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Date
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Incidents
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January 1
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In a joint operation, the AR and
Ledo Police arrested two linkmen of ULFA-I, identified as Raktim
Moran and Manab Moran from Itakhola Ledo in Tinsukia District. According
to the report, the two linkmen were sending information to ULFA-I
and were engaged in illegal coal mines of Ledo area.
Five FICNs of INR 2000 were recovered
in Demow Kachumari Pathar in Sivasagar District.
A combined team of Imphal East District
Police Commando and 21 Para (Special Force) conducted frisking and
checking at the eastern side of Top Khongnangmakhong bridge in Imphal
East District and arrested one ‘self styled captain’ of UNLF, identified
as Magsatabam Gojendro Singh alias Telheiba (45).
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January 2
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Two persons hailing from Kerala's
Kasaragod District were arrested near Panaji, while canvassing for
a convention of Salafi Muslims scheduled to be held in Karnataka's
Mangalore later this month, and distributing Kannada language pamphlets
which had Islamic State (IS) symbol and a message titled, “ISIS
Shaitan”. The arrested persons have been identified as Ilyas and
Abdul Nazir. According to Police sources, the pamphlet is being
analysed by top Police officials as the content of the pamphlet
canvasses for a convention of Salafi Muslims due to be held in Mangalore
from January 9-16. Police is also checking the mobile number mentioned
on these pamphlets. "They have been booked under sections 107
(breach of peace) and 151 (preventive arrest) of the Criminal Procedure
Code. They have been sent for medical examination at the Goa Medical
College”, Police official said.
The producers of an upcoming film
have filed a complaint alleging that they have been receiving threat
calls from Dawood Ibrahim. According to the Police complaint, the
producers have been receiving threat calls for the past 10 days.
The complaint registered at the Parliament Street Police Station
(New Delhi) said that since January 1, the producers had received
five calls from a Pakistan-based mobile number.
Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat said
that dynamics of terrorism is constantly changing, and that Army
must think ahead in that direction. "The fact that terrorists
infiltrating from adversary's side means that they are getting support
from them (Pakistani forces)," the Army Chief said. "We
also have to think ahead, and ball has already rolling in that direction,"
he further added.
On surgical strikes, Rawat said
that it was well though through operation and India has sent across
a message with the strikes that attacks won't be tolerated. He further
said Indian Army will not shy away from a second surgical strike
if peace in the region is disrupted. The Army Chief also lauded
the soldiers and officers who serve in the most challenging terrains,
including those who have fought insurgency.
A top operative of the Bangladesh-based
terrorist outfit JMB, Mohammad Mosiuddin alias Musa has revealed
that Islamic State (IS) is planning to carry out terror attacks
in the eastern part of the country. Mosiuddin claimed that the IS
want to establish an Islamic caliphate in India. The SFs and the
intelligence agencies are now verifying the possibility of an IS
attack from the east following the interrogation of Musa. During
his interrogation, Musa has made revelations that terror groups
now aim at targeting foreigners at Kolkata's Mother House and lone
wolf attacks on foreign tourists in Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir).
The UAE Government had seized properties
of Dawood Ibrahim worth INR 150 billion. Earlier in the day, Indian
UHM Rajnath Singh had stated that the Government is continuing efforts
to bring back Dawood Ibrahim, However, even last year the UHM had
asserted that India’s most wanted mafia would soon be arrested and
brought back to the country.
The slogans 'ISIS coming soon' were
found painted on Mata Mansa Devi temple walls in Dharampur town
of Solan District in Himachal Pradesh located on the Kalka-Shmla
highway. A case has been registered by the local Police against
unidentified persons. The IB officials visited the spot and were
keeping an eye on the possible ISIS sympathiser in the area. The
slogans painted in red colour, possibly with the help of a stencil,
have been blackened by the local police following the panic spread
by the writings. Confirming the development, Superintendent of Police,
Solan, Anjum Ara, who also visited the spot, said the Police was
investigating the case and will soon arrest the people involved
in the mischief. "I cannot reveal the information at this stage
as it is very sensitive. A forensic examination had been conducted
and the report is awaited. The investigation is on," Anjum
Ara told. Sources said the intelligence agencies were keeping an
eye on migrant labourers besides suspicious people. Dharampur is
surrounded by sensitive Army cantonments and the authorities do
not want to take any chances.
Mohammad Faheem Ansari, LeT operative,
is being tried for his role in the 2007 attack on CRPF camp in Rampur,
(Uttar Pradesh) visited Pakistan and obtained a passport there on
fake papers, Manpreet Singh Vohra, the then Deputy High Commissioner
at Indian High Commission in Pakistan, told the court of additional
district and sessions judge. Vohra, who is now Ambassador to Afghanistan,
said he obtained this information with officials in Pakistan at
that time. Public Prosecutor Dalwinder Singh told the court that
Pakistan’s ISI had helped Ansari get the passport.
Additional District Government Counsel
Dalwinder Singh said, “Manpreet Singh Vohra had carried out the
investigation into a Pakistani passport recovered from Faheem Ansari
at the time of his arrest by the ATS and the sleuths of the special
task force on February 10, 2008. At that time, Vohra was the deputy
high commissioner of India in Islamabad.”
According to Singh, after the Mumbai
attack, both India and Pakistan governments had exchanged the information
through dossiers where it was revealed that Faheem Ansari had managed
to get the Pakistani passport on fake identities. Ansari had been
earlier accused of conducting reconnaissance for the Mumbai terror
attacks of 2008 but was subsequently acquitted of those charges.
Several Naxal groups
in Jharkhand were reported to have incurred losses to the tune of
INR 800 million said a top Police officer at Ranchi
District. The Naxal groups are desperate ever since
the Narendra Modi-led Government had decided to demonetize INR 500
and 1000 currency notes from the midnight of November 8, 2016,
which had an adverse impact on the activities of Naxal groups
in the State, said the ADG, Jharkhand, R K Mallick. Quoting an
intelligence report, he added, at least INR 800 million cash
of the Naxal groups has thus been destroyed due
to demonetisation. The Naxal outfits have weakened
as their major economic system was destroyed post-demonetisation,
which prompted the Naxals to indulge in looting
cash in desperation, going against the Maoist ideology, Mallick
claimed. However, the State Police was prepared to foil all their
nefarious design, he said.
Police have received evidence that
the CPI-Maoist, with the support of tribal people, took control
of forest land, along Kerala and Tamil Nadu border, by cutting down
hundreds of trees. A series of video clip, released by Police, show
that the armed CPI-Maoist and tribal people are jointly removing
trees in forest and installing CPI-Maoist flag in the area. Police
suspect that the area shown in the video is Agali forest region
of Palakkad District. According to Police, the visuals were recovered
from the digital documents that were seized after the recent Police
encounter with CPI-Maoist in Nilambur forest in which two CPI-Maoist
leaders, Kuppu Devaraj and Ajitha, were killed.
A self styled ‘platoon commander’
and a cadre of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Danial Muchahary and
Rahen Muchahary were arrested after an encounter with a joint team
comprising the Police and the Army from Lawdangi area under Dhekiajuli
Police station in Sonitpur District. Police recovered one 7.65 pistol,
three round live cartridges, three mobile phones along with six
SIM cards from the militants. Police sources said that Danial was
the self styled ‘platoon commander’ of NDFB –IKS of ‘38 battalion’
of the outfit.
A suspected Bangladeshi citizen,
identified as Sohail Ahmed alias Omar Nasser Saju was arrested by
Cachar District Police at Sadhinbazar area in Cachar District. However,
in a reply to a question about Sohail’s link with terrorist outfit
JMB and also about his possible links behind the Holey Artisan Bakery
in Gulshan Police Station of Dhaka, the Police said that nothing
conclusive could be arrived at so far and they were investigating
all possible angles.
A militant of PREPAK-Pro, identified
as Kangjam Premananda (40) was arrested by a team of Imphal West
District Police at Thangmeiband Hijam Leikai in Imphal West District.
Two hand grenade and two mobile phones were recovered from the arrested
militant. According to the Police sources, the hand grenades were
meant to be exploded at MPSC office and also at the residences of
some of its top officials and the militant was operating under one
Lamtakpa alias Langamba of PREPAK-Pro.
A Chinese hand grenade was recovered
by Imphal West District Police at Suraj Paint Centre at Nagamapal
in Imphal West District. No one has claimed responsibility for the
act so far.
Self styled ‘chairman’ Helun Haokip
of the militant outfit, KNLF, announced that his ‘organisation’
KNLF had been merged with another militant group, the UKLF.
The Court of CJM, Imphal East District
remanded the UNC President Gaidon Kamei and Information Secretary
Shangkhel Stephen to Police custody till January 11.
Three militant outfits of North
East, KLO, NLFT and PDCK had set March 31 as ‘deadline’ for ‘Hindi
speakers’ and Bengalis to ‘quit Kamatapur, Karbi-Longri and Tripura’
in an statement. The statement was signed by KLO ‘chairman’ Jiban
Singh Koch, NLFT ‘organising secretary’ Seng-phul Borok and PDCK
‘chairman’ JK Lijang. The statement also condemned the killing of
suspected NDFB-IKS, Ratna Narzary of Khunguri village of Chirang
District on December 29 by SFs. According to the report, all these
three militant groups are mentored by the NSCN-K and ULFA-I.
One civilian, identified as Athari
Samson (54) and an AR trooper, identified as Bhupal Singh (42) were
killed in an encounter with suspected militants at Khunthak village
of Kasom Khullen sub-division in Kamjong District. Troops of 27
AR were going on foot for an operation when they were attacked by
militants who opened indiscriminate fire at around 10.30 am. The
AR troops too retaliated. The encounter left one AR trooper and
another man dead.
A team of Imphal West District Police
arrested a militant of KCP, identified as Akoijam Khamba Singh (45)
from Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai in Imphal East District. Three hand
grenades, four detonators and a .32 pistol along with 2 live rounds
were recovered from his possession. According to Police he joined
the outfit in 2008.
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January 3
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The probe carried out by NIA into
the January 2, 2016 Pathankot attack finds out that JeM had plans
to attack a local police station too. An intermittent delay in reaching
the Pathankot Air Force in Punjab had almost prompted JeM to change
their plans and attack a local Police Station instead of the air
force base. The information is part of several other conversations,
accessed by NIA, which took place between the JeM attackers and
their handlers based in Pakistan. The conversations also include
chats which took place during and after the attack between JeM handlers
and other individuals based in Pakistan.
According to the probe conducted
by NIA, four attackers, who belonged to Pakistan based JeM, grew
weary due to a delay and had spoken about their concern to Kashif
Jan, a senior JeM member through a telephonic conversation. The
attackers, all of whom were Pakistani nationals, had made calls
to their handler to update him about their movement once they had
crossed the border. At around 3.31 am on January 1, 2016 the handler,
identified as Kashif, referred as Ustadji by the attackers, made
a call on a phone which the attackers had snatched from Ikagar Singh,
a taxi driver who was killed by the Pakistani nationals.
A CPI-Maoist ‘area commander’ carrying
a reward of INR 1.5 million on his head and wanted in three States
was shot dead in an encounter with Police and CRPF at the Ramtandi
forest under Ghorabandha Police Station in Ghatshila sub-division
of East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. Supai Tudu, an ‘area commander’
of a faction of the CPI-Maoist, was found dead after an exchange
of fire between security personnel and the Maoists. Tudu’s wife,
Sonali Tudu, was arrested at the site after the incident.
A DRG jawan was injured in an exchange
of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
The incident occurred in evening in Basaguda Police Station area
when a joint team of SFs was out on a anti-Naxal operation.
A composite squad of DRG, STF and CoBRA had launched the operation
to the interiors of Basaguda, around 450 kilometres away from Raipur,
Police said. While the SFs were cordoning off a forested patch close
to Tarrem area, they came under heavy fire from a group of ultras
that led to the gun-battle. "A DRG jawan sustained bullet injuries
on his leg in the incident. However, ultras soon escaped from the
spot," the Police added.
A LeT militant identified as Abu
Umar Khitab of Pakistan was killed in an encounter with SFs in Sopore
area in Baramulla District. SFs had laid an ambush at Haritar in
Sopore during the intervening night following information about
movement of militants through the area, a Police official said.
He said SFs on noticing suspicious movement in the wee hours challenged
the persons who opened fire. "In the retaliatory firing, one
terrorist was killed," the official said. The militant affiliated
with LeT and was active for last four years. He was believed to
part of the militant group, which escaped from the SFs cordon
several times last month in Hajjan area of North Kashmir. Sources
said that the militant was operating in Sopore, Hajin, Gunde Jehanghir
and Shah Gund areas of North Kashmir and SFs were tracking his movement
for long. They said one AK 47 rifle, one hand grenade, three magazines,
70 AK ammunition rounds, one I-com set, one compass, one bag and
one torch was recovered from his possession.
A CRPF ASI was critically injured
in a militant attack in Murran Chowk in Pulwama town in Pulwama
District. The ASI identified as BN Thakur was hit by a bullet in
his back and was shifted to army hospital for treatment. The firing
caused panic in the township and senior Police and CRPF officers
reached the spot immediately cordoned off the area and searches
were conducted in the area but the militants managed to flee after
carrying out the attack.
A search operation was launched
by SFs in Kuta Satri forest area of Bandipora District, following
an input about the presence of militants. The operation was, however,
later called off due to heavy snowfall.
Investigating Officers of nine Police
Stations of Kashmir valley are yet to recover, 63 rifles and 186
magazines looted by the militants and mob from 16 different locations,
despite lapse of considerable period of time. According to the official
data provided by the Home Department in the Legislative Assembly,
16 incidents of looting/snatching of rifles and magazines besides
huge number of rounds took place under the jurisdiction of nine
Police Stations in Kashmir valley during the period between January
1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. Of these incidents, maximum four
incidents took place under the jurisdiction of DH Pora Police Station
followed by Pulwama (three) and Kulgam and Shopian (two each). The
other incidents took place under the jurisdiction of Batamaloo,
Anantnag, Dooru, Chadoora and Budgam Police Stations. Giving gist
of the cases, the Home Department said that in some cases the militants
fired upon the Police personnel deployed in the general areas and
decamped with their service rifles after killing them while as in
other cases they attached the Police deployed for the security of
political workers and looted their service rifles after eliminating
or injuring them. In some other cases the militants even entered
the guarded places and snatched rifles, magazines and rounds from
the Police. The incidents of militants forcibly snatching the weapons
from the Police without harming them physically were also reported
from some parts of Valley.
According to the official data,
five incidents of mob attacking guard posts and decamping with the
weapons and arms during the period of unrest in Kashmir valley were
reported from five different places. In all these 16 incidents of
weapon looting, FIR under different sections of RPC and Arms Act
were registered but till date no major headway has been made by
the concerned Police Stations as a result of which neither the accused
could be arrested nor looted weapons recovered. AK-47s, SLRs, INSAS
Rifles, Pistols and Carbines were among the weapons looted by the
militants and mob, the Home Department said in reply to the question
of independent MLA, Er Abdul Rashid. According to the data, a total
of 2690 cases of stone pelting were also registered during the period
between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. The maximum cases
were registered in Sopore (492) followed by Srinagar (339) and Baramulla
(318). The other stone pelting incidents were reported from Ganderbal
(65), Budgam (163), Anantnag (271), Shopian (173), Pulwama (143),
Kulgam (167), Awantipora (121), Bandipora (109), Kupwara (218) and
Handwara (111).
In reply to question of Hakeem Mohammad
Yaseen, the Minister Incharge Home said that during the recent unrest
2632 FIRs were registered and almost all are still under investigation.
“Besides, 463 persons were detained under Public Safety Act out
of which 145 were released and presently 318 are under detention”,
the Minister added.
Replying to question of NC MLA,
Mubarak Gul, the Government said that a total of 59 youths joined
militant ranks after the killing of HM militant Burhan Wani in an
encounter with Security Forces on July 8 last year. “As reported
by CID Headquarters, 59 youth have joined militant ranks after 8th
July, 2016”, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said in a written reply,
adding the Government has notified a Surrender Policy which was
superseded by Rehabilitation Policy to encourage the misguided youths
and militants to abjure violence and accept the integrity of India
and the Constitution.
At least 14 people were injured
when Police resorted to force while dispersing a mob picketing Manipur
Government offices in Senapati District headquarters. The incident
occurred when about 300 people gathered and marched towards the
barricades put up across the road leading to the Senapati District
Administration Office before being stopped by security personnel.
Under the aegis of UNC, the picketing of Manipur Government Offices
in Naga Districts began from midnight of December 31.
Gunfire erupted in Ukhrul District,
near the District Mini-Secretariat. According to sources, armed
gunmen exchanged fire with security personnel manning the Mini-Secretariat.
The firing which started around 9:00 pm lasted around half an hour.
Casualty is not reported so far. The persons responsible for the
firing also remain unknown till now.
In a joint operation by AR and Tezpur
Police, one suspected individual was arrested along with arms from
Barchola village in Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur District. One AK series
rifle, two magazines and 21 live rounds were recovered from the
arrestee.
One person, identified as Rajiv
Rajkhowa was arrested by Pengaree Police following a public chastisement
at Dwarmara village in Pengaree in Tinsukia District. The arrested
person, Rajiv Rajkhowa, shot a local VDP member, identified as Umesh
Rai, at his residence who narrowly escaped death. Then he was caught
by the son of the victim with the help of the villagers and later
handed him over to Pengaree Police. Local sources said that Rajiv
Rajkhowa had served an extortion letter to Rai last year in the
name of the ULFA. The Police recovered two handmade revolvers and
a writing pad belonging to the ULFA from the arrestee.
Unidentified assailants fired at
the residence of Prashanta Gogoi, President OBC wing of BJP, located
at Milan Nagar in Dibrugarh District. However, no one was injured
in the firing incident. At the time of the incident, Prashanta Gogoi
who had joined the BJP few months back was stated to be in Guwahati
for some personal work. The Police immediately rushed to the spot
and reviewed the situation. No one has been arrested till the filing
of this report.
AR arrested a Myanmar-trained NSCN-R
militant, identified as ‘self-styled corporal’ Pingwang Kanglom
in Changlang town in Changlang District. The militant had been involved
in extortion activities in the District, sources in the paramilitary
force said. A pistol and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered
from him.
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January 4
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A suspected Naxal was
killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in dense forest of Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh. "The skirmish took place late in
afternoon in forest between Puvarti (Sukma District) and Kondapalli
villages under Basaguda Police Station limits of Bijapur,"
Bijapur SP, K L Dhruv said. A joint team of CoBRA – a CRPF
specialised unit, DRG and local Police had launched the Counter-Insurgency
Operation in the jungles of Basaguda and Awapalli, he said. While
SFs were cordoning off a restive pocket on Bijapur-Sukma border,
they came under heavy fire from a group of armed naxals leading
to a heavy gun-battle, the SP added. SDG (Anti-Naxal Operations),
D M Awasthi, said that the operation was “intelligence based” and
the recovery of the INSAS LMG was very significant for the
Chhattisgarh Police”.
Two members of New SPM were allegedly
killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres at Pathal village in Chatra District
of Jharkhand. The bodies were found near the Gaya-Chatra border
and the two men, identified as Sanjay Singh Bhokta and Vijay Singh
Bhokta, who were abducted from their house. Chatra, SP, Anjani Jha
said that a CPI-Maoist poster, in which the murderers claim to represent
the banned LWE faction, was found on the site of the incident. A
total of four shots were fired, two on each of the victims, Jha
added. Jha said, "It has been verified that one of the victims,
Sanjay Singh, was an active member of New SPM and was involved in
activities which might have led to a fight with the Maoists."
Sources indicate that the New SPM group recently started as an offshoot
of the CPI-Maoist and have been growingly active in the last few
days.
The Police Department is fortifying
24 Police Stations in the areas affected by Naxalism in
Telangana. The Government machinery in Telangana, particularly the
Police Department, is anticipating trouble from the CPI-Maoist cadres
in the coming days. New state-of-the-art Police Stations is being
constructed at a total cost of INR 500 million. Each of these 24
Police Stations will have impenetrable fencing and reinforced sentry
points, both at the entry point and on the rooftop, where armed
Police personnel would keep guard round the clock, sources said.
Further, the Government is developing two state-of-the-art Police
Training Centers – one in Karimnagar District at a cost
of INR 480 million; and the other one at Medchal in Medchal–Malkajgiri
District, at a cost of INR 300 million where Police recruits would
be trained to be battle-ready. Also, the Government is raising two
IRBs in the State, the sources said. This being so, recruitment
has slowly begun among CPI-Maoist circles. The recruits are
being trained in what is considered a safe bastion: Chhattisgarh.
This time, the CPI- Maoist cadres will have good firepower, since
they are getting the support of CCOMPOSA, sources said. DGP, Anurag
Sharma recently said that they would not allow the Maoists to make
a comeback in the State.
SFs arrested a LeT militant from
Handwara area of North Kashmir in Kupwara District, who was planning
to carry out attack on security convoys in the area. Police said
that on specific information one LeT militant identified as Ashiq
Ahmed alias Abu Haider was arrested by Handwara
Police and 21 RR of army near Fruit Mandi crossing in Handwara in
the District. “On sustained interrogation he disclosed that he was
a close associate of Abu Bakar a LeT ‘commander’ killed in Sopore
few days back. On further discloser the arrested militant said that
in near future he was planning to attack security forces convoy
in Handwara area”, Police said. Police said that huge cache of arms
and ammunition was recovered from him. These include one AK-47 rifle,
3 Magazines with live cartridges, one Chinese Pistol with one Magazine,
three Hand Grenades, one Magazine Pouch, one Map and one Haversack.
IG of CRPF, Zulfikar Hassan, said
that militants take advantage of presence of common people on NH
and at times escape after carrying out the attack. Speaking to reporters
on the sidelines of a function in South Kashmir, Hassan said that
at times militants flee after carrying out an attack on the NH by
taking advantage of common people and SFs avoid collateral damage.
“The attacks on National Highway occur many times during a year.
Many-a-times we are successful in killing those who attack. Sometimes
due to presence of common people we don’t fire because that can
result in collateral damage and we restrain ourselves. The militants
sometimes take advantage of crowd and escape”, he said. Hassan said
that at times militants manage to escape from the security but SFs
make their efforts to prevent them from fleeing. “Sometimes the
stone-pelting takes place so that militants manage to escape. But
security forces, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police try not to make
it successful and sometimes we do manage to stop militants from
escaping”, he said.
Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh met
President Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the UMHA report to the EC
that termed the law-and-order situation in the state as “grave”.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Singh rubbished the report
saying it “wrongly” concluded that the prevailing situation was
“not conducive” to conduct free-and-fair polls there. However, just
ahead of Ibobi’s meeting with the President, the EC declared that
the Assembly election will be held in two phases — on March 4 and
8 — in Manipur. Ibobi, later, welcomed the decision. The CM said
issues such as insurgency, blockades, strikes are not unique to
Manipur but they affect the entire north-east and that even in 2012,
the state Assembly polls were boycotted by hill and valley-based
underground organisations including the PLA and the UNLF.
UNC- the apex body of the Nagas
based in Manipur- said they would continue with the economic blockade
despite the announcement of Manipur assembly elections by the EC.
According to the UNC, elections cannot be held peacefully in the
Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur until the prevailing problems are
resolved. “The blockade will continue. Solving of Manipur’s problems
has to be done through dialogue between the parties in conflict.
So far, the government of Manipur has failed to respond politically.
We have no other option but to intensify the blockade, no matter
what the EC has announced regarding the polls in the state,” K.S.
Paul, former President of the UNC, said. Paul - an active member
of the UNC -said the Manipur Government has betrayed the Nagas of
Manipur. “We have been betrayed by the Manipur government, as it
did not consult us on the creation of seven new Districts out of
our ancestral land. We do not know whether the situation will be
conducive for holding free and fair elections in the Naga areas
of the state,” said Paul.
Belagavi Police along with Assam
Police arrested a suspected militant associated with NDFB at a sugar
company in Belgaum District of Karnataka.
|
January 5
|
China dismissed as “untrue” allegations
of double standards by India by blocking its bid to list JeM leader
Masood Azhar as global terrorist by the UN, claiming that it had
adopted a “just, objective and professional” attitude in deciding
the matter. “With regard to the listing matter of the Security Council
1267 committee the so called double standards adopted by China on
this relevant issue is not true. We take action based on solid evidence
that is the standard upheld by us,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman
Geng Shuang said.
Intelligence agencies are weighing
inputs indicating the radical elements within the proscribed SIMI
are forging links with similarly minded groups within the recently
banned IRF and may lead to the birth of a new radical outfit. Such
inputs, described by sources as “very disturbing”, have been pouring
in for more than a month ever since the Central Government banned
IRF led by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The IB is
likely to issue a note to State intelligence agencies regarding
these developments shortly. Top sources disclosed that over the
past couple of months, person-to-person contact and group interactions
between members of the banned groups have been taking place lately.
''Similar inputs have been coming from certain areas that are known
to be breeding grounds for militants in different states. Some political
parties, which used to sympathise with SIMI, are now sympathising
with IRF too,'' said one senior official.
While IRF, an NGO run by Salafist
preacher Zakir Naik, was banned for five years in November 2016,
SIMI was 16 years ago and still has a large number of supporters.
Sources in the intelligence agencies said they consider SIMI as
a ''very active'' group despite the ban. Though SIMI members attending
the taqreer (speeches) of Zakir Naik is nothing new, intelligence
sources say there is electronic evidence of increasing interaction
between members of these two groups, especially since the IRF ban.
Interestingly, just days after IRF
was banned, the Kerala-based Islamic fundamentalist organisation
PFI organized massive rallies in different parts of the country
in support of Zakir Naik. A majority of PFI members are actually
from SIMI. “Since SIMI is banned, the members work in different
outfits. But SIMI is alive and kicking,'' said a senior official.
Sources said inputs indicate that these radical interactions could
lead to the formation of a new radical outfit similar to IM which
was involved in a series of bomb blasts across the country since
it was founded by Abdus Subhan Qureshi in 2010. IM mostly comprised
of lower-tier SIMI members. The change in name was widely
seen as a change in tactics by SIMI members. Till date, while senior
SIMI leaders are still available, there are minimal inputs about
the cadres. “The same tactic is being used again. Only this time,
SIMI has IRF to look to. IRF has dedicated members across the length
and breadth of the country, which will come in handy and this is
enough for extremist elements in both groups to form a new group
and continue with their subversive activities,'' another official
said.
Members of NOJ, left a note threatening
to kill Pipra (Supaul District) of Bihar, MLA, Shyam Babu Prasad
Yadav if he did not quit the BJP by February. NOJ is
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. The group has sought an extortion
of INR 500,000 from Yadav.
The ‘deputy commander’ of Kasansur Dalam Jyoti
Gawade was killed by Gadchiroli District Police's C-60 Commandos
at Boteyjhari and Badhgaon forest in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra.
Jyoti is alleged to have led the arson attack at Surjagarh on December
23, 2016. 76 trucks, 3 JCBs and 1 motorcycle were burnt by the Naxals.
Shivaji Bodkhe, IG of State ANO, said that Jyoti was trying to break
through the Police cordon when she received bullet injuries in retaliatory
fire. "Police have also seized Jyoti's .303 rifles," he
added. On January 4, the Police had cornered Naxals at
Nihalkai forest near Gyarapati from where two .12 bore rifles were
seized. After intensifying the search operations, the Police spotted
Jyoti's Dalam following which a battled ensued.
Jyoti alias Sagobai Narsingh, was earlier ‘commander’
of Surjagarh LGS which was later amalgamated with Kasansur Dalam.
A surrendered Naxalite was
allegedly killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Dhanora Tehsil of
Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The victim Sukhram Lalchu Wadde
(35) was a member of Naxal militia, who had surrendered
before the Police in July 2016, a senior Police official said. The Naxals attacked
Sukhram at Kehakavi village and murdered him using an axe, he said.
"The CPI-Maoist cadres were angry as Sukhram had turned himself
in before the police," the official added. Further the officials
said last week (December 29, 2016) three villagers were killed allegedly
by Naxalites in Aheri and Korchi tehsils in
Gadchiroli on the suspicion of they being ‘informers’. The victims
were identified as Laccha Bande Madavi (36) resident of Rumalkasa,
Patali Doge Atram (36), resident of Gurja, and Talwarsha Kunjram,
resident of Korchi.
A militia member of the CPI-Maoist,
who was involved in the Chamundia beat-house torching case in July
2016, was arrested by Police in Senepuri forest near Badasilinga
in Nayagarh District of Odisha. The arrested Maoist, Santosh Majhi
(35), had been working with the Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh
(KKBN) division of the CPI-Maoist for the past three years. Two
associates of Majhi escaped during the raid. One of them has been
identified as Bipin, while the other’s identity is yet to be established.
Majhi and a dozen of his associates had damaged the beat house and
set fire to a jeep which was being used for anti-poaching operations
in Nayagarh Forest Division (NFD).
The UKLF categorically stated that
it was not involved in any manner in the ambush against State Police
ahead of CM Okram Ibobi Singh’s visit to Tengnoupal (Tengnoupal
District) near Lokchao along Imphal-Moreh highway on December 15.
Speaking to a team of media persons at an undisclosed location in
Chandel district, UKLF ‘home secretary’ Daniel Thadou said that
the KNLF ‘chairman’ had merged with the UNLF on his own volition.
Daniel contended that the UKLF was not involved in the Lokchao ambush,
and the State Police and its intelligence agencies would know the
truth.
Earlier KNLF ‘general secretary’
Lalmoi Haokip alleged that the Lokchao ambush was carried out by
UKLF at the instruction of NSCN-IM. Flatly rejecting Lalmoi’s allegation,
Daniel said that the same allegation was baseless and fabricated.
The UKLF has a suspicion that the Lokchao ambush was carried out
by a gang of criminals led by Lalmoi, Daniel said.
|
January 6
|
As many as nine vehicles were set
on fire by about 30 cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Gondahur Police
Station limits in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. SP, ML Kotwani
said the Maoists set ablaze eight tractors and one excavator. He
said the Maoists had threatened to stop the road laying work in
between Maharashtra’s Pendi village to Chhattisgarh's border. After
the threat, the contractors from Maharashtra had parked their vehicles
in the territory of Chhattisgarh, Kotwani said, adding that Police
force was sent to the place of occurrence.
Five Naxals were
arrested with arms and ammunition from Gumla and Garhwa Districts
of Jharkhand. Two cadres of the PLFI were arrested from Palkot in
Gumla District while three cadres of the TPC were arrested in Ranka,
Garhwa District. A country made gun, bullets and mobile phones were
found on PLFI cadres Vinay Gope and Ravi Gope while
Police recovered 25 kilograms explosive from TPC cadres Rajesh Yadav
and his aides Sunil Singh Kharwar and Mehboob Alam. Gumla SP, Chandan
Kumar Jha said Vinay and Ravi had demanded INR 300,000 levy from
a petrol bunk owner on December 30, 2016. In Garhwa, Police first
arrested Rajesh. During interrogation, he revealed about his aides
who were arrested from Ramkanda village. Police seized mobile phones,
pamphlets and posters. TPC and PLFI are splinter groups of
the CPI-Maoist.
The UMHA flagged the operational
efficiency of SFs in the Naxal-affected areas as one
of its biggest achievements during a presentation before PM Narendra
Modi. The Ministry informed Modi that since the NDA Government came
to power in May 2014, there had been a 45 per cent increase in the
efficiency of Central Forces (CFs) in operations against the Naxals.
In a presentation made by Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, Modi and
other officials were informed that the number of Naxal cadres
killed in 2016 had been the highest ever in six years. Eighty-Four
cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in 2015 and in 2016, the number
swelled to 218, which was an increase of 160 per cent. There was
also an increase in the number of Police encounter from 237 in 2015
to 316 in 2016. UHM Rajnath Singh told in a press conference earlier
this week that demonetization had increased the problems of CPI-Maoist
and that they had weakened. The EFC has already given the go-ahead
for an ambitious road project in the 44 worst Naxal-affected
Districts. Under this project, the Government proposes to construct
5,412 km of roads and 126 bridges and it would cost INR 117.25 million.
The Government is redrawing the ‘Red Corridor’ — the area affected
by LWE — and may soon take off 20 Districts from the list of Naxal-affected
areas. The 106 Districts which span 10 States — Bihar, Jharkhand,
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — constitute the Red Corridor.
Of these, 44 Districts are said to be the worst affected. India
has a total of 683 Districts.
Al-Badr terrorist Muzzafar Ahmed,
who had links with LeT, was gunned down by the SFs after heavy exchange
of fire in Budgam District. Ahmed, who was wanted in several cases,
was earlier associated with LeT. Also, a Policeman sustained critical
injuries during the encounter.
The call traffic between hawala agents
in India dropped almost by half post demonetisation, says a recent
assessment by the central intelligence agencies. Payments to the
end beneficiary of hawala deals are traditionally in cash, with
INR 500 and INR 1,000 being the favoured denominations. The demonetisation
of these high-value notes on November 9 severely affected hawala
operators, and going solely by call traffic, their business may
be down by 50%, said an intelligence source. Terror funds are mostly
sourced in counterfeit currency, comprising high-quality fake notes
that Indian agencies suspect are printed at the Pakistan government
printing press in Quetta and its security press at Karachi. Given
this fact and the drop in hawala transactions, demonetisation has
dried up funds used for organised stone-pelting in J&K and paying
overground terror supporters in the State. Intelligence officials
claim that terrorism-related violence in J&K dipped by 60% post
the cash ban, with only one major blast reported from the valley
in December. An intelligence official claimed that apart from organised
stone-pelting, a direct casualty of demonetisation in J&K was
the overground network of terror facilitators. "The overground
support base of terrorists depends on instant cash payments. A weakened
OGW network due to demonetisation has resulted in several successful
counterterrorist operations in the Valley over the past several
weeks," said the officer.
A Field Assistant of Veterinary
Department, identified as Ds Stephen (45) was shot by one unidentified
assailant at Maringphai village, near Pallel in Tengnoupal District.
Stephen who sustained bullet injuries on the calf and thigh had
been taken to Jeevan Hospital, Kakching, and then shifted to a hospital
of Imphal. According to the sources, it is not clear who the assailants
are and what is the motive so far.
The ‘chairman’ of the KNLF wrote
to the chairman of the JMG of the SoO, to delist the outfit from
the KNO as it had merged with the UKLF. In the written communication
sent to the chairman of the JMG, the ‘chairman’ of the KNLF said
that all former members of the KNLF including the 'c in c’ had already
been absorbed by the UKLF and hence to instruct the KNO not to mention
KNLF or use the name of KNLF.
One militant of ULFA-I, identified
as Lakheswar Baruah alias Lavang Axom was arrested by Bordumsa Police
in association with Indian Army at Kathgalguri near Bordumsa in
Tinsukia District.
In a statement, the NSCN-IM strongly
objected to India's decision to fence the borders between Myanmar
and Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. In the statement,
NSCN-IM said that such ‘artificial boundary fencing imposed upon
the Naga people’ was against the will of the people and was gross
violation of human rights. Other Naga groups like, NNC and ENDO
were also against the fencing.
Combined team of Bishnupur District
Police commandos and AR troopers recovered a 9 mm carbine machine
gun along with one magazine from an abandoned Bajaj Discover bike
at Torbung in Bishnupur District. However, the assailant, who was
seen coming out from Torbung bazar Mamang Leikai with that bike
and abandoned it at Torbung auto shed managed to escape.
|
January 7
|
Describing the counter-terrorism
cooperation between India and the US under the eight years of Barack
Obama administration as “incredibly successful”, Peter Lavoy, Senior
Director for South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council,
White House, has said this has not only “diminished the threat”
of terrorism in the two countries, but also foiled several terror
plots. “I can tell you quite definitively that due to our partnerships,
several terrorism plots were foiled. Indian lives and American lives
were saved because of this partnership,” said Peter Lavoy. “So it’s
a very significant development and I think, it can continue,” he
added.
International radical outfit Street
Daawah has opened offices in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai to
recruit non-Muslims, including those from the IT hubs in these cities,
for enlisting them into suicide missions. The outfit had begun its
operations in the UK and Australia in 2012 following which a number
of youths were radicalised with presentation of concocted forms
of Islam. In the wake of the outfit’s activities, a few Indians,
including Indian- origin British national Siddarth Dhar, joined
the Islamic State (IS). Dhar is also believed to be the new Jihadi
John, a masked executioner for the IS whose videos relating to mass
executions have been released by the Caliphate-seeking terror outfit
after the liquidation of the original Jihadi John whose real name
was Mohammad Emwazi, a British origin IS executioner. Many of the
Street Daawah cadres have been known to have either joined the IS
ranks or emerged as suicide bombers for them. As many as 25 suicide
bombings have been committed globally by the Street Daawah cadres
during the last few years.
India and Portugal called upon the
global community to avoid double standards in addressing terror
and to strengthen cooperation in combating international terrorism
with zero tolerance towards it. “They underlined that states should
not support any terror entity including ‘non-state actors’ on any
grounds and that violent extremism fueled by misuse of internet
and the social media needs to be countered. Similarly, networks
of terrorist financing and terrorist infrastructure should be dismantled,”
said a joint statement issued after talks between Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and his Portuguese counterpart, Antonio Costa.
Three Maoists, two of them carrying
cash reward on their heads, were arrested from separate places in
Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. While a ‘commander’ rank cadre
identified as Vetti Varsa was arrested from Katekalyan Police Station
limits, two others were arrested from Kotwali Police Station area.
Of them, Varsa was active as Jan militia ‘commander’ under Katekalyan
area committee of Maoists, he said, adding that the rebel was carrying
a reward of INR 100,000 on his head. Two others arrested were identified
as Masa alias Kumma Madvi, head of Janatana Sarkar
group and Panda, a member of the same group, he added. The two were
tasked with the recruitment of fresh cadres for the banned outfit,
the official said, adding Masa was also carrying a reward of INR
100,000 on his head.
Suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist
set ablaze three construction vehicles at Ruam village near Chaibasa
in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. The attack was a reaction
to the construction company's failure in paying levy. The damaged
vehicles included two bulldozers and a mixer owned by RKS constructions.
SP, Anish Gupta said, "We are tracing the rebels involved in
the incident. The construction of this road, which had begun in
2014, has suffered repeated setbacks due to Maoist activities. Last
year, Maoists had burnt vehicles involved in the construction of
the same road after the company refused to pay levy."
Khunti Police conducted an operation,
led by SP, Ashwini Jha, at Kuisar village forest in Khunti District
of Jharkhand. Police had got a tip-off about a meeting of the PLFI
in the forest, 25 kilometres from Khunti. Three country-made carbines,
one regular carbine, two double barrel breach loading guns, three
magazines and two haversacks were seized in the raid. Jha said,
"We reached the location at 3:30 am and discovered a rebel
camp. However, the rebels escaped by the time we reached the camp.
We chased them for half a kilometer but failed to catch them. Maoists
Jidan Gudiya, Prabhu Sahai Bodra, Bagrai Champiya, Pattu Naag and
others were among those who fled.'' PLFI is a splinter group of
the CPI-Maoist.
Maoist ‘zonal commander’ Dimba Pahan
(58), who carried INR 1.5 million reward on his head, surrendered
before Khunti SP, Ashwini Kumar Sinha at his office. A native of
Barigarha village in Arki area of Khunti of Jharkhand, Dimba joined
the Maoists in 1998. He was involved in several cases of Ranchi,
Khunti, Saraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum Districts, including
the killing of former Tamar MLA, Ramesh Singh Munda, Bundu DSP,
Pramod Kumar Gupta and special branch inspector Francis Indewar.
He also robbed an ICICI Bank cash van of over INR 50.7 million and
1.2 kilograms gold in May, 2008.
East Singhbhum District (Jharkhand)
Police have intensified search operations at Ghurabandha and Dumaria
in Ghatshila and deployed SFs along NH-33 in wake of a bandh call
by Maoists on January 10 to protest killing of Supaye Tuddu on January
3.
Normal life in Jammu and Kashmir
was affected due to shutdown called by separatists. Shops and commercial
establishments remained closed across Srinagar and public transport
was partially off the roads. The private vehicles were, however,
plying normally. Street vendors had set-up their stalls at multiple
places in the city’s civil line areas.
A complete shutdown was observed
in Sopore town of Baramulla District, to mourn the killing of senior
militant ‘commander’ associated with Al Badr Mujahideen, Muzzafar
Ahmad Naiko alias Muz Molvi, who was killed on
January 6 in an encounter. During the shutdown, hundreds of security
men were deployed to prevent outbreak of protests across the Sopore
town.
Two CRPF jawans, identified as constables
Visvendar Jat and Brajesh Singh, were injured one of them seriously,
in a powerful blast in Imphal West District. Police said the two
constables were passing by in a bicycle when an IED planted by the
wayside at Naoremthong Khullem Leikai under Lamphel Police Station
exploded. The IED was detonated by suspected militants using a remote
control device, they added. No outfit has claimed responsibility
so far.
The UNC decided to continue its
economic blockade during Manipur polls which will be held in the
first week of March. The UNC also decided to ‘intensify’ the economic
blockade in the meeting held at Senapati Town in Senapati District.
|
January 8
|
The Q Branch of CID Police arrested
an advocate from S. Alangulam village in Madurai District of Tamil
Nadu on the charge of having links with CPI-Maoist. The
Q Branch CID Police had been conducting surveillance on advocate
A. Murugan ever since the two alleged CPI-Maoist cadres – Kala (53)
and Chandra (51) – were arrested in Karur District on July 2016.
Sources said that Murugan’s younger brother, Velmurugan (35), an
active CPI-Maoist cadre, was accused in two naxal cases
in Varushanadu in Theni District and Uthankarai in Coimbatore District.
The advocate used to appear for CPI-Maoist in court. The Q Branch
CID team seized a huge quantity of homeopathic medicines allegedly
in possession of the advocate, which, sources claimed, were being
supplied to some Maoists. A few printed literatures relating to
Maoists were also alleged to have been recovered.
The Jharkhand Police are now concentrating
their offensive on the CPI-Maoist ‘area commander’ Kanhu Munda in
East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. To revive people's
confidence in the administration, Police have decided to hold a
crime meeting at Gian village in Ghatshila subdivision. East Singhbhum
Rural SP, Shailendra Burnwal said they had chosen Naxal-hit
Gian for the meeting because Kanhu Munda hailed from the village.
He added, "We are already carrying out anti-insurgency operations
in Ghurabandha and Gian. The crime meeting at Kanhu Munda's village
will surely make a difference among people who may have been associated
with the Naxalites because they are petrified of
Munda”. Police sources said there were four to five armed naxals in
Munda's squad. "We are working on a plan in which villagers
will no longer co-operate with the CPI-Maoist like they have been
doing so far," SP Burnwal said. Munda's squad is active in
the Ghurabandha region, which shares border with Mayurbhanj District
of Odisha. Police will also hold a janata durbar for
villagers of Gian. "At the durbar, local problems - including
the ones that have cropped up owing to Naxalite activities
- will be heard and resolved, if possible," the SP said.
UHM Rajnath Singh held a review
meeting on Naxalism situation in Jharkhand with
senior Police officials of CRPF and the State Police at Eastern
Sector Headquarters of CRPF in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. A
senior Police official told, “A demand was raised before the UMHA
to increase the strength of SFs in the state to carry out anti-Naxal operations
in the state, replying to which, he said that the demand will be
taken up only after UP Election.” The State Police also requested
the UHM to recommence the fund allocation for setting up of STF
against terrorism which has been discontinued for quite some time.
With security advisor K Vijay Kumar and CM Raghubar Das in tow,
Singh claimed that the Centre's demonetization move has broken the
backs of banned LWE organizations like PLFI and CPI-Maoist. Maintaining
that dialogue was the only means to resolve differences, the minister
urged armed groups to come to the discussion table and place their
demands instead of 'stopping the development of the poor'. Singh,
who inaugurated the Eastern Sector Headquarters of CISF in the state
capital, said increasing the 'technological and core competence'
of the forces is the need of the hour. The new Eastern Sector Headquarters
in Ranchi's Tiril spreads over 158 acres. This new headquarters
has been relocated from Bihar for better synergy, CISF Director
General OP Singh said.
The dead bodies of the abducted
civilians identified as, the village chief of N-Gamnom village S
Otkhomang (57) and church chairman Tilpao Haokip (51) were found
in Nungkham Gamnom Village in Manipur’s newly-created Tengnoupal
District. Earlier, on January 6, these two civilians were abducted
by some unidentified assailants and they were taken toward Indo-Myanmar
border. According to the sources, the assailants also fired some
rounds while taking away the duo. The sources also added that fatal
bullet injuries were seen on the dead bodies. Regarding this sensitive
issue, a joint meeting attended by members of various organisations
including Hill Tribal Council, Meitei Council Moreh, Kuki Chiefs
Association (Moreh Block) and women leaders was held and the meeting
resolved to impose a bandh along Moreh road on January 9.
A hand grenade planted by unidentified
assailants was recovered at the residence of Bishnupur DSP, Y Sushil’s
wife at Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai in Imphal West District.
After recovering the grenade, the bomb disposal squad of Manipur
Police exploded it safely at a dumping site at Lamphelpat,
The Additional Secretary for Mizoram’s
Home department Lalbiakzama said that the proposed repatriation
of over 32,800 Brus lodged in six relief camps in Tripura was scheduled
to begin from the second week of February, 2017. Lalbiakzama attended
a meeting between the UMHA and Mizoram Government in New Delhi over
the issue of the repatriation of the 5,413 Bru families.
One cadre of the Lamyanba Khuman
faction of KCP-MC militant, identified as Kangabam Chaoba alias
Mohen (63), who was involved in placing a hand grenade at the office
of Pandam, an evening daily on December 26, 2016 was arrested
by Imphal West District Police at Sagolband Kangabam Leikai area
in Imphal West District. One Chinese hand grenade along with detonator
and three demand letters were recovered from the arrested militant.
The militant disclosed that he had been working under the command
of self styled ‘commander’ Laishram Mangoljao alias Lamyanba
Khuman of the militant group who was staying in Nepal. He also disclosed
that he collected one Chinese hand grenade from another militant,
AK Khamba (48) who was recently arrested by Imphal East District
commandos.
A militant of NDFB-IKS, identified
as Dhananjay Boro alias B.Dahal Thungri (32) was arrested
by the Police along with Indian Army at Shantipur area under Runikhata
Police Station in Chirang District. One 9mm Pistol, one magazine
and 4 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the arrestee. The
Chirang District SP Shankar Raimedhi said that the militant was
a trained NDFB-IKS cadre of 38th batch and after training he had
been operating in Baksa District. But he was on the run after anti-militancy
operation was intensified in the state.
|
January 9
|
Three civilians working as labourers
were killed in a pre-dawn terror attack by militants on a GREF camp
near LoC in Akhnoor sector of Jammu District. Two or more militants
attacked the GREF camp around 1 AM near LoC in Battal village, sources
said. Militants likely infiltrated from across the border to carry
out the terror attack, sources said. In the attack, three civilians
were killed, they said, adding that the victims were working as
labourers with GREF.
Four persons, including a woman,
were arrested along with FICNs with a face value of INR 41,000 in
Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. The four came under Police scanner
when their vehicle was checked, SP (Rural) Vinit Bhatnagar said.
"Twenty fake notes in denomination of 2,000, a Rs 100 note,
two pistols and a car have been seized from them," he added.
The UMHA reviewed the security situation
in poll-bound Punjab and alerted the state Police on possible attempts
by Pakistan’s ISI to foment trouble. Punjab will also see the largest
deployment of SFs out of the 85000 Central Armed Police Forces personnel
sanctioned by the UMHA for Assembly polls in five states. The UMHA
asked the state Police to be on alert for communal incidents triggered
by desecration of religious books, as had happened in 2015. The
role of Pakistan was suspected in the incident. The BSF has been
asked to step up vigil and keep a close tab on the activities along
the border with Pakistan.
Islamic State (IS) is spreading
its activities to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu
said. "ISIS..Slowly it is establishing its activities. If you
sanction Rapid Action Force, it will go a long way to control ISIS,"
Chandrababu told UHM Rajnath Singh. Chandrababu also wanted an additional
battalion of CRPF for the state "to face Left Wing Extremism".
Two persons, identified as Ashish
(23) and Krishan Bhardwaj (25) were arrested on January 9 for allegedly
printing FICNs of INR 500 and INR 2000 denominations and circulating
them in weekly markets in southwest Delhi. Police also recovered
FICNs worth of INR 6,10,500 from them. The team probing the matter
found that a syndicate, operating in Uttam Nagar, Dwarka among others,
is involved in printing and circulating fake currency in the market
to hamper country’s economy, DCP-(Southwest), Surender Kumar said.
The UMHA reviewed the security situation
in poll-bound Punjab and alerted the State Police on possible attempts
by Pakistan’s ISI to foment trouble. UMHA asked the State Police
to be on alert for communal incidents triggered by desecration of
religious books, as had happened in 2015. The role of Pakistan was
suspected in the incident. The BSF has been asked to step up vigil
and keep a close tab on the activities along the border with Pakistan.
The meeting at UMHA was attended by Punjab DGP Suresh Arora. Punjab
will also see the largest deployment of Security Forces out of the
85000 CAPF personnel sanctioned by the UMHA for Assembly polls in
five states. “We expect violence only in Punjab and Manipur and
are taking adequate measures,” said a senior UMHA official.
Even as Andhra Pradesh DGP, N Sambasiva
Rao, recently claimed that the CPI-Maoist numbers have dwindled
specially after the major encounter at Ramaguda in Bejjangi area
in Odisha in October 2016, the CPI-Maoist is reportedly planning
to set up a 'Janatana Sarkar' in the AOB. Despite
losing ground in places like Palnadu and the South Andhra Districts
like Krishna and West Godavari in the last two decades, Maoists
have till date managed to retain their hold in the AOB Districts
like East Godavari and Visakhapatnam. According to sources, members
of the division committee and red guerrillas have been continuously
conducting meetings in the AOB villages.
UHM Rajnath Singh has said the Centre
would establish Greyhounds Centre, sanction RAF and give one more
CRPF battalion to curb terrorist and Naxal activities
in Andhra Pradesh. UHM Singh laying the foundation stone for the
construction of the campus for the NDRF 10th Battalion, at Kondapavuluru
village in Gannavaram mandal, at a cost of INR 2 billion,
said: “The Home Ministry has sanctioned more CRPF personnel for
Andhra Pradesh and instructions have been given in this regard.
Once elections are over in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and three
other States the force will come to the State. The AP Government
has sent a requisition for RAF and for setting up of Greyhounds,
and we will look into the matter.” The Greyhounds was doing good
work in Telangana State (TS) in controlling the LWE, and the Greyhounds
Centre would be on par with TS, UHM Singh said.
UHM Rajnath Singh has said that
the menace of CPI-Maoist activities and infiltration into northeastern
States came down drastically. Further he said that LWE declined
by 55 per cent. Infiltration to northeastern States also decreased
by over 70 per cent, he asserted.
A highly volatile situation was
witnessed in the whole of Senapati town in Senapati District, following
the arrest of leaders of ANSAM by AR. According to the report, ANSAM
President Seth Shatsang, Finance Secretary of the association Joseph
Adani and Executive Secretary AC Thotso were arrested by the AR
personnel from Taphou area of Senapati town while they were enforcing
the economic blockade. However they were released after the intervention
of the Naga people.
After the arrest of the militant
of Lamyanba Khuman faction of KCP-MC on January 8 by Manipur Police,
who suspected to be involved in planting a hand grenade at the office
of Pandam, an evening daily on December 26, 2016, a spokesperson
of AR claimed that CorCom, an apex body of six outfits of Manipur
responsible for the threatening of the local editors.
Sources in Assam Police said that
at a time when majority of Karbi militant outfits were joining the
peace process, PDCK was trying to spread its tentacles in the hill
District. The source said that formed under the guidance of I.K.
Songbijit, who was earlier the hardliner leader of NDFB-IKS, PDCK
has reportedly launched a recruitment drive in the region. The source
said, "Ever since the genocide of Adivasis in 2014, Songbijit
got reportedly unpopular among the Bodos for his barbaric ways.
Sidelined and pushed to Myanmar, the rebel leader formed PDCK with
Karbi youths drawn from the NDFB faction." Many Karbi youths
were recruited in the NDFB-IKS faction when Songbijit was heading
it and Police suspect that these youths helped him to form the new
outfit. According to the source, there are around 60 cadres under
IK Songbijit in Myanmar training camps. The PDCK is talking about
‘sovereignty’ and it is backed by NSCN-K and ULFA-I, the source
added.
The militant group, NSCN-R, in a
statement, opposed the proposed Pangsha fencing (in the border of
India and Myanmar) by India and Myanmar Government in the Nagaland.
The statement said that ‘dividing the Nagas’ is ‘highly questionable
and unacceptable.’
|
January 10
|
A special MCOCA court issued a production
warrant against IM ‘co-founder’ Yasin Bhatkal and six others in
connection with the July 13, 2011 Mumbai triple blasts case. “The
court issued a production warrant against Yasin Bhatkal, who is
presently lodged in Cherlapally central prison in Hyderabad,” an
ATS official said. The official added that the court also issued
warrants against three other accused lodged in the same jail. “Apart
from them, production warrants were also issued for an accused lodged
in Tihar jail in New Delhi and two others in Parappana Agrahara
central jail in Bangalore,” the official added. Special MCOCA judge
V V Patil directed that all the seven accused be brought before
him on January 27.
Five CPI-Maoist cadres, including
two ‘commander-level’ cadres, were killed in two separate exchanges
of fire during an operation launched by Chhattisgarh Police in Narayanpur
District of Chhattisgarh. Senior officials, however, said that one
DRG trooper was killed in the first exchange of fire with the Maoist
cadres. Teams with close to 400 SFs entered the jungles in an area
that is home to CPI-Maoist military company number two. D M Awasthi,
Special Director General, anti-Maoist operations, “The operation
was launched on a specific intelligence input about the presence
of CPI-Maoist cadres in the area. In the first exchange of fire
in the morning in Irpenar, four CPI-Maoist cadres were killed. One
trooper was also hurt and evacuated, but he unfortunately passed
away.” Intermittent firing continued. In the second exchange of
fire, this time in the adjoining Kanker District’s Koylibeda area,
one CPI-Maoist cadre was killed and an AK-47 recovered from his
possession. The CPI-Maoist cadres killed in the first exchange of
fire have been identified as Tirupati, ‘Divisional Commander’, East
Bastar division, Ratna Markam, ‘medical in-charge’, company number
6, Shyamu Yadav of company number 6 and Mangalram Salam, a Janmilitia
member from Irpenar. The body recovered in the second encounter
has been identified as that of Roshan, ‘divisional commander’ of
the North Bastar division. “It is clear that there has been a big
loss to the CPI-Maoist cadres in this encounter. We have recovered
the bodies, but our personnel have narrated stories of the CPI-Maoist
cadres dragging away other members of their party under the cover
of LMG fire. This indicates that these could be senior cadre,” Awasthi
added.
SFs have recovered and defused as
many as nine IEDs allegedly planted by CPI-Maoist in restive Sukma
District of Chhattisgarh. The explosives were planted near a culvert
on a kuccha road between Bhejji and Injram villages under Bhejji
Police Station limits, according to Sukma SP, Indira Kalyan Elesela.
Cadres of the PLFI attacked workers
and set ablaze equipment at a pipeline laying site of IOC in Khunti
District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group the
CPI-Maoist. Armed PLFI cadres arrived at the site near
Karo River on Tapkara-Rania Road under Tapkarao outpost late last
night, beat up some labourers and set the equipment on fire. Two
tractors, a dumper, an earth moving machine, two generator sets
and a jointer machine used by a Bengaluru-based company hired by
IOC were set ablaze. SFs have launched a search operation
to track down the Naxals. DGP, D K Pandey directed the
Police to provide security to ensure completion of the work as well
as other development works in Naxal-affected areas after
he had a meeting with the District Armed Police, CRPF and Intelligence
officials. Pandey said that Naxal and extremist
activities would be wiped out from the state in 2017.
Five Naxals from
different outfits were arrested along with arms and ammunition from
Palamau and Garhwa Districts of Jharkhand. Umesh Paswan and Shyamdeo
Singh Kharwar, and TPC-II member Satyendra Singh were arrested from
different parts of Palamau. Shiv Kumar Korba and Mukhdeo Choudhary
were arrested from Ramkanda area in Garhwa. TPC is a splinter group
of the CPI-Maoist while TPC-II, a splinter group of TPC. SFs have
recovered a country made pistol, cartridges, five sets of camouflaged
uniforms, mobile phones, TPC pamphlets and a motorcycle from their
possession.
Naxals belonging to
JSJMM attacked a road construction site in Bharno, Gumla District
of Jharkhand.
