Detail Of Terrorism Update

 At least eight persons were killed and 15 others injured in clashes between Security Forces (SFs) and militants in Dattakhel area near Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan Agency (NWA), in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 19, reports Daily Times. The Army attacked suspected militant hideouts outside the town, but the attack left three civilians dead and 15 injured. One soldier and four militants were also killed in the operation.  

Separately, five Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in bomb blast, carried out by the Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), in Doa Thoe area of Tirah Valley area in Khyber Agency. Sources said the remote-controlled bomb, placed on the back of a mule, was detonated when the quadruped got close to a TTP bunker in Doa Thoe area. A spokesman for the LI claimed responsibility for the blast and said the TTP had been punished for spreading false reports about the death of LI leader Mangal Bagh. The LI denied the claims and said Bagh was alive and staying at a safe place. LI ‘commander’ Muhammad Hussain said that Bagh was not killed in a military offensive.  

Meanwhile, the KP Inspector General (IG) Akbar Hoti claimed that Mangal Bagh, the chief of LI, was killed in a military operation in Kurram Agency. Talking to reporters, Hoti said Mangal Bagh was killed during a clash with SF in the Kurram Agency where a military offensive is underway.

A patrolling party of Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead three Pakistani smugglers near Amarkot village in Amritsar District on March 19 and recovered 22 kilograms of heroin valued at around INR 11 million in the international market, reports Times of India. The patrolling party of BSF spotted some suspicious movement near Dharma border outpost and challenged the Pakistani smugglers who ignored the warning and opened fire at BSF personnel. In retaliatory fire, BSF shot dead three Pakistani nationals and in a follow up search of the area 22 packets of heroin were recovered, sources said.

Unidentified motorcycle borne assailants shot dead one Zakir Ali, chief of Shia Peace Committee, at Shahu Square in Mohallah Sangerh of Hangu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 18, reports Dawn. The deceased was appointed head of Shiite representatives in 2009 before Muharram when tension escalated in the area over the issue of mourners’ route. Locals said that terrorists were targeting prominent religious leaders for the last three years in Hangu to ignite sectarian clashes. 

Separately, a middle school was blown up by unidentified militants in Sarok Kallay area of Charsadda District on March 17. Two rooms and a veranda of the school were destroyed in the blast.  

Elsewhere in the same District, unidentified militants blew up a cellular phone shop in Amirabad village of Umarzai area. Further, a Government school was blown up in the Lawangkhel village in Lakki Marwat District.  

Also, an alleged cadre of Swat chapter of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Fazal Hadi, stated to be a central character in the flogging incident of a woman in Swat in 2009, was arrested in the evening of March 19. An official of Charbagh Police Station confirmed that the suspect, Fazal Hadi, was arrested by a raiding team at his ancestral area Asbarn when he returned from Sindh Province, where he had been hiding since 2009.  

Meanwhile, the students and teachers of Islamia College Peshawar (Chartered University) staged a protest demonstration in Peshawar against the Government for its failure to recover Professor Ajmal Khan, the abducted vice-chancellor of the university. The protesters also blocked the busy University Road for all kinds of vehicular traffic. They threatened to launch a full-fledged protest movement if the vice-chancellor was not recovered till March 22.

Unidentified armed assailants shot dead a man, identified as Muhammad Hashim, on Qambarani Road area in Quetta on March 19, reported Daily Times.  

Separately, Security Forces (SFs) claimed to have foiled a terror bid, planned for March 23, 2012, by seizing a huge quantity of explosive materials and arms in Quetta, reports Express Tribune. According to official sources, acting upon a tip-off, SFs had beefed up security at the Buleli Check post and intercepted several vehicles. They discovered five hundred kilograms of explosive materials, seven detonators and six landmines from one of the vehicles. An unnamed official said, “We had information about the smuggling of explosive materials from Afghanistan to Quetta,” adding, the passengers managed to escape, abandoning their car before security personnel reached the vehicle.

Twocircles.net quoting IANS reported that the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres opened indiscriminate fire on March 19 in Bijapur District, killing Lachhuram Kashyap, a prominent Salwa Judum (an anti-Maoist vigilante group) leader of Mirtur. The killing took place in the District, some 480 kilometers south of Raipur, when Kashyap was returning to his village from a Police Station.

Meanwhile, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were injured during a joint operation of Chhattisgarh Police and CRPF in and around in Abujmaadh region in Bastar District for about two weeks, Chhattisgarh Director General of Police (DGP) Anil M Navaney said on March 19, reports Daily Bhaskar. Navaney said that during the operation, there were exchanges of fire between the Security Forces and the cadres of the CPI-Maoist on at least 12 occasions, in which, the two CRPF troopers were injured. Further, 13 Maoists were arrested and rifles, explosive material, detonators, explosive computer printer, cameras, medicines, solar panels and other equipment was recovered during the operation, Navaney added.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) killed Mostafizur Rahman alias Mostak, who had been leading the banned outfit Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) in Rajshahi District, in Goakhali village of Bagmara sub-district in Rajshahi District, on March 20 (today), according to Daily Star. Two RAB personnel were also injured during the gunfight. Mostak was previously a close aide of executed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and was involved with the JMB in 2004. He was ‘operation commander’ of the JMB’sBagmara unit.

