Detail Of Terrorism Update

Three missiles fired by a US drone killed five Taliban militants in the Miranshah area of North Waziristan in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 8, according to Daily Times. "Five people have been killed and three wounded in the attack. It was an American drone attack," an intelligence official said.

Meanwhile, two pro-Government tribal leaders were killed while another was injured when some unidentified Taliban militants blew up their car in Shakai area of South Waziristan. Sher Ali and his associates were riding a car in Mazdak area of Shaki tehsil (revenue unit), when the Taliban blew it up, killing Ali and Syed Nawaz on the spot. Another tribal leader Abdullah was injured in the blast.

Separately, two persons including brother of a commander of Ansarul Islam (AI) outfit was killed in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, reports The News. The sources said that five masked men came to the main bazaar and shot dead one Majeed, belonging to Shalobar tribe. However, the sources said that brother of the Majeed, Mandry Khan, was a powerful ‘commander’ of AI, a rival group of the banned Lashkar-e-Islam (LI). Elsewhere, a man identified as Najeeb was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Zawa area.

Also, a minor girl was killed and her mother and sister sustained serious injuries when a stray mortar shell hit their house in Alingar area in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency.

Further, a Salarzai lashkar (tribal militia) set ablaze 130 Taliban houses in Bajaur Agency, reports Daily Times. One Taliban militant was killed and nine others arrested in a joint operation of the political administration and an armed lashkar of the Salarzai tribe.

In addition, the Security Forces (SFs) arrested four suspected militants from the Akakhel area of Bara tehsil in the night of March 7, reports The News.

Meanwhile, SFs arrested a potential Afghan suicide bomber while planting a landmine on a roadside in the Koz Chamarkand area in Safi tehsil and also recovered a suicide vest from his possession, reports Daily Times. The initial report said the bomber was a native of the Kunar province of Afghansitan, which borders Bajaur agency.

One person, identified as Bitu Banra (56), was killed and five others were injured in a midnight attack by cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) at Dainmari village under Ghatshila block of East Singhbhum District late in the night of March 7, reports Times of India. The Maoists also set ablaze about half-a-dozen houses before leaving with cash, clothes, ration and other materials. They also threatened villagers with dire consequences if found guilty of sympathizing with the Nagrik Suraksha Samity (NSS) or assisting Police to track down Maoists.

Further, six Maoists are suspected of having been killed by Police in an encounter near Tilaiya Damar village in the Latehar District. "Though villagers had seen the Maoists dragging their killed colleagues into the village and safe hideouts, no dead body was seen or found," said Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Diwedi.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shibu Soren on March 8 said the State is capable of handling Maoist menace, reports PTI. "The State is capable of effectively containing extremist violence. Anti-Naxal operations are on," Soren told the State assembly in reply to a query by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) Member of Legislative Assembly Pradip Yadav on whether the State has taken any decision to launch ''Operation Green Hunt'' against Maoists.

A worker of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was shot dead by cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) at Golbandhi in West Midnapore District in the night of March 7, reports PTI.

Meanwhile, Police claimed that five Maoists were killed in a series of explosions set off by them to mark International Women’s Day in Gadra village of West Midnapore on March 8, reports Telegraph. The claim of deaths could not be verified as the Security Forces did not go to the village where the blasts were triggered.

School teacher and CPI-M leader Ranjit Duley, abducted by Maoists from a school in Bankura District on March 4, was released unharmed in West Midnapore District early on March 9 (today), reports PTI. Duley was released at a remote place between Goaltore and Pingboni at around 1:15am [IST] to a team of electronic media, which took him to Lalgarh Police station, the Police said.

An Assam Rifles trooper was killed and another wounded in an encounter with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cadres at Salungpham in Chandel District on March 8, according to Telegraph. Meanwhile, Imphal Free Press quoting a village chief reports that around 100 armed cadres of the suspected PLA were passing through the village in the wee hours and troops of the Assam Riffles rushed to the village. Thereafter, a fierce encounter between the two sides ensued for about 20 minutes, the report adds.