Ahead of the process of filing of
nomination papers for the three-tier panchayat elections,
the CPI-Maoist has warned the tribals of Malkangiri District of
Odisha, to abstain from the poll. More than 500 tribal residents
of Ralegada panchayat, on the other side of cut-off
Chitrakonda reservoir, took out a protest rally and dared the Government
to hold elections in the area. The villagers, under the aegis of
‘Malkangiri Zilla Adivasi Rayat Kuli Sangha’, a frontal organisation
of CPI-Maoist, organised a meeting at Ralegada panchayat,
which was also attended by top Maoist leader Raman. Shouting slogans
against the Government, they protested the BJD’s failure to provide
basic needs to the villagers over the years. The Maoist-supported
villagers declared to boycott the panchayat election
over the issue. At the meeting, which continued for more than an
hour, the rebel leaders have threatened that those who participate
in the poll process will be punished in a ‘Praja Court’.
The electorates have been threatened that their thumbs would be
chopped off if they dare to go for voting.
A top LeT militant was killed in
a gun battle in Bandipora District. SFs including 13-RR of army
and SOG of JKP, Bandipora, cordoned off Parray Mohalla Hajan in
the District. A LeT militant, who was hiding in a house opened fire
on the troops, leading to a gun battle in which he was shot dead
by the troops. After the gun battle during searches one AK 47, three
AK Magazines, three hand grenades, one radio set, one pouch, one
matrix sheet and 200 AK rounds were recovered from the encounter
site. The militant was identified as Abu Maviya of LeT.
SFs including 55 RR and SOG Shopian
cordoned off Heff Shermal in Shopian District. There are seven militants
of LeT from the village and SFs had information about their movement
in the village. However, the operation was later called off and
no one was arrested.
SFs including 50 RR, 183 Battalion
of CRPF and SOG Kakapora cordon off Kandi Zal area of Pampore in
Pulwama District. Sources said that the SFs had information about
presence of Reyaz Dar of LeT and his associates in the village.
However, the operation was later called off.
SFs including 55 RR and SOG Awantipora
cordon off Khandaypora, Awantipora in Pulwama District. They had
information about presence of Reyaz Naiku of HM and his associates
in the village. However, the operation was later called off.
SFs including 42 RR and SOG Awantipora
cordon off Batpora, Noorpora, Tral in Awantipora area of Pulwama
District. They had information about presence of some militants
in the area. The troops also cordoned off Ratsuna in Tral area of
Awantipora. However, the operations at these places were later called
off.
A soldier was injured in a mine
explosion in forward area of Mankote sector in Poonch District.
Official sources said that Naik Deepak Singh of 15 Mahar Regiment
received serious injuries in his legs when a land mine exploded
as he over stepped it while patrolling. The injured soldier was
rushed to unit hospital and then shifted to Military Hospital, Rajouri.
Unidentified assailants hurled nine
petrol bombs at the resident of Tamenglong DC, M Luikham in Tamenglong
District. Out of nine, five bombs exploded, but no injuries were
reported. According to the report, the guards at the residence of
M Luikham opened several rounds of fire in the air to ward off the
attackers. The identity of the attackers is not yet confirmed, as
no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Unidentified assailants allegedly
attacked BJP activist, Mohammad Rajauddin’s residence at Mayang
Imphal Bengoon in Imphal West District by firing numerous rounds.
According to the report, a group of unidentified assailants travelling
inside a four wheeler vehicle allegedly attacked the resident. No
injuries were reported, and identity of the assailants was also
unknown so far.
A team of Imphal East District Police
arrested a KCP militant, identified as Ningthoujam Yamba Singh alias
Sanayamba (35) at Keirao Awang Leikai in Imphal East District. Incriminating
articles were recovered from the arrested militant.
Eleven traders were abducted by
suspected militants near Gasuapara in South Garo Hills District.
However, out of 11, eight traders managed to escape from the abductors.
The three traders, who are still in the captivity of the abductors,
are identified as Tamal Dey (38), Dulan Mahanta (36) and Durgapada
Dutta (35). All these three traders are from Dalu in West Garo Hills
District.
The terms of the ceasefire agreements
with NDFB-RD and NDFB-P had been extended by six months. According
to the official sources, the Joint Secretary (North East) of the
UMHA and senior officials of the State Government had discussions
with leaders of the NDFB-RD and NDFB-P to review the ceasefire agreements.
The meetings decided to increase the term of the agreements by six
months with effect from January 1 this year (2017).
Security was beefed up after a bomb
threat to a bridge at Jirighat in Cachar District by militant groups.
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Manipur, intelligence report
said that the NSCN-IM or the NSCN-K might blast the Jirighat Bridge,
which connects Assam and Manipur.
One militant of NSCN-IM, identified
as self styled ‘corporal’ Phawang Wangsu was arrested by AR at Niausa
village in Longding District. One pistol, live ammunition and opium
was recovered from the arrested militant.
The AR arrested one NSCN-K militant,
identified as Velasayi (35) along with arms at Jail Colony in Kohima
District. One point 22 mm pistol was recovered from the arrestee.
One militant of NSCN-K, identified
as ''corporal'' Cheimang, was arrested from Mon Town in Mon District
by AR. One .22 mm pistol along with ammunition and some other indoctrinatory
documents were recovered from the arrested militant. According to
PRO of AR, IGAR-N, the militant was involved in illegal ''tax collection''
for NSCN-K.
The ADGP, L R Bishnoi, said that
Chinese intelligence agencies had been helping various insurgent
groups of North Eastern India having bases in Myanmar. L R Bishnoi
also claimed that the chief of ULFA-I, Paresh Barua had currently
set up base in Ruili, a Chinese town in the Myanmar border. He said
that Paresh Barua had drawn up plans to supply arms procured from
Chinese agencies to smaller armed groups of the North-eastern region.
“Chinese intelligences have been helping, directly or indirectly
various insurgent groups of the North-eastern region that have their
bases and hideouts inside Myanmar. These groups are under increasing
influence of the Chinese agencies, and ULFA-I leader Paresh Barua
is among those top leaders who have been in regular touch with the
Chinese liaison office in Ruili on the China-Myanmar border,” ADGP
LR Bishnoi said.
Giving a break-up of the cadre strength
of different North-eastern rebel groups in Myanmar, ADGP Bishnoi
also said that while the NSCN-K had over 1,000 cadres there, PLA–
a Manipuri group came second with over 250 men. “Taking into account
at least ten North-eastern rebel groups having their bases and hideouts
in Myanmar, there should be close to 2,500 militants from the region
in that country. Of them NSCN-K alone has a little over 1,000 men,
followed by around 260 of the PLA, 230 of the UNLF and a little
over 200 of the ULFA-I,” Bishnoi said. According to him, the strength
of the NSCN-IM there would be between 80 and 120, NDFB-IKS about
160, KYKL, PREPAK and PREPAK-Pro around 10 each. “Two things that
have been happening there is that while the rebel groups of the
region work in close coordination, they get almost 100 per cent
support from the local communities close to the Indo-Myanmar who
belong to various Naga tribes. These villagers not only provide
them food and shelter, but also guide them through the mountainous
track,” Bishnoi said.
|
January 11
|
Odisha Government has targeted to
complete the Gurupriya Setu (bridge) in Naxal-affected
Malkangiri District of Odisha by the end of September 2017.The bridge
which was opposed by the CPI-Maoist. On completion the bridge will
connect the cut off area with the main land and provide access to
more than 25,000 tribal people who were cut off from the mainland
of Malkangiri after Chitrakonda Reservoir was constructed in 1964
for Balimela Hydel Project.
Two militants were killed by the
Army as it foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC in Poonch sector
in Poonch District. An Army spokesman said the troops present along
the LoC detected movement of two terrorists along the Betar Nala
in the wee hours of January 10 and engaged them with heavy automatic
fire. “While one terrorist was eliminated by afternoon of January
10 the second was eliminated today (January 11),” he said. He said
the bodies of the slain terrorists and their weapons lie on the
LoC.
CM Mehbooba Mufti said that 4088
missing persons and terrorists belonging to J&K, who had crossed
the borders, are still in Pakistan and PoK. She was responding to
the question of BJP MLA from Jammu East, Rajesh Gupta, in the Legislative
Assembly. “As per the figures of the Home Department, 4088 missing
persons and terrorists are still camping/residing in Pakistan and
PoK”, she said. It is pertinent to mention here that during peak
of militancy in this State huge number of misguided youth had crossed
over the borders to get arms training in the camps established in
different parts of Pakistan and PoK by the outfits of terrorists
and ISI, Pakistan's external intelligence agency.
One ZUF militant, identified as
Abel Gangmei (30) was killed by suspected NSCN-IM cadres at Padanpung
village in Noney District. Two spent cartridges were recovered near
the dead body of the militant.
Eleven persons, including six NSCN-IM
militants were arrested and arms were recovered by the Thoubal District
Police in three separate incidents from different parts of the Thoubal
District. In the first incident, a team of Thoubal District Police
led by SP M Pradeep conducted a search operation at Tuisem village
under Pallel Police Station and arrested seven persons including
three former NSCN-IM cadres who failed to produce proper identification
proof. Four SSBL guns and one unauthorized weapon were recovered
in the operation.
In the second incident, the Police
team carried out a search operation at Khangshim village under Kakching
Police Station and arrested a sympathizer and a self styled ‘captain’
of NSCN-IM identified as Hongsha Moshel (32) and Ashang Hongsha
(42) respectively. One .38 pistol with four live rounds, two mobile
phone handsets and a wallet containing some documents were recovered
from their possession.
In the third incident, the Police
carried out search operation at Serou quarry area where they arrested
two NSCN-IM cadres, identified as Bungdon Bingham Ningham (29) and
Seltun Thohrin Anal (23), who were collecting ‘illegal tax’ from
trucks at that area. One .32 pistol loaded with one live round and
a sum of INR 1100 were recovered from the arrestees.
One arms dealer, identified as Abdul
Huissen alias Japan (38) was arrested by Bishnupur District
Police commandos, at a mobile vehicle check post at Moirang Lamkhai
along Tiddim road in Bishnupur District. One 9 mm pistol along with
a magazine was recovered from the arrestee.
A strategic group meeting of the
Unified Command Structure was held that focused on the increasing
activities of JMB and other insurgent groups in Assam. In the meeting,
UMHA Joint Secretary Satyendra Garg was present along with Assam
Chief Secretary VK Pipersania, Home Commissioner LS Changsan and
top officials of other security agencies including the Indian Army.
After the meeting DGP of Assam,
Mukesh Sahay said, “In today’s meeting, we held detailed discussion
on the activities of JMB and other insurgent groups in Assam. All
security agencies have been put on high alert for approaching Republic
Day.” According to the sources, in recent years, at least 40 cadres
and linkmen of JMB were arrested in different parts of Assam.
A patrolling party of SSB carried
out an operation in the area of Riphu Reserve Forest and busted
a camp of NDFB-IKS. The patrolling party recovered sleeping bag
for six persons, three country-made guns, one diary, four solar
plates, SIM cards, 10 blankets, mosquito nets and many food items,
along with various cooking utensils and clothes.
According to the sources, the GNLA
still had 30 active members including self-styled ‘c-in-c’ Sohan
D Shira and others wanted leaders like Kamdak and Megam. The Meghalaya
DGP Swaraj Bir Singh said, “The GNLA has been weakened but there
is certain nucleus located in separate areas that needed to be overrun.”
The sources also said that the GNLA was still in touch with the
ULFA-I leadership.
|
January 12
|
The ‘c-in-c’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei
Lup, identified as Khoirom Ranjit alias Rocky alias
Great Macha (35) was arrested at Mayur Vihar area in East Delhi
along with a female cadre of the militant group identified as Inungbam
Sanatombi Devi (26). The Delhi Police recovered 100-150 mobile SIM
cards and laptops from the militant leader and his associate in
Delhi. The Delhi Police also disclosed other information related
to the militant group after interrogation. DCP-(special cell) Sanjeev
Yadav said, “They are involved in large number of cases of terror
activities like lobbing of grenades, shoot-outs, killings, planting
of bombs, running extortion network by intimidating businessmen
and politicians."
India roundly condemned the terrorist
attacks that happened in Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan on January
10, with an official statement pointing a finger at Pakistan without
naming it. The Ministry of External Affairs statement emphasised
the "inhumane suffering inflicted on the peace-loving people
of the region by the abominable phenomenon of international terrorism,
which sadly continues to have its epicentre in our region and is
pursued brazenly as an instrument of state policy to achieve narrow
political objectives."
PM Narendra Modi also wrote a letter
to Afghanistan President, Ashraf Ghani condemning the terrorist
strike, particularly the explosions that targeted UAE officials
in Kandahar that left both the UAE ambassador to Afghanistan and
the governor of the province injured. "India condemns these
attacks on Afghanistan, and on its legitimate authority. Such attacks
are unacceptable and are aimed at undermining the progress made
by the people of Afghanistan against all odds," he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc
Ayrault pressed for “decisive action” against Pakistan-based terror
groups such as the LeT, JeM and HuM, which “are targeting” India.
France vowed to work with New Delhi to get JeM ‘chief’ Masood Azhar
proscribed by the UNSC.French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault
also said: “The international community’s determination to combat
terrorism must be the same everywhere, regardless of the threat.
In addition, on the cross-LoC surgical
strikes carried out by India in September 2016 after an attack on
the Uri Army camp in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Ayrault,
said that a country had a “right to defend itself” in the wake of
such threats.
On the front of counter-terrorism
activities, he said, France and India hold “constant and very operational
exchanges” on the terrorist threat. “We have a bilateral working
group that brings together all the players concerned over counter-terrorism,
and, among others, cooperation with regard to investigations and
between our respective intervention units, the GIGN [Groupe d'intervention
de la Gendarmerie nationale] from the French side, and the National
Security Guards [NSG] from the Indian side. I welcome the development
of all these cooperations,” Mr. Ayrault said.
Ahead of Indian Republic Day, Indo-Pakistan
border adjoining Rajasthan is on an high alert following intelligence
input over possibility of infiltration bid by suicide attackers.
Patrolling on the International Border in the state has been intensified.
According to sources, input received by the officials hint at terrorists
are expected to try and cross the border along with consignment
of heroin and explosives. After these inputs, BSF has been further
alerted and directed to be extra alert. The night curfew is already
on and additional security forces have been deployed at the sensitive
places and vigil is being done with surveillance gadgets. BSF is
also going to start operation Sard Hawa in next 2-3 days.
Confirming about increasing vigilance
at the borders, BSF official sources said that at the international
borders adjoining Rajasthan, strict vigilance is being made. Patrolling
is being done at the borders and surveillance is being done through
gadgets and additional alertness is being kept. Sources said that
during the night, curfew is being imposed and directions have been
given to shoot at sight on those violating the curfew.
The UAE Ambassador to India, Ahmed
Albanna, assured that UAE will cooperate with India in order to
enable it to get hold of Dawood Ibrahim. Albanna said that UAE is
determined to have a strong strategic relationship with India and
will be signing a strategic cooperation agreement with the country
soon. Condemning the global terrorism, Albanna said that some countries
are using terrorists for proxy war, which needs to be stopped soon.
A CRPF jawan and a sniffer dog were
injured in a pressure bomb blast allegedly triggered by CPI-Maoist
cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place
when a ROP of CRPF’s 85th battalion was out to ensure security to
a patch on Bijapur–Bhopalpattanam road. When the party reached near
Chinna Kodepal village in Mahadev Ghat area, dog master Surendra
Kumar stepped over the pressure IED connection.
Two Maoists, one of them carrying
cash reward on his head, surrendered before the Police in Narayanpur
District of Chhattisgarh. The cadres, identified as Kaveram Salaam
and Jagnu Salaam (30), turned themselves in at Narayanpur District
headquarters, Narayanpur ASP, Anil Soni said. They were active as
members of the Bagjhar Janatana Sarkar group of
Maoists in the Benoor Police Station area of the District. They
were assigned tasks like arranging meetings as well food for rebels,
dropping Maoist pamphlets and posters, collecting information and
inputs and others local work, he said adding that Kaveram was carrying
a reward of INR 10,000 on his head.
The ‘group commander’, Abhay, of
the TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, was killed in an encounter
under Chainpur Police station area of Palamu District of Jharkhand. The
encounter took place between the team from Garhwa Police, along
with a contingent of the JAP. SFs have recovered two rifles, cartridges,
batteries, their chargers, blankets and other materials.
Three cadres of the (PLFI,
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, who were part of the group
that set ablaze heavy machinery engaged in IOC’s Paradip-Ranchi-Raipur
underground pipeline project on January 10, were arrested from Murhu
area of Khunti District of Jharkhand. The trio has been
identified as Dinesh Gudiya - brother of PLFI ‘zonal commander’
Jeedan Gudiya - Sunil Nag and Batu Kachchhap. PLFI pamphlets and
jerry cans, used for carrying fuel like petrol or kerosene oil,
were also recovered from them.
Two civilians, Ramesh Atala (27)
and Manohar Atala (55) were killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Gadchiroli
District of Maharashtra. The Gadchiroli Police statement
said that the Maoists shot the victims claiming they were ‘Police
informers’. It added that the victims were farmers and provided
food to Maoists and travelled with them to nearby villages. The
Police claimed that CPI-Maoist fear their influence is reducing
in the District as developmental work by the administration has
earned the confidence of tribals. A section of the Police has claimed
that the latest killing was carried out by Chatgaon LOS which is
headed by ‘commander’ Yogesh.
Intelligence agencies have identified
12 active terror launch pads with 300 terrorists in Pakistan. The
launch pads were identified as Balakot, Garhi Habibullah, Batrasi,
Mashar-e-Akshah, Abdullah bin Mausam, Dalai, Chela Bandi, Kotli,
Dungi, Gulpar, Barali and Mandakuli. According to an intelligence
report there are "reception" areas within Indian State
of Jammu and Kashmir, where these terrorists would be received.
The reception areas where the terrorists meet their handlers, who
provide them logistics and money, are Lojab Valley, Rajwar forest,
Bandipora, Kazikund, Rafiabad and Naugam.
A civilian was killed and three
others were injured when unidentified armed men attacked an Imphal-bound
convoy of loaded trucks escorted by heavy security personnel at
Imphal-Jiribam road in Lukhambi of Noney District. The deceased
has been identified as one Dikhonang (25) of Tamenglong while the
injured were identified as Thuannilung (31) – a school teacher from
Taobam village, Jacky Kahmei (30) of Tamenglong, and Nipen Kalita
(24). According to Police, a convoy of over 500 goods-laden trucks
was on their way towards Imphal when they were attacked by the unidentified
people with sophisticated weapons, killing one civilian and injuring
three others at the spot. However, a separate source said that the
victims (all civilians) were travelling in a car when the incident
happened. The Police report said the injured were rushed to AR Unit
Hospital, Noney where they were treated but later sent to Imphal
for better treatment. However, Police did not divulge any information
on whether they retaliated to the alleged ambush.
A cadre of KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup,
identified as Pukhrihongbam Ibomcha was arrested in Imphal in Manipur.
A 9 mm pistol and 2 hand grenades were recovered from his possession.
The ZUF categorically clarified
that Abel Gangmei (30), who was killed by suspected NSCN-IM militant
at Padangpung village in Noney District on January 11 was not related
to the outfit and he was a civilian.
The ‘c-in-c’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei
Lup, identified as Khoirom Ranjit alias Rocky alias
Great Macha (35) was arrested at Mayur Vihar area in East Delhi
along with a female cadre of the militant group identified as Inungbam
Sanatombi Devi (26). The Delhi Police recovered 100-150 mobile SIM
cards and laptops from the militant leader and his associate. The
Delhi Police also disclosed other information related to the militant
group after interrogation. DCP (special cell) Sanjeev Yadav said,
“They are involved in large number of cases of terror activities
like lobbing of grenades, shoot-outs, killings, planting of bombs,
running extortion network by intimidating businessmen and politicians."
Unidentified assailants hurled a
crude bomb at the residence of Hokuto Zhimomi, a BJP candidate for
DMC polls, at Veterinary colony of Burma camp area in Dimapur District.
The blast damaged the concrete floored compound but no casualties
were reported. Police recovered some plastic materials from the
spot.
Meghalaya Police announced a reward
of INR 200,000 on the whereabouts of Reding T. Sangma, the ‘c-in-c’
of militant group ASAK. SP of South Garo Hills District, Anand Mishra,
while announcing the reward, said, “Any person who provides any
information which leads to the apprehension of Reding T. Sangma
will be rewarded in cash a sum of INR 2 lakh by the office of the
Superintendent of Police, South Garo Hills.”
|
January 13
|
Naushad, a resident of Bijnor (Uttar
Pradesh), who was acquitted of terror charges was arrested again
by Police. Police had arrested Naushad in 2007 claiming that he
was planning a terror attack. However, in 2015 he was acquitted
by a special court after spending more than eight years in jail.
The Uttar Pradesh government had challenged the order in the High
Court. The High Court had issued a non-bailable warrant against
him in December, 2016. Naushad, who was arrested in Bijnor, will
be taken into transit remand and brought to Lucknow on January 16.
The next hearing of the matter is on January 31.
A special NIA court in New Delhi,
levelled charges against Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal
in a matter related to conspiring terror attacks in various parts
of India. The charges against Jundal, who is also the convict in
the Aurangabad arms haul case, have been framed under the IPC Section
153 A and other sections of UAPA.The trial on the same will begin
from January 31, 2017.
A case was registered on June 8,
2012 under section 18 of UAPA against Jundal and his associates,
who happened to be the members of LeT. After the Mumbai terror attack
of 26/11 (November 26, 2008), Jundal with senior functionaries of
LeT hatched the conspiracy in Pakistan in 2010 to recruit youngsters
from India for terrorist activities and to promote enmity between
different groups in the name of religion. In August, 2016 the designated
MCOCA court sentenced life imprisonment to Jundal in the Aurangabad
arms haul case.
Six SF personnel were injured in
an IED blast in Burha Pahari area of Latehar District of Jharkhand. The
blast took place during an encounter with the cadres of the CPI-Maoist.
Officials said that three explosions took place first around 5:30
AM, then another took place around 10 AM and then again at
1 PM. Two Assistant Commandants of CRPF, one head constable and
two SIs and a Jharkhand Police jawan were injured.
One Naxalite, identified
as Mahendra Manjhi, was arrested in a major anti-Naxal operation
carried by the 26th CRPF and local Police in Lugu-pahari forest
area in Gomia block in Bokaro District of Jharkhand. The CRPF also
seized large quantity of fire arms, including a rifle of .315, with
one magazine, three .315 cartridges and five 303 cartridges from
him. Mahendra was a close associate of Santosh Mahto group. However,
no loss of life reported and no Policemen were injured in the operation,
said ASP, Sanjay Kumar (Operations).
The CPI-Maoist cadres abducted five
persons including four Odisha Government officials from Chitrakonda
in Malkangiri District. Odisha is going to have panchayat elections
on February 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 2017. Sources said a group of Maoists
produced them at a ‘Praja Court’ at Similipodar village.
The five persons have been identified as poll officials Hrushiskesh
Naik and Purshottam Behra, junior engineers Praveen Soren and Kamini
Kanth as well as Jodamba village head Lakshaman Sisa's son Manoranjan
Sisa, sources said. However, another officer Lingaraj Majhi managed
to escape.
The District Police have arrested
a relative of Naxalite, Thota Ramulu (35), in Karimnagar
District of Telangana. Ramulu is the relative of Jadala
Nagaraju, a surrendered Naxalite told Karimnagar Commissioner
of Police, V B Kamalasan Reddy. Police have recovered 50 rounds
of ammunition of different weapons, a 18mm rifle, one SBBL rifle,
three DBBL rifles, one 9 mm carbine, one .32 pistol, a 8mm tapancha
from his house at Karimnagar town.
The BSF foiled major infiltration
attempt by a group of four to six militants, trying to infiltrate
into the Indian Territory, along the IB in Samba sector in Samba
District by killing one of them and forcing others to retreat to
Pakistan. Official sources said the BSF troops observed the movement
of four to six militants, who were moving towards the Indian Territory
along Tarnah Nullah between Samba and Hiranagar sectors on the IB.
As the alert BSF troops challenged the militants, after heavy exchange
of firing one of the militants was killed on spot while others were
reported to have retreated to Pakistan taking cover of darkness
in the area. The BSF didn’t suffer any casualties in the encounter.
SFs busted a militant hideout and
recovered cache of arms and ammunition in Charmar area of Surankote
in Poonch District. Acting on tip off, police and army launched
joint operation in Charmar area of Surankote and recovered the cache
of arms and ammunition from an underground dump, which included
two AK 56, two Chinese pistols, two RPG guns, four HE 36 grenades,
10 AK magazines, 302 AK ammunition, LMG ammunition 88, sniper ammunition
12, one wireless set damaged, one bayonet cover, three pistol magazines,
two pistols ammunition, three M 16 Rocket and one 51 motor ammunition.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat made
it clear that more surgical strikes cannot be ruled out as India
has the “right to retaliate” if Pakistan does not react positively
to offers of peace. General Rawat also said India needs to “wait
and watch” the Pakistani response in Jammu and Kashmir. He accepted
that challenges of proxy war, insurgency and terrorism will keep
India embroiled for “years to come”. The General said the DGMOs
of both sides have spoken to each other and want peace and tranquillity
along the LoC. The two officers spoke on November 23, 2016 and since
then there has been relative peace along the LoC, he said. Asked
if surgical strikes conducted along the LoC, and operations conducted
in Myanmar, would now be part of the doctrine, the Army chief said,
“We have told the adversary to accept peace and in case that offer
is not reciprocated this method of operations (surgical strikes)
shall continue”. He also said the aim is to ensure peace and tranquillity
and it (surgical strike) shall not be needed if there is peace.
Police arrested a KCP militant,
identified as Rishikesh Singh (41), from Sangakpham Bazar area in
Imphal West District. Incriminating articles were also recovered
from his possession.
Thounaojam Shyamkumar , MLA from
INC, denied Delhi Police's charge that he had nexus with the arrested
militant leader of the KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup. ‘C-in-c’ of KCP-Poirei
Meitei Lup, identified as Khoirom Ranjit alias Rocky
alias
Great Macha (35) was arrested from New Delhi on January 12.
|
January 14
|
In a shocking report that discloses
the state of Police Stations and Police Forces, it has been revealed
that even basic infrastructure to fulfill their duties have not
been provided to the Police Stations. Many of the Police Stations
do not have the basic facilities such as vehicles, phones and wireless
to carry out their duties more effectively. As per the report, there
are a total of 15,555 Police Stations in the country and out of
these, 188 Police Stations are without a single vehicle, 402 lack
telephone lines and 134 don’t have wireless sets. 65 of these neither
have a telephone line nor wireless set, as per the data accumulated
by the BPR&D.
Insurgency-struck Manipur has the
maximum number of Police Stations without a phone or wireless set.
The North-east State has 43 Police Stations without phones or wireless
sets. Chhattisgarh has 161 Police Stations without vehicles. MP
has 111 Police Stations without any telephone line. MP is followed
by Meghalaya and Manipur at 67 Police Stations each. UP also has
51 Police Stations without a telephone line and 17 without wireless,
the report says. BPR&D figures revealed that there are only
10.13 vehicles for 100 Policemen at the national level. Only 1,75,358
vehicles in all available for law enforcement. Maharashtra has the
maximum number of vehicles (17,131), followed by Tamil Nadu (15,926)
and UP (13,452). “In the case of Chhattisgarh and MP, most Police
Stations are in Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)-affected
areas where wireless sets or vehicles are often snatched by Naxalites
[Left Wing Extremists (LWEs)]. This cannot be an excuse as police
need at least phones, vehicles and wireless sets for communication
and mobility,” said an official. There were 22,80,691 Police officers
across all States and Union territories (UTs) as of January 2016.
The issue is particularly serious in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, UP,
West Bengal, Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Delhi where there is one
Policeman for 1,100 people.
After reports on abduction of five
poll officials in Malkangiri District of Odisha on January 13, the
abducted officials claimed that they were in the captivity of the
LWEs and produced before a praja court. Of the five
poll officials, two of them – gram panchayat technical
assistants Praveen Soren and Kaminikanta Singh – have narrated their
ordeal to media after their release. “We were abducted while we
were on duty at our respective panchayats. We were taken to a place
near Gora Setu and produced before a praja court where around 20-22
Maoists were present. The ultras threatened us not to participate
in the panchayat polls and asked us to go back,” Kaminikanta Singh
said. Another abducted official Praveen Soren said: “The Maoists
told me that whether it is police encounter or other issues, district
administration has not reached out to people. The villagers have
been deprived of the welfare schemes. They will not allow polls
to be held in the region till the government benefits reach them.”
The separatists in J&K have
further scaled down their ongoing agitation by restricting the strike
call to every Friday and have asked people to observe a 'black day'
on Republic Day. In a fresh protest programme issued late last night
(January 14), the separatists - hardline APHC-G chairman Syed Ali
Shah Geelani, moderate APHC-M chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF
chief Yasin Malik - asked the people to observe strike only on Fridays.
In view of Republic Day, the separatists have called for a shutdown
on Thursday (January 19) as well this week. They have also called
for joint protest on Monday (January 16) after the afternoon prayer.
In terms of militancy related violence,
Assam was the only State in the Northeast which recorded higher
casualties during 2016, as compared to the previous year (2015).
Referencing Government official records, a report said that, in
2016 (up to November), Assam recorded a total of 80 casualties,
including 29 civilians, 4 security personnel and 47 extremists.
But, in 2015, Assam recorded 58 killings, including 9 civilians
and 49 insurgents.
Significantly, the number of civilian
casualties in the State rose sharply to 29 in 2016 from 9 in 2015.
In 2014, 168 civilian fatalities were recorded. In 2013, 35 civilians
were killed in insurgency-related violence across the State. Similarly,
casualties among the SFs also increased from zero in 2015 to four
in 2016. Due to sustained operations by SFs, 47 militants belonging
to various insurgent groups lost their lives during 2016, as against
49 in 2015, 102 in 2014 and 52 in 2013 in the State. According to
the high level security sources, there was a substantial decline
in insurgency related incidents in 2015. In that year, the level
of violence steeply declined to the lowest since 1997. Official
records further state that 125 persons were kidnapped in Assam in
2013, 94 in 2014, 27 in 2015 and 14 in 2016. On the other hand,
348 extremists were arrested in 2013, 319 in 2014, 645 in 2015 and
343 in 2016 in the State.
According to the security sources
the militant groups having bases in Myanmar have started using different
routes of Arunachal Pradesh-Myanmar border to enter into the North
East region. Earlier, Nagaland-Myanmar border was considered to
be the most vulnerable. Sources said that though some militants
are still sneaking to the country through Nagaland, most such infiltrations
are taking place through Arunachal Pradesh which is considered to
be a peaceful state. Security sources said that most such movements
were taking place through the Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Arunachal Pradesh CM also held a high level meeting with senior
officers of the Army and paramilitary forces last month to discuss
the situation.
The UNC of Manipur opposed the fencing
work between India and Myanmar and ''appealed to Nagas'' to jointly
oppose it. The fencing work is on at remote Pangsha village in Nagaland’s
Tuensang District. The NSCN-IM, NSCN-K, ENPO and several other Nagaland
based social organization had also opposed the move to fence the
India-Myanmar border in Nagaland.
The Government officials said that
the UHM Rajnath Singh had sought a report on the ambush of January
12 on NH 37 in Manipur in which one person was killed and three
injured.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze three
vehicles involved in road construction work in West Singhbhum District
of Jharkhand. According to Police, the Maoists raided camp of a
construction company at Roam village situated under Guwa Police
Station and set the three vehicles on fire.
|
January 15
|
France has reiterated its support
to India's pitch to get JeM 'chief' Masood Azhar designated as a
global terrorist, days after China blocked such a proposal at the
UN. It added that there are "very strong arguments in favour"
of designating Azhar as an international terrorist and said that
it wants to see decisive action taken against terror groups targeting
India. French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrhoo, who was on a
four-day India visit, stated that France is also a co-sponsor of
the proposal to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. He
regretted the fact that despite joint attempts by France and India
and wide support from the Sanctions Committee, unanimity could not
be reached. He further said that JeM is already included in the
UN Sanctions Committees list of terror organisations.
Anti-terror intelligence agencies
have found instances of medicines from India landing up with the
Islamic State (IS). The agencies strongly suspect that medicines
supplied to the Gulf countries were ending up in Syria and Iraq
for the use of the terror group.
At the recent All-India Police Science
Congress in Kerala, a top IPS official of the IB noted during a
discussion on the IS: “A total of 70 incidents of violence have
been reported outside the area of ISIS control in 20 countries including
several lone wolf attacks. The targets have been remarkably similar
to the ones chosen by other terror outfits targeting India, whether
it is the Indian Mujahideen or the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.” The officer
said, “There have been loose ISIS motivated or inspired groups in
Hyderabad (one led by one Yazdani), one in Roorkee and lone wolves
like in Parbhani. Instances of supply of logistics have come to
our notice, particularly in the form of supply of medicines.”
According to top IB sources, around
300 individuals in India are on the radar of various Police forces
and central agencies for their “proclivity towards the ISIS cause”.
So far, around 100 persons have
tried to travel to join IS and around 67 have reached the area of
operation of the extremist group. Agencies have arrested about 60
persons, including some in Telangana state for linkages to the IS.
Explaining the magnitude of the
problem, an IB officer said, “Over 70 lakh Indians work in the Gulf
and West Asia and remain vulnerable to radical propaganda.” Several
expats from Hyderabad based in the UAE and Saudi Arabia have joined
the IS, as has one person from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh who
was based in Kuwait. Analysis by the police has revealed that recent
IS recruits from India were young - about 90 per cent in the 18-33
age group. More specifically, half the recruits from India were
in the 23-28 age group. About 70 per cent had a technical background
and 50 per cent were graduates.
Investigations following the arrest
of five members of a group called Base Movement in November 2016
have revealed that a leader of the group was involved in four blasts
carried out in Madurai between 2011 and 2014,. The five members
were arrested by the NIA from Madurai in Tamil Nadu in connection
with a series of bomb blasts at court premises in South India. One
of the arrested men, N Abbas Ali, who is linked to former operatives
of Al Ummah, has revealed that he planted four bombs in Madurai
between 2011 and 2014. Ali is accused by the NIA of planning and
executing blasts in the premises of courts in Chittoor, Kollam,
Mysuru, Nellore and Malapuram between April 7 and November 1, 2016.
Following are the accounts of the
Madurai blasts provided by Ali to investigators, which are corroborated
by news reports:
The May 2011 blast occurred in a
dustbin near the crowded Mattuthavani bus stand at 9.15 pm. Nobody
was injured in the minor blast. On September 29, 2011, Ali planted
a device in a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus to mark
the anniversary of the 2002 killing of Al Ummah leader Imam Ali
by police in Bengaluru. The IED, made with materials sourced from
firecrackers, was found by employees of the transport corporation
and defused. On September 29, 2012, Ali planted an IED outside a
TASMAC wine shop in Theni to mark the death anniversary of Imam
Ali. The device exploded but no casualties occurred. The fourth
blast occurred on February 9, 2014, at the venue of an AIADMK meeting
in Madurai. The bomb, placed below the stage, exploded when no one
was around. The date was the anniversary of the hanging of Afzal
Guru, who was convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack case. “Ali
has claimed to have been involved in four blasts in the Madurai
region. It seems that these cases are undetected or some others
have already been arrested,’’ a source said.
The Police arrested six cadres of
the CPI-Maoist along with arms and ammunition during a raid at Karmpur
Bhataulia village under Paroo Police Station in Muzaffarpur District
of Bihar. The Police have also seized two country made pistols,
six detonators, four cartridges of .315 bore, 17 cartridges of 7.62
bore, hand-written six leaflets meant to threaten people to realise
levy and two motorcycles. The arrestees were identified as Dashrath
Ram, Santosh Sahni, Baidyanath Paswan, Mukesh Paswan, Rajesh Paswan
and Sanjay Kumar Sahni.
CPI-Maoist cadres have warned villagers
through posters in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District of Odisha
to abstain from voting during panchayat polls.
The posters were found in Balipeta and Tentulipadar panchayats of
the District. The panchayat polls will be
held in five phases: February 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21, 2017.
Two villagers were killed by the
CPI-Maoist cadres at Taringa village under Goeilkera Thana area
in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. The victims were
identified as Suresh Bhuiyan (25) and Jiten Lomga (15). No reason
was cited by West Singhbhum District Police for the killings.
A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in
an encounter with SFs in Kandanar forest area under Darbha Police
station in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. SFs also recovered a
.303 rifle, its five live rounds, one SMBL rifle, a couple of detonators,
bags, Naxal literature and items of daily use.
The identity of the Maoist killed is yet to be ascertained. The
total number Maoists killed in separate gun-battles in Bastar Division
in January 2017 has reached to 8.
The SFs in Kerala have warned that
the CPI-Maoist cadres are planning a coordinated movement of its
urban and rural forces for strengthening its activities in southern
States of India, mainly in Kerala. SFs claimed this on the basis
of the review report of the SZC of the CPI-Maoist retrieved by the
Police from the site of Nilambur encounter. The report says, that
they were able to defeat the enemy plans and successfully organize
the meeting in the forest area of tri-junction under the protection
of PLGA Forces, support and participation of people.
The three parties, the IPFT, the
INPT and the NCT, announced a hartal (general strike) in
areas under the TTAADC on February 8 to protest the new citizenship
policy of the Union Government. The proposed amendments will grant
swifter Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities from countries
like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
UHM Rajnath Singh, along with Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, reviewed
the prevailing situation in Manipur. The State is reeling under
a 75-day long economic blockade on NHs, called by the UNC, which
has crippled normal life. Top officials including CoAS General Bipin
Rawat, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, and AG Mukul Rohatgi
were also present in the meeting. The presence of AG is leading
to speculation of the Union Government mulling some legal action.
The blockade of the NHs leading to the Manipur valley has been in
place since November 1.
In a joint operation conducted by
the Indian Army and Police, two persons identified as Rahim Badshah
(30) and Abdul Sahid (25) were arrested with 800 detonators, a pistol
and ammunition from the Shantipur-Beparipara border village under
Sukchar Police Station of South Salmara-Mancachar District. Police
said that the consignment was meant to be delivered to militants
groups in Meghalaya''s Garo Hills or to Bangladesh-based militants.
The Maoists of AOBSZC issued a Press
release asking people of the cutoff areas to boycott the panchayat
polls, leaving the SEC and the State administration of Odisha in
a tizzy.
In a bid to curb the menace of LWE,
Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh and his Jharkhand counterpart Raghubar
Das, discussed modalities for better inter-state coordination and
information sharing in the border area of the two neighbouring States
in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. During discussions, Singh said
Chhattisgarh shares a long border with Jharkhand (in its northern
part) and better coordination between the forces of the two States
would help in strengthening the surveillance system on the inter-State
border and thereby controlling Naxal activities, an official release
issued said. Jharkhand CM reiterated commitment of his State to
control Naxal menace. “The Jharkhand CM assured Singh that State
Police and armed forces will work in better coordination with Chhattisgarh
Police to check Naxal menace,” the official release said.
Imphal West District Police arrested
a KYKL militant, identified as H Priyokumar (45) from Naoremthong
Shamushang under Lamphel Police Station in Imphal West District.
Police said that the arrested militant was working under the ‘deputy
finance secretary’ of the militant group, Ingba and involved in
several extortion cases.
|
January 16
|
Three LeT militants were killed
in an encounter with SFs at Awoora village in Pahalgam area of Anantnag
District. Acting on specific intelligence input about the presence
of three LeT militants, ‘commander’ Adil, Masood and Abid, hiding
in the village, Army’s 3rd RR and SOG launched a
search operation in the area on January 15. An army official said
as the SFs were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants
fired upon them and the SFs retaliated. The exchange of fire went
on till late in the evening after which it was halted for the night,
the official said, adding it was resumed in the wee hours today
and the three militants were killed in the gunfight. Three AK-47
rifles have been recovered from the encounter site, the official
said adding the operation has been called off.
NCB and BSF seized around 500 gram
of heroine from a border outpost near Lalgola in Murshidabad District.
The seized drug, which was to be sent to Bangladesh, has a market
price of INR 1.5 core. The agency has seized more than 300 gram
of heroine from Siliguri earlier this year. According to NCB sources,
after a crackdown at Malda District, clandestine laboratories have
started mushrooming in Murshidabad. The areas across Plassey and
Lalgola in the district are under the radar of the agency now.
The CPI-Maoist cadres of the AOBSZC
warned Andhra University Professor Jarra Appa Rao, former Naxalite
Pilli Venkateswarlu alias Satyam and TDP leader, SV Ramana, in Vishakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh. In a press release by the CPI-Maoist
AOBSZC official spokesman Jagabandhu stated that these people were
threatening local tribals and claiming that the banned outfit had
permitted contractors to mine, following which they had set up crusher
machines to extract granite and other reserves. Further, Jagabandhu
stated, that Ramaguda encounter of October 24, 2016, in Odisha,
was a pre-planned elimination of unarmed CPI-Maoist cadres by Andhra
Pradesh and Odisha Government.
Six tribals have been abducted by
CPI-Maoist cadres from three interior villages of GK Veedhi in Visakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh. According to sources, the rebels had
abducted six persons from Boddamanupakalu, Tukkagoi and PK Gudem
by branding them as ‘Police informers’. The Maoist cadres have informed
the people to attend a meeting in the forest area of GK Veedhi and
they were taken away by them from the spot. However, SP, Rahul Dev
Sharma ruled out the kidnap angle. He said that no complaint was
lodged by the locals about the kidnap. Rahul Dev also opined that
after the recent kidnapping in Odisha, locals were exaggerating
the incident as kidnapping.
UHM Rajnath Singh assured Chhattisgarh
Government of greater road connectivity, new Police Stations and
mobile towers in the Naxal affected Districts while chairing
a review meeting on anti-Naxal campaign and development at
the CM Raman Singh’s residence in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh.
UHM approved 50 new Police Stations, installation of 35 additional
mobile towers and improving the road network. 850 kilometres will
be constructed new roads in the Naxal-affected areas. Sixteen
out of the 27 Districts of Chhattisgarh have the presence of rebels.
CM Raman Singh told that the CPI-Maoist cadre’s activities in the
northern region of the State like Surguja Division were almost under
control while activities were on the decline in Bastar region in
the South.
Jharkhand’s DGP, D K Pandey asked
CPI-Maoist cadres to either surrender or get ready to face the bullets
of the SFs in Palamu District of Jharkhand. The DGP directed to
establish a Police picket in Mahudanad of Hussainabad.
Following the call of CPI-Maoist
cadres to people to boycott the upcoming panchayat elections and
their subsequent abduction of poll officials in Malkangiri District
of Odisha, the SEC, informed that any decision on whether to announce
a new poll schedule for the cutoff areas in the District would be
taken after withdrawal of candidatures scheduled on January 22.
SEC Secretary Rabindra Sahu told reporters in Bhubaneswar, “Filing
of nominations is left for another two days. Once the process gets
over tomorrow, the SEC will take a decision after assessing the
situation not only for Malkangiri but other places as well where
similar situations have occurred. As per the poll norms, if a nomination
is not filed for any panchayat due to any reasons in the first phase,
a new schedule is announced by the SEC. In case all the nominations
are rejected or withdrawn, a new schedule is also declared.”
Police commandos, during combing
operations, raided the house of a NSCN-IM militant, identified as
Mashuring Tangkhul, at Ringpham village in Chandel District. However,
no arrest was made.
Security had been tightened in and
around the capital city Imphal and District headquarters in Manipur
ahead of the upcoming Republic Day celebration and State Assembly
elections.
A court in New Delhi, remanded Inugbamsanatombi
Devi, the female associate of ‘c-in-c’ of KCP-Poirei Lup, to judicial
custody until January 31. She was arrested on January 12 along with
Khoirom Ranjit, the ‘c-in-c’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei, who is in Police
custody until January 19.
State Police officials stated that
the GNLA militants had started using children as a shield to protect
themselves from the ongoing operations being carried out by SFs
in Garo Hills Districts. SP (South Garo Hills), Anand Mishra, in
this regard, said, “With pressure mounting on GNLA militants, whose
strength is dwindling, the use of children by the militants has
been reported from parts of South Garo Hills.” Police have reports
from several villages that the militants had taken away many children.
According to the sources, the militants are using the children also
to get information about the movement of security personnel and
to carry ration, besides entrusting them to do other menial jobs.
The Police official also said that a Police team had visited several
villages and contacted parents to know the whereabouts of their
missing children.
State’s Governor Banwarilal Purohit
had extended the term of KAAC for a period of six months with effect
from January 13 or till the date of the first sitting after completion
of fresh polls to the KAAC, whichever is earlier. The term of the
present Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council expired on January 13 on
completion of its five year term.
|
January 17
|
The NIA arrested one IS operative,
identified as Mohammed Irfan alias Abu Jafar, a resident
of Mir Alam Mandi in the old city of Hyderabad. He was
produced before NIA special court, which sent him to judicial
custody for seven days.
According to the investigation
agency, he along with the other accused took part in searching
of hideouts and physical training. Irfan allegedly collected the
explosive precursors along with another accused from the outskirts
of Pochampally village of Nalgonda District in Telangana.
Underlining that India alone cannot
walk the path of peace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urged Pakistan
to “walk away from terror” if it wants resumption of bilateral
dialogue. On relations with China, Modi said it was not unnatural
for two large neighbours to have some differences but both sides
should show sensitivity and respect for each other’s core concerns
and interests.
A city civil court in Bengaluru
issued a body warrant for Yasin Bhatkal, who has been sentenced
to death for the Hyderabad blasts case, in connection with the
ongoing M. Chinnaswamy Stadium blast case (April 17, 2010). Yasin,
touted as the mastermind behind IM, has to be produced before
the court on February 4. The warrant was issued based on an application
filed by Special Public Prosecutor C.A. Ravindran on behalf of
Central Crime Branch sleuths attached to Bengaluru City Police.
The role of the ISI in the November
20, 2016 train disaster in Kanpur is being suspected after Bihar
Police, arrested three people, Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel
and Mukesh Yadav, who, they claimed, were working for the Pakistani
intelligence agency to target Indian railways. The ISI link was
being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, Police said.
During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some
“positive lead” about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur,
District SP Jitendra Rana said.
The trio was arrested from Adapur
Police Station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked
for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to the ISI to
target the railways, Rana told. The three are “professional criminals”
involved in more than a dozen cases. The three were paid INR 3
lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly had connections
with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai, who had links with the ISI, the SP
said. The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on the railway
tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran District, bordering Nepal,
on October 1, 2016 Rana said.
Pakistan's ISI operatives in Nepal
had offered a flat and a luxury vehicle besides huge cash to each
member of the group that was assigned to plant explosives to derail
the Indore-Rajendranagar Express near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh
in November, 2016, Police sources said.
Concerned authorities have increased
the security of Delhi-Lahore bus and Samjhauta Express following
an alert from intelligence agencies that terror groups are on
the lookout of targeting these two modes of transportation between
India and Pakistan. Highly placed sources said that intelligence
inputs suggest terrorists groups are planning to disrupt the Republic
Day event in the national capital. They may target Samjhauta Express
and Delhi-Lahore bus service.
A joint team of District Police,
DRG, STF and ITBP arrested five CPI-Maoist cadres in Kondagaon
District of Chhattisgarh during an anti-Naxal operation.
The arrested Maoists were identified as Ramdhar Nag (28), Jaisingh
Nag (27), Neeldhar Yadav (21), Sukman Kashyap (26) and Sahu Kashyap
(25).They were active Janmilitia members and were involved in
various crimes including spreading false information about encounter,
arranging meetings for ultras and others.
Bastar’s first woman CRPF officer,
Usha Kiran had launched a special campaign to control the Maoist
activities in the Bastar Division. Kiran said she wants to neutralise
Naxals, which stops people from moving towards development.
Kiran is first woman officer to be posted in the Maoist hotbed
and a potent PR tool for the security forces battling accusations
of grave excesses, including rape.
A handler of a sniffer dog, PK
Samal, was injured and 'Aminika', a sniffer dog belonging
to CoBRA battalion, was killed in an IED blast by CPI-Maoist
cadres in Buda Pahar area in Latehar District of Jharkhand.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze four
vehicles at a bridge construction site at Ganeshpur Chatam under
Garu Police Station in Latehar District of Jharkhand. Maoists
set ablaze two dumpers and two tractors engaged by the construction
company to build a bridge over Koel River and assaulted workers
engaged at the site.
SFs laid a trap and arrested a
Maoist supporter and three employees of Bauxite mining company
from Bishunpur area in Gumla District of Jharkhand. SFs
have seized INR 0.299 million cash, an SUV and a motorcycle from
them. The Gumla SDPO, Bhupendra Rawat, added, "Upon frisking
them, we recovered 149 currency notes of INR 2,000 denomination
and two new notes of INR 500 denomination. During interrogation,
they admitted that the cash was actually meant for Maoist 'zonal
commander' Nakul Yadav and his next in command Madan Yadav."
CPI-Maoist cadres have again put
up posters at various places threatening the tribals to boycott
the Panchayat elections in Malkangiri District
of Odisha. According to reports, the posters were
found from the Chitrakonda area of the District in which the Malkangiri
District Divisional Committee of the CPI-Maoist has asked the
tribals not to cast their votes. Earlier reported, the CPI-Maoist
cadres had on January 10 also put up posters in Malkangiri warning
the tribals to abstain from the polls.
CPI-M (Red Star), a Naxalite outfit
that has contested elections has token presence in Kerala and
West Bengal, led land agitation near Kolkata. CPI-ML (Red Star)
has become the key organiser of a movement at Bhangar village
in South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. It is to be noted
that the villagers are demanding cancellation of a power grid
project designed to transmit electricity through high tension
overhead lines. A senior Police officer said, “All the leaders
of the movement belong to the CPI (ML) (Red Star). We never monitored
their activities because they held little influence.” Police
said they are keeping a close watch on are Alik Chakraborty, Sharmistha
Chowdhury and Pradip Singh Thakur, all leaders of the Red Star
faction of CPI(ML). The leader of the party is K N Ramachandran,
who hails from Kerala. Thakur and Chakraborty are politburo members
of the party and Choudhury a central committee member. Chakraborty
is also the spokesperson of the committee spearheading the movement.
The three militants killed in
the overnight gun battle with SFs in Anantnag District of J&K
on January 16, were affiliated with HM and were identified as
Abid Sheikh, son of Farooq Sheikh, resident of Satkipora Srigufwara,
Maqsood Ahmad Sheikh alias Masoom, son of Ghulam
Nabi, resident of Bewoora Srigufwara, and Adil Reshi, son of Mushtaq
Ahmad, resident of Iqbal Mohalla in Bijbehara. Three AK-47 rifles,
9 magazines, 80 rounds and 3 pouches were recovered from the encounter
site. Police said that Adil Reshi was involved in number of incidents.
Adil along with Amir Nabi alias Ibn Qasim was
involved in attack on SDPO Bijbehara and his PSO on 24th of December
2015. The 1-Sector Commander of RR Brigadier R Chakraborty stated,
“It is a major success as their moving freely and preparing a
video, in which they were playing with snow, appeared that they
were challenging us.” The Commander urged the rest of the militants
of the group to join mainstream. “I urge rest of the three militants
to surrender and join mainstream”, he said. He further said that
they were all A category militants with one each being A++ and
A+. “They are part of a six member militant group that recently
appeared in a video playing in snow. We ensured that there is
no collateral damage during the encounter”, he added.
A man allegedly trying to sneak
into the Nagrota Army camp in Jammu District was shot and injured
before being arrested. “During last night, an unidentified man
was found moving suspiciously near the fence of the Nagrota Army
camp along the banks of river Tawi,” a Defence spokesman said.
JKP has turned into an important
force in fighting militancy and modernization of the force has
become imperative to enhance capacity of the force, stated DGP,
Dr. S. P. Vaid in the meeting of the 16th CCTNS Empowered Committee
for implementation of CCTNS Project held at PHQ in Jammu District.
In order to make the department high-tech, we are focussing on
high security capacity building in future. Special focus is given
on technical up-gradation to enhance the capabilities of the force
in order to commensurate with the modern requirements, he added.
SFs arrested three militants of
MULTA, identified as Zehrul Islam (36), Joved Ali (36) and Ajit
Ali (30), from Nayekgaon area of Kokrajhar District. Seven rifles
were recovered from the arrested militants. According to Police,
the three were involved in extortion and arms dealing on behalf
of the militant group.
PDCK, a Karbi militant formation,
repeated its earlier ‘final ultimatum’ to the Hindi and Bengali
speaking inhabitants of Karbi Anglong Autonomous District to leave
the District before March 31, 2017. This has led to a panic situation
among the two communities. PDCK along with two other groups -
KLO and NLFT on January 2 had asked the two communities to quit
‘Kamatapur’, Tripura and ‘Karbi Longri’ within March 31. The outfits
have further warned that after the dateline both the communities
would have to face ‘the gravest of the grave’ situation.
SFs arrested one NDFB-IKS militant,
identified as Pushpo Basumatary alias B Fighter, from Daiphang
Gaon area in Udalguri District. One AK series assault rifle, one
magazine and ten live rounds were recovered from the possession
of the arrested militant.
The Karbi Anglong based UCF, local
Christian leaders’ forum denied the allegations of possible links
between the churches and militant leader IK Songbijit to create
violence in the region. UCF expressed its concern over these allegations
which it states were first expressed by a person named Ranjit
over a talk show aired by an Assamese channel on December 7, 2016.
In a memorandum submitted to Karbi Anglong DC in Diphu, UCF stated,
“It is nothing but an attempt to marginalize the tribal people
of Karbi Anglong and ultimately drive them out from the hill District
like what they have done in Tripura”. UCF also alleged that certain
organization was working to destabilize the tribal region and
forcing into conflict.
Abductors released three traders,
identified as Tamal Dey (38), Dulan Mahanta (36) and Durga Pada
Dutta (35), from their captivity at an unidentified place near
Telekali Reserve Forest close to Rongrikkimgre village in South
Garo Hills District. The trio was abducted by a group of criminals
linked to Bangladesh from a place near Gasuapara in South Garo
Hills District on January 10. The role of the militant group ASAK
also came to the fore as reports emerged about the abductors seeking
the help of ‘c-in-c’ Reding T. Sangma to aid in the negotiation
for ransom with an assurance of a share of the loot. The families
of the abducted people paid a ransom of INR 25,000.
Extortion activities, which had
been on the wane since the announcement of demonetisation, have
resumed once again in the Garo Hills Districts, albeit with the
activities confined mainly to the coal belt areas for now. “There
were stories going around about people being kidnapped by militants
not for extortion but for depositing their old notes. It did happen
in many interior areas of South and North Garo Hills, where militants
pressurized villagers to deposit their old notes,” said a highly
placed Police source. Some businessmen too of these two Districts
may have been pressured to deposit old notes by the outfits.
Police recovered thirty gelatin
sticks and twenty-four fuses from one abandoned labour camp at
Mynpher under Nongkhlieh area in Jaintia Hills District.
AR arrested one NSCN-K militant
from Manyaksho village in Mon District. AR also recovered one
pistol and three rounds from the arrested militant.
|
January 18
|
UHM Rajnath Singh made an appeal
to Nagaland CM TR Zeliang to try to convince the Naga leaders
in Manipur to call off their economic blockade and come to some
sort of understanding with the Manipur Government. UHM Rajnath
Singh called Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang to New Delhi to
discuss the matter. In the meeting, Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh
and Deputy CM Gaikhangam were also present.
Pakistan's ISI operatives in Nepal
had offered a flat and a luxury vehicle besides huge cash to each
member of the group that was assigned to plant explosives to derail
the Indore-Rajendranagar Express near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh
in November, 2016, Police sources said. The revelations came to
the fore during interrogation of Moti Paswan, who was arrested
from East Champaran District of Bihar, close to the India-Nepal
border, on January 16. The arrest was in connection with the abortive
attempt to blow up the railway tracks near Ghorasahan in East
Champaran, 200km north of Patna, to derail the Raxaul-Sitamarhi
passenger train on October 1, 2016.
Moti, one of the three accused
arrested in the case, had, according to the Police, revealed to
his interrogators that two pressure cooker bombs were planted
on the railway tracks at the behest of an India operative of the
ISI, who had introduced himself as Brajesh Giri. He was offered
INR 3,00,000 for carrying out the blast on the tracks on October
1, 2016. He was accompanied by Arun Ram, also called Mohan, and
Deepak Ram, known as Sohan, who were subsequently killed in Nepal
for their failure to accomplish the task.
Moti was in constant touch with
Brajesh alias Giri Baba, who was assigned to hire people
from East Champaran to carry out subversive activities in India
at the behest of ISI, the Pakistani spy agency.
Police said that during interrogation,
Moti revealed that Giri had promised to provide sufficient funds
to the group to make investments in Bhojpuri movies. Giri, who
acquired citizenship of Nepal, was introduced to the ISI operatives
in Nepal by one Shamshul Hoda, who settled in Dubai for business
purposes. Paswan stated, "I left for Nepal after the derailment
of the train near Kanpur on November 20 last year. I, along with
other members of the group, was supposed to get a house in Delhi
where two operatives - Mohammad Zubair and Ziaul - were already
settled".