Armed assailants smashed windows of Geo News satellite van and resorted to firing outside the office at I. I. Chundrigar Road in Karachi on March 20 (today), reported The News. According to details, unidentified assailants cut-off cable wires in different areas and the technicians sent for repair were threatened. The cable operators are receiving threats in several other areas as well, from a political party. 

Separately, the Sindh Government finally decided on March 19 to crack down on extortionists in Karachi, reports Express Tribune. “An operation against extortionists will begin in Karachi before dawn on March 20 [today],” Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said. 

Also, the Anti-Extremism Cell (AEC) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested nine suspects belonging to the People’s Amn Committee (PAC) and recovered arms from their possession in a raid in Lyari area, adds The News. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammed Aslam Khan of the AEC along with his force launched the crackdown and dismantled the network of the extortion mafia in Kalakot of Baghdadi area.  Police also recovered five Kalashnikovs, two repeater guns and two TT pistols from their possession.

Army on March 19 thwarted infiltration attempt by a group of three to four militants under the cover of firing by Pakistani troops in forward area of Jangarh in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District, reports Daily Excelsior. Official sources said the Army personnel observed movement of a group of three to four militants at the Line of Control (LoC) opposite Jangarh and challenged the militants, who were heading towards Indian Territory, and asked them to surrender. However, the militants opened firing. Simultaneously, the Pakistani troops opened firing from their forward positions targeting Indian Army to facilitate infiltration by the militants, sources said. Army retaliated from this side. Exchange of firing continued for about half an hour after which the infiltrators escaped back. Troops didn't suffer any casualties or damage in firing by the militants and Pakistan Army. 

Meanwhile, the Counter Insurgency Force Uniform and Police recovered 50 kilograms of explosive material in the form of five remote control improvised explosive devices (IEDs), each weighing 10 kilograms, from village Danah in Kotranka tehsil (revenue unit) of Rajouri District.

The cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) triggered a blast at an under-construction godown of a panchayat (village level local self-Government institution) building in Malkangiri District in the wee hours of March 19, reports The Times of India. According to sources, a group of around 50 Maoists accompanied by local supporters swooped down on the building on Bonda hills, at a distance of about 70 kilometers from Malkangiri town, and planted explosives to destroy the building.

Though no injury or casualty was reported, the attack completely damaged the godown of Mudulipada panchayat, under Khairput block (administrative division). Before leaving the spot, the Malkangiri District Committee of the Maoists, which claimed responsibility for the offensive, pasted a poster at the panchayat office, listing some of their demands. "Stop combing operation by the BSF [Border Security Force] in the area and fulfill the demands to which the State Government agreed during the release of former Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna," the poster read.

Armed cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) set ablaze three JCB machines (earth movers) of a private construction firm at Bahadurpur village under Rafiganj Police Station in Aurangabad District late in the night of March 18, reports The Times of India. Sources said, around 50 heavily armed Maoists raided the office of the private construction firm, Shakti Constructions, and set ablaze three JCB machines engaged in road construction in the area. The Maoists also assaulted the munshi (clerk) of the firm before setting the machines on fire.

The Sangai Express reports that Security Forces (SFs) seized explosive material from a girl, identified as Lalthongboi, while she was travelling from Mizoram to Churachandpur District on March 19. Five detonators, one meter of cordex, three PEK slabs and a safety fuse of approximately 8.5 meters were recovered from her possession.

In another incident, SFs recovered a cache of arms and ammunition after they arrested a Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) cadre, identified as Hemin, from Khunkhu village in Senapati District. One 7.62-mm pistol and one live round were recovered from him. Later, on searching a nearby field, three AK 56 Rifles along with magazines, ammunition and other warlike stores were also recovered.

Earlier, SFs arrested one National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) cadre, identified as ‘2^nd Lieutenant’ Paisho Kashung, at Gwaltabi of Ukhrul District on March 18. One US made .32 mm pistol, cash of INR 3000 and extortion receipt for INR 6600 were recovered from him.

Further, SFs arrested one People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) cadre, identified as ‘Lance Corporal’ Manaovi alias Lamtakpa, at Hiyanglam Leikai in Thoubal District on March 19.

SFs also arrested one Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Military Council faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-MC), identified as Laishran Kartik, from Tangjen Makha Leikai in Bishnupur District. He revealed that he had joined KCP-MC in 2010. Prior to that, he worked as an OGW of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) from 2005-2007 and an OGW of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) from 2008-2009. He was involved in tax collection and extortion on behalf of KCP-MC.

