Detail Of Terrorism Update

The US drone attack killed 10 militants in the Birmal area of South Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), on June 3, reports Daily Times. Sources said that the drone fired four missiles at a suspected militant hideout in the Birmal area.  

Separately, the Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) militants killed two men and a woman in Qambar Khel area of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency after accusing them of being involved in illicit affair. A spokesman for the LI, Abu Rasheed Lashkari, told reporters by phone that its activists had caught the three people “red handed” in Qambar Khel area and they had been punished “in accordance with the Shariat”.  

In addition, an Afghan refugee, Ajmeer Khan was killed when he stepped on a mine in Shahedano Dhand in Kurram Agency.  

Meanwhile, the Akkakhel peace committee of Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency has announced a general amnesty for all militants affiliated with any outfit, if they surrender unconditionally and gives an undertaking about good conduct in future. According to a statement issued by the committee’s chief Haji Gul Meeran, the militants have been given the deadline of June 10 to surrender. After the date, the committee will take action against all militants living in Akkakhel and impose a fine of PKR five million on anyone sheltering outlaws. Houses of such people would also be demolished, the statement warned.

At least six persons, including four Shias and a policeman, were killed and another Policeman injured when a group of unidentified assailants attacked a welding shop on Essa Khan Road in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan on June 3, reports Daily Times. Sources said unidentified assailants, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on the shop, killing five people, including a passer-by. “Four of the victims belong to the Shia community and it could be the case of sectarian targeted killing,” Police said. “They [attackers] entered a welding shop when workers were having their lunch and killed five people,” Senior Police Officer Jahangir Shah said, adding that the dead included four members of the Shia Hazara community and a passer-by. The deceased were identified as Haji Abdul Nabi, his son Muhammad Hassan, Muhammad Tariq, Abdul Manan and Naqeebullah, the passer-by. 

Further, the assailants were escaping after killing the five people when a Police patrolling team spotted the assailants and opened fire at them. Two policemen were injured in the ensuing shootout and one of them succumbed to injuries. Sources said that two attackers were also injured but they escaped in a rickshaw. 

Police found three men shot dead from different parts of Karachi, provincial metropolis of Sindh on June 3, while a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activist was shot at and injured, reports Daily Times.  

The bodies of two young men were found from Sector 8-L within the jurisdiction of Orangi Town Police Station. They were identified as 26-year-old Asad Iqbal and 31-year-old Shahid. Police officials said both victims lived in Orangi Town and unidentified men killed them after kidnapping. They said both were shot in their heads and chests.  

Separately, another dead body of a man was found near Lyari Express Way in Bandhani Colony within the limits of Liaquatabad Police Station. Police officials said unidentified men, after kidnapping, shot the man once in his head before throwing his body into a deserted place.   

Meanwhile, an activist of MQM, identified as Rashid, was shot and injured in a drive-by shooting in Malir. Police officials said that the victim is associated with the MQM Malir Unit-43. He was shot thrice while the motive behind the incident has yet to be ascertained.  

Further, another MQM activist Ali Patni went missing from Kharadar locality.

Two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in a clash with Security Forces in Kawar Qala area in Tank District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on June 3, reports Dawn. The slain militants were identified as Ihsanullah and Irfanullah.  

Meanwhile, militants killed a man and abducted two of his grandchildren after an attack on his home in Ghalo Cheena in Doaba area in Hangu District, reports The News.  The sources said that scores of militants stormed the house of one Asghar in Ghalo Cheena and opened indiscriminate fire on the family members. The sources said that Asghar was killed on the spot and two of his relatives sustained injuries in the attack. The militants also abducted two grandchildren of Asghar whose identities could not be confirmed.

 Separately, Police claimed to have foiled a sabotage attempt and recovered huge cache of explosives and arms in Shahi Bagh locality of Damghar area in Swat District, reports Dawn. Official sources said that personnel of Kanju, Kabal, and Shah Dheri Police Stations seized explosives, hand grenades, cartridges, wires and important documents during a search operation in Damghar area. The arms and explosive were dumped on the bank of the Swat River. The policemen spotted the arms during a joint patrolling in the area.  

Further, a rocket shell was neutralised by the bomb disposal unit (BDS) in a field near the Officers Colony here in the Bannu Cantonment of Bannu District, reports The News. The sources said that a rocket shell was found in a field near the Officers Colony on the Bannu-Miranshah Road. Acting on a tip-off, officials of the BDS reached the spot and neutralised the shell.  