Two women and a minor girl were
killed while four others were injured when an IED, planted by
the CPI-Maoist cadres, exploded in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
Maoists killed Raju Netam (40), sarpanch of
Masenar village, at his native place under Bhansi Police Station
area in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
A CoBRA jawan and a Naxal were
injured during an encounter in Jharamunigiya village forests under
Bhairamgarh Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Constable
Rajnish Kumar, belonging to CoBRA 204thbattalion, sustained injury
in his leg after he inadvertently stepped over spike-trap laid
by the Naxalites, during the face-off. After the encounter,
the SFs found and arrested an injured Naxalite, identified
as Dasu Banjam, who had been hit by a bullet.
CMAS, a CPI-Maoist front organization,
leader Nachika Linga’s nomination for Zilla Parishad member
in the upcoming Panchayat elections was rejected
during scrutiny in Koraput District of Odisha. Linga, currently
lodged in Koraput Circle Jail after his arrest in 2014, had sent
his nomination paper for Narayanpatna zilla parishad member
to the DRO through his counsel Gupteswar Panigrahi.
SFs arrested Arzoo Bashir, a militant
of HM, from Tral area in Pulwama District. Sources said that the
SFs conducted an operation in Tral area during which they arrested
the HM militant who was active in the area and one pistol and
15 rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession.
The AR arrested 13 militants of
NSCN-IM along Mon-Tizit road in Mon District along with arms.
Four AK-56 rifles, two HK-32 rifles, one MA-MK 4 rifles, four
pistols and a huge quantity of live ammunition apart from other
warlike stores were recovered from the arrested militants. PRO,
AR, IGAR-N also informed that the militants were arrested while
they were travelling in two Maruti gypsies on Mon-Tizit road.
The NIA conducted search operations
at various Government offices in Nagaland that are believed to
be funding underground terrorist organisations, including the
NSCN-K. Earlier, one militant of NSCN-K identified as S. Khetoshe
Sumi, who was arrested on July 31, 2016, revealed that different
Government departments of the State pays illegal ‘tax’ to the
militant groups. The NIA took over the investigation on August
17, 2016.
Police arrested three militants,
during a series of search operations, from different locations
across the State. The arrested militants belonged to UNLF, NSCN-K
and NSCN-IM. Besides the militants, 58 other suspected persons
were also detained and arms were recovered during the operations.
These operations were conducted in Andro Kharam Leikai and Andro
Bazar area in Imphal East District, Mahakabui Namching village
in Senapati District, Dharmasala in Imphal West District, Kakching
town in Kakching District and its surrounding areas, Pallel in
Chandel District and Tuismi Bazar areas, and Kwakta in Bishnupur
District. This drive was launched in order to foil any unwanted
incident ahead of the Republic Day celebration (26th January).
UHM Rajnath Singh and CM of Manipur
Okram Ibobi Singh met and discussed the situation in Manipur due
to the continued blockade of two NHs in the State by UNC. During
the meeting, the UHM expressed grave concern over the prevailing
situation especially with regard to availability of essential
commodities.UHM Rajnath Singh further stated that the ongoing
blockade is likely to adversely affect democratic process in the
forthcoming elections by hampering movement of people, including
election officials.
In a statement, NSCN-IM asserted
that the ‘historic Framework Agreement’ on August 3 of 2015 after
19 years long ‘political negotiation’ with GoI would be outside
the Constitution and Union of India recognizing every aspects
of ‘Naga’s legitimate rights’ without compromising the principles.
The ‘c-in-c’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei
Lup, Khoirom Ranjit alias Rocky alias Great Macha
(35) will be taken back to Delhi on January 18 (today) for further
investigation. Khoirom Ranjit was brought back to Manipur on January
13 after he was arrested by a special cell of Delhi Police from
Mayur Vihar area of New Delhi on January 12.
SFs arrested one linkman of NSCN-K
militant, identified as Aham Konyak in Sivasagar District. SFs
recovered one pistol, two live bullets and a mobile phone with
SIM card of Nagaland from the arrestee.
The NIA arrested one ULFA-I militant
identified as ‘second lieutenant’ Gagan Hazarika alias
Joydeep Cheleng from Guwahati in Kamrup Metropolitan (Guwahati)
District. He was arrested in connection with a case the NIA had
registered against ULFA-I in 2013. Sources in NIA said, "He
has been taken into custody for six days. His arrest is likely
to throw light on the activities of senior ULFA leaders like ‘chairman’
Mukul Hazarika and ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Baruah."
UHM Rajnath Singh made an appeal
to Nagaland CM TR Zeliang to try to convince the Naga leaders
in Manipur to call off their economic blockade and come to some
sort of understanding with the Manipur Government. UHM Rajnath
Singh called Nagaland CM TR Zeliang to New Delhi to discuss the
matter. In the meeting, Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh and Deputy
CM Gaikhangam were also present.
|
January 19
|
Saudi Arabia deported a man, identified
as Syed Zaker Raheem wanted in connection with a conspiracy to
target leaders of BJP and other Hindu right wing outfits. Raheem
is brother-in-law of wanted LeT terrorist Farhatuallah Ghori,
who is learnt to be holed up in Pakistan. Syed Zaker Raheem, who
comes from Saidabad in Hyderabad and was living in Riyadh for
many years, was arrested by Saudi authorities in May 2016 on the
request of Indian authorities. After completing formalities, he
was deported to Delhi and taken to Hyderabad on January 20 where
Telangana Police arrested him.
Ghori is an absconding accused
in an NIA case in connection with LeT’s recruitment of several
youth in Karnataka and Telangana in 2010-11 to execute terror
attacks and assassinate right-wing leaders. NIA had arrested several
youngsters in the case. Thirteen of them were convicted by a court
in September, 2016 after they pleaded guilty to the charges.
A man, identified as Sukhdas Baghel
was killed by Naxals at a shop located opposite Chintagufa
Police Station in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.
A SF constable, Santosh Markam,
was injured in an exchange of fire with Naxals at Kodenar
village under Orchha Police Station in Narayanpur District of
Chhattisgarh. SFs were out on a counter-insurgency operation
when they spotted a CPI-Maoist camp in Kodenar. Sensing SFs
presence Naxals opened indiscriminate fire.
Six Naxals, three
of them carrying cash reward, surrendered in Kondagaon District
of Chhattisgarh. The CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered
citing intensified counter-insurgency operation as well as impressive
State surrender and rehabilitation policy. Sukhder alias Jangu
Potai (26) ‘section commander’ of Military Company Number 6 of
CPI-Maoist, Somaru- a Janmilitia ‘commander’ and Samlu- head
of ‘Janatana Sarkar’ a wing of the CPI-Maoist were the
key cadres who surrendered. Other CPI-Maoist cadres were
identified as Budharu, Kodu and Ramu.
Around 15-20 armed rebels of the
PLFI, a splinter group of a CPI-Maoist, set ablaze vehicles
at the construction site near Latrtu Dam in Khunti District of
Jharkhand. The rebels set ablaze one dumper, two tractors,
two bikes and two generator sets.
An ‘area commander’ of the PLFI, identified
as Ruben Kerketta and a CPI-Maoist operative Ladu Munda surrendered
in Khunti District of Jharkhand. Kerketta was carrying a reward
of INR 200,000 and Munda was carrying a reward of INR 50,000 on
their head.
Khunti SP, Shwini Jha held a meeting
at his office in Khunti District of Jharkhand to plan out a strategy
to monitor the rising activities of CPI-Maoist cadres and its
splinter groups in Khunti, Simdega, Gumla and other Districts
of Jharkhand.
A LeT militant was killed in an
encounter with SFs in Bandipora District. Acting on specific intelligence
inputs that there might be militants hiding in Parray Mohalla
in the Hajin area, SFs launched a search operation in the village.
As the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding
militant opened fire on them. In the ensuing encounter, the LeT
militant Abu Musaib was killed and a SOG soldier was also injured
in the brief encounter, Police said.
One unidentified civilian got
killed in the crossfire between GNLA and Police in the remote
Rongsu Agal area in South Garo Hills District. According to the
report, GNLA militants opened fire on the Police team which had
reached the spot after receiving information about the hideout
which was used by GNLA ‘c-in-c’ Sohan D Shira. Police recovered
a shotgun and several live rounds of AK ammunition from the militant
hideout.
A GNLA linkman, identified as
Tengman D Shira (25), was arrested by Police in Thapa Darengchi
village in North Garo Hills District. Police recovered one 7.65
mm pistol with three rounds (Chinese make), 9 mm pistol with eight
rounds (factory made), one Chinese pistol with 18 rounds and four
magazines from the arrested linkman.
SFs arrested one GNLA linkman
identified as Thengman Sangma (25) from Thapa Agitchak village
in North Garo Hills District. Three pistols and 25 rounds of live
ammunition were recovered from the arrestee.
The State Police said that they
had beefed up security measures in the entire state to prevent
any kind of terrorist activities in the upcoming Republic Day
celebration (26th January). Assam is also closely coordinating
with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in an effort to curb militant
attacks in the run-up to Republic Day. DGP of Assam, Mukesh Sahay,
has been touring Upper Assam, along with representatives from
the two states, since January 18 to review the security scenario.
SFs arrested three arms dealer
including two women from two different places of Churachandpur
District along with arms. In the first incident SFs arrested two
women identified as Esther Haokip and Chongboi Haokip in Churachandpur
Town. Five pistols were recovered from their possession. Based
on their disclosure, another arms dealer identified as Gumlalmun
was also arrested at Loklaiphai village along with one pistol
and a magazine.
The militant group, ASUK, in a
statement, threatened the 68th Republic Day celebration (26th
January) in North East. In the statement, the militant grouped
‘banned’ the 68th Republic Day celebration in the entire WESEA.
A city court in New Delhi extended
by five days the Police custody of Khoirom Ranjit, the arrested
‘chief’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup militant, after Delhi Police
said he was needed further custodial interrogation.
In a statement, the NSCN-IM called
upon all Naga groups to come together on a ‘single platform’ before
the announcement of the peace settlement with the Central Government
of India. The peace process started with a ceasefire agreement
with NSCN-IM in 1997 and a final peace settlement had started
gaining momentum after the Central Government of India signed
the ''framework agreement'' in August, 2015.
|
January 20
|
ED issued summons to Islamic preacher
Zakir Naik and his IRF under the PMLA. The Union Government had
declared the IRF as an “outlawed organisation” under the anti-terror
law for its alleged terror activities, following which the Maharashtra
Government said it would keep a close eye on locals and organisations
funding the IRF and would be treated as “anti-social elements”.
However, the IRF said it would be arguing before a Central government
tribunal against the validity of the ban imposed on it and invoking
of the UAPA.
PM Narendra Modi, UHM Rajnath
Singh and BJP President Amit Shah, face threat from CPI-Maoist
cadres, stated top intelligence sources. CPI-Maoist cadres have
urged the leadership to target them during their campaign for
Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. They have further
suggest to carry out serial IED blasts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh
by deploying 'suitable cadres' from outside, while promising to
provide assistance to carrying out the task.
A CPI-Maoist cadre demanded an
extortion of INR 1 million from BDO, Satish Kumar, of Jhajha in
Jamui District of Bihar. The sender in the letter identified
himself as Umesh Yadav, and claimed himself a native of Jhajha
Police Station area. BDO lodged an FIR at Jhajha Police Station.
A ‘Haat-Bazaar’
was re-opened with the joint initiative of SFs and Netanar village
in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh. The rural ‘haats’ were facing
closure due to Naxal violence in Bastar District
of Chhattisgarh for a decade. Netanar’s sarpanch, Sahadev
Naag told, “We always wanted to restart the market here but fearing Naxal violence,
which breaks out at any time in the area, local traders and villagers
avoided it.” It is important to note that in 2011, six SFs, including
Darbha Police SHO, were killed in an ambush of with the CPI-Maoist
cadres at the place which is very close to where the weekly market
is being held.
SFs recovered 50 Kilograms of
IED below a small bridge in the rural road of Gomia Block in Bokaro
District of Jharkhand. SFs launched a search operation
at Chitu, Bankheta, Banchatra, Barokocha and Bhochukdiha villages
within the limits of Gomia Police Station area. DIG,
Saket Kumar Singh said the raids would continue in Jhumra. He
added,”The recovered IED was diffused later. Frequent recovery
of landmines and explosives in that area helps Police foil the
attempts of the CPI-Maoist cadres who were looking for triggering
any untoward incident there “said Singh.
The United States of America sought
a safe and secure environment for its nationals visiting Odisha
in view of the rampant CPI-Maoist cadre’s activities. The issue
was raised by Consul General Katherine B Hadda at the US Consulate
in Hyderabad when she met Odisha’s DGP K B Singh.
A pressure bomb, believed to have
been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres, was found inside the Pasaraganda
Forest under Adaba Police limits in Gajapati District of Odisha.
A bomb squad from Paralakhemundi reached the site and defused
the explosive. The squad also seized 50 Kilograms gelatine, a
tiffin bomb, 40 metres of wire and gunpowder from the spot.
Odisha DGP, K B Singh reviews
Maoist situation in Malkangiri District of Odisha. DGP
was on a visit to the District to review security arrangements
in view of the call given by the Naxals to boycott
elections. The DGP first visited BSF camp at MV-3. Later he visited
the BSF camps at Jodamba and Badapada in the cut-off area.
Maoists put up fresh posters at
several places in Malkangiri and Koraput Districts of Odisha and
have called for poll boycott.
Rizwana Begam, a surrendered CPI-Maoist,
who was accused in a case registered in Yapaladinni Police Station,
was produced before II Additional Judicial Magistrate Court in
Raichur District of Karnataka. “She surrendered before the Chikkamagaluru
police three months ago and was produced in the court here in
connection with the pending case,” Chetan Singh Rathore, SP, said.
PM Narendra Modi, UHM Rajnath
Singh and BJP President Amit Shah, face threat from CPI-Maoist
cadres, stated top intelligence sources. CPI-Maoist cadres have
urged the leadership to target them during their campaign for
Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. They have further
suggest to carry out serial IED blasts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh
by deploying 'suitable cadres' from outside, while promising to
provide assistance to carrying out the task.
Militants hurled a grenade on
a Police party in Narbal area in Budgam District. The grenade
exploded on the road causing minor damage to a Police vehicle.
Police and Army launched an operation and laid a naka at Narbal
crossing on National Highway against the militants responsible
for the grenade blast.
The security agencies defused
an old live shell which was recovered from a pond at Kharote village
in Kathua District. A Police spokesman said that a villager noticed
a shell lying in the marshy pond and informed Police and the Army
and it was defused by the security agencies.
SFs arrested one militant of UNLF,
identified as Thiyam Nungshithoi alias Lokhon alias
Buno alias Saphaba Meitei (34) from Keishampat Keisham
Leikai in Imphal West District. SFs said that Nungshithoi was
a KYKL cadre till 2002 before he joined the UNLF together with
six others in 2003.
NIA probe into institutionalized
extortion rackets run by Naga militant groups in Nagaland has
revealed that these militant formations were getting money allegedly
from 14 State Government Departments. The news report names the
Naga militant groups involved as the NSCN-K, NSCN-IM and NNC.
Sources said these Government
Departments include the Directorate of Information Technology,
Directorate of Soil and Water Conservation, Directorate of Irrigation,
Directorate of Rural Development, Directorate of Urban Development,
PWD, Roads and Buildings and Directorate of Information and Public
Relations. “We have found documents that show that at least 14
Government Departments made regular payments to Naga groups, including
NSCN-IM,” an NIA officer said. “We have seized receipts that show
payments of INR 2 crore. Further investigation is on.”
The civilian victim of the crossfire
that took place between GNLA militant and Police remote Rongsu
Agal area in South Garo Hills District on January 19 was identified
as Kerok R Marak (23) by the villagers.
Locals caught two KPLT militants
at Pubsilputa village under Bakaliaghat Police Station in Karbi
Anglong District. According to information, two KPLT cadres were
on a bid to extortion drive and reached at SGB Jagnarayan Singh
house for extorting money from him. In the mean time the villagers
got the information and caught them and handed over them to Bakaliaghat
Police. The arrested KPLT cadres have been identified as Rabindra
Tokbi (23) and Jiten Phangcho (24).
|
January 21
|
12 of the 52 arrested in India
over the past two years for links with Islamic State (IS) terror
group are from Maharashtra. The terror organisation has become
a major concern for security agencies as out of the 64 suspected
terrorists arrested by the NIA in all terror-related cases in
the past two years, 52 of them have been arrested for their role
in IS.
Two cadres of the PLFI, identified
as Fagua Singh and Turtan Guria, were arrested at Bano in Simdega
District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of a CPI-Maoist.
CPI-Maoist threat forced the SEC
to postpone the rural polls in Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri
District of Odisha. The SEC announced it based on a report jointly
submitted by the District Collector and SP. The report said that
adequate security personnel could not be deployed for safety and
security of poll personnel in the cut off areas. "The law
and order situation in the block is not satisfactory according
to a report filed by the district administration. So, we have
decided to postpone the elections in Chitrakonda block,"
said SEC secretary R N Sahu. The block with heavy Maoist presence
has total 222 wards, 18 each gram panchayats and samitis and
two zilla parishad zones. Fearing Maoist attack,
not a single nomination was filed for the posts of sarpanchs and
ward members in the nine panchayats inside the cut-off areas.
Life was affected in several parts
of Srinagar, as authorities imposed restrictions amid shutdown
to thwart protests called by separatists on the 27th anniversary
of Gaw Kadal killings. Over 50 persons were killed on this day
of 1990 when security forces opened fire at Gaw Kadal on a procession.
To mark the anniversary, the separatists had called for a shutdown
and protests. In view of the separatists call, a complete shutdown
was observed in Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Gaw Kadal, Maisuma,
Amira Kadal, Jehangir Chowk, Basant Bagh and Habba Kadal markets.
Seven organizations jointly called
for a 12-hour bandh (strike) in Karbi Anglong Autonomous
Council Districts, on January 24, from 5 a.m. in protest against
their unfulfilled demands including a separate electoral roll
by the KAAC election and strengthening of Karbi Customary Laws.
The seven organizations include UKSA, KSYA, Karbi Farmers Association
(Rajesh Tisso faction), NNKRAA, and PP, KARAA and Sixth Schedule
Implementation-Committee.
SFs arrested four unidentified
cadres of NSCN-IM from Khongshang area on Imphal-Jiribam road
in Noney District. SFs also recovered 40 gelatin explosive sticks,
58 detonators, 26 metres of cordtex detonating fuse and 18 air
guns from the arrested militants.
In a statement, the UNC called
a boycott of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations (26th January).
|
January 22
|
Ranchi Police arrested Yamuna
Prasad a member of PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, at
Bero Block in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. Prasad was
a close aide of PLFI chief Dinesh Gope. A Policeman told, “On
several occasions, Yamuna had accommodated Gope's black money
in different bank accounts and channelised the cash by investing
in business ventures."
Palamu Police arrested Chhotan
Yadav a CPI-Maoist cadre in Mohammadganj near Bheem Barrage at
Kadal in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. Chhotan Yadav used
to perform varied works for Ajay Yadav (a top CPI-Maoist leader)
like moving in his dasta, writing Maoists Parchha
poster and literature and IEDs. Yadav has three cases and the
cases are in two Police Stations, Pandu and Mohammadganj.
The President of India, Pranab
Mukherjee has commuted death sentences of four cadres of the MCC,
now known as the CPI-Maoist, to life imprisonment setting aside
a recommendation from the MHA. The Four men identified as Krishna
Mochi, Nanhe Lal Mochi, Bir Kuer Paswan and Dharmendra Singh were
convicted of killing 34 upper-caste Bhumihars in Bihar 25 years
ago.
SFs cordoned off Fatehgarh Sheeri
area in Baramulla District, after inputs about presence of militants
in the area. Reports said that around 30 people were detained
for questioning and majority of them have been let off. However,
a Police official said that few of them who are OGWs are being
questioned.
Two AR personnel were killed and
several others injured when suspected militants attacked an AR
vehicle escorting tourists in Tinsukia District. Militants lobbed
several grenades targeting the vehicle at Jagun 12th Mile Barabasti
on NH-315 bordering the District in the run up to Republic Day,
a defence spokesman said. The AR vehicle and three vehicles of
tourists returning from the Pangsau festival have been damaged
in grenade explosions, the spokesman added. The Pangsau Festival
is held along the Indo-Myanmar border in the area.
SFs killed two unidentified militants
involved in the ambush which claimed the lives of two AR troopers
at 12th Mile Barabasti along NH-315 near Jagun village in Tinsukia
District. Defence PRO, Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton, said
that bodies of two militants had been recovered along with five
IEDs, two grenades, a G3 rifle, a pistol and fired cases of nine
lathode. The ambush was jointly claimed by militant conglomerates
namely UNLFW and CorCom under ‘Operation Barak’.
SFs arrested three militant of
NDFB-IKS, identified as Dakaru Mushahary, Kapilau Basunatary and
Birjay Mushahary from Taisoguri under Runikhata Police Station
in Chirang District. A 7.65 mm pistol, two magazines, a country
made pistol, two grenades and four round ammunitions were recovered
from the arrested militants.
Unidentified assailants attacked
the ‘chairman’, Seipu Singsit, of militant group UTLA, at Tollen
village in Churachandpur District. The militant leader sustained
injuries during the attack. Presently, UTLA is under SoO agreements
with Union and State Government.
Four unidentified civilians were
abducted by suspected ASAK militant, from Kolapara village near
Sibbari in South Garo Hills District. According to Police, six
armed cadre of suspected ASAK militant waylaid a truck and a bus
and abducted the two drivers and two helpers at gunpoint.
The UAE pledged its full support
to India in combating terrorism, as it aims at boosting bilateral
defence and security ties and signing a strategic cooperation
agreement during the three-day visit to India of His Highness
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, beginning
on January 24. UAE Ambassador Ahmad Al Banna said, “We support
Indian government in its efforts to fight terrorism and extremism
all over the world". Asserting that his country was among
the first to condemn the terror strike on Indian airbase in Pathankot,
Al Banna said the UAE had also supported the surgical strikes
carried out by India. “When the bombing of the airbase took place,
we were the first one to condemn it. The UAE was among the first
countries which supported Indian surgical strikes and we support
India’s efforts to fight and respond to attacks terrorists and
extremists,” he said.
The UAE ambassador also said the
national security advisers of the UAE and India have been holding
consultations regularly. Asked about the role UAE, which is seen
as a “key interlocutor” by India, could play in conveying Indian
concerns to Pakistan over terrorism emanating from there, Al Banna
said: “We listen to them (Indian authorities). We coordinate with
them and will be more than willing whenever we are asked by the
Indian side to assist or interfere or take any action for betterment
of our relationship”.
|
January 21
|
SFs arrested one KCP militant
identified as Sanjenbam Chandramani Singh alias Boynao
alias Eyamba at Sawombung in Imphal East District. Incriminating
articles were recovered from the arrested militants.
|
January 22
|
During combing operation by the
SFs, an IED exploded at Wara Basti area of Tinsukia District.
The report further states that militants had placed landmines
in the approach road to Wara Basti, the site of January 22 ambush,
slowing the approach of SFs.
Thakur Das Mahto (35), a contractor
for Brajesh Construction Company, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres
in Ramgarh District of Jharkhand. His body, riddled with bullets
and the throat slit, was found dumped on Rajrappa-Murpa Road.
Local residents protested at Gola Police Station. The pamphlets
were found near the body say that Mahto was killed because he
was a ‘Police informer’.
SFs arrested four cadres of the
PLFI from Karra in Khunti District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter
group of the CPI-Maoist.
|
January 23
|
In a joint statement, the CorCom,
GNLA, HNLC and the ULFA-I called for a ‘total shut down’ in the
entire North East India on Indian Republic day (26th January),
reports The Sangai Express on January 24. In the joint statement
issued by the militant groups asserted that the ‘Western South
East Asia (WESEA)’ should ‘collectively boycott’ the Indian Republic
Day on January 26, 2017.
Three live IED were recovered
by the SFs from Wara Basti area of Tinsukia District where the
January 22 ambush claimed the lives of two AR troopers and two
unidentified militants.
According to a source in State
Police, arrested former Chairman of the APSC, Rakesh Paul had
been funding ULFA-I and GNLA militant in the last few years. According
to the source he paid nearly INR 1 crore to each of the militant
groups in the last few years.
Four militant groups, including
NDFB-IKS, KLO, PDCK and NLFT, in a joint statement, called 24
hours ‘total shut down’ on the Republic Day of India (26th January)
in the entire North East India. They asked the people of ‘WESEA’
to ‘boycott’ the Republic Day celebration in their statement.
SFs intensified their combing
operations in the border areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
and busted a militant hideout at Samru area in the State. SFs
intensification of operations follows the militant attack at Jagun
in Tinsukia District of Assam on January 22.
Security officials said that Indo-Myanmar
border has been placed at a state of alert based on specific intelligence
inputs about the militants exfiltrating into Myanmar to escape
the ongoing operations by SFs. "The stretch of the border
from pillar number 168 to border pillar number 173 - from Pangsau
Pass to Tirap River - has been put on high alert," a source
said.
SFs arrested two PLA militants,
identified as Angom Arunkumar alias Chinglen (62) and Khundrakpam
Suresh alias Mocha (47) from Wangkhei Thangjam Leikai and
Palace Compound Thangapat Mapal respectively in Imphal East District
in two separate incidents. Three mobiles phones were recovered
from them. SFs sources said that they were involved in several
extortion cases.
Police detained six bailed out
militants from different places in Thoubal District. Out of six,
four belongs to PLA militant and two belongs to UNLF.
The proposed tripartite talk between
Manipur Government, Centre and UNC scheduled on January 23 was
postponed indefinitely. Further, Manipur Government had agreed
to UNC’s demand to shift the venue of the proposed talks from
Imphal to New Delhi. UNC had demanded that the venue for the talks
should be held in either New Delhi or in ‘Naga dominated area’.
AR arrested one NSCN-K militant,
identified as ‘lieutenant’ Yantril Sangtam from Longkhim Town
in Tuensang District. An IED with a detonator, a reserve detonator
and one .22 pistol with four live rounds were recovered from the
arrested militant.
In a statement, NSCN-K said that
it would boycott India’s Republic day celebration on January 26
in ‘all over Naga inhabited areas’.
In a joint statement, the CorCom,
GNLA, HNLC and the ULFA-I called for a ‘total shut down’ in the
entire North East India on Indian Republic day (26th January).
In the joint statement issued by the militant groups asserted
that the ‘WESEA’ should ‘collectively boycott’ the Indian Republic
Day on January 26, 2017.
A senior State Home Department
official said that the Mizoram Government had decided to go ahead
with the physical repatriation of Brus from six relief camps in
neighbouring North Tripura District scheduled to commence from
the second week of February. The State Government officials who
conducted the identification in the Tripura relief camps during
November two to November 23, 2016, had identified 32,857 people
belonging to 5,413 families for physical repatriation.
The SFs killed two CPI-Maoist
cadres in an encounter near Padmetta village under Bedre Police
Station in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. “Two bodies of Maoists
in uniform have been recovered along with one .303 service rifle,
one .315 rifle and one Bharmar in Bijapur district after an encounter.
The encounter took place in the forest near Padmetta village under
the Bedre police station limits,” said Bijapur District SP K.L.
Dhruv.
Ranjan Bala and his son Indrajit
Bala (17) were injured in an IED blast triggered by the Naxals
on an under-construction road in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.
The incident took place near Malempalli village under Jagargunda
Police Station limits while the victims were on way to Dornapal
in their motorcycle.
CPI-Maoist cadres set on fire
at least 15 vehicles and equipment deployed for road construction
works in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. A road is being constructed
between Tarlaguda and Annaram. A combing operation is underway
to trace the insurgents.
Activist Bela Bhatia was allegedly
asked to vacate her house in Pandripani village in Bastar District
of Chhattisgarh by the villagers who held a protest outside it
accusing her of being a ‘CPI-Maoist sympathiser’. In a complaint
to Police, villagers alleged Bhatia had named herself as “Somari
Naag or Bela Somari” (to use tribal identity) which they feel
is an insult to tribal masses, told SP, RN Dash.
Hundreds of villagers of Malkangiri
District of Odisha gathered in an anti-CPI-Maoist rally in Jagdalpur,
administrative headquarters of Bastar District of Chhattisgarh,
in the bordering region of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and raised
voice against the ‘torture’ by the Maoists. The Jana Varjan Samabesh/Prajameli
was attended by inhabitants of at least 15 villages in the region.
“In the absence of security forces and DVF, Maoists enter some
remote villages and start torturing the villagers. Sometime they
even rob the villagers their belongings,” said a villager. “If
security is tightened in these Maoist-prone areas, then they will
not dare to enter these places to trouble the innocent villagers,”
stated another villager. Meanwhile Police said it will analyse
the situation and take proper step. “Attending a large gathering
here (Jagdalpur), the villagers of Tulsi, Mahupadar, Dundipadar
and Kirmiti (Odisha) allege that a lady along with some other
Maoists is torturing them. We have intensified anti-Maoist operation
and deployed some forces in those regions. Very soon we will neutralize
the Red Rebels who are active in the area”, said Bastar (Chhattisgarh)
SP, RN Dash.
West Singhbhum District Police
of Jharkhand has constituted a committee to probe the alleged
death of CPI-Maoist Politburo member Prashant Bose alias Kisan
da in Saranda forest on the Jharkhand-Odisha border.
The tribal rights activists met
DC, ASR Naik, and demanded probe into exploitation of two women
by C-60 Commandos in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. The delegation
comprising Sainu Gota, Ramdas Jarate and others also claimed in
their representation to the Collector that Police had been harassing
tribals protesting mining projects across the District. The C-60
Commandos comprise of 60 Police personnel to contain the Naxal
menace and was constituted in the year 1992. They are imparted
trainings in various types of guerrilla warfare.
The Army in a joint operation
with JKP busted a suspected militant hideout and seized a huge
cache of arms, ammunition and war-like stores in the Hilnar area
of Chhatru tehsil in Kishtwar District. The team
came upon a suspicious natural cave, whereupon, on further probing
and digging, forces recovered one AK-47, one Pistol with Magazine
(Chinese), one UBGL, seven Grenades of UBGL, two Chinese Hand
Grenades, three AK-47 Magazines, 428 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 and
two Kenwood Radio Sets (Transistor TH 28A 144MH).
|
January 24
|
Ahead of the Republic Day parade
on January 26, security in Delhi and NCR, particularly at Rajpath,
has been increased, as an intelligence note says that "Pakistan-based
groups are trying to use Afghan identities to enter India and
that some of them have fraudulently acquired Afghan passports".
Pakistan's ISI is trying to create tensions between India and
Afghanistan, said sources. RAW has received inputs that ISI plans
to recruit Pakistan-Afghani nationals and then send them to India
to orchestrate a terror attack. Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations
in the National Capital, intelligence and security forces have
conducted a fresh recce of sensitive areas. Specific inputs were
received on outfits including HM, LeT, IM and AQIS hatching a
plot to simultaneously launch terror attacks in various parts
of the country.
A person wanted in a case of trafficking
of FICN has been arrested by NIA officials from Malda area in
Malda District. Mohammed Ashraful, was wanted in a case registered
initially by Kerala Police pertaining to the seizure of high quality
FICN having face value of INR 67,000 from migrant labourers hailing
from West Bengal.
Driver of an oil tanker was injured
when suspected NSCN-IM militants attacked a convoy of loaded trucks
at Awangkhul under Noney Police Station in Noney District. The
driver was identified as Elangbam Birjit Singh (38) resident of
Wangbal Mayai Leikai of Thoubal District. According to reports,
373 loaded Tata trucks were coming towards Imphal from Jiribam
with CRPF escort on account of the ongoing economic blockade.
Police arrested one linkman of
NDFB militant, identified as Chabin Boro (28) from Bagrikhuti
village under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa District. According
to the Police, he was involved in several extortion cases in the
name of NDFB.
Paresh Baruah, the ‘c-in-c’ of
the ULFA-I militant, made a statement threatening the theater
owners of the State accusing discrimination against a regional
film. The director of the film Himanghshu Prasad Das made an appeal
in an open letter to the militant leader on Facebook after several
theatre owners decided to remove his movie- ‘Shakira Ahibo Bakultolor
Bihuloi’ on January 25. In response to his letter, the militant
leader threatened the theatre owners to continue regional films
instead of Hindi movies.
The CPI-Maoist cadres triggered
an IED blast in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The blast
took place when SFs were patrolling between Timmapur and Murdanda.
A sniffer dog, named ‘Pluto’ died in the blast.
CM Raman Singh assured the IAF
authorities at Raipur District of Chhattisgarh that the Chhattisgarh
Government would provide all possible assistance in conducting
the ‘Indian Air Force Recruitment Rally' in insurgency-infested
Districts of the State. The CM held a detailed discussion with
Air Vice-Marshal O.P. Tiwari, VSM, at his official residence.
Notably, the Bastar Battalion of CRPF is also being raised by
recruiting 744 ST youths from four insurgency infested Districts
of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, the Central Government has informed.
Two cadres of the PLF, Manish
Dahenga alias Rejan Dahenga and a minor boy were arrested
on the outskirts of Khunti District of Jharkhand. Police also
seized INR 48,000 in cash and seven mobile phones from the duo.
PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
A Patna Police team stumbled upon
a diary in Beur Central Jail in Patna District of Bihar, which
has names of people who paid levy to jailed CPI-Maoist leader
Ajay Kandu. Kandu, the alleged mastermind behind the November
2005 Jehanabad jail break, is in the Beur jail that was raided
by a Police team headed by Patna SSP, Manu Maharaj. Acting on
a tip-off, the SSP with a SDPO and officials from the District
administration reached the jail around 2.50am and conducted the
raid. The Police also seized six mobile phones, four chargers,
a few packets of marijuana, four knives, packets of khaini and
earphones during the search.
The Central leadership of CPI-Maoist
had warned their comrades operating the tri-junction area in South
India against launching attacks on Police from Kozhikode District
of Kerala. The leadership thought such an action would be detrimental
for the organisation in the current stage of the movement. This
was revealed in a letter suspected to be written by a Central
Committee or politburo member of the party, which was recovered
from the camp inside the Nilambur forest after the Police firing
on November 24, 2016. The central leadership of the Maoists felt
that the strategy in the tri-junction area should have been devised,
based on the experiences of four-and-a-half decades history of
revolutionary war in India. But they believe that the comrades
in zonal committee were instead inspired by the People's war in
Peru and Nepal.
SFs launched a search operation
against a group of militants in Ganderbal District. They said
5 RR and SOG of J&K launched a joint operation at Handoora
village in Ganderbal following a tip-off about the presence of
militants.
Two top militants of the LeT outfit
were killed in a gun battle on the outskirts of Srinagar in Ganderbal
District. Following a tip off about the presence of militants
in Hadoora, Shuhama area in Ganderbal District, Police from Srinagar
and Ganderbal along with 5-RR and CRPF cordoned off the area and
launched the search operation. “The hiding militants opened fire
on joint search party which was retaliated, triggering an encounter
during which two militants of LeT were killed. Two AK-47 rifles,
one grenade, six magazines and 180 rounds of AK ammunition were
recovered from the encounter site”, SSP, Ganderbal, Imtiaz
Ismail Parray, said. The two LeT militants have been identified
as Qari Hanzullah and Anas Bilal and both of them were residents
of Pakistan. They were associates of top LeT ‘commander’ Abu Hurraira
who is operating from Dachigam area in the outskirts of Srinagar
for last several years. They were operating in Srinagar and Ganderbal
districts since January 22, 2013 and had recently started coordinating
with HM.
SFs averted a major tragedy after
they detected and defused an IED on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad National
Highway in Baramulla District. Sources said that on receiving
specific input of planting of IED at Srinagar- Muzaffarabad national
highway a joint operation by 53 Bn of the CRPF, SOG Baramulla,
was launched and an IED of around 10 kilograms was recovered.
A Policeman was injured as militants
hurled a grenade at a Police party at Haal Pulwama and fired at
them. Police had established a naka at Haal when militants attacked
them. Massive operations have been launched in the area against
the militants.
Army and BSF foiled two major
infiltration attempts, along the LoC and IB killing a top Pakistani
militant and arrested another while three other infiltrators managed
to escape back to PoK following effective retaliatory firing brought
down by the troops. Official sources stated that the troops observed
movement of a group of four militants along LoC in Dadal Maneka
area of Sunderbani sector in Rajouri District when they were trying
to infiltrate into the Indian Territory along with a consignment
of heavy arms, ammunition and explosive material. Immediately
after the gunfight, troops conducted searches along LoC in Sunderbani
sector and recovered the body of the slain militant who was believed
to be a top Pakistani militant.
The BSF thwarted another infiltration
attempt along the IB in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura tehsil in
Jammu District when they captured a Pakistani national alive soon
after he entered into the Indian Territory. The captured person
reportedly disclosed his identity as Mohammad Ahmad (35), son
of Mohammad Aneef, a resident of Kot Din Dhan in Sialkot District
of Pakistan. He was carrying some currency with him when he was
captured.
|
January 25
|
Police recovered four crude bombs
from Bongaigaon District. SP (Bongaigaon) Hridayjit Barman said
the bombs were found hidden under a haystack at Bhoralkundi village,
about 5 kilometres from Jogighopa Police Station. He said the
search was conducted based on intelligence inputs. The bombs were
packed inside polythene bags and it is suspected that militants
may have kept them there to carry out blasts on Republic Day (January
26).
SFs arrested one PLA militant,
identified as Kh Kiran (25) from Kaiphundai village in Tamenglong
District.
MBDPF, the umbrella organisation
of Bru refugees lodged in six relief camps in North Tripura, made
it clear that they would stick to their long-standing ‘13-point
demands’ and wrote a letter to UHM Rajnath Singh regarding the
issue on January 24. The MBDPF, in its letter to Singh, sought
his intervention on the issue of the Bru repatriation and reconsider
the present package of the repatriation. Further, the Bru organisation
alleged that the Mizoram Government’s Bru repatriation programme
was not realistic and practical. The present stand of MBDPF may
create hurdle to the Mizoram Government’s decision to start Bru
repatriation from second week of February of this year (2017).
A CISF trooper suffered minor
injuries after he was shot with arrow by CPI-Maoist cadres, in an iron ore mines area of NMDC in Dantewada District
of Chhattisgarh. The incident happened when a CISF patrolling
team ran into a group of lower-rung ultras who were putting up
pamphlets against Republic Day celebrations. On spotting the CISF
troopers, CPI-Maoist cadres shot an arrow and escaped into the
forests.
The Police arrested a CPI–Maoist
cadre and his associate while receiving "levy" of INR
10,000 from a private company staff near Indrapuri Barrage in
Rohtas District of Bihar. SDPO, Mohammad Anwar Javed Ansari
said that the two arrested had been identified as Arun Kumar alias
Birbal and Dhiraj Kumar. Arun Kumar is an accused in a murder
case in Aurangabad District of Bihar.
Two militia members the CPI–Maoist
surrendered before Paderu Sub-Division, DSP, M Mahendra in Vishakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh. The surrendered have been identified
as V Nageswara Rao and K Bhagwan Rao (35). The duo was vexed with
the stringent rules being followed by the dalam and they wanted
to return to the social mainstream.
The ‘most wanted’ CPI–Maoist leader
Ranjit Pal (45) laid down his arms and surrendered before of the
STF of Kolkata Police at Kolkata District of West Bengal. Pal
surrendered before State DGO Surajit Kar Purakayastha and Kolkata
Commissioner of Police, Rajiv Kumar along with his wife Jharna
alias Anita also a top CPI-Maoist leader along the Bengal-Jharkhand
border mostly in Purulia District. Pal surrendered with a SLR.
Pal said, “I am surrendering before Kolkata Police STF and beginning
a new life and appeal those who are wrong path to join the main
stream.” He added, in past 17 years he had realised that taking
up arms was not a solution to people’s problems and the issues
had been sorted out in Bengal to a large extent.
Unidentified militants opened
fire at a Police picket at Gofabal in Kulgam District. Police
returned the fire, forcing the militants to flee from the place.
No casualties were reported in the incident.
SFs detected an IED planted by
militants at Batamaloo area in Srinagar District. The IED was
later safely defused.
|
January 26
|
All total seven bombs were exploded
by ULFA-I militant, during the day of celebration of India’s Republic
Day (January 26) in different places of Sivasagar, Charideo, Tinsukia
and Dibrugarh Districts. However no casualties were reported.
According to the Police sources low intensity IED were used in
the blasts. According to the sources, in Sibsagar District the
blast took place in Majpani area and in Tinsukia District two
blasts took place at Sisimi village and Sukan pukhuri area. While,
in Charaideo District bomb exploded in Angera, Lengeribor and
Bihubor area and in Dibrugarh District one explosion took place
in Chowkidinghee area.
ULFA-I militant, claimed responsibility
for the seven bomb blasts that took place in Assam on the Republic
Day of India (January 26), terming it as ‘symbolic protest’.
Two low intensity explosions were
triggered at Mantripukhri and Singjamei Chingamakha area in Imphal
West District. No casualty due to these explosions was reported.
No group has taken responsibility of the blasts so far.
Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji
Das Tandon said a wave of security and development coupled with
the faith of people in Bastar region signals that Naxalism
will come to an end soon in the State. Tandon was speaking at
the 68th Republic Day function held at the Police Line grounds
in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. He also added that demonetization
has not only supported the country in fight against terror forces
but also helped in controlling CPI –Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh.
CM, Raghubar Das in his
Republic Day address said, innocent tribals were being misled
by vested interests, in Naxal affected Dumka District of
Jharkhand. He also pointed out that Jharkhand Government
has allotted a separate budget for development of SC and ST, and
2 per cent reservation in State and District level vacancies,
a Police battalion and 18 health centres for particularly vulnerable
tribal groups in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand Police will initiate
proceedings to seek custody of CPI –Maoist leader Ranjit Pal who,
along with his wife, surrendered before West Bengal Police. Pal,
a member of the Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa border committee of CPI-Maoist,
is wanted in the murder of JMM leader and then East Singhbhum
in Jharkhand, MP, Sunil Mahato in 2007.
A cordon and search operation
was launched by the SFs in Pulwama town in Pulwama District, after
an explosion, believed to be grenade thrown by militants, occurred
near local Police Station without causing any damage. However,
no one was arrested during the search operation.
SFs conducted search and cordon
operations at Hassanwadi and Badibagh villages in Pulwama, after
receiving inputs about the presence of militants. During
the searches, locals came out of their houses and pelted stones
on forces and hampered the search operations. Police fired teargas
shells and chased away the stone-pelting mobs. The search operations
were later called off.
|
January 27
|
The NIA arrested two people, identified
as Abdul Rashid Abdulla and Yasmeen Mohammad Zahid from Kochi
(Kerala) in connection with the criminal conspiracy hatched within
and outside India, with the intention of furthering the objectives
of the IS and for joining and supporting the organization. Accused
Abdul Rashid, resident of Kasaragod District and Yasmeen Mohammad
Zahid, resident of Sitamarhi District, Bihar were booked under
sections 120-B and 125 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides
sections 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act (UAPA), 1967.
The NIA probe has established
that accused Abdul Rashid was the main conspirator behind the
offence of motivating youth, hailing from Kasaragod District to
exit from India along with their families, to join the terrorist
organisation.
India and UAE issued a joint statement
through which both the countries committed to work together to
counter radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries
for inciting hatred and perpetrating acts of terrorism. UAE's
Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also declared that ‘strong
condemnation of and resolute opposition to terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations, wherever committed and by whomever,
and declared that there could be no justification for terrorism
anywhere.’
Without naming Pakistan, the statement
also states ‘The two sides condemned efforts, including by States,
to use religion to justify, sustain and sponsor terrorism against
other countries. They further deplored efforts by countries to
give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and pointed
out the responsibility of all States to control the activities
of the so-called 'non-State actors'. With this joint statement,
India enhances diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to take firm action
against terror activities conducting on its land.
The State Congress spokesperson
Khumukcham Joykishan said that the Manipur Government had given
final touches to the proposal of declaring the UNC as an unlawful
organisation and it would be forwarded to the Central Government.
The Prakasam District Police unearthed
huge cache of arms and ammunition in the Nallamala Forest near
Palutla village in Yerragondapalem mandal in Prakasam District
of Andhra Pradesh. SFs observed a few electrical wires popped
out from earth. After digging at the place, they found 79 rounds
of SLR, 31 rounds of .303 rifle, 17 rounds of 0.500 rifle, and
three barrels of double barrel guns, two barrels of single barrel
guns, two double trigger tapanchas and one charger in the dump.
The Police suspect that the CPI-Maoist cadres made the dump around
2003, after inspection of the contents.
A Naxal was killed in an exchange
of fire with SFs in a dense patch of forest under Fulbagdi Police
Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. SFs have recovered
the body of a male Maoist, clad in uniform, along with a .303
rifle and some other items of daily use from the spot.
CPI-Maoist cadres dislodged a
1,000-year-old 4-feet long Ganesha idol and felled it from a height
of about 12,000 feet into the deep gorge at Dholkal Mountain in
Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The Police blamed the Maoists
for “deliberately planned to let (sic)” the structure of Ganesha
idol fall from the mountain top in an “attempt to destroy” it.
Khunti District Police of Jharkhand
arrested two contractors, identified as Dinesh Kumar Nag and Khuleshwar
Gope, for having financial ties with PLFI, Chief Dinesh Gope and
assisting the group's terror activities in Khunti District, reports
Times of India. According to Police, PLFI funded INR 8.5 millions
in six construction projects of Nag and Gope and were supposed
to receive 50% of the total profits in return. PLFI is a splinter
group of CPI-Maoist.
Simdega Police airdropped pamphlets
and posters with names and bounty on top functionaries of the
PLFI cadres hiding in remote areas of Simdega District of Jharkhand.
The pamphlets carried names of PLFI’s top commanders, including
its supremo, Dinesh Gope, who carries a bounty of INR 2.5 millions
on his head.
The RPF of Bangalore Railway Division
arrested a Naxal, in connection to derail the Chalukya
Express on December last year in Tamil Nadu, at Bengaluru District
of Karnataka. The Naxal has now been handed over to the
Q branch of the Tamil Nadu Police. He has confessed to being part
of a Naxal outfit based in Kerala.
A Police source said that in the
Republic Day (January 26) serial blast, the ULFA-I militant used
local people for planting bombs instead of their regular militant
cadres. The Police source also claimed that they had already identified
some of these people.
|
January 28
|
Three persons were arrested for
allegedly running a FICN racket in Delhi, and INR 1.8 million
in the form of counterfeit INR 2000 notes was recovered from their
possession. Accused Azad Singh (36), Manoj (37) and Sunil (27)
were arrested by a team of Special Cell from Singhola village
in Narela Tehsil (revenue unit) of North West Delhi District in
Delhi, said DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.
SF arrested one NDFB-IKS militant,
identified as Rahul Daimari (26) alias Mulungsa alias
D Riwiriwa from Khoirabari area in Udalguri District. One 7.65mm
pistol, 5 rounds of live ammunition and two magazines were also
recovered from the arrested militant.
Osman Ali alias Raja (40), who
has been serving as courier man for CPI-Maoist, surrendered in
front of SP, Rahul Dev Sharma in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra
Pradesh. Osman Ali, is a native of Korukonda village under Chintapalli
mandal, Visakhapatnam Agency, and is running a grocery shop in
the village. The police said that Ali had served as Maoist courier
between Maoist leader Krishna and others and he had supplied groceries
and a few others to the Left Wing Extremists, for the last few
years.
CRPF jawan was killed in an explosion
of a pressure bomb allegedly planted by CPI-Maoist cadres near
Kottacheru village under Bhejji Police Station limits in Sukma
District of Chhattisgarh. The deceased, Havaldar Parasnath Saroj,
was posted with the 219th battalion of CRPF, senior Police officials
said. “A road construction work was going on in the area and a
CRPF team was patrolling when Saroj accidentally stepped on the
pressure bomb and suffered serious injuries,” the Police officials
said. Later, he succumbed to his injuries.
The Police recovered a huge cache
of arms and ammunitions from a Naxal hideout in Latehar District
of Jharkhand. A SLR, three made in America semi-automatic rifle,
two country-made rifles and at least 81 live cartridges were among
the arms and ammunitions that were recovered. The Police are probing
the matter and have not arrested any person in this regard so
far.
|
January 29
|
ISI operative Mehmood Akhtar's
statement to interrogators in Delhi that many people from Bhopal
had handed over sensitive documents to him, has left intelligence
officials in Madhya Pradesh worried. Now efforts are on to identify
Akthar's 'agents' in Bhopal, said sources in the intelligence
wing. There are inputs that Akhtar had visited Bhopal thrice in
the last few years.
Two workers out of three, who
were abducted on January 26, by a group of suspected KNF-N militant,
were killed in an alleged gunfight between the militant group
and KNA militants at Moulsohoi village under Litan Police Station
in Ukhrul District. The two deceased workers were identified as
Laishram Tompok (27) and Laishram Thoi (22). However, the third
abducted worker, identified as Khumujam Bijen (25) was rescued
by the villagers. One suspected abductor, identified as Thangminlun
Khongsai (25) also got bullet injury in the incident. According
to the report, the injured abductor is a member of UTLA and one
pistol was recovered from his possession. The three workers were
abducted from Maphou dam project in Senapati District on January
26, by four suspected Kuki militants. The abductors were attacked
by KNA cadres when they entered the Moulsohoi village, which according
to KNA militants ‘fall under the jurisdiction’ of their designated
camp. However, another source said that the abductors were not
from any militant group and they were just a gang of criminals.
A bomb was recovered, by SFs,
which was planted by unidentified assailant at the residence of
a worker at Khabam Bamdiar under Nambol Police Station in Bishnupur
District.
Two UTLA militants identified
as Robert Thangboi Kipgen and Thensei Singsit, who were involved
in the attack of the ‘chairman’ of UTLA on January 22, were arrested
by Police from K Lhangnom village in Churachandpur District. According
to the Police the arrested militants belong to a rival faction
of the UTLA.
AR arrested two persons, identified
as Vizoto Angami, (40) and Supi Chaya Angami (35) from Medziphema
Town in Dimapur District along with arms. According to the AR,
one of the arrestees, Vizoto Angami is a member of NSCN-IM. AR
recovered one .22 mm Pistol and 339 bottles of IMFL from their
possession.
Two Naxals including a woman were
killed in an encounter with the SFs in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
The gun battle took place in Purangel forest which comes under
Kirandul Police Station limits. SFs recovered a rifle, a revolver
and a huge cache of medicines. IG, S.R.P. Kalluri said, “The identity
of the rebels is being ascertained. Prima facie, it appears that
they belong to the medical supply team of the outlawed CPI-Maoist
as a large quantity of medicines was seized from the encounter
spot.”
195 lower rung Naxals, including
24 women, surrendered in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
The surrendered Naxals expressed a wish to join the mainstream.
The cadres belong to Janmilitia or Janatana Sarkar wing of CPI-Maoist.
The surrendered cadres were from 24 villages of the region including
Gumiyabeda, Okpaad, Mohndi, Nelnaar, Ikpaad, Murnaar, Nirameta
and Kodkanaar.
The Central Government of India
has sanctioned INR 6.57 billion for implementation of road projects
in CPI-Maoist affected areas of Koraput and Malkangiri District
of Odisha. The State Government of Odisha had submitted the road
project proposals under RRP-II which was approved by the UMRD.
UMRD also cleared road plans having a length of 5412 Kilometers
including 126 bridges in eight other Naxal affected States. The
State projects include Kalimela-Gomphakonda-Bejingiwada-Orkel,
Khairiput- Mathili, Mathili-Kaliaguda, Podia-Sikhapali, Kudumuluguma-Katameta,
MV-76-Vejangiwada and several other roads in Malkangiri District
of Odisha.
The BSF is overhauling its deployments
in Malda District of West Bengal, ill-reputed as the national
hub for FICN notes and illegal narcotics smuggling. The overhaul
move has been initiated following a caution sent by the UMHA to
the West Bengal home department that Indo- Bangladesh border sector
in Malda District of West Bengal, is increasingly becoming a corridor
for movement of cross- border terrorists.
According to the BSF Commandant,
deputed in the Malda sector, A K Hotker, the border guard force
is involving the local residents in the Indo-Bangladesh border
villages in the Malda sector in getting information about outsiders
frequenting these bordering villages.
According to sources from the
border guard agency of the Union government, four major steps
are being taken as a part of the agency’s overhauling exercise
in the Malda sector.
The BSF foiled attempts by a group
of African nationals to illegally enter India from Bangladesh
through the Muharichar border in Belonia in South Tripura. A mobile
phone and some personal belongings were seized from him. However,
rest of the accomplices managed to flee from the place.
|
January 30
|
Three girls from the Philippines
and Tunisia, who were alleged to be IS sympathisers, were given
money by a Dubai-based Indian supporter, Mohammed Farhan Shaikh
of the terror outfit on the instructions of a Pakistani national,
the NIA has said. The agency has claimed that Shaikh, who was
arrested in 2016 along with two others after being deported from
the UAE for alleged IS links, had funded these girls, after money
was given to him in Dubai by one Khalid, who is alleged to be
from Pakistan.
NIA has alleged that Shaikh,
who was in Dubai in 2015, had transferred 3894.24 UAED to a Tunisian
girl, Sarra Ghribi, who wanted to join IS, in seven installments
through the global payment service, Western Union, between February
5, 2015 and April 24, 2015. NIA has claimed that Shaikh had transferred
1257.63 UAED and 846.75 UAED to Jannah Qassim and Johaira L Macasimpang,
residents of Philippines, on June 24, 2015.
In his disclosure statement recorded
by NIA which has been annexed in the charge sheet, Shaikh has
claimed that in January 2015, he got in touch with Ghribi through
Facebook. She was a "supporter and sympathiser" of IS.
The State Government decided to
withhold counter insurgency operations by the SFs against the
KPLT till April 20 this year. The KPLT declared unilateral ceasefire
for a period of six months with effect from October 20, 2016 till
April 20, 2017, which they communicated through a letter signed
by the militant group’s ‘general secretary’ Vojaru Hanjang.
SFs arrested two HNLC militants,
identified as Samuel Wahlang Pahsyntiew (30) and Hebingstun Khongbuh
(18) from Shillong in East Khasi Hills District. Police said that
both are new cadres of HNLC, but Samuel Wahlang Pahsyntiew was
trained in Bangladesh camp of the militant group.
Three abducted persons from West
Garo Hill District, identified as Muzamil Haque, Biswajit Neogi
alias Bappi and Mohammad Rouf Asraf Ayub, were released
by the abductors of ASAK militant in the Ramchenga jungles near
Dumnikura in South Garo Hills District.
Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, in
a public meeting at Bhairamgarh in Naxals hit
Bijapur District in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh, urged all
CPI-Maoist cadres to give up the arms and join the mainstream,
saying violence and terror cannot solve any problem. "Peace
and harmony are the only ways to prosper and develop the society.
If Maoists quit the violent path, we are ready to embrace them",
CM Singh said. "Government is building roads, bridges, schools
and hospitals, providing clean drinking water and taking care
of people. I wonder why the Maoists are opposing development initiatives
in the region," he added.
Sanjay Pandey, a ‘munshi’ with
Raj Kumar Constructions, was beheaded for not paying extortion
money to the Naxals in Jamui District of Bihar. Jamui Police
claimed to have recovered the CPI-Maoist literature from the scene
of the crime. One such leaflet said those executing Government
plans with the help of Police, and without obtaining CPI-Maoist
permission, would meet similar fate.
Khunti Police arrested three cadres
of the PLFI at Birsa Chowk in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. PLFI
is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist. The identity of the arrestees
is yet to be ascertained.
SPs from six Districts of Andhra
Pradesh and Odisha led by two DIGs held a meeting at Koraput District
of Odisha. They gathered to plan joint operations and eliminate
the CPI-Maoist from the border areas. According to sources, all
the SPs and DIGs came to the conclusion that coordination, cooperation
and sharing of information should be done at regular intervals.
They also chalked out plans to penetrate the interior pockets
of the tribal belt to reach out to the public with community policing
programmes.
SFs busted a hideout of unidentified
militant and recovered large cache of arms and ammunition at Tranz
area in Shopian District. SFs recovered one SLR, which was snatched
by militants from guard at Samnoo Kulgam in October last year
(2016), two magazines of SLR, 37 SLR rounds, two RPG, one grenade,
503 AK rounds, one AK magazine, one ammunition pouch, one solar
charger, one charger pin and a small black pouch containing medicines
from the militant hideout.
