and 17 villages each from Karimganj and Cachar Districts
will be included. The leaders of both outfits have sent their
demands to the state home department and held discussions with
government officials in Guwahati in September last year and February
11.
Earlier on September 2008, 306
cadres of ULFBV surrendered before the then Chief Minister Tarun
Gogoi in Guwahati. All the cadres later joined the Congress.
In a flag meeting held the BSF
and Pakistan Rangers agreed for their commitments to maintain
peace at the International border.
A Sector Commander-level flag
meeting held between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers in Suchetgarh
area of Jammu District, J&K. The flag meeting comprised of
nine officers’ team led by DIG BSF Jammu sector P.S. Dhiman representing
India and 11 officers of Pakistan Rangers led by the Sector Commander
of Sialkot (Pakistan Punjab) Brigadier Amjad Hussain representing
Pakistan. The flag meeting concluded with cordial atmosphere,
said an unnamed BSF official.
Pakistani troops resumed heavy
mortar shelling and firing in parts of Nowshera and Manjakote
sectors in Rajouri district in which an Army soldier was injured
and two houses were damaged.
|
February 24
|
CPI-Maoist couple Dasarathan
and Shenbagavalli, along with Dasarathan’s brother Vetriveerapandian,
was brought to Madurai in Tamil Nadu by the Tiruvallur Police.
The CPI-Maoist couple was arrested at Pullarambakkam in Tiruvallur
District of Tamil Nadu. They were brought to Kalavasal, where
they had reportedly stayed in the past.
GNLA ‘commander in chief’ Sohan
D Shira was killed in an encounter by SF-10 of Meghalaya Police
at Dobu A’chakpek in East Garo Hills District. olice had launched
an offensive against Shira after he was found to have been involved
in killing of NCP candidate. Meghalaya Police said that Sohan
was shot dead at around noon at Dobu A’chakpek during an encounter
with the Garo Hills Police. Police sources also and stated that
Shohan’s death is the end of militancy in Meghalaya. Police recovered
a H&K rifle with magazines, gelatin sticks, detonators among
other items from the spot of the encounter.
Eight people were wounded, two
with gunshot wounds in an incident of pre poll violence at Chungtia
in Mokokchung District on February 24, reports Northeast Today.
Mokokchung Superintendent (SP) stated that two platoons of SFs
were deployed at Chungtia village and brought the situation under
control. The SP also appealed and warned the public not to spread
rumors through social media about election related matters. As
per Police records more than 27 people have been arrested and
one killed in poll related matters under Mokokchung.
BSF troopers deployed in Zunheboto,
Kiphire, Phek and Kohima Districts are carrying out area domination,
patrolling and other operations to sanitize entire area of deployment
for smooth conduct of the election. According to BSF Commandant
‘because of alertness, active domination of the area and various
preventive measures by the BSF troops, there has been no any untoward
incident and peaceful environment has been created in these areas
before conduct of polling’.
AR recovered one .22 mm pistol
with magazine and one live round. The recovery was made in Half
Nagarjan under Dimapur from the house of NSCN-R militant militant
identified as Kevise Zomi.
Pakistani troops violated the
ceasefire along the LoC in Uri sector of Baramulla District, prompting
retaliatory fire from the Indian Army. The Pakistani troops resorted
to unprovoked firing on Indian posts along the LoC in Uri sector
in Baramulla District of north Kashmir around 11.50 am, an Army
official said. He said Indian soldiers were retaliating effectively
and no casualties have been reported so far. Pakistani troops
also fired few mortar shells in Lam area of Nowshera sector in
which some cattle perished.
The SFs are ‘well geared’ to
fight militants in Jammu and Kashmir and would continue to work
for peace and harmony in the state, a senior Army officer said.
Lieutenant General A K Bhatt, commander of Srinagar-based Chinar
Corps, said this after a high-level meeting of all security agencies
in Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama District. The meeting
was called to review intelligence gathering and operational preparedness.
“Entire Chinar Corps, which includes not just the Army but all
security forces, is well geared to fight against the terrorists
and would continue working towards bringing peace and harmony
in the region,” A K Bhatt said. Another Army official said officials
from the security agencies interacted with an array of functional-level
officers and reviewed the security situation in South Kashmir.
Acting upon the tip-off SF personnel
arrested an under-warrant Maoist, identified as Badse Hadma, son
of Hurra alias Bhima (30) of Pegdapalli, during
a joint search operation from a forest-covered area in Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh. The arrested Maoist was involved in
several criminal activities. Execution of a permanent warrant
is also pending against him, informed the Police sources.
|
February 25
|
Two CAF personnel, identified
as Puran Singh, ‘Assistant Platoon Commander’ and Constable Bhuvaneshwar
Yadav, were injured in an IED blast carried out by CPI-Maoist
cadres in the forests near Tarlaguda and Tarud villages in Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh.
Two SOG commandos sustained minor
injuries in an IED explosion during an anti- Naxal operation
at Badajhola forest under Sunabeda sanctuary in the Nuapada District
of Odisha. CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire with multiple SOG
teams in the forests. Some of the CPI-Maoist cadres also sustained
critical injuries and managed to flee. The SFs recovered CPI-Maoist
dresses, haversack, blankets, utensil, rations, medicines, Maoist
literature, wire, battery and polythene, said Police release.
According to a data released
by the Government of India (GoI), total 7.28 percent women are
employed with the Indian Police force, whereas out of this 2.47
percent has their presence in Naxal-affected region in Telangana.
Merely, 3.05 percent Police women are in the militancy-affected
State of J&K—which has a sanctioned strength of more than
80,000 Police personnel, read the statistics released by the UMHA.
The statistics are pitiful as the UMHA in its advisories in 2009,
2012, and 2016, had instructed all State Governments and the UTs
to increase the strength of Women Police force to 33 percent,
said an unnamed senior official. Among seven UTs, Chandigarh reported
to have the highest number of women in its Police force.
According to unidentified official
of the NIA, the arrested terror suspects were asked to purchase
and equipped with as much possible firearms from Bihar before
leaving for training in J&K. Three terror suspects—Mohammad
Anwar Hussain, Mohammad Shammi and Mohammad Shaad, who pledged
allegiance to IS were arrested from Gaya (Bihar) on February 10
by the team of NIA and the IB. Reportedly, Mohammad Shaad was
released on bail while other two were sent to jail. “Country-made
weapons and firearms are easily available at inexpensive rates
in Munger of Munger District (Bihar)—which is major hub of manufacturing
illegal firearms. Parts of firearms were made in Malda District
(West Bengal) and its surrounding areas. These are assembled and
given finishing touch in Munger,” said an unnamed IPS officer.
Earlier on February 1, Patna Police arrested Jaswinder Singh (28),
Robin Masih (27), Navdeep Singh (28), and Bachittar Veer Singh
(27) from Jauhari Niwas (a guesthouse) in Patna District (Bihar),
as they travelled from Amritsar, Punjab to purchase illegal firearms.
Acting upon the alert issued
by the Interpol and Telangana State Intelligence, the Immigration
Department officials arrested the managing director of Peace International
School—M.M. Akbar at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA)
in Hyderabad. Reportedly, M.M Akbar absconded since the
Kerala Police registered criminal charges against him for inciting
the communal hatred through preaching objectionable content in
his school’s syllabus. After the arrest, Akbar was handed-over
to the State Police officials for temporary custody. The officials
of Kerala Police would arrive on following day to take over Akbar’s
custody. There were Intelligence inputs that Akbar would be travelling
from Australia to Dubai and the flight would have a layover at
RGIA and Akbar would board the connecting flight on February 26.
But with the assistance from the Interpol and airport’s Immigration
Department, he got arrested at the airport, said an unnamed Intelligence
official.
Meghalaya DGP S.B Singh stated
that regrouping of GNLA cannot be ruled out since Drishti Rajkhowa
of ULFA-I is assisting them. According to DGP senior cadres like
Wallam, Nevak and Rahul can resurrect GNLA. ULFA-I and GNLA have
coordination in carrying out violent activities in Garo Hills
and the former has been assisting the GNLA to plant IEDs.
The DGP also stated that the
next target for the SFs was Drishti Rajkhowa, who is the ‘second
in command’ of ULFA-I. Rajkhowa had been a close aide of the slain
GNLA chief, providing safe havens in Bangladesh for GNLA cadres
and is also involved in training and supply of arms. Moreover,
Rajkhowa may make an attempt to regroup the GNLA or flee to Bangladesh.
The two outfits operated in tandem across Garo Hills and in parts
of Khasi Hills.
Police sources confirmed the
presence of Drishti Rajkhowa in the encounter area along with
Sohan D Shira on February 24 in which Shira was killed. According
to sources, information was received about the probable location
of GNLA militants group comprising of Sohan D Shira and Drishti
somewhere near Dobu Anchengbok at Bilwatgre village in East Garo
Hills. They also added that ‘It is confirmed that Drishti was
there with Sohan when the encounter took place but whether he
escaped or still in the area, this we don’t know as of now. Operation
is still on in the area. According to DGP ‘We have alerted the
BSF and other paramilitary forces to keep a vigil along the international
borders to intercept his movement in Garo Hills.
A Police Constable, identified
as Kultar Singh was killed by two militants at the main entrance
of shrine at Charar-e-Sharief in Budgam District. The militants
fired Kultar Singh at point blank range and fled away along with
his SLR service rifle. Soon after the incident, SFs cordoned off
the area and launched a hunt to nab the militants responsible
for the killing. However, no one was arrested so far. IGP Kashmir,
SP Pani said that the Policeman was at a guard post. “Due to Sunday,
many people were there. Someone opened a pistol fire at a very
close range. He got injured and till any assistance could reach
the spot, the attacker took away his rifle and fled from the spot”,
he said. Pani said that operation has been launched and Police
has got vital leads of the militants responsible for the killing.
“Two terrorists had fled away but we are looking into it. The
area was cordoned off immediately. We have got some leads and
we are working on them. Kultar Singh was working as a selection
grade constable in the armed wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police”,
he said.
Militants fired and killed another
Police person, identified as Farooq Ahmad Yatoo who was guarding
the residence of a senior APHC-M leader at Soura area of Srinagar
District and decamped with his service rifle. A senior Police
officer said that the militants attacked the Police guard, Farooq
Ahmad Yatoo at the residence of Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Qureshi
at Bilal Colony Soura in Srinagar District. He was shifted in
critical condition to nearby SKIMS hospital in Soura where he
succumbed to injuries. Militants also de-camped with the service
rifle of the Policeman.
Pakistani and Indian troops exchanged
heavy fire for over two hours along the LoC in Nowshera sector
of Rajouri District after the Pakistani troops began firing indiscriminately.
There was, however, no casualty reported in the firing which started
in Nowshera sector around 1645 hours and continued till 1850 hours,
sources said. The Pakistani army initiated “unprovoked and indiscriminate
firing of small arms, automatics and mortars”, prompting strong
and effective retaliation by the Indian troops guarding the LoC,
sources said.
A day after heavy shelling, there
was a relative calm in Uri in Baramulla District. However, over
1000 people of border villages of Balkote, Silikote, Tilwari,
Churanga, Hathlanga and its neighboring villages who fled February
24’s shelling are still in the camp set up by local administration
in Uri. The Army’s Brigade Commander, Brigadier YS Alawat on February
25 said that since February 19, Pakistan army has been continuously
carrying ceasefire violations along the LoC in Uri sector. “Displaying
extreme cowardice and unprofessionalism it has been targeting
innocent villagers living along the border and has been indiscriminately
using mortar shelling causing damage to the houses of the civilians”,
he said.
“In a befitting reply, the Army
has retaliated accurately and with heavy fire on the Pakistan
army post which was involved in the ceasefire violations”, he
said. The Brigadier said that the Pakistan army targeted the border
villages of Balkote, Silikote, Tilwari, churanga, Hathlanga and
its neighboring villages. “The villagers have been evacuated to
Government Higher Secondary School, Uri. As the first responder
on the ground, the Army has swung into action and immediately
provided much-required relief to the displaced villagers. Since
the commencement of the hostilities, the Army has extended medical
facilities to the injured villagers”, he added. The Brigade Commander
said that the local commanders on the ground are personally monitoring
the safety of the people and extending all the assistance that
is required on the ground. “So far the Army has provided food,
medicine, and potable water. While interacting with the villagers
they have requested more clothing and warm bedding owing to harsh
winters. So immediately we have provided sleeping bags and the
villagers have conveyed their appreciation for the timely assistance
of the Army”, he said.
In a joint operation based on
specific intelligence inputs, the BSF and the NIA arrested Asikul
Islam from his village at Malda District in West Bengal. Asikul
Islam alleged to use his bank accounts for the transactions related
to the September 2015 the FICNs case in which the DRI recovered
FICNs in denomination of INR 500 worth of INR 5,94,000 from an
accused Afroz Ansari from Ramgarhwa of Motihari District in Bihar.