Separately, troops rescued Basanta Kumar, principal of Irema Public School at Saikul in Senapati District, who was abducted and held as hostage against a demand of INR 100, 000 for his safe release by the Kuki National Front (KNF) cadres. The abductors along with a vehicle were handed over to the Saparmaina Police Station.

Separately, a PLA cadre, Elangbam Inao Singh alias Che (27), was arrested by the Thoubal District Police during a search operation at Hiyanglam Mayai Leikai area on March 7. The Police stated that he joined the outfit in 1999 and he was involved in various encounters with Security Forces (SFs) at Wangjing, Singhat and Salungpham in 2000, 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh informed the State Legislative Assembly that suspected involvement of the PLA cadres behind the January 13 killing of a woman, Angom Ongbi Chanbi, and her daughter Meneka alias Ibemcha (17) of Phayeng was cited in a Police report. One N. Meghachandra (29), who is suspected to be involved in the killing, was arrested. Meghachandra confessed during interrogation that he had gone along with a PLA cadre, N. Sunil alias Piktru, to the house of Chanbi in June-July 2009, the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister further informed the House that Meghachandra disclosed that after going to the house of Chanbi, Sunil had threatened her to produce one of her sons who was also a PLA cadre but deserted along with arm. Besides Sunil, the identity of 12 to 13 other persons who were also suspected to be involved in the killing was established.

Further, Chief Minister, while responding to a question raised by Legislator Morung Makunga in the State Legislative Assembly, said that 104 weapons recovered from militants had been auctioned off to private buyers in the last two decades. The Chief Minister further clarified that in all 1728 numbers of all categories of arms were seized during the same period.

A gunman was shot dead by the Police in the Kashmirabad area near Sariab Road in Quetta, on February 8, reports Daily Times. According to the Sariab Police sources, the attacker identified as Noorul Haq was firing at the Imambargah when the Police arrived. "Seeing Police, he also opened indiscriminate fire on the Police to which they retaliated, and he was gunned down," Police sources said.

The death toll in the suicide bomb blast of March 8 in front of the Special Intelligence Agency’s (SIA) office in the Model Town area of Lahore increased to 13, reports Daily Times. 13 persons included a woman, a five-year-old girl and security personnel. The powerful blast, which was carried out using around 600 kilograms of explosives packed with ball bearings and blades, according to officials, damaged houses in a 0.5 kilometre radius and destroyed more than 40 cars in the area. The SIA office in Model Town K-Block, a residential area, was being used to house officials and detain suspects. "It was a Police Special Investigation Unit that was targeted. The building was used to interrogate suspected terrorists," Lahore Police chief Pervez Rathore said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for attack on the Special Intelligence Agency’s office in Model Town. "The attack was to avenge (US) drone attacks and (Pakistani) military operations in the Tribal Areas," said Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq. "We have 2,800 to 3,000 more suicide bombers ... We will target all Government places, buildings and offices," he added.

PTI reports that armed cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) caused extensive damage to a panchayat (village level local self-government institution) office in Andrahal village under Khairput block of Malkangiri District on March 8.

Cadres of the Janatantrik Terai Madhesh Mukti (JTMM) detonated a bomb at the house of a secretary of Germi Village Development Committee (VDC) of Nawalparasi District on March 7, reports Himalayan Times. According to the Police JTMM cadres may have detonated the bomb, as the Secretary was unable to pay an amount demanded by them as ‘donation’. The Police found pamphlets issued by the district in-charge of the outfit, Lalan Singh, at the site of the blast.

Separately, according to Nepal News, four Police personnel have been injured in a scuffle with the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (Unified CPN-Maoist) cadres in Kanchanpur District on March 8. The clash erupted in front of Mahakali Zonal Hospital when Police tried to disperse the Maoist cadres who were chanting slogans against Health Minister Umakanta Chaudhary.