Over 200 persons were killed in
unrests in 2008, 2010 and 2016 in Jammu and Kashmir, the State
Government told Legislative Assembly. CM Mehbooba Mufti, in a
written reply, told the House that 76 civilians and two Police
personnel were killed in “law and order disturbances” in the Valley
in 2016. In 2010, 101 persons were killed and 4,288 others, including
SFs, injured, she said. Mehbooba said 46 persons were killed and
1,265 others, including SFs, were injured in 2008. In 2016, as
many as 8,587 persons were arrested, out of which 8,473 have been
released till January 21, the Chief Minister informed. In addition,
522 persons were booked under the J&K PSA, and 265 persons
among 1,978 booked in the recent unrest, were still under detention
as on January 21, she stated. Further, Mehbooba said as many as
133 buildings, including Police Stations and schools, were damaged
or set ablaze during the “law and order disturbances” in the Valley
last year and 213 persons were arrested in this connection. She
said 2,655 cases have been registered in various police stations
across Kashmir since July 8 last year.
|
January 31
|
SFs arrested two women cadres
of the UNLF militant, identified as Huidrom Chingkheinganbi Chanu
(22) and Oinam Chanchan alias Jayenti alias Langlen (22) from
Laipham Khunou under Heingang Police Station in Imphal West District.
Two unidentified civilians were
killed when Police open fired to control a highly agitated mass
in Dimapur town in Dimapur District. Five civilians were also
injured in the firing. While seven other agitated civilians were
injure in Longleng District by Police firing.
SFs recovered arms and ammunition
dumped by CPI-Maoist cadres from Dangrapahar of Ghatshila in East
Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. SSP, Anoop T. Mathew told that
a joint team of SFs conducted search in four dumping areas and
recovered a SLR, one 303 rifle, both looted from SFs, an improvised
Musket along with 50 rounds of live ammunition, electronic items
and explosives for preparing IED, CPI-Maoist flags and literature,
multi-circuit meter, uniforms and daily core items. A book titled
“Mamata Bandopadhyay ke Jemon Dekhechi” authored by one Deepak
Kumar Ghosh was also recovered.
SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist
action team members and a newly recruited member in Hanamkonda
District of Telangana. The arrested were identified as T Devender
alias Rama Rao of Sudhanapalli in Hasanparthy Mandal,
Bhukya Srinivas alias P Srinu of Ponugodu of Gudur Mandal
and Ch Narayana Swamy of Sriramulapalli of Kamalapur Mandal.
The newly recruited member has been identified as Lingala Vennela
alias Dhannu of Paidipalli in Hasanparthy Mandal.
A case under sections 10, 13, 18(B) of UAP Act 1967, section 25
(1-B) (9) of Arms Act 1959, section 5 of ES Act 1908, section
8 of TSPS (APPS) Act was booked against them at KCU Police Station.
Four persons were injured after
SFs fired to disperse protesters in Samboora village of Pampore
area in Pulwama District. An Army party conducted a search operation
in the Samboora village of Pampore area and people started stone
pelting on them and they fired injuring four persons.
SFs cordoned off Heff Shermal
area of Shopian District and launched searches. However, as the
searches were underway, locals came out of their houses pelted
stones on SFs. Police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse
the locals hampering the operation. Later the search operation
was called off.
Pakistan army again resorted to
heavy mortar shelling and firing on forward Indian posts and villages
in Shahpur sector of Poonch District. Official sources said Pakistani
troops started shelling forward areas in Shahpur at 9 pm, prompting
the Indian side to retaliate. Heavy exchange of shelling and firing
continued, however, there were no reports of any casualties or
damage on the Indian side. Sources said Pakistan army was trying
to push a group of militants into the Indian side from the LoC.
The shelling was aimed at facilitating the infiltration attempt,
they added.
|
January 31-February 1
|
Police arrested three militants
belonging to ASAK along with one cadre of the GNLA at South Garo
Hills District. The ASAK militants, who were arrested in between
January 31-February 1, were identified as Sahid Ch Marak (26),
Lamingstone Ch Sangma (29) and Jainish R Marak (29).The GNLA militant,
who was arrested from Gare Nawak village, near Nangalbibra was
identified as Herod R Marak (32).
|
February 1
|
Ten posters and five painted messages
highlighting IS were found in Solan town of Himachal Pradesh.
Police interrogated about 20 persons suspected to be involved
in the case. Their handwriting samples were also taken and will
be compared with the writing on the posters. It was interesting
to note that spray paint had been used while writing the IS on
various buildings of the Subathu cantonment board while no private
building had been targeted.
SFs recovered a bomb from a paddy
field at Uyokching in Kakching District.
Unidentified militants hurled
a hand grenade at Indian Army’s 2nd JKLI troopers, who were on
ROP duty, injuring a JKLI personnel at Nachou along Tiddim Road
under Bishnupur Police Station in Bishnupur District. The injured
personnel identified as Mohammad Arshad has been taken to Leimakhong
military hospital (Kangpokpi District).
A GNLA militant, identified as
‘deputy commander’ and working with the ‘finance wing’ Ninja M.
Sangma alias Megam (23), surrendered before the Police at Williamnagar
in East Garo Hills District. He, however, did not deposit any
weapons. Sangma has informed Police that the finance unit comprised
seven cadres prior to his surrender and has now been further reduced
to five men after another member disappeared a few weeks ago apparently
to form his own group.
At least eight Police personnel
were killed and five others injured in a landmine explosion suspected
to have been triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres near Mungarbhumi
on Sunki ghat in Koraput District of Odisha. The van carrying
13 Police personnel was on its way to Angul. They were going to
the Police Training College, Angul to get special Police driving
training when the Maoists blasted them off at around 2 pm. The
number of deaths of Police personnel in the Maoists’ Sunki landmine
explosion rose to eight with the body of lone missing driver Tulasi
Ram Majhi found this morning (February 2), informed Koraput SP,
Charan Singh Meena. Seven Police personnel died and five others
sustained injuries yesterday (February 1) as the landmine planted
underground at Sunki ghati in Koraput District on AOB exploded. Tulasi
Ram was missing, he said. The identities of the slain personnel
are Somnath Sisa, Sanjay Kumar Das, Arun Kumar Nayak, Subarna
Kumar Raj, Pradipta Kumar Rout, Ganesh Prasad Das, Harekrushna
Prushti and Tulasi Ram Majhi.
The CPI-Maoist cadres exploded
a crude bomb in the Amrapali Open Cast Project of CCL under Tandwa
Police Station of Chatra District of Jharkhand. Three
personnel have been reported to be injured in the blast. Police
have recovered hand-written pamphlets which talks about stopping
work in Amrapali and its adjacent mine, Magadh. The newly raised
SISF will be deployed at the CCL's Amrapali coal project.
The CRPF personnel of 26th Battalion
distributed a solar light system at Daribagh Tola in Gomia Block
of Naxals affected Bokaro District of Jharkhand.
The CPI-Maoist cadres attacked
the camp office of Ramie Construction Company and set
ablaze a mixer machine and a roller near Barachatti town in Gaya
District of Bihar. Locals said the Maoists had earlier
demanded ‘levy’ from Ramie Construction Company, engaged in various
road construction projects near Barachatti.
Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin
Rawat, stressed for high level of alertness and vigil along the
LoC and to foil the nefarious designs of militants and their masters
across. While interacting with the troops and the Commanders at
19 Division headquarters in Baramulla and 28 Mountain Division
in Kupwara, General Rawat stressed for alertness along the LoC
to foil the infiltration attempts from across. He stressed for
terminating infiltration attempts right on the LoC so that peace
is restored in Jammu and Kashmir.
|
February 2
|
Assam Police registered a suo
moto case of sedition against the filmmaker, Himangshu Prasad
Das, who had openly sought help from ‘leader’ of the ULFA-I, Paresh
Barua, to ask film distributors not to take his film (
Shakira
Ahibo Bokultolor Bihuloi
) off screens to make way for the
Hindi movies 'Raees' and 'Kaabil' last week. Police said that
it was a very serious crime and they were waiting for an individual
or organisation to file a FIR, but when that did not happen, they
chose to take up the suo moto case.
UNC ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and
‘publicity secretary’ S Stephen was escorted to New Delhi in order
to enable them to take part in the tripartite talk scheduled on
February 3.
Meghalaya DGP S.B. Singh said
that the ‘c-in-c’ of the disbanded militant group- UALA, Norrok
X. Momin, was not traceable and probably he was on the run since
there were criminal cases pending against him. UALA was disbanded
on June, 2016. Earlier in December 2015, the UALA signed a peace
pact with the Indian Government.
The senior leader of the GNLA
militant, Ninja M Sangma (23) alias Megam, who surrendered
on February 1, revealed that there were only 27 cadres left in
the militant group. Furthermore, he revealed that besides these
cadres, there were also five other cadres of ULFA-I militant who
were still working with ‘c-in-c’ of GNLA, Sohan D Shira.
Acting on inputs, Police raided
the house of Raimond Lyngdoh (30) at Kudeng Rim village under
Amlarem in West Jaintia Hills District and recovered one country-made
gun, pellets, one steel pipe [apparently for manufacturing the
gun barrel]. Police also arrested the house owner.
Angry Protestors, who were not,
satisfied with State Government’s response the ‘ultimatum’, served
by NTAC, set ablaze several Government offices. The damaged Government
property includes, the KMC, Regional Transport Office, offices
of the SSA, Superintendent Excise Office, Nagaland Legal Service
Authority and the Kohima Press Club.
The State Government responded
by declaring the ULB poll process ‘null and void’, and informing
that the State Cabinet has decided to ‘immediately transfer’ the
DCP and DCP Zone (1), Dimapur, in order to facilitate an impartial
inquiry.
The JCC informed that the indefinite
bandh (general strike) in Dimapur District over the issues
of ULB would continue ‘until and unless the State Government heed
to the people’s demands’.
One Munna Singh alias Munna
Ganjhu and his friend Murari Sharma were killed by unidentified
men in Kunda area of Chatra District of Jharkhand. Police suspect
hand of TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a
ward member candidate of Bara village under the Mathili Police
limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The deceased was identified
as Dasu Dharua. According to reports, about 20 armed Maoist rebels
of the Darbha Division of the banned outfit CPI-Maoist called
Dharua out of his house before being shot dead them later. Police
sources said the Maoists were aggrieved over Dhurua, suspecting
his links with Police. Dhurua’s brother, who was part of a Maoist
outfit, recently shunned the path of violence and surrendered
before the Police, much to the chagrin of the Maoists
Posters and pamphlets by the CPI-Maoist
cadres threatening to disrupt the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly
polls emerged near Dhari area in Nainital District of Uttarakhand.
An official's vehicle was also set on fire, prompting the administration
to put Kumaon Division on high alert and step up deployment in
the region. The car belongs to a Tehsildar Magistrate and the
pamphlet bore the name of Vijay Pahru who introduced himself as
Secretary CPI-Maoist. The Uttarakhand Assembly polls are slated
to be held on February 15, 2017.
SFs detected and defused an IED
on the Srinagar-Jammu NH in Pampore area in Pulwama District.
A patrol party of Police detected the IED planted by terrorists
between Kadlabal and Chursoo section of the NH and later the bomb
disposal squad destroyed the explosive.
The BSF foiled a major infiltration
attempt by the militants on the IB in Samba sector of Samba District,
in which the SF personnel had a very narrow escape in three UBG
thrown by the militants on them in a bid to enter into this side.
According to the sources, the grenade attacks and firing by the
militants was to be followed by the infiltration attempt. However,
finding the BSF troops on very high alert on the IB, the militants
retreated to Pakistan.
Pakistan army resorted to heavy
mortar shelling and firing on forward Indian posts and villages
in Baba Khori area of Nowshera sector along the LoC in Rajouri
District. Sources said Pakistani troops started shelling forward
areas in Baba Khori area of Nowshera at 6.20 pm, prompting the
Indian side to retaliate. Heavy exchange of shelling and firing
continued for about half an hour. However, there were no reports
of any casualties or damage on the Indian side so far.
|
February 3
|
UHM Rajnath Singh stated that
Government cannot guarantee that surgical strikes won’t happen
in future as any such action will depend on the situation prevailing
at that time. UHM Rajnath Singh also dismissed as “a mere eye
wash” the house arrest of LeT ‘chief’ Hafiz Saeed, saying if Pakistan
was serious about acting against Saeed and terrorists, it must
take legal action against them.
The MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju
expressed hope that work on installing 'smart fence' along 3,323-kilometre
long the Indo-Pak border will begin soon. The testing for the
fence is in final stages and soon work for erecting it along the
Indo-Pak border will begin, MoS Kiren Rijiju said in New Delhi.
The new fencing is likely to have a multi-tier security ring comprising
an alarm to security force personnel in case of any infiltration
bid or attempts to cut the fence.
An unidentified militant belonging
to the NSCN-K was killed and another injured during an exchange
of fire with the AR at Ozakho village in Longding District.
AR arrested a militant of NSCN-R,
identified as Kamsing Ngemu, from Miao town in Changlang District.
According to the sources the arrested militant was involved in
several extortion cases in Miao town in the name of ‘SS Captain
Jimmy’.
SFs arrested one cadre of KNF-N
militant, identified as Thomas Lenminthang Guite (27), near Kopibung
area in Senapati District. According to the report the militant
was involved in several abduction and extortion cases. Incriminating
articles related with the militant group were also recovered from
the arrested militant.
The Union Government stated that
it had brokered a peace deal between the Manipur Government and
UNC and three-month-old economic blockade would be ended by the
Naga groups in Manipur very soon. The statement came after the
tripartite talks between the UNC, Manipur Government and UHM in
the North Block in New Delhi. The UHM said that they had made
‘substantial progress’, but denied to reveal detail about the
meeting.
SFs arrested a militant belonging
to NSCN-IM, identified as ’chapel’ Thijuangpau Panmei, from Tamenglong
town (ward no 5 area) in Tamenglong District. SFs later ‘handed
over’ the arrested NSCN-IM militant to Imphal Police Station.
SFs arrested a linkman of the
ULFA-I, identified as Bubul Das alias Bubul Barman, at
Sarupathar in Golaghat District. According to Police sources,
the ULFA-I had appointed some persons for abduction and extortion
and the arrested linkman was one of them.
In a statement, the PDCK militant
strongly opposed the move of the Government of India to give citizenship
rights to the Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam and said that the organization
would resist the move.
The NTAC, Kohima, evening announced
an indefinite Nagaland bandh (general shut down) till CM
T.R. Zeliang steps down with his cabinet. The stand-off between
the State Government and civil society groups continues after
the Government’s decision to hold the ULB on February 1 by reserving
33 per cent seats for women. Zeliang had partially met three demands
of the NTAC. NTAC had wanted the polls declared null and void,
suspension of the Dimapur Police Commissioner and Zeliang's resignation.
Further, leaders of the JCC, which is also against reservation,
also said in Dimapur that the protest would continue.
However, no fresh incident of
violence was reported in the State. “The situation is under control.
No violent incidents were reported from anywhere,” said Director
General of Police LL Doungel, adding that curfew was lifted from
some places in Kohima but continued in Dimapur. The dead bodies
of two youths, killed during the Police firing on January 31,
were also buried after a meeting between NTAC and the State Governor.
A group of 50 CPI-Maoist cadres
killed Shyamo Mandavi (25) and assaulted six villagers, including
a woman in Burdikarka of Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The
slain youth had submitted an application form for local Police
recruitment drive recently.
Assistant constable, Sukhuram
Netam (33), was killed in an exchange of fire with the Maoists
in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh. A patrolling party had
launched the operation from Bakarkatta area. SFs recovered CPI-Maoist-related
documents, bags and other items from the encounter site.
The DG of CRPF, Durga Prasad,
reviewed the ground situation, military preparedness and issues
faced by SFs in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. According to
officials, Durga Prasad also shared his plan with the top officials
of neighbouring states and apprised them about the strategy. With
the inter-state operations, the CRPF can now enter other states
and continue their anti-Maoist operations without any barriers.
The Nainital Police issued warrants
against nine suspects in connection with "inflammatory"
slogans written by suspected of CPI-Maoist cadres on the walls
of houses in a village of Nainital District of Uttarakhand. Police
have also announced a bounty of INR 10,000 on one of the suspects
Kheench Singh Bora. Police said Bora alias Vijay Nehru
alias Prabhakar, a resident of Someshwar in Almora District
of Uttarakhand, had been active in Naxals related activities
in the State. Nainital SSP, Janmejay Khanduri said, "Intense
search and combing operations are going on. All suspects are on
our watch and we will soon locate people who were behind the incident."
The Madras High Court has confirmed
life imprisonment for three belonging to TNLA. They were involved
in a groups attack at the Puthur Police Station in Cuddalore District
of Tamil Nadu on April 6, 1991. TNLA is the armed wing of TNCPML,
a splinter group of the CPI-ML. The HC bench has now confirmed
life term only for Suba Elavarasan alias Pandian alias
Vallavan, Kumar alias Gopalsamy and Amulraj alias
Selvam.
Police and paramilitary CRPF recovered
a cache of arms and ammunition during a search operation in Ganderbal
District. A joint party of Police and 118 BN (Battalion) CRPF
busted a militant hideout in Fraw area of Gund tehsil of
the District. SFs recovered two AK 47 magazines, 32 rounds, a
5-kilograms gas cylinder and few biscuit packets were recovered
during the operation.
SFs arrested a LeT militant from
Nowpora Payeen village of Lassipora in Pulwama District. Police
said that based upon specific input, SFs including Police and
Army’s 55 RR launched a cordon and search operation at Nowpora
area of the District, during which a local militant identified
as Manzoor Ahmad was arrested, along with one pistol, two pistol
rounds, 36 AK rounds, one Chinese grenade, two pistol magazines,
one pouch and first aid kit, from the possession of the arrested
militant. During the cordon and search operation, locals came
out of their houses and pelted stone on Police and Army. Police
fired several teargas shells on protesters and also resorted to
aerial firing to break up the stone pelting protest. However,
no protester was injured in the clashes and later the cordon was
lifted by forces.
AR arrested two senior leaders
and a suspected militant of the UDLA at inter-State boundary of
Assam and Mizoram. The arrested militants were identified as UDLA's
‘army chief’ Raj Kumar Reang, ‘financial secretary’ Neta Rai Reang
and the suspected cadre Mela Rai Reang. The arrested militants
were handed over to the Assam Police as they were arrested within
the jurisdiction of Assam.
|
February 4
|
India has been asked to send the
name of its nominee for inclusion in a global team to assist a
UN committee which decides on banning terror outfits and their
leaders. Following the request, the ministries of Home Affairs
and Finance have been asked to recommend names of suitable individuals
who can be part of the key team, official sources said.
The presence of the country's
nominee on the panel may facilitate the government's efforts to
get Masood Azhar, head of JeM, banned, they said. India's effort
to get Azhar listed in the UN's sanctions list of organisations
and individuals linked to Al-Qaida and IS (Islamic State) has
been repeatedly blocked by China. The nominations have been sought
from qualified individuals to serve on the 'Analytical Support
and Sanctions Monitoring Team' in support of the important '1267/1989/2253
ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee'.
In some declassified reports of
CIA of the United States of America, it was revealed that the
North Eastern militant groups had been receiving Chinese assistance
in terms of arms and training since 1960s. The CIA report was
submitted on July 26, 1968 and from the report it is evident that
the militant groups of the Northeast were receiving help from
China even during that time. The report said that the Naga militants
first established contacts with China in December, 1966. The report
revealed that the first batch of approximately 200 militants crossed
over to Northern Burma (now Myanmar) to obtain arms training in
Yunnan.
Police said that the ‘chief’ of
the ASAK militant, Reding T. Sangma, who is currently on the run,
is reportedly using Bangladeshi mobile SIM cards to avoid detection.
According to the Police the militant leader is also using other
modern software which is easily available in the market to avoid
Police tracking.
In some declassified reports of
CIA of the United States of America, it was revealed that the
North Eastern militant groups had been receiving Chinese assistance
in terms of arms and training since 1960s. The CIA report was
submitted on July 26, 1968 and from the report it is evident that
the militant groups of the Northeast were receiving help from
China even during that time. The report said that the Naga militants
first established contacts with China in December, 1966. The report
revealed that the first batch of approximately 200 militants crossed
over to Northern Burma (now Myanmar) to obtain arms training in
Yunnan.
A senior official of the State
Home department of Mizoram said that the date for the fourth round
of peace talks between the Mizoram Government and the Manipur
based HPC-D would soon be fixed. The official said that the meeting
of Home department officials to be chaired by Additional Secretary
Lalbiakzama. While from the HPC-D side, the delegation would be
led by the working ‘chairman’ L T Hmar.
According to the security sources,
Assam is a vulnerable place in the North East for the increasing
Jihadi threat. Potential risk according to the sources includes
existence of sleeper cells in the State. The source also said
that in recent promotional videos, jihadi groups mentioned about
the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in BTAD area for several times.
Sources also pointed out that growing presence of the jihadi elements
in Bangladesh like JMB, which has affiliation with Islamic State
is also a serious matter of concern for India, particularly for
the Northeast.
Several CPI-Maoist posters bearing
the signature of CPI-Maoist Secretary Umakanta Mishra were found
at several places in Sikarpai of Kalyansinghpur area in Rayagada
District of Odisha. In the posters, the Maoist rebels have asked
people to abstain from the panchayat polls. Earlier, the
Maoists had put posters in Malkangiri and Koraput Districts threatening
people to boycott the upcoming panchayat polls in Odisha.
The landmine blast on Sunki ghat
road in Koraput District of Odisha on February 1, and killing
of a ward member in Mathili block in Malkangiri District on February
2, by CPI-Maoist cadres is part of a series of attacks planned
by Naxals to avenge the Ramaguda encounter in Malkangiri
District on October 24 – 27, 2016, where 30 Maoists were killed,
says Odisha Police. The landmine blast at the Sunki ghat road
was well planned and executed by the Maoists, sources said. Police
of both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh suspect that Nandapur area committee
led by Andruu, Narayanpatna area committee led by Chaitanya alias
Aruna and also the Maoists military PLGA team third CRC company
were involved in the action. The main role was played by the Nandapur
area committee, the sources said. According to the sources, generally,
Maoists never attack unarmed cops, but they did it at Sunki ghat
road in a desperate attempt to boost the morale of the cadres
who were losing confidence after the Ramaguda encounter on October
24, 2016.
A senior Police officer said,
"The victims were all newly recruited cops who got jobs through
a court direction and were going for training. Naxals had
knowledge about the movement of the cops from the starting point
at Koraput District of Odisha. They planted the landmine under
a culvert on the highway that was busy with vehicular movement.
Hitting the target in such a manner shows that it was a pre-planned
execution. Maoists knew that the minivan was coming. They ignited
wires to detonate the landmine by using a flash. They knew exactly
that the bus carrying the newly recruited drivers did not have
weapons. Usually, when Naxals attack cops they loot the
arms. They also fire at those who survive the attack. But, here
nothing like that happened. There were no arms and no firing on
the injured persons. This shows the Maoists had knowledge of every
detail." As per the inputs, around 40 to 50 Maoists including
30 women cadres participated in the action.
Police and SFs thwarted a major
terrorist action by killing two HM militants in an encounter in
Sopore area in Baramulla District. SFs launched an operation in
Amargarh area in Sopore following information about presence of
militants in the area. When challenged, the militants lobbed a
grenade and fired upon the Police party in which SP operation
Baramulla, Shafqat Hussain and SI, Mohammad Murtaza were injured.
Two AK series rifles, one pistol, four hand grenades and other
arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site. The
two militants have been identified as Azhar Khan of Kupwara and
Sajjad Ahmed Lone, a resident of Eidipora Bomai in Sopore. Sajjad
had gone to Pakistan in March 2016 via Wagah border.
|
February 5
|
Gujarat ATS arrested a person
suspected to be involved in a conspiracy to spread terror in the
state to avenge attacks on Muslims during the 2002 post-Godhra
riots. Based on a specific tip off, a team of the squad officials
arrested Javed Chauhan (38) from a village in Chhota Udepur District,
an ATS release said. According to ATS officials, he was part of
a larger conspiracy of spreading terror in the state to avenge
the killing of Muslims during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
In a statement, the disbanded
ANVC-B threatened to work against the Indian National Congress
party led Meghalaya MUA-II Government in the upcoming 2018 assembly
elections in Garo Hills area. In the statement the ANVC-B alleged
that the Government had not respected the peace agreement signed
by them and the State Government including the Central Government
of India. The statement further accused the State Government that
they had been trying to ‘create division’ between the ‘leadership’
and the general cadres of the ANVC-B.
The protestors are all set to
enforce a “total bandh” (general shutdown) on State Government
offices and vehicles for an indefinite period starting from February
6. “The Chief Minister is solely responsible for all the trouble.
He is responsible for the death of two youths in police firing
outside his residence in Dimapur on January 31. He is also responsible
for the mob fury that led to the burning down of so many government
offices in Kohima on February 3,” said, explaining their position,
K T Vilie, ‘convener’ of the NTAC. However the NTAC, Kohima, and
the JCC, Dimapur, relaxed the indefinite strike on Sunday (today)
to allow people to attend Church services.
DGP of Assam, Mukesh Sahay, said
that the peace talk with KPLT militant would be started soon.
Earlier on January 30, the Assam Government announced to withhold
counter-insurgency operations against KPLT till April 20. This
followed the declaration of a six-month unilateral ceasefire from
October 20, 2016, by the KPLT.
The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a
tribal man identified as Parsika Pullaiah (45), in Chintoor Mandal
of agency area of East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. A
group of four to six armed CPI-Maoist cadres surrounded Pullaiah
in broad daylight, opened fire and fled. CPI-Maoist alleged Pullaiah
as a ‘Police informer’. East Godavari, SP, M Ravi Prakash told
that Pullaiah was a trader working in Bhadrachalam for the past
one year and was in no way connected to the Police.
A DRG, Constable Pratap Singh
Markam, was injured when an IED blast triggered by Naxals
in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place
in the wee hours between Nayanar and Gatam villages under Katekalyan
Police Station limits when a team of SFs was out on an anti-Naxal
Operation, told SHO, Vijay Patel.
A CPI-Maoist cadre, Dhiraj Singh,
was arrested from Jobang in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand.
A Pakistani infiltrator was arrested
by the BSF personnel from the IB in Ramgarh sector of Samba District.
Official sources said Jawans on duty observed suspicious movement
across the IB near Balhad Post along Basantar River in Ramgarh
sector this afternoon. They rushed and challenged the suspect,
who had intruded deep inside the Indian Territory and arrested
Mansheer (25), a resident of Kingra Morh in Sabekote area of Pakistan.
SFs recovered a 7.56 mm pistol,
one magazine, three live rounds and two hand-made grenades from
the residence of Emdadul Haque at Dhupaguri area under Dhing Police
Station in Nagaon District. Emdadul Haque was detained by the
SFs after the recovery.
|
February 6
|
As per the report titled ‘A New
US Approach to Pakistan: Enforcing Aid Conditions without Cutting
Ties’ which will be released in Washington DC on February 10.
Pakistan’s military continues to support terrorist groups that
attack India to keep it “off balance” and draws international
mediation into dispute over Kashmir, according to the report.
“Pakistani military leaders continue to support terrorist groups
that attack India in an effort to keep it off balance and to draw
international mediation into the dispute with India over Kashmir,”
said the report.
Nine Indians joined the IS in
2016 - eight from Tamil Nadu and one from Telangana, the NIA learnt
from the central security agencies that interrogated three people
who were deported from Abu Dhabi for recruiting Indian for IS.
According to the report, the NIA's
FIR which was registered on Republic day, both in the capital
and in Chennai, says that the agency took custody of the three
men who were working in Abu Dhabi on behalf of IS. Sheikh Azhar
Al Islam Abdul Sattar Sheikh, Mohammed Farhan Maohammed Rafiq
Shaikh and Adnan Hussain Mohammed Hussain were working to 'identify,
motivate, radicalise, recruit and train Indian citizena located
both in India and other countries for planning and executing terrorist
attacks in India and other friendly countries'
The agency's probe has reportedly
revealed that a module of nine persons, all below the age of 30,
had managed to join IS in Syria. The group left India for Dubai
and then headed to Syria. Following the direction of the UMHA,
a case has been filed under section 120B (criminal conspiracy)
of the IPC, sections 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist
acts), 18 (punishment for conspiracy), 18B (punishment for recruiting
for terrorist act), 20 (for being member of terrorist gang) and
38 (for being associated with a terrorist organisation) among
others.
Police arrested six militants
of ATF at Dharamtul, near Bishnu Mandir in Morigaon District.
The arrested militants were identified as ‘Nagaon district commander’
Milan Bhuyan, Bihu Kurung, CR Mangyang, Rajen Garh, Ajoy Singh
Ghatowar and Rasraj Biswash. Police recovered six 7 .65 mm pistols,
96 live rounds, 6 cartridges, 10 mobile handsets, ATM card, PAN
Card, cash INR 5,000 and lots of objectionable materials from
the possession of the arrested militants. According to the Police,
the ATF has links with Maoists groups and the Maoists are assisting
the force with money and sophisticated arms.
State Water Resources Minister
Keshav Mahanta informed the Assembly that the Union Government
is examining the feasibility of sealing the unfenced portion of
Indo-Bangladesh border, comprising riverine and char areas, in
the State by using ‘high tech physical and non-physical barrier’
technology. “Out of the total length of 280.06 kilometers of Indo-Bangladesh
border in Assam, fencing work for 208.65 kilometers has been completed,”
the Mahanta informed the Assembly. Mahanta further said that out
of 71.41 kilometers unfenced area, 6.5 kilometers is land area
and the rest is a composition of riverine / char (river isles)
/ bridge and culverts. Out of the unfenced land area border, 3.5
km is under Karimganj Town area and discussion is going on in
between BSF and BBG. The settlement of disputes and land acquisition
process for the remaining 3 kilometers area, also under Karimganj
District, is going on. Bridges and culverts account for 3.696
kilometers along the unfenced border. “For the riverine and char
area, feasibility study and examination is going on to seal these
areas using ‘high tech physical and non-physical barrier’ technology
by the Government of India,” the Minister informed the House.
Flood lighting works had already been completed along the border
and work was in progress for electricity service connection to
the installed lights, the State Water Resources Minister Keshav
Mahanta added.
A non-political organisation,
BJSM opposed the move of the BTC authority for providing 500 acres
of land to the members of the ULFA-PTF in BTC area. The issue
of land allotment came during a meeting held recently in Kokrajhar,
between the leaders of ULFA-PTF led by Anup Chetia and the BTC
Chief for uniting the ULFA-PTF cadres in BTAD.
The Chhattisgarh Police killed
Sukhram Lekam alias Sukku, a Janatana Sarkar President
of the CPI-Maoist, in an exchange of fire at Pedia in Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered a 12 bore rifle,
10 cells, and other CPI-Maoist material from the encounter spot.
An armed group of JJJMP cadres
attacked heavy machinery and vehicles near CCL’s Sikni colliery
in Latehar District of Jharkhand. JJMP is a splinter group of
the CPI-Maoist.
Gurubari Munda (32), a member
of Munda squad of the CPI-Maoist was arrested by SFs at Bhakar
forests in Ghurabandha block of Ghatshila in East Singhbhum District
of Jharkhand.
The NIA has booked a case against
LWEs for the Hirakhand Express derailed around midnight on January
21, 2017. The Bhubaneswar-bound Hirakhand train mishap happened
in Kuneru on the AOB border and killed more than 46 passengers.
The State Home Department of Maharashtra
Government has allotted two helicopters to the Naxal affected
District administration of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra.
The election in Gadchiroli is scheduled from February 16 and February
21. The elections will be conducted in two phases. The aim to
allot helicopters is to ensure that the Gram Panchayat
and Zilla Parishad elections are conducted smoothly and
the election staff, Police officials and electoral machinery is
transported to the Naxal affected poll bound city safely.
The BSF thwarted an intrusion
bid at IB, which originated from Pakistan side, in Samba sector
in Samba District, followed by heavy mortar shelling and firing
in the forward areas. Official sources said a group of heavily
armed militants reached close to the IB on Pakistan side taking
advantage of undulating ground in Samba sector and opened heavy
firing on the BSF personnel deployed on duty mound in forward
areas with automatic weapons. The BSF personnel swiftly organized
coordinated effected fire over the militants and forced them to
retreat to Pakistan.
|
February 7
|
The suspected IS Chennai module,
which had a Telangana native in its ranks, received funds from
unknown sources in Syria at the behest of the banned outfit. NIA
had registered a case in the last week of January against nine
members of the module on the charge of working for Islamic State.
Of the nine-member module, only one person actually joined the
terrorist outfit, while the rest failed to reach Syria, NIA officials
said.
The IS sympathisers had reportedly
organised several meetings and even chalked out plans to reach
the terror hinterland to work in the so-called caliphate. "Based
on information available with us, only one person from Chennai
reached Syria. Prima facie, we have information that the module
got funding from abroad and they were at an advanced stage of
executing their plans to reach Syria," the NIA officials
told. They were still in the process of identifying the place
where they undertook training in Tamil Nadu. The IS module member
from the state is suspected to be from Karimnagar in North Telangana
and the state Police was unwilling to disclose his identify. Though
he hails from Telangana, he had been working in Chennai. It is
through social media the nine came to know each other.
The NIA has begun probing the
angle of sabotage in the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Pukhrayan
area of Kanpur Dehat district, which had claimed 147 lives on
November 20, 2016. On January 27, NIA’s Lucknow unit had lodged
a case against unidentified persons on charges including culpable
homicide not amounting to murder. It had done so after Moti Paswan
who was arrested last month for allegedly attempting to blow up
railway tracks in Bihar’s East Champaran District, claimed to
have planted a cooker bomb on the tracks at Pukhrayan with the
help of his associates, causing the derailment.
NIA has also invoked the Railways
Act and UAPA in the case. A team of officials is presently camping
in Pukhrayan for the investigation. “Apart from the Pukhrayan
train derailment case, we have also registered a case in East
Champaran district. Investigation is ongoing in both cases,” said
Alok Mittal, IG, NIA. Sources said the agency had registered two
cases as they suspected that the derailment was a “terror act”.
NIA special court in Punjab, issued
proclamation notices against JeM 'chief' Masood Azhar and three
others in connection with the January 2016 Pathankot terror attack
case. Apart from Azhar, the notices were issued against Abdul
Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan. According to the agency’s
chargesheet, Azhar along with his brother Abdul Rauf, Latif and
Jan masterminded the Pathankot attack.
Latif and Jan were the key handlers
of the four attackers and gave them directions all the way from
their infiltration into India till the beginning of the attack.
The proclamation notice, which has been issued under section 82
of Criminal Procedure Code, will have to be published in newspapers,
including in Pakistan, NIA sources said. The agency had filed
the chargesheet last December against Masood Azhar and the three
others for plotting the terror strike that left seven Indian security
personnel dead and 37 injured. The chargesheet is part of documents
used by India for advocating its case for imposing UN sanctions
against Azhar.
The ‘c-in-c’ Jharu Lohar alias
Horen Karmakar of the NSCA militant surrendered before Police
in Sonitpur District. The militant also deposited one 9mm pistol,
two magazines and large number of ammunition. According to the
Police, the militant was accused in the murder case of ACMS Secretary
Niranjan Patra at Koliabor, killing of the accountant of Singlijan
Tea estate in Dibrugarh, killings at Khatkhati in Karbi Anglong
District and abduction cases in past years.
SFs recovered one .22 mm pistol,
five rounds live bullets and one IED from the residence of Ali
Akbar at Tuktuki under Dhing Police Station in Nagaon District.
The BSF arrested three illegal
citizens of Bangladesh from Baghmara in South Garo Hills District
and another one at Lalghat in South West Garo Hills District.
The arrested illegal Bangladeshi citizens were identified as Mohammad
Rukoddin (18), Sharif Miya (15), Mohammad Ridul Islam (16) and
Mohammad Zuwel Miya (20).
In a statement the NSCN-IM militant
asked all business establishment and shops of Dimapur to remain
closed on Sundays with ‘immediate effect’. The militant group
also threatened ‘stern action against defaulters’ in their statement.
With the death of one of the persons
injured in clashes of January 31, over ULB elections in Nagaland,
the total death in the violence has raised to three.
Nagaland CM T.R.Zeliang informed
that the border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border by the Myanmar
Government at Pangsha in Tuensang District has been stopped with
the intervention of the Central Government of India.
After the tripartite agreement
signed on January 30 with the JCC and NBCC, CM T.R. Zeliang apologized
to JCC and NBCC for the recent turmoil in the State regarding
the ULB election. Citing the tripartite agreement, he said that
since JCC had agreed to support 33% women reservation, the State
Government had intended to declare partial conduct of the ULB
election in those areas where there was no opposition.
SFs arrested two militants of
KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup, identified as Sanjenbam Ningthem Singh
(40) and Wankhem Bihari Singh (34), in Kabowakching area of Bishnupur
District.
One PLA/ RPF militant, identified
as Naorem Indrakumar Meitei (36) arrested by SFs at Thanga Ngaram
Machin in Bishnupur District.
SFs arrested one militant of NSCN-K,
identified as Soraisam Milan Singh (47), at Heirangoithong in
Imphal West District.
The UNC decided to continue their
agitation until the State Government withdraws the decision to
declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged Districts. The
decision was taken in an emergency ‘presidential council’ meeting
of UNC in Senapati District. The meet was held to consider the
outcome of the tripartite talk involving Central Government of
India, State Government and UNC in New Delhi on February 3. Meanwhile,
the Central Government of India expressed its disappointment over
the issue. A meeting took place in Imphal where representative
from the UHM, State Government and UNC participated. But the outcome
of the meeting was quite disappointing for the Central Government.
The sources of the Central Government expressing its disappointment
said that the Manipur Government was not cooperating and the UNC
was taking ‘a different stand’.
In a statement the ANSF accused
the State Government of ignoring the safety and security of the
people of insurgency-affected Tirap, Changlang and Longding District.
ANSF mentioned about the activities of the NSCN-K and NSCN-IM
in their statement. They further urged the UHM and Union Minister
of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to intervene in the matter and
take appropriate measures to stop skirmishes and bring back peace
and normalcy in the area.
A group of Naxals fired
at the CISF troops at Deposit No. 5, atop Bailadila Hills near
Kirandul town in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The CPI-Maoist
cadres attacked vehicles of NMDC carrying explosives. They looted
explosives and detonators and held employees hostage who have
now been freed. They also set ablaze burnt machinery and two vehicles.
There are no reports of death or injury.
Police said it have arrested miscreants
who pelted stones on vehicles at Baramulla town last week. “In
the evening of February 4 (Saturday) a group of miscreants boarding
three vehicles appeared in Baramulla market near Karripa Park
and started pelting stones on vehicles and created law and order
problem,” a Police spokesman said. He said all these miscreants
were detained and a case was registered in Baramulla Police Station.
Sub-Judge/Judicial Magistrate
first Class, Rajesh Kumar ID Abrol of Chadoora in Budgam District,
denied bail to two militants of HM outfit. According to the prosecution
case, the militants identified as Younis Bashir of Checkpora and
Adil Ahmed of Lasjan were arrested under Sections 419, 506, 387,
511 and 120B RPC at Nowgam Police Station on the basis of the
complaint filed by Mohammad Amin Bhat of Checkpora. These militants
were demanding INR 500,000 from the complainant for HM outfit
with the warning that he and his family will face the consequences
of death if the complainant failed to follow their directive.
The J&K Police has prepared
a report, warning about the possibility of a ‘more dangerous repetition
of 2016’ after March and highlighted the ‘lack of the preparedness
to handle such crisis on part of the civil administration and
Police’. DG of the J&K Police SP Vaid confirmed that there
were reports of ‘possible unrest after March’ but maintained that
Police was ready to handle any ‘law and order’ situation, adding
that APHC leaders who lead such agitations were to be ‘squarely
blamed’ for the consequences. The report submitted to the chief
minister’s office in January sees joint APHC leadership of Syed
Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer and Yasin Malik as a ‘threat to peace’
and their ‘unification on Pakistan’s insistence a trouble’. “The
mass contact programme of Hurriyat leaders and their meetings
with their small constituents are a matter of concern. And by
reaching out to victims of the 2016 unrest, they are reaching
out to the common man and thus preparing the ground for another
unrest,” the report said.
|
February 8
|
Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar
said that nuclear terrorism is an international threat that should
not serve national strategy. "The power of the atom is wondrous
and it has benefited mankind in various ways. The scientific community
has also played a vital role in harnessing the nuclear energy
but the negative consequences of atomic power cannot be ignored.
World has witnessed immense destructive power of the atom,"
Jaishankar said.
Police recovered 40 pieces of
fake INR 2000 notes from West Bengal's Murshidabad District, officials
said, reports indiablooms.com. According to Police reports, acting
on a tip off, Police booked a suspect- Ajijur Rahman- from Chatra
Ghat area under Islampur Police Station limits in Murshidabad
District and seized FICN INR 2000 notes with face value of INR
80,000 rupees from his possession.
At least 50 persons were injured
in sporadic clashes during a 12-hour bandh (shutdown) called
by the ATIRPF in TTAADC area, to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment)
Bill, 2016, introduced by the BJP-led NDA. The INPT, IPFT and
the NCT last month (January) formed the ATIRPF to oppose the bill.
The bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016 and now under the
scrutiny of a parliamentary committee, seeks to enable Hindus,
Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who have fled
to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh without valid
travel documents or those whose valid documents have expired in
recent years, to acquire Indian citizenship through the process
of naturalization.
The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a
tribal trader identified as M Jeenabandhu (30) in the agency area
of Munchingput mandal in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra
Pradesh. The CPI-Maoist cadres killed him after branding
him as a ‘Police informer’.
A PLFI cadre, Arvind Gope, was
arrested at Sirka village in Murhu Tehsil of Khunti of
Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
Police arrested Vinod Marandi,
Chief of the RCC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, in Gaya
District of Bihar. Police also recovered 7 Kilogram of Ganja.
The arrested Maoist was involved in a parcel bomb explosion in
which a close aide of Tekari, MLA Abhay Kushwaha was killed at
Kujapi village in 2015.
Two PLFI cadres were killed and
five others injured in an exchange of fire with SFs in the Pital
Forest under the Bisra Police limits in Sundargarh District of
Odisha. SFs recovered 11 magazines; an AK-47 rifle and
eight other guns, 190 live bullets, 45 mobile phones, clothes
and shoes were seized from the spot. PLFI is a splinter group
of the CPI-Maoist.
Sunderbani Police arrested nine
persons along with two weapons (.12 bore guns), in Rajouri District
and busted a racket involved in making fake gun licenses and recovered
13 such licenses from their possession.
|
February 9
|
India hit out at China for its
remarks that there was no consensus over the US' proposal to ban
JeM 'chief' Masood Azhar at the UN, saying if there is a change
in the Chinese position, there will be a consensus as well. External
Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said the matter
has been taken up with the Chinese Ambassador in Delhi and a similar
demarche is being made in Beijing.
Observing that the proposal was
not moved by India but by three permanent members of the UN Security
Council the US, the UK and France, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson
Vikas Swarup described it as a "classic counter-terrorism
proposal" and hoped that China will also come around to accept
this view. "It is our understanding that this was a classic
counter- terrorism proposal meant to proscribe a dreaded terrorist
leader Masood Azhar whose organisation the JeM has already been
proscribed by the UN 1267 Committee.
The NIA filed a charge sheet against
two persons in connection with its probe in the alleged indoctrination
of Kerala youths to join terror group IS. The agency filed the
charge sheet in a special court here against Arshi Qureshi (47)
alias Arshid, a resident of Thane, Maharashtra who has been arrested
by the agency, and Abdul Rashid Abdulla (30), hailing from Kasaragod
in Kerala, who is absconding. The NIA said it has charged the
two for "their involvement in unlawful activities and in
spreading hatred against India and for providing support to the
proscribed terrorist organisation IS by furthering its activities",
under various sections of the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act-UAPA.
Unidentified militants gunned
down two civilians, Bakul Rabha(40) and Saru (35), at Chengapara
village under Kolaigaon Police Station in Udalguri District. Militants
also set ablaze the hut of the deceased couple. The Police Personnel
who reached the spot after being informed by local residents found
the charred bodies of the deceased couple along with 25 rounds
of empty bullets. "Since we found bullets, we are certain
about the involvement of militants in the incident but we are
yet to pinpoint the group. Both ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS are active
in the area and we are trying to identify the assailants,"
a Police official in Udalguri said. Villagers told the Police
that the couple could have been killed as they were suspected
to be informers of SFs.
Suspected militants belonging
to TPLA abducted an auto-rickshaw driver, identified as Robin
Thapa (26), at an area between Motbung and Keithelmanbi in Senapati
District. According to the sources, the militant group served
extortion demands to auto-rickshaw associations operating along
the Highway particularly in between Sekmai and Motbung last month
(January).
In a press release, the militant
group UNLF said that their ‘armed wing’ the MPA had observed its
30th ‘raising day’ in different parts of the State and at other
places.
The NTAC volunteers damaged one
gypsy belonging to State Police department at high school junction
Kohima, during the ongoing indefinite bandh (general shutdown)
against the Government offices and Government vehicles, over the
issues of elections to ULBs. NTAC, which is enforcing the total
bandh (general shutdown) on State Government offices and
vehicles for an indefinite period starting from February 6, is
demanding the resignation of Chief Minister T R Zeliang and his
cabinet following the killing of three youths in Police firing
incident on January 31, during the protest over conducting ULB
elections with 33% women reservation.
Based on specific input, 5 AR
in an operation, arrested two NSCN-K militants, identified as
‘sergeant major’ Ivuto Chophy and ‘corporal’ Kunovi, from Sumi
Gate area in Zunheboto District. According to PRO of IGAR-N the
arrested duo was indulging in extortion activities at Zunheboto
town. PRO stated that, the cadres were in possession of an extortion
note addressed to the engineer, Irrigation Department of Zunheboto.
State Governor P B Acharya declared
the entire process of elections to ULBs in the State, which was
strongly opposed by Naga tribal groups, as null and void. State
Election Commissioner Sentiyanger Imchen also in a notification
said following the Governor’s decision the election programme
for the ULBs, notified on December 21 last year, is now null and
void. Earlier, on February 2, the state Cabinet had decided to
declare the election process null and void.
The NSCN-K militant released a
press statement over the issue of ULB election and the subsequent
violence in the State and said that the State Government ‘should
pave way for people’s interest’. It also condemned the State Government
for the recent violence in the State over the issues of ULB election
in their statement.
A Jagdalpur-based organisation
anti-Maoist organisation AGNI dissolved itself in Jagdalpur District
of Chhattisgarh. The AGNI has organised almost 15-16 rallies during
the past one year across the Bastar region protesting against
the CPI-Maoist activities and violence. One of them, called `Lalkar'
rally, was convened by the outfit in Jagdalpur in September 2016
and attended by thousands of people. Civil rights groups and some
local journalists have dubbed the AGNI as another version of the
anti-Maoist militia Salwa Judum, which was banned by the Supreme
Court in 2011.
A former Naxal, Phulo Markam
was found killed in Jagdalpur District of Chhattisgarh. Markam
surrendered before Police along with 60 other CPI-Maoist cadres
in Darbha in April 2016 and had joined Police as a 'Gopaniya Sainik.
Phulo's brother Gagan alleged Constable Dinesh Sethia for Markam’s
death.
Sunki Ghat-like blast was averted
by CRPF at Lanjigarh Block in Kalahandi District of Odisha. A
bomb disposal squad of the CRPF from Rayagada led by Commandant
Manoj Sharma with the help of sniffer dog defused a 25 Kilogram
IED.
SOG personnel and CPI-Maoist cadres
exchanged fire during a combing operation at Kutudi forest under
Bijaghati Panchayat in Narayanpatna District of Odisha. No injuries
have been reported.
Two Police constables from Raigad
have arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre, Biljaram Buddharam (40), from
Dali village, in Palamu District of Jharkhand and brought to Mumbai
in Maharashtra by train.
|
February 10
|
An Abu Dhabi module of the IS
comprising three Indian youths, recruited eight men from Tamil
Nadu and one from Telangana, and even sent some of them to Syria
to join the IS, a probe by the NIA has revealed. The NIA registered
a case a fortnight ago regarding the recruitment “of nine persons
— eight hailing from Tamil Nadu and one from Telangana, and some
other unknown persons, with the intention to further the activities
of Daesh/ISIS, a banned terrorist organisation in India”.
According to NIA case records,
a criminal conspiracy was hatched “in Chennai and other parts
of the country by forming a terrorist gang which raised and received
funds, organised camps, recruited and trained some persons, and
facilitated their travel to Syria, to join ISIS”. The Abu Dhabi
module was neutralised in January 2016 following the arrest and
deportation of the three Indians from the UAE: Adnan Hussain from
Karnataka, Mohammed Farhan from Maharashtra and Sheikh Azhar Al
Islam from Kashmir.
The records show they were accused
by the NIA of being “involved in a conspiracy to identify, motivate,
radicalise, recruit and train Indian citizens located both in
India and other countries for planning and executing terrorist
attacks in India and in other friendly countries”.
ATS from Mumbai detained a suspected
SIMI operative from Khajrana area of Indore (Madhya Pradesh).
The suspect identified as Jadil Parvez was held from Khijrabad
Colony in the area where he had been living since the past 2-3
months, ATS sources claimed. Jadil, who hails from Unhel town
of Ujjain District, had allegedly been living with his sister
Heena.
Two militants of GPRN/NSCN, identified
as ‘guard commander of Ao region’ Merentoshi and ‘major’ Tongpang,
were abducted by NSCN-IM militants from Tzuremen village area
in Mokokchung District.
The JCC informed that it would
intensify the ongoing bandh (total shutdown) indefinitely
starting February 13 if the CM T.R. Zeliang does not resign within
the ‘3-day deadline’ given by the JCC and NTAC that expires February
10 midnight. Further, a meeting of the legislature party of the
ruling DAN supported CM T.R Zeliang on the whole issue and appealed
to the agitators to end the indefinite strike and engage with
the Government.
The Chairman of JIC and interlocutor
for the Naga peace-talks, Mr R. N. Ravi said that ongoing economic
blockade in Manipur may have an impact on the peace-talks. JIC
Chairman RN Ravi said, “The Naga issue can’t be dealt in political
isolation. Naga neighbours are important stakeholders. A durable
solution is not possible by disregarding neighbours’ sentiment
and confrontational attitude towards them.” The news report further
adds that over the stubborn attitude displayed by the NSCN-IM
over Manipur, Mr Ravi had said, “It is bound to impact the tenor
and character of further talks with NSCN-IM.”Notably, the Manipur
based UNC is spearheading the economic blockade in the State for
over three months and two rounds of meetings with the stakeholders
to resolve the crisis has failed to elicit any result. UNC is
protesting against creation of seven new Districts in the State
of Manipur.
The CLP, in a meeting chaired
by CM Okram Ibobi Singh, unanimously passed a resolution urging
the Central Government of India to declare the UNC as an unlawful
organisation for imposing the indefinite economic blockade on
the NHs and banning construction and developmental activities
of National and State projects.
A Naxalite was killed in
an exchange of fire with SFs in a dense forest under Basaguda
Police Station in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. SFs
recovered the body of a male CPI-Maoist cadre along with weapon,
grenades and Naxal-related material from the spot.
A villager, Barse Deva (32), was
found killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres near Lakhanpal village under
Chintalnar Police Station limits in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.
The victim was picked up by armed rebels from his native place
Konanguda, in the night of February 8, Police said.
A CPI-Maoist was killed in an
exchange of fire with SFs in a dense forest pocket of Bilaspur
District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered the body of a male
Maoist cadre along with weapon, grenades and Naxal -related
material from the spot.
SFs recovered arms including one
AK-47 rifle, its three magazines and 26 cartridges, one carbine,
its one magazine and 35 cartridges after an exchange of fire with
the Maoists in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh.
The newly appointed IG of Bastar
Range in Chhattisgarh, Sundarraj P asserted that “aggressive”
operations against the Naxals will continue. Sundarraj
said, “Security Forces are in a dominating position. The aggressiveness
(in the operation) will be continued.”
A villager, Birwal Murmu (25),
was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Virangatta village under
the Madhuwan Police Station in Giridih District of Jharkhand.
The Maoists accused him of being a ‘Police informer’.
The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
two earthmoving machines, two tractors and a water tanker in Rayagada
District of Odisha. The vehicles belonged to a contractor
engaged in road construction near Sandengleli in Parsali Panchayat
under Kalyansinghpur Block of the District.
The CPI-Maoist calling for the
boycott of the February 15 Assembly Elections in Uttarakhand,
painted slogans in Someshwar in Almora District of Uttarakhand
.
Posters, banners and painted slogans were found at various
places in and around Someshwar.
During a joint operation by the
Army and the Police, a major terrorist hideout was busted at Mislai
Bonjwah area in Kishtwar District of J&K. SFs recovered a
huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the location, which
included one AK-47 rifle with 450 rounds, 224 Pika ammunitions,
one UBGL, two UBGL ammunitions and one binocular.
CRPF and SOG arrested a militant
from Janbazpora area in Baramulla District. Police said that a
local militant, Irshad Ahmad Khwaja, a resident of Seelo village,
was arrested after specific information by a team of SOG of J&K
Police and 53 BN CRPF. One pistol, two magazines and a hand grenade
were recovered from his possession.
SFs arrested one NSCN-IM militant,
identified as Nokme Hakun at Pahar village under Margherita Police
Station in Tinsukia District.
|
February 11
|
A tape was released by ‘secretary’
of Bansadhara, Ghumusar and Nagabali Division of the CPI-Maoist,
Umakant at Malkangiri District of Odisha. The tape threatened
villagers of calling for poll boycott in three southern Odisha
Districts, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Rayagada.
SFs arrested a militant belonging
to ULFA-I, identified as Pranjal Nath alias Sailendra Asom
alias Protim Asom, at Jelehua Gaon under Dergaon Police
Station in Golaghat District. According to the sources, the militant
joined ULFA-I in 2011 and he had undergone training in Myanmar.
|
February 12
|
A magistrate court has discharged
Mirza Himayat Baig, along with alleged IM 'operative' Maulana
Shabbir Hussain Gangawali, in the case registered by the Maharashtra
ATS under the UAPA, for allegedly circulating jihadi literature
to Muslim youth in Pune, who were alleged members of the banned
SIMI. Judicial Magistrate (first class) V B Gulve Patil, Shivajinagar
Court, passed on order in this regard on December 22, 2016. It
may be recalled that Gangawali, a native of Bhatkal of Karnataka
and an alleged aide of IM founders Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, was
arrested by the Pune unit of the ATS on December 30, 2008, with
possession of 250 counterfeit notes of Rs 100 denomination at
a Janawadi mosque in Shivajinagar area.
A ‘leader’ of UKLF militant, identified
as Thangboi Haokip alias Jacob Thadou was arrested at Imphal
Tulihal Airport in Imphal East District after CISF posted at the
airport recovered 4 live round of 9 MM pistol with him. The CISF
handed him over to the Singjamei Police along with the recovered
ammunitions, but he was later released by the Police. UKLF is
signatory to SoO agreement with State and Union Government.
Violating the cease fire ground
rule with the GoI, the NSCN-IM opened a new ‘battalion’ called
‘Phungtha Battalion’ consisting 45 cadres of the group at Kangkum
Village in Ukhrul District.
Reacting on the CLP’s resolution,
for declaring UNC as an unlawful organisation, the UNC asked the
Manipur Government why they had participated in the tripartite
talk in New Delhi if the UNC was ‘unlawful’.
Demanding the resignation of CM
TR Zeliang from his post over the issues of ULBs election and
the subsequent violence in the State, JCC and NTAC, Kohima had
called for a total indefinite bandh (shutdown) in Nagaland
from 6 am to 6 pm daily from February 13.
Police Constable, Korsa Naga was
seriously injured in an exchange of fire with CPI-Maoist cadres
in a dense forest pocket of Bhejji Police Station limits in Sukma
District of Chhattisgarh. The skirmish took place in the
forest coming under Bhejji Police Station limits when a joint
team of STF and DRG was out on a counter-insurgency operation,
SP, Indira Kalyan Elesela said.
Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested
by SFs from a forest of Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
A team of DRG had launched a counter-insurgency operation on February
9 towards Mohndi, Kutul and Kodliyar villages. The Maoist cadres
has been identified as Lakhma Varda (35), medical team member
Sayabi Varda (45), ‘militia commander’ Maalu Varda (31) and ‘militia
member’ Fagdu Usendi (25).
Chhattisgarh Police has set a
base camp in the Naxals’ stronghold of Bijapur District
of Chhattisgarh to expedite construction of a road on a national
highway that leads to the neighbouring Telangana State. The camp
was set up on February 8 near Taarud River between Bhadrakali
and Tarlaguda to particularly facilitate the construction of bridge
over the river on the under-construction strategically important
Bhopalpatnam-Bhadrakali-Tarlaguda road.
The opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala,
said that he is ready to take the initiative to facilitate negotiation
talks between the Government of Kerala and the CPI-Maoist, if
Maoists were ready to surrender their arms and create an atmosphere
of peace first.