A Lucknow resident— Manoj Kumar
Gupta (20) filed a complaint after he received a ‘group-join request’
on WhatsApp that claimed to have links with terror outfit— LeT.
Manoj Gupta—who worked in a private firm in Lucknow, received
another link on WhatsApp inviting him to join a ‘virtual’ group
namely MIM (full form is yet to be ascertained), said IG of Uttar
Pradesh ATS Asim Arun. ATS had traced and found that these links
were posted by an unidentified student of class 9, a 15 years-old
who is a resident of Bhilwara District in Rajasthan. The ATS team
is in contact with the family members of the boy and would probe
boy, said Asim Arun.
|
February 26
|
The Delhi Police filed a FIR
about the finding of the FICNs worth INR 4.21 crores that had
been deposited in different branches of 12 banks across the country.
Among 12 banks, the Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) reported 58,900
counts of FICNs worth INR 2.16 crores. The Delhi Police had received
complaints from 12 banks during February 14 and 15. The Police
team recovered the FICNs from the main repository of these 12
banks located at the Parliament Street in New Delhi and post-recovery
the FICNs were sent to the Forensic laboratory in Nagpur for further
examination. Along with the Police has prepared a list of people
who performed monetary transactions at these branches and will
initiate probe in the matter, said DCP of New Delhi Madhur Verma.
The South African Special Police
Unit-‘Hawks’ has arrested Fatima Patel (27)—an Indian-origin woman
and her partner—Safydeen Aslam Del Vecchio, alleged for their
links to IS and charged with kidnapping of an unidentified British
couple. Both, Fatima and Safydeen also face charges of robbery
and theft on counts of abusing the credit cards of the British
couple and shopped for jewellery, camping equipments, and other
electronic devices which were found with an IS flag flown at unspecified
location.
The NIA and the IB are on alert
upon ‘suspicious missing’ of a second-year medical student—Suhail
Aijaz (20) of AIIMS located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Suhail Aijaz—a
resident of Kupwara District in J&K on February 9, had left
his hostel in AIIMS on account of attending a friend’s marriage
in Chandigarh (Punjab and Haryana). He informed his friends that
he will be back to Odisha on February 16 however, he did not return
and on February 18, the AIIMS’ administration informed Police
about the incident, said an unnamed Police official. The AIIMS’
staff had found a letter from Suhail’s room, addressing his father—Aijaz
Ahmed which read that he [Suhail] is sorry for not meeting their
expectations, said Vice-Dean of the AIIMS (Bhubaneswar) Dr Prabhas
Ranjan Mishra. Aijaz’s mobile number was tracked to Kolkata (West
Bengal) but there are no developments afterwards as the mobile
had been switched off, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Bhubaneswar)
Satyabrata Bhoi.
A HM militant, identified as
Mushtaq Chopan was killed and a Policeman sustained splinter injuries
in a grenade blast at a Police station in Tral area of Pulwama
District. Police said that at around 12:30 PM, Mushtaq Chopan,
who was in custody of Police Station Tral tried to escape from
the Police Station wearing female burka. “When he was near the
main gate someone from outside lobbed a grenade as a part of the
planned conspiracy to divert the attention so that he could escape
conveniently. The grenade exploded inside the station nearby him
resulting into death of the said detainee and injury to one constable
Mehraj-ud-din”, Police said. Mushtaq Chopan was arrested along
with two other persons by Police and MARCOS at Watlab of Baramula
District on January 9. Tral area observed a complete shutdown
to mourn the death of Chopan. Shops and commercial establishments
remained shut while transport was also affected.
Later, Police have suspended
two Police personnel for laxity in duty in the attempted escape
bid of militant.
BSF troops foiled an infiltration
bid along the IB in Ramgarh sector of Samba District. BSF troops
at a border out post observed some movement along IB in Ramgarh
sector around 0500 hours today [February 26], sources said. They
fired several rounds and illumination flares, they said adding
that the suspected militants were forced back and the infiltration
bid was foiled. “Troops are on alert to foil any bid,” sources
said
Pakistan again violated ceasefire,
albeit for a very brief period, in Nowshera sector of Rajouri
District but there were no losses. Pakistani Army again resorted
to heavy mortar shelling along the LoC. Defence sources said Pakistani
forces started unprovoked firing and shelling targeting some Indian
positions and civilian areas in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District
around 9.30 am. Army troops retaliated the firing effectively
while intermittent exchange of fire was going on. No report of
any causality or injury from the Indian side so far has been reported.
On February 25 evening Pakistan also resorted to shelling in the
same sector. Indian Army claimed that more than 300 armed terrorists
are waiting to cross and enter India.
Army said that the recent ceasefire
violations by Pakistan are aimed at infiltrating militants, who
in large numbers are waiting at launch pads across the LoC in
PoK. GoC of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General A
K Bhatt said reporters on the sidelines of a passing out parade
at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Centre in Srinagar that
this year due to less snow, militants might attempt early infiltration.
“We have inputs of many infiltrators waiting at the launching
pads and we think infiltration will start sooner this year because
of less snow. But we are taking counter measures. One reason for
the firing can be this (to push infiltrators). Whenever there
is firing by Pakistan, it is certain there is an attempt to push
infiltrators. The same thing happened in Kupwara and Tanghdar,”
the GOC said. He added that the militants are waiting in groups
of 30-40 at many places near the LoC in PoK. “The militants waiting
across the LoC are in groups of 30-40 at many places from Lepa
valley to Mandal area, near 161 brigade, Rampur, and other areas,
he said.
A K Bhatt said that Army will
not open entire front but will retaliate wherever Pakistan indulges
in aggressive action or pushes in infiltrators. “The cease fire
violations, initiated by Pakistan, have been appropriately responded
to. But I would also like to tell you it is more of a local affair
where due to their actions we have reacted at specific places.
We do not intend to open the entire front. Our only thing is that
we will retaliate if Pakistan indulges in any aggressive action
or pushes infiltrators across,” he said.
In two separate combined search
operations, joint teams of Army and Police recovered a major cache
of weapons, ammunition and other war like stores in Hari Budha
and Bhatidhar forests in Poonch District. Acting on a specific
input on likely dump of arms, a joint search operation by RR and
Police was launched in the two forests. During the search operation,
two pistols, grenades of various types including RPGs and UBGL
grenades, communication equipment, GPS, IEDs/ explosives, ammunition
of AK 47 and other war like stores were recovered. Currency worth
INR 50,000 was also found at the site of recovery. This successful
operation has foiled the nefarious designs of militants, sources
said.
The Islamic State (IS)’s mouthpiece
claimed responsibility for February 25’s attack in which a Policeman
guarding the residence of Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Qureshi was
killed. The incident took place in Soura area of Srinagar, and
militants escaped with the slain Policeman’s rifle. “Assassinated
an element of police in firing near city of Srinagar in Kashmir
yesterday [February 25],” Al Amaq News Agency of the IS
has claimed. This is the second time in three months that the
IS has claimed responsibility for an attack on Policemen in Srinagar.
Sources in Jammu and Kashmir
Police said eyewitness accounts hint towards the role of a recent
militant recruit, Esa Fazili. “There were apprehensions that Esa
may have links with the Islamic State,” a senior Police officer
privy to probe details said. “Yesterday’s [February 25] incident,
and the IS claim, has given credence to such reports.” Sources
said responsibility for the attack was first taken by the IS on
a Telegram channel ‘Kashmir Villayah’. Earlier it was reported
that the state police had found a few closed Telegram channels
of the IS in Kashmir.
A resident of Soura, Esa Fazili
was studying engineering at BGSB University in Rajouri before
joining the militant ranks in August last year, sources said.
They said Fazili had initially joined the Zakir Musa-led group
of militants but when Zakir announced setting up Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind,
an al Qaeda affiliate, in Kashmir, Fazili had differences, as
he was more inclined towards the Islamic State.
Earlier in November 2017, Al
Amaq had claimed that the IS had carried out an attack in
Zakura, on Srinagar’s outskirts, in which a Policeman and a militant
had been killed. The agency, however, had said that a Pakistani
policeman was killed in the attack, raising doubts about its claim.
The channel ‘Al-Qaraar’, investigation has found, also claimed
that Srinagar militant Mugees Ahmad Mir, who was killed on November
17 last year in an encounter with the police, was the first militant
of the terror outfit.
SFs gunned down an unidentified
LeT militant, identified as Abu Haris in an encounter at Khosh
Mohalla in Bandipora District. According to sources, the encounter
began late on February 26 night when three terrorists, holed up
in a house, opened fire at a joint team of CRPF, Army and Police.
Though they managed to escape, one of the terrorists was killed
in the retaliatory fire. Sources said militant sympathizers used
the cover of darkness to facilitate the escape of the terrorists.
“Nobody was retrieved from the site on Monday [February 26]. But
we later learnt that one of the terrorists, injured in the encounter,
has died,” said IGP Kashmir Range S P Pani. The body of the militant
was recovered on February 27.
Reports said that the slain LeT
militant was buried in Hajin Bandipora District and a large number
of people attended his funeral. This is for the first time in
recent past that a foreign militant has been buried by the locals,
said the report. The authorities had barred people from burying
the foreign militants after a huge funeral was witnessed to Abu
Qasim, LeT ‘commander’ who was killed in a gunfight with SFs in
2015. Police said that the militant had escaped with the help
of his accomplices after an encounter with SFs on February 26.
Police could not take the body in order to avoid any breach of
law and order situation in the area. Police said they are mulling
action against those who gave him shelter. Police said a case
has been registered and those behind will be identified and action
as per law will be taken against them. It may be mentioned here
that in order to prevent glamorizing of militants, Police is mulling
to stop large and multiple funerals of militants. They will take
the administration of local Masjids into confidence to prevent
huge funerals of the militants.
A militant identified as Naorem
Premkanta Singh who was involved in the 2015 Paralon ambush
which killed 18 soldiers has revealed that the ambush party
was in India for five days after the attack, before they crossed
over to Myanmar on foot. he militants were inside India from June
2 to June 9. According to interrogation details, the attack was
carried out jointly by KCP, KYKL and NSCN-K.
He also revealed that the militants
crossed over to India from Munnan village. He stated that ‘A party
of 10 cadres was already waiting. We were asked to don our uniforms
and were given weapons. Our leader, Tamba, asked us to follow
him and we were not briefed here. We walked the whole night and
took only 5-10 minutes of break after every one hour of walk.
We rested on June 3 to avoid detection’.
After the ambush they walked
continuously from June 4 to 7, and on June 9 crossed back to Myanmar.
Naorem Premkanta Singh was arrested in January by NIA. Later on
February 23, a militant Moirangthem Nimaichand Meitei from Bishupur
was also arrested by the NIA in connection with the 2015 ambush.
Assam Irrigation, Handloom and
Textile Minister Ranjit Dutta stated that Assam CM is taking
an initiative to meet his Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu to
resolve the border issue between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the Minister Chief Minister-level talks on the Assam-Arunachal
boundary issue will be held very soon by involving the people
from both sides of inter-state boundary, especially those residing
in the affected areas.
ULFA-I expressed its condolences
regarding the death of GNLA‘commander- in-chief’ Sohan D
Shira. Paresh Baruah also refuted rumours circulating on social
media that Drishti Rajkhowa of ULFA-I has been made new chief
of GNLA. The ULFA-I ‘chief’ stated that ‘ULFA ‘constitution’ does
not allow this under as it does not recognize the Indian Constitution
and according to reports suggest that it may be the exclusive
reason for ULFA-I not supporting the plea of GNLA to make Drishti
Rajkhowa (Manoj Rabha) its new ‘commander-in-chief’ after the
death of Sohan D Shira.
GNLA has been fighting for a
separate Garoland state within the Indian Union while ULFA-I is
fighting to secede from India. According to a social media
post a meeting was held between GNLA cadres and Rajkhowa after
the death of Sohan after which it was decided to appoint Rajkhowa
as the ‘new commander in chief’. The decision was apparently taken
by the five senior most cadres of the outfit. The post further
stated that Rajkhowa has promised to bring in about 50 ULFA cadres
to add firepower to the GNLA. The social media post was posted
by a Facebook user identified as Gongbin Marak.
The handle has been used by multiple users including Sohan D Shira.
Four CPI-Maoist cadres, identified
as ‘sub-zonal commander’ Rakesh Bhuiyan, Lallu Yadav, Rinki and
Ruby, were killed in an encounter at Lalaghati-Naudiha area of
the Palamu District of Jharkhand, with joint team of the 134th battalion
of the CRPF and State Police which was out on an anti-Maoist operation.. The
bodies of the four CPI-Maoist cadres were recovered by the Police.
The SFs also recovered two SLRs, five magazines and 219 bullets
from the spot, said Police. Bhuiyan was carrying a reward of INR
one million on his head, while Bimal Yadav alias Lallu
Yadav, carried a reward INR 500,000 on his head.