Elsewhere, the law-enforcement agencies have undertaken stringent security measures in and around the Peshawar Central Prison since shifting of alleged CIA informer Dr Shakil Afridi to the jail. The provincial government had made all necessary arrangements for the shifting of Dr Shakil to a more secure prison in Punjab and a green signal by the federal government to this effect was awaited. “Many families and those working in the area have been concerned since Dr Shakil was shifted to the Peshawar prison. Their fears are genuine in the wake of the Bannu jailbreak and that is why the provincial government is insisting that the federal government should shift Dr Afridi to a safer place at the earliest,” an official of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department said.

Two hardcore women Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed by Security Forces (SFs) in a shootout near Dhamtari District on June 2, reports Deccan Herald. The Maoists are yet to be identified by the SFs. 

Meanwhile, a Policeman was killed and his five colleagues were injured, along with 19 prisoners, when a blast triggered by the Maoists ripped through their vehicle on a bridge on National Highway No.30 near Joba village in Kondagaon District, Zee News. The victims were returning after a court appearance at Kondagaon when the Maoists targeted the vehicle in which they were travelling. "All the 25 people seated in the vehicle sustained serious injuries but the condition of three policemen and 11 prisoners is critical," Additional Director General of Police (Maoist Operations) Ram Niwas said. 

Meanwhile, 21 landmines, planted serially on the Kurung-Ganeshpur path in Latehar District, were recovered during an anti-Maoist operation, reports The Hindu. “All the landmines, weighing between one kg to 10 kg, were planted on the route to target security forces,” Superintendent of Police Kranti Kumar said. 

In reaction to the “protest week” called by the Maoists, the Chhattisgarh Government has set up special investigation teams of the Police to keep vigil on top Maoist leaders, reports Deccan Herald. Official sources said on June 3 that the State Government has tightened security throughout the ‘Red Corridor’ and put the Paramilitary Forces deployed in the interior areas of Bastar region on maximum alert. The Maoists’ protest week began on June 1 against Operation Green Hunt, the deployment of the army and allocation of iron ore mines to business houses. 

Elsewhere in the zone, the Maoists obstructed vehicular traffic by digging up roads or blocking them with felled trees. In the interior areas, they distributed pamphlets asking tribals to protest against “deployment of army in Bastar in the name of training them in jungle warfare”.  Due to the protests, vehicular traffic remained completely off the road.

Two persons were killed by armed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) at Basudeopur village of Haveli Kharagpur sub-division headquarters of Munger District on June 2, reports The Telegraph. The Maoists stormed the village and slit the throat of Bajrangi Paswan (43) and Madan Das (45). The Maoists claimed in some pamphlets found near the bodies that the duos were punished for pocketing levy meant for the organisation. Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) suspect the team of Maoist ‘area commander’ Birbal of killing the duo to settle some old scores over collection of levy. 

Meanwhile, Police arrested Ram Pravesh Yadav alias Radheshayam, a Maoist leader and Prabha Devi, wife of the CPI-Maoist central committee member Arvind and seized an amount of INR 127, 000 from them from near the railway station in Jehanabad District on June 3, reports IBN Live. A pen drive, five mobile phones and designs of bomb manufacturing were also seized from their possession, Superintendent of Police Harpreet Kaur said. Yadav was wanted in the three cases of naxal activities, including the 2005 Jehanabad jail break case.

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed Bhuneshwar Yadav, a contractor in Latehar District of Jharkhand on June 2 for refusing to give the extortion money, reports Indian Express. The villagers have claimed that the Maoists were furious with Yadav, as he was not following their directions.  

Meanwhile, Security Forces (SFs) arrested one self-styled ‘sub-zonal commander’ identified as Pramod Kumar of the CPI-Maoist and self-styled ‘area commander’ Akul Singh, trying to escape the Police cordon from Goindi village in Latehar District, reports Business Standard. Pramod carrying INR 300, 000 on his head, faces 24 Maoist-related cases in Palamau division. A 9mm pistol and seven bullets were recovered from them. 

Separately, two suspected Maoists were arrested after a failed attempt to abduct Pitabasa Mahto (75), a former sarpanch of Bansa village in Kandra in Seraikela-Kharsawan District on June 3, reports The Telegraph. The arrestees have been identified as Rakesh Lohar and Sushen Mahto alias Naren, both residents of Kandra.  