The MDC of the CPI-Maoist in a
fresh banner has threatened the villagers to chop off the hands
of voters who defy its call to boycott the Panchayat elections
at Dekrikota in Malkangiri District of Odisha. Similar
posters were found in Rayagada District of Odisha calling for
Panchayat polls boycott.
The SEC had identified 27,422
booths as hypersensitive and sensitive. Out of the total, 8,491
booths are hypersensitive and 18,931 sensitive. Kandhamal District
has the maximum of 1,076 booths identified as hypersensitive.
According to data collated by
the NBDC of the NSG the areas affected by Naxalism saw
a 21 per cent increase in bomb blast incidents in 2016 as compared
to 2015. Casualties in such incidents went up by almost 60 per
cent, the NBDC said in its annual report. 65 per cent of all IED
blast casualties occurred in LWE-affected areas. According to
the report, the figures available till December 15, 2016; 1,420
Naxals surrendered last year as compared to 570 in 2015.
In Chhattisgarh, the IED incidents increased by 50 per cent and
Andhra Pradesh saw a five-fold increase over 2015. Odisha witnessed
an almost 100 per cent jump in IED incidents — from 15 blasts
in 2015 to 29 blasts in 2016. Only Jharkhand and Bihar witnessed
a decrease in IED incidents. Jharkhand witnessed nine IED explosions
in 2016 as compared to 15 in 2015. In Bihar, it was 10 against
12 in 2015.
Eight persons including four militants,
two Army personnel and equal number of civilians were killed and
around 24 civilians were injured in an encounter followed by clashes
in Kulgam District. Acting on specific information about the presence
of militants in Nagbal, Frisal area of the District, Kulgam Police
along with 1-RR and 18th Battalion of CRPF cordoned off the suspected
house and started the search operation, Police said. The four
militants killed in the encounter were identified as Farooq Ahmad
Bhat of Checki Dessand, Mohammad Younis Lone of Hawoora, both
were HM militants and Mudisir Ahmad Tantary alias Assim
of Redwani Kulgam and Wakeel Ahmad Thoker of Hadigam, both were
LeT militants. Two AK rifles, two pistols, one INSAS rifle and
ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. Further, people
in the area came out in street as the encounter was in progress
and pelted stones on SFs near the encounter site. The SFs fired
teargas and pellets in which around two dozen persons were injured,
out of which one Mushtaq Ibrahim Itoo succumbed to his injuries.
The separatists have called for
a strike on February 13 against the killing of two civilians.
Both the factions of APHC and JKLF have called for the general
strike against the killings.
Indian Railways suspect that sudden
rise in the number of train accidents in the recent past are the
act of sabotage. 'In 2017, in the first 40 days, there have already
been 16 cases and this is abnormally high,' Mohammed Jamshed,
Member Traffic, Railway Board stated. Terming it an 'abnormally
high', a top railways official said that most of these 16 instances
of rail sabotage in 2017 have occurred in non-traditional LWE-
affected areas, and does not carry the signature of Maoist subversive
activities. 'There were 45 incidents in 2016, including
seven blasts, three instances of track tampering, 27 cases of
sabotage and attempt to sabotage and eight agitation related incidents.
Moreover, Shamsul Hoda, who was arrested in Nepal in a murder
case is wanted by for allegedly funding terror plots that led
to train derailments in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Hirakhand in
Andhra Pradesh and a foiled attempt in Bihra's Ghorasan.
Two persons, identified as Subash
Agarwal and Shyam Sunder, were killed and two others injured by
CPI-Maoist cadres gunfire near Ramanitard in Bhelwaghati Panchayat
at Giridih District of Jharkhand. Sources said that these armed
cadres are from Maoist leader Surang Yadav's group. The reason
of the killing is not yet clear but Maoists were afraid of growing
popularity of the Government schemes and in anguish they were
taking such steps, SP Giridih, Akhlesh V Varier said.
Two-dozen armed cadres of the
TPC set ablaze the excavator and compressor machines of Hindalco
Industries at the Gurdari bauxite mines in Kathupani village in
Gumla District of Jharkhand. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
A female 'area commander' of the
CPI-Maoist, Kaushalia Kumari alias Sabita, was arrested
by the District Armed Police and CRPF from Tansia village in Seraikela-Kharsawan
District of Jharkhand. She was carrying a reward of INR 200,000
on her head.
At least five construction equipments
were torched by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Kulihamunda village of
Rengali Gram Panchayat under Khaparakhol block of Balangir
District of Odisha. 10 armed Maoist cadres including five
women cadres entered the camp of a local contractor, Md Illaish,
in Banjipali village at around 11 PM. The contractor was carrying
out road construction work for PWD from Ghunsar to Rengali.
AR arrested a linkman identified
as Alan Rai, who worked for both ULFA-I and NSCN-K, at Old Khamdo
village in Changlang District. According to the AR source, the
arrested linkman was involved in extortion cases and blank letters
bearing names of ULFA-I and NSCN-K were recovered from his possession.
During the interrogation, the linkman also revealed that he was
helping these two militant groups for four years and had regular
contact with the ''sergeant'' Rupam Asom of ULFA-I.
|
February 13 |
Protesters belonging to the DHDC
and the DDJAC, along with seven other organisations, who were
demanding for making Likabali as headquarter of Lower Siang District,
set ablaze the office of the SDO (civil) at Likabali. It was the
second day of the 96-hour general strike of the protesting organisations.
The second phase of indefinite
total bandh (shutdown) called by the JCC and NTAC along
with various tribal organisations, started in the entire State
has crippled normal life in the State. Business establishments,
educational institutions and Government offices remained closed
while vehicles were off the road during the bandh. However
no violent incident from any part of the State was reported so
far.
While, the organisations are demanding
resignation of CM TR Zeliang following the killing of two youths
in Police firing in Dimapur on January 31, the CM Addressed the
people of Nagaland in a broadcast by AIR in Kohima and appealed
the agitating organisations to lift the bandh. He specially
mentioned his concern over the board exams of the students which
were scheduled on February 14.
Mobile internet services and SMS
in the State remained suspended for the 15th day. In order to
thwart rumors, Nagaland Government snapped the services on January
30 after the public upheaval arising out of holding of ULB elections.
A top level meeting between former
Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, NSA Ajit Doval and JIC Chairman R.N Ravi
to discuss the current situation in Nagaland arising out of the
ULB elections was held. Neiphiu Rio expressed his concern over
the ongoing turmoil of the State over the issues of ULB elections
and said that the situation of the State had to be tactfully handled
as it could adversely affect the already fragile ‘Indo-Naga peace
talks’. He also strongly urged upon the Centre to bring about
an early solution to the Naga issue.
A Court in New Delhi extended
the judicial custody of the ‘chief’ of KCP-Poirei Meitei Lup militant
Khoirom Ranjit and his two associates, Inugbam Sanatombi Devi
and Pukhrihongbamibomcha Prem Kumar, till February 27.
SFs arrested four unidentified
militants of NSCN-IM at Nungba in Tamenglong District. According
to the SFs the arrested militants were involved in extortion and
other illegal activites.
Indian Army arrested a linkman
of ULFA-I militant, identified as Netra Bania (53), from Haufau
area under Borhat Police Station in Charaidew District. The arrestee
is a small tea grower in the village and according to the Army
he had been keeping relation with ULFA-I for a long time and he
was involved in collecting money from businessmen.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee
on Home Affairs has wondered why JeM terrorists let go Punjab
Police SP Salwinder Singh after waylaying his official vehicle
and using it to reach the Pathankot airbase on January 2, 2016
to wreak havoc. The multi-party committee has also asked the Government
to investigate the role of drug smugglers in facilitating the
terrorists' entry into India. While the 70-page report directly
attacks Punjab Police, it has asked many questions about the role
of the NIA.
Joint teams of Jalandhar Rural
Police and Jharkhand Police arrested a wanted CPI-Maoist cadre,
Avidhesh Yadav from Alawalpur locality at Adampur city in Jalandhar
District. Yadav is facing attempt to murder and cases
under the Arms Act. CIA, Punjab Police, head said Jharkhand Police
took Yadav back to Latehar District of Jharkhand.
One of the key accused in Kanpur
and Ghorasahan rail track sabotage incidents, Gajendra Sharma,
surrendered before a court in East Champaran District of Bihar.
Police sources said Gajendra, a named accused in Ghorasahan blast
attempt case, was also involved in the derailment of Indore-Patna
Express near Kanpur in which at least 150 people were killed on
November 21, 2016.
A CPI-Maoist cadre was gunned
down in an exchange of fire between the Maoists and SFs at a village
in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The identity
of the killed Maoist was yet to be ascertained.
The Police destroyed five illegal
mini-gun factories in Rishikund jungle in Munger District of Bihar.
Police also seized four automatic pistols and equipment used for
manufacturing illegal guns. According to Police illegal mini-gun
factories was being operated under CPI-Maoist cadres protection.
Police arrested a person called Shrimant Kumar who was in constant
touch with Maoists. Five of his associates managed to escape from
the spot during the raid.
Irpa Usendi, cousin of South Gadchiroli's
Perimili LGS ‘commander’ Sainath, was arrested in Gadchiroli District
of Maharashtra. He was finally made co-accused in the December
2016 Surjagarh arson case earlier this week by Etapalli Police
after his involvement behind the incident in which the Naxalites
had set ablaze around 80 vehicles at mining project site came
to fore. Intriguingly, cops had intercepted new currency notes
worth INR 400,000 from Irpa.
Joint teams of Jalandhar Rural
Police and Jharkhand Police arrested a wanted CPI-Maoist cadre,
Avidhesh Yadav from Alawalpur locality at Adampur city in Jalandhar
District of Punjab. Yadav is facing attempt to murder and cases
under the Arms Act. CIA, Punjab Police, head said Jharkhand Police
took Yadav back to Latehar District of Jharkhand.
Official sources of Mizoram said
that the meeting of the JMG held in Guwahati on February 12,
to discuss the repatriation of Bru refugees from the six relief
camps in Tripura to Mizoram was ‘inconclusive’ as Bru representatives
‘refused to budge from their demands’. Mizoram State Additional
Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama said that the meeting was ‘inconclusive’
as MBDPF, the apex body of Bru refugees demanded that all their
demands be fulfilled by Centre and Mizoram Governments. The demands
of MBDPF are allotment of at least five hectare land to each repatriated
Bru family, enhancement of rehabilitation package, provision of
free ration for two years, INR 5,000 per month be given to each
family and the Brus be given the same status as given to Kashmiri
Pandits. The meeting was chaired by Special Secretary (Internal
Secretary) in Union Ministry of Home Affairs MK Singla and attended
by officials of Mizoram and Tripura Governments, representatives
of MBDPF, BCC and central committee of YMA.
Pakistan army violated ceasefire
along the LoC in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri District, targeting
forward Indian posts with small and automatic weapons and mortars.
"The Indian side effectively retaliated, leading to heavy exchanges
that continued for some time," sources said, adding that there
were no casualties or damage on the Indian side in Pakistan shelling
and firing. Casualties or damages, if any, on the other side were
not known.
Normal life was affected in Jammu
and Kashmir, due to a shutdown called by the separatists against
the killing of two civilians and four militants in an encounter
in Kulgam District of South Kashmir while curfew like restrictions
were imposed in parts of South Kashmir. Shops and commercial establishments
remained closed in Srinagar and Public transport was mostly off
the roads. However, some vehicles were plying.
|
February 14 |
Seven workers of a limestone quarry
at Sangkini Dabgre near Sangkinigre village of Chokpot region
in South Garo Hills District were abducted by suspected Garo militants.
The workers were identified as Shyama Rabha, Manoj Das, Dipak
Baiswa, Khitish Rabha, Amulya Kalita, Dinobandhu Roy and Kameshwar
Pandit. According to the Police, the ASAK headed by Reding T.
Sangma is the prime suspect for involving the abduction so far.
However, they are also not ruling out the involvement of Sohan
D. Shira-led GNLA, which is said to have a small number of armed
cadres operating in the Chokpot region.
The NIA probing the rail track
sabotages secured additional four-day Police remand of Umashankar
Patel, Motilal Paswan and Mukesh Yadav, all accused in Ghorasahan
and Kanpur cases. Earlier, the special NIA court of Judge Manoj
Singh had granted 11-day police remand for the trio on February
4.
The derailment and blast conspiracies
were allegedly hatched by ISI. Its agent Shamshul Huda, a Nepalese
citizen, was handling the terror mission from Dubai. Huda was
arrested by Nepal police in Kathmandu on February 5. His interrogation
later revealed another railway track blast near Nakardei in East
Champaran. Brajkishore Giri alias Baba Giri,
Mujahir Ansari, Ashish Singh Kurmi aliasSujeet and
Umesh Giri, all associates of Huda, have already been arrested
by Nepal Police.
Suspected IS supporter Mohammad
Iqbal, who is in the custody of the Rajasthan Police, had allegedly
mobilised funds from India and China for the terror organisation,
Police said. Iqbal alias Travel Haq had allegedly
transferred money from China and through hawala (illegal
money transaction) from India to Dubai, Additional Director General
of Anti-Terrorist Squad Umesh Mishra told reporters in Jaipur.
Iqbal allegedly used to transfer
funds to IS operative Jameel Ahmed who was arrested by the ATS
from Sikar in November, 2016 Mishra said. His name cropped up
during the interrogation of Jameel following which he was arrested
by Tamil Nadu Police earlier this month. “Jameel and Iqbal were
in touch on social networking sites. Iqbal used to transfer funds
to Jameel who was based in Dubai. From Dubai, he further transferred
the money to the IS in countries like Turkey, Lebanon,” Mishra
claimed.
The accounts of his social networking
sites and his foreign visits are being probed to ascertain further
details, the police official said. Iqbal was brought to Jaipur
from Chennai on production warrant on February 12, and was placed
under arrest yesterday. He was produced before a local court where
the magistrate remanded him to police custody for four days, till
February 18.
East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand
Police has intensified anti-Naxal operation in the Naxal-hit
Ghatsila Sub-division in order to mount pressure on the top CPI-Maoist
leader Kanhu Munda-led squad to surrender, which operates in the
bordering areas of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha, reports Business Standard.
Kanhu, a ‘zonal secretary’ of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha outfit,
is carrying a reward of INR 2,500,000 lakh on his head.
The UHM’s senior Security Adviser
K. Vijay Kumar, at a meeting held at the Police Head Quarter in
Bhopal District of Madhya Pradesh, asked the Police of three States
to share the information related to Naxals. Police officials of
three States Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra attended
the meeting. He asked to provide better training to the Hawk Force
and better use of Police force while taking action against Naxals.
The SPs from all three states submitted the reports of the Naxal
operations. The SPs of Dindori, Balaghat, Gondia, Mandla and Rajnandgaon
made presentations. He also took personal meeting with the officials.
The DGP, Madhya Pradesh, Rishi Shukla informed the officer that
they are running community policing to eradicate the Naxal problems
in their Naxal-affected areas. He also claimed that due to social
policing they are getting positive results.
Two militants, belonging to UNLF
and PLA, were arrested by SFs in two different incidents. In the
first incident, SFs arrested an UNLF cadre, identified as ‘sergeant
major’ Thongbram Gyanjit alias Chinglensana (32) from Hatta
Golapati area in Imphal West District. After the arrest he revealed
that under the instruction of his ‘commander’ Itomba of UNLF,
he came out of his camp in October last year (2016) and stayed
in Imphal areas to disturb the forthcoming 11th State Assembly
election. In the other incident, one militant of PLA, identified
as Yumnam Surendra alias Suren (64), was arrested by SFs
from the resident of the militant in Imphal West District. The
militant revealed that he was working under the ‘captain’ Nongpoknganba
of PLA and extorted money from contractors and businessmen for
the militant group.
SFs arrested another cadre of
an unspecific militant group, identified as Ramanuse Dhan (31)
at Binaypur village in Golaghat District. SFs also recovered one
7.65 auto pistol (made in Italy), one magazine and four live ammunition
from the arrestee.
Suspected militants of NSCN-R
from neighboring State of Nagaland entered into and issued ‘demand
notes’ (extortion notes) to villagers, along the Assam-Nagaland
interstate boundary, in Jorhat District. According to the report,
at least 16 people, mostly cultivators, got the demand notes ranged
from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000. Two villagers, identified as Benu
Orang and Joydhan Mirdha, were assaulted by Naga assailants. However,
Jorhat SP Prasanta Bhuyan said that a team from District administration
held a meeting with the village council of the adjacent Naga village
on the other side of the boundary. “They have assured to nab the
culprits. In fact, we were informed that two of the four persons
who distributed the notes have been caught by the Naga village
people,” he also added.
Clarifying the stand of the present
Union Government towards insurgents groups, the UMHA has indicated
to a parliamentary panel that it is open to negotiations with
only those militant formations that abjure violence and opt for
a solution within the Constitution of India. The Government proposes
to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to deal with extremists/separatists
of the northeastern region. The parliamentary panel in its report
advised that the government should start dialogue with these groups
and address sympathetically their grievances within the framework
of the Constitution of India with an aim of bringing them into
the mainstream. The multi-pronged strategy includes this aspect
also.
Currently, the Union government
is engaged in peace talks with various insurgent groups of the
Northeast and talks are continuing with the ULFA-PTF, NDFB-P,
NDFB-RD, KLNLF– all from Assam, while the NSCN-IM, NSCN-KN and
NSCN-R of Nagaland are under ceasefire agreements.
A total of 23 underground outfits
of Manipur, consisting two conglomerates – the UPF and KNO are
currently under SoO agreement with the Union Government. Three
valley-based underground outfits of Manipur – the URF, KCP-L and
KYKL-MDF have signed MoU with the Union Government.
The Union Government has informed
that pursuant to the policy of talks, various insurgent outfits,
including the UPDS, DHD of Assam and ANVC and ANVC-B of Meghalaya
have signed memorandum of settlement with the Government and dissolved
themselves. As a result, a number of members of insurgent outfits
have surrendered after laying down arms and joined the mainstream
of society.
Two top LeT 'commanders' were
among four militants and four soldiers including an Army Major
killed while six soldiers and a civilian were injured in two separate
gun battles in North Kashmir. Sources said that on a tip-off,
Army, SOG of JKP and CRPF launched a joint search operation at
Parray Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora District. They said that as
the SFs were sealing the area, militants hiding in the village
opened fire on troops and hurled hand grenades. The SFS returned
the fire killing one militant who has been identified as Abu Haris,
a top 'commander' of LeT. Srinagar based Defence Ministry spokesman,
Lt Col Rajesh Kalia identified the Army men killed in the gun
battle as Dharmendera Kumar of Pataliya, Uttarakhand; Rifleman
Ravi Kumar of Meen Sarkar Tabela of Samba and Gunner Astosh Kumar
of Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Three militants were killed and
an Army Major was injured in Handwara area in Kupwara District.
SFs received information about presence of three-four militants
in Khan Mohalla Hajin Kralgund area of Handwara's Kupwara District.
Major S Dhaiya, who was leading the operation, succumbed to his
injuries. One of the killed militants has been identified as Abu
Darda, a top 'commander' of LeT and the identity of other two
is being ascertained.
Three Pakistan army personnel
were killed in heavy exchange of firing between Indo-Pak troops
in Thoob area of Bhimber sector opposite Sunderbani in Rajouri
District along the LoC. Pakistan army has confirmed the killing
of their three personnel.
A joint team of Army and Police
busted a hideout of the militants in Chajla forest area of Mendhar
tehsil in Poonch District and recovered large quantity
of arms, ammunition and explosives. Recoveries included one Pika
Machine Gun with 90 belted rounds, one AK-74 rifle, one AK-47
rifle, two UBGL launchers, 22 UBGL grenades, two Chinese grenades,
one I Com radio set and antenna and 500 rounds of AK-47. Later,
SFs also undertook search operations in Chajla forest area but
the militants remained untraced.
The BSF pre-empted a major terror
strike by detecting a tunnel originating from Pakistan and opening
up just about 20 meters ahead of border fencing inside the Indian
Territory in Ramgarh sector of Samba District. The tunnels had
been dug beneath the border fencing to facilitate infiltration
by the militants. "The tunnel was under construction when the
BSF detected it during major anti-tunneling measures taken along
the International Border following very specific inputs that the
militants were being trained for infiltration at Rattu training
camp in PoK," official sources said.
|
February 15 |
India has called for collaborative
preventive approach to address terrorist cyber attacks against
critical infrastructures, underlining that current international
law is not well positioned to deal with the threat. Citing the
26/11 (November 26, 2008) Mumbai terror attacks, India said that
financial hubs are targeted by terrorists to impact a country’s
economy.
The NIA has arrested a Kerala
youth, Mouinudheen Parakadavath (25), for being part of an IS
terrorist conspiracy in India. The agency said the youth hailing
from Kasaragod District was questioned at the NIA headquarters
when he arrived at the IGI airport in Delhi from Abu Dhabi. During
his examination, he admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy,
NIA said. The case relates to a terror module in which a group
of youths from Kerala including some members based in the Middle-East,
hatched a conspiracy as per instructions from their online IS
handlers.
Based on intelligence inputs,
five accused, associated with this terror module, were arrested
from Kanakamala Hill in Kannur District in Kerala on 2 October,
2016 and another associate was arrested from Calicut the same
day. Their disclosures established that Mouinudheen was a key
figure in the module, which was actively planning various aspects
of the terrorist plot, on a Telegram group. Mouinudheen was using
the online identity Abu-Al-Indonesi as well as Ibn Abdullah, on
the telegram group, NIA said. It was revealed by the arrested
persons that Mouinudheen had sent funds from Abu Dhabi to members
of the terrorist module in Kerala, for the conspiracy, through
Western Union Money Transfer, last year (2016).
Two personnel of the Chhattisgarh
STF were killed in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres at
Mardapal in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The Police claimed
to have killed at least four CPI-Maoist cadres but their bodies
could not be recovered by the SFs. The killed SFs are identified
as Hitendra Chaturvedi, an Assistant Platoon Commander from Madhya
Pradesh, and constable Krishna Tingu from Surguja in Chhattisgarh.
The SFs in AOB and their counterparts
in Odisha are on a high alert as CPI-Maoist cadres are gearing
up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of GPCR and
Naxalbari
Armed Uprising. SFs suspect that Maoists, who are on a killing
spree as an act of revenge for the Ramaguda encounter, may engage
in violent activities to show their presence. A document released
in the name of their ‘General Secretary’ Ganapati recently urged
the cadres to use the occasions as a platform for recruitments
and creating awareness among the people to wage war against the
state.
A ‘Zonal Secretary’ of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha
Zone, of CPI-Maoist and six other Maoist cadres surrendered at
East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. The Maoists, including a
woman, laid their arms before SSP of East Singhbhum District Police,
Anoop T Mathew in Kanhu’s native village Jiyan under Ghurabandha
Police Station area in Ghatshila sub-division. Kanhu Munda alias
Mangal Ji, ‘Zonal Secretary’ and his aide Fogra Munda, were carrying
rewards of INR 2.5 millions and INR 1 millions on their heads
respectively. Kanhu and Fogra were wanted in a number of Naxal
-related incidents including murder of Police Inspector, Sushil
Nag and three others in Singhpura under Ghurabandha Police Station
area in 2006. Apart from them, Chunnu Munda, Bhoglu Singh Munda,
Jiten Munda, Shankar and Kajal, a woman Maoist, were among those
who surrendered. The surrendering Maoists also deposited one INSAS
and two pistols.
Due to threat of CPI-Maoist cadres,
no voter came out to vote for elections at 13 booths of a Panchayat
in Korukonda Block of Malkangiri District of Odisha. This happened
in Nakamamudi Panchayat of Korukonda block. As many as 19 polling
booths had been opened in this remote CPI-Maoist-infested Panchayat.
But till 12 noon, the end of polling time, no voter turned up
to cast his vote in 13 of these booths. In the rest six booths
polling was too low. Ahead of the Panchayat polls, the Maoists
had put threatening banners and posters in remote areas of Malkangiri
District of Odisha.
SFs arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS,
identified as Khamin Swargiary alias S. Khasia, in Udalguri
District. A .22 mm pistol, one magazine, and other ammunition
were recovered from the arrested militant. According to the SFs
the militant was trained in the militant camps of Bangladesh.
SFs arrested one cadre of NSCN-K
militant, identified as Kangkam Haseng, from Burma camp near Ledo
in Tinsukia District.
SFs arrested one unidentified
militant of ULFA-I at Tengakhat in Dibrugarh District. According
to the SFs he was involved in the blast in Dibrugarh''s Convoy
Road on the Republic Day (January 26). SFs also recovered one
motorcycle with two different registration numbers from his possession.
SFs released photographs and names
of four suspected militants who were involved in the killing of
a couple, named Bakul Rabha alias Teckhon (35) and his wife Saru
Rabha alias Malika Deka (25) in Chengapara village in
Udalguri on February 10. The four suspected militants are identified
as Rajan Deka, Tilak Boro, Ramesh Bora and Biswajit Deka.3
Police and para-military forces
heavily deployed in Kulgam District foiled separatists' March
in the District. Separatist leaders had called for protest March
to Kulgam against the civilian killings during an encounter at
Frisal in the District on February 12. Four militants, two civilians
and two Army men were killed in the encounter. All entry routes
towards Kulgam were sealed off and curfew like restrictions were
imposed in the District. The situation remained peaceful and under
control, and no protest March or clashes were reported from anywhere
in the town. There were clashes in Pulwama as protesters pelted
stones on Police and CRPF, who, in retaliation, fired tear smoke
to disperse them. And in Srinagar city, there was a complete shutdown
and most of shops and business establishments also remained closed.
The areas like Old City and Maisuma witnessed shutdown.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was
arrested to prevent him from marching towards Kulgam. APHC-M chairman
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed house arrest to prevent him venturing
out to take part in protest march towards Kulgam.
The BSF seized a wireless set
from the IB in Londi area of Hiranagar sector in Kathua District.
"The wireless set resembled to the one that was seized by police
from near the border in Kathua few days after the terror attack
on Nagrota Army camp on November 30,2016,'' official sources said.
Sources added that a civilian Ashwani Kumar of Londi was spraying
his field when he spotted the wireless set and informed the BSF
officials, who rushed to the spot and seized the set.
Police identified the militants
who were killed in the encounter at Parray Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora
District on February 14, as LeT 'commander' Abu Darda alias Shafiq,
operating in North Kashmir between 2008 and 2010 and later he
ex-filtrated to Pakistan and again infiltrated in 2016 and was
operating in Handwara and Kupwara areas of North Kashmir, while
the other two militants have been identified as Abu Maviya and
Abu Saad.
Police detained three persons
during separate raids in North Kashmir. Sources said that Showkat
Ahmad Lone, Mohammad Azam Dar, both residents of Kachloo Kralgund
and Tanveer Ahmad Bhat of Trichoo Rafiabad were picked up in separate
raids by Police for questioning regarding the encounter at Parray
Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora District on February 14.
Army chief Bipin Rawat, warned
those attacking SFs during anti-militancy operations of "tough
action", as the hostile conduct of locals was causing higher casualties
in the Kashmir valley. The stern message from Rawat came a day
after three soldiers faced heavy stone-pelting at Parray Mohalla
of Bandipora when they were about to launch an operation against
militants holed up there. Alerted by the stone-pelters, the militants
got an opportunity to fire hand grenades and empty a few magazines
from AK-rifles into the advancing troopers, leaving three jawans
dead and some others, including a Commanding Officer of CRPF,
injured. One terrorist managed to flee the area. General Rawat
said SFs in J&K were facing higher casualties due to the manner
in which the local population was preventing them from conducting
the operations and "at times even supporting the terrorists to
escape". "We would now request the local population that people
who have picked up arms, and they are the local boys, if they
want to continue with the acts of terrorism, displaying flags
of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and Pakistan, then we
will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter
for them. They may survive today but we will get them tomorrow.
Our relentless operations will continue," the Army chief said,
sending out a stern message to those who support militants.
SFs arrested one ULFA-I cadre,
identified as Anuj Konwar alias Konwar Asom from Tengakhat
in Dibrugarh District.
|
February 16 |
Normal life was severely affected
in the Gandacherra Sub-division as the IPFT, a tribal-based party,
called a 48-hour bandh (shutdown) in tribals-dominated
Dhalai District to protest the alleged Police ‘high-handedness
‘during the February 8 when three tribal parties had called a
12-hour bandh to oppose the Centre’s citizenship bill.
Aamir Gazdar, a close aide of
Zakir Naik, was arrested by ED in connection with its probe in
a money laundering case against him and others. Officials said
Gazdar, director in certain firms under scanner in this case,
was arrested late evening by the Enforcement Directorate under
the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
"Gazdar, a confidant of Naik, was put under arrest around
7:30 PM today. He will be produced in a court tomorrow for further
custody," an official said. Gazdar, officials said, was called
for questioning at the ED's office here and was arrested as he
was allegedly "not cooperating" with the investigators.
Officials claimed the agency suspects
that Gazdar allegedly handled cash funds and transactions worth
INR 200 crore on behalf of Naik and his NGO named IRF. They added
Gazdar's firm used to reportedly provide content for IRF's Peace
TV, and its operations were handled from the western metropolis
here.
Al-Qaeda has used America's "preoccupation"
with the IS to regain strength in South Asia and preparing to
spread its ideology in India from its "home" in western
Pakistan, Bruce Hoffman, Director, Center for Security Studies
at Georgetown University, told members of the House Armed Services
Committee. "Al-Qaeda has never changed, and it still sees
itself in what it conceives as an existential struggle against
the West and against the United States in particular," Bruce
Hoffman, stated.
The NIA had arrested a woman for
her alleged role in the procurement and circulation of high quality
FICN.
The CPI-Maoist cadres cut down
trees at Pega and Edugurallapalli villages of Chintoor in East
Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The trees obstructed the
road transport between Bhadrachalam and Rajamahendravaram. SFs
also recovered landmines from the spot. Each of these landmines
has about 20 Kilogram explosives.
The ‘zonal commander’ Anil Kushwaha
aka Sandesh and cadres of the TSPC set ablaze a JCB machine
and two tractors in Kaimur District of Bihar. Maoists attack
on a makeshift forest department camp housing construction equipment
has led to cessation of work on a 55 kilometres stretch of the
all weather Adhaura-Akbarpur Road spread over Rohtas and Kaimur
Districts of western Bihar. Forest officials fear for their lives
after the TSPC ‘zonal commander’ threatened Forester Manoj Kumar
of dire consequences if they dared to resume the work on the project.
TSPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
The CPI-Maoist cadres attacked
a BSF camp at Kartalpali near Mathili Police limits in Malkangiri
District of Odisha. BSF jawans retaliated when CPI-Maoist cadres
fired at the BSF camp to oppose the election at Kartalpali. No
casualty has been reported in the incident. Maoists had warned
the tribals not to contest or cast vote.
Criticizing the State Government
for creating new Districts, NSCN-IM said that the move by the
Manipur Government to carve out seven Districts ‘out of Naga territories
with colonial design’ is an ‘intrusion’ upon the rights of the
Nagas. They also supported the economic blockade against the creation
of new Districts in the State.
Police arrested two PLA militants,
identified as Mohammad Nawaz Khan and Khulakpam Farooque, from
Kairam Palli of Keirao Litan Makhong near Trio English School
in Imphal East District. Police recovered one .9 mm pistol along
with five rounds in the magazine, a Bolero car and incriminating
articles from the arrestees.
The indefinite State-wide bandh
(shutdown) called by Naga Tribal groups continued in the State
and entered its fourth consecutive day. The bandh across
the State was by and large peaceful. However, in Districts like
Kohima, Wokha and Tuensang the bandh was relaxed as only
Government offices and Government vehicles were barred from functioning.
CM T.R. Zeliang appealed to the
agitating tribal groups to give him two-three more days ‘to step
down’ to ensure smooth transition of power, after ruling NPF legislators
backed party supremo Shurhozelie Liezietsu to take over.
In a statement issued, BPCC-A-N
appealed to public on either sides of the border to avoid all
such affairs that could affect peace coordination on Assam-Nagaland
border and likely to deteriorate age-old good relations of Assam
and Nagaland. The appeal comes in the wake of an incident of assault
and extortion demand that reportedly took place near Hoolungooree
Tea Estate on Assam side of the Nagaland border in Jorhat District
on February 15, 2017.
Militants fired gunshots and forcibly
entered into Jammu and Kashmir Bank's Turkawangam Branch in Shopian
District and decamped with INR 304,000 from the bank. Police said
four militants were involved in the robbery. Police said that
two out of four militants involved in the bank robbery have been
identified as Tariq Ahmad Bhat of Barburgh, Shopian and Zeenat-ul-Islam
of Sugan, Zainapora Shopian. Tariq was identified by the INSAS
he was carrying. Tariq was kept as guard outside while the other
three went inside.
CRPF IG (Operations) Zulfiquar
Hasan said locals were under pressure from militants to help them
flee in certain areas in Kashmir which was harming the anti-terror
operations. IG Hasan asserted that the forces have been acting
with restraint in crowded areas to check any collateral damage
and the residents should not succumb to the threats of the militants.
"The casualties (of the security forces in recent operations)
have taken place in crowded areas and the forces operate with
restraint so that there is no collateral damage. But the crowds
break the cordon and help the militants to flee. This is happening
in certain areas of Kashmir, and villagers and local residents
do this under pressure from militants," Hasan said.
Authorities asked the public in
Kashmir to stay away from the places of encounters between SFs
and militants and decided to impose prohibitory orders in the
radius of three kilometres from such sites in three Districts.
The decision came a day after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat warned
of tough action against those hampering counter- insurgency operations.
"District Administrations of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian advised
people not to move towards or assemble near the places where encounters
take place between security forces and militants to avoid loss
and injuries to precious human lives," an official spokesman said.
"Prohibitory restrictions have been imposed within the radius
of three kilometers from the site of any counter- insurgency operation
in these districts," the spokesman added.
|
February 17 |
SFs recovered a single .32 caliber
bullet while checking in Imphal Tulihal Airport from a passenger
identified as Awungshi Naomi.
BSF seized INR 2,000 notes worth
INR 2, 00,000 FICN in West Bengal's Malda District.
Meanwhile, according to a report,
it has taken barely two months for Pakistan-based counterfeiters
to come out with fake INR 2,000 notes. Punjab used to be the permeable
border but now the money is being pumped into the country via
the India-Bangladesh border. The details surfaced following recent
arrests and seizures made by NIA and BSF, the report say.
A CRPF Inspector, Bhim Singh,
was injured in an explosion IED planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres
in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The incident took
place in Mahadev Ghati area when a team of CRPF’s 229th battalion
was on patrolling duty.
A Naxal couple, ‘commander’
Punau Ram Kumeti and his wife Sarita alias Jarina surrendered
in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh. They cited disillusionment
with CPI-Maoist ideology and violence. They surrendered before
BSF and Police officials at the headquarters of BSF 165th Battalion
in Durgkondal of the District.
CPI-Maoist cadres have given a
call for “nationwide shutdown” on February 27 to protest against
the policies of the Centre and the Chhattisgarh Government in
Raipur District of Chhattisgarh. The Naxals claimed that
the demonetization has led to inflation, unemployment and poverty
in the country. They also demanded release of seven members of
TDF jailed in Sukma jail and halting of search operations and
‘fake encounters’ against the Maoists in the region.
SFs arrested a NDFB militant,
Raja Basumatary, when he came to collect extortion money worth
INR 2 million from the office of a private cement company at Dispur
in Kamrup (metro) District.
RPF personals recovered 19 live
ammunition of 7.62mm caliber in an unclaimed bag on a general
coach of Katra-Kamakhya Express on platform number 2 at Kamakhya
Railway Station of Guwahati in Kamrup (metro) District.
While the bandh (shutdown)
in some Districts like Kohima, Wokha and Tuensang was relaxed,
the indefinite ‘State wide bandh’ by different Tribal groups entered
the fifth day in Dimapur District. However, NTAC postponed the
‘public rally’ and ‘fast unto death’ stir in Kohima scheduled
to be held on February 17. The decision was made in view of the
appeal of CM TR Zeliang to give him two-three more days to ensure
smooth transition of office and in the larger interest of the
State.
Reacting on the present situation
and the ongoing bandh in the State, the NSCN-K made a statement.
In the statement, the militant group stated that it is “highly
perturbed” over the lengthy disruption of normal lives in the
State of Nagaland and called for immediate resolution “which can
be possible only if the incumbent leadership heed to the call
of the people.”
AR jawans arrested a NSCN-IM cadre
from Khonsa town in Tirap District during an operation. The cadre
was reportedly carrying out extortion activities in the District
headquarters town. He was found in possession of a loaded pistol,
contraband and slips indicating collection of money, official
source said.
Two Police personnel were injured
when Militants hurled a grenade on a Police party in Nowgam area
of Srinagar. Police said that militants hurled grenade on the
Police party and ran away under the cover of darkness.
A militant was arrested in a joint
operation by Police, Army and CRPF in Srinagar. The militant was
identified as Irshad Ahmad Bhat of Wailoo, Pattan in North Kashmir.
"The accused offender Irshad has been an active militant of HM
terrorist outfit who had joined militant ranks after killing of
his militant father Fayaz Ahmad Bhat in inter gang rivalry in
year 2015", SSP Baramulla, Imtiaz Hussain, said. One AK series
rifle, 2 AK magazines, one Chinese pistol, one pistol magazine,
four hand grenades and other ammunition were recovered from the
possession of the militant.
Protesters clashed with SFs in
Srinagar and Sopore, after youth pelted stones on them post Friday
prayers. After the culmination of congregational Friday prayers
at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of the city, locals took to the
streets to protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir. They
pelted stones on the SFs, who were deployed there. Police and
CRPF intercepted the protesters, triggering clashes. SFs fired
several rounds of tear-gas canisters to disperse the protesters.
Delhi Police arrested two persons,
identified as Sanjeev alias Mukesh and Arbin along with
FICN of INR 6,00,000 face value from Sonia Vihar in Delhi.
|
February 18 |
The NIA team investigating the
case related to the radicalisation of Kerala youths by terror
groups, has found key accused Shajeer Mangalassery had created
a group titled ‘The Gate’ on the Telegram app for coordinating
terror activities in South India. Shajeer, a hardcore IS ideologist,
is the 13th accused in the Kanakamala secret terror camp case.
Earlier, the agency had arraigned seven persons as accused in
the case.
Shajeer is suspected to be fighting
for the IS in the Nagarhar province in Afghanistan. He was one
of the leaders of the South Indian module of the IS, which was
busted at Kanakamala. Holed up in the IS stronghold in Afghanistan,
he had been in contact with the IS operatives in Kerala through
Telegram and regularly posted comments on his Facebook page. According
to an NIA officer, seven Telegram groups were created by the local
IS activists, and their administrators are different persons.
Currently, the agency is trying to retrieve information from the
accounts.
An IED laid by CPI-Maoist cadres
was recovered by SFs from Sarkeguda Police Station limits in Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh. The IED, weighing five kilograms, detected
by a team of CRPF personnel was planted by Maoists to target SF
personnel during their operation in the area, a senior Police
official said, adding it was later defused.
CPI-Maoist cadre, Bhandari Rammurty
(24), was arrested from a place under Usoor Police Station in
Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. A joint team of CRPF and District
Force launched a search operation around Galgam, Bhusapur and
Marudbaka villages in Usoor region, and rounded up Rammurty who
was trying to escape after spotting the patrolling party, Police
said. During interrogation, Rammurty admitted to his involvement
in the indiscriminate firing on SFs in the Usoor forests on December
13, 2015, Police added.
Acting on information, the 156th
Battalion of CRPF and in association with District Police, recovered
a large cache of explosives from a bus at Dahalapara area under
Bijni Police Station in Chirang District. Shankarbrata Rai Medhi,
Chirang SP, said that about 21 gelatin sticks, 20 detonators along
with 12 extortion letters of NDFB -IKS were recovered during mobile
checking. “We interrogated all the passengers of the bus but nobody
has been found suspicious to be arrested. We will continue our
interrogation and hope we will get a result soon,” he said. All
the materials recovered have been seized by police. On the backside
of an extortion letter, it was written that the explosives had
to be handed over to some Baburam Gayari.
SULFA Samittee has stated that
its members will hit the streets in Dispur, demanding the arrest
of the lawyers who had assaulted Ajay Kumar Phukan, a judge of
FT in Goalpara District. A group of lawyers assaulted Ajay Kumar
Phukan on February 15 after an adverse opinion against their clients.
The fourth round of peace talks
between Mizoram Government and HPC-D, which was scheduled to be
held in the second week of February, has been deferred. The officials
said that the next round of talks had to be deferred as other
departments like Finance, DP&AR and Law have to be consulted
in the process of the ongoing negotiation. The exact date for
talks could not, however, be decided, but it is likely to take
place in the last week of February, they added.
Suspected militants of Reding
T. Sangma led ASAK released the seven abducted limestone quarry
workers at Kama Adugre near Sangkinigre in South Garo Hills District.
The six lorry drivers and a mechanic, identified as Shyama Rabha,
Manoj Das, Dipak Baiswa, Khitish Rabha, Amulya Kalita, Dinobandhu
Roy and Kameshwar Pandit, were sleeping at the quarry site at
Sangkini Dapgre village in Chokpot (South Garo Hills) when they
were abducted on February 14. The men after their release walked
on foot to reach the main road early on February 19th morning
and further went to their respective homes. Although it is not
clear whether any ransom money was paid to secure their release,
Police is not completely ruling out this possibility.
|
February 19 |
Chairman’ Bernard N Marak of the
now disbanded ANVC-B alleged that the account numbers of the former
cadres were submitted without the knowledge of the ‘leaders’ of
the outfit and described it as an attempt to derail the Garo settlement
with corrupt intention and also to deprive the ex-cadres of their
due packages. According to him on December 9, 2016 former ANVC-B
‘leaders’ and senior members had a meeting where all cadres, clarified
how Police made them to believe that accounts were to be submitted
to the Police else they will not receive any packages.
CM T R Zeliang resigned hours
after he called an “emergency meeting”. Two organisations, NTAC
Kohima and JCC, are leading the agitation against the State Government's
following its decision to conduct ULB polls in the State with
33 per cent reservation for women. Both the bodies are yet to
call off the indefinite bandh (shutdown) in the State since
February 6, demanding the resignation of CM T R Zeliang, following
the death of two civilians in Police firing on January 31.
Earlier, NTAC Kohima has asked
all citizens to be prepared for any eventuality in the event CM
T.R. Zeliang failed to keep his word to step down by February
19 midnight. NTAC also informed that the ongoing bandh
(shutdown) on Government offices and movement of Government vehicles
will continue till further information. In this regard, NTAC media
cell informed all tribal hohos in their respective Districts
to deploy volunteers to ensure that the bandh has been
enforced. Further, NTAC appealed private hospitals and medical
establishments to be on standby for any casualty or emergency
cases in the event the situation aggravate and goes out of hand.
The State Home Department is preparing
a ‘special report’ on the status of the FT in the State to be
sent to the UMHA. The report would also detail about what led
to the recent incident of assault on a Judge of FT by lawyers
at Goalpara. A team of Home Department has been entrusted with
the job of preparing the report, which is expected to be sent
to the UMHA within this week.
UHM Rajnath Singh stated that
the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India
and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 would not affect the integrity and
territorial boundary of Manipur in any manner. The Framework Agreement
does not mention anything about Manipur and the word ‘Manipur’
cannot be found in any place of the agreement, UHM Rajnath Singh
stated. Further, UHM Rajnath Singh said, “The Manipur Government
did not send any representative for the first round of tripartite
talks to end the economic blockade.” Disclosing that the Centre
had provided the paramilitary forces as sought by the Manipur
Government, he said, “I do not understand why the Centre is blamed
for the blockade. India has the federal system of Government and
the Constitution clearly says that the Centre cannot intervene
on a State subject like law and order.”
Court of CJM, Imphal East remanded
UNC ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and ‘information secretary’ Shangkhel
Stephen to judicial custody till March 3. The two UNC leaders
are currently lodged in Manipur Central Jail. The duo will be
produced before the Court of CJM Imphal East on February 21 and
the High Court of Manipur on February 22.
In a revelation, it has come to
the fore that Dawood Ibrahim used to fund Zakir Naik's IRF. According
to Zakir Naik's CFO Aamir Gazdar, "Dawood Ibrahim has funded
Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation." Aamir Gazdar
said, "the said funding by Dawood Ibrahim used to take place
through a mediator - Sultan Ahmed." The Enforcement
Directorate officials said they suspected that Gazdar handled
funds and transactions worth INR 200 crore on behalf of Naik and
his NGO. These important details have now revealed Zakir Naik's
Pakistan and Dawood connection. Authorities are investigating
other details too.
A group of 40 Police personnel
escaped a landmine blast triggered by CPI-Maoist cadres at Kaligonda
forest area under Chintoor Police Station limits in East Godavari
District of Andhra Pradesh. Chintoor SI, P Srinivasa Kumar, who
headed the combing team, told that they suspected the Sabari Dalam
of CPI-Maoist behind the blast.
In an exchange of fire with the
SFs, two cadres of CPI-Maoist were killed in two separate encounters
in Bijapur District and Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. In Bijapur
District of Chhattisgarh, one female CPI-Maoist cadre was killed
and two weapons were recovered in a joint operation of Telangana
Greyhounds and Bijapur District Police. In Sukma District of Chhattisgarh,
STF and the DRG killed one CPI-Maoist cadre and two weapons were
recovered. No injuries were reported among the SFs.
SFs engaged in anti-Naxalite
operation arrested ‘area commander’ Upendra Yadav (35) and Ajit
Yadav (25), a cadre, of TPC from two different places in Ranka
Police Station area of Garhwa District of Jharkhand. Two bikes
and cell phones were recovered from Upendra and Ajit. TPC is a
splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
SFs have planned a new strategy
to nail down rest of the Naxals along the Bengal-Jharkhand
border. A number of Naxal squads have also become active
in Banspahari and Simulpal in West Midnapore of West Bengal. Joint
forces are expected to raid both places when operations begin.
Sources informed that the high alert has been sounded after intelligence
report that the Maoists may attack at Naxal areas of Ghatshila
and Patamda in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.
No affect on polling was reported
in Koraput District and Malkangiri District of Odisha during the
polls in Odisha. The polling percentage was reported 72. Most
of the polling booths were situated in Naxal -hit areas
in both Bandhugaon and Boipariguda blocks. In Malkangiri, there
was a voter turnout of 75 per cent in Kalimela.
Two persons were injured in a
low intensity blast in a house at village Sungri in Mahore in
Reasi District. According to SSP Reasi, Tahir Sajjad Bhat, the
blast took place around 11.30 AM in the house of Shabir Ahmad,
when he was cleaning the junk on the roof top. In the blast, Shabir
Ahmed received injuries in hand while his brother-in-law Bashir
Ahmed, resident of Sar Mahore, who was also present at the scene,
sustained injuries in his leg.
A militant was arrested after
he fired at the CRPF camp in Nawdal village of Tral in Pulwama
District. A Police official said that Mohammad Maqbool Ganaie
of Lam Tral fired at the 180 Battalion of CRPF camp at Nawdal
before attempting to lob a grenade. The official said that a pistol
and a grenade were recovered from his possession and no casualties
were reported in the firing. Ganaie had joined militancy in 2007
and later surrendered before SFs in the same year after remaining
active for seven months. He was jailed for three years after his
surrender but was released in 2010. Sources said that he had become
active again and was arrested by the SFs.
BSF seized 48 FICN of INR 2,000
with face value of INR 96, 000 from Indo-Bangladesh border in
Malda District of West Bengal. Official sources said, acting on
a tip off, BSF booked a man- Shariful Shah (32)- from Baishnabnagar
near NH-34 with 48 FICN of INR 2,000. "Following the introduction
of new currency notes of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500, there have been
around half a dozen cases where fake currency notes in the denomination
of Rs 2,000 were recovered but their quality of far inferior.
Most of them were just scanned copy of the note. But the recovery
made last night on by our investigators appear to be better than
what was seized by the force sometime back," said a senior
BSF official.
Acting on input provided by an
arrested ULFA-I militant, Anuj Konwar alias Konwar Asom,
SFs recovered a high-power grenade from Khanikar Tea Estate in
Dibrugarh District.
SFs arrested a suspected linkman
of NSCN-IM at Maibela of Sonari in Charaideo District.
SFs recovered a 9-mm pistol from
a paddy field at Bhalukoni Gaon under Kakotibari Police Station
in Charaidew District.
AR arrested one militant of NSCN-IM,
identified as Tuithung Achan from Jalukie Town in Peren District.
AR also recovered one 7.65 mm pistol with magazine and two live
rounds from the arrested militant.
|
February 20 |
A Delhi Police special cell team
arrested Akhruzama Khan (40), the suspected kingpin of FICN racket
in India, from Chandra Vihar Colony under Rajeev Nagar Police
Station area in Patna. Fake INR 100 notes of INR 20,000 face value
were also recovered from his house. Khan was arrested following
the arrest of Sanjeev alias Mukesh and Arbin with FICN
of INR 6,00,000 face value from Sonia Vihar in Delhi on February
17.
Two militia cadres of PAC of the
CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Rural Police at Paderu of Visakhapatnam
Agency in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. They are identified
as Korra Appa Rao (40) and Korra Chinna Rao (25) and are natives
of Mandibha area of G Madugula Mandal in Visakhapatnam
agency. The Maoist said that they were fed up with the CPI-Maoist
ideology.
CPI-Maoist cadres killed Sunil
Yadav, husband of a deputy mukhiya, at Champapur village
in Lakhisarai District of Bihar.
A team of Police and the CRPF
recovered eight can bombs, two hand grenades and mixtures of explosives
from Katia forest at the Chhipadohar Police Station area in Latehar
District of Jharkhand.
A CAG of India’s performance audit
of special development initiatives in the Naxal-affected
areas over the past five years has found most of these programmes
failed miserably in Odisha. A final report of the same audit is
likely to be placed in the Budget session of the Odisha Assembly
starting next week.
Seven CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered
to the SP, Bharati Ghosh, in West Midnapore District of West Bengal.
The seven had 48 cases pending against them. The seven surrendered
CPI-Maoist cadres were – Saheb Murmu alias Jayanta, Saheb’s
wife Manasi Mahato, Dilip Singh, Malati Singh wife of Dilip, Samir
Mahato, Baidyanath Mahato and Banamali Mahato. The surrendered
CPI-Maoist cadres deposited one AK-47 rifle and seven country
made guns to the Police. The surrendered Maoists, all residents
of Jhargram Sub-Division, were allegedly involved in extortion,
attacks and other criminal cases in past few years.
A militant was killed by the BSF
during an infiltration bid along the LoC in Rajouri District.
Officials said the incident occurred around midnight when BSF
troops deployed along the LoC fence in Keri sector of Rajouri
detected some suspicious movement and a heavy exchange of fire
ensued in which the militant was killed. During search the BSF
party recovered the body of the militant along with an AK-47 rifle,
six loaded magazines and a monocular night vision device from
the Pakistan side. A black bag containing another loaded AK magazine,
dry fruits and juice was also recovered. The identity of the militant
is yet to be ascertained.
A Government official source said
that on the basis of a confession made by arrested ULFA-I cadre
Gagan Hazarika alias Joydeep Cheleng, the NIA had confirmed
about the proper identity of the ‘chairman’ of ULFA-I. According
to the NIA, the real name of the ‘chairman’ Abhijit Asom is Mukul
Hazarika and he is a doctor at Billingham town in Durham of UK.
The source said that apart from being a practising doctor in the
UK, Hazarika was associated with the UK-based human rights group,
Assam Watch, which used to raise alleged incidents of human rights
violation by SFs in the State. The Assam Watch is an alleged front
of ULFA, which had arranged the travel of then ULFA ‘chairman’
Arabinda Rajkhowa and ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia to Geneva
to attend a meeting of the UN Sub-Commission's Working Group on
Indigenous People in July 1997. The source further said that the
NIA would soon move the court for issuing an arrest warrant against
Dr Hazarika as a prelude to requesting the UK for his extradition.
The JCC and NTAC decided to lift
the bandh (shutdown) on Government machineries with effect
from February 20 evening. JCC convenor, Supu Jamir said that the
decision to call off the bandh was made following the resignation
of T.R. Zeliang. The Government authorities also finally decided
to restore mobile internet/data and SMS services which were snapped
since January 30.
NPF President and DAN Chairman
Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu was unanimously elected as leader of
DAN Legislature Party by the alliance legislators at a meeting
in Kohima to replace TR Zeliang as Nagaland CM.
The AMSU categorically rejected
UMH Rajnath Singh’s assurance that the Framework Agreement signed
between the Government of India and NSCN-IM does not mention anything
about Manipur and it would not affect the territorial integrity
of Manipur. In a statement issued by the AMSU, its ‘secretary
general’ Manjit Sarangthem said, “We would like to see and study
the Framework Agreement if it contains anything inimical to the
interest of Manipur.” AMSU further stated that this verbal assurance
given by UHM Rajnath Singh was not enough. Framework Agreement
between Union Government and NSCN-IM was signed on August 3, 2015.
Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh said
that he was ready for tripartite talks with the UNC to end the
three-month-long economic blockade.
A team of Special Force-10 commandos,
in an encounter, killed a GNLA militant, Walamdaria M. Sangma,
at Riangdim village in Shallang in West Khasi Hills District.
A group of GNLA militants were there to collect tax from coal
dealers and exporters.
|
February 21 |
A doctor from Eluru in Andhra
Pradesh who was abducted by Islamic State (IS) in Libya has been
freed, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted in the
late night. She announced: "We have rescued Dr. Ramamurthy
Kosanam in Libya. Dr.Kosanam has suffered a bullet injury. We
are bringing him to India shortly. With this, we have rescued
all the six Indians abducted there. I appreciate the good work
done by our mission there." Dr Ramamurthy was working for
Lbn-E-Sina Hospital at Sirte when he was kidnapped on September
8, 2015 along with some others.
The government decided not to
support a Private Member's Bill which seeks to declare Pakistan
a country sponsoring terrorism, reports indiatvnews.com. "India
can't declare any country a 'Terror State' as it has to maintain
diplomatic relations with all countries. Besides, in principle
it is very rare that government supports any Private Member's
Bill," an official of UMHA said.
'The Declaration of Countries
as Sponsor of Terrorism Bill, 2016', moved by Independent member
Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha seeks to call out states
like Pakistan that continue to associate, promote, patronise and
sponsor terrorism against our nation and provides for snapping
all economic and trade relations with that country. The UMHA has
conveyed to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat about its opposition to
the Bill, saying such a move may ‘jeopardise’ international relations.
SFs killed seven CPI-Maoist cadres
in an exchange of fire in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
According to AIG of Police of the ANO, Devnath, three deceased
were identified as CPI-Maoist Bodh Ghat area committee member
and LOS ‘commander’ Nirmala, Deputy LOS ‘commander’ Somji and
area committee member Nasik. All three carried a reward of INR
500,000. Two INSAS rifles and four other weapons were also recovered.
A CRPF jawan Ghanshyam of 212
Battalion was injured in an IED blast in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.
The blast took place near Paidigudem village under the Kistaram
Police Station limits when the CRPF team was out on a patrol.
Mantu Khaira, ‘zonal-commander’
of CPI-Maoist, was killed in an anti-Maoist operation, led by
SP, Rajeev Ranjan, in Dahibara forests under Anandpur in Banka
District of Bihar. The SFs, comprising personnel from the
STF of Bihar Police and Sashastra Seema Bal SSB, recovered two
SLRs, an AK-47 rifle and some grenades at the encounter site.
No SFs were injured during the encounter.
One Munna Yadav (28), brother
of Naxal outfit JPC, ‘sub zonal commander’ Dasrath, was arrested
near Panch Mandir Chowk in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand. SFs
recovered INR 250,000 from him, which was extorted from a company
constructing Tandwa-Simaria road, and two mobile phones.
Four persons were arrested and
huge quantity of explosives recovered from Shikaripara area in
Dumka District of Jharkhand. Mithun Sheikh, Latiful Sheikh, Afzal
Ansari and Md Ansari were carrying illegally 3,000 electric detonators,
400 neo gel sticks and 21 kilogram of ammonium nitrate in a pick-up
truck, when they were intercepted by the Police.
Gadchiroli Police arrested two
CPI-Maoist cadres from the Etapalli forest area in Gadchiroli
District of Maharashtra. The Maoists are members of Platoon
3, have been identified as Nilesh Potawi and Ajit Pude.
About 68.27% polling was registered
in second phase of the ZP and Panchayat Samiti elections in the
highly restive four tehsils of Aheri division in Gadchiroli
District of Maharashtra. The Maoists had called
for a boycott of the polls and had put posters and banners in
some sensitive areas of the District..
A group of about 30 armed CPI-Maoist
cadres abducted at least five villagers of Mahupadar and Kamarpalli
villages under Mathili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District
of Odisha on February 20. Maoist suspected them to be ‘Police
informers’ and held them hostage for more than 12 hours before
setting them free today. The Maoists had tried them in a Praja
court on the charges of being ‘Police informers’. They were also
beaten up severely before being allowed to walk free. The abducted
villagers were Rama Kabasi, Rame Madhi, Unga Kabasi, Chaitanya
Madhi and Deba Madkami.