Three cadres of PLFI, a splinter
group of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Prasanna Gudiya, Hilarious
Gudiya, and Dhiraj Kandulna were arrested at Parezghag village
in Khunti District of Jharkhand. The Police recovered three bikes,
two country-made revolvers and live cartridges were recovered
from them, said SP, Ashwini Kumar Sinha.
SF personnel recovered a mutilated
body of a villager, identified as Bedma Tameya, from Bhattigunda
forest in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Tameya was allegedly
abducted by a group of CPI-Maoist cadres from his village three
days ago (February 23) on the suspicion of being a ‘Police informer’.
Three SF personnel were injured
in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres on a hillock between
Mungari and Dulargufa under Barsoor Police Station limits in Dantewada
District of Chhattisgarh. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of
the STF and the DRG raided a Maoist hideout on the hillock, about
18 kilometres from Barsoor, and Basoor is around 450 kilometres
from the State capital Raipur. “During the raid, there was a heavy
exchange of fire. The troops fought back bravely and destroyed
the hideout,” the DIG, South Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said. The
injured soldiers were identified as Samadu Aarakshak (DRG), Sunil
Nag (DRG) and Ravindra Yadav (STF).
Police arrested a Maoist, identified
as Pillu Ursa (35), while carrying out a search and combing operation
in Farshegarh village under Mandem Police Station area in Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh.
Four Maoists, including top ranking
Maoist leader Ganesh Uike's gunman, Partha Munna, surrendered
before SP, Mohit Garg, in Bijapur District in Chhattisgarh. The
other three Maoists are identified as Totti Santu, Mahadev and
Telam Budrulu. Munna, who served as the ‘Secretary’ of the LOC
carried a reward of INR 800,000. While, Santu and Mahadev carried
a head money of INR 200,000 each, there was no such reward on
Badrulu.
Nine Maoist cadres active in
Chintagufa area, surrendered before Police in Sukma District of
Chhattisgarh.
CPI-Maoist issued a statement,
calling for protests against the lynching of tribal youth Madhu
in Attapadi in Kerala. The statement issued by CPI-Maoist
spokesperson Jogi said the incident reflects the cruel racist
onslaught by Malayalis against the tribal community which must
be resisted by all progressive forces. The statement by the WGSZC
of the CPI-Maoist, which was dropped in news boxes of
Wayanad Press Club, alleged that hundreds of tribal people had
been murdered in the tribal regions of the state, including Attapadi.
|
February 27
|
The NIA submitted the evidences
before the NIA Court in Kochi, Kerala— including IS’ documentaries
and videos recovered from the digital devices of the accused—Mohammad
Riyas/Riyaz Rashid, Fawas Jamal and Siyad, in a case of forcefully
conversion and forged marriage. Opposing the bail plea filed by
the accused, the NIA presented a Case Diary (CD) before the NIA
Court. In the evidence report submitted by the NIA’s prosecutor
Arjun Ambalapatta, the NIA managed to recovered a deleted documentary
of Syria from a digital device acquired from Mohammad Riyas and
several videos related to IS was found on the digital device belong
to Fawas Jamal.
The Sikh radical groups based
out of India had put forward their demands which includes a ‘Vatican-like’
status for Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab
and Akal Takht (a Sikh authoritarian institution), and an apology
from Indian PM Narendra Modi at a global forum for the 1984 Military-led
Operation Blue Star. The contact related to the matter was established
by the UK-based Sikh groups via Jasdev Singh Rai, Director of
the Sikh Human Rights Forum, before the visit of PM Modi to London
in November 2015, which results to the initiation of formal talks
on the matter between PM Modi and 30 Sikh members during their
meeting. The interests of talks were highlighted in previous Indian
Government too, but with Modi-led Government, the talk process
picked up speed, said an unnamed person related to the developments.
The Government had pointed out that former PM Manmohan Singh had
apologised in Parliament in 2011 for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
— which followed the assassination of then-PM Indira Gandhi, itself
a consequence of Operation Blue Star — but the Sikh groups responded
by saying that this apology had been meant only for “Indian Sikhs”.
ceasefire violations (CFVs) already
jumping to over 400 in the first two months of this year (2018).
Apart from civilians, Pakistan has lost 23 soldiers in the firing
duels, while the tally for India is 16 till now. If this trend
continues-and it has shown no signs of ebbing as yet-then 2018
is likely to record the highest number of CFVs along the LoC in
15 years since the ceasefire along the 198-km IB in J&K, the
778-km LoC and the 110-km AGPL in Siachen came into force as a
confidence-building measure between the two countries on November
26, 2003.
The step-up in cross-border hostilities,
which saw as many as 860 CFVs along the LoC and another 120 along
the IB in 2017, began soon after Indian Para-Special Forces conducted
the "surgical strikes" against terror launch pads in
four different locations in PoK to avenge the killing of 19 Indian
soldiers in a suicide attack at the Army camp in Uri in September
2016.
As part of its policy to "pro-actively
dominate" the 778-km LoC through punitive fire assaults and
guerilla operations, the Indian Army has destroyed several Pak
Army posts in areas like Balnoi, Mendhar, Kalal, Keran, Doda,
Sarla, Laleali and Banwat over the last four to five months, as
reported earlier.
"The Pak Army posts aiding
and abetting infiltration are being targeted. As per assessments,
there are almost 400 terrorists in and around launch pads, both
south and north of the Pir Panjal range, waiting to infiltrate
into J&K," said an officer. With even 105mm light field
guns, heavy 120mm mortars and anti-tank guided missiles being
regularly used by both sides over the last few months, the latest
bout of heavy shelling took place in and around the Uri sector
last week. Though the shelling in Uri has reduced a little now,
the Pak Army earlier even used loudspeakers to warn villagers
in the area that it was going to open fire to avenge the killings
of its soldiers by the Indian Army. "The warning was probably
meant for villagers in PoK to take shelter. But the villagers
on our side also fled the area," said an officer.
If India lost 32 soldiers in
CFVs, infiltration and other incidents along the LoC in 2017 (another
30 laid down their lives in counter-terrorism operations in the
hinterland), Army sources estimate 130-140 Pakistan soldiers were
killed in the same year based on radio intercepts, intelligence
inputs and other information collated from different sources.
Pakistan army morning resorted
to heavy mortar shelling and firing in Manjakote and Balakote
sectors along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch Districts, leading
to injuries to two BSF personnel. A number of houses and other
structures were also damaged in the shelling. Two BSF jawans,
identified as Balwinder Singh (23) and Dhana Shekhar (37) were
injured when mortar shells exploded close to their posts in Balakote
sector (Poonch District), near Bhimber Gali (BG) (Rajouri District).
They were immediately evacuated from the site of shelling and
shifted to hospital, where they were responding to the treatment.
At about 8 am when the people
had started taking to fields while students were headed for schools,
Pakistan army started heavy mortar shelling and firing with automatic
and semi-automatic weapons in Manjakote sector of Rajouri and
Balakote sector of Poonch simultaneously, targeting forward posts
of Army and BSF and civilian areas, official sources said. Several
mortar shells fell in civilian areas of Balakote but the location
population had narrow escape as they had rushed back to their
houses and bunkers. Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Dr Shahid Iqbal
Choudhary said that in Manjakote, heavy mortar shelling was reported
from Tarkundi Gali, Lambi Bari, Khori Nar, Dhar and Panjgrain
village.
Pakistani troops also fired mortar
shells at Chakla and Baldoo areas of Khour sector in Jammu District.
The Indian side retaliated Pakistan army’s shelling and firing
effectively. Exchanges continued for over two hours. Sources said
Pakistan side was reported to have suffered heavy damages in retaliatory
firing by the Indian troops all along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch
districts, where shelling and firing from across has become a
routine affair.
Ceasefire violations along the
LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir have left 21 persons including
12 security personnel dead and over 80 others, mostly civilians,
injured this year (2018). While there were no ceasefire violations
by Pakistan reported along the IB since January 22, intermittent
shelling has become a routine affair along the LoC in Rajouri
and Poonch Districts. Shelling had recently also spread to Uri
sector of Kashmir. Sources said since Pakistan side has suffered
heavy casualties, both fatal and non-fatal of their troops and
infrastructural damages at the hands of Indian Army, they were
now targeting civilian.
The Central Government sought
to downplay the issue of presence of dreaded terror group Islamic
State (IS) in Jammu and Kashmir saying it has no existence in
the Valley. “There is no physical infrastructure or manpower of
the IS in the Valley. It does not exist in the Valley,” a UMHA
spokesperson said in New Delhi. The Central Government’s assertion
came after the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the
killing of a Policeman, Farooq Ahmad Yatoo, in Jammu-Kashmir on
February 25. Another official said Pakistan-based terror group
LeT could be behind the attack on the Policeman, and Esha Fazali,
a local militant who first joined the HM and later shifted his
allegiance to LeT, has emerged as the prime suspect.
Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid
said in Srinagar that it was now clear that IS had carried out
the attack and it is “indeed a worrying sign”. In November 2017,
there were reports that the global terror organisation was involved
in an encounter with SFs in Srinagar where a terrorist, identified
as Mugees, was killed and a Sub-Inspector, Imran Tak, lost his
life. Amaq, which is the official news agency of IS, had
claimed responsibility for that attack. Pictures of Mugees with
the ISIS flag in the background surfaced on social media. Even
his body was wrapped in the flag of the banned terror group during
funeral. On the other hand, security officials had then claimed
that Mugees belonged to an extremist group called Tehrik-ul- Mujahideen
and was its Pulwama District ‘commander’.
Two CPI-Maoist militia cadres
identified as Raghunath Nayak and Peter Mallick of Birikote
village under Mohana block in Gajapati District of Odisha. The
arrested duo were involved in a number of deadly attacks carried
out in and around the Birikote area by the CPI-Maoist in
2008, said Mukesh Lakra, IIC, Adaba Police Station.
Three SF personnel were injured
during an encounter between the SFs and armed CPI-Maoist
cadres in Abhujmarh forest at Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
The injured SFs, identified as Sunil Nag, Somdu and Ravindra Yadav
were airlifted and admitted to a private hospital, where their
condition was stated to be stable. The CPI-Maoist cadres were
hiding on a hill top, triggered a landmine blast and opened indiscriminate
firing on the SFs. A joint anti- Naxal operation
was launched in Abhujmarh forest, under Barsur Police Station
area by Narayanpur and Dantewada Police, along with the CRPF,
said SP, KL Kashyap.
|
February 28
|
Former Khalistani militant -
Jaspal Atwal, a Canadian Sikh had an e-visa to India. Jaspal Atwal
raised the controversy by attending an event in Mumbai during
the visit of Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to India concluded
on February 24. As Atwal’s name had been removed from the UMHA’s
list of prohibited Sikh militants in 2016, there was no clause
that would hindered him to obtain an e-visa to India. Like other
Canadian citizens, Atwal has a privilege to acquire an e-visa,
but it shall not meant that Indian Government had any role in
him being in India or extending an invitation to him to the event
hosted to honour the Canadian PM Trudeau. The Canadian High Commission
(CHC) managed the guest-list and Government of India has no interference
in this, said an unnamed Indian official who is involved in the
developments in the matter. Atwal had served five years of a 20-year
imprisonment after being convicted of an attempt to assassinate
an Indian politician Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver Island during
his visit to Canada in 1986.
The UAE deported Rehan Abidi—resident
of Uttar Pradesh and other four unidentified persons who are accused
to be IS operatives, from Abu Dhabi to India. Apart from Rehan
Abidi, two persons belong to Mumbai, Maharashtra and other two
belong to Chennai (Tamil Nadu). All five suspects are of the age
group of 20-25 years and well known to each other. The UAE Intelligence
agency intercepted the communication between them in which they
were laying out a plan to recruit more persons and wage jihad
against India. They were in contact with their IS leaders, said
an unnamed Indian Intelligence officer. The Indian Intelligence
agencies would probe Rehan Abidi and his associates over their
plans. The UAE law-enforcement authorities had kept them in custody
for almost three months on the basis of strong evidences of their
connection with IS, said an unnamed officer involved with the
case. The Indian Intelligence agencies refused to reveal the name
of other four suspects except Rehan Abidi.
However, Indian Intelligence
agencies found no connection between all five suspects and any
terrorist organisation. These five Indian youths were deported
not for any terror links but because of ‘undesirable activities’
in the UAE. Reportedly, they were together in a ‘party’ therefore,
a homosexuality angle was also being investigated, which is a
crime in UAE.
An ex-KLF member, Gurdev Singh
Tanda—who was deported by Thailand Government, was produced before
the Court in Amritsar and send to five days Police custody. Gurdev
Singh had been active in propagating anti-India activities and
was wanted in a terrorism related case of 2010. He was in Thailand
since 2007, said an unnamed official.
