Detail Of Terrorism Update

The Security Forces (SFs) killed three Taliban militants in the continuing Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) when they tried to attack SFs at the Pungai checkpost in South Waziristan of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 5, according to Daily Times.

Separately, two volunteers of peace committee were killed and as many sustained injuries during a clash with militants in Baizai sub-division in Mohmand Agency on January 4. The official sources said a group of militants attacked the positions of volunteers of a local peace committee with rocket launchers and mortar guns in the remote Baizai tehsil (revenue unit) near Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The volunteers promptly returned the fire that continued for an hour. Two volunteers, the sources added, were killed and two others sustained injuries in the clash.

Meanwhile, the militants blew up six shrines in the Khwa village of Stori Khel area of lower Orakzai Agency, reports Dawn. The militants also blew up six other shrines of Stori Khel. The Stori Khel tribe has been fighting the Taliban militants for over a month to keep them away from their area.

Further, unidentified militants blew up a boys’ school in Nawagai tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur Agency, reports Daily Times. Sources said that around 50 militants entered a school in Malkana village, some 30 kilometres southwest of Khar, and planted explosives in the building, which was badly damaged in the resulting blast. However, there was no casualty. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

In addition, Salarzai Qaumi Lashkar (a local tribal militia) and political authorities defused a remote-controlled bomb, weighed around 10 kilogrammes, planted by a roadside in the Raghghan area of Khar. The explosives weighed around 10 kilogrammes.

Further, SFs conducted search and clearance operations in Luni and arrested three suspected militants. They also cleared various compounds in Upper Kaniguram and Tatai Langar Khel near Ladha area of South Waziristan and recovered a large cache of arms.

Elsewhere in the same Agency, the SFs conducted search and clearance operations Tara Tizha near Makeen, clearing a number of militant’s compounds and recovering ammunitions.

Also, militants fired rockets at a checkpost near Spin Mela. The attack was retaliated by the SFs.

A 65 year old person, Debeswar Barman, was killed and his 13-year old son, Nirmal, was wounded when a bomb was exploded by suspected militants at their residence in Gakulkata village of Kokrajhar District along the Assam-West Bengal border on January 5, according to Telegraph.

Separately, an unidentified National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militant was shot dead by Security Forces (SFs) at Bamundittari village under Mukalmua Police Station in Nalbari District on January 4, reports Assam Tribune.

Further, a cadre belonging to Ranjan Daimari faction of the NDFB was shot dead by SFs near Belsiri tea estate under Misamari Police Station in Sonitpur District on January 5. The SFs were reportedly assisted by cadres belonging to pro-talks faction of the NDFB.

Meanwhile, the office of the Jorhat basin manager of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission received an extortion note demanding of INR five million from the ‘finance secretary’ of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Unification (NSCN-U) outfit recently, according to Sentinel. In the extortion note, the outfit ‘served’ December 29, 2009 as deadline for paying the money.

Elsewhere in the State, two People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) cadres were arrested by the 11 Field Regiment of the Red Sheild Division at Fulertal under Lakhipur Police Station on an unspecified date. They were identified as Ch. Surajit Singh (26) and M. Pandit Singh (21) of Tarakoon Sangbia under Moirang police station of Bishanpur District in Manipur. Two cellular phones of Assam and Manipur network were recovered from their possession. Both of them were later handed over to Lakhipur Police and were subsequently produced before the CJM Court at Silchar in Cachar District January 4.

In addition, a NDFB cadre, Bipul Boro, was arrested by troops of 65 Field Regiment of the Red Horns Division of the Army when he was travelling in a passenger bus near Namkhola in Darrang District on January 5. He belonged to Bamunjhar village near Andherighat under Khairabari Police Station. He was involved in various anti-national activities sponsored by the ‘3^rd battalion’ of the NDFB led by Ranjan Daimary alias D. Nabla.