In addition, Fogra Munda (37), a self-styled ‘commander’ of the CPI-Maoist was arrested by Police from Ghatshila in East Singhbhum on June 1, reports The Times of India. Munda was wanted in over 12 cases including eight murder cases and he carried a cash reward of INR 40,000 on his head. "We have also recovered firearms and explosives from him," said Senior Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Jha. Munda is said to be the close aide of another top Maoist leader Kanu Munda, the squad leader of the Gurabanda area. 

Meanwhile, State Director General of Police (DGP) G S Rath on June 2 said 308 newly selected Sub-Inspectors (SIs) would start receiving training from June 10 at the Police Academy set up recently in Hazaribag. In the newly constructed police academy, the SIs would be given training in the most scientific ways using all the latest equipment, he said. The training is designed especially to combat terrorists, Maoists.

Kanglaonline reports that two Manipur Rifles (MR) personnel and a civilian were left injured in a grenade explosion at around 6:30 pm at the residence of the Manipur Development Society Director identified as Yambem Ningthem under Heingang Police Station on June 3. The three injured have been identified as Waikhom Dhanchandra, SK Rocky Lamkang and Thongam Dinesh.  

Meanwhile, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detected near the residential gate of Andro Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Thounoujam Shyamkumar at 1:15 pm on June 2.The IED was found fitted along with a Nokia Handset at the Moirang Purel residence of the Trinamool MLA by the locals. The IED was safely diffused later. 

Further, Imphal West District Police commandos arrested a cadre of Noyon faction of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-Noyon) identified as Pebam Somorendro alias Somen Sigh from Kanglapat in front of Adharsh Clinic on June 2 at around 4:30 pm. One mobile handset and a sum of INR 20,000 were recovered and seized from his possession, stated a Police release.  

In another incident, another woman People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) cadre identified as Chanambam Memcha Leima was arrested near MPP office, Pologround Maning around 3:15 pm on June 2.  

Nagaland Post reports that SFs arrested one Chanambam Imocha (40) on June 1 on the charge of being an overground worker of the KCP-Military Council (KCP-MC). He was intercepted by police commandos during checking and frisking of vehicles along Imphal-Churachandpur section of NH-150 near the Bishnupur Bazar in Bishnupur District. A letter head of the KCP-MC along with a cash amount of INR 200 was recovered from his possession. During interrogation, he admitted his involvement to the recruitment of child as armed cadres of the KCP-MC. He had so far handed over 21 children to the outfit to recruit as armed cadres of the group. Manipur Police on June 3 said that the outfit pays an amount ranging from INR 15,000 to INR 20,000 per child to the child soldier recruiters. 

Separately, the Mapithel Dam, also known as Thoubal Multipurpose Project which is one of the key projects of the State Government has not been able to complete in time due to disruption from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), a highly placed source said. Excepting the completion of the project, even the development for the required components of the project has been completely paralyzed due to the stringent ban imposed by NSCN-IM on the construction and development works of the project. 

Also, ‘Captain’ Eshingchaoba has been appointed progressive faction of PREPAK (PREPAK-Pro) District ‘Secretary’ of Imphal West, Senapati and Tamenglong while ‘Captain’ Chingaakpa has been given the post of District secretary for Thoubal and Chandel, conveyed a press release issued by the outfit’s ‘assistant secretary’, publicity and propaganda ‘Major’ Sunil, reports The Sangai Express. ‘Captain’ Korouhanba has been appointed as District Secretary of Bisenpur and Churachandpur. ‘Senior Sergeant’ Lamjing would take over as District Secretary of Imphal East and Ukhrul. All the four District Secretaries would work under Assistant Secretary, Department of Organisation ‘Major’ Erei, it added.

Militants in the night of June 1 shot at and injured a Sarpanch (head of panchayat, village level local self Government institution), Ishtiyaq Ahmad Paswal, in Keller area of Shopian District while security forces recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition from Handwara in North Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. Police said that two militants barged into the house of Ishtiyaq Ahmad Paswal, 30, and fired at him. Residents said that Paswal was facing militant threats for long and had shifted from his village Shalidar to Vishroo few months ago. He had also fought assembly election in 2008 from Shopian constituency.  