Three Kashmiri youth from Sopore
in Baramulla District were arrested by Special Cell of Delhi.
Three youth were identified as Yawar Muzaffar, Waseem Dar and
Danish Dar of Batpora Sopore, who were wanted by Sopore Police
in stone pelting cases, were evading arrest and had fled to Delhi.
Jammu and Kashmir Police in Sopore after getting information about
the presence of the trio in Delhi informed the Police who arrested
them in a raid. A Police officer said that they were on the run
and were instrumental in stone pelting incidents and protests
in Sopore area.
Two Policemen were injured when
suspected ZUF militants attacked the convoy of Deputy CM Gaikhangam
as he went visit his Khoupum Tampak residence in Noney District.
Militants launched the first attack at around 7.50 am at Lubanglong
Khunou (Namkaolong) Part II area along Old Cachar Road in Noney
District. Then the militants carried out the second attack on
a Police team which came from the direction of Rengpang near Irang
River at around 8.30 am. No one was injured in the both the attacks
but the Gypsy of the Police team suffered some damages. Later,
the militants launched the third attack at Lubanglong Khunou Part
II, some distance away from the spot where the first attack was
launched, at around 12.30 pm when the Deputy CM was at his residence.
One Police personnel identified as Yumnam Jinesh (34) was injured
in this attack. After Deputy CM Gaikhangam had left his village
for capital Imphal, militants attacked Police forces who were
heading for Imphal for the fourth time at around 3 pm along Old
Cachar Road near the spot where the first attack was carried out.
One Police personnel, identified as Kh Bobo, injured in the attack.
Students and women vendors of
Bishnupur District have launched agitations supporting the series
of agitation taken up by AMSU demanding a white paper on the Framework
Agreement signed between Union Government and NSCN-IM.
Underscoring the essence of ethical
and respectable voting, the militant group, KRA, under the umbrella
of KNO, called for free, fair and clean election in the ensuing
11th Manipur State Assembly Election, 2017.
The ‘chairman’ of GNLA, Champion
Sangma, was granted bail by a lower court, more than four years
after his arrest from an area near Indo-Bangladesh border on July
30, 2012.
The agitating tribal groups led
by NTAC and JCC withdrew their indefinite bandh (shutdown)
on Government offices and plying of Government vehicles on the
road, following the resignation of CM T.R. Zeliang on February
19.
In a statement, the umbrella organisation
of displaced Brus, MBDPF said that the Bru refugees lodged in
seven relief camps in northern Tripura since the last 20 years
had decided not to return to Mizoram as the Mizoram Government
has “refused” to meet their demands. The MBDPF said that a public
meeting was held at all the seven relief camps on February 14
and 15 in which the refugees expressed their unwillingness to
return to Mizoram by raising their hands. The public meeting was
conducted as per the decision of a meeting of JMG in Guwahati
on February 12 in which the MBDPF was entrusted to submit the
public decision within three months. The JMG meeting, comprising
representatives of the Ministries of Home Affairs of Mizoram and
Tripura and MBDPF, went inconclusive.
|
February 22 |
Police arrested two men from Dharwad
(Karnataka), for alleged involvement in circulating INR 6, 84,500
FICN. Police seized fake currency notes, from them in old INR
500 and INR 1000 denomination.
Intelligence inputs have confirmed
that Pakistan’s ISI has activated its networks in Bangladesh and
Nepal, to once again circulate FICN across the country. According
to a report ISI has roped in Dawood Ibrahim’s men who function
from Mumbai. While fake currency notes of the denomination INR
100 is also in circulation, ISI will start printing high quality
INR 2,000 and INR 500 notes. The increasing number of people being
caught with fake currency also shows that wrongdoers are not being
deterred from indulging in printing illegal currency. These fake
notes are originating from Pakistan and that country has been
pushing fake currency for decades now in an effort to foment terror
and other extremist related activities in India.
Mangal Mara (25), a native of
Timapur village was injured in an IED blast, triggered by the
CPI-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. The incident
took place between Timapur and Murdanda villages under Basaguda
Police Station limits, Bijapur ASP, Mohit Garg said. CPI-Maoist
cadres have planted the IEDs to target SFs on this strategically
important route often used by SFs. Security personnel have set
up their camps both in Timapur and Murdanda.
CM Naveen Patnaik, requested Union
Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, to ask the UMHA to waive the entire
amount of charges on deployment of CAPFs personnel in the Naxal
affected areas in Odisha. Around 15 Battalions of State Police
Forces have been raised and engaged in combat of the Naxals.
Over a 20,000-Police Force cadre has been created to face the
CPI-Maoist menace. At present, 16 Battalions of CAPFs have been
deployed in the State’s Maoist zones, besides a CoBRA Battalion
in Koraput. The State Government has been repeatedly drawing attention
of the Union Government that there is a gross asymmetric deployment
of CAPFs in Malkangiri and Koraput Districts along the border
vis-à-vis Chhattisgarh. This is creating serious security vacuum
in these two districts, for which there is influx of Chhattisgarh-based
CPI- Maoist cadres into Odisha.
At least three militants including
‘district commander’ of HM, fled from the cordon after stone pelting
by locals on SFs during the operation in Kulgam District. Massive
stone-pelting clashes erupted in two villages of the District
as SFs launched search and cordon operations against a group of
militants including HM ‘commander’, Altaf Ahmad Kachru. Sources
said that Army’s 1-RR, SOG of JKP and CRPF cordoned off Tarigam
village of Kulgam District after receiving an input about the
presence of three militants. Sources said that as the searches
were started, the locals including women came out of their houses
and held protests. The locals pelted stones on SFs involved in
operations and tried to break the cordon to give safe passage
to militants who were believed to be trapped inside.
Police fired teargas and fired
gun shots in air to disperse the protesters. Clashes between the
two sides continued for several hours and few persons were reported
to be injured. Following the clashes, the cordon and search operation
in the Tarigam village was called off and sources said that militants
managed to flee from the cordon. Clashes also erupted at Qoimoh
area of the District after SFs launched a cordon and search operation
following information that the militants who fled Tarigam have
taken shelter in nearby Makhdoom Mohalla locality of Qoimoh. SFs
called off the operation at Qoimoh following clashes. Minor stone-pelting
clashes were also reported from Kakpora area of Pulwama District.
However, the situation there was brought under control by Police.
The State Government has started
the process of raising a strong second line of defence to work
behind the BSF along the International Border with Bangladesh
to check infiltration of foreigners to the State. Meanwhile, more
than 800 chars (mid-channel bars on the river
Brahmaputra) have been surveyed by Police and the process to carry
out such surveys in the other chars is on. Sources in the State
Home Department told the newspaper that the first step towards
a strong second line defence would be to create posts of SP-Border
in the Districts having international border with Bangladesh.
The process of creation of the posts has started.
The ANC cut short its 12-hour
rail blockade at Kokrajhar and Udalguri Railway stations by nearly
five-and-a-half hours after submitting a memorandum addressed
to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal through the Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner. ANC's demands
included inclusion of Adivasis (Santhal, Oraons, Kharia, Munda,
Gonds, Sawras, Kishan, Lohras, Kol, Bhils, Porjas, Bedias, Mirdhas
and the like) in Scheduled Tribes list, political solution to
the issues of Adivasi militant groups that have entered into a
truce with the Government, rehabilitation and allotment of land
and land documents to the Adivasi and tea garden workers who had
been evicted. "We will launch a 100-hour blockade of national
highways from March 22 if we don't get any response from the Prime
Minister and the Chief Minister regarding our demands," ANC
‘general secretary’ Birsing Munda.
District Police arrested Hiralal
Kherwar and Veerendra Kherwar during a search operation in Naxal-hit
areas of Lohardaga District of Jharkhand. Police recovered wire
used for making IED, Codex wire, Ammonium Nitrate and other materials.
|
February 23 |
Suspecting them to be sympathisers
of CPI-Maoist, Vizag Rural Police and Special Forces arrested
up to 60 villagers in Koyyuru and GK Veedhi Mandals at
Visakha Agency in Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. It
is important to note that, two persons from GK Veedhi Mandal
— Gemmela Ashok (32) and Pangi Naresh (25) — were arrested, on
February 2, at Chitrakonda area in Odisha by SFs when they were
allegedly purchasing food grains for Maoists.
The District administration of
Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh plans to set up around
200 mobile towers in the rural areas including a major portion
of Visakha Agency to curb CPI-Maoist movement as well as address
various other issues.
Five cadres of CPI-Maoist were
arrested by SFs from the forest of Ganganpalli village under Basaguda
Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. One
of the arrested Maoists is Velkamrama (25), who was active as
head of DAKMS and carried a reward of INR 100,000. The other four
arrested Maoists were identified as Podiyam Shankar (25), Karam
Ramesh (20), Odiyam Hurra (25) and Sodhi Samaiyya (30), all active
as lower rung members.
An active cadre of CPI-Maoist,
Ramlagan Paharia was arrested in Latehar District of Jharkhand.
Paharia was arrested during a joint anti-Naxal offensive
of the Police and the CRPF.
Two hardcore women cadres of the
CPI-Maoist carrying cash reward of INR 400,000 each surrendered
in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The surrendered Maoists have
been identified as Sumitra Madvi alias Manila (35) of village
Simrikhal under Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra and Jagi Madkami
alias Namita (33) of Tekguda village in Malkangiri District.
According to SP, Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, Sumita joined the CPI-Maoist
organisation in 2001 and was working as an ‘area committee member’
of the AOBSZC.
The LWE wing of Crime Branch in
Bhubaneswar in Khordha District of Odisha, asked Police to expedite
LWE cases. The State Crime Branch has asked the Naxal-affected
Districts of Odisha to create a databank of such cases and appoint
dedicated officers to pursue the progress of investigations. The
LWE wing of Crime Branch supervises investigation into Maoist
offences in the State. Official sources said at least 700 LWE
related cases were registered in different Police Stations since
2000. Nearly 70 per cent of the cases are pending investigation
whereas conviction rate stands at nearly seven per cent.
Three jawans and a woman were
killed after terrorists attacked a patrolling party at Mulu Chitragam
in Shopian District of J&K. Four other army personnel were
injured in the ambush. The woman was killed in the cross-firing.
The army personnel, who belonged to 44th RR, were
returning from an operation at Kungnoo Shopian when the militants
opened fire. The Police said one woman, identified as Taja, “was
hit by a stray bullet inside her house during the cross fire”.
“She also succumbed to her injuries,” said Police spokesman.
AR troopers arrested a NSCN-K
militant, Pansai Pansa, from Wakka village in Longding District.
One pistol, five live rounds of ammunition and four mobile phones
were recovered.
One NSCN-IM militant, 'sergeant'
Solomon, was killed, during an encounter, between suspected NSCN-IM
cadres and 2/5 GR at Khoupum Chingthak area in Noney District.
Two others including one NSCN-IM cadre 'lieutenant' Kahaulun and
a woman Ajingna Rongmei (50) were injured during the incident.
Two fratricidal clashes between
NSCN-IM and ZUF cadres were reported from Tanripou area of Dialing
village in Tamenglong District and Lanjaising area of Noney District.
Three unidentified NSCN-IM cadres were injured in the twin clashes.
These clashes happened as NSCN-IM cadres were taking their injured
fellow cadres to Hospital following the encounter with 2/5 GR.
Governor Dr Najima Heptulla appealed
to the UNC leaders and its supporters to lift the indefinite economic
blockade taking into consideration the immense hardships faced
by the people and in light of the upcoming 11th State Assembly
election.
The CorCom, a conglomerate of
six Imphal Valley-based militant outfits, announced a total shut
down of Manipur over the PM’s scheduled visit to the State on
February 25. CorCom called for total shut down all over Manipur
from 6 am morning of February 25 till the Indian PM leaves Manipur.
However, medical services, religious activities, media, water
supply, electricity and fire services would not be covered by
the total shut down, it added.
The State Government revealed
that it incurred a loss of INR 259.4 million in terms of salary
to its employees, including teachers, during the agitations in
2013 called by 14 pressure groups demanding implementation of
the ILP system in Meghalaya.
The loss was highlighted in the
deposition made before the Special Court dealing with ILP-related
case by Commissioner and Secretary of the Personnel Department
L. Diengdoh.
|
February 24 |
A team of Greyhounds, the
elite anti-Naxal force of Andhra Pradesh Police, killed
two Naxals in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh
.
The slain Maoists were identified as Gemmeli Narayan Rao alias
Jambri and Chittibabu. Jambri was a ‘divisional committee member’
of Galikonda area committee of the CPI-Maoist. Police recovered
a Thompson sub-machine gun, a shotgun and three detonators. Jambri,
native of Mettiguda under GK Veedhi Mandal in Vizag Agency
area, carried a reward of INR 400,000 on his head. He had played
a key role in the killing of 37 members of Greyhounds in Balimela
in 2008.
The 44 ITBP recovered explosives
along with empty cans and Naxal literature recovered at
Pallemadi village in Rajnandgaon District of Chhattisgarh.
Jharkhand DGP, D K Pandey, said
Naxals activity in Parasnath hills in Giridih District
of Jharkhand. He said the state administration is serious
about the security arrangement in Bhelwaghati situated on the
Jharkhand -Bihar border of the District.
Stone-throwing clashes broke out
in parts of summer capital Srinagar and in Sopore town of North
Kashmir, after Friday prayers during which Police used teargas
against stone-throwers. Witnesses said soon after the culmination
of Friday congregational prayers, dozens of masked youth came
out of Jama Masjid in Nowhatta and started sloganeering. Amid
sloganeering, the masked youth pelted stones on SFs deployed in
the area and clashed with them for nearly an hour. Later, the
clashes spilled over to nearby neighbourhoods and Police used
dozens of teargas shells against the stone-throwers at Saraf Kadal
and Rajouri Kadal localities. The clashes continued for several
hours.
Similar clashes raged soon after
Friday prayers culminated at Jama Masjid in northern Sopore town
of Baramulla District. Masked youth resorted to heavy stone-pelting
on SF personnel in Jama Masjid area and the forces retaliated
by lobbing teargas canisters. Police said no one was injured during
post-Friday clashes.
A major tragedy was averted as
Police recovered explosive hidden in a farm land in Kishtwar District.
Several gelatin sticks weighing around 800 grams wrapped in a
polythene bag were recovered from a farm land on the Jammu-Kishtwar
Highway, reports said. A Bomb Disposal squad was called to dispose
of the explosives.
AR arrested NSCN-R cadre, Ranapio
Sampit, at Kharsang in Changlang District.
Police arrested an agent of a
suspected Islamic radical groups identified as Alamgir Hussain,
from an unidentified area. The suspect came under Police scanner
after he bought properties worth crores at Badarpur town in Karimganj
District. He visited Singapore frequently on a Bangladeshi passport
between 2001 and 2013. "We have taken him into seven-day
custody. We have doubts on his source of income going by the wealth
he has amassed within a short period of time. He could be a member
of some Islamic radical group. We will get all the facts only
after a thorough investigation," said SP of Karimganj PR
Kar.
Union MOS Home Kiren Rijiju stated
that the rumour that the FA signed between the Union Government
and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 may affect the territorial integrity
of Manipur is devoid of any basis. Speaking to media persons in
Imphal, Rijiju maintained that the Framework Agreement is not
a final agreement. A final agreement would be reached only after
the dialogue process ends. The political dialogue is not an isolated
process. Centre’s interlocutor for the political dialogue, RN
Ravi has been going to different places and consulting all stake
holders. There is not an iota of truth in the assumption that
the Framework Agreement may affect the integrity of Manipur. Yet
some people have been deliberately trying to misinterpret the
FA without having any knowledge about it. The FA is only a half
page document and it only acknowledges the uniqueness of Naga
history and Naga problems. The half page document merely states
the position of the Government of India regarding the Naga issue
but the final outcome of the dialogue process would be determined
after consulting all stake holders, Rijiju stated.
Citizens' groups reiterated
their demand for disclosure of the framework agreement fine print
on the eve of Prime Minister’s visit to the State on February
25. "We demand details of the framework agreement as the
territorial integrity of Manipur is threatened by the Centre and
NSCN-IM talks," Johnson Elangbam, the president of the UCM,
said at a daylong discussion on the pact. The discussion was organised
by the UCM and CCSK.
Police recovered a hand grenade
and a bomb from separate places in Manipur, a day ahead of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Northeastern State to address
an election rally. The recovery comes even as an apex body of
six rebel groups in Manipur has given a call for a "complete
shutdown" in the state on February 25 to protest against
Modi's visit, saying it was aimed at "hoodwinking the people
of Manipur".
Four senior cadres of the GNLA,
including an area commander, surrendered to Police at Williamnagar
in East Garo Hills. The four militants, ‘commander’ Sengbat Ch
Momin alias Kamdak, Wesefield Ch Marak alias Dakchak,
Joshua N. Marak alias Kolgrik alias Balmika
and Tush M. Marak alias Gotcheng, submitted three
automatic rifles and ammunitions during the surrender.
The BSF has informed the BGB that
seven militant outfits from the Northeast have set up as many
as 20 camps in Bangladesh. Sources in the BSF said the NLFT has
10 camps, HNLC from Meghalaya's Khasi hills has three camps, ULFA-I
and MPLA have two camps each while GNLA of Meghalaya, PREPAK and
KYKL, both from Manipur, have a camp each.
NSCN-IM has cautioned certain
individuals that their “campaign” to sabotage the peace talks
with a new approach of “Nagas of Nagaland” and “treacherous venom”
to mislead the people by demanding the declaration of the content
of the framework agreement would not deter the dedication of the
true Nagas. In a release, NSCN-IM maintained that the Naga people
have hope that the agreement will bring peace and honourable settlement
of the Naga goals. A framework agreement was signed between the
NSCN-IM and the Union Government on August 3, 2015.
India has decided to throw open
its border roads to help Bangladesh construct border outposts
in CHT, known for its inhospitable terrain. Some areas in Chittagong,
bordering Tripura and Mizoram, have no motorable roads and India
has decided to allow the BGB to construct 13 border outposts using
the road connectivity available in the two States.
India has decided to throw open
its border roads to help Bangladesh construct border outposts
in CHT, known for its inhospitable terrain. Some areas in Chittagong,
bordering Tripura and Mizoram, have no motorable roads and India
has decided to allow the Border Guard Bangladesh to construct
13 border outposts using the road connectivity available in the
two States.
|
February 25 |
District Force and CRPF 85 Battalion
arrested a CPI-Maoist cadre from Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh.
SFs also demolished a Naxal memorial during the time the search
operation to find the Naxalites were on. The identity of the Maoist
is yet to be ascertained.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a
private passenger bus in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Security
has been stepped up across Bastar division which comprises the
Districts of Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Narayanpur, Kondagaon,
Sukma and Kanker.
Five suspected cadres of the TPC,
a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested from Ranchi
District of Jharkhand. City SP, Kaushal Kishore said two of them,
Rajesh Ganjhu and Pradeep Kesri, have been identified to be squad
members of the outfit, while the others — Rohit Kesri, Jairam
Bhuinya and Mahesh Mahato — are their supporters. "One country-made
pistol and three live cartridges have been seized from their possession
and the Kotwali police are interrogating them for further details,"
the SP said.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a
private bus at Metlacheruvu village under Bhadrakali Police limits
in Suryapet District of Telangana. The bus was carrying about
26 passengers to Bijapur of Chhattisgarh from Venkatapuram of
Jayashankar Bhupalapally District of Telangana.
SFs arrested 12 persons on stone
pelting charges during which 15 persons were injured in Pulwama
town in Pulwama District. A shutdown was observed in Pulwama town
amid stone-throwing clashes against arrest of a shopkeeper. A
Police official said the arrested shopkeeper, Bilal Ahmad Mir,
is a stone-pelter and was held on charges of stone-throwing in
the town. Protesters came out of their houses and pelted stones
on SFs in the town. The clashes continued throughout the day and
security men lobbed dozens of teargas shells to disperse the rock-hurlers.
The protesters were seeking release of the arrested shopkeeper.
Eight SF personnel were among 15 persons who were injured in these
clashes. Police later detained 12 persons on charges of stone
pelting during the clashes in Pulwama.
Suspected ULFA-I militants fired
inside the bungalow of a Dipankar Buragohain ,tea garden manager
of Disam tea estate in Naharkatia of Dibrugarh District.
Militants opened fire after the manager refused to pay the extortion
money amounting to INR 600,000, as contribution for ULFA-I.
The RPF, political wing of PLA,
observed its 38th foundation day. A press release issued by the
‘publicity secretary’ of the organisation stated that the foundation
day was observed at the party’s ‘General Headquarters’, ‘council
headquarters’, ‘central bureau’ and its various divisions, SR-1,
SR-2, SR-3, SR-4, PLA general headquarters, ‘tactical command’,
‘strategic command’, ‘252 mobile battalion’ and other PLA units,
‘departments’, ‘stations’ where the party’s flag was unfurled.
Militant formation, ZUF’s ‘chairman’
Kamson has raised the demand for creation of a common homeland
for Zeliangrong people on the occasion of the outfit’s 6th raising
day. “Our present struggle is not seeking secession from
India but we are demanding a common homeland within the Union
of India for the fragmented Zeliangrong territory which was divided
by the British rulers and continues in independent India,” Kamson
said.
A Police team included SF-10 commandos,
in an encounter, killed ‘c-in-c’ of disbanded UALA, Singbirth
N. Marak alias Norok. X. Momin, who was on the
run, in a hideout located inside a forest near Thapa Matronggre
village in North Garo Hills District. The Police team recovered
a Chinese AK-47 rifle, a US pistol, one hand grenade, ammunition,
SIM cards and some documents from the encounter site. “The gunfight
began when the armed militants fired at the commandos while resisting
to surrender,” Dalton P, Marak, the SP of North Garo Hills, said.
Police further claimed that four others had managed to flee the
spot under the cover of darkness.
Singbirth N Marak alias Norok
X Momin, who had reluctantly participated in the disbanding ceremony
on June 9, 2016, allegedly hid a sizeable number of arms from
the Police. In 2016, East Garo Hills District Police intercepted
a cache of weapons and ammunition that were being shipped to GNLA
and also recovered the payment amounting to several lakhs
of rupees that was paid for the weapons. With a red alert against
him, Norok slipped into Assam and began the process of forming
a new militant group with the support of NDFB, ULFA and a section
of UALA which, according to Police, had already been named as
UANF.
NSCN-IM delegation led by Thuingaleng Muivah and
JIC ‘Chairman’ RN Ravi are holding weekly meetings to iron out
differences and solution is in sight. The report sources the information
from an official, privy to the talks, who said that New Delhi,
believes a breakthrough has been made in the talks with the NSCN-IM
agreeing, in principle, that Naga communities can exercise autonomous
political rights within existing State boundaries. The evolving
formula, it believes, would meet the group’s demand for integration,
while at once addressing Manipur’s territorial anxieties.
AR arrested one cadre of NSCN-R,
identified as Vekupe, at general area of Porba Junction in Phek
District. AR recovered four extortion money ‘collection slips’
from the arrested militant.
|
February 25-26 |
One of the youth among the 21
persons from Kasaragod District of Kerala suspected to have joined
the Islamic State (IS) in June 2016, identified as Hafeesudheen
T K, was reportedly killed in a drone attack at an IS-stronghold
in Afghanistan. The information on Hafeesudheen's death reached
the relatives in Padanna village in Kasaragod District on February
26 through a ‘Telegram app’ message from the account of
Ashfaq Majeed, who is also a member of the 21-member group that
joined the terrorist outfit.
According to Afghan media, at
least six leaders of the IS were among 47 other militants killed
in an air and ground operations carried by the SFs in Haska Meean
and Bati Kot Districts of Eastern Nangarhar Province. As many
25 other IS cadres were also wounded in operation, the reports
said.
However, the Kerala Police have
intimated the relatives of Hafeesudheen that there is no immediate
possibility to confirm the news. The Nangarhar Province is out
of bound even for Afghan Government agencies and NIA has sought
the help of Interpol to get the details of the Indians in the
IS.
|
February 26 |
ATS arrested two suspected Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) operatives from Rajkot and Bhavnagar,
who had conspired to carry out terror activities in the country
and was planning to collect chemical explosives from cracker manufacturers
in Gujarat. Two brothers, Wasim and Nathin, were arrested from
Rajkot and Bhavnagar respectively, in an operation launched by
the state ATS.
Dr Kosanam Ramamurthy, a physician
of West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, who was abducted
by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants at Sirte
in Libya in 2015, was reunited with his family members. Dr Ramamurthy,
who was freed by the terrorists, thanked PM Narendra Modi, External
Affairs Ministry and other agencies who made efforts for his safe
release.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze two
vehicles, in two separate incidents including a private passenger
bus in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The bus was
set ablaze near Gatam village and a MUV was set ablaze at Karcheli.
Nobody was injured in the two incidents. SFs were rushed to both
the spots and a combing operation was launched.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered
before Police in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. The
identity of the CPI-Maoist cadres is yet to be ascertained.
A 207th CoBRA jawan of West Bengal,
identified as Om Prakash (32), was seriously injured in an encounter
with the CPI-Maoist cadres at a hill near Basadera village under
Ghatshila Police Station area in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.
A Naxal, Shyam Pahan, carrying
a reward of INR 500,000 on his head, was arrested by Haryana Police
from a poultry farm at Yamuna Nagar District of Haryana. SP, Rajesh
Kalia told, Shyam Pahan booked in more than 80 cases of murder
and robbery among others. A country-made pistol was also recovered
from him. Pahan is a resident of Khunti District of Jharkhand.
Army and Police laid an ambush
in Ahmadpora-Tantraypora area of Magam in Budgam District in Central
Kashmir. A joint party of 2 RR Gagarpora and SOG Magam laid the
ambush late last night. One person was detained during the operation
and shifted to Budgam. His identification couldn’t be established.
SFs also fired some gun shots in air as they had information about
militant movement.
Shutdown was observed in twin
Districts of Pulwama and Shopian to protest against the arrests
of youth on February 25. Over 12 persons were arrested in Pulwama
on charges of stone pelting from Pulwama on February 25.
AR troopers arrested a NSCN-K
cadre, identified as Machow Ngaimong, from Mulong village in Changlang
District.
|
February 27 |
SIMI ‘chief’ Safdar Nagori and
other 10 members of his terrorist outfit were sentenced to life
imprisonment in a 2008 case of sedition by a special CBI court
in Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Special CBI judge B K Paloda convicted
all 11 for sedition, collecting arms, ammunition and explosives
with the intention to wage war against the nation and for being
active members of a banned terrorist outfit. Nagori was the ‘general
secretary’ of SIMI when it was banned. Besides 45-year-old Nagori,
the others convicted are Hafiz Hussain (35), Aamil Parvaz (40),
Shivli (38), Qamruddin (42), Shahduli (32), Qamran (40), Ansar
(35), Ahmed Baig (32), Yasin (35) and Munroz (40).
"The judgment was delivered
to 10 of the 11 accused through video-conferencing as they are
lodged in Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad where they are being tried
for the Ahmedabad blasts (Gujarat, 2008)," public prosecutor
Vimal Mishra said. Only one of the accused, dental student from
Karnataka Munroz, was in the Indore court and his father wept
upon hearing the verdict.
UHM Rajnath Singh said that the
Islamic State (ISIS) won't be allowed to become a threat to India.
"The government has kept an eye on the ISIS, and that won't
be allowed to become a major challenge for the country",
said Singh in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Replying a query on the
arrest of two suspected ISIS men on February 26 in Gujarat, he
said that the ISIS would fail to influence Indian youth, as the
people are alert and supportive to the government. "In fact
the parents of some misguided youths contacted me and informed
about their concerns," he said adding that the government
is keeping eyes on them.
The two Islamic State (IS) terror
group suspects arrested from Rajkot and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) on
February 26 confessed to their plans of planting bombs in the
thickly populated Trikon Baug and Gundawadi areas of Rajkot this
week. The suspects Waseem Ramodiya and his brother Naeem were
remanded to the custody of the ATS till March 10. Investigators
have got names of at least 40 other persons from across Gujarat,
including Ahmedabad, who were engaged with the brothers regarding
IS activities across the globe. "We are conducting verification
of these persons to know the extent of their indoctrination,"
an official said.
A day after the startling message
to his close relatives that Hafeezuddin (26), a native of Padanna
village in Kasaragod District, who was among the 21 suspected
to have joined the Islamic State (IS), was killed in a drone strike,
the local Police are groping in the dark about the information.
The Kerala Police are still ascertaining the veracity of the information
even as a ‘WhatsApp’ message said to have been received
by a relative of the ‘slain’ youth showed the photo of his body
lying on the ground, Special Branch DSP V.T. Assainar said. “The
local police could not as yet ascertain the whereabouts of the
persons who went missing under mysterious circumstances in June
last year and are said to have joined the IS later,” Assainar
said, adding that only Central agencies like the NIA could get
any information, a stance maintained by SP K.G. Simon too.
Two persons, identified as Rakesh
Goyal and Mubashara have been arrested by the Police, along with
FICN of face value of INR 1,50,000 from Sanjay Place, the commercial
hub of Agra. The duo was carrying these notes from Delhi to Kanpur.
They have confirmed that the fake currency was being printed in
Karachi and Rawalpindi in Pakistan at the behest of ISI and being
sent to India via Bangladesh.
Two persons were arrested along
with four FICN of face value of INR 2000 near Farakka in West
Bengal. The two, who hail from Murshidabad District, were caught
and arrested when the Police found them moving around in a suspicious
manner. They were produced at the local court which remanded them
in Police custody for five days. Before demonetization Malda in
West Bengal had become one of the main transit points for smuggling
in FICN from Bangladesh before pushing it into the country.
AR troopers arrested a NSCN-IM
cadre, ‘lance corporal’ Akha Wangsu, from Longding village in
Longding District. A pistol, five rounds of A-K series rifles,
two rounds of ammunition and opium were recovered from his possession.
AR killed one militant of NSCN-K,
identified as Wahang Sumyen, at Lyangche village in Tirap District.
A pistol and other war-like stores were also recovered from the
killed militant.
According to data given by State
Government, 13 illegal migrants were deported from the state till
October 2016. This was preceded by the deportation of a single
illegal migrant through whole of 2015. Previously in 2014, total
24 migrants were deported. According to the data on deportation
of illegal migrants from the state tabled in the Assembly, 29,712
migrants were deported between 1985 and October last year, with
the 2015 figures being the lowest during this period. Notably,
the highest number of illegal migrants deported was 3,228 (in
1988).
Unidentified militants allegedly
planted a bomb which later exploded outside the house of two editors
located in Imphal. There were no reports of any casualty but a
car was damaged. The editors work for a Manipuri daily and a local
cable television, Police said.
The MNRF has appealed to all the
Nagas of Manipur to stand against the oppression of NSCN-IM and
cast their votes for the deserving candidates according to their
own will. A press release issued by the ‘assistant secretary’,
‘information and publicity’ of the group stated that the Nagas
of Manipur have been reeling under the pressure of the NSCN-IM
to vote for their favoured candidates.
In a statement, the KSO asserted
that the Kuki people must be consulted before a final settlement
is worked out to the political dialogue going on between NSCN-IM
and the GoI.
Unidentified militants abducted
a coal labourer, identified as Azanur Islam, from a coal mine
at Era Aning under Nangalbibra in East Garo Hills District.
SFs busted an organized set up
for collection of extortion money and arrested one NSCN-K, identified
as Tokuto Aye, near BOC in Kohima District.
The AET of Dimapur Police arrested
one assailant, identified as Khaka Yepthomi, in Dimapur District
for collecting extortion money in the name of NSCN-IM. According
to the source, the matter is under investigation.
A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified
as Kotesu, died on the spot and a Sabari Committee ‘militia commander’,
Kaaki Kannayya, suffered serious injuries while planting pressure
bomb in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The spot
where the incident took place was near National Highway 30.
Manoj Kumar Mahto, a JCB driver,
who was abducted by Naxals from Hazaribagh District of
Jharkhand on February 26. Mahto was released today.
The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
trucks and damaged a culvert on National Highway in Sukma District
of Chhattisgarh. Two trucks were set ablaze by CPI-Maoist cadres
in Kukanar Police Station of the District. The CPI-Maoist cadres
also blew up an under-construction culvert near Pedakurti village
under Dornapal Police Station in the District. The Maoist cadres
damaged a slurry pipeline belonging to a private steel company
in Gadiras area of the District bordering Dantewada District of
Chhattisgarh.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a
timber depot at a forest and blocked a road in Gadchiroli District
of Maharashtra. They (Maoists) blocked the Sironcha-Alapalli road
by placing some tree trunks, thus disrupting the vehicular movement.
The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze
the machines used for road construction at Mankidi village under
Podapadar Panchayat in Koraput District of Odisha. According
to sources more than ten Maoist cadres stormed into a contractor’s
camp and set a JCB and a road-roller machine on fire.
An uneasy calm reigned over the
interior tribal pockets in Bhadrachalam division in Khammam District
of Telangana along the restive inter-State border AP and Chhattisgarh
during the nation-wide bandh called by CPI-Maoist against
“Operation Green Hunt”. The bandh had some impact on the
bus services in the remote tribal areas in Charla and Dummugudem
mandals adjoining the strife-ridden south Bastar region
of Chhattisgarh. The Bhadrachalam sub-division Police also intensified
road opening patrol in the interior areas bordering AP.
CRPF DG K Durga Prasad said the
paramilitary force had taken the decision of modifying the pellet
guns to minimise injuries. The modified version of pellet guns
will have a "deflector", an attachment on the muzzle
end to prevent the pellets from going up. The force has tasked
a special BSF workshop to deploy metal 'deflectors' on the muzzle
of these guns so that shrapnels in the pellets do not hit above
the abdomen region. CRPF troops deployed in Kashmir Valley have
been asked to fire the pellets aiming at the feet of the protesters
now as against laid down procedure of hitting the abdomen area.
The CRPF is moving back to its
‘old mandate’ in J&K, when it was sent there in 1989 for carrying
out counter-insurgency operations aggressively, said CRPF DG K
Durga Prasad. He said that "we (CRPF) are now not just doing
normal law and order duty in Kashmir. We are engaged actively
in intelligence based counter-terror operations where our men
hunt down the militants in their den." Prasad said that CRPF
was originally sent to J&K two decades back for counter-insurgency
operations only. However, this role had been reduced to normal
law and order duty in disturbed areas in last several years.
|
February 28 |
SFs recovered a bomb near the
gate of a residential building in Khongman Bashikhong Turel Mapal
area in Imphal East District. The bomb was later defused safely
by the SFs.
The Central Government of India
clarified that it has not signed any final accord with the NSCN-IM
though a framework agreement has been sealed. The issue figured
at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on UMHA,
which was chaired by former Home Minister P Chidambaram. Officials
of the Home Ministry, briefing the members of the Committee, gave
a broad account of the framework agreement, which has been kept
under tight wraps. The ‘Framework Agreement’ between the Centre
and the NSCN-IM was signed on August 3, 2015. Home Ministry officials
explained that a final accord has not been signed as the Centre
proposed to take along all Naga groups and the concerned State
Governments of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
As many as nine Districts of the
State are now Muslim majority, State Planning and Development
minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the Assembly. As per 2011
census, Dhubri District has 79.67%, Barpeta District has 70.74%,
Darrang District has 64.34%, Hailakandi District has 60.31%, Goalpara
District has 57.52%, Karimganj District has 56.36%, Nagaon District
has 55.36%, Morigaon District has 52.56% and Bongaigaon District
has 50.22% people of Islamic faith.
SFs recovered one 7.65 mm pistol
and three live ammunitions from Patradisa area in Karbi Anglong
District. SFs also arrested five persons in connection with the
recovery.
Red Horns Division of Indian Army
launched a ‘large scale operation’ in the areas of East Karbi
Anglong District on the basis of intelligence inputs about movement
of armed militants of KLF. According to the report, the army is
also keeping a strict vigil and maintaining a robust area domination
and counter-terrorism posture in the disturbed areas of Upper
Assam and East Arunachal Pradesh amidst regular inputs of terrorist
groups trying to make their presence felt in the area and also
seeking opportunities to cause attrition to the SFs.
A senior State Home Department
official said in a statement that the fourth round of peace talks
between Mizoram Government and HPC-D militant will be held in
March (this month). Earlier the fourth round of peace talks scheduled
to be held during mid-February, was postponed as the Home Department
had to approach Law and Finance departments before the talk.
A special NIA court in Bilaspur
District of Chhattisgarh sentenced five Naxal sympathisers
to ten years of imprisonment for acting as couriers of the CPI-Maoist
and supplying explosives to them. Five sympathisers are
identified as Babulal Sharma, Tarak Kundu, Katiyaram Nareti, Rajesh
Dhurva and Shatrughan Vaishnav. The court also slapped a fine
of INR 500 on each of them. Chhattisgarh has two NIA courts, one
at Bilaspur District and another at Dantewada District. This is
the first case in the state in which an NIA court has given its
verdict.
Five CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested
by SFs near forests of Parcheli village under Katekalyan Police
Station limits of the Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
Those arrested were identified as Hidma Vetti (22), Pojja Vetti
(22), Somaru Mandavi (20), Somdu Vetti (20) and Fagnu Vetti (19),
all natives of Parcheli village. They were involved in setting
ablaze two vehicles, including a passenger bus, in Dantewada District
on February 26.
SFs launched a hunt for the last
squad of CPI-Maoist, led by Akash, secretary of the state organising
committee in West Midnapore and Purulia Districts of West Bengal.
The squad comprises seven to 10 cadres and is based near Ghatshila
area in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. According to Police,
the squad is active in and around Dampara area in Ghatshila sub-division.
Atul Mahato, believed to be another cadre of the state organising
committee, is also with the squad. The squad popularly known as
Gurabandha squad was also involved in formulating policies for
revival of Maoist armed units in Purulia and West Midnapore Districts.
|
March 1 |
A delegation of officials from
the US met Indian counterparts in the Home Ministry and discussed
ways to streamline the training programmes which include negotiations
in hostage situations, terror crime scene investigation, besides
new courses relating to cyberspace and maritime security. "India
and the US are working towards strengthening bilateral ties on
security front. Besides, the US will be introducing two new courses
for Indian police officers this year," a Home Ministry official
said.
India has asked Pakistan to reinvestigate
the 26/11 (November 26, 2008) Mumbai terror attack case and put
on trial JuD 'chief' Hafiz Saeed who is currently under house
arrest in Lahore under the anti-terrorism law. India has made
a fresh demand in a reply to Pakistan's request to send 24 Indian
witnesses to record their statements in the case, Pakistan's interior
ministry official said on March 1. "We have received a reply
from Indian government in response to our letter regarding sending
24 Indian witnesses to Pakistan to record their statements in
the Mumbai terror attack case. But instead of entertaining our
request India has sought reinvestigation of the case and also
demanded trial of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and LeT operation commander
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in the light of evidence it had provided
to Pakistan," the official said.
SFs, after an encounter, arrested
one militant ‘leader’ of NDFB-IKS from an unspecified area along
the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary, of Sonitpur District. The
militant leader was identified as Badaisa Basumatary. SFs also
recovered a pistol, several rounds live ammunition and other warlike
stores from the arrestee.
The ‘chairman’ of the GNLA, Champion
Sangma was back in judicial custody due to the case of extortion
in Baghmara of South Garo Hills District, in which he was charge
sheeted by the Police. Earlier, on February 21 Champion Sangma
was granted bail by the lower court in connection with another
case.
The IPFT, a tribal-based party
in the State launched a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar in
New Delhi against the central Government’s citizenship bill and
demanded a separate State in Tripura. The IPFT, along with two
other tribal based parties - the INPT and the NCT-formed the ATIRPF
to oppose the citizenship bill introduced by the BJP led Government.
The TPC ‘zonal commander’ Anil
Kushwaha alias Rakesh Mishra and 10 cadres killed Jitendra
Kharwar (18) over delay in serving them food in Rohtas District
of Bihar. TPC is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
Naxals of JTG set ablaze
three vehicles involved in bridge construction work in Chatra
District of Jharkhand. Anjani Kumar Jha, Chatra, SP, said,
"The group left a poster at the spot, taking responsibility
for the arson. They want to threaten contractors who do not pay
levy to them."
According to Intelligence agencies,
stone-throwing protests in Kashmir, which picked up after militant
leader Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with SFs July 2016,
have now spread to rural regions. Report said that authorities
are worried as they say the crowds in the countryside are more
belligerent. Boys as young as four and five are participating
in the stone-pelting, said an officer. After being caught, many
of these kids reveal that they have no idea what they are involved
in.
The Central Government has given
a major push to equip the Army and central paramilitary forces
with advanced weapons and equipment in anticipation of increased
militant activity in Kashmir valley in summer. Intelligence agencies
have hinted that militant activity may reach an all-time high
this summer, people familiar with the matter said. This was the
first time in over a decade that any Government has overhauled
the entire weapon system of SFs deployed in the Valley, the people
said.
SFs arrested a HM militant, identified
as Hilal Ahmad Bhat from Dahwatoo in Awantipora area in Pulwama
District. Two Chinese grenades, one camouflage uniform, one knife
and some other incriminating material were also recovered from
Bhat’s possession, said Police. Bhat had joined the HM ranks recently,
the official said adding a case under relevant sections of the
RPC have been registered against him.
|
March 2 |
Kolkata Police neutralised a FICN
racket and arrested five persons along with FICN amounting to
INR 56,74,000 from Howrah District of West Bengal. "Five
persons were arrested from the Fancy Market area in Kolkata's
Watgunj and fake notes totalling Rs 56.74 lakh seized from them,"
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vishal Garg told. Garg said
the five were caught while buying cell phones at Kabitirtha Sarani
in Watgunj. "Accused Manohar Mollah, Syeed Rehan, Seikh Eklakh
Ahamed and Seikh Abul Kalam Azad are residents of West Bengal's
Howrah district while Balai Mondal hails from Bankura," the
officer added.
The terror outfits that Pakistan
created against India are now harming its host country, Indian
Ambassador to UN said in Geneva. "Pakistan has created terrorist
outfits against India. This monster is now devouring its own creator,"
Anil Kumar, India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to
the UN said. The most wanted terrorists of the world have found
"succour and sustenance" in Pakistan in the last two
decades, Mr Kumar said.
US Democrat Senator Mark Warner
and his Republican colleague in the Senate Dan Sullivan expressed
concern over Pakistani terror threat to India. Speaking at a programme
in Washington DC, the US Senators said while India and the US
have a very strong relationship between the intelligence community,
there is an enormous concern not only about Pakistan’s role in
the unrest in Kashmir, but also the terrorist organisations from
Pakistan.
At least seven people were injured
when a powerful IED blast was triggered by two suspected assailants
at the residence of K Leishiyo (43) at Langol Laimanai Lanthungching
in Imphal West District. The injured persons were identified as
Mark Keishing (37), Gideon Keishing (50), Zeneatte Ningshen (30),
Samson Maku (55), Fanny Grace (40), Reishang Ningshen (35) and
Star Shinglai (30). The owner of the residence is contesting in
the ensuing Assembly election from Phungyar Assembly Constituency
on NPF ticket. Police suspect the blast is related to the upcoming
Assembly elections but could not immediately identify those behind
the attack. "We are investigating the case," a Police
Officer said.
Manipur CEO Vivek Kumar Dewangan
on March 2 announced that altogether 2,228 underground cadres
belonging to various militant groups who are under SoO and MoU
with the GoI will cast their votes through postal ballot at 14
designated camps across the State.
SFs arrested a militant belonging
to NSCN-IM, identified as Withonbou (28), from Kadi-IV village
in Tamenglong District. SFs also recovered NSCN-IM uniform, kit
bag and INR 4,800 from the arrested militant.
The CRPF top brass are keeping
their fingers crossed hoping that no major ambush is carried out
by insurgents on its personnel deployed in the State. Sources
within the CRPF have said that the personnel were fighting with
their backs to the wall following the UHM refusal to provide them
mine-protected vehicles and other enhanced security infrastructure
despite intelligence inputs of possible attacks on SFs by insurgent
groups. In January, 2017, the CRPF had alerted the UHM on how
the "conduct of the Assembly election will be critical and
challenging both from the insurgency and law and order point of
view", considering the economic blockade on NH 2 and 37 since
November 1 against the Okram Ibobi Singh Government's plan to
create seven new Districts. "Intelligence input indicates
infiltration of insurgent groups from Myanmar and other areas
to attack security forces and disrupt the election process. To
counter the threat of IEDs from insurgents during the elections,
10 mine-protected vehicles are required in the vulnerable and
critical areas," the CRPF had written to the ministry. Besides,
CRPF had also asked for 20 bunker vehicles, additional bomb detection
and disposal squads and satellite phones.
Kuki Inpi (apex body of Kuki tribe
in Manipur) submitted a memorandum to PM Narendra Modi appealing
to settle the alleged ‘heinous acts’ committed by NSCN-IM and
also to reveal the contents of the ‘Framework Agreement’ that
was signed between the militant group and GoI.
Four unidentified KNA militants
were arrested by AR at Sangaikot in Churachandpur District. AR
also recovered two AK-56 rifles, two magazines and 142 bullets,
a 9mm pistol along with a magazine, 6 rounds of ammunition and
four mobile handsets from the arrested militants.
An overground cadre of ULFA-I,
identified as Amulya Gogoi, was arrested by Police from Duliajan
town in Dibrugarh District. The arrestee was involved in extortions
on behalf of the militant group.
Three Bangladeshi assailants,
who were involved in the attack on three persons, a woman and
her two daughters on March 1, at Jarapata village in Karimganj
District were arrested by the BGB and Bangladeshi Police and subsequently
handed over to the BSF. The arrested Bangladeshi nationals were
identified as Numan Uddin Aajmal, Jabir Ahmed, and Sahab Uddin.
Jarapata hamlet is located on no man's land on the Indian side
(between zero point of India-Bangladesh border and the Indian
border fence). India has erected the border fence 150 yards from
zero point. However, in some places the no man's land stretches
beyond 150 yards, as a result of which many Indian villages have
fallen on the other side of the fence.
On the basis of the security inputs,
Police warned that ULFA-I militants might carry out sabotage activities
in Guwahati and intensified patrolling and checking in the city.
The ‘c-in-c’ of the ASAK militant,
Reding T Sangma alias Saljapang, surrendered before Police
along with seven other cadres of the militant group at Baghmara
in South Garo Hills District. The other cadres who surrendered
along with Reding are identified as Tengrang A. Sangma alias
Gring (18), Seldom K. Sangma alias Jorai (25), Pintu R.
Marak alias Waira (19), Kiljang M Sangma alias Amrak
(17), Hame Ch Marak (25), Biani Ch Marak (28) and Tengman M. Sangma
(28). Police recovered a German made Heckler and Koch automatic
rifle with 128 live rounds, three single barrel shotguns (SBBL),
four walkie-talkie communication handsets and 22 electronic detonators
and explosive powder from the surrendered militant.
AR arrested four cadres of NSCN-IM,
identified as Asakha Kayni (29), Makavo (42), Ohehe (40) and Lokho
(35), from Khuzama Junction along the NH-29 in Kohima District.
The militants were involved in extortions. AR recovered 30 cash
‘receipts’, four mobiles phones, INR 8,730 in cash and 68 copies
of ‘receipt’ of Dimapur Bus Owners Association from the arrestees.
A self-proclaimed CPI-Maoist leader
Vijay Kharbar was arrested from Adhaura in Kaimur District of
Bihar. SP, Harpreet Kaur said a rifle and 47 live cartridges were
seized from his possession. Kharbar was wanted by Kaimur and Rohtas
Police for his involvement in Naxalite related incidents.
One woman CPI-Maoist cadre killed
in encounter with SFs at Jagdalpur in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh.
Arms and ammunition also recovered in search operation.
A top woman CPI-Maoist cadre Budhri
alias Geeta surrendered before the Commandant of CRPF's
80th Battalion at Jagdalpur in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh.
Budhri, a member of military wing of CPI -Maoist - PLGA was absconding
for several years and SFs had announced a reward of INR 800,000
on her head. She carried a 303 rifle with her.
The Home Minister of Chhattisgarh,
Ramsewak Paikra, informed Chhattisgarh Assembly, in Raipur District
of Chhattisgarh, that a total of 3,507 Naxal incidents
took place in the State between 2010 to 2016, reports. The Minister
informed that a total of 205 CRPF jawans, 43, SPO, 210 Chhattisgarh
Police and 49 of other SFs were martyred during the period. He
stated, a total of 2057 Maoists surrendered during the period,
4939 were arrested and 140 prosecuted. There are 34 Maoists against
whom trials are yet to start.
CPI-Maoist cadres launched a poster
campaign in Latehar District of Jharkhand to refute allegations
of their involvement in promoting poppy cultivation. The posters
have been pasted in Bandhua and Palheya village under Manika Police
Station of Latehar District.
An explosion took place on Jugasaipatna
road in Kalahandi District of Odisha. SFs suspected CPI-Maoist
cadres might have planted landmines which led to the explosion
on the road. No casualties have been reported in the explosion.
|
March 3 |
MLAs, cutting across party lines
opposed the move to amend Clause VI of the Assam Accord (signed
in 1985) and demanded its full implementation for the protection
of identity of the indigenous Assamese. Sources said that INC
MLA Abdul Khaleque had moved the resolution as a section of intellectuals
had recently called for the replacement of 'indigenous Assamese'
phrase with 'indigenous people' in the clause. Many have also
said the word 'indigenous' would remove the concern from the minds
of many ethnic communities. Clause VI of the Assam Accord calls
for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards
for indigenous Assamese people but the clause has remained unimplemented
mainly because there is no consensus on who is an Assamese yet.
Former CM of the State, Tarun
Gogoi, demanded assurance from the Centre that the Peace Accord
between NSCN-IM and GoI will not affect the State. He also criticised
the Cental Government of India for not making the ‘Framework Agreement’
public.
CM Mukul Sangma announced the
appointment of Former State DGP, Rajiv Mehta, as the State's maiden
security adviser. CM Mukul Sangma, explaining the logic behind
the decision, said that the State required a dedicated and experienced
person with a thorough knowledge of the State and the region while
dealing with internal security. CM further said the security adviser
will give suggestions and recommendations regarding strategies
while dealing with state security, border issues with neighboring
countries like Bangladesh, human rights issues and strengthening
Police organisation, among others. The appointment is for the
duration of one year.
In addition, the SSC has not decided
whether officiating DGP S.B. Singh should be given full charge
or if the panel should opt for a new DGP. The CM informed that
the SSC would meet next week to take a call on the issue. The
State is yet to have a full-fledged DGP.
A GNLA militant, identified as
Chadam Ramed A Marak alias Mad alias Chitmang (22),
surrendered before Police at Baghmara in South Garo Hills District.
The State Government has made
a shift in the Government’s approach to ending militancy in the
State. Unlike in the past when there would be repeated appeals
to militants for talks, the Government is now focusing on facilitating
the rebels to surrender.
The AET of Dimapur Police arrested
two persons, identified as Angukavi Yepthomi and Tovika Sema,
at Purana Bazaar area in Dimapur District. According to the Police,
one arrestee, identified as Angukavi Yepthomi is a militant of
NNC-NA. AET also recovered demand slips of NNC-NA from their possession.
Two SF personnel of the CAF 10th
battalion were killed and two others sustained injuries in an
exchange of fire with the CPI-Maoist cadres near Cherli village
under Mirtur Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh,
when a joint team of CAF and District Police was out on a road
security operation. The two slain SFs were Hemant Kumar, constable
of the CAF and Gubba Ram, assistant constable of District Police.
Two OGWs of JeM were arrested
by the Police in Baramulla District. The Police also recovered
two Chinese pistols from their possession. The arrest comes a
month after the Police busted an OGW network of the JeM in Handwara
and arrested three persons. The OGW network, which was operating
since April 2015, was involved in various subversive activities
and determined to target political workers, SFs installations
and Police establishments. The operators were providing logistic
support to the JeM militants and were close associates of a top
commander of JeM.
One civilian was killed and four
others, including one CRPF personnel were injured in a grenade
attack on a CRPF party in Murran Chowk in Pulwama District. According
to sources, militants lobbed a grenade at a CRPF party in Murran
Chowk, resulting in injuries to four civilians and one CRPF personnel.
One of the injured civilians, identified as Mohammad Ayub Wani
succumbed to injuries at a hospital. However, militants fled after
carrying out the attack.
Protesters clashed with Police
and SFs at Ratnipora and Kakapora in Pulwama District after Friday
prayers. Protesters pelted stones on SFs who responded by firing
tear smoke.
Stone-throwing clashes and protests
also erupted in parts of Srinagar and in North Kashmir’s Sopore
Town of Baramulla District after Friday congregational prayers.
After culmination of Friday prayers, large number of youths came
out of Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area here and started sloganeering.
SFs arrested 23 persons from Ratnipora
and Kakapora villages of Pulwama District during nocturnal raids.
19 persons were arrested from Ratnipora and four from Kakapora
on charges of stone-pelting. Sources said that these persons were
wanted by Police for their involvement in stone-pelting during
a PDP minister’s visit and bank robbery by militants in the village
last month.
Several separatist JKLF activists
were held by Police after they held a sit-in protest at Budshah
Chowk in Lal Chowk in Srinagar District post-Friday prayers. The
held leaders were shifted to Central Jail Srinagar.
One militant of newly formed militant
group ARA, identified as Rohit M. Sangma alias Gettingson
Sangma of Karbi Anglong District, Assam, was arrested after an
encounter during Police checking at Thapa Darenchi village in
North Garo Hills District. He is one of the close aids of the
leader of the militant group William A. Sangma.
|
March 3-4 |
A joint operation between the
Army and the SOG of J&K Police was launched against militants
on March 3 evening and the encounter is still (March 4) underway
in Chilli Pora village in Shopian District. Officials said that
troops of 55 RR and SOG of J&K Police launched the operation
after SFs received specific input about the militant presence
in the village. Officials said they had input that two to three
militants had been hiding in the village.
The High Court of Manipur declared
the more than four months old economic blockade of the UNC as
illegal.
A joint team of 32 AR and State
Police, during a search operation, arrested a NNC kilonser
(minister), identified as N. Mar Longkumer (43), in Clock Tower
area of Dimapur town.
|
March 4 |
Police arrested a man, identified
as Mukulesh Mian alias Bhutto from Rathbari area in Malda
District of West Bengal and recovered FICN of INR 2000 with a
face value of INR 92,000 from his possession. "We have charged
the man under IPC sections 489B (Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit
currency-notes or bank-notes) and 489C (Possession of forged or
counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes) and we are quizzing
him to know more about his involvement with FICN (Fake Indian
Currency Notes) trafficking racket," a senior official of
Malda District Police told. However, the man was produced in a
local court on March 5, and was remanded to Police custody for
further interrogation.
The UPF and KNO, umbrella organisations
of the armed Kuki Groups observing SoO with the Government, for
the first time officially participated in exercising their adult
franchise in the Manipur State Assembly polls 2017. Further the
KNO ‘leader’ Seilen Haokip said that they were seeking settlement
within the India Constitution.
An official source of IB said
that the ULFA-I and GNLA have planned to carry major explosions
and attack on security forces in Lower Assam and Garo hills. The
IB source further said that, the outfit groups plan to use professional
criminals and carriers to carry explosives and to plant IED and
bombs. After intercepting telephonic conversation between two
top leaders of ULFA-I and GNLA, IB officials managed to find out
the planning of the outfits. The source said that, IB has already
informed the UHM, Police and Home Departments of both States and
other security agencies about the militants plan.
Eight CPI-Maoist militia members
surrendered before the Police in the Visakhapatnam District of
Andhra Pradesh. Chintapalli Deputy DSP, Anil Pulaapaati said the
CPI-Maoist militia members surrendered voluntarily at GK Veedhi
Police Station limits. The eight members include Pangi Sobhan,
Thambelu Lakshmana Rao, Korra Kameswara Rao, Vanthala Srinu, Lakshmana
Rao, Malleswara Rao, Sana and Gemmali Balayya. All the surrendered
Maoists hail from Lakkavarapu panchayat of Pedda Konda village,
Pamurai village and Devarapalli villages of GK Veedhi in Visakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh.
Lohardaga and Latehar Police,
along with CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar, busted hideouts of the CPI-Maoist
commanders Ravindra Gonjhu and Muneshwar Gonjhu, at Kisko Police
station in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand. SFs recovered
three powerful cylinder bombs, besides a 20-metre codex wire,
planted along a road.
Khunti Police arrested a PLFI
cadre Kanho Bodra from Tapkara Bazaar of Khunti District of Jharkhand.