Three Pakistani troopers were
killed and two others were injured while three posts of the enemy
were decimated as Indian Army launched major offensive against
Pakistan’s forward posts in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri District,
which were trying to hit civilian targets. Sources said that the
India Army launched major offensive against Pakistani troops in
Sunderbani sector this morning to silence their guns, which were
pounding forward posts of the Army and civilian areas. In the
retaliatory action, three Pakistani troopers were killed and two
others were injured while their three posts were destroyed. “Mortar
shelling and firing from Pakistan side stopped immediately after
the Indian action,’’ sources said, adding that hectic activity
was seen in Pakistani camp with ambulances ferrying dead and injured
to hospitals. However, there were no casualties or losses on the
Indian side in Sunderbani sector, sources said, adding that number
of mortar shells fell in civilian areas in which the local villagers
had narrow escape.
There was no let-up in heavy
shelling and firing, which continued in Nowshera and Sunderbani
sectors of Rajouri and Khour sector of Pallanwalla in Jammu district
for second consecutive day on February 28. Around 72 educational
institutions were ordered to be shut down by the district administration
in border villages of Rajouri district falling within shelling
and firing range of Pakistan army in Nowshera, Manjakote and Sunderbani
sectors. Pakistani troops also continued heavy shelling for second
consecutive day in Nowshera and Khour sectors along the LoC, which
was retaliated by the Indian side effectively at all the places,
leading to exchanges. The administration of Rajouri, a district
worst hit by Pakistani shelling, today ordered closure of 72 educational
institutions in three zones of the district, which falls with
shelling and firing range, till March 5. Deputy Commissioner,
Rajouri, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that apart from closure of
educational institutions, the Middle standard examinations are
also being postponed as number of examination centres fall within
shelling range.
Militants shot at and critically
injured a former militant, identified as Aijaz Ahmad Shah at main
town Tral in Pulwama District in the evening. Aijaz Ahmad Shah,
a resident of Tral received bullet wounds in his legs after being
fired upon by the gunmen at around 6.10 pm in the main town. The
area was cordoned off and searches were conducted against the
assailants. A Police spokesman said that “at about 6.20 pm today
[February 28], some unknown militants fired upon one Aijaz Ahmad
Shah near Gol Masjid, Tral. He was immediately taken to SDH Tral
wherefrom he has been referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for treatment.
His condition is stated to be critical. Police is investigating
the case”.
A GNLA militant identified as
Panseng R. Sangma surrendered in East Garo Hills District. He
was with GNLA ‘commander in chief’ Sohan D Shira on the day the
latter was killed. According to SP Ringrang Momin the militant
stated that Sohan D Shira had taken all the 11 remaining cadres
including ULFA-I ‘second in command’ Drishti Rajkhowa on
day of encounter( Feb 24).
Nine CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Muchaki Lakhma (22), Muchaki Kosa (25), Mandvi Lakhma
(25), Nuppo Latham (37), Nuppo Ganga (30), Sodi Hidma (30), Nuppo
Dual (55), Sodi Mukka Hidma (50) and Sodi Joga (19) were arrested
during a search operation by SFs in Bhejji area of Sukma
District of Chhattisgarh. The joint operation was conducted by DRG,
DF, CRPF and CoBRA battalion of the CRPF. Muchaki
Lakhma had arrest warrants pending against him in Bhejji and Konta
Police Stations. The arrested CPI-Maoist cadres were involved
in attack on a Police team in Elarmadgu forest of Bhejji
on February 18, 2018 in which two Police personnel were killed
and six others were injured. They were also involved in an incident
on the same day in which a labourer was killed and construction
equipment and vehicles engaged in road construction were set ablaze,
said Senior Police official.
Five CPI-Maoist cadres,
identified as Madivi Mangaiah (26), Kudam Nangaiah (30),
Madakam Deva (21), Sodi Devaiah (29) and Sodi Mukaiah (25) were
arrested at Korakatpadu in Charla Mandal in Bhadradri
Kothagudem District in Telangana. The Police seized consignment
containing 25 saline bottles and 20 intravenous infusion sets
besides tablets for fever and gastritis, among other medicines,
worth around INR 5000 from arrested CPI-Maoist cadres. The
militia members had bought the medicines from a shop in Bhadrachalam
as directed by some CPI-Maoist leaders based in the
Dandakaranya forest region of adjoining Chhattisgarh, said Police.
|
March 1
|
The US Counterterrorism Coordinator,
Nathan Sales stated that India is an incredible and ‘close’ counterterrorism
partner of the US and the future of bilateral cooperation in combating
the terrorism is bright for both countries. The meetings between
the US President Trump and Indian PM Modi held crucial and very
productive meetings earlier in their administration, and as a
result of those meetings, the US Government and the Indian Government
are committed to initiate a powerful partnership in the counterterrorism,
said Nathan Sales. During Indian PM Modi’s visit to the US in
June 2017, both, India and the US had vowed to strengthen cooperation
against terror outfits like JeM, LeT and D-Company (Dawood Ibrahim’s
organisation), also urged Pakistan to ensure that its soil is
not used for terror strikes against other nations.
The NIA registered a case against
Bangladesh-based terror outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team. The decision
was taken after the UMHA directed the NIA to take up the case
against the ABT operatives, after the arrest of Bangladesh national
Umar Farukh alias Mahi alias Ali alias Mohammad Aftab Khan on
February 28. On November 21, 2017, the Kolkata STF arrested three
terrorists of ABT who revealed that they had come to Kolkata to
procure arms. The ABT is a proscribed terror outfit in Bangladesh.
One suspected LeT militant was
killed in an encounter with SFs at Hajin in Bandipora District
in the wee hours. “One terrorist of LeT apparently FT [foreign
terrorist] killed in an encounter in Hajin Bandipore today morning
[March 1] in a joint operation of J&K Police/Army/ CRPF,”
Director General of State Police SP Vaid tweeted. The encounter
ensued when SFs launched a cordon and search operation at Hajin’s
Shakoor Din Mohalla in the morning after receiving information
about presence of militants there, Jammu and Kashmir Police said
in a statement. Arms and ammunition, including AK 47 rifles, and
other incriminating materials were also recovered from the encounter
site. Prima facie it appeared that the dead militant belonged
to outlawed LeT and was a Pakistani national, the statement said.
Two soldiers were injured in
firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Poonch
and Rajouri Districts. Pakistan army initiated unprovoked and
indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, and mortars from
8.45am on March 1 along the LoC in Bhimber Gali (BG) sector of
Poonch District, a defence spokesman said. He added that Pakistani
forces also violated ceasefire from 10.30am on March 1 at Nowshera,
Kalal and Sunderbani sectors along the LoC in Rajouri District.
The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively, he said.
In the firing and shelling today [March 1], two soldiers suffered
minor injuries and were hospitalized, an official said.
Suspected militants in the night
attacked a Police Station in Shopian in Shopian District by firing
at it. The fire was returned by Police creating panic in the area.
Later, SFs cordoned off the area and conducted searches. However,
no one was arrested.
An NSCN-K militant identified
as Vepa Hekho was arrested from Kohima District. The arrested
militant was involved in extortion from in Kohima.
Ten CPI-Maoist cadres, including
six women and one Greyhound constable, identified as Sushil
Kumar were killed in an encounter near Pujarikanker in Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh, along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.
The encounter started at around 4 PM on March 1, when the Greyhounds
of Telangana, assisted by Special Police Personnel from Chhattisgarh,
started the combing operation. The combing team came across at
least 50-100 CPI-Maoist cadres in a forest near Pujarikanker,
and asked them to surrender but the Maoists opened fire. All the CPI-Maoist
cadres killed are suspected to be from the TSC and combing
operations started after a tip-off about a big meeting of CPI-Maoist
somewhere along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The Police
also recovered one AK-47, one SLRs, two single bore rifles, five INSAS
assault rifle, one .303 rifle, one pistol, three claymore
mines, six rocket bombs, two solar plates, seven kit bags, a Sony
radio, empty cartridges, live ammunition of different calibre, Naxal literature
and INR 41,000 cash from the encounter site. The dead Maoists
include member of the NTSZC and ‘action team commander’, Dadaboina
Swamy alias Prabhakar (53) of Ramapeta village under Kazipet
Mandal of Warangal District (Telangana); member of the
CRC Doctor’s team’ and a ACM, Rame alias Pande of Gollapalli
in Karimnagar District (Telangana); member of the ‘CRC Doctor’s
team’ and a ‘A-Section Commander’, Mallesh alias Baman
of Dunga Indravati of Bhairamgarh, Bijapur District (Chhattisgarh);
‘CRC Dalam member’, Kosi of Rangaigudem in Dornapal, Dantewada
District (Chhattisgarh); and Dalam members – Ithu of Thippapuram
in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District (Telangana); Kamala of West
Bastar (Chhattisgarh); Pedda Budri of Sukma District (Chhattisgarh);
Ratna of Bijapur District (Chhattisgarh); Sukki of Gangloor,
Dantewada District (Chhattisgarh) and Somidi of Sukma District
(Chhattisgarh).
Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay stated
that SFs could not afford to drop its guard against ULFA (I),
which has of late made its presence felt in certain pockets along
Assam Border. He stated that ‘The issue remains that in certain
pockets their activities have increased… They are taking advantage
of pockets bordering Arunachal Pradesh, Myanmar and Nagaland.
They are down but not out. So we just can’t afford to relax. But
we are working closely with all our stakeholders in these areas
and trying to see that we have a strong counter response to all
this’.
He also added that Official reports
of the GoI say that ULFA-I activities have gone down by more than
50 per cent.
|
March 2
|
Two Pakistan army personnel were
killed as Indian troops retaliated to heavy mortar shelling and
firing by Pakistani army in several sectors on the LoC in Rajouri,
Poonch and Jammu Districts. According to report, war like situation
prevailed along the border as mortar shells landed as close as
Nowshera town in Rajauri District, leading to strong wave of panic
among the people during the past two days. Later, Pakistan confirmed
the killing of its two soldiers at Bhimber in Samahini sector
opposite Rajouri District and identified the slain Army personnel
as Sepoy Muneer Chohan (32), resident of village Kahuta and Sepoy
Amir Hussain (28), resident of Bhimber. It also released the photographs
of dead army men. The Indian retaliation, apart from killing two
more Pakistani troops taking their death toll during last three
days to five, also led to heavy infrastructural damages on Pakistan
side for which Pakistan’s Director General (South Asia & SAARC)
Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh
and condemned ‘ceasefire violations’ by India.
Two Army personnel and two civilians
were injured on the Indian side while number of houses and other
structures were damaged and several cattle were either killed
or injured in the continued shelling. Two Army personnel, identified
as Naib Subedar Tarsem Singh and Sepoy Sandeep Rai were injured
in Pakistan shelling at Sonawali Gali in Mankote sector of Poonch
District while a civilian, Ex-Subedar Suresh Kumar was injured
in Nowshera sector in Rajauri District. Another civilian sustained
minor injuries in Mendhar in Poonch District.
Sources said that during past
48 hours, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire at Nowshera and
Sunderbani sectors in Rajouri, Khour sector in Jammu, Mendhar,
Balakote and Mankote in Poonch by using very long range mortar
shells like 120mm, besides 82mm, to target civilian population
and forward posts of the Army. Such was the intensity of Pakistan’s
shelling that one of the mortar shells fell close to Hanjana bridge
near Nowshera town. However, it went down into the river and failed
to cause any casualties or damage. Number of mortar shells in
the sectors, hit by shelling, fell in civilian areas. Sources
said nearly two dozen houses were damaged, extensively as well
as partially, in Pakistan shelling on March 1 while number of
cattle were killed or injured in Pakistani shelling. Exact losses
were being worked out by the administration. They added that civilians
had narrow escape as number of mortar shells narrowly missed the
intended targets in shelling-hit sectors.
A boy, who joined militancy early
this year (2018), returned home following an appeal by his mother
in Kulgam District. A senior Police officer said that responding
to the appeals of crying mother, Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul
Ahad Bhat of Tantraypora Kulgam on March 2 returned home leaving
path of violence. He was active with HM for last 38 days. Four
Kashmiri youths, who had taken to militancy, shunned the path
of violence and returned to the mainstream in 2017.
A fresh video of Naveed Jutt,
a top Pakistani LeT militant who escaped from a hospital in Srinagar
in February 6, has surfaced in social media. In the latest video,
Naveed Jutt is seen in fatigues, an automatic rifle in his hand,
walking up to a group of armed militants of the HM in a forest
area of the Valley. However, Police officials have refused to
comment on the video saying they were verifying its veracity.
The video is believed to have been filmed somewhere in a forest
area of south Kashmir, as Jutt had joined Saddam Padder in Pulwama
after his escape from custody from the SMHS hospital on February
6. The incident also confirms police suspicions that the lines
between some of the terror groups were thinning.
Two Policemen, on escort duty
with Jutt, were shot dead by the militant and his accomplices
before he made his escape. Four people were arrested by Police
for facilitating Jutt's escape. Naveed's escape was seen as an
indictment of the security protocol at the Srinagar central jail.