Separately, the Security Forces (SFs) recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the forest area of Kinsar in Handawara region of Bandipora District. The recoveries included three AK-47, 19 AK magazines-, 441 AK-47 rounds, 44 rounds of 7.62mm, five 9mm Pistol, four magazines of 9mm, 21 Pistol Rounds and 11 AK belt rounds.  

Further, Police said that they arrested two suspects in connection with May 19, 2012, grenade attack on Sopore Police Station in Baramulla District. Police said that during the course of investigation it surfaced that one Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant Javid Ahmad Matoo alias Saqib handed over a hand grenade to, Ishfaq Shafi Kana on May 18 at his house during evening. Police said that Ishfaq Kana along with one more culprit, Saleem Mushtaq Beigh jointly lobbed the grenade which exploded near the main gate of Police Station. Police said that on the basis of eye witnesses report, the duo was identified and subsequently arrested. The militant Javid Ahmad Matoo alias Saqib was injured during an attack on Police by militants on January 7, 2012. His weapon was recovered from the incidents site.  

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the number of tourists visiting Kashmir Valley has reached close to half a million in 2012 so far. "In last five months, nearly 4.5 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir Valley," Omar added.

An improvised explosive device (IED) went off near Anada Higher Secondary School in Jalbire of Sindhupal chowk District, where Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun was attending a programme organized by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Moist (UCPN-M) on June 2. No one was hurt. The reason and the intention of blast have not been confirmed yet. 

Meanwhile, the Government on May 31 formed a probe committee under the coordination of Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Kuber Singh Rana to inquire the murder case (May 31) of Supreme Court Justice Rana Bahadur Bam, reports Himalayan Times. All the courts across the country have remained closed on June 3, as a symbolic protest against the murder of Supreme Court's justice Rana Bahadur Bam, reports Nepal News. 

Election Commission (EC) on June 3 came up with a list of provisions in the Interim Constitution and other electoral laws that require amendment to hold fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, reports Ekantipur.Com. The EC has reiterated that it cannot hold the polls, scheduled for November 22, until the laws, including in the Interim Constitution, are amended three months ahead of the elections. The list has been forwarded to the Government. 

Meanwhile, UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has started discussions with the party leaders of various ranks in a bid to keep party unity intact. Pushpa Kamal Dahal consulted the leaders to narrow down the intra-party rift by taking dissenting Baidya faction into confidence.  

Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN- UML) on June 2 decided to form an internal commission to resolve dispute inside the party over the issue of identity-based federalism and forge consensus on addressing concerns of indigenous, Madhesi, dalit and other marginalised communities.

Security Forces (SFs) recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) weighing around 5 kilograms from the house of Ganesh Gogoi in Nagaon village of Majgaon in Tinsukia District reports The Sentinel. SFs arrested Gogoi and another accomplice following the recovery. 

SFs on June 2 arrested four Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants including Pintu Marak, brother-in-law of GNLA 'commander-in-chief' Sohan D Shira, and two Nagaland-based arms smugglers from the Guwahati city's Tetelia area, reports Times of India. SFs recovered one AK-74 (grenade launcher) rifle, 25 grenades, one Barrette pistol and more than 900 live ammunition from their possession."The militants confessed that the consignment was procured from Myanmar and was being taken to Garo Hills through Nagaland and Assam. The weapons were concealed in secret chambers built inside the vehicle," Guwahati Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Apurba Jibon Barua informed the media. 

Meanwhile, SFs arrested an All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) militant, Krishna Mali from village Kherni Basti near Dimakuchi in Udalguri District, reports The Sentinel. 

Three live cartridges were seized from three persons by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Anand Vihar Metro station in New Delhi on June 4, reports The Times of India. CISF personnel, during screening around 6am, detected three live rounds of 8 mm calibre, an officer said.

The Police arrested two cadres of Islamist outfit Hizb-ut Tawhid (HT) at Pathanpara Moholla in the Chapainawabganj District on June 3 while they were distributing books and leaflets on jihad, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees are identified as Zahidul Islam (29) and Abdul Gaffar (22). The Police also seized books and leaflets on jihad (Islamic uprising) from their possession.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) could soon file its maiden case against Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) chief Muppalla Lakshman Rao alias Ganpathy, reports The Times of India. The agency is likely to book Ganpathy in the case against Central Technical Committee member Sadanala Ramkrishna, who was arrested from Kolkata on February 29. NIA claims it has found evidence of Ganpathy's involvement in the arms manufacturing conspiracy through independent witnesses, who were once part of the Maoist Central Committee (CC). In most Naxal violence cases, where Ganpathy has been named as an accused, it has been because of him being the chief of the banned organization. 