Bodra was earlier associated with PLFI ‘area commanders’ Dakwal
Purti and Sanika Purti, who were gunned down in August 2015 during
an encounter in Arki. Bodra is wanted in nearly five cases, including
injuring cops in landmine blasts, abduction and murder. PLFI is
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
An IED planted by the CPI-Maoist
cadres was discovered by villagers in Venkatapuram Mandal
of the Jayshankar Bhupalapally District of Telangana. Local Police
officials cautioned villagers and shepherds not to enter into
the forest as they had no clue as to how many such IEDs may have
been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres.
SFs had to call off anti-militancy
operation in Shopian District of South Kashmir after militants
holed up in a house managed to escape following intense protests
and stone pelting from locals.
In an incident of terror, as many
as 12 terrorists carried out a raid at a Policeman’s house and
proceeded to ransack it thoroughly, virtually trashing the establishment
in Shopian District. The people affected had been too terror-stricken
to take the complaint to authorities initially as they feared
being attacked again. Militants have been targeting Policemen
in Kashmir as they have been maintaining law and order despite
repeated protests welling-up in the region. Militants have warned
cops to not obey orders from their superiors and to let the situation
deteriorate.
AR arrested one arms dealer and
another suspected militants in two separate operations in Dimapur
District. In the first incident, AR arrested the arms dealer,
identified as Ibomcha Khan (50) from Khermahal. AR recovered one
7.65 mm pistol, two magazine and 28 live rounds of 7.65 mm from
the arms dealer. In the second incident, AR along with Police
launched a search operation at Bus Station in Dimapur and arrested
one cadre of KPLT, identified as Mukhim Rongti (28). One air gun
pistol (country made) and air gun pen pistol (country made) were
also recovered from the arrested militant.
Lohardaga and Latehar Police,
along with the CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar, busted hideouts of the
CPI-Maoist, ‘commanders’ Ravindra Gonjhu and Muneshwar Gonjhu,
at Kisko Police Station in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand. SFs
recovered three powerful cylinder bombs, besides a 20-metre codex
wire, planted along a road.
Khunti Police arrested a PLFI
cadre, identified as Kanho Bodra, from Tapkara Bazaar of Khunti
District of Jharkhand. Bodra was earlier associated with PLFI
‘area commanders’ Dakwal Purti and Sanika Purti, who were gunned
down in August 2015 during an encounter in Arki. Bodra is wanted
in nearly five cases, including injuring Policemen in landmine
blasts, abduction and murder. PLFI is a splinter group of the
CPI-Maoist.
An IED planted by the CPI-Maoist
cadres was discovered by villagers in Venkatapuram Mandal
of the Jayshankar Bhupalapally District of Telangana. Local Police
officials cautioned villagers and shepherds not to enter into
the forest as they had no clue as to how many such IEDs may have
been planted by CPI-Maoist cadres.
|
March 4-5 |
At least two militants, identified
as Aqib Molvi of Tral and Umar of Pakistan and one J&K Police
constable, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Naik of Uri were killed
while an Army major and four CRPF personnel were injured during
an encounter between SFs and militants which started on March
4 evening in Shikargah in Tral in Pulwama District. According
to reports, the house where the militants were hiding has been
demolished by the SFs. The identity of the militants hasn’t been
revealed yet. However, at least two HM terrorists, including the
right hand man of slain Hizbul ‘commander’ Burhan Wani, Sabzar
Bhat, were believed to be trapped in the encounter, sources said.
As the news about the encounter
spread in the area, a law and order problem erupted, with civilians
pelting stone at the SFs. One assailant hit an ASI and snatched
his AK-47 rifle before disappearing into the crowd. A separate
operation is on to recover the weapon. A top officer said, “Security
forces were stopped by civilians. Resistance was shown. We had
to rush in reinforcement. An ASI of CRPF was injured his weapon
snatched by (the) belligerent crowd.”
|
March 5 |
The CISF, tasked with providing
armed cover to 59 civil airports in the country, has embarked
on a first-ever mission to prepare a ‘concept paper’ to standardise
security gadgetry and infrastructure at these locations. Once
in place, the country’s airports would be among some of the best
secured across the world.
In a statement, the HNLC militant
denied the surrender option of the State Government and said that
it will continue ‘the struggle’. In the statement, the ‘publicity
secretary’ of HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw, said that the ‘council’
has its own principles and till today they are receiving annual
support in terms of finance, arms and ammunitions from ‘anti-India
countries’ which when compared is far greater than the rehabilitation
packages offered by CM Mukul Sangma.
The militant ‘leader’ William
Sangma, who was planning to float a new outfit called UANF, managed
to escape along with three others, leaving his vehicle behind
during a Police check in North Garo Hills District.
A hardcore CPI-Maoist cadre, Waga
Kawasi (35) alias Raju, involved in at least nine murders,
surrendered before Malkangiri SP, Mitrabhanu Mohapatra in Malkangiri
District of Odisha. The Odisha Government had declared reward
of INR 100,000 for his capture. Waga joined the CPI-Maoist organisation
in 2004 and has been an active member of the Kalimela Area Committee.
J&K saw a three-fold increase
in cases of rioting and a substantial rise in arson cases in 2016
which also witnessed five-month-long unrest after killing of terrorist
Burhan Wani, official data of Crime Branch of State Police showed.
According to data, J&K has witnessed as many as 3,404 cases
of rioting in 2016 as compared to 1,157 such cases in 2015, an
increase of 2,247. Similarly, Police registered as many as 267
cases of arson in 2016 as compared to 147 such cases in 2015,
thereby showing an increase of 120 during the period, it said.
Officials of the Crime Branch
point towards this increase because of the 2016 unrest in Kashmir
Valley for five months following killing of HM ‘militant commander’
Burhan Wani in July 2016. There has also been an increase of 143
cases of attempt to murder from 2015 to 2016. As many as 573 cases
of attempt to murder have been registered in 2016 as compared
to 430 such cases in 2015. There has also been an increase in
murder cases. As many as 140 cases of murder were registered in
2016 as compared to 133 such cases in 2015, it said. The statistics
reveal there has been no custodial death in 2016 and 2015.
The cases of communal riots have
also registered an increase in 2016 as compared to 2015. As many
as six such cases were registered in 2016 as compared to four
in 2015, it said. The year 2016 also saw an increase in cases
under UAPA. While 146 cases were registered under the Act in 2016,
only 44 were registered in 2015 showing an increase of 102. The
figures have further revealed increase in cases under Arms and
Explosives Acts in 2016 as compared to 2015. While 180 cases were
registered under Arms Act in 2016, as many as 146 such cases were
registered in 2015. Similarly, 39 cases were registered under
Explosives Act in 2016 as compared to 34 such cases in 2015.
Of the total 2,690 incidents of
stone pelting, North Kashmir accounts for the highest number of
1,248 incidents followed by 875 incidents in South Kashmir and
567 in Central Kashmir, according to official data of State Home
Ministry. Sopore, which is part of Baramulla District, has recorded
the highest number of 492 incidents of stone pelting during the
unrest, while the total number of such incidents in the entire
Baramulla District is 810, the data said. Baramulla is followed
by Srinagar and Kupwara Districts with 339 such incidents each
reported, it said adding 271 such incidents took place in Anantnag
District, followed by 264 in Pulwama, 173 in Shopian, 167 in Kulgam,
163 in Budgam, 109 in Bandipora and only 65 in Ganderbal District.
A day after HM ‘deputy chief’
Sabzar Ahmad along with some of his associates escaped from an
encounter site in Tral area in Pulwama District of South Kashmir,
CRPF has admitted that stone pelting is hampering anti-militancy
operations in the Valley and many militants have escaped from
the encounter sites during the clashes. “The stone pelting is
hampering our anti-militancy operations,” said IG CRPF (Operations),
Zulfikar Hassan. At least six CRPF personnel, including an officer,
were injured on March 4 evening, in Hayena area of Tral in Pulwama
District when locals pelted stones on Police, paramilitary and
army men, who were laying siege around the village to conduct
operation to flush out a group of militants hiding there. An INSAS
assault rifle of a CRPF officer was snatched by the mob after
injuring him. During the clashes between locals and security men,
the HM ‘deputy chief’ Sabzar Ahmad along with some of his associates
managed to escape from the area, Police sources said.
The ‘general secretary’ of UTLA/KNO,
identified as Sehjahao Singsit alias Haopu Singsit alias
Abunidhar was reportedly killed by the suspected cadres from his
own militant group over unknown internal conflict at Songsang
area in Thanlon sub-division in Churachandpur District. According
to the sources, the UTLA leader’s killing may be related to the
just concluded Assembly polls as he is believed to have a disagreement
on the issue.
Suspected militants abducted two
persons and later released after beating them severely in Churachandpur
town of Churachandpur District.
Indian Army troopers recovered
an IED from a paddy field of Dubluhabi area of Charaipung forest
division in Charaidew District. Army arrested one suspected person,
identified as Ghanakanta Gogoi in this connection. According to
the Army the arrested person was secretly working for the ULFA-I.
The CPI-Maoist cadres demanded
INR 800,000 ‘levy’, from Nutan Construction Company in East Champaran
District of Bihar. Nutan Construction Company employee Sonu Singh
registered an FIR at Pakridayal Police Station in the District,
saying some motorcycle-borne persons had visited the site of the
construction firm and threatened to blow up its equipment if INR
850,000 was not paid as ‘levy’ to the CPI-Maoist. “One of them
identified himself as CPI-Maoist ‘area commander’ Mithu Ram”,
Sonu said. Nutan Construction Company is engaged in construction
of approach road to a bridge on Patahi-Shikargunj road in the
District.
|
March 6 |
SFs faced protests at Pinjoora
area in Pulwama District of South Kashmir, where they had gone
to conduct search operations after receiving inputs about presence
of the militants. Later, the operation was called off after no
militant was found. Asked what measures have been taken to prevent
protests and stone pelting at encounter sites, IG CRPF said, “The
local administration is taking steps to prevent people from staging
protests and pelting stones on security men during anti-militancy
operations in the Valley.”
However, despite these measures
intense stone pelting takes place at some places during the encounters,
Hassan said. According to him, most of the stone pelting incidents
during anti-militancy operations have taken place in South Kashmir.
Pakistan-based terror groups finance
terrorism in J&K by generating millions in donations through
their charity organisations, said Atul Goel, SP, NIA. Falah-e-Insaniat
Foundation (FIF), a charity run by terror outfits JuD and LeT,
and Al Rehmat Trust, backed by another terrorists group JeM, have
been supporting terrorists and funding terrorism in Kashmir, said
Atul Goel, addressing a session at the 19th Asian Security Conference
on 'Combating Terrorism: Evolving an Asian Response' in New Delhi.
Goel said the NIA was looking into the activities of JuD, LeT
and JeM and also the working of trusts associated with them in
Pakistan. "These outfits collect donations from people in
Pakistan and then pass on the money to finance terrorism in Kashmir
through their overground workers," he said.
An operation against militants
was called off in the Newa area in Pulwama District after people
took to the streets and threw stones during the counter-insurgency
operation. The Army’s 55 RR, the Police’s SOG and the CRPF’s 183
Battalion cordoned off the area around 10 p.m. on March 6. A tip-off
suggested movement of LeT militants in the area. Police sources
said the operation was called off at night when mosques in the
area started blaring pro-freedom songs and residents from many
adjacent villages marched towards the operation site.
One militant of KNA/ KRA-U, identified
as Kamminlun Hmar alias Henry alias Pupu (27) was
reportedly killed in a gun battle between a combined team of KRA,
KRA-U under KNO and KNF under UPF at Khengjang village in Kangpokpi
District. Both the formations are under SoO agreement; KRA-U is
under KNO and KNF under UPF.
The UTLA expressed its disappointment
over the alleged abduction and threatening of Longpi village chief
by NSCN-IM on February 27. The chief of Longpi village, Kailal
Gangte Kuki, who is also the chairman of the area's Chief Association,
was reportedly abducted by the NSCN-IM on February 27 and later
released the next day after threatening him. NSCN-IM threatened
him about participating in the Assembly polls to be held on March
8.
According to some unofficial sources,
ahead of the second phase Manipur polls scheduled on March 8,
NSCN-IM, which is undergoing peace talk with the GoI have served
threat to the villagers in Naga inhabited areas in the State to
cast vote in favour of their ‘sponsored’ candidates.
State Government said that it
has instructed all SPs to remain alert and tighten security at
all sensitive places in view of the possibility of ISIS recruiting
youths from the State. Replying to a discussion during the zero
hour in the assembly, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra
Mohan Patowary said all the SPs have been ordered to keep a strict
vigil and maintain a close watch on doubtful people. “We have
also ordered to strengthen security along Indo-Bangla border and
secure the river ways. Police have been strictly asked to maintain
close coordination with various intelligence agencies,” he also
said.
Besides, security and other agencies
have been keeping a close watch on social media as these can be
tools of influencing youths for joining the global terror outfit,
he added. The minister informed the house that two trained members
of JMB were nabbed from Nalbari District. Assam Police, he said,
has so far arrested 56 JMB extremists after the Burdwan blast
in West Bengal in 2014. “Apart from them 10-12 JMB members are
absconding at present,” Patowary added without elaborating.
Three restaurants owned by Bengalis
located in Golaghat town in Golaghat District were vandalized
by unidentified persons. This incident comes after NBBUSS activists
vandalized the office of the AASU in Silapathar in Dhemaji District.
NBBUS held a procession after a daylong meeting demanding unconditional
removal of the names of Hindu Bengalis from the list of D (doubtful)
voters. AASU said it would organise Satyagraha (a form
of civil disobedience) at all District headquarters in the State.
AASU has further said that the BJP government's move to give citizenship
to Hindu Bangladeshis had instigated the incident.
Police recovered a 7.65 mm pistol
from a person, identified as Michael Bhanglaluth (27) at Fulertal
in Cachar District.
A joint team of 32 AR and State
Police launched an operation and arrested an arms dealer, Igato
Sumi (31), from Govinda Paira Colony of Burma Camp, in Dimapur
District. The joint team recovered one .22 mm pistol and mobile
from him.
Narayanpatna Police arrested four
suspected CPI-Maoist cadres from Koraput District of Odisha. The
arrestees are identified as Basanta Hantal of Kotiya village,
Purno Tadangi and Rajiv Tadangi of Upar Gumandi village - all
in the District - and S Murali Krishna, a contractor from Gajapati
District of Odisha. Suspected Maoists had allegedly set fire to
a JCB machine and other road construction equipment near Podapadar
village under Narayanpatna Police limits on February 27.
|
March 7 |
In the first-ever strike in India
by Islamic State (IS), a module radicalised by the terrorist organisation
triggered a low-intensity blast in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train
Madhya Pradesh, injuring 9 passengers. The incident occurred
near Jabdi station in Shajapur District of Madhya Pradesh
.
A high alert has been sounded across the state after the explosion.
IG (Law and Order) Makrand Deouskar said the explosion was caused
by a pressure pipe bomb filled with ammonia nitrate kept inside
a bag on the luggage rack.
Moments after the train blast,
three men were held as they stepped off a bus near Pipariya in
Hoshangabad District of Madhya Pradesh and after they were interrogated
they revealed of other suspects in Lucknow and Kanpur. Following
a standard protocol, the information was shared with Central Intelligence
agencies, which alerted the Uttar Pradesh Police and the state
ATS. Three men arrested in Pipariya, Madhya Pradesh are identified
as Danish Akhtar alias Jaffar, Aatish Muzaffar alias
Al Kasim (both from Kanpur) and Syed Mir Hussain alias
Humza a native of Aligarh, in Uttar Pradesh.
The ATS in Uttar Pradesh carried
out a massive search operation in Kanpur and arrested three persons
linked with Bhopal-Ujjain train blast. The three held in Kanpur
are identified as Mohammed Imran alias Bhai, Mohammed Faisal
Khan (both are brothers) and Fakre Alam alias Rishu, a
native of Etwawah. The Police said that they recovered a laptop,
cellphones and found IS videos and literature in the laptop.
Balwinder Singh (41), a citizen
of India, was sentenced to 15 years in a U.S. prison after he
pleaded guilty to conspiring while living in northern Nevada to
plot terror strikes in his home country (India). U.S. District
Judge Larry Hicks in Reno also ordered Balwinder Singh to remain
under lifetime federal supervision upon his release from prison
after prosecutors argued that Singh has had ties to known terrorist
groups in India for more than two decades.
FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse
of Las Vegas said the plot was foiled after a co-conspirator was
arrested trying to board a flight in San Francisco bound for Bangkok,
Thailand, with two sets of night vision goggles purchased by Singh
at a Cabela's sporting goods store in Reno.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian
Sullivan said it's possible Singh still will be extradited to
India where he faces criminal charges in connection with a terror
attack on a passenger bus that killed three people in India in
April 2006. "This isn't somebody who was just recruited like
some of the young people who think it's really cool to go get
involved with the Jihad," Sullivan said. "Mr. Singh
has been involved with terrorism or terrorist organizations for
over 20 years."
Growing public interference in
anti-militancy operations forced the SFs to call off two anti-militancy
operations in south Kashmir in the past 24 hours. A search-and-cordon
team of the Army and the Police came under heavy stone throwing
in Mohamadpora village in Kulgam District, thus delaying the operation.
Police sources said the residents started throwing stones as the
SFs were throwing a cordon after a tip-off about militants’ presence.
“Heavy teargas shelling was used to disperse protesters from the
site,” said a senior Police official. Several local people, including
a woman, were injured in the process.
Mehmood Shah, an LeT spokesman,
praised people for “ensuring the safety of the militants”. “We
won’t let the people-militant bond to break. Till people are in
the field, militants will continue to outsmart Indian troopers,”
said the LeT spokesman.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti
said that “at least a dozen youth who had picked up guns were
brought back to their homes in the past two or three months”.
One AR jawan (trooper)
and one poll official were injured when three IEDs exploded at
two separate places of Phungyar Assembly Constituency under Kamjong
District. The first two IEDs exploded almost simultaneously at
a place near Aishi village where an AR jawan identified
as R Vasnet injured. The second explosion took place near a polling
station located at Ashang Khullen. One unidentified polling official
sustained injuries in this second explosion.
Unidentified armed assailants
abducted four unidentified workers of an independent candidate
TS Warngam who is contesting in the second phase of the 11th State
Legislative Assembly election from Chandel Assembly Constituency
from a place in between Chandel and Chakpikarong in Chandel District.
Due to the UNC-spearheaded economic
blockade on Manipur since November 1, 2016, there have been no
talks between GoI’s Interlocutor for ‘Naga Peace Talks’ R.N. Ravi
and NSCN-IM ‘leaders’ for over a month. According to the report,
both sides used to hold both formal and non formal meetings almost
on a regular basis but the UNC’s economic blockade appears to
have caused some disruption. Ravi was also quoted as saying that
the blockade had brought about serious misapprehension between
the Nagas and non-Nagas in the Northeast and which would make
his task of finding an early amicable solution to Naga issue difficult,
added the report.
A tense situation continued for
the second day at Silapathar in Dhemaji District even as the Indian
Army staged a flag march after activists of NBBUSS ransacked the
office of the AASU on March 6 demanding Indian citizenship for
Hindu Bengalis who came to Assam from Bangladesh after 1971.
Cutting across party lines, members
of Assam Assembly ‘vehemently condemned’ the incident of attack
on the AASU office at Silapathar by NBBUSS, demanding stern action
against such divisive forces even as the State Government constituted
a high-level inquiry to hunt down the culprits behind the incident.
So far nine persons suspected to have been involved in the incident
have been arrested. The Police prepared a list of about 20 persons
suspected of involvement in the incident. The State Police also
declared Subudh Biswas, the ‘president’ of NBBUSS, as an absconder
and alerted all Police Stations across the State to hunt and arrest
him.
Some unidentified miscreants set
ablaze Mandal Hotel situated at Silapathar Namsuk area in Dhemaji
District.
After a discussion with Golaghat
DC and SP, CJCS [a student organistaion of Chutiya community]
and six other organisations of ‘indigenous people’ withdrew their
call for a bandh (shutdown) in the District for indefinite
period.
AR troops have arrested, Naoba
Metei (16), a cadre of the Manipur-based outfit KCP, from Kunsa
village in Tirap District.
A joint squad of District Force
and ITBP recovered two IEDs, allegedly planted by the CPI-Maoist
cadres during a search operation in the interiors of Iragaon area
in Kondagaon District of Chhattisgarh. The explosives, one IED
weighed 10 kilograms, another was of around five kilograms, packed
in steel tiffin boxes were seized from a dirt track near Churegaon
village under the Iragaon Police Station limits, a District Police
official said.
Delhi University Professor, G
N Saibaba and four others were sentenced to undergo life imprisonment
by Gadchiroli Sessions Court of Maharashtra, for their links with
CPI-Maoist cadres. The wheelchair-bound English teacher of Ram
Lal Anand College in New Delhi, Saibaba (47), with 90 per cent
disability, was arrested in May 2014 from his home in Delhi by
Maharashtra Police's ANO unit. The court also sentenced to life
JNU student Hem Mishra, former journalist Prashant Rahi, Mahesh
Tirki, Pandu Narote.
The CISF is raising a STW in Hyderabad
District of Telangana. The STW are being raised on the lines of
SWAT, and will cater to the needs of hypersensitive airports,
and sensitive units in Naxal-affected areas. The role of
bomb disposal squad and quick reaction team will be focused upon
in STE to counter the aircraft hijacking and other contingencies
like armed attack and IED threats, said CISF DG, OP Singh.
|
March 8 |
After 12 hours of intensive firing
and the use of tear gas and smoke bombs, one Islamic State (IS)
suspect was killed by ATS in Thakurganj area in outskirts of Lucknow
in Uttar Pradesh, and the operation ended at around 3 am on March
8. At least six persons were reportedly arrested in an anti-terror
sweep and combing operation was underway to flush out one suspect
holed up in a house, hours after a low intensity blast in Bhopal-Ujjain
passenger train. The body the suspect holed up in the house was
identified as Mohammed Saifurullah alias Ali, a resident
of Kanpur.
Eight pistols, 650 rounds of ammunition,
50 fired rounds, explosives, gold, cash, passports, SIM cards
and a train time table were found along with the body.
Minister of State for Defence
Subhash Bhamre said India has been dealing with terror attacks
for long and is capable of tackling incidents like the one in
Lucknow where a suspected Islamic State (IS) terrorist was killed.
Bhamre said terrorism is a global phenomenon and there is a need
to tackle this in a united manner.
Investigations in the suspected
IS (Islamic State) terror module operating in India revealed that
Ghaus Mohammed Khan, an ex-Indian Air Force officer was the leader
of the group planning attacks in the country. According to a report
Ghaus Mohammed Khan is currently absconding. Earlier yesterday,
the Anti-Terrorist Squad managed to kill the terrorist hiding
inside a house in Thakurganj area of Lucknow after 10 hours of
long battle. However, it was the Counter Intelligence Cell of
the Telangana Police that tracked, monitored and intercepted calls
and messages of the suspected terrorists for months. According
to sources, all the module members, including the slain, Saifullah,
who was identified as their leader were reported to have been
under electronic surveillance for months.
Uttar Pradesh ATS IG Aseem Arun
revealed that the neutralised terrorist was a member of the IS
Khorasan module. “We got the intelligence from a sister agency
that a person named Saifullah affiliated to ISIS is hiding in
a residential area in Lucknow. In 2016, the NIA had taken down
Khalid Rizwan, as a part of a nationwide mission against the IS,
resulting in the arrest of more than 20 people. In October 2016,
the CIC had decoded texts between 6 men in Kerala recruited by
an IS handler to plan terrorist attacks. In June 2016, the Telangana
Police had provided the NIA with inputs to bust an IS terror module
preparing to attack various Police Stations in Hyderabad.
The J&K Police busted a HM
module by arresting its three suspected members, identified as
Reyaz Ahmad Wani, Ikhlaq Ahmad Khanday and Tawseeul-Nabi in Bemina
area of Srinagar District. The Police recovered two pistols, two
pistol Magazines, 20 rounds, four grenades, one wireless set and
a packet of explosive substance from the militants. During preliminary
investigation the trio said they were working with Jehangir, an
active militant in Kishtwar, the Police said.
DGP of J&K, Shesh Paul Vaid,
on March 8 warned terrorists to desist from attacking the families
of Police personnel in Kashmir valley. DGP Vaid said: "Don't
bring in families in this conflict, you too have families. If
you harass our families we will do same to your families."
The remarks came a day after some terrorists ransacked the house
of a Police officer and asked the families to tell the officer
to quit the job else face the consequences.
With the onset of spring and melting
of snow, BSF warned of increased infiltration along the LoC but
said it along with Army is alert to tackle it. IG, Subsidiary
Training Centre (STC), BSF, Sushil Kumar Shinde, said in Srinagar
that the infiltration of militants increases after melting of
snow. “Definitely after melting of snow, infiltration increases
because during snow accumulation, it is difficult for them (militants)
to cross the LoC. But after melting of snow, the infiltration
increases…,” he said on the sidelines of a passing-out-parade
at STC Humhama on city outskirts (Srinagar). However, the IG,
BSF said that the infiltration could be prevented through alertness
of Army and BSF. “Our alertness accordingly increases and (as
a result) we are successful in securing our borders,” he said
and added that as far as preparation (to tackle infiltration)
is considered, they are always ready (to curb militant infiltration).
At least nine civilians were injured
in a powerful IED blast carried out by unidentified militants
in front of Vikas Pharmacy at Kasturi Bridge of Imphal Bazar in
Imphal West District. The injured persons were identified as Dilip
Kumar (26), Anil Kumar (28), Dinesh Prasad Sahu (40), Meera Roy
(50), Dolly Roy (29), Khumanthem Modhubala (34), Yumnam Ibempishak
(47), Yumnam Jiten (50) and Sapam Eros (44).
The polling official, identified
as H Ramkating, who was injured in an IED blast in Ashang Khullen
of Kamjong District on March 7, succumbed to the injuries.
Tension prevailed on the third
day at Silapathar and its adjoining area with shops and business
establishment remained closed over the issue of vandalism incident
of March 6. Army, Police and CAPF carried out a flag march at
Silapathar. Police have arrested 14 persons in this connection.
Over 10,000 people participated
in a protest rally, led by activists of AASU along with 21 other
local ethnic organisations, against Silapathar incident, in Dhemaji.
The rally was in protest against the vandalism of AASU local office
by the activists of NBBUSS [a group which is demanding citizenship
for Hindu Bangladeshis and removal of their names from D-voter
category] at Silapather on March 6.
The Special Director General of
Police (DGP-law and order), Kula Saikia assured that all possible
precautionary measures have been taken to prevent any conflict
between linguistic groups following the Silapathar incident, which
caused widespread repercussion all over the State. DGP Saikia
said that instructions have been issued to all the district Police
forces to keep close watch on the situation and to improve the
intelligence network. The District Police forces have been directed
to identify the vulnerable areas and increase Police and security
presence in such areas. Police officers are asked to hold talks
to people of different groups to ensure that peace and harmony
is maintained between all sections of people.
One Bangladeshi security personnel
of Griha Rakshi Bahini, identified as Nausad Mia (62),
was lynched and another detained by the villagers at Siddhinagar
village under the jurisdiction of Puran Rajbari Police Station
in South Tripura District when 12 intruders attempted a robbery.
Informing about the incident South Tripura District SP Tapan Debbarma
said, “Twelve Bangladeshis comprising eight Griha Rakshi Bahini
personnel (equivalent of Indian Home Guards), two Government employees
and two civilians illegally crossed the India-Bangladesh border
and tried to rob Indian villagers on Wednesday night.” Senior
BSF and Police officers, along with reinforcements, have been
camping in the tension ridden areas.
Four CPI-Maoist cadres were killed
in an encounter with the 205th battalion of the CoBRA of the CRPF,
at Baskatwa jungles under Gurpa Police Station in Gaya District
of Bihar. Acting on tip-off of a meeting of top Maoist leaders
in the area, the SFs launched an operation in the forest. On seeing
the SFs, the rebels started firing leading to fierce encounter,
in which the four rebels were killed. SFs found the four bodies
of the rebels along with their arms lying close to them. The arms
included two INSAS assault rifles, one SLR and one AK-47 assault
rifle. The slain Maoist cadres were identified as Anil
alias
Deepak, ‘zonal commander’ of Magadh area committee action
team, Rajesh Ravidas, ‘sub-zonal commander’, Nepali Yadav and
Uttam.
A BSF officer was injured, when
an IED, apparently planted by the CPI-Maoist, exploded while it
was being defused by a BDS in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh.
The incident took place near a BSF camp in Korenar village under
Bande Police Station limits. The injured officer was identified
as Assistant Commandant Pradeep M, attached to the BSF’s 171 Battalion.
The home-made bomb was placed beneath the ground on a dirt track
between Korenar village and the BSF camp, about 125 kilometres
from Raipur, and it was spotted during a search operation by security
personnel.
A landmine, planted by CPI-Maoist
cadres, on a road leading to Palem Vagu irrigation project near
Rachapally village at Venkatapuram Mandal in Jayashankar
Bhupalapally District of Telangana was defused by the Police.
SP, R Bhaskaran told that since the village was near the Chhattisgarh
border, the CPI-Maoist group, in order to establish their presence,
planted the landmine and tried to create panic among the locals.
The landmine was spotted by the workers of the Palem Vagu project
on March 4, and the Police was informed about it.
|
March 9 |
India asked Pakistan to take action
against the increasing number of terrorists being spotted at "launch
pads" along the LoC. "In the DGMO-level talks
over the hotline, Lt-Gen A K Bhatt expressed concern to his Pakistani
counterpart about the movement of terrorists noticed along the
LoC," said an Army officer. With infiltration attempts on
the rise once again as the snow in the mountain passes melts,
sources said it was clearly conveyed to Islamabad that the "onus
was on the Pakistan Army to take action against the terrorists
and not allow them to cross-over into Kashmir." The Pakistan
Army, on its part, "rejected Indian concerns on movement
of terrorists along the LoC" and asked the Indian Army to
"look inward, share evidence".
A Nepalese national allegedly
killed in firing by the SSB along the border Indo-Nepal border
at Lakhimpur Kheri District in Uttar Pradesh after SSB men tried
to stop a group of Nepalese citizens from constructing an illegal
bridge on no man's land. The Nepalese citizens allegedly responded
to this by assembling a mob which pelted the SSB men with stones,
injuring seven border guards. In response, the SSB fired in the
air to disperse the crowd. Heavy security force has been deployed
at the spot and the situation is being monitored by senior officials,
who are also in talks with authorities across the border.
Two militants were killed in a
fierce gun battle broke out between SFs and LeT militants in Padgampora
area of Pulwama District in the morning. "The slain militants
have been identified as Jehangir Ganai and Mohammad Shafi alias
Sher Gujri," a senior CRPF officer said, adding that Ganai
was involved in the killing of a local Policeman last year (2016).
SFs from the CRPF and SOG of J&K Police have started search
operations and cordoned off the area where two-three militants
of the group were holed up even. Army was deployed to carry out
combing operations.
A fifteen year old teenager, identified
as Amir Nazir was also killed by a bullet-hit when he was throwing
stones to disrupt the anti-terror operations of SFs against two
hiding LeT terrorists at Padgampora in Pulwama District, DGP of
J&K, Shesh Paul Vaid said. Amir Nazir was part of a mob pelting
stones when a bullet hit him in the neck. The incident happened
despite Army chief Bipin Rawat's recent warning against those
attacking SFs during anti-militancy operations of "tough
action". The SFs came under intense attack from stone pelters,
which forced them to open fire, leaving several injured.
Locals hit the streets and started
pelting stones on SFs near the encounter site. Additional SFs
have been rushed to the area, where locals are pelting stones
to disrupt the operation. Sources said there could be two to three
militants in the area. SFs have sealed all roads leading to the
village, including from Awantipora to prevent people from moving
towards the encounter site
A HM militant, identified as Mushtaq
Ahmad Seergojri was killed and an Army major injured in a shootout
near Police Station in Bandipora in Bandipora District in the
evening. A joint team of Army and SOG of J&K Police had laid
a naka following specific inputs about the movement of militants.
A militant who was travelling in a vehicle opened fire on Army
in which Army Major was injured. In the retaliatory fire, the
militant was gunned down. One pistol and a grenade were recovered
from his possession.
The authorities placed separatist
Hurriyat Conference (G) leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah,
Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ayaz Akbar, Raja Mehrajudin, Mohd Ashraf
Laaya and Umer Adil Dar under house arrest following a strike
called by them against the killing of civilian. Security has also
been intensified to prevent violence in Kashmir.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti
has expressed deep anguish and grief over the killing of a 15
year old Amir Nazir in Padgampora village of Pulwama District.
Extending her sympathies to the bereaved, the Chief Minister said
it was highly unfortunate that youth are caught in the vicious
cycle of violence in the State which has consumed so many precious
lives and left behind a trail of death and destruction.
An
Army jawan (trooper), identified as Deepak Jaganath was
killed when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Poonch sector
in Poonch District of Jammu region. Official sources said Pakistani
troops opened fire at Indian posts around 2 pm at Gulpur area
which was effectively retaliated by the Army. The sources said
the jawan was injured in the firing from across the border
and he was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries
this evening.
One IED was exploded by unidentified
militants targeting a security convoy at Singjamei Super Market
in Imphal West District. The security convoy narrowly escaped
and no injury was reported.
Imphal valley based militant group
PREPAK, in a statement, claimed responsibility of the IED blast
of Vikas Pharmacy at Kasturi Bridge of Imphal Bazar in Imphal
West District.
A house of BJP candidate SS Olish
at Kanankhu village in Chandel District was set on fire by suspected
cadres of NSCN-IM as post-poll violence continues in various parts
of the State. However no one was injured in the incident. According
to the report, NSCN-IM threatened the villagers of Chandel Assembly
constituency to cast their vote in favor of an Independent candidate
earlier.
The ‘foreign secretary’ of GNLA,
identified as Briyan R. Marak alias Millam (40) surrendered
before Police without any arms at Baghmara in South Garo Hills
District. According to Police, Briyan played a key part in forging
close ties with the ULFA-I, NDFB and NSCN-U in Bangladesh. Briyan
R. Marak’s surrender has come as another body blow for the elusive
GNLA ‘c-in-c’ Sohan D. Shira after scores of senior leaders and
cadres surrendered in the past one year. The GNLA ‘c-in-c’ is
learnt to be with a handful (approximately 20) cadres and well
armed, stated another source in the Police headquarters.
Assam Police sounded an alert
across the State to prevent violence following the attack on the
office of AASU in Dhemaji District and set up a SIT to investigate
the incident. Assam Police also announced a reward of INR 1, 00,000
for information about Subodh Biswas, the key accused in the attack
on the AASU office.
State Police has received intelligence
inputs that NDFB-IKS militants would take to rhino poaching to
shore up funds. The State Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma
confirmed that the Special Branch of Assam Police has alerted
the forest department about the NDFB-IKS cadres getting into rhino
poaching. In her written reply to a question by Congress legislator
Abdul Khaleque, Brahma said that a letter has been received from
the ADGP (Special Branch), Pallab Bhattacharyya, informing the
Government about the threat.
Reacting to the Silapathar incident,
NDFB-S blamed the State Government for the whole incident and
threatened that the outfit will not tolerate on the destructive
policy of the Government to annihilate the ‘indigenous people’
of the State by giving soft heart to the illegal immigrants on
the pretext of their political gain.
In a joint statement issued to
the media after a joint meeting between ‘Working Group’ of NNPGs
and NGBF held at Dimapur urged for initiating a separate ‘political
dialogue’ between the GoI and NNPGs of present Nagaland State.
The statement was signed by NGBF president, I. Shanlem Konyak
and general secretary Shikuto Zalipu and NNPGs represented by
Government of the GPRN/ NSCN-KK ‘ato kilonser’ and ‘convenor’
WG, N. Kitovi Zhimomi NNC parent body ‘general secretary &
co-convenor’, V Nagi NSCN-R ‘president & co-convenor’, Wangtin
Naga NNC/ NPGN & ‘co-convenor’, Hozheto Chophy and NNC/ GDRN
& ‘co-convenor’, Kiumukam Yimchunger.
Nagaland CM Shürhozelie Liezietsu
met a joint delegation of the JCC and the NTAC, the two groups
which spearheaded the movement against holding of civic polls,
in a bid to resolve misunderstandings.
One extortionist, identified as
Himato Yepthomi was arrested by the AET while he was caught extorting
money from the trucks at Bamunpukhuri area in Dimapur Town. Money
in cash and incriminating documents in the forms of leaflets belonging
to the NSCN-IM was also recovered from his possession.
|
March 10 |
A complete shutdown was observed
in Kashmir, following a call by the Valley’s joint separatist
leadership against the killing of a civilian during an encounter
March 9, disrupting normal life. Shops, business establishments
and educational institutions were closed and the streets remained
deserted. Hardliner Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Geelani, moderate
Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and chairman of the JKLF Yasin
Malik had given call for a complete shutdown and after-prayer
protests on Friday (March 10) in the wake of Pulwama encounter
(March 9).
Two teenage boys from PoK, against
whom the NIA dropped charges of conspiracy in the Uri terror strike
(September 18, 2016), were reunited with their families at the
Wagah border after spending nearly six months in detention. Faisal
Hussain Awan and Ahsan Khursheed had been handed over to the Jammu-based
16 Corps of the Army this week after the probe agency came to
the conclusion that the two had strayed into the Indian side after
a tiff with their parents due to the pressure of studies. The
NIA had said that the evidence collected in the form of statements,
technical analysis of their mobile phones, seized GPS devices
and other circumstantial evidence collected by the NIA "did
not reveal any linkage of the suspects with the Uri attackers".
Earlier, the Army had detained the two on September 23, 2016 barely
days after the terror strike, and claimed that the two had allegedly
acted as guides of the four terrorists who carried out the attack
on the Uri garrison in North Kashmir.
Junaid Qureshi, son of Kashmiri
separatist leader Hashim Qureshi, said that Gilgit Baltistan is
an integral part of J&K and Pakistan has no right to divide
the state. "Gilgit Baltistan (region) is an integral part
of (India's) Jammu and Kashmir State. Pakistan has no right to
divide the state further and sell its resources under false rubric
of infrastructure development," Junaid Qureshi said, adding
that the "state is not for sale." Qureshi who also heads
European Foundation for South Asian Studies, was speaking at the
UN's Geneva convention. He also rejected the construction of CPEC
along the line of control through Gilgit Baltistan region. "Construction
of CPEC is illegal and a contravention of International law. It
requires your (UN) urgent attention and intervention," he
said.
One civilian, identified as P
Loni (28), was injured when unidentified militants opened fire
at a polling station at Purul Akutpa area of Senapati District
where re-polling was held.
The Dhemaji District administration
has clamped indefinite curfew in Silapathar after six shops were
set ablaze by unknown persons in the heart of the town. Miscreants
also had set ablaze three houses at Sengajan and Majarbari in
Simen Chapori despite the night curfew. When asked about the duration
of their ‘ban’ on shops owned by Bengalis, the ‘general secretary’
of AASU's Dhemaji District unit, Krishna Ranjan Chutia, said that
they would discuss the issue. Also, the AAJYS has called a 12-hour
Dhemaji District bandh (shutdown) starting from 5 am on
March 11. This bandh will take the number of days affected
due to similar bandh in Silapathar to five. The situation
has remained tense ever since the NIBBUSS activists allegedly
vandalized the AASU office at Silapathar on March 6. On that
day, NIBBUSS had organised a meeting which was later followed
a procession seeking removal of names of Bengali Hindus from the
D-voters list.
Police arrested a NDFB-IKS militant,
in connection to the abducting Ranjit Dutta (of Kokrajhar District),
at Duttapur area under Runikhata Police Station of Chirang District.
The arrested militant was identified as Mitichar Mushahary.
An indefinite hunger strike staged
by ABSU and its allied organizations- PJACBM and the - NDFB-PTF,
demanding early solution to the demand for creation of ‘Bodoland
State’ and ensure political rights of the Bodos living outside
the proposed ‘Bodoland’ area got underway in Kokrajhar Town.
One militant of NSCN-R, identified
as Wangdi Tailong, was arrested by AR during an operation at Jungmaisung
in Changlang District. A Pistol and live ammunition was also recovered
from the arrested militant.
AR busted an abandoned hideout
of NSCN-K at Nogna village in Tirap District.
Meghalaya CM Dr Mukul Sangma refuted
claims by the opposition that his Government was yet to pay rehabilitation
package to cadres of the disbanded ANVC and its splinter group
ANVC-B. While replying during a debate, he informed that rehabilitation
packages were disbursed to 363 out of the 367 cadres of the AVCB
and 139 cadres of the disbanded ANVC-B. He informed the House
that three of the members of the disbanded ANVC members did not
avail the rehabilitation package while one expired.
Dr Sangma also informed that out
of the 139 members of the disbanded ANVC-B only 11 have been able
to take advantage of the rehabilitation package while 53 cadres
their cases were sent for minor corrections and 74 cadres were
yet to submit details of the bank accounts.
A former Sarpanch, Madvi
Dula (55), was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres at in Tokanpalli forest
under Chintagufa Police station in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh
.
Dula was abducted by Maoists, on March 9, on suspicion of
being a ‘Police informer’.
Two women CPI-Maoist cadres, Tati
Bheema and Kunjam Somdi, were arrested from Usoor Police Station
area in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. SFs recovered
a .303 rifle, 41 live rounds, electronic detonators and Maoist
uniform.
About 200 Dongria Kondhs tribals
of Niyamgiri Hills staged a demonstration in front of the Rayagada
District Police Office of Odisha. Tribals were demanding
release of Bari Pidikaka of Tahali village, Dashuru Kadraka and
Saiba Pushika of Gortha village, who were arrested on charges
of being Naxals. Ladda Sikaka, convener of NSS, said unable
to fight the Maoists, Police is targeting innocent Dongria Kondhs
branding them as Maoist supporters. They have threatened to stage
mass protests from Rayagada to Bhubaneswar if their demands are
not met.
As many as 474 civilians have
been killed in Naxal violence in Gadchiroli District of
Maharashtra since 1982, Maharashtra Police issued a statement
giving the statistics. According to the statement, the
total number of civilian deaths in Naxal violence till
now stood at 474. Also, 312 citizens were injured. As many as
191 Policemen were martyred in line of duty and 511 injured in
the Naxal-affected District. Similarly, Government property
worth INR 107,030,299 was destroyed, while loss of private assets
stood at INR 185,007,016.
Three extortionists identified
as ‘captain’ Athongba Sangtam, Zhaito Sumi and Khunu Sangtam belonging
to NNC-NA militant was arrested by AET from Khermahal area in
Dimapur Town.
|
March 11 |
Two persons were arrested by Railway
Police at Mazhama railway station in Budgam District, along with
old scrapped currency notes worth over INR 3.4 million. An official
said that following a specific input, Railway Police officials
intercepted two persons identified as Farooq Ahmad Labru and Mohammad
Shafi Labru when they were about to board train at Mazhama railway
station.
The ground situation in several
parts of Dhemaji District still remains tense, even six days after
the vandalism of Silapathar situated AASU office by NIBBUSS activists
on March 6. Indefinite curfew imposed by the District administration
is still in place. On that day, NIBBUSS had organised a meeting
which was later followed a procession seeking removal of names
of Bengali Hindus from the Doubtful-voters (D-voters) list.
The 12-hour Dhemaji bandh
(shutdown-from 5 am to 5 pm) called by the Dhemaji District unit
of AJYCS in protest against the vandalism and reportedly raising
anti-Assamese slogans by NIBBUSS activists on March 6th passed
off peacefully with some stray incident of motor tyres burning.
AJYCS workers showed protest by burning motor tyres on the NH
at Sissiborgaon, 15 km away from Dhemaji town. Normal life in
Dhemaji was badly hit during the bandh as all shops, business
establishments and financial institutions, including educational
institutions at Dhemaji town and its adjacent areas remained closed
during the bandh.
A joint forum of several organizations
in Golaghat District had called a 12-hour Golaghat bandh
(shutdown) protesting against the Silapathar incident passed off
peacefully.All business establishments, Government and non-Government
offices remained closed during the bandh.
Twelve CRPF personnel were killed
and three others injured in an attack by the CPI-Maoist near Bhejji
in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. Senior Police officials
of Sukma District said that Maoist opened indiscriminate fire
on a ROP between Bhejji and Kottacheru. Reports said the rebels
looted weapons from the slain security personnel and took away
the wireless radio sets from the spot. Further, details are awaited
as the operation is going on. The deceased CRPF personnel have
been identified as Inspector Jagjit Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspectors
H.B. Bhatt and Narender Kumar Singh, Head Constables Jagdish Prasad
Vishnoi and P.R. Minde and Constables Mangesh Pal Pandey, Rampal
Singh Yadav, Goraknath, Nand Kumar Patra, Satish Kumar Verma,
K Shankar and Suresh Kumar.
Under the scheme of NFADP, East
Singhbhum District of Jharkhand administration will be organising
a Vikas Mela at Jualkanta in Ghurabandha Police Station
area in Ghatshila sub-division on March 15. The Police and Paramilitary
Forces are carrying out anti-insurgency operation in places bordering
West Bengal's Purulia District and Odisha’s Mayurbhanj District
in order to make the fair a success. SP, Shailendra Kumar Burnwal
told, that after the surrender of top naxal leaders in February,
the remaining naxals operating in the area have united. The idea
to launch the operation is to force them to shun path of violence.
SFs recovered explosives from
a shop at Goraimari in the Barpeta District. SFs recovered five
explosives, each weighing approximately 500 grams, which were
wound with rope and shrapnel and further packed with red tape.
Another plastic bag with ‘white powder’ was also recovered, which
was suspected to be potassium nitrate, a substance used to make
explosives. One unidentified person was arrested in this connection
so far.
A video of a scene of extortion
in broad daylight at a fuel outlet in Kohima town by a couple
of unidentified gunmen has gone viral on social media. However,
with the witnesses denying any extortion activity, the Police
did not register any case after the incident.
One person identified as Lukheyi
Yepthomi was arrested by the AET while he was ‘collecting taxes’
in the name of the 'NPG’ from various commercial vehicles around
Doshehe Market area in Dimapur Town.
Four cadres of the PLFI were arrested
by the Police in two separate incidents in Khunti and West Singhbhum
District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.
In the first incident, three PLFI cadres, including a woman, Nirmala
Kandulana, Jagai Pahan and Karam Singh Munda, were arrested when
they came to collect ‘levy’ at Bhagat Singh Chowk in Khunti District
of Jharkhand. In other incident, Police arrested PLFI cadre Rugu
Gudia under Tebo Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District
of Jharkhand. Police recovered two double barrel gun and 46 live
cartridges from the spot of arrest.
|
March 12 |
Pakistani troops had violated
the ceasefire by resorting to firing and mortar shelling in Krishnagati
sector along the LoC in Poonch District.
One NDFB-IKS militant, identified
as Agostin Mushahari (30), was arrested by Indian Army in Udalguri
District. Sixteen live rounds of ammunition of 5. 56 mm AK 47,
four mobile phones, a contact book and weapon repairing materials
were also recovered from the militant.
State Police ordered a precautionary
ban on the NBBUSS following acts of violence in Silapathar. The
order means that NBBUSS will not be allowed to conduct any public
meeting or activities.
The NSCN-IM, in a press release,
threatened the people who are involved in money lending business
to stop their business immediately in and around Dimapur Town.
CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a
road construction machine and a two-wheeler at Badapadar village
under Bijepur Police limits in Kalahandi District of Odisha. According
to reports, a group of over five Maoists set ablaze a JCB and
a motorcycle belonging to the contractor, identified as Rajendra
Sahoo, protesting road construction work. “Last night a group
of Maoists arrived at my home in search of me. However, I managed
to hide following which they took the key of the JCB from driver
and set the machine on fire on the outskirts of the village,”
said Rajendra.
|
March 13 |
A former Sarpanch was killed
by unidentified gunmen in Pulwama. Police said gunmen abducted
former Sarpanch Fayaz Ahmad from his Kakoora residence in Pulwama,
and his bullet riddled body has been recovered from Chewa Kalan
village in the District.
Pakistani troops resorted to mortar
shelling and firing by automatic weapons along the LoC in Poonch
District, prompting the army to retaliate. “There was unprovoked
ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector from 0640
hours today, using 82 mm mortars, automatic weapons,” a Defence
spokesman said. There is no casualty on Indian side, he said.
This is the second ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in
Poonch District, since yesterday, in less than 24 hours.
Police, probing a case against
Tabrez Tambe (28) from Mumbra (Thane District, Maharashtra), who
had left to work in Egypt this January and allegedly joined the
banned outfit Islamic State (IS), have found that he is in a Libyan
jail. He was caught by the Libyan authorities in December, 2016.
His detention has been confirmed by Dr Ramamurthy Kosanam, who
saw Tabrez in IS custody. Kosanam, a native of Andhra Pradesh's
Krishna District, was abducted by IS cadres one-and-a-half years
ago. He was rescued by the Indian mission in Libya in February,
2017. Maharashtra ATS officials apparently showed Tabrez's photograph
to Kosanam to establish if he was in a Libyan jail. Tabrez, had
on December 5, 2016 called up his family and said he had been
arrested by the Libyan government and requested them to file a
missing complaint for him and approach the embassy for his release.
He had also told them to uninstall the Telegram app, through which
he was communicating with them.
Tabrez's brother, Saud, filed
a complaint with the state ATS after his mother received his call.
"My brother also gave us his Facebook and Gmail
passwords and told us to delete his accounts," Saud told
police. An ATS officer said they had contacted the Union home
ministry about Tabrez. The home ministry contacted the ministry
of external affairs. "We are trying to bring him back,"
said an officer. The ATS had registered a case under various sections
of the UAPA against Tabrez and his associate, Ali. The family
suspects Ali indoctrinated Tabrez and took him to Egypt, from
there they went to Libya. Police have also found that Ali had
sent around INR 4,00,000 to Tabrez last year for travel and other
expenses.
In a development in the Lucknow
Islamic State (IS) encounter, a purported message posted by a
pro- IS Telegram channel has identified Saifullah, who
was killed in an encounter in Lucknow earlier this week, as a
soldier of the Caliphate. Officials said they are verifying the
veracity of the post and has sought cooperation from foreign intelligence
agencies. This is the first time that any IS supported channel
on Telegram has owned up Saifullah, who was part of the
alleged terror module, which planted a bomb on a train near Bhopal
on March 7.
US based intelligence website
Site Intel Group posted a screen grab of the Telegram message
on Twitter, which said, “Pro-#ISIS Telegram Channel Incites
for Attacks in #India, Points to Suspected IS Fighter Saifullah
as Example.” The website also posted a photograph of Saifullah
describing him as a “soldier of the Khilafah from India.” The
photo was juxtaposed with a message in Urdu, Arabic and English.
It said, “Think not of those who are killed in the way of Allah
as dead, Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.”
In another incident of ceasefire
violation along LoC in border District Poonch of the Jammu region,
the Pakistani troops targeted the forward Indian posts along the
LoC for the third time in the last 24 hours, forcing the authorities
to suspend the Poonch-Rawalkote bus service and postpone examinations.
SFs busted an extortion racket
of the NSCN-K and arrested two militants of the outfit, identified
as Belin Lego and Dibya Koch and a link woman, identified as Moina
Basumatary from the Kalapani Chapori area along the Assam-Arunachal
Pradesh border under Sadiya Police Station in Tinsukia District.
One AK- 47 rifle, 19 live ammunitions, one fired case, 14 rounds
of. 22mm weapon, eight cell phones and SIM cards were also recovered
from the arrested militants.
The State Police arrested Binoy
Biswas (55), one of the main accused who executed the March 6
vandalism incident at Silapathar in Dhemaji District, from Kakobari
Dharmapur village in Dhemaji District. He is the ‘national organising
secretary’ of NIBBUS. With the arrest, the total number of persons
arrested in connection with the Silapathar incident has gone up
to 43. The Dhemaji District administration also relaxed the curfew
for four hours.
On the fourth day of their hunger
strike to press for a separate Bodoland State, the hunger strikers
said that they would not accept any medical aid until a formal
assurance for a comprehensive political dialogue is given. The
ABSU, NDFB-P and the PJACBM are together holding the indefinite
hunger strike at Kokrajhar Government Higher Secondary & MP
School playground.
SFs arrested one CPI- Maoist militant,
identified as Tapan Mahatta (33) alias Prabhat alias
Prakash Kurmi alias Ranjit from the ASTC bus stand in Tinsukia
District during checking. Two SIMs and a mobile phone were also
recovered from him.
A team of leaders of the UNTABA
have met with Interlocutor for Naga peace talks RN Ravi and ‘general
secretary’ of the NSCN-IM Th. Muivah recently. The UNTABA leaders
had deliberations Th. Muivah “for the restoration of transferred
Naga lands in Assam to Nagaland and in what manner traditional
and historical boundary can be settled with Assam during the final
political settlement.”
One extortionist, identified as
Alferd Sumi, reportedly a ‘leacy’ of the ‘NPGN’, was arrested
by the AET around Metro Hospital area in Dimapur Town while he
was extorting money from the business establishments.
Four unidentified militants reportedly
threatened two Mizoram forest guards who were guarding the forests
along Meidili River near Assam-Mizoram border to curb bamboo smuggling.
According to Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo Students’ Association),
the two foresters were threatened at gun point by the four militants
armed with AK-47 assault rifles and one pistol and told to stop
guarding the riverine forest. However, Police said that they received
the information of militants threatening foresters, but could
not confirm it.
Naxals blew up the house
of a para-teacher and held a ‘Jan Adalat’ at Baltharwa
village atop Jhumra Hill under Mahuataad Police Station in Bokaro
District of Jharkhand. At least 30 Naxals pasted posters
across the village, branding the teacher Jailal Mahto as a ‘Police
informer’. Mahto was not present at his residence at the time
of the explosion. Naxals assaulted his wife Bijli Devi
(27) and his father Moti Mahto. The group then blew up Mahto's
house. Villagers in Baltharwa remained angry with the Police for
not visiting the spot more than 24 hours after the incident.
|
March 14 |
A 26-year-old man, identified
as A Shaikh, was detained in Khargone District of Madhya Pradesh
by the Maharashtra ATS in connection with a case related to Islamic
State (IS). He is being brought to Mumbai for questioning, a senior
Police official said here. According to Police, Shaikh, who has
completed his M.Tech, was allegedly in constant touch with one
of the accused in the case, who was earlier arrested for his alleged
links with the banned terror group. “Shaikh has not been placed
under arrest so far. We are examining his role in the case,” the
official said without elaborating further.
Arrested for alleged involvement
in the October 2016 murder of an RSS worker in Bengaluru (Karnataka),
Asim Shariff, leader of the District chapter of social and political
organisation PFI, was associated with members of terror groups
such as IM and Al Ummah, the NIA has alleged. The probe agency
made its contentions while arguing in a plea filed by Shariff
in Karnataka High Court. Shariff has questioned the invoking of
provisions of UAPA, 1967, against him for the murder of RSS leader
R Rudresh, and the suo motu decision of the UMHA to ask the NIA
to probe the case. In the course of arguments, the UMHA and NIA
have stated that provisions of UAPA are applicable in the case
since it involves issues of national security.
The air base at Pathankot in Punjab
has been put under high alert after a terror threat was reported.
Choppers kept vigil at the air base in Punjab after the threat
and search ops were underway around the air base, report said.
According to local Police, the security has been beefed up on
the basis on intelligence inputs. No suspicious person/ activity
has been reported so far.
The NIA has registered a FIR in
the latest Islamic State (ISIS) inspired cases in the Madhya Pradesh
and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) terror operations. The principal focus
of the investigators would now be to digitally track the mastermind
behind the modules, who is believed to be abroad. The move is
to ensure that further radicalisation of Indian youth is stopped.
After forces managed to identify a Lucknow terror module linked
to ISIS, top intelligence sources had confirmed that search activities
were initiated to find 20 odd youths who might have joined the
Islamic radical group earlier and are now back in the country.
As per information, all the 20 members - mostly based out of Kerala
- were in Syria recently and might have returned to India to act
on the radical groups agenda. While there have been no ISIS related
terror activities in India, the Lucknow terror module raised a
lot of security concerns for the country. The Centre has pinpointed
five states where ISIS activists could surface, including Uttar
Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Intelligence operations have already commenced in these states
for monitoring any kind of terror activity.
Pakistan state sponsored terrorism
where "good terrorists" are used against India is most
lethal form of terror threats that countries in the Indian Ocean
Region are facing, said Vice President Hamid Ansari. "Pakistan's
use of terror as an instrument of state policy has been acknowledged
by US state department. Pakistan uses good terrorists visavis
India while battling bad terrorists at home," Ansari said
in New Delhi without mincing any words while inaugurating third
edition of Counterterrorism conference organised by noted Delhibased
think-tank India Foundation.
Warning of attacks in India, terror
outfit Islamic State (IS) released a graphic depicting Taj Mahal
as a possible target. According to reports, the graphic image
showing an image of Taj Mahal in the backdrop with an IS terrorist
standing next to it was posted by the Ahwaal Ummat Media Center
on a channel of Telegram, the encrypted communication app.