The North Cachar Hills District Police on January 5 confirmed that National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) had carried out January 4 ambush on a Police convoy to avenge the killing of two of its cadres near Haflong in December 2009, according to Telegraph. A constable of the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police and two siblings were killed in the attack near Mahur town. A senior Police Official said intelligence inputs had confirmed that the ambush was the handiwork of NSCN-K militants, who had now made Mahur, 40 kilometres away from the District headquarters, Haflong, one of their strong holds in North Cachar Hills.

Press Trust of India reports that ‘publicity secretary’ of the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) Razak Dera on January 4 said that that they were open for immediate peace talks with the Centre but demanded that Union Home Minister should be present in that talk. He said that the outfit's cadres, who were for a separate Karbi State, would not surrender but only deposit their arms.

The Security Forces (SFs) killed three Taliban militants in the continuing Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) at Mora Kandao in Swat District of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on January 5, according to Daily Times. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that one trooper was also injured in the clash.

Separately, Police arrested four suspected persons from Swabi District and recovered a cache of explosives from their possession. Swabi Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Imran Shahid said 700 kilogrammes of explosives and over 5,000 safety fuse wires were seized, which were hidden in a vehicle coming from Punjab. The driver of the vehicle, Allah Ditta who belonged to Sargodha, Zahirullah, Abdullah Shah and Syed Tariq Shah have been taken into custody for interrogation.

Meanwhile, the SFs conducted search and clearance operations in Pash Ziarat of Swat District and cleared a number of compounds of militants and recovered a cache of ammunitions.

In addition, the SFs conducted operations in various areas of Swat and arrested eight suspected militants and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition.

Further, four suspected militants surrendered at Watakai near Mingora and Sakhra.

At least three persons were killed and 11 persons injured in a blast near barracks of military hospital in Tarar Khal area of Rawla Kot, the District headquarter of the Rawal Kot District in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) on January 6 (today), according to The News. Of the injured, four are said to be in critical condition.

An Ahmadi leader Muhammad Yousaf (70) was shot dead allegedly for seeking Police protection against sectarian zealots in Ferozewala Police Station area of Karachi on January 5, according to Daily Times. The family of Muhammad Yousaf, leader of the Ahmadi community in Ferozewala, alleged that unidentified persons killed him for demanding Police to stop them from creating religious strife in the area. Fatehul Deen, the son of the deceased, said that two unidentified persons on a motorbike opened fire at his father around 8 am (PST) when he was sitting at his general store, where he (Fateh) and his brother were also present. He said his father died instantly while he and his brother narrowly escaped the attack. Ferozewala Police Station House Officer (SHO) Muhammad Munir said that Police had registered the first information report (FIR) against unidentified persons for Yousaf’s murder.

Meanwhile, one person, identified as Sajid (25), who had sustained injuries in the Ashura procession on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi on December 28, 2009, passed away at the hospital on January 5. This brings the death toll of blast victims to 45.

The Rockets targeted the Balochistan Governor House and provincial Civil Hospital in Quetta, injuring one person, in the night of January 5, according to The News. Police said one rocket, which landed on the lawn of the Governor House, failed to explode. The rocket had been fired from an unknown location. The bomb disposal squad defused the rocket. The Police said another rocket fired from an unknown place hit the wall of the Civil Hospital. Its splinters hit and injured one person. The rocket exploded with a big bang, smashing windowpanes of some wards of the hospital.

A section official of the Manipur Minor Irrigation Department, G. Manisana Sharma, was abducted by suspected People's United Liberation Front (PULF) militants from Thoubal District on January 4, according to Telegraph. The report adds that abduction was linked to extortion demands made by the group from either the Department or the official himself. The abducted official is from Thoubal district and posted at the Department’s head office in Lamphel of Imphal West District.

Further, a ‘chief’ of the Tera Khongsang Gram Panchayat (village level local self Government institution), identified as Lamabam Tomchou Meitei (52), was also abducted by suspected cadres belonging to Lamyanba Khuman group of the Military Council faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) from his residence on January 3, reports Imphal Free Press.