Meanwhile, the NIA has decided to move a Mumbai court in order to take over investigations of four suspected Maoists, who were arrested from Mumbai on March 1 on connection with fabricating spares of rocket launchers for Maoists, reports Mumbai Mirror.

The Sentinel reports that the Indian Army and other Security Forces (SFs) have made preparations to tackle insurgents, who will soon leave some parts of Myanmar. This was stated by Major General UK Gurung of Assam Rifles, during a function at Pallel (Chandel District) in Manipur.  Assam Rifles has deployed additional personnel, along the international border to check infiltration by the insurgents who may soon be forced to leave. It may be recalled that during the recent visit to Myanmar, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was assured that the Indian insurgents would be asked to leave Myanmarese soil within June 10.

DNA reports that the Karnataka Government is set to roll out welfare initiatives to bring people in Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)-affected areas to the mainstream, according to State Home Ministry sources. “Around 12 villages have been affected by Naxal activities and the people living in those villages need to be offered facilities—including connectivity, employment and security—that will help them relate to the mainstream. All government departments should earmark 10% of their budgets to the development of villages marked as Naxal-affected areas,” Western range Inspector General of Police Pratap Reddy said. 

State Home Ministry sources said that it was not possible to tackle a sensitive issue like Naxal influence on youth with law and order machinery and coercive methods. Instead, all Government departments, including sports and youth affairs, must reach out to the people in those areas and launch public contact programmes. Deputy commissioners of Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts will be given directions to not wait for the government packages but to use the available funding and manpower to take up welfare initiatives in Naxal-affected villages. Villages like Menasinahadya, Eedu, Navuru, Kuthluru and Naravi are likely to get immediate attention, the sources said.

Around 121 insurgent training camps were operating in Balochistan and 30 in Afghanistan, which are contributing to unrest in the province, Inspector-General (IG) Frontier Corps (FC) Major General Ubaidullah Khan said on June 2, reports The Express Tribune. Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Khan claimed that the camps are being operated by Harbiyar Marri, Brahmdagh Bugti, Allah Nazar and Javed Mengal, and are running concerted campaigns to defame state institutions. Brahmdagh Bugti is the leader of Balochistan Republican Party (BRP) and Harbiyar Marri of Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) - both are accused of fuelling insurgency in the violence plagued province. Khan added that if the government tries its hard, these camps can be eliminated.

Forensic investigations into the 13/7 Mumbai blast cases revealed that the accused relied on the internet to find out developments in the case, reports The Times of India. The Police found several computer files which show that the accused were keeping daily tabs on the investigations. Pictures of the nine accused in the 2006 Malegaon serial blast cases were also found in their computer. Investigations show that the Opera House bomb was planted at 1.30pm while the Zaveri Bazar bomb was planted at 6pm. The anti-terrorism squad (ATS), probing the triple blasts, had seized a computer and several DVDs from Habib Mansion in Byculla (East). The room was taken on rent by arrested accused, Naqi Ahmed and Nadeem Akhtar, and was reportedly used by Indian Mujahideen (IM) leader Yasin Bhatkal alias Imran and two suspected Pakistani bombers.  

The Police also found a Tata Photon, a USB connection to use internet, attached with the seized computer. The forensic analyzer, in the report, stated that they also found contents in Muslim language. But observers say there is no specific language in India which could be called a Muslim language. The hard disc analysis showed that the suspected accused had been surfing net to read stories about bombs blasts across the country. Moreover, pictures related to blasts in Mumbai and Pune's German Bakery was found in the hard disc.

Resentment is brewing up in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) with the local representatives there calling on the US to support the right of self- determination of the people of the disputed region, saying that they are being oppressed by the Pakistan Government, Daily Excelsior reported. A three-member delegation of US embassy in Islamabad, including Lisa Buzenos, Political/Economic Officer and Kimberly Phelan, Political Officer, met chairperson of GB United Movement (GBUM), Manzoor Hussain Parwana in Gilgit on May 31, reports said. 