Meanwhile, reports said that a mini truck was smashed by cadres of the SK Thadou faction of United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) at Joulien village in Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong District on March 19.

The Security Force personnel on March 19 recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), weighing five kilograms, hidden in milk can near Hutar village on Barwadih-Morbai road in Latehar District, reports The Telegraph. Latehar Superintendent of Police G. Kranti Kumar confirming the recovery said, “It was defused within minutes and with that an attempt by Maoists [Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)] to target security personnel was averted.”

The Sentinel reports that Security Forces (SFs) in a joint operation arrested three Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) racketeers from the area of Thuampui under Police station of Aizawl District and recovered FICNs worth INR 300, 000 from them. The racketeers, all women, were identified as Lalengkimi, Lalbiak Thuami and Ramdinthari, all from Aizawl.

Meanwhile, Mizoram has agreed to resume the stalled repatriation of Bru refugees from Tripura as the Centre has nodded to rehabilitation of displaced Mizo families in Tripura, State Home Minister R Lalzirliana said on March 19, reports The Shillong Times. “As the Union Home Minister agreed to give rehabilitation to the 80 Mizo families, who had been driven out of their homes in Sakhan Hills in Tripura by Bru militants, Mizoram will resume the repatriation of Brus from refugee camps in Tripura,” Lalzirliana added.

Official sources said the Bru repatriation will resume from April. The repatriation process, which began in November 2010, was called off on June 6, 2011, by the Mizoram Government after the NGOs and political parties demanded rehabilitation to the displaced Mizo families, who had been driven out of their homes in 1998 by Bru militants. The Union Home Ministry in September 2011 agreed to give rehabilitation to the displaced Mizo families. According to official records, Mizoram had so far repatriated 4119 Bru refugees belonging to 799 families from the six refugee camps in North Tripura.

The Times of India reports that a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leader, Tupakula Ramanjaneyamma alias Santhi, a leader of the Andhra-Orissa Border (AOB) carrying a head money of INR 500,000, was arrested near Kondramutla village in Ipur mandal (administrative unit) in the late hours of March 18 in Guntur District. She was later moved to Vinukonda town where she is being interrogated by the Police in connection with several cases. Santhi, who was shifted to AOB by the Maoist leadership, had been ailing for some time.

Tripura Times reports that one militant belonging to Bru National Front (BNF), identified as Hari Mohan Reang (32), surrendered before Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO, Kanchanpur) at Nandiram Para in North Tripura District on March 18. The militant deposited one AK-56 rifle, 15 rounds of AK-56 and one magazine. The militant was previously with the Nayanbanshi faction of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT-NB). WebIndia123 adds that during interrogation, Harimohan revealed that he had surrendered in 2001 from NLFT, but he was ‘compelled’ to join in BNF, based in Cachar-Mizoram border of south Assam in 2003, due to poverty.

Meanwhile, the State Government has extended Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for another six months, reports The Sentinel.

Daily Pioneer reports that India on March 19 handed over to Bangladesh a list of 51 camps and 22 Indian insurgent group leaders to Bangladesh for action against them who are operating from that country. During the four-day Border Coordination Conference between the two countries, the Border Security Force (BSF), according to Director General U K Bansal, handed over to their Bangladeshi counterparts a list of the camps and insurgents present in their territory.

Meanwhile, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Anwar Hussain said they have identified 23 patches along the border which are “very vulnerable” in terms of illegal activities and both the forces will undertake joint patrolling in these areas

Zee News reports that in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) on March 19, Defense Minister A. K. Antony denied that the Government has plans to sign pacts with neighbouring countries to counter militant activities and check piracy. Antony added, "Nevertheless, the security and surveillance apparatus for coastal defence has been enhanced over the years." He further added that strengthening of coastal security apparatus is an ongoing process considering the needs and changing security scenario as well as the threat perception.

Times of India reports that the Portuguese Constitution Court has stayed a judicial order cancelling extradition of gangster and key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, Abu Salem to India, the Union Government informed the Supreme Court in Delhi on March 19. Salem, who along with Dawood Ibrahim, is a prime accused in the serial blasts case, and his girlfriend Monica Bedi were extradited to India on November 11, 2005 after a three-year-long legal process in Portugal.

Pakistan's support for Haqqani Network has increased through both facilitating additional sanctuary and providing strategic and operational guidance, revealed Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a United States (US) think tank, in its report on March 19, reports Times of India. The report has asserted that the network represents a strategic threat to the enduring stability of the Afghan State and US national security interests in the region. "The Haqqani Network is the primary proxy force backed by elements of Pakistan's security establishment. Pakistan's support for the Haqqani Network has increased, through both facilitating additional sanctuary and providing strategic and operational guidance," the report titled "The Haqqani Network: A Strategic Threat" said. 