Separately, two cadres belonging to Lamyanba Khuman faction of the Military Council faction of the KCP, including a woman, were arrested by the Bishnupur District Police during a search operation at Phubala on January 4, according to Sangai Express. They were identified as Phairembam Mamita Devi (24) and Laishram Isokanta (47).

In addition, another cadre of the outfit, identified as Oinam Sanatomba (49), was arrested by a combined force of the Bishnupur District Police and personnel of 16th Maratha Light Infantry from Moirang Kokilbon Leikai on January 5.

The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (Unified CPN-M) decided to focus the fourth phase of their nationwide agitation "to protect national sovereignty and integrity" upon reaching the conclusion that it is in "serious danger" and endorsed the political report tabled by party ‘chairman’ Pushpa Kamal Dahal at central committee (CC) meeting of the party that concluded in the party headquarters at Paris Danda in Koteshwor on January 5, reports Nepal News.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (NC) party accused the Unified CPN-M of inviting conflict and hindering the peace process and constitution writing schedule. NC general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi told media persons in Birgunj that the Maoists have changed their earlier stance for federal democratic republic set up when the new constitution is promulgated.

The Army Integration Special Committee started deliberation on the proposal tabled by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, aimed at finishing all works related to the Maoist combatants, including their integration, by April 30, 2010. "The Special Committee has started debate on the Prime Minister's proposal," Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) party general secretary Ishwor Pokharel, a member of the committee, informed after the meeting held at the Prime Minster’s Office in Singha Durbar on January 5.

During search and clear operations conducted in the Pallei, Periyapandivirichchan, Nandankandal, Palampiddi, Nochchikulam, Iranamadu, Oddusudan, Paranthan, Akkarayankulam and Wellamullivaikkal areas of Wanni on January 4 the troops recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, reports Sri Lanka Army. The recoveries included five 81-mm mortar bombs, 42 hand grenades, eight fuses, one pack of chargers, one anti-tank mine, 191 anti-personnel mines, one claymore mine, 18 Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPG), one 152-mm artillery round, four 60-mm mortar bombs, two Rangan bombs, two detonators, two rounds of .38-mm ammunition, two rounds of micro pistol ammunition, four T-56 weapons, two T-56 bayonets, 22 T-56 magazines, a stock of weapon parts, one T-81 weapon, six M-16 weapons, three I-com communication sets, one I-com battery, one box of T-56 ammunition, 2000 kilograms of explosives, sixteen 14.8-mm weapon barrels, two shot guns, 2500 rounds of T-56 ammunition, seven artillery boosters, 46 artillery fuses, one disposable RPG bomb, one generator, two computer keyboards, one electric water pump, one video deck, one battery charger, one blender, one iron, one black wire roll, 10 motor cycle tyres and two motor cycle silencers.

Daily News reported that the Vavuniya Police Crime Unit unearthed a large haul of arms and explosives, including slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s personal rifle together along with body armour in Wellamullivaikkal on January 4. Senior Deputy Inspector General (North) Nimal Lewke said on information gathered from one of the personal bodyguards of the slain LTTE leader, a special team from the Vavuniya Police recovered over 2,000 kilograms of high explosives and Prabhakaran’s personal rifle. "They uncovered an M-16A2 with a grenade launcher along with a body armour that was believed to be used by the LTTE leader. The body armour was specially tailored for the LTTE leader", Lewke told the Daily News. The arms and explosives were carefully concealed and buried in the Wellamullivaikkal jungle. Police recovered two boat engines, a 40 horse power engine, 18 Arul bombs, 2,000 kilograms of RDX explosives, 88 suicide kits, two claymore mines, 17 of 60-mm mortar bombs, two weapon chargers, 20 pouches, 122 full switches, ten of 60-mm artillery shell chargers, 50 detonators, 2,500 of 7.62 ammunition, 250 grams gun powder, a torpedo, 25 anti-personnel mines, 25 artillery boosters, 46 artillery fuses, a disposable RPG weapon, 15 hand grenades, 16 of 14.5 weapon barrels, two automatic shot guns, 50 claymore stands, a large quantity of dead code wire, 20 remote control switches and eight suicide kit switches.