A probe into Naveed Jutt's escape had revealed that the plan to
get the Lashkar terrorist released had been in the works for four
months. Police believe that the urgency to get the Lashkar ‘commander’
out could have something to do with the success of SFs in eliminating
the LeT's commanders Abu Qasim, Abu Dujana and Abu Ismail.
The JeM, terrorist group based
in Pakistan, is continuing with its anti-India tirade with threats
to Indian PM Narendra Modi and the Indian State at the behest
of its ISI masters. While addressing a rally in Bhawalpur in Punjab
Province (Pakistan), Ameer of JeM, Molvi Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar
challenged India that his cadres were heading towards Delhi and
if India could stop them, let it do so. He said in his speech,
"Modi, if you could stop JeM Mujahideen, let you try. Instead
of spending 15,000 crore Rupees on purchase of gums for Army,
it should be spent on procuring wood for burning the dead bodies
of Indians, because so many people would be killed that there
will be shortage of wood for burning their dead bodies. Right
from Afzal Guru to Adnan Shaheed, the death of each 'martyr' would
be avenged." Pakistan continues to provide platform to dreaded
terrorists to stage anti-India protests despite facing worldwide
condemnation for sheltering terrorists on its territory.
Asghar said in his speech, "The
world would see the day when the name of JeM would be written
in Indian Parliament at the spot which had touched the bullet
from the gun of Arsalan Shaheed". "Gazva-e-Hind had
started from Pathankot and then proceeded ahead. Jammu had been
shattered and now Delhi was getting to be shattered", added
Asghar in his hated speech. He added, "The spirit of taking
revenge had not ended. Muslim girls of Gujarat, Muslims of Bangladesh
and the people killed in Kashmir were not forgotten. The situation
had changed now and jihad was in high spirits. Muslim Army of
Allah would carry out jihad and the Indian opportunists would
be kept behind bars".
Abdul Rauf Asghar is the brother
of Maulana Masood Azhar, the founder of UN designated terrorist
group JeM. India listed Azhar as one of its most wanted terrorists
due to his history of militant activities. JeM’s primary motive
is to separate Kashmir from India and merge it into Pakistan.
It has carried out several attacks primarily in Jammu and Kashmir.
The group maintained close relations with the Taliban and al Qaeda
and continues to be allied to them.
Mizoram Additional Secretary
for Home Lalbiakzama stated that repatriation of over 5,000 Bru
families from Tripura is not likely to take off as scheduled from
this month as the refugees rejected a central Government proposal
for financial assistance.
The official stated that the
5,413 refugee families last month that each family would be provided
with a package of INR 1,30,000 besides INR 5,000 per family per
month and free ration for two years. The Additional Secretary
stated that ‘Bru people in the relief camps rejected the proposals
of the ministry during a meeting at Naisingpara relief camp on
February 23. It is unlikely that the repatriation will begin according
to schedule’. The repatriation was scheduled to begin from first
week of March.
A memorandum submitted to Union
Home Minister Rajnath Singh by the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's
Forum in January had demanded a provision of INR 1.5 million to
each repatriated Bru family. The forum had also demanded that
all repatriated able-bodied youths should be given government
jobs.
An OGW of NDFB-S was arrested
from Chirag District. Pistol and ammunition were recovered from
him.
An ULFA-I militant was arrested
from Borhat in Charaideo District. Pistol, ammunition, extortion
letters and other incrimating documents were recovered from him.
Two civilians, identified as Madan
Koda (35) and Pramod Koda (32), were killed by CPI-Maoist
cadres at a High School in Pacheshwari village under Barhet
Police Station of Jamui District of Bihar. A group of about
40 armed CPI-Maoist cadres surrounded the high school
and called out the names of three men from a single family. The
CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead Madan Koda on the spot and abducted
his younger brother, Pramod Koda, whose dead body was found at
a nearby field a few hours later. Ranjit Koda, another sibling
of the two victims, was also wanted by the CPI-Maoist cadres,
but managed to flee. All the three brothers were labeled as Police
Informers. CPI-Maoist cadres came from their hiding place in the
Bhimband forests. They threatened the villagers not to share any
information about their activities with Police and also asked
the villagers to return to their homes in Kumartari village, said
Jamui SP JJ Reddy. The incident prompted the villagers
to first take shelter under the open sky in the Ratneshwar hills.
But the District Administration later asked them to live in some
vacant rooms at the High School in Pacheshwari village, added
SP Reddy.
|
March 3
|
One of the founding member of
the IM—Abdul Subhan Qureshi, a mastermind of the 2008 serial blasts
in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), has been sent to 20 days custody of the
Ahmedabad Crime Branch. Abdul was flown to the Ahmedabad on a
transfer warrant and presented before the court on next day. He
was arrested on January 23 by the Special cell of Delhi Police.
Calling it a rules-based regional
architecture, India and Vietnam signed three key MoUs/pacts, including
one on nuclear cooperation, to work together towards an open,
independent and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. India and Vietnam
would work for an Indo-Pacific region where sovereignty and international
laws are respected, and tensions must be resolved with talks,
said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a joint statement
with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang. Both countries vowed
to work on several key factors, including defence, oil and gas,
and agriculture.
Assam State Government announced
extension of AFSPA by another six months in the Sate. According
to a statement, the Home and Political Department of Assam, through
a notification issued on February 28, declared the entire State
a “disturbed area” under AFSPA.
DGP Mukesh Sahay stated that
though there has been vast improvement of the overall law and
order situation in Assam, there is need for consolidating the
position to prevent militants from regrouping and that is why,
AFSPA was extended. He also added that , the process of updating
of the NRC and ensuing Panchayat (village administration) polls
also contributed to the decision to further extend the Act.
He further stated that though
incidents of violence involving the militants have come down drastically
militant groups still have bases in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland
and they try to sneak into Assam from such bases to indulge in
acts of violence. He said that the coordination of the Assam Police
with the police forces of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland improved
considerably. The personnel of the armed forces are also operating
in the areas frequented by the militants to sneak into Assam from
their bases in Myanmar through the states of Arunachal Pradesh
and Nagaland. The Assam Police cannot go and operate in the neighbouring
states and the personnel of the armed forces are of big help in
launching operations in such places.
NDFB-S including senior leader
G Bidai are still at large in the areas bordering Bhutan. He also
admitted that efforts are ongoing by ULFA-I to launch extortion
drive, particularly in upper Assam areas as the outfit is facing
severe financial crisis. He also added that there is a need to
check the flow of funds to the militants. Similarly, the supply
lines of the militants need to be totally cut off to ensure that
they cannot sustain for a long period. He pointed out that in
past one year, there have been several instances of seizures of
supplies meant for the militants and if the police and security
forces can totally cut off the supply lines, it would be difficult
for the militants to sustain.
Firefight occurred between NSCN-IM
and ZUF militants at near Nungadang in Tamenglong District.
|
March 4
|
The Indian Intelligence agencies
suspected a conspiracy to settle down 40,000 Rohingya refugees
in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas Districts.
Around 40,000 Rohingyas who are spread-out at different locations
in India, reportedly instructed to settle down in two Districts
of the West Bengal—a state ruled by the Trinamool Congress, read
a report sent to the UMHA regarding the matter. Around 40 organisations
have been under Intelligence’s suspicions who are involved in
‘settling down’ the Rohingyas illegally, and also gathering funds
from across the country. These organisations had asked the people
of nearby villages to donate their land to Rohingya settlement
purposes, claimed the report. "Many of the Rohingyas figure
in the suspected sinister designs of IS and other extremists groups
who want to achieve their ulterior motives in India including
that of flaring up communal and sectarian violence in sensitive
areas of the country.", read an affidavit filed by the Central
Government in the Supreme Court of India’s registry over the issue.
Three OGWs and a militant were
killed in a brief gun battle in Shopian District of South Kashmir
in the evening. A militant, identified as Shahid Ahmad Dar son
of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of Jamnagari was killed as he fired at an
Army vehicle at Pahnoo in Shopian District in the evening. Three
OWGS, identified as Suhail Khalil Wagay, Mohammad Shahid Khan
and Shahnawaz Ahmad Wagay who were travelling in a Swift car were
also killed in the gun battle. Srinagar based Defence Ministry
spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said in Srinagar that militants
attacked Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) of army’s 44 RR at Pahnoo
village at around 2000 hours. The fire was retaliated triggering
off a gunfight. He said that in the exchange of gunfire a militant
was killed and his body along with an AK-rifle was recovered.
“Three of his accomplices, OGWs, were also found dead in the car
in which they were travelling”, he said. The exact details about
the incident were not known as the Police was tight lipped on
it, said report. However, locals said that these civilians were
travelling in a Swift car when the incident took place and were
killed in retaliatory fire by Army. Police immediately reached
the spot and took possession of the bodies. The bodies have been
kept at District Police Lines Shopian for the medico legal formalities.
Protests broke out at several
places in Shopian town against the killing of the civilians. Senior
Police officers including DIG South Kashmir rushed to Shopian
to deal with the law and order. Security has been intensified
to prevent any clashes.
Separatist leaders comprising
Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohamamd Yasin Malik,
March 4 called for shutdown on March 5 against the killing of
three civilians in Shopian. They had already called for shutdown
on March 7 against the shifting of prisoners from Kashmir jails
to outside jails. Earlier, Dr Qasim Fakhtoo and Muhammad Shafi
Shaereti were shifted to Udhampur and Hiranagar jails respectively.
Three persons were arrested during
searches in North Kashmir’s Hajin area of Bandipora District on
March 3 night. Those arrested were identified as Mohammad Umar
Dar, Gowhar Ahmad Parray and Sonaullah Bhat.
Talks between HPC-D and Mizoram
state Government will be resumed in Aizawl. Mizoram Home department
additional secretary Lalbiakzama said that the commencement of
the parleys had been fixed for March 5, but was postponed for
the convenience of HPC-D delegation. The current level of talks
commenced from August 10, 2016 began official level talks and
was elevated to political level talks from this time.
HPC-D leaders expressed optimism
that political level talks with Mizoram Government would find
a solution to the Hmar problem. The militant leaders also added
that they were yet to decide on the members of the delegation
while confirming that the working president of the group Lalthalien
Hmar would be in the delegation and would continue to be the spokesperson.
An unidentified NSCN-IM was arrested
by Army in Longding District.
Six CPI-Maoist cadres identified
as Korra Rajababu (42), Vanthala Sethu alias Tilusu
(25), Vanthala Ramakrishna (35), Vanthala Ravi (30), Korra Mallana
(30) and Pangi Bhaskar Rao (35) of Galikonda and Korukonda Area
Committees (GAC & KAC) have surrendered before the Visakhapatnam
Rural SP, Rahul Dev Sharma in Visakhapatnam District
of Andhra Pradesh. Four CPI-Maoist cadres identified as Rajababu,
Tilusu, Ramakrishna and Ravi carried a reward
of INR 100,000 on their heads each. They were fed up with
the ideology of the CPI-Maoists and wanted to lead a
normal life by joining the mainstream, said SP, Sharma.
Myanmar has indefinitely deferred
signing an agreement with India to streamline the free movement
of people within 16 kilometers of Indo-Myanmar border. Myanmar
sighted ‘domestic compulsions’ for deferring to sign the agreement
and asked more time before the agreement is sealed. A senior government
official stated that ‘Myanmar has been dragging its feet on the
agreement. They have asked for more time and are reluctant due
to domestic compulsions. They fear that if they sign the pact,
the international agreement will have to be adhered to’.
On January 3, the Union Cabinet
had approved the agreement between India and Myanmar on land border
crossing to enhance economic interaction between people of the
two countries. The Government of India (GoI) had asked Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to distribute “border pass”
to all the residents living within 16 km from the border.
Myanmar has indefinitely deferred
signing an agreement with India to streamline the free movement
of people within 16 kilometers of Indo-Myanmar border. Myanmar
sighted ‘domestic compulsions’ for deferring to sign the agreement
and asked more time before the agreement is sealed. A senior government
official stated that ‘Myanmar has been dragging its feet on the
agreement. They have asked for more time and are reluctant due
to domestic compulsions. They fear that if they sign the pact,
the international agreement will have to be adhered to’.
On January 3, the Union Cabinet
had approved the agreement between India and Myanmar on land border
crossing to enhance economic interaction between people of the
two countries. The Government of India (GoI) had asked Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to distribute “border pass”
to all the residents living within 16 km from the border.
NSCN-IM militant identified as
Tomomusu Yimchunger was arrested from Phuvkiu–Pungro road in Kiphire
District. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the vehicle
of the militant.