Meanwhile, Young Communist League (YCL) has set the stage to launch what it has described as a ''national youth campaign'', reports Kantipuronline. The YCL said it is launching the campaign to draw the attention of the concerned stakeholders to the statue-drafting and the peace process as these vital tasks have been stalled.

Further, the Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that conspirators were spreading rumour that the Maoists were planning revolt. "Our top priority at this juncture is statute within the stipulated time and we are focused to accomplish the task," said Prachanda. However, he maintained that party would opt to go for the revolt if the ‘extreme rightist forces’ tried to derail the peace process and thwart constitution-drafting. "

Suspected cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) abducted a security personnel posted with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unit in Bastar from Gorli area in Dantewada District on March 7, reports Indian Express. Quoting preliminary reports, Police said 26-year-old Vinay Kumar Chouhan, who was on leave, belonged to Kukanar village.

Troops serving general areas of Ariyalai, Adampan, Iranamadu and Vellamullivaikkal on March 8 recovered one 81-mm mortar bomb, 48 anti-personnel mines, two Rangan 99 anti-personnel mines, two Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPG), one Arul bomb, 200 trapping charges, one 144 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), 20kilograms of RDX explosives, 24 detonator codes, three claymore mines, 12 suicide jackets with explosives, 10 suicide jackets without explosives, 16 C- 4 chargers, 28 claymore remote controllers, four boxes with C-4 explosives, two unidentified small machines, 570 remote control switches, 93 remote controller circuits, 12 unidentified chargers and 18 improvised Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) torches, according to Sri Lanka Army report.

Separately, Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) demining team clearing the general area of Madhu Road on March 7 found 48 anti-personnel mines, 2 RPG bombs, one 60-mm and one 81-mm mortar bombs and a hand grenade, adds Colombo Page.

Further, a Mine Action Group (MAG) team demining in the Palampiddi area of Vavuniya Ditrict meanwhile found 17 anti-personnel mines and a 60-mm mortar bomb on March 7.

Meanwhile, Naval troops attached to Sri Lanka Naval Ships Elara on information received from civilians recovered two 81-mm high explosive mortar bombs from an abandoned well located close to Walanthalai Junction in Karainagar of Jaffna on March 6.

Two crude bombs, probably from the Assam agitation days, were recovered from the drawer of a table in the Economics Department of Gauhati University in Guwahati in the afternoon of March 8, reports Telegraph. Source said, "These are old hand bombs and were probably hidden during the agitation days." A senior Police official, however, said that the bombs could have belonged even to some militant outfit which might have sympathisers among the students: "There were reports of militants taking shelter in the university earlier."

Meanwhile, a United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) linkman, identified as Dipak Bhumij of Tiphuk tea estate, was arrested by the Security Forces (SFs) at Sivasagar. A 9-mm pistol was recovered from his possession.

Also, a National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadre, Kusumbor Basumatary (38) of Village Nigoam, was arrested by the SFs in Bhalukpong of Sonitpur District, according to Sentinel. Basumatary had earlier served with 12^th Assam Battalion Police for four years but was dismissed from service in 1994 in relation to trafficking of arms and robbery. He has been absconding for the past 16 years. Basumatary is currently into timber and stone smuggling in Bhalukpong.

Telegraph reports that the Assam Government assured the Assembly that all efforts were on to trace the ‘commander-in-chief’ of Black Widow (BW), Niranjan Hojai, who had gone missing from a designated camp about two months ago. According to other sources, Hojai could remain in hiding till the political process with the BW begins and he manages to get amnesty. "In that case, he doesn’t have to go to jail although the process of getting amnesty could be time consuming. Otherwise, he lands in jail as soon as he surfaces," a source said, adding the court could soon declare him a "proclaimed offender". Assam Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain said that action would be taken against the cadres of the militant groups who had fled their designated camps. So far, 15 BW militants, seven Dima Halim Daogah (DHD) militants, 40 NDFB militants and five ULFA cadres have fled their designated camps.