Three Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) including an ‘operation commander’ were arrested in two separate incidents in Bagerhat and Natore Districts, reports Daily Star. Police arrested two Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) cadres along with their party posters in Manasa Bazaar area of Fakirhat sub district in Bagerhat District on January 4. The arrestees — Kazi Ibrahim, and Chengis Das in their posters urged people to join their party with a pledge to kill their ''class enemies'' and sought financial help for strengthening their party activities.

Separately, the Police on January 5 arrested an ''operation commander'' of Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party (PBSP), identified as Afzal Hossain from Fulbagan area in Natore District and recovered a shutter gun, a pistol and four bullets from his house. Police said that Afzal is an active member of PBSP. He faces many cases including Bamihal Police camp loot, three murders and robbery.

PTI reports that a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant has been arrested at a check post at Cumbum near Theni in Kerala after his passport and identity cards were found to be forged. Police said Siridharan (32) and his friend, a registered refugee of the Mandapam camp, were on their way back from the Sabarimala temple in Kerala on January 4 when they were stopped for a routine check. Police grew suspicious when they heard his Sri Lankan Tamil accent and asked for his identity card which was found to be false. A check of his passport also revealed that it was forged. They said the suspect had received military training prior to 1992 and had stayed at Velvattithurai in Jaffna Peninsula.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on January 5 arrested an ehsar (full time member) of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), identified as Yousuf Ali from Shibganj sub district in the Chapai Nawabganj District, reports Daily Star. Yousuf faces two separate cases with Shibganj Police Station, said a RAB official.

Tripurainfo reports that four National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) cadres surrendered when they were challenged by the Assam Rifles personnel at Taidum village in North District along Tripura–Mizoram border on January 3. Sources said that they deposited one AK 56 rifle, one SLR, a pistol, one G-3 gun along with ammunitions and 340 bullets during the time of surrender.

Bihar Police on January 4 denied the media reports of Taliban and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists infiltration into the State from Nepal side, reports Times of India. Additional Director General (ADG) (headquarters) U.S. Dutt wondered where from the media got such information. "There is no such indication from the Central intelligence agency either," he said. He said that a man was killed in Nepal side across Araria District and the killers are suspected to have entered Bihar. Apparently this led to speculations about terrorists moving in Bihar, Dutt added. As for the threat to Indian Railways, meanwhile, sources said an ADG-rank police officer in Kerala received an anonymous call recently. The caller identified himself as Bashir and said trains and railway properties would be targeted. The caller did not give any specific details about the location of the target. As a precautionary measure, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) circulated a nationwide warning to the Railway Police.

Security Forces (SFs) on January 5 said they flushed out most of the militants from the Mohmand tribal region of Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), according to Dawn. "Mohmand is a big agency and up till now 80 per cent of the area has been cleared," commander of the Mohmand Operation, Colonel Saifullah, said. He said operations near the Afghanistan border were necessary as militants take refuge in the region. Around 350 militants were killed while 300 others were severely injured, he added. Regarding the SFs causalities, he said around 65 soldiers had been martyred in 2008 and 2009. He said resistance was still being faced in the Safi tehsil (revenue unit) and Khwazai tehsil but now the SFs were shifting towards the next phase that entailed bringing stability to the area. He rubbished off reports of NATO penetrating Mohmand and other tribal areas and said Pakistan’s borders were being tightly guarded. Colonel Saifullah did not give any tentative date for wrapping up the operation but said the army wants to wind it up as soon as possible. Due to normalisation of the situation, schools and some bazaars had opened in the cleared areas and Government offices also started their operations.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 5 said that she would not invite trouble for the country by allowing militants and terrorists to use Bangladesh for carrying out terrorism in another country, reported Daily Star. "They [militants and terrorists] will use the land of Bangladesh to conduct their terrorism in another country and we will create enmity by harbouring them this cannot be," she said, while addressing top Police officials at her office in observance of the Police Week. "I know there are risks. I also have life threat but for the sake of the country and its sovereignty, I will not allow that," she said. Hasina said that for the sake of independence and sovereignty, she is taking the risk to protect the country from being used as "the base of another country's militants and terrorists". Hasina also states that her Government will not allow militants to establish their supremacy in the country. "The previous Government failed to figure out the devastating outcome of encouraging such dangerous elements. They did not cast their eyes far into the future," she added.