Myanmar has indefinitely deferred
signing an agreement with India to streamline the free movement
of people within 16 kilometers of Indo-Myanmar border. Myanmar
sighted ‘domestic compulsions’ for deferring to sign the agreement
and asked more time before the agreement is sealed. A senior government
official stated that ‘Myanmar has been dragging its feet on the
agreement. They have asked for more time and are reluctant due
to domestic compulsions. They fear that if they sign the pact,
the international agreement will have to be adhered to’.
On January 3, the Union Cabinet
had approved the agreement between India and Myanmar on land border
crossing to enhance economic interaction between people of the
two countries. The Government of India (GoI) had asked Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram to distribute “border pass”
to all the residents living within 16 km from the border.
Army interacted with the youth
who were arrested earlier on the charges of stone pelting at Bandipora
District. An Army spokesman said the meet was aimed at analyzing
the pulse of the youth and situation prevailing in the environment.
“Youth came forward and shared their future aspirations to succeed
in life by working hard and regretted their immature and unethical
act of pelting stones at security forces,” he said. “They actively
came forward with their problems and areas where they requested
for guidance from SFs. They were assured of constant assistance
and support,” he added.
|
March 5
|
The NIA claimed of a common link
between 2014 Burdwan blast and 2018 Bodh Gaya ‘IED’ explosion,
where two JMB leaders—Kausar and Salahuddin were “main conspirators”
in Bodh Gaya blast and “absconded” in Burdwan case. During the
investigation, the NIA found that six men who were radicalise
at Madrasas controlled by JMB, were tasked by Kausar and Salahuddin
(both Bangladeshi nationals), to carried out the blast at Bodh
Gaya’s Buddhist pilgrimage. All six arrested members suspected
to met Kausar and Salahuddin in an unnamed city in Southern India.
In a recent interview to JMB’s media wing, Salahuddin had declared
himself as the head of JMB’s India operations.
One of the founders of IM and
mastermind behind 2008 Ahmedabad blasts—Abdul Subhan Qureshi (48)
has confessed to senior officials of the Crime Branch that Riyaz
Bhatkal—another founding member of IM had visited Ahmedabad city
thrice in two months before the blasts. Riyaz stayed in Ahmedabad
with Abdul Subhan Qureshi and Kayamuddin Kapadia at a rented bungalow
in Danilimda in Ahmedabad District, Gujarat where the bombs were
assembled, said an unnamed senior Crime Branch officer. Before
his arrest, Subhan Qureshi hid his real identity and worked at
a local school as an English teacher. Later, he had travelled
to Saudi Arabia twice on a passport issued with a fake identity.
A probe on his Saudi Arabia trips is ongoing, said an unnamed
senior Crime Branch officer.
GNLA militant identified as Bappus
D Shira alias Tapsro surrendered to the State Police in Baghmara
in South Garo Hills District. He revealed that while in GNLA,
in South Garo Hills he helped militants to crossover to Bangladesh
via Simakona and Horipur villages. He also stated that he had
visited Mymensingh and Durgapur towns to purchase supplies for
GNLA.
While in GNLA he was part of
Sohan D Shira’s group and had narrow escape from several encounters
with police at Halwa Bilda, Rongsu Banagittim and Bolbokgre forests
in South Garo Hills District. Prior to joining GNLA he was a cadre
of ANVC-B which gave him arms training at Pendengru forests in
Garo Hills.
An Army was killed in an encounter
with suspected NSCN-IM militants at a place between Goitang Chingkao
village and Molphei village in Khopum area at Noney District died
in the Army Hospital in Leimakhong in Imphal West District. However,
NSCN-IM stated that that it was not involved in the encounter.
NSCN-IM stated that that it was not involved in the encounter.
AR arrested two illegal arms
manufacturers from general area Sungratsu, Chumukedima in Dimapur
District.
AR arrested an unidentified individual
and recovered a pistol, magazine, ammunition & war like stores
in Longleng Town in Longleng District.
An NDFB-S militant was
killed in an encounter AT Kokrajhar District. An AK-47 rifle,
magazine, ammunition and incriminating documents were recovered
from him.
A cache of arms and ammunition
were recovered by Police from a Amritsar Express train in Dibrugarh
District. The recovered arms included 264 rounds of live ammunition,
one 9 mm pistol and some parts of revolvers and single-barrel
guns.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian
on the suspicion of being a 'Police Informer' and set ablaze four
vehicles in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. CPI-Maoist cadres
torched a TSRTC bus, a private bus and two trucks. TSRTC
bus was on its way from Jagdalpur in Bastar District to Hyderabad
and CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze vehicles 10 kilometers away from
Dornapal. Maoists asked all the passengers to exit before setting
the vehicles on fire and raised the slogans against Telangana
Police for killing 10 CPI-Maoist cadres in encounter, said
SP, Abhishek Meena.
The villagers of Chikpal and
Marjum villages under Tongpal Police Station limits in Sukma
District of Chhattisgarh have decided not to support Naxal activities.
Around 250 people from Chikpal and Marjum villages reached the
Police Station and informed Police about their decision. The villagers
have assured to block every kind of assistance that was being
given to CPI-Maoist cadres by them in the past and stay
away from Naxal ideology and violence. The villagers
had been supporting Naxals by providing food,
shelter and other logistic support either by will or force, said
DIG, South Bastar range, Sundarraj P.
SFs arrested a cadre of the PLFI,
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Pattu Mahaa,
carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on his head, in a joint operation
conducted near Sarvoda forest area under Murhu Police Station
area in Khunti District of Jharkhand. The arrested PLFI cadre,
Mahaa has 28 FIRs against him and was involved in six encounters
with the Police. The SFs recovered a country made pistol and ammunition
from his possession.
The death toll in the militant
attack on Army in Pahoo village of Shopian District and Army retaliation
(March 4) has gone up to six as two bodies were recovered from
the area in the morning. Police recovered body of a LeT militant,
identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat son of Mohammad Ishaq Bhat of
Rakhpora Shopian from apple orchard at Saidipora village in Shopian
District in the morning. Police also recovered body of another
person, identified as owhar Ahmad Lone (24), of Moolu, Trenz some
250 meters at Pahnoo Shopian. He was found dead in his car (Wagon-R)
bearing registration number JK01Q- 1723. Earlier SATP reported
that three OGWs and a militant were killed in a brief gun battle
in Shopian District of South Kashmir on March 4 evening.
All those killed in the shootout
in Shopian District were linked to militancy and the soldiers
acted in self-defence, the Army said. Recounting the events of
the shootout, in which six people, including two terrorists, were
killed on March 4 night, a defence spokesperson said soldiers
deployed at the MVCP in Trenz-Pinjoora road near Pahnoo village
were fired upon by occupants in two speeding vehicles. At around
8pm, two speeding vehicles were seen approaching the checkpoint
from the direction of Trenz village, he said. The vehicles continued
to move despite being signalled to stop by the troops. The soldiers
flashed search lights towards the approaching vehicles, but the
occupants opened heavy firing from both the vehicles, the spokesperson
added. "Our troops, in self defence, responded to the same
with fire. In the ensuing gun fight, one terrorist firing from
one of the vehicles was hit and he fell off the vehicle. The vehicle
veered off the road towards the nala (stream) and the second vehicle
sped off," he said.
“The body of one terrorist —
Amir Ahmad Malik — was recovered. A category C terrorist, Malik
was part of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) since July last year [2017].
War-like stores, including one AK-74, three magazines and 88 rounds
were recovered from the dead terrorist”, the spokesperson added.
"Three more bodies were found in the vehicle during the search.
These individuals were accompanying the terrorist," he said.
At around 9am today [March 5], the body of another terrorist,
identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat of LeT, was found in the apple
orchards of Saidapora village. Bhat is also "linked"
with the same chain of events at Pahnoo village, the spokesperson
said. He said the second vehicle, from which the Army personnel
were fired upon, was found this morning near Pinjoora, about 200
metres away from the shootout scene. "One more individual
was found dead (in the car). He has been identified as Gowhar
Ahmad Lone," he added.
Local residents and family of
the deceased youths have refuted the Army version of the incident,
alleging that they do not have links with militancy and were killed
in an indiscriminate firing by the soldiers.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti
has also said that the four men were killed in a “crossfire".
The ruling PDP MLA from Shopian, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, has called
for a judicial probe into the incident saying that "no circumstances
can justify these civilian killings
Kashmir valley observed shutdown
against Shopian killings even as authorities imposed restrictions
in parts of Srinagar, closed colleges and schools, postponed all
exams and suspended train and internet services. Separatist had
called for the Valley-wide shutdown to protests against the killings.
Shops and business establishments remained closed in most parts
of Kashmir while public transport was off the roads due to the
strike. Minor clashes took place at several areas including Bagh-i-Mehtab,
Mochow, Kadlibal Pampore, Sharja Ground Bemina, near MLA’s residence
in Shopian, Jogi Lanker Raniwari, HMT and Ziyarat Sharief Syed
Manssor Sahb near Chota Bazar Srinagar.
SFs killed the mastermind behind
Sunjawan Army base attack (February 10) and the ‘operational commander’
of JeM, Mufti Waqas alias Abu Arsalan in a brief encounter
at Hatwar in Awantipora area of Pulwama District. Sources said
that as SFs cordoned off Hatwar village near Srinagar-Jammu NH,
the militant commander came out of the house in which he was hiding
and opened fire on the troops, who fired back and killed him on
the spot. The firing lasted for few minutes and operation was
called off immediately. One pistol and three grenades were also
recovered from his possession. Waqas, who infiltrated into Kashmir
early last year (2017), revived JeM in Kashmir. He was mastermind
behind major attacks in Kashmir including attack on DPL Pulwama
on August 26, 2017, Lethpora CRPF camp on December 31, 2017 and
Sunjwan Army camp on February 10, 2018 and attack on BSF near
Srinagar Airport.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman,
Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said, “Based on specific intelligence of
presence of a terrorist in the area of Hatwar Awantipur, a joint
specific operation was launched today [March 5] by 50 RR, JKP
& CRPF. During the operation the mastermind of Sunjawan terrorist
attack and Letapore terrorist attack Jaish-e-Mohammed operational
commander Mufti Waqas, Cat A++, was eliminated in a surgical operation.”
“This has resulted in a major dent to the designs of JeM as after
elimination of their earlier operational commander Noor Mohd Tantrey
in the same area in December 2017, his successor too has now been
killed”, the spokesman said.
Police busted a FICN racket and
arrested one person along with FICNs in Rajouri District. SSP,
Yougal Manhas termed this as major success and said that speedy
investigation is going on in this case to unearth all the links
of this racket and to put the accused behind the bars. ” One of
the suspected persons was intercepted in this trap at Khablan
village on Rajouri-Thanamandi Road and during his search, Police
recovered some cash which during investigation came out to be
fake. The man was arrested from the spot,” SSP said identifying
the accused as Sagheer Ahmed Chowdhary, son of Nissar Hussain,
resident of Dodassan Bala village of Thanamandi in Rajouri District.
29 FICNs of INR 500 denomination were recovered from the said
accused with total amount of INR 14, 500.
A militant returned home in Jammu
and Kashmir as he quit militancy following appeal by his parents.
On March 2, a boy from South Kashmir had returned home from militancy
following an appeal by his mother. Several militants, who had
taken to violence, returned home last year (2017) after appeal
by their parents. To bring misguided youth back into the national
mainstream, Police has been counseling them to prevent from falling
prey to anti-national propaganda and joining militancy in South
Kashmir’s Anantnag District. Police has appealed the parents to
come forward and help their wards by way of giving them time and
counseling them so that they may not be misguided by the anti-national
elements who are hell bent to vitiate the peace in the Valley.
The armed forces are retaliating
appropriately to ceasefire violations by Pakistan army along the
LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, besides effectively dealing with terrorists
in the State, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. She also
said that the Government has issued broad guidelines to ramp up
security at defence establishments, besides strengthening and
streamlining the response mechanism in the event of any terror
attack. The Defence Minister said this in Rajya Sabha while
replying to questions relating to security situation in Jammu
and Kashmir.
She said 209 incidents of ceasefire
violations by Pakistan army were reported along the LoC in January
while the number was 142 in the first 12 days of February. A total
of 860 incidents of ceasefire violations had taken place last
year (2017). “Appropriate response to these ceasefire violations
has been carried out wherever necessary,” said Sitharaman, adding
the defences along the border are periodically fortified to withstand
any attacks. The Defence Minister said terrorists and their handlers
have resorted to a strategy of spreading terror and bring lawlessness
in Jammu and Kashmir. “The security forces are alive to these
challenges and are tackling them in an effective manner,” she
said.
To a separate question, she said
since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, inputs from various intelligence
agencies indicate the continued likelihood of such strikes. “However,
presently, there is no specific input pertaining to an increased
threat to the country from the sea routes,” she said.
|
March 6
|
After Mirai and Reaper, the Cybersecurity
agencies has detected a new malware—Saposhi, with a capability
to overtake the electronic devices and turned them into ‘Bots’.