"US forces cannot curtail or cease offensive operations in the areas South of Kabul in Regional Command East in 2012. The United States and its Afghan partners must dismantle the Haqqani Network's strongholds in Khost, Paktika, and Paktia and contain the organisation's expansion toward Kabul prior to a shift in mission. Failure to do so will present a strategic threat to US national security interests in Afghanistan," it added.

The Investigative Agencies on March 19 submitted reports in the court of Senior Civil Judge Farrukh Arjumand in Islamabad regarding slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s existence in Pakistan, reported Express Tribune. The report said that Bin Laden entered Pakistan along with his family through Afghanistan and resided in various areas of the country. However, no records could be found at any airport regarding his travels. It further stated that Bin Laden’s children were born in Pakistan, yet no record was available with any hospital as apparently they were registered under fake names. The investigation is still under process the, report stated.  

Meanwhile, the local court deferred its decision till March 26, 2012, on a petition by a brother of the Yemeni wife of Osama seeking access to his sister, reports Dawn. The prosecution told the court that Osama’s family had illegally entered the country from Afghanistan. Senior Civil Judge Sharukh Arjumand took up the petition filed by Yemeni national Zakarayah Ahmed Abdulfattah who requested the court for access to his elder sister Amal Abdulfattah, the youngest widow of Osama, and her five children, Safiah, (12) Asia, (10) Ibrahim, (8) Zainub, (5) and Hussain, (3). After hearing the arguments, the court asked the petitioner’s counsel to submit legal justification in writing for passing an appropriate order in this regard and deferred the matter till March 26, 2012.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said on March 19 that the Ministry would seek transcript of ex- Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Asad Durrani’s testimony before Pakistan’s Supreme Court where he admitted to funding the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) during the 1991 general elections, reports Pakistan Observer. She stated, “We can provide more details after getting the transcript in our hands. This is necessary to be clear about what actually happened. We also need to know what is actually written in the transcript”.

Chief Minister (CM) Neiphiu Rio on March 19 informed the State Assembly that he was not aware of the progress of political talks between the Union Government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) since the State was not a party to the dialogue between the two, reports The Shillong Times.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Nagaland has spent INR 20,84,05,854 for procurement of arms and INR 9,51,03,526 for ammunitions during 2008-09 to 2011-12 while an amount of INR 2,42,58,713 sanctioned during 2008-09 was yet to spent as allotment was awaited from Ministry Home Affairs (MHA), reports Nagaland Post. The arms and ammunitions were received through the allotment from MHA as per demand made by the department.

The Sentinel reports that Ranjan Daimary faction of National Democratic front of Bodoland (NDFB-RD) appealed to the people of the region to be alert against fake organizations that have been extorting money in the name of the NDFB and giving life threats. The Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary of the NDFB-RD, B. Samijink, in press statement said that no member of the NDFB has demanded money or threatened people of the region. “Since we have declared the indefinite unilateral suspension of operation, our cadres are strictly commanded to maintain order in the society to create congenial atmosphere for peace process,” he added.

He further alleged that in recent times “we have observed that the Government is taking advantage in the name of peace process by harassing, blaming and arresting our cadres” adding that their cadres are camping in the area as specified by the Government during the unilateral ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, Rengma Naga People’s Conference (RNPC) and Rengma Students’ Union (RSU) on March 18 put forward their demand for creation of a “Rengma Naga Autonomous Regional Council” (RNARC) to the chief executive member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in Karbi Anglong District. Notably, Kuki tribe living in the District is also demanding similar council.

Officials on March 19 said that after the November 26, 2011, NATO air strike on Pakistan’s border posts in the Salala area of Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the United States (US) now plans to offer a formal public apology to Islamabad, reports Express Tribune. Until now Washington was reluctant to apologise over the air strike, though it has ‘regretted’ the incident.

“The apology may come from the highest level and will be offered during or soon after the Joint Session of Parliament, which is scheduled to open a debate on March 20 (today) on new terms of engagement (with the US),” an unnamed senior leader in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led ruling coalition said.  Another official said that the Government considered a formal US apology important for pacifying growing anger within the rank and file of the Army in particular and the public in general. “The US step may be symbolic but the Government needs [an apology] to save its face, so it can get on with business as usual,” the official added.

Republica reports that the Unified Communist Party of Nepal–Maoist(UCPN-M) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on March 19  told the party´s central committee (CC) members loyal to him that the party is heading toward imminent split or dissolution if current differences within UCPN-M are not resolved immediately. “The party is teetering on the brink of a split it will dissolve even if it doesn´t split. So we should put in our best efforts to save the party,” a participant quoted Dahal as telling the emergency meeting of around 100 CC members close to him and Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai at Hotel Summit in Lalitpur .