Meanwhile, Hasina asked the Police officials to perform their duty blindly without seeing which party the culprits belong to. "Your work is to ensure the security of the people and keep loyal to the constitution. Even take actions against my party's people." She also asked the Police officials to introduce themselves to modern technologies as the criminals are using high-tech instruments for committing their crimes. The Prime Minister said that her Government would do whatever possible for the development of the Police Force in the country, as this is the largest law-enforcement force in the country. "We need the rule of law, but you have to confirm that doing that there will be no violation of human rights." she said adding "there will be no militancy and terrorism-there will be only peace prevailing in the country".

President Mahinda Rajapakse on January 5 stressed that he would never merge the North and the East under his administration, Daily News reported. He said certain elements in the Opposition are changing its tune when they go to the North with the sole objective of winning the election. Earlier media reports indicated that the joint opposition Presidential candidate General (retired) Sarath Fonseka had agreed to the pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) demand that the Tamil-speaking Northern and Eastern Provinces be merged once again to form a single Tamil province.

Meanwhile, seeking the support of TNA at the upcoming presidential elections, Fonseka has offered to grant amnesty to all the detained LTTE cadres if he is elected. He pledged in a proposal submitted to the TNA that he would take measures to offer amnesty to all LTTE cadres in detention if he becomes President. In the proposal titled "Immediate Relief Measures for war affected persons" Fonseka says the LTTE cadres will either be charged or released within one month. The proposal also calls for dismantling the high security zones in the country and remove the emergency rule that is in force now. The proposal also says that he will dismantle all para-military cadres and armed groups. General Fonseka has submitted the proposal to the TNA leader R. Sampanthan on January 4.

Chief Government Whip and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament on January 5 that the 17^th Amendment to the Constitution is now defunct and there was no use in taking up its provisions. Answering a question to why the Police Commission is not established, the Minister said the 17^th Amendment now had no practical value. As the provisions of the 17^th Amendment are not functioning, powers are now vested with the relevant Ministers to act answering to the situation, he said. "For the State of defunct of the 17^th Amendment to the Constitution both the Government and the Opposition must take the shared responsibility and the blame," he said. Gunawardena said Ministers do not interfere with Police affairs as alleged by the Opposition MP and denied that there were any political interference.

The Hindu reports that the Sri Lankan Parliament on January 5 voted to extend the state of emergency in the country by another month. Emergency in Sri Lanka was re-imposed after the assassination of the former Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, by LTTE cadres in August 2005. Under the Sri Lankan Constitution, only Parliament has the right to proclaim emergency and it is valid only for a month. From August 2005, the Sri Lankan Parliament has been extending the emergency every month. Meanwhile, Colombo Page quoted Prime Minister (PM) Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka saying that the Emergency Rule is needed to be extended as the Security Forces continue to be remained in the North conducting search operations but the law will not be used to fulfil petty political ambitions. The PM further said the Security Forces continue to recover large hauls of weapons and explosives hidden by the terrorists. The aim of the Security Forces is to build an environment for the people in the north to live without fear or suspicion, he added.