The ‘Bot’ devices can be misused for any purposes and have the
capability to paralyse any industry that depends on information
systems. Saposhi was detected 15 days ago and currently under
monitoring. So far studied, Saposhi has similar capabilities like
of Reaper—that took over millions of devices at the rate of 10,000
devices per day, said an unnamed senior Cyber Police official.
Iqbal Kaskar’s lawyer Shyam Keswani
said in the Court that notable gangster Dawood Ibrahim is willing
to come back to India and face all charges imposed against him.
As per the statement of Keswani about Dawood’s willingness
to come back to India, have two conditions. Therefore, the matter
is under investigation, said Inspector (Thane Anti-Extortion Cell)
Vikas Ghodke. Dawood’s brother— Iqbal Kaskar whose proceedings
were ongoing in the Court by his lawyer Keswani, has been sent
to Police custody till March 9.
Leaders of HPC-D arrived in Aizawl
on March 6 for peace talks with state Government on March 7.
One Soldier of Rajputana Rifles
Regiment identified as Sepoy Abhijit Mondal was killed and three
others wounded in an explosion at L Bongjoi village in Chandel
District.
Another explosion was reported
near AR camp at North AOC in Imphal West District and another
bomb explosion was reported near the Community Development Office
at Khengjoi in Chandel District. No casualties were caused by
the explosion. According to some reports, UNLF has claimed responsibility
for the attack.
KNF-N militant identified as
Thongkhohao Kipgen Haopu was arrested by Police in connection
with February 27 abduction of two workers. The arrested militant
confessed he and three other KNF-N militants were involved in
the abduction.
Governor P.B Acharya stated that
Naga political issue would be resolved within six months. He added
that inclusion of Naga areas from Manipur, Assam and Myanmar to
form a greater Nagaland was a difficult task and might not be
possible immediately.
Atleast 45 people were wounded
wounded in a clash between Police and agitators who were staging
a blockade on the National Highway at Sidli in Chirang District.
The United Organisation Co-ordination Committee, a joint forum
of four non-tribal student groups AKRSU, AAGSU, ASSU and All Nath
Jogi Students Union had called a 24-hour shutdown protesting the
BTC’s new land policy which reportedly goes against the land rights
of non-tribal communities residing in BTAD. Police resorted to
baton charge, burst tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets to
disperse the agitators.
KPLT extended its support to
the demand made by civil and student organizations to ban sale
and transfer of Karbi Anglong land to non-tribals.
Cadres of the PLFI, a splinter
group of the CPI-Maoist, killed a civilian identified as Haridarshan
Sahu, a paddy trader, at Bagdega Square under Bisra Police Station
limits in Sundargarh District in Odisha. Sahu was procuring paddy
at Bagdega Bazar, when 2-3 PLFI cadres came there on bike and
opened fire two rounds of bullet at Sahu. Later on, Sahu succumbed
to his injuries.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including
a dalam member and a RMP doctor were arrested
by the Police while routine checking of vehicles at Etapaka Police
Station in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. East Godavari
District SP, Vishal Gunni said that of the three Madivi Rama (20)
a tribal of Palod village of Sukma District of Chhattisgarh is
a member of DAKMS Dalam while the other two -
Molumuri Srinivasarao (38) and Payam Jogarao (32), are from Bhadradri
Kothagudem District of Telangana. Srinivasarao, a native of Chinna
Nallabelli village, Dummugudem Mandal of Bhadradri
Kothagudem District in Telangana, is an RMP doctor running a medical
shop attending to the medical needs of the Maoists, and Jogarao
is an agricultural coolie but turned to be a Maoist sympathizer
and worked as a courier. “During a vehicle check, the Etapaka
Police spotted the three Maoists near the Police station and took
them into custody. They seized a tapancha with five rounds from
Rama,” SP, Vishal said, adding the Police intensified vigilance
in the Agency area following the recent encounter.
Shutdown and protests continued
for the second consecutive day in Shopian District of South Kashmir
against the killing of six persons on March 4 evening. Shops,
business establishments, Government and private offices remained
closed in parts of South Kashmir including Shopian and its adjoining
areas. Shutdown was also observed in neighbouring Pulwama District.
Minor clashes were reported from Memander, near DC office and
near Mini Secretariat in Shopian.
People at Pahnoo in Shopian District
protested and demanded removal of an Army camp in the village.
APHC-M chairman, Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq who continues to be under house arrest in the backdrop
of killings in Shopian said that the situation in Kashmir is extremely
grim and fast deteriorating. Mirwaiz said that rampant killings
has become the order of the day. He said, “as no responsibility
is fixed for these killings and there is no accountability, the
highly worrisome reality is that the lives of the people of Kashmiris
is perpetually at great risk (sic)”. Mirwaiz said that the situation
on the LoC and IB is no better with civilians and soldiers dying
on both sides and can anytime escalate into a full scale war.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti
took a review of the security and law and order situation at a
high level meeting of officers in Srinagar. During the meeting,
she impressed upon all the security agencies to work in synergy
to ensure that SOPs as laid out should be strictly adhered to
and in no way be these violated or overlooked. Every aberration
in this regard, she reminded the officers, amounts to furthering
the evil designs of elements inimical to peace in the State. Mehbooba
advised heads of all security agencies to ensure that no collateral
damage is allowed to happen during security operations and care
should be taken that common masses are not put to inconvenience
during these operations. She asked the heads of civil, Police,
Army and other security agencies to maximize their public outreach
to ensure that the grievances of people on the ground are listened
to and addressed promptly.
The UMHA informed the Lok
Sabha that there was no specific intelligence input about
terrorists planning to attack the Sunjuwan army camp in Jammu
District. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram
Ahir informed Parliament that “terrorists are helped by local
OGWs” in Kashmir. “Though there were general inputs that militants
may attack vital installations/camps in the Jammu region, there
were no specific inputs about this attack. All such inputs are
shared amongst all concerned agencies. Security arrangements are
periodically revised based on emerging threats and intelligence
inputs,” Minister of State Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed Parliament.
Ahir said 38 terrorist incidents
were reported from Kashmir Valley and two incidents from the Jammu
region till February 15 this year (2018). In 2017, eight incidents
of terrorist violence were reported from Jammu and 334 were reported
to have occurred in the Kashmir Valley. “The Government has also
continuously encouraged policies to mainstream the youth, including
providing employment opportunities to wean them away from militancy.
INR 80,068 crore has been announced under the PM Development Package,
2015,” Mr. Ahir said.
At least 15 young Kashmiri militants
have returned home respecting appeals from their families after
footballer Majid Khan renounced insurgency last November (2017)
on his mother’s request, said Jammu and Kashmir Police. According
to DGP Shesh Paul Vaid, the latest among these returnees this
March were two young men who responded to their parents’ appeal
to leave the path of violence. “Some 15 boys have returned since
Khan’s return. Every drop counts. Whatever little it is, their
lives and their families are saved from getting ruined,” Vaid
said. Police too have a hand in bringing the militants back to
society. Officers talk to the families of known militants to persuade
them to leave the armed struggle. “If a youngster agrees, he contacts
his family and we are kept in the loop,” Vaid said. The identity
of these returnees is kept secret to keep them from harm’s way.
Kashmir has been recording sort
of a trend in militants returning to their families after 20-year-old
Khan, who had joined the LeT militant group, left the organisation
on November 16, 2017 after his mother’s tearful plea to him to
come back home in a video that was widely shared on social media.
A resident of Anantnag in south Kashmir, Khan was a bright student
and a popular goalkeeper in the local team before he joined the
LeT, which put his family and neighbours in considerable grief.
The LeT said he was “permitted” to leave on his mother’s request.
Police believe the return of
youngsters was having “some effect” on local militancy. “Obviously,
as people come back, there is a possibility of the level of violence
coming down,” Vaid said. According to the DGP, there has been
a “slight drop” in the number of Kashmiris joining militancy this
year compared to 2017. “The reasons can be quite a few. One is
that a lot of terrorists were killed, which acted as a deterrent,
and another thing is that we are talking to families of youngsters.
A lot of persuasion is going on,” he said. As many as 206 militants
were killed by SFs in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 of which 85 were
residents of the state, according to Police records.
|
March 7
|
In an Islamic Conference schedule
to be held on March 9-10, the Chief of Ahle Hadith—a large Sunni
sect, on March 7 has proposed to declare IS “terror tactics” as
un-Islamic through a fatwa. The fatwa has been endorsed by 40
senior scholars associated with the New Delhi-based Markazi Jamiat
Ahle-Hadees Hind, the main body representing the sect, said the
appointed leader of the group Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mahadi Salafi.
It is India’s Constitution, the Judiciary system, and the involvement
of civil society which are great avenues of justice. This all
makes Indian Islamic model the only working model, said former
head of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia (University) Akhtarul
Wassey. In 2007, Uttar Pradesh’s Darul Uloom seminary located
in Deoband in Saharanpur District had issued a similar anti-terror
declaration, but this is the first time that a prominent Islamic
religious-conservative group closely identified with Salafists
would rule against the IS.
The UP ATS claimed to have de-radicalised
seven Indian youths who were influenced under nine IS recruiters—including
Saifullah. The UP ATS have de-radicalised seven youths
from different locations of the country in last one year. This
de-radicalisation programme was initiated by the ATS, said IG
of ATS Asim Arun. Under the de-radicalisation programme, a SI
rank officer was made in-charge and family members of such youths
were taken into confidence. These youths were not found involved
in any terror activity and had merely been influenced by IS ideology,
explained SSP of ATS Umesh Srivastava. On March 8, 2017, The UP
ATS had killed Saifullah after a 12-hour operation in Haji colony
of Dubagga in Lucknow District. The intelligence input about Saifullah’s
hideout was provided by Telangana Police officials. Other eight
IS recruiters are currently lodged in a jail in Delhi and their
judicial trial is ongoing.
During the interrogation with
Ahmedabad Crime Branch, the co-founder of IM and mastermind of
2008 Gujarat blasts—Abdul Subhan Qureshi has revealed that he
was living in Nepal for seven years under the fake identity of
Abdul Rehman and was taken to jungle of Halol in Panchmahal District
in Gujarat, to re-establish terrorist training camp which was
there before 2008 Gujarat blasts. Subhan left Ahmedabad 10 days
before the blasts and hid in Bihar and Jharkhand before ‘sneaking’
into Nepal in 2009 via Raxual border, said an unnamed Crime Branch
official. Subhan had travelled twice to Saudi Arabia for Hajj
pilgrimage and used the passport issued on the name of Abdul Rehman
as a fake identity. A probe about Subhan’s activities in Saudi
Arabia is ongoing, said an unnamed official involved in the case.
The Parliamentary Panel—headed
by the senior Congress Leader P. Chidambaram claimed that the
Panel is concerned over the rise in the FICN cases even after
the demonetisation. No measures have been taken by the UMHA to
replace the existing FICN detection machines to detect the cross-border
smuggling FICN or to make it compatible for detecting FICNs with
new denomination notes, says the Parliamentary Panel. However,
the Government of India made a claim the process of demonetisation
would diminish the ‘black money’ and counterfeit currency used
for illegal activities including terrorism.
The first political level talks
between Mizoram State Government and HPC-D led by H. Zosangbera
began on March 7. The head of the Government delegation stated
that ‘The peace talks were held in an environment of friendship
and mutual trust. There were no new issues for discussion as the
important matters, including the draft legislation for the Sinlung
Hills Council and memorandum of settlement have been already approved
in principle during the official-level talks’. He also added that
all issues that require a resolution are expected to be settled
by March 8.
HPC-D delegation has tabled four
points of ratification in the draft legislation, including change
in wording and patent errors, based on the suggestions made at
a public consultation in December 2017.
Assam state Government release
stated that prohibitory orders were enforced along Assam-Mizoram
interstate boundary in certain pockets of Hailakandi District.
HT order was issued in apprehension of encroachment attempts from
Mizoram. The prohibitory orders were imposed in Kachurthal and
other areas under the Ramnathpur police station, bordering Kolasib
District of Mizoram.
Kuki militants released two abducted
workers identified as Amom Bishorjit Singh and Thangjamson Simte
at Gangpijang hill range in Kangpoki District. They were abducted
on February 27 by KNF-N militants
Manipur Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla
called on insurgents to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
The Governor made the call after paying tribute to a slain trooper
of 13 Sikh Light Infantry who was killed on March 5. Governor
reiterated the Government’s appeal to the armed insurgent groups
to lay down their arms and come to the path of peace. She stated
that ‘I appeal to the people to lay their arms and stop all these
activities and come forward and join in building a strong nation,
a strong Manipur’.
Two NDFB-S militants identified
as Ashok Ramchiary and Sombharu Basumatary were arrested apprehended
from Katligaon and Ambari village of Baksa District. Two AK-47
rifles and two live rounds of ammunitions were recovered from
the arrested militants. The arrested militants are suspected to
be involved in extortion in BTAD.