Parwana called denial of the right of self-determination and degradation of local national and cultural identity as two main issues for the people of GB, saying that with abundance of natural resources and enviable geo-strategic location the region fulfils the criteria to sustain as an independent country. "We expect brotherly relations with our neighbours namely India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan but do not expect them to treat us like a colony. The international community including our neighbors should respect our will to exist as an independent nation. We intend to use our land and resources for the well-being of our people but would refuse to let our neighbours exploit us to enhance their strategic depth or use our poor people as cannon fodder," Parwana said in a statement that was distributed in Washington on June 1.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on June 3 directed the Balochistan Chief Secretary and Home Secretary to take steps to improve law and order situation in the province, reports Daily Times. Talking to a delegation of Hazara community at Governor’s House, the Prime Minister said that a concerted strategy must be evolved to ensure peace in Balochistan. He said any leniency on part of law enforcers would not be tolerated.  

Separately, Gilani said he had directed the Balochistan Chief Secretary to identify 35,000 graduates of Balochistan to be given jobs by the Government. “Fifteen hundred jobs in Federal Levies Force have already been provided to the people of Balochistan,” he said while talking to a PPP Balochistan delegation led by its provincial president Mir Sadiq Umrani. “1,500 more jobs will be created in the Federal Levies Force in Balochistan this year,” Gilani said, adding that the Government would further recruit 10,000 youth in different departments. Out of them, 5,000 would be sent abroad to acquire required skills in their respective fields, the Prime Minister added. He said that under the 18^th Amendment, provisional autonomy had been granted to provinces in order to empower them. He said that under the 7th National Finance Commission Award (NFC), the share of Balochistan had reached PKR 120 billion as compared to PKR 40 billion in the past. He said the Government had allocated PKR Six billion to provide scholarships to the youth of Balochistan.

India and Pakistan will discuss the Siachen issue on June 11-12 in Islamabad with an aim of de-militarising the world’s highest battle-filed, according to Daily Excelsior. Defence Secretaries of the two sides will hold talks for two days there in an attempt to find a solution to the vexed problem, which is costing immensely to both countries in terms of monetary and human resources, officials said on June 3. The talks will be followed by a discussion on the Sir Creek issue on June 28. These talks were earlier supposed to precede the Siachen issue but the schedule was reversed reportedly at the behest of Pakistan. India and Pakistan have held several rounds of talks to resolve the Siachen issue.

India is planning to seek technological cooperation of the US to check the smuggling and circulation of Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) and build its own database of such counterfeit notes, reports The Times of India. Impressed by the American technology, which has a database of each counterfeit US dollar - photograph, from where it originated, its route of travel and people behind its circulation - India is all set to ask the US to help it curb the menace, mostly originating from Pakistan. A formal request is expected to be placed during the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue to be held in Washington later this month. Union Home Secretary R K Singh, besides others, will also attend the crucial meeting.

Achik National Volunteer Council-Breakaway faction (ANVC-B) ‘chairman’ Rimpu N Marak on June 3 has asked the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Purno K Sangma to resign by June 5, reports The Shillong Times. This comes after failing to respond to the voting right issue raised by the ANVC-B within a week’s deadline. 

 Meanwhile, State Police will seek custody of the six persons including four Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants, who were arrested by the Assam Police along with a huge consignment of arms and ammunition from Gorchuk area of Guwahati on June 2, Director General of Police (DGP) N Ramachandran said on June 3. Four GNLA militants include one Pintu Marak, who is the brother-in-law of GNLA Commander-in-Chief, Sohan D Shira .The consignment of arms and ammunition included one AK 74 assault rifle, one Berretta .32 pistol, 25 shells, 400 rounds of AK 74 ammunition, 500 rounds of 9 mm pistol ammunition, 20 rounds of ammunition of .32 Berretta pistol.

Separately, ANVC ‘publicity secretary’ Arist Sangma on June 3 said that ANVC may take action against one of its member, Sasan Sangma, if his alleged involvement in the trafficking of girls from Garo Hills for prostitution in the capital city Shillong is proved.

The United States has agreed to reimburse USD 1.18 billion or almost 75 per cent of the claims Pakistan has submitted for the expenses incurred in the fight against militants along the Afghan border, reports Dawn. The money comes from the Coalition Support Fund, which is used for reimbursing Pakistan and other US allies helping it in the war against terror. The approval shows that despite increased tensions, the US financial assistance to Pakistan has continued although it is becoming increasingly difficult to get congressional support for helping Pakistan.