Meanwhile, Bhutan would lift the travel restrictions imposed on students and patients of his country after Operation All Clear in 2003 to restore good relations with Assam. "We have to take risks now and withdraw the advisory," said the Consul General of Bhutan at the Royal Bhutan Consulate in Calcutta, Dasho Tsering Wangda. The movement of students and patients from Bhutan to Assam had considerably reduced after Operation All Clear was launched in the neighbouring country in 2003 in the apprehension that its citizens could be targeted in revenge strikes. The operation was launched to drive away militants of the ULFA and NDFB holed up in Bhutan.

Two suspected terrorists of Indian Mujahideen (IM) outfit were arrested by Security Forces (SFs) along the India-Bangladesh border on March 8, reports PTI. Both the terrorists belonged to Uttar Pradesh and were returning to the country from Bangladesh when they were arrested by the SFs. "We suspect that they were returning to India via Bangladesh after getting training in Pakistan," a Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) official said. The two suspected terrorists were being interrogated by central security agencies at an undisclosed location. Their names were yet to be revealed by the security agencies.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on March 7 arrested Mizanur Rahman Mithu of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (HuJI) in charge of former finance minister Kibria killing case in Habiganj District, reports Daily Star.

Meanwhile, the Police on March 8 recovered a cocktail (petrol bomb) from an Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS)-held room at a hall at Rajshahi University and arms from the house of a Shibir cadre in Noakhali District.

Further, a top ICS leader of the Rajshahi University and president of Amir Ali Hall unit of ICS, Ekram Hossain, accused of killing Chhatra League leader Faruk Hossain, said that key central leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and ICS were involved in the killing.

Separately, a trial court in Sylhet District, framed charges against HUJI chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and five others in the case filed for the city''s bomb blast hours ahead of a pre-poll rally of Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina on September 26, 2001.

Altogether 160 civilians and 77 Police personnel were killed in 338 Naxal (left wing extremist) strikes during the past four years in Bihar, the State Government informed the Assembly on March 8, reports The Hindu. Replying to a query, Minister in charge of Home Affairs Brijendra Prasad Yadav said out of the 40 Districts in the State, 33 are Naxal-affected and a total of 160 civilians and 77 Policemen were killed in 338 Maoist attacks during the past four years.

While 49 civilians and eight Policemen were killed in 63 Naxal attacks in 2006, 39 people and 23 Policemen were killed in 73 attacks by the Naxals in 2007, the Minister told the House. The Naxals stepped up their activities and killed 43 civilians and 21 Policemen in 79 attacks during 2008 and in 2009 the insurgents killed 29 people and 25 Police personnel in 123 attacks.

Giving details of the Naxal-hit Districts, he said of the 38 Maoist-hit Districts, 20 fall under ‘A'' category (worst affected). These include Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Jamui, Munger, Kaimur, Bhojpur, Nawada, Jehanabad, Arwal, Motihari, Patna, Sitamarhi, Bagaha, Bettiah, Banka, Sheohar, Lakhisarai, Vaishali and Begusarai. Five Districts-Buxar, Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, and Nalanda-fall under ‘B'' category (moderately hit), while Siwan, Saran, Samastipur, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Sheikhpura and Darbhanga Districts are less affected and fall under ‘C'' category.

The Union Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) on March 8 issued an alert for Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore saying these cities could be targeted by terrorists, reports PTI. The alert was based on the interrogation of suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist Salman Ahmed.

Hafiz Saeed, the founder and ‘chief’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (also known as Jama’at-ud-Da’awa) and the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks, accused India of waging water wars on Pakistan while addressing a public rally in Lahore on March 8, reports Economic Times. He urged the Pakistani Government to prepare the country to counter "Indian aggression" and called for launching a nation-wide movement against India on the issue. Saeed maintained that India has imposed war on Pakistan by "constructing illegal dams and diverting water from Pakistani rivers".

The Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) said that it would seek a plebiscite on whether to continue with the tripartite peace talks, after the Centre took an ‘arbitrary’ decision to extend the cease-fire only periodically, according to Telegraph.