An estimated 8,000 people marched
from Bapuji Prakalpa throughout Mazbat town in Udalguri District
demanding the land rights of the non-tribals living in BTC The
protest held under the aegis of ATTSA coordination with local
units of organizations including AASAA, AASU, AAGSU, AKRSU, ARSU.
Union Minister of State for Home
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir stated in Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indian
Parliament) that all genuine Indian nationals will be incorporated
in the NRC. He also added that ‘The remaining applicants are under
various stages of scrutiny and after their verification is completed,
another draft NRC will be published’.
ULFA-I militant was arrested
from Sonarai in Charaideo District. A pistol ,magzine, ammunition,
maps and other war like stores were recovered from him.
A militant of NSCN-IM arrested
from Jagun in Tinsukia District. According to authorities, the
militant was involved in extortion in the area.
Assam state Government release
stated that prohibitory orders were enforced along Assam-Mizoram
interstate boundary in certain pockets of Hailakandi District.
HT order was issued in apprehension of encroachment attempts from
Mizoram. The prohibitory orders were imposed in Kachurthal and
other areas under the Ramnathpur police station, bordering Kolasib
District of Mizoram.
A BSF Assistant Commandant Gajender
Singh and Constable Amresh Kumar were killed when CPI-Maoist
cadres triggered an IED in the Kilenar village forest area
under the Rowghat Police Station limits in Kanker District of
Chhattisgarh. The incident took place at around 4 pm in the Kilenar
village forest under the Rowghat Police Station limits when a
joint team of the BSFs 134th battalion and District Force was
out on an anti-Naxal operation, said, Vivekanand Sinha. IGP, Bastar
range. "When the patrolling team was 10km inside the forest
of Kilenar, the ultras triggered IED blasts and also opened indiscriminate
firing on them, which led to an exchange of fire," Deputy
IGP, north Bastar range, Ratan Lal Dangi said. The Naxals fled
from the spot after a prolonged gunfight, he said. Forces have
been rushed to the spot, and the bodies of the two BSF personnel
were being evacuated from the forest, he added.
An ‘assistant commander’ of the CPI-Maoist,
identified as Madakam Yerraiah (33), surrendered before the
Police in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Madakam had
worked as an ‘assistant commander’ in Kalimela, Motu and Papuluru dalams in
the neighbouring Odisha State. He was allegedly involved in seven
violent incidents including the attack on Koraput District Police
office of Odisha and also in Balimela boat capsize incident in
Malkangiri District of Odisha, in which 38 SF personnel mostly
of Greyhounds were killed in 2008, said East
Godavari SP, Vishal Gunni.
The BSF busted a CPI-Maoist hideout
and seized arms and explosives in the Chiliba forest in Koraput
District of Odisha. Acting on a tip off, BSF’s 13 battalion conducted
combing operation in the area and recovered 2 SBML guns, one IED,
three kilograms of ammonium nitrate, detonators, petrol, 12 volt
battery from the hideout under Machkund Police Station area in
the District. The arms and explosives have been hidden in a bunker
in the forest. It is suspected that the rebels had stored those
to attack the jawans in future, the BSF personnel said.
Authorities foiled the Shopian
march called by separatists by imposing restrictions in parts
of Srinagar and South Kashmir while a man died in Baramulla District
after he was hit by a Police vehicle. A 60-year-old old man, identified
as Abdul Aziz Ahanger died after a Police vehicle (Rakshak) hit
him in Delina area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla District triggering
protests. Residents said that a Police team had gone to the area
to arrest an alleged ‘stone-pelter’ but came under stone pelting.
Police fired few rounds in air and fled from the spot. Ahanger
was knocked to death by Police Rakshak. Police in a statement
issued in Srinagar said that driver has been arrested and the
vehicle was seized.
At least a dozen persons received
injuries during the clashes. Among the injured, Arsalan Basher
Turray, brother of the militant Zubair Ahmad Turray suffered injuries.
Authorities imposed strict restrictions in twin Districts of South
Kashmir including Pulwama and Shopian and all roads leading to
Shopian were sealed by SFs. Barricades were erected at many places
to prevent movement of people and vehicles. Amid curfew like restrictions,
people in several parts of Pulwama tried to march towards Shopian
but the bids were foiled by Police and SFs. Strict restrictions
were imposed in Srinagar’s old city and Maisuma locality.
Both Syed Ali Shah Geelani and
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq defied the house arrest to march towards Shopian
but Police stopped Geelani and detained Mirwaiz outside his Nigeen
residence. Protests took place at Memander, DPL, Mini Secretariat
in Shopian, Nowgam Bypass, Mochow, Mehjoor Nagar, near Sopore
Police Station and Papchan Bandipora in Kashmir valley. JKLF chairman
Mohammad Yasin Malik along with Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri and Ghulam
Mohammad Dar who were detained on March 5 have shifted to Central
Jail Srinagar till March 10, 2018, on a judicial remand.
Students of KU protested against
the civilian killings. Scores of students of Zakura campus took
out a protest march from the hostel up to Zakura crossing. The
protesters, later, dispersed peacefully.
Pakistani troops shelled mortars
in Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors along the LoC in Rajouri District,
drawing retaliation from the Indian Army. “Pakistan army initiated
unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics
and mortars from 1030 hours in Sunderbani sector along LoC in
Rajouri district”, sources said. They said the Indian Army effectively
retaliated. In the evening, Pakistan army violated ceasefire in
Nowshera sector, which was effectively retaliated by the Indian
side.
Pakistani troops also violated
the ceasefire in Khour area of Akhnoor sector of Jammu District.
There was a brief lull in firing and shelling by Pakistan troops
along the LoC in the past two days. Ceasefire violations along
the LoC and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir have left 21 people, including
12 security personnel, dead and more than 80 others, mostly civilians,
injured this year.
There were 777 incidents of infiltration
into Jammu and Kashmir in which 94 terrorists were killed by SFs
in past two years, the Rajya Sabha was informed. Union
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said there were
406 cases of infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 in which
59 terrorists were killed. In 2016, there were 371 incidents of
infiltration into the State in which 35 militants were killed
and three were arrested, he said. Replying to a written question,
Rijiju said there were 16 incidents of infiltration into Punjab
in which seven terrorists were killed and 11 others were apprehended
in past two years.
The Minister said SFs have been
carrying out effective domination through round-the-clock surveillance,
patrolling, border ambushes and by deploying observation posts
along the IB of the country. “The riverine segments of international
borders of the country are being patrolled and dominated with
the help of water crafts/speed boats/floating BOPs of BSF water
wings,” he said. Rijiju said introduction of force multipliers
and hi-tech surveillance equipment fully-equipped with day and
night vision devices have enhanced the border domination. “Vulnerability
mapping of entire border has been made a continuous process based
on which sensitive spots are identified and adequate measures
are taken to further strengthen security in these spots,” he said.
The Minister said it has also been decided to deploy technological
solutions in the form of CIBMS, on a pilot basis to begin with,
in different terrains on India-Pakistan border and India-Bangladesh
border. The technological solutions are based on integration of
sensors and surveillance equipment like radars, day and night
vision cameras etc. In a network architecture with command and
control system, he said.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Rajya Sabha
that there were 4,799 stone-pelting incidents and 872 terror incidents
in Jammu and Kashmir in past three years. Hansraj Gangaram Ahir
said 730 incidents of stone pelting were reported in 2015. In
2016, he said, 2,808 such incidents were reported, and in 2017,
the incidents numbered 1,261. In a written reply to a question,
he said there were 208 incidents of terrorist violence in Jammu
and Kashmir in 2015, 322 in 2016 and 342 such incidents in 2017.
The Government said it had sanctioned
a INR 2,000-crore compensation package for the refugees from PoK
living in Jammu and Kashmir. In a written statement, Hansraj Gangaram
Ahir told the Rajya Sabha that the financial package was
sanctioned on December 22, 2016. He said 36,384 families were
provided INR 5.5 lakh each. “The Government of India provided
a financial assistance of Rs 5.5 lakh per family to 36,384 displaced
families of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) area (1947) and Chhamb
(1965 and 1971) living in Jammu and Kashmir,” Ahir said. He added
that based on the details provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Government,
the Ministry had disbursed a total amount of INR 465.5 crore to
9,537 families directly to their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts
up to last month. Asked whether any financial compensation package
had been provided to the Hindu refugees who had migrated from
Bangladesh, the Minister said, “No such proposal is under consideration.”
Twenty-nine Army personnel lost
their lives in nine terror attacks on defence stations and Army
camps in Jammu and Kashmir since 2015, the Government informed
the Lok Sabha. Twenty terrorists were killed and two civilians
lost their lives in the attacks, Minister of State for Defence
Subhash Bhamre said in a written response to a question in the
Lok Sabha. The highest casualty was in 2016, when a group
of terrorists stormed an Army camp in Uri, resulting in the death
of 26 personnel. This year, one terror attack was reported on
an Army camp in Jammu, claiming the lives of six Army personnel.
The Central Government’s special
representative for Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma appealed
to the SFs to “show restraint” in the Valley and put an end to
“civilian killings”, describing the recent spate of violence in
the region as a “setback”. “Civilian killings must stop. The security
forces must show restraint and not resort to disproportionate
firing,’’ Dineshwar Sharma, a former chief of the IB, said in
an interview. “I was hoping for a better summer but violence has
come as a setback. Amongst the districts in south Kashmir, Shopian
is particularly alienated and angry. We must be sensitive while
dealing with the people of Kashmir,’’ he added.
|
March 8
|
An Afghan national—Rehman Dawlat,
wanted by the Maharashtra ATS for radicalising four Indian youths
from Kalyan in Maharashtra to join IS, was shot dead by the Afghanistan
Forces. Confirming the news of Rehman’s death, several Indian
law-enforcement agencies, including Maharashtra ATS, the
NIA, visited us to record his wife—Yasmeen’s statement and none
of the agencies does any kind of harassment. They [agencies] asked
questions and left after verifying the statements, said a close
relative of Rehman.
Replying to Pakistan’s allegation,
India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Raj
Kumar Chander highlighted the human rights violations conducted
by Pakistan during an official meeting at the UNHRC. There
is a reference to the Indian State of J&K but there is none
related to the cross-border terrorist activities. Terrorism is
a fundamental violation of all Human Rights and we overlook its
immediate threat, said Chander. Earlier [unspecified date], the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Hussein had referred
to the developments on Human Rights in Kashmir during the 37th session
of the UNHRC. In reference to Kashmir, on both sides of the LoC,
the unconditional access continues and it will be reported at
greater length in the month of June this year. Also, it is disturbing
to notice the rise in discrimination and violence directed upon
minorities, including Dalits and other Schedule Castes, and religious
minorities such as Muslims in India, said Hussein.
As a part of ongoing probe on
terror-related cases, the NIA raided Jamia Arabia Seminary in
Hathaura of Banda District in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.). The
NIA had some specific Intelligence inputs and requested to provide
Police personnel for their operation in Hathaura, said SP (Banda
District) Shalini. The Seminary with nearly 15,000 students is
one of the leading Islamic Seminaries in the State and was established
in 1952. The NIA had some information about the people who studied
at the Seminary. The raid caused anger among the students who
held the protest, said an unnamed source. The raid was a part
of ongoing investigation of a terror network which was busted
in December 2017 with the arrest of Tauseef Malik from Kashmir.
Tauseef was a third-year student at the Jamia Arabia Seminary
and lived its Darul Taleem hostel, said the unnamed source. The
NIA officials searched Tauseef’s room and recovered his records,
during several hours of search and probing of Tauseef’s roommates,
some Kashmiri students and the hostel warden.
Over his controversial appearance
with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Trudeau at an event
organised during Canadian PM’s visit to India, the former Khalistani
militant Jaspal Atwal talked to the media through his lawyer’s
office in Canada and apologised and stated that he does not support
the demand of an independent Sikh nation—commonly known as ‘Khalistan’,
anymore. Over his appearance at the event, several questions were
raised about his connection with PM Trudeau and security lapses
on how he was invited at the event. “I am sorry for the embarrassment
caused to Canada, India, my community and my family, in this matter.
I have done best to redeem myself and done best for the Canada
and the Indian community. I, no longer, advocate the idea of ‘Khalistan’
or an independent Sikh nation. Like majority of Sikhs, I have
reconciled with the nation of India. Canada is my home and India
is my homeland, said Jaspal Atwal.
Meghalaya State Home Minister
James P.K. Sangma stated that Meghalaya would be made insurgency
free within five years. He also added that the new Government
would work towards ensuring an insurgency-free state but talks
with any militant organisation would follow only after laying
down of arms. He also stated that ‘Operations will continue. We
need a safe and secure environment throughout the state’.
On talks with GNLA, Meghalaya
Home Minister said that talks can be held only after laying down
of arms. "Anybody who wants to have a dialogue has to surrender.
He also added that equipping the state police with better technology
to make it more efficient was one of his priorities.
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