Site Intelligence Group, which
tracks jihadi activity on the web, has confirmed the report. The
graphic also has an inset which shows another image of the Taj
Mahal within crosshairs with the words “New Target” written below
it. Also, there is an image of a van with the Arabic text “Agra
istishhadi” (Agra martyrdom-seeker) written in English. The security
agencies have claimed that some 75 Indians have so far joined
IS. This includes 45 who went from India, mostly from Maharashtra,
Kerala and Karnataka, while the remainder were Indians living
abroad.
SFs arrested one suspected CPI-Maoist,
identified as Malu Sethi, from Paharpur village near Lekhapani
in Tinsukia District. Two guns, 3kg of explosives, a detonator,
20m of wire, 500gm of nails, switches and a mobile phone were
recovered from the arrested militant.
The ABSU, NDFB-P and PJACBM decided
to end the indefinite hunger strike that began from March 10 after
the Government assured to hold talks on Bodo issues before April
14.
The Dhemaji District administration
lifted day curfew in Silapathar town, even as it decided to continue
with the night curfew. The curfew was imposed after the widespread
violence when activists of the NIBBUS ransacked the office of
the local AASU unit following a rally by the lesser known organisation
on March 6. Police has arrested 46 persons since the March 6 clash
between NIBBUSS activists and AASU members.
SFs arrested a militant of a newly
formed militant group named ARA, identified as Sengman Ch. Marak
alias Miksal alias Bacheng from Alda Cheran village
near Songsak in East Garo Hills District. A US-made M-4 automatic
rifle with ammunition, which allegedly belonged to William A.
Sangma, a militant leader and wanted criminal who had escaped
from Mendipathar Police Station in 2014, was recovered from his
possession.
In wake of the continued rate
of crimes committed against women and children in the State, the
militant outfit HNLC announced its decision to ‘restart Operation
Kyllang’ to punish rapists in the State.
SVC asked the NSCN-IM to take
stringent action against one of its ‘kilonsers (cabinet
minister)’ who had allegedly abducted and beaten up the VCC of
Shangnyu village in Mon District on March 5.
Mizoram Governor Lieutenant General
Nirbhay Sharma said that the final stage of peace dialogue between
the State Government and the Manipur-based HPC-D militants was
expected soon. Addressing the State legislature, the Governor
said that three rounds of dialogue have so far been held. “During
these talks, arms and ammunition snatched from the police by the
HPC-D cadres were returned,” he added.
AR arrested two IS suspects, identified
as Nazir Mohammad and Abu Bakir, both are from Tamil Nadu, at
a border check post at Khudengthabi along the Trans Asian Highway
No 1 in Chandel District. Fourteen SIM cards and some handsets,
besides INR 75,130 and a huge amount in foreign currencies were
recovered from the arrestees.
A man identified as Kaushal Paswan
(30) was shot dead by CPI-Maoist cadres near Mahuraushan village
in Gaya District of Bihar. Paswan was a member of an anti-Maoist
outfit – Bhakt Sangharsh Samiti – formed last year by some Dalits
as a vigilante group against Maoists after they had killed some
members of Bhuian and Paswan communities during assembly polls
in 2015.
Assistant constable, Phagu Ram
Mandavi (42) of the CRPF was killed by a group of CPI-Maoist cadres
in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh. Mandavi was visiting
Bodli village 'Mela' (fair) under Bangpal Police Station.
UHM Rajnath Singh told
Lok
Sabha
that “unprecedented success’’ by SFs led to “uneasiness”
among Naxal groups. UHM Singh told that improved efficacy
of the SFs is evident from the fact that the number of Left-wing
extremist killed increased by 150 per cent in 2016. Similarly,
surrenders and arrests registered a combined increase of 47 per
cent over 2015. In 2016, SFs arrested 779 Naxals while
1,198 surrendered and 135 were eliminated. In 2016 there were
67 per cent encounters and exchange of fire that resulted in neutralization
of LWE cadres as against only 36 per cent in 2015.Mr Singh said
sustained operations by the security forces ensured that South
Bastar districts saw a considerable fall in violence in 2016 —
252 incidents, as against 326 in 2015.
Minister of State for Home Affairs,
Hansraj Ahir, informed the Lok Sabha that although the Government
had made significant headway in the areas affected by LWE, the
Centre was willing to hold talks with the Maoist cadres, if the
latter agreed to give up arms.
Two TPC armed ‘squad commanders’,
Rajesh Ganju and Hiralal Ganjhu, were arrested by Jharkhand Police
and the CRPF in Chatra District of Jharkhand. SFs recovered a
US-made rifle and a carbine, seven other firearms, 450 cartridges,
four mobile phones, six magazines and INR 56,000. TPC is a splinter
group of CPI-Maoist.
Deva Madhi alias Raghu,
a CPI-Maoist cadre, carrying INR 100,000 reward on his head, surrendered
before Police in Malkangiri District of Odisha. Raghu was
working as a member of LGS of Kalimela Dalam for the last
four years. He was allegedly involved in the murder of Tulsiram
Bedara, Jaga Madkami, Deva Madkami, Ganga Padiami, Madan Hantala,
Gurumurti Madhi, Sama Padiami and Badu Hantala in 2013.
|
March 15 |
Two businessmen were arrested
along with FICN having a face value of INR 6,20,000 in denomination
of INR 2,000 in Hyderabad. Acting on credible information, sleuths
of the Special Operation Team of Rachakonda Commissionerate arrested
the duo, Sakethwala Ramesh and Mohammad Riyaz Baba, after raiding
the latter's house in Ibrahimpatnam, Police said. Another accused
Mohammed Hazi is at large.
Inspector of SOT, LB Nagar zone,
K Narsing Rao said Ramesh was the kingpin of the fake currency
circulation gang. He was earlier arrested on November 26, 2016
as he attempted to circulate bogus notes which were photocopies
of the original INR 2,000 currency notes. Ramesh had concealed
the fake currency notes in the house of Riyaz. He was released
from the prison on January 20, 2017 and since then he had planned
to circulate FICN hidden with Riyaz, the Inspector said.
Calling Pakistan a terrorism factory,
India said Pakistan's terror policies have alienated its own people
through continued mistreatment of minorities. In the UN, India
accused Pakistan of spreading terrorism and illegally occupying
some territories in Kashmir. Exercising its right to reply during
a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the Indian Representative
said Pakistan must rein in its “compulsive hostility” towards
India. “We ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence
and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in
our internal affairs in any manner,” the official said.
Three LeT militants and a minor
girl were killed while another minor boy and a SF person were
injured in an encounter at Hyhama area of Kupwara District of
North Kashmir. SSP Kupwara, Shamsher Hussain, said that three
militants of LeT, identified as Abu Mala, Anas Bhai and Abu Mansoor
(all of them were Pakistani nationals) were killed in gun battle
at Jagityal Kulnard area of Kupwara this morning (March 15). A
minor girl, identified as Kaneeza and a minor boy Faisal were
injured when they were hit by bullets during the encounter. Girl
Kaneeza succumbed to her injuries and boy was shifted to Srinagar
for treatment. A Police constable identified as Danish Ahmad was
also injured in the encounter. Three AK-47 rifles, six hand grenades,
one GPS, one wireless set, six magazines and large quantity of
ammunition was recovered from them.
The SSP said that these militants
were active in Kralpora, Dardpora, Marhama, Awoora and its adjacent
areas for last one year. He said that they had infiltrated last
year (2016) and were part of reception party of LeT. He said that
they were receiving infiltrated militants from Keran and Tangdhar
sectors and providing them logistic support before launching them
to Kashmir valley.
Cross LoC trade between India
and Pakistan via Chakkan-da-Bagh trade point in Poonch in Poonch
District has been suspended in view of the mounting tension along
the LoC after ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops. The Pakistan
Army has targeted Trade Centre complex during shelling on March
12 and March 13. A school building and another structure at Chakkan-da-Bagh
have been affected with the shelling by Pakistan.
Militants hurled a grenade on
District Police Lines Pulwama in Pulwama District in the night.
However, no damage was done. Police and SFs immediately cordoned
off the area and the searches are on for the militants responsible
for the attack.
The NIA filed the first supplementary
chargesheet in the special NIA court in Guwahati against Rabi
Basumatary, a suspected cadre of NDFB-IKS, for his alleged involvement
in the killing of seven people at Balapara village in Kokrajhar
District on May 1, 2014.
SFs arrested two unidentified
militants of NSCN-K from Ligiripukhori area of Sivasagar District.
The Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question by
D.P. Tripathi in the Rajya Sabha said that the Framework Agreement
of August 3, 2015 between the GoI and the NSCN-IM is a relevant
document and details of the final settlement are being worked
out within the parameters of the Framework Agreement. Hence, he
added that it would be premature to make public the Framework
Agreement.
One militant of NSCN-R, identified
as ‘sergeant’ Bokito Sumi, was arrested while collecting extortion
money from the commercial establishments in Dimapur Town.
In an address to a conference,
via video conferencing from Raipur District of Chhattisgarh, on
‘’Counter-Terrorism’’ in New Delhi, CM Raman Singh, said that
effective and good governance will spell the death-knell of
Naxalism
and terrorism. He added that LWE had been brought to an end
in Surguja division. The authorities are working on the socio-economic
front in Bastar division and the results will be known soon. Further,
he told that the LWE had destroyed education, health, roads and
communications links in the far-flung regions of Bastar division.
He also elaborated that, medical services are being expanded in
Bijapur District under the new innovative model. Five Prayas Residential
schools had been opened in Raipur, Bilaspur, Ambikapur (Surguja),
Jagdalpur (Bastar) and Durg Divisions to cater to the educational
needs of children in the Naxalites’ violence affected Districts.
He also informed that additional funds of INR 2 billion for Dantewada
and INR 4 billion for Korba had been allocated under the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s DMFP. It had created a positive environment
in the regions.
Mohan Murmu and Sundar Soren of
Ghurabandha squad of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the District
administration in Jwalkata village under Ghurabandha Police Station
area at Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand
.
They were aides of Kanu Munda, who is the former ‘secretary’
of JBORC of CPI -Maoist.
A group of 15 to 20 CPI-Maoist
cadres abducted three villagers, Hari Pradhan, Banamali Naik and
Sudarsan Naik of Narlapat village, from Thuamul-Rampur Police
Station limits in Kalahandi District of Odisha. A senior Police
official said the rebels either take the support of locals or
resort to violence to trigger a fear psychosis among them to carry
out their activities unhindered.
A report of the Home Department
of Odisha Government, the standing committee chairman Ramesh Chandra
Chaya Patnaik, told the Odisha Assembly that as 39 CPI-Maoist
were neutralised while 23 civilians and three security personnel
were killed in 2016. Report also stated that LWE situation remained
challenging in parts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Kalahandi,
Kandhamal, Rayagada, Bolangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Angul and Nayagarh
Districts.
|
March 16 |
The Delhi HC upheld the Centre's
decision to ban Zakir Naik's organisation the IRF. Justice Sanjeev
Sachdeva who was hearing the matter dismissed Naik's plea against
the immediate ban observing that the UMHA had "sufficient
material for immediate ban." On November 17, 2016, the UMHA
had banned IRF for five years under the UAPA. Contesting the ban
in January, Senior Advocate Dinesh Mathur representing IRF submitted
that the ban was imposed without "any application of mind
on the part of the government authorities." The petition
further contended that "the impugned notification, in fact,
discloses no grounds or conclusions that have been drawn from
any facts and material that was before the government to sustain
its decision."
UHM Rajnath Singh said countries
and state-supported groups, which violate the definition of terrorism
as prescribed by the UN, should be punished by the international
community. The minister said coastal borders of 36 countries touch
the Indian Ocean, and nations, including India, need to work together
to ensure safety and protection of maritime domains and trade
and economic activities through sea routes. “To achieve this,
we have to accept the comprehensive definition of terrorism given
by the United Nations. The nations which violate this definition
should be punished and ostracised,” he said.
Singh said the “comprehensive
definition of terrorism” should include state-supported groups
and nations which are supporting such groups and they should be
brought under this definition...Identification of state-sponsored
terrorism and isolating such state-sponsored groups will certainly
be most important encouraging factors,” he said.
Police disallowed a joint press
conference of separatist leaders, including the chairmen of both
factions of Hurriyat Conference, and took them into custody. The
separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq and Yaseen Malik were scheduled to hold a joint press conference
at Geelani’s residence in Hyderpora in Srinagar District but Police
did not allow Mirwaiz and Malik to enter into Geelani’s residence.
Police took the trio into custody and did not allow the press
conference. Before being taken away, the Hurriyat leaders called
for the boycott of the by-polls to two Lok Sabha constituencies
of Srinagar and Anantnag which are going to polls on April 9 and
12 respectively.
India termed as “entirely unacceptable”
any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan
region, bordering disputed PoK, as the fifth Province. Reacting
sharply to reports that a committee headed by Pakistan’s Foreign
Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has proposed status of a Province
to Gilgit-Baltistan, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal
Baglay said any such step would not be able to hide the illegality
of Pakistan’s occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir which it
must vacate, forthwith. Noting that the issue pertains to the
sovereignty of India, he said the Government’s position is very
well known on the matter.
“The entire State of J&K is
an integral part, has been an integral part and will be an integral
part of India. No attempt or unilateral attempt or step to change
that would have any legal basis, whatsoever, and it will be entirely
unacceptable. “Any such step would not be able to hide the illegality
of Pakistan’s occupation of parts of J&K which it must vacate,
forthwith. It will also not be able to hide the tremendous, very
concerning human rights violations and denial of freedom that
has been going on in parts controlled by Pakistan for the last
70 years,” the spokesperson said.
HM militant Zakir Rashid Bhat,
who took over from Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter
July 2016, has urged Kashmiri Muslim youths to pelt stones at
SFs in the name of Islam, rubbishing Hurriyat's claim that the
militant movement was "secular" or for "freedom"
and Kashmiri "nationalism". In a 12-minute video, circulated
widely on social media, Zakir Rashid Bhat, alias Zakir
Musa, is seen preaching violence in the name of Islam. The terror
outfit also separately directed voters to boycott the upcoming
by-polls for two parliamentary seats and panchayat polls in the
Valley. "When you pelt stones, don't think you're helping
just one Musa or one mujahideen. You must do it to help and protect
Islam," Musa said. "We'll hoist Islam's flag in our
Kashmir one day," he proclaimed. Wearing an Afghan cap, a
beige coat over a brown sweater, Musa appeared to be imitating
Wani's strategy of using Islamic State (IS)-style videos and social
media propaganda to lure youth into militancy. Calling Kashmiri
informers and J&K Police "kafir" (infidel),
Musa said both deserve to be killed. "We're fighting for
Islam. We want to be martyrs for our Islam."
Two extortionists, identified
as Heyito Aye and Atoshe Murru, both are members of FGN were arrested
by AET at Murgipatti area in Dimapur town while collecting extortion
money.
The ULFA-I, in a joint statement
issued by its ‘chairman’ Abhizeet Asom, and ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Asom,
hinted that it will continue ‘joint operations’ with the CorCom,
an umbrella body of Manipur-based militant groups, against security
forces of India. Last year, both the militant formations have
carried out coordinated attacks on Security Forces under ‘operation
Barak’. The statement was issued on the occasion of ULFA-I’s
‘army day’ on March 16.
The Dhemaji District administration
announced lifting of night curfew at Silapathar town which was
imposed after the vandalism incident of AASU office by the NIBBUSS
in Silapathar and the subsequent violence. Further, another accused
of the vandalism incident, the NIBBUSS’s Dhemaji District unit
‘vice-president’ Sadhan Biswas (35) was also arrested from his
residence at Number 2 Kashinath Chapori Mishing Gaon near Majarbari
under Silapathar Police Station, taking the total arrestees to
49.
Members of CRPC, Assam, an organisation
of Barak valley, have expressed their shock and anguish at the
manner in which the government and its machinery are handling
the case of the untoward incident that took place at Silapathar
on March 6, till date. The organisation also demanded a high level
impartial enquiry of the incident.
CM Sarbananda Sonowal appealed
all the militant groups of the State for peace talks and said
his Government wants to rid the state of the militancy, the illegal
foreigners and the corruption.
The BJP-led Manipur Government
appealed the UNC to immediately lift the indefinite economic blockade
in a special meeting convened by CM Nongthombam Biren Singh. However,
the UNC rejected the appeal to end the economic blockade of the
State. UNC made it clear that the blockade would continue until
the Government held talks with it over its demands.
Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist were
killed in an encounter with SFs in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
The skirmish took place between a team of the DRG and CPI-Maoist
cadres near Kochwahi village under Narayanpur Police Station limits.
SFs recovered a .315 rifle, a country-made revolver, two wireless
sets and Naxal LWE related materials. Two powerful IED
weighing 25 kilograms each were also recovered. A massive combing
operation has been launched in the region to trace the attackers.
Two CPI-Maoist cadres, Bijja Poonem
(26) and Raghu Kadiyam (31), were arrested from Bijapur District
of Chhattisgarh. Two of them were carrying a reward of INR 5,000
on their head.
Eleven CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered
during 'Police Mitra’ programme at the Ongnaar village under Benoor
Police Station limits in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh.
Of the surrendered, Nemchand Gavde, Ramsingh Potai, Giluram Potai,
Sonu Gavde, Manghal Singh Korram, Bholu Ram Potai, Dhansingh Vadde,
Ghasia Potai and Sudu Ram Salam, were carrying low cash rewards
on their heads. Besides, warrant was pending against Jamru Ram
Potai and Sumita Kavde.
|
March 17 |
The Odisha Police neutralised
a FICN printing unit at a slum in Bhubaneswar after seizure of
certain materials used for making counterfeit notes. The seizure
was made from Salia Sahi area. Sources said the Police got clue
about printing of fake currency notes in the state after it arrested
a college student from Baripada on March 9. The youth was identified
as Shagen Tudu. He was caught while trying to use FICN of the
face value INR 500 at a shop in Sunagadia area. Police have seized
papers used in printing fake currency notes, colour printer and
cartridge from the spot. Also 32 counterfeit notes of INR 500
denomination were seized. All the currencies bore identical series
and serial number, the Police said. Shagen during interrogation
had revealed that he had got the notes from a friend residing
in Patia area in Bhubaneswar.
The `business' of FICN appears
to be on the rise in Hyderabad, with the city Police arresting
10 people, involved in the crime, over the last one month. Officials,
closely following the case, say that these photocopied notes are
being brought into the city from places like Sircilla, Nizampet
and Ibrahimpatnam. Confirming the rise in count of the fraudsters,
Deputy Commissioner of Police (task force) B Limba Reddy said,
"Only Non-Resident Indians have been given permission till
March 31 to deposit old demonetised currency. Now, many scammers
have also taken on the role of NRIs and tell their victims that
they can deposit the money without any hassle, for a certain share."
There were 15 terror attacks on
the Army in 2016 as the force lost 68 soldiers, the Lok Sabha
was informed. The year 2016 also recorded 449 instances of ceasefire
violations by Pakistan along the LoC and IB in J&K combined.
In a written response to a question in Lok Sabha, Subhash
Bhamre, Minister of State for Defence, said 10 cases of terror
attacks were recorded in 2014, followed by 11 in 2015, 15 in 2016
and three until March 15, 2017.
2015 and 2016 also saw a spike
in the number of deaths of army personnel, recording 67 and 68
casualties respectively in terror attacks and along the border.
In 2014, 38 army personnel died in terror acts while 13 have lost
their lives this year. Bhamre said, in 2016 the area along the
LoC , which is under operational control of the Army, saw 228
instances of ceasefire violations while the area along the international
border in Jammu and Kashmir, under the control of the BSF, recorded
221 instances of ceasefire violations.
This accounts for more than one
instance of ceasefire violation every day. In 2017, 30 instances
of ceasefire violations were recorded along the LoC while six
such instances along the international border were recorded until
February 6, 2017 by the BSF.
An encounter broke out between
SFs and militants in Pulwama District of J&K, according to
Police. According to reports, the area has been cordoned off by
defence personnel as the militants have fled from the spot. This
comes two days after a clash between the militants and SFs in
north Kashmir’s Kupwara District had killed three LeT militants
and a minor girl.
At least three militants managed
to escape from cordon after a brief gun battle in Batnoor village
of Pulwama District of South Kashmir. A Police official said that
SFs cordoned off village Batnoor during the night. Police official
said that SFs and SOG of J&K Police launched search operations
at several places in Pulwama after HM posters appeared asking
people to boycott bypoll in Anantnag Parliamentary constituency
on April 12. However, the operation ended as the militants managed
to escape and no arrests were made.
A day after HM posters put up
in Pulwama in Kashmir provoked the youth in Kashmir to “fight
for Islam, not Kashmir,” posters have been put up by the LeT in
the neighbouring District of Anantnag asking the people not to
vote in the upcoming local polls. The posters have warned people
to stay away from the election process and not to cast their vote.
The J&K Police have taken cognizance of these threats and
have launched a probe to check the veracity of these posters.
“The terror outfits have trying their best to ensure terror in
the valley through the posters but not much heed should be paid
into it,” Colonel (retired) VN Thapar said. “The government shouldn't
bring its own guard down; rather it should ensure swift action.”
There were 15 terror attacks on
the Army last year (2016) as the force lost 68 soldiers, the
Lok
Sabha
was informed. 2016 also recorded 449 instances of ceasefire
violation by Pakistan along the J&K border. In a written response
to a question in Lok Sabha, Subhash Bhamre, Minister of
State for Defence, said 10 cases of terror attacks were recorded
in 2014, followed by 11 in 2015, 15 in 2016 and three until March
15 this year (2017). 2015 and 2016 also saw a spike in the number
of deaths of Army personnel, recording 67 and 68 casualties respectively
in terror attacks and along the border. In 2014, 38 army personnel
died in terror acts while 13 have lost their lives this year.
Bhamre said, in 2016 the area
along the LoC, which is under operational control of the Army,
saw 228 instances of ceasefire violations while the area along
the IB in J&K, under the control of the BSF, recorded 221
instances of ceasefire violations. This accounts for more than
one instance of ceasefire violation every day. In 2017, 30 instances
of ceasefire violations were recorded along the LoC while six
such instances along the international border were recorded until
February 6 by the BSF.
ATS of the Karnataka Police arrested
a suspect here having links with the 2005 terror attack at Bengaluru's
IIS from the outskirts of Agartala town in West Tripura District.
"The Karnataka ATS personnel, with the help of Tripura Police,
arrested terror suspect Habib Mia (37), from Jogendranagar on
the outskirts of Agartala," a senior Tripura Police official
told IANS on condition of anonymity.
The officials of BSF recovered
FICN of new denomination worth INR 440,000 near the fence of Kushnimari
border outpost in Dhubri District. They recovered the FICN in
a packet containing 220 pieces of INR 2000 notes. However, the
security personnel could not arrest anyone as they saw the bag
being thrown from the Bangladesh side. The packet has been submitted
to the authority.
The AASU and 28 other indigenous
organisations demanded ban on the NIBBUS in Assam and arrest its
leader Subodh Biswas along with his aide Sahadeb Das, who were
involved in the vandalism of the AASU office in Silapathar on
March 6.
CM N Biren Singh said that he
would apprise the Central Government of India about reports of
“unofficial designated camps’ of NSCN-IM in the State”. He said
that a report would be soon compiled about the reported presence
of “unofficial designated camps of NSCN-IM and lawlessness prevailing
along the Indo-Myanmar border areas.” The “official designated
camps are the duty of the Government” but the reported “existence
of unofficial camps needs to be identified with photographs.”
State Government in its first
Cabinet meeting in Imphal decided to initiate talks with UNC on
March 19 to resolve the economic blockade issue in the State.
Chhattisgarh Police arrested Raju
Korcha, a ‘platoon commander’ of CPI-Maoist, carrying reward of
INR 800,000 on his head from Rengawahi area of Kanker District
of Chhattisgarh.
|
March 18 |
Posters inviting youths to join
Islamic State (ISIS) surfaced in Rohtas District
of Bihar, prompting the State Police to launch an inquiry to “get
to the bottom” of the matter. The posters, pasted on electric
poles, were first noticed at Sikrauli Bigha village in the State’s
Nauhatta block, some 230 kilometers south-west of Patna. “ISIS
come to Bihar and please new boys to join (sic),” was written
in them. After a while more posters were seen around Nauhatta
high school area. It said, “ISIS, please come to all Bihar districts”.
The UMH) has been alerted after the development, the first instance
of any pro-ISIS poster surfacing in the State.
A terror wave stares at SFs in
Kashmir with a massive influx of Pakistani terrorists, and spiraling
of local recruits pegging the number of armed radicals at 400
in the State, a three-fold increase following the killing of Burhan
Wani in July 2016. A recent review done by the Army shows there
are 250 local recruits and 150 Pakistani terrorists in Kashmir
as of now. The increase from 91 locals and 60 Pakistanis respectively
June (2016), a month before Wani, a local HM ‘commander’, was
gunned down, has alarmed security agencies. Wani’s killing triggered
months of unrest in the State with frequent violent clashes between
civilians and SFs. Pakistani terrorists have also increased to
150, whereas the number was only 60 before Wani was killed. “With
increased numbers and infiltration bids scaling, the forces are
preparing for challenges in the summer,” said an Army officer.
A day after separatists asked
voters to desist from participating in the bypolls to Srinagar
and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies, JKLF chief Mohammad
Yasin Malik was arrested from his office in Srinagar. "A
posse of Policemen raided Abi Guzar office of the JKLF in the
heart of Srinagar and arrested Malik to desist him from spearheading
the poll boycott campaign," a JKLF spokesman said.
Police team arrested three extortionists,
identified as Tengsrang Ch Momin (22), Mantu Ch Momin (35) and
Suhrab Miah (35) from Ampati in South West Garo Hills District.
According to the Police they were involved in extorting money
from businessmen in the name of GNLA.
In the 127th session of the KAAC
Budget, a resolution for granting of an autonomous State by the
Centre was adopted. Soon after the passing of the Council budget,
the KAAC Chairman Bidyasing Tokbi gave time for discussion on
the adoption of the resolution regarding demand for granting of
Autonomous State as per Article 244(A) by the Central Government
of India for the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
This was the third time that a resolution regarding Autonomous
State issue was adopted. The CEM while referring to the signing
of MoU between the then ASDC and Central government in 1995 and
later the signing of MoS between the disbanded armed organisation
UPDS and Central Government for granting of Statehood for the
hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, said it was signed
by the leaders of the hill districts, but the Central as well
as State Governments have not been serious enough in resolving
the matter.
The ‘general secretary’ of the
NSCN-IM, Thuingaleng Muivah and 19 other NSCN-IM leaders arrived
in Camp Hebron of Dimapur from New Delhi to participate in ‘Naga
Republic Day’ celebration. Muivah will deliver a speech at the
celebration at Camp Hebron on March 21.
A woman and four other cadres
of CPI-Maoist surrendered before Vizag Rural Police on Vishakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh. The Maoists cited a range of reasons
from ill-health to harsh treatment from their leadership which
prompted their decision to surrender. The surrendered CPI-Maoist
cadres are Gemmili Chandramma alias Akhila (33) of ACM
of Kalimela (Odisha) Dalam ‘commander’ of Armed Militia
Lasingi Matchayya (27) alias Matsya Raju, Korra Subba Rao
(27) and his uncle Korra Lakshmana Rao (55) and Takkiri Hedbeen
(33). Hedbeen surrendered due to harassment from Maoists.
Six Maoists including a senior
woman cadre and two Policemen were killed while three SFs personnel,
including two SI were injured in a gun-battle in forests of restive
Dantewada District in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh. An injured
Maoist cadre was also arrested from the spot. IGP in-charge Bastar
Range Sundarraj P said, "The skirmish took place at around
2 PM between a team of state Police's DRG and the ultras in the
jungles of Burgum village under Aranpur Police station limits."
During search, five bodies of ultras, including two women, belonging
to Malangir Area Committee of Maoists, and a few weapons, including
one AK 47 rifle and one INSAS rife, were recovered, the IG said,
adding one injured Maoist was arrested. However, DRG constable
Nirmal Netam and a Gopniya Sukram Gavde also killed in the exchange
of fire, he added. Of the women Maoists killed in the encounter,
one was identified as Palle, who was active as ‘secretary’ of
Malangir Area Committee and member of Darbha Divisional Committee
of Maoists and another as Vijje, a member of the same area committee,
he said. Palle was carrying a reward of INR 800,000 on her head
while Vijje was carrying a reward of INR 500,000, Police said.
The identity of three other Maoists was being ascertained, he
added.
Armed cadres of CPI-Maoist killed,
Jotra Lohra (55), labelling him as a ‘Police informer’ in Gumla
District of Jharkhand. CPI-Maoist cadres left a note proclaiming
that Lohra was punished for being a ‘Police informer’. However,
SP, Gumla District, Chandan Kumar Jha said: "Lohra was in
no way associated with the police. He was a common man who eked
out a living by working as a farm labourer. We are combing the
nearby areas to nab the culprits."
Armed cadres of CPI-Maoist blew
up the two-room house of a para teacher, Beerbal Ram, at Gowasarey
village under Pandu Police Station, 52 Kilometers from Daltonganj
in Palamu District of Jharkhand. Nobody was injured in the incident.
SP, Palamu District, Indrajeet Mahatha said, "The Maoists
suspect this para-teacher to be a sympathizer of a rival outfit
TPC and we believe this was the reason behind this attack on his
home." TPC is a splinter group of CPI-Maoist.
One of the three villagers abducted
by the cadres of CPI-Maoist, on March 15, was killed by the Maoists,
while other two were released unhurt in Kalahandi District of
Odisha. The body of Banamali Naik was found today in front of
his house.
SFs arrested one militant of NSCN-IM,
identified as ‘kilonser (minister)’ N. Kire (57), from Kohima
Town. SFs also recovered one .22 mm Rifle, one .22 mm (GSG5) Rifle,
one AK-47, one magzines .32 mm, 87 live round of assorted ammunition
and 10 fired cartridges from the arrested militant.
A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed
in an encounter with SFs near Burgam village in Dantewada District
of Chhattisgarh. SFs also recovered an AK series rifle
from the encounter site.
|
March 19 |
Pakistan troops on March 19 violated
ceasefire and resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing with
automatic weapons in civilian areas and targeting forward posts
of the Indian Army at Bhimber Gali (BG) and Balakote sectors along
the LoC in Poonch District. Official sources said Pakistan Army
started shelling with two inch mortars and firing with automatic
and semi automatic weapons in several forward areas falling under
BG and Balakote sectors in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch District at
6 am on March 19. “Troops from this side retaliated effectively,
leading to heavy exchanges that continued for 45 minutes. The
firing and shelling from Pakistan side stopped after befitting
retaliation was given by the Indian side to silence the guns of
enemy troops and prevent civilian casualties and loss of property,”
they said. There were no casualties of Army or civilians on the
Indian side in Pakistani shelling and firing. Also, no major damage
was reported as majority of mortar shells fired by Pakistan fell
away from the civilian population and exploded harmlessly. However,
Pakistan side claimed that a 60-year old woman was killed on their
side at village Thandi in Kot Kehera sector opposite Bhimber Gali
in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops.
Sources described ceasefire violation
by Pakistan army as totally unprovoked. They didn’t rule out the
possibility of Pakistan army trying to push militants from other
parts of the LoC after firing in one sector. The troops were already
maintaining high alert along the LoC in anticipation of infiltration
attempts by the militants under the garb of ceasefire violations
by Pakistan army, which was trying to facilitate intrusions by
the militants.
A Pakistani national, awaiting
deportation after completing a jail term for illegally crossing
the border, has been slapped with PSA provisions and sent to the
Kotbalwal jail in the district, the Police said. The J&K Home
Department issued a warrant under the PSA against Khalid Parvez
alias Junaid, and it was executed by the Samba Police,
a Police official said. Khalid has been lodged in the Central
Jail, he said, adding that the detenue was awaiting deportation
to Pakistan after completing his sentence.
The economic blockade on Manipur
Highways by UNC over the creation of new districts in the State
came to an end on the 139th day. The UNC agreed to lift the economic
blockade after a round of tripartite talk involving both the State
Government and the Union Government at Senapati District headquarter.
The tripartite meeting was chaired by Ministry of Home Affairs,
Joint Secretary (North East in-charge) Satyendra Garg. In response
to the decision of the UNC, the State Government agreed to release
UNC’s ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and ‘information secretary’ Stephen
Sangkhel without any condition. All cases related to the economic
blockade against them would be closed also. Apart from that, another
round of tripartite meeting would be held at the political level
within a month over the issue.
CPI-Maoist cadres released a press
statement, at Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, carrying an image
of assembled modern weapons they looted from the dead CRPF personnel.
The picture along with the statement released by the South Bastar
Divisional Committee of CPI-Maoist showed four AK-47 assault rifles,
six INSAS assault rifles, one Light Machine Gun LMG, one UBGL
two wireless sets and over 1130 bullet cartridges taken away by
the rebels. The Maoists praised their cadres of PLGA -- the armed
wing of the banned organisation-- that "carried out"
the attack on a road opening party, killing twelve CRPF jawans
in Sukma on March 11.
SFs recovered a powerful, nearly
eight Kilograms, IED, suspected to be planted by CPI-Maoist cadres
to harm a patrolling team, in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh.
The IED was later destroyed with the help of a BDS.
Posters written in Odia by the
CPI-Maoist cadres of the Rayagada Area Committee affixed in tree
trunks were found at Parsali Gram Panchayat office under
Kalyan Singhpur Block in Rayagada District of Odisha. The posters
depicted the pro-people works undertaken by the CPI-Maoist.
Five CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested,
in two separate incidents, by SFs during a search operation in
Bijapur District of Bastar Division of Chattisgarh. In
the first incident, a CPI-Maoist, identified as Uika Baru (50),
was arrested from an unspecified area under Basaguda Police Station.
In other incident, four lower rank CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested
by CRPF’s 199th Battalion and District Force from an unspecified
area under Mirtur Police Station. Those arrested were identified
as Bhima Telam (25), Ayatu Banjam alias Bodda (30), Sukman
Vanjam (25) and Baman Mandavi (25).
|
March 20 |
Three senior cadres of NSCN-IM,
including one ‘kilonser (minister)’ identified as Tongsim Bengam
Anal alias Prem (70) and two ‘deputy Kilonsers’ identified
as Tongsin Thumwar (42) and Nula Hrangam Anal (45), were arrested
by SFs from a place under Sekmai Police Station in Imphal West
District.
UNC ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei and
‘Information and publicity secretary’ SK Stephen were released
unconditionally by the court of CJM, Imphal East District. Kamei
and Stephen were declared innocent by CJM, Imphal East Aribam
Noutuneshwari Devi and acquitted. The court also closed six different
cases against the UNC leaders. However, the leadership of UNC
is still against the creation of seven new districts. After the
release, ‘president’ Gaidon Kamei said that the issue of the districts
creation will be brought up during the next round of tripartite
talk.
AR arrested three militants from
different places in two separate incidents. In the first incident,
AR arrested two militants of NSCN-R, identified as ‘captain’ Kampong
and ‘revenue secretary (industries)’ Longkam Tunghang in Changlang
District. In the second incident, AR arrested one militant from
NSCN-U, identified as ‘captain’ Khampai Wangsu in Longding District.
Different Naga militant groups
greeted the ‘Naga people and its neighbors’ before the 38th ‘Naga
Republic Day’, which will be celebration on March 21. NNPG/ NNC-NA,
NSCN-K and NSCN-R/ GPRN are the militant groups who sent statements
in media about their ‘celebration’.
An Indian Army source reveals
that the ULFA-I, which suffered severe setbacks due to sustained
operations, was forced to allow militant outfits from other States
to operate in Assam. The source further said that, demonetisation
of the old INR 500 and INR 1,000 currency notes also resulted
in severe setback to the militant group. Army sources added that
as it is not in a position to carry out operations on its own,
the ULFA-I was forced to allow militant outfits from Manipur and
Nagaland to operate in Assam.
Police have stepped up vigil in
Districts bordering Bangladesh following reports of an increase
in infiltration by militants. There have been reports that the
Bangladesh government has informed the Union home ministry that
over 2,000 HuJI and JMB militants had crossed into the Indian
side and are hiding in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.
A report from the Bangladesh government
to the UMHA over the recent spike in infiltration of terrorists
to India has rung alarm bells in the security establishment. According
to the report, 2016 witnessed an over-three-fold increase over
2015 in infiltration by HuJI and JMB extremists into the border
states of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. The development assumes
significance as the NIA has found overseas terror links and the
direct role of JMB in the October 2014 Bardhaman blast at Khagragarh.
The report said approximately
2,010 HuJI and JMB operatives had entered the three states. While
nearly 720 men made a safe passage through the Bengal border,
the remaining 1,290 are suspected to have entered through Assam
and Tripura. Bengal government officials are skeptical about the
report, but even if just a close estimate, the number is disturbing
as intelligence reports pegged the number of infiltrators in 2014
and 2015 at 800 and 659, respectively. "We are trying to
gather information to confirm the veracity of the report,"
a senior Bengal home department official said. However, Assam
Police is concerned about the development.
Armed with confessional statements
of some of the witnesses, the NIA on March 20 issued a second
notice to Zakir Naik asking him to appear before it on March 30,
2017 in a case filed against him under an anti-terror law. An
NIA spokesman said that nearly 60 persons had been examined by
the probe agency so far which included some of family members
of Naik, some of his business associates, some employees and staff
of the IRF as well as Harmony Media Private Limited, founded by
Naik.
"Some of the witnesses have
given statements before the Magistrate, wherein they have stated
as to how Dr Zakir Naik had promoted enmity and hatred among the
people of different religious beliefs, through his public utterances,
and how he had hurt the religious sentiments of followers of other
sects or religions," the spokesman said.
The notice has been sent to the
Mumbai residence of Naik, who is believed to be staying in Saudi
Arabia to evade arrest after his activities came under scanner
following accusations that he had inspired some of the terrorists
who attacked a cafe in Dhaka last year.
ED attached his assets worth INR
18.37 crore in the form of mutual funds, properties and bank balance.
ED and NIA sources claimed that if he ignores the summons, he
stands the chance of being declared a proclaimed offender and
a red corner notice would be issued against him through Interpol.
Sources added that they are also in the process of finalising
a chargesheet against him so that his extradition from Saudi Arabia
could be initiated. ED said in a statement that Zakir Naik had
been issued four summons by it but he has avoided all four of
them.
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police
arrested a former Khalistani terrorist, Gursewak Singh Babla (51)
near Rajokri in Delhi. They seized a pistol and some live rounds
from him. Police claim that the accused was planning to revive
the terror outfit, Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), following instructions
from his boss Paramjeet Singh Panjawar, now based in Pakistan.
Babla claimed to be a close associate of slain militant, Jarnail
Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed during Operation Blue Star
in June 1984. He was involved in more than 50 terror cases. He
was jailed for 26 years and released in 2010.
"He has been evading arrest
ever since he was declared a proclaimed offender by a city court.
A team led by DCP Bhisham Singh had laid a trap near Rajokri and
arrested him with a loaded pistol and some rounds," said
Praveer Ranjan, Joint Commissioner (crime). During interrogation,
Babla told that he was in touch with former KCF 'chief' Jagtar
Singh Hawara and some other militants of Punjab in order to revive
the terror group. Police say that Babla and his associates have
been targeting shops and ATMs in Delhi and Punjab in order to
save money for terror operations.
A joint squad of District Force
and CRPF’s 195th Battalion arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres from
an area under Katekalyan Police Station in Dantewada District
of Chhattisgarh. The arrestees were identified as Hando
Mandavi son of Budhram Mandavi and Kosa Mandavi son of Deva, both
native of Metapal village. Maoists were carrying cash reward of
INR 100,000 each.
A group of CPI-Maoist cadres killed
a para-teacher, identified as Charku Yadav alias Sandip
Yadav (30), at Jori village in Gumla District of Jharkhand.
CPI-Maoist cadres also left a pamphlet which labelled Yadav as
‘Police informer’ and accused Police of giving patronage to JJMP.
JJMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. The pamphlets also
decried Operation Green Hunt - an anti-Naxal drive that
has been stopped long back - and urged the masses to support the
Naxals in fighting Police oppression. They claimed that
CPI-Maoist and their subsidiaries such as PGLA and JMP now stood
united.
Ranchi Police arrested Ganesh
Shankar alias Ganesh Kumar, a self-styled ‘commander’ of
PLFI in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group
of the CPI-Maoist. Nalanda SP, Kumar Ashish told reporters that
Ganesh, son of one Nageshar Mistri, was wanted in connection with
murders of a Jharkhand businessman and a Hilsa resident. He also
added that Ganesh has over 12 criminal cases of heinous nature
registered against him with different Police Stations in Nalanda,
Bakhtiarpur in Patna District and Barhi in Hazaribagh District
of neighbouring State, Jharkhand.
District Police arrested three
CPI-Maoist sympathisers and recovered explosives from their possession
at Charla forest region in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana.
Accused were identified as Mohan of Mahbubabad, Gunji Vikram and
Sode Deva from Chhattisgarh. It is learnt that the arrested persons
took INR 80,000 from the CPI-Maoist cadres to bring explosives
from Yampuram market in Chhattisgarh.
|
March 21 |
The discovery of some handwritten
letters with IS initials, hailing Pakistan and threatening destruction
in eastern Uttar Pradesh has prompted police to beef up security
in the area. The anonymous handwritten letters were found by the
roadside in Mirzamurad Police Station area. "A case has been
registered against unidentified persons after nearly 5-6 handwritten
letters were recovered on which Pakistan Zindabad slogans and
IS initials were scribbled along with threats given for carrying
out destruction in Purvanchal," SP (rural) Ashish Tiwari
said. An alert has been issued and Intelligence agencies are also
probing the matter. "24/3/17 Ko Purvanchal Mein Tabahi. Bacha
Sakte Ho to Bacha Lo (There will be destruction in Purvanchal.
Save it if you can)," said the letter.
Asserting that terrorism continues
to be the single most significant threat to their stability, India
and six other countries in the region on March 21, decided to
take concrete measures to enhance cooperation and coordination
among their intelligence and security agencies. It was agreed
upon during the first meeting of national security chiefs of BIMSTEC,
which has India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan
and Nepal as members. The meeting decided to establish a Track
1.5 BIMSTEC Security Dialogue Forum among the strategic community,
a MEA release said.
"Given that terrorism continues
to remain the single most significant threat to peace and stability
in the Bay of Bengal region, the meeting recognised the need for
urgent measures to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism,
violent extremism and radicalisation...And decided to take concrete
measures to enhance cooperation and coordination among their law
enforcement, intelligence and security organisations and enhance
capacity building," it said.
Noting that BIMSTEC member states
face common security challenges, the participants underlined the
necessity of addressing traditional and non-traditional security
challenges to harness economic prosperity and human security in
the region. The meeting underscored the importance of recognising
the Bay of Bengal as common security space and agreed to work
out collective strategies for common responses, the release said.
Concerned over the emerging trends in cyber space that have security
implications, the meeting decided to deepen cooperation among
the respective cyber institutions through a Joint Forum on cyber
security.
William Sangma, the wanted militant
leader of Meghalaya, who newly formed a Garo militant group named
ARA and his aide identified as Niksrang Sangma were arrested by
SFs from Bongaigaon Town in Bongaigaon District.
SFs arrested two ULFA-I militants
from Koriapani village at Jagun in Tinsukia District, near Assam-Arunachal
inter-State boundary. The arrested militants were identified as
Bitu Rajbanshi and Bitul Shimpo, Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet
Konwer said. A pistol, live ammunition and cash were seized from
their possession. "On sustained interrogation, the duo admitted
to their allegiance to ULFA-I. Rajbanshi further revealed that
he had undergone training at Kachin training camp in Myanmar,"
the officer said.
Governor of the State, P B Acharya
said that the Nagaland Government supports the ongoing dialogue
between the Government of India and NSCN-IM and would strive for
a final solution to the six-decade old Naga political issue. The
Nagaland Government has also recently constituted the ‘Political
Affairs Mission’ to spearhead the Government’s efforts in this
area, replacing the erstwhile Political Affairs Committee of the
State Government, Acharya said while addressing the budget session
of the Nagaland assembly.
Celebrating their ‘38th Republic
Day’, the ‘vice president’, ‘general (retired)’ Kholi Konyak of
NSCN-IM militant at ‘council headquarter’, Hebron in Dimapur District,
assured that the future of the Naga people is safe under the Framework
Agreement signed between the GoI and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015.
NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ and chief negotiator of the ‘Indo-Naga
Peace Talks’, Th. Muivah also delivered speech in the occasion
and asserted that integration of Naga inhabited areas and people
is very much alive and within the ambit of the Framework Agreement.
NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Thuingaleng
Muivah said that the Framework Agreement signed with the Centre
two years ago recognizes NSCN-IM’s demand for territorial integration
of all Naga- inhabited areas in the region. “NSCN had consultative
meetings with the people on talks consecutively for eight times.
The historic Framework Agreement recognizes the unique history,
identity, sovereignty and territories of the Nagas. It also recognizes
the legitimate right of the Nagas to integration of all Naga territories,”
Muivah said in his address to NSCN-IM cadres at Camp Hebron, the
group’s headquarters in Nagaland, on its’38th Republic Day’.
Two Police constables, identified
as Budra and Mansai posted at Darbha Police Station were injured
in an encounter between SFs and the CPI-Maoist cadres in Bastar
District of Chhattisgarh. Police recovered some Naxal documents,
uniform and other related materials from the spot.
Minister of State for Home Affairs,
Hansraj Ahir, informed the Lok Sabha in New Delhi that
150 per cent jump has been witnessed in the number of Naxals
killed, it is 222 in 2016 in comparison to 89 in 2015.
The Minister said the Government has approved the 'Road Connectivity
Project for LWE Affected Areas' that includes construction/ upgradation
of 5,411.81 kilometer roads and 126 bridges/cross drainage
in 44 Districts of nine LWE affected states at an estimated cost
of INR 117.24 billion. He also added, "There is no proposal
under consideration to exclude 20 districts from the list of 106
LWE affected Districts.”
The CPI-Maoist cadres killed an
abducted villager by slitting his throat and released other in
Rayagada District of Odisha. According to reports, Mali Pusika
and Mandu Pusika– two villagers of Sapalajhola under Muniguda
Police limits in the District– were abducted by the Maoists on
March 19. While Police recovered the body of Mali Pusika this
morning (March 21), Mandu Pusika was reportedly freed by the Maoists.
The DGP of Odisha KB Singh reviewed
anti-CPI-Maoist operations at the District Police headquarters
in Kalahandi District of Odisha. Singh held discussions on shortage
of Force and proposals for upgradation of the Police Stations
particularly in border areas in the District. “Today, we reviewed
the crime and naxal activities in Kalahandi where couple of incidents
has been reported recently. We have detected movement of few naxal
groups in the district and nearby areas for which we are framing
our strategy, “said Singh. He further informed that Naxals
are well under control and the process of recruitment to address
shortage of Police personnel would be completed within six months.
The District Police arrested two
suspected CPI-Maoist couriers while they were allegedly transporting
detonator fuse wires in Khammam District of Telangana. The Police
also seized 3,000 metres of fuse wire from Madivi Kosa (21) and
Madakam Kamulu (23) both residents of Bijapur District of Karnataka
had purchased the fuse wire from one Mohan for INR 40,000, on
the instructions of Haribhishan, Damodar, Azad and others and
were arrested during vehicle checking, said Charla Police. The
arrestees are allegedly members of the Pamedu LOS and were working
under their ‘commander’ Kamalakka, Police said.
A HM militant wanted for arson
and looting last year, identified as Sabzar Ahmed Mantoo, was
arrested from a house in Thakrakot area in Reasi District. According
to Police, the captured militant was associated with HM outfit
and had been involved in arson and looting incident under Police
Station DH Pora in 2016.
Ahead of by-polls, Police have
arrested at least 24 persons accused of stone-pelting in multiple
raids at Pulwama and Kulgam Districts of South Kashmir. Police
raided Murana and Kangan villages of Pulwama District during nocturnal
hours and detained at least 21 persons, mostly youths. Police
said all the detained persons were involved in stone-pelting.
Three youths were also detained from Budroo and Chawalgam villages
of neighbouring Kulgam District. The trio was detained over their
alleged involvement in stoning recent election rally of ruling
PDP that was held at Chawalgam in the District.
Deputy CM Nirmal Kumar Singh said
terrorism has no religion and the people involved in carrying
out heinous crimes against humanity need to be condemned by every
section of the society. “We should all collectively synergize
our efforts to beat the forces preaching secessionism and give
befitting reply to the anti-national forces,” he said and added
that such elements are hell bent to create disturbances in the
country and are trying hard to disturb the social fabric of the
nation.
DGP of J&K, Shesh Pal Vaid
said that certain elements trying to radicalize young minds in
the Kashmir valley wouldn’t succeed as the youth wouldn’t accept
their ideology, which was also evident from thousands of youths
turning up for the Army recruitment in Baramulla District, which
was earlier a hub of stone pelters. Vaid said that some `Wahabi
elements’ were trying to change mindset of the youth but they
have out-rightly rejected them. “The youth of Kashmir are for
peace. No one likes violence. Kashmir is the land of Sufis and
Saints, which has been inhibited by them for centuries together.
There has been no place for radicalization of the youth, who have
themselves rejected this approach and want to grow with education
and jobs,” he said.
A total of 88 Kashmiri youths
joined militancy in 2016, the highest in last six years and the
infiltration almost tripled last year as compared to 2015, said
Central Government. In written replies to two
separate questions in Lok Sabha, Minister of State
for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir shared data about Kashmiri
youths taking up arms, infiltration attempts and law and order
situation in the Valley. The data shows a steady increase in the
number of youths taking up arms in the Valley from 2014 onwards
as compared to ones between 2010 and 2013. It, however, said the
situation in Jammu and Kashmir has “improved to a large extent”
in the current year.
|
March 22 |
The NIBBUS ‘president’ Subodh
Biswas was arrested along with one of his close accomplices Subhas
Biswas from a remote village in North 24 Parganas District. Both
the accused were brought to Guwahati later in the evening by air.
Police arrested the duo for their role in allegedly inciting a
mob to attack and vandalize the AASU office in Silapathar town
of Dhemaji District in Assam.
Two persons were sentenced to
life on March 22, for the 2007 Ajmer blasts, which killed three
people and injured 15. The Special NIA Court also imposed a fine
of INR 5,000 and INR 10,000 respectively on “RSS pracharaks” Devendra
Gupta, 41, and Bhavesh Patel, 39. Judge Dinesh Gupta ruled out
a death sentence citing mitigating circumstances, including the
fact that the two had not been involved in any criminal activity
prior to the blasts; they hadn’t been shown to be a constant menace
to society; and they had been found guilty by drawing inferences
from circumstantial evidence. At the same time, the court questioned
the NIA on its clean chit to two other accused, Ramesh Gohil and
Amit, as well as “suspicious persons” such as senior RSS leader
Indresh Kumar, Pragya Singh, Rajenda Chaudhary and Jayant, stating
that it could not be done without invoking appropriate sections
of the CrPC.
FICN with a face value of more
than INR 15,00,000 has been seized along the Indian borders with
Bangladesh and Myanmar post demonetisation, Union Minister of
State for Home Kiren Rijiju told Rajya Sabha (Upper
House of Indian Parliament).
Rijiju said in a written reply
that till now FICN of the face value of INR 14,76,000 have been
seized from the Malda District while another such haul of INR
1,00,000 has been made from the Murshidabad District, both along
the Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal. He said that another INR
1,000 worth of fake notes were seized from Tamenglong District
of Manipur along the Indo-Myanmar border during the same period.
When asked whether out of the
220-km of the border area in Malda, only 150-km was fenced, Rijiju
said “Some portion of Indo-Bangladesh border in Malda district
is unfenced due to low lying or riverine areas, pending land acquisition
etc.” He also added, “The government of India has decided to plug
the gaps along the Indo-Bangladesh border by means of physical
and non-physical barriers".
The MoS for Home Affairs clarified
that surrendered militants without any criminal cases pending
against them can contest in elections. Kiren Rijiju on the issue
further informed that at least 15,314 militants have surrendered
under the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy for the northeastern
region. Altogether, 235 individuals are still undergoing rehabilitation
under the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme as of financial
year 2016-17.
Tabrez Tambe (28), a Mumbra resident
who allegedly fled to Libya to join Islamic State (IS), is currently
in custody of the Libyan army, according to sources in the security
establishment, Indian Express reports on March
22. Efforts were under way to get him back to India and bring
him to book. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has booked
him under certain sections of the UAPA. “We have managed to trace
him with the help of the Libyan authorities and he is currently
in custody of their army. Now, we are working towards bringing
him back,” said an official.
According to the sources, Tambe
was identified by Dr Ramamurthy Kosanam, a doctor from Andhra
Pradesh who was recently rescued and brought back to India from
Libya in February, 2017. Dr Kosanam had been held captive by IS
militants for around two years. He identified Tabrez as a medical
attendant in the hospital where the doctor was forced to work
by the militant group. “Upon his return, an ATS team visited him
and showed him Tabrez’s photographs. Through the photographs,
Dr Kosanam identified him and informed us that he was working
as an attendant,” said the official. After the identification,
security agencies mounted efforts to track him and subsequently
the Libyan authorities confirmed Kosanam’s claims and informed
the Indian agencies that he was in custody of their army.
The ATS probe has also revealed
that Tabrez had booked a return ticket to India to avoid suspicion.
“Tambe made a booking through an online travel portal. We interrogated
the Delhi-based representative who made the booking. The investigation
has revealed that he booked a return ticket just to show that
he intended to return to India. However, our investigation has
revealed that the plan to go to Egypt for employment was an alibi;
the real purpose was to leave India to join the IS,” said an ATS
officer, adding that the investigators were combing Tabrez’s social
media profile and questioning his friends.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
reviewed the security situation in the Northeastern States of
India and directed officials to enhance vigil along the international
borders in the region. During the hour long meeting, the Home
Minister was given a detailed presentation on the prevailing situation
in the Northeast, especially militancy in the region. Singh was
also told about the steps taken to ensure peace, especially in
Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, the four states
considered to be affected by insurgency, official sources added.
SFs arrested NDFB cadre Debojit
Basumatary from Tirap colliery, under Margherita subdivision in
Tinsukia District.
The NIBBUS ‘president’ Subodh
Biswas was arrested along with one of his close accomplices Subhas
Biswas from a remote village in North 24 Parganas District. Both
the accused were brought to Guwahati later in the evening by air.
Police arrested the duo for their role in allegedly inciting a
mob to attack and vandalize the AASU office in Silapathar town
of Dhemaji District in Assam. NIBBUS claims to be spearheading
the movement across the country for granting citizenship to Hindu
Bengalis by amending the Citizenship Act.
NSCN-IM re-elected its ‘vice chairman’
‘general’ Khole Konyak and ‘general secretary’, Thuingaleng Muivah
for another term of six years during the meeting of the NSCN-IM
council at council headquarters, Camp Hebron in Dimapur District.
NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’, Thuingaleng
Muivah stated that the NSCN-IM is for “harmonious interdependent
relationship with our neighboring peoples and nations on the basis
of mutual respect and recognition of right.”
UNLF claimed responsibility for
eliminating Ajay Kumar Shahu, whose lifeless body was recovered
from the road connecting Langol Game Village and Lamdeng Khunou
in Imphal West District on March 17. In a statement issued to
the press, the outfit said that Ajay Kumar Shahu was eliminated,
not because he was a non-Manipuri, but for pimping by running
a pan dukan (shop) at New Checkon. Detailing, the outfit
claimed that Ajay Kumar Shahu used to pimp for commercial sex
workers and hence was eliminated for using women as commercial
commodities.
One militant of KCP-N, identified
as Kshetrimayum Jiten Meitei (44), was arrested by SFs at Kakching
Bazar in Kakching District. One Chinese grenade and one pressure
bomb were recovered from the arrested militant.
Police arrested three militants
of NSCN-K, identified as Dagar Perme (30), Obang Lego (36) and
Bobel Lego (32), after an encounter at Kalapani area of Dambuk
in Lower Dibang Valley District. One automatic German made HK
33 Rifle along with one loaded magazine and 25 live rounds of
AK 47 was recovered from the arrested militants. All these three
militants were involved in several extortion cases.
The CPI-Maoist handed over the
charge to Takkedapalli Vasudeva Rao aka Asanna as the new
secretary of the east division. Asanna, the nephew of former AOBSZC
member Gopanna, led the action team that attacked CM Chandrababu
Naidu at Alipiri in Tirupati in 2003. He is known to be a mastermind
of deadly surprise attacks. Asanna also was a member of the action
team that killed former Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Madhava Reddy
while he was returning from Bhuvangiri in 2000.
An encounter took place between
SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres at Kanker District of Chhattisgarh.
However, there were no reports of causalities.
A Policeman was killed by CPI-Maoist
cadres in Bijapur District of Bastar Division in Chhattisgarh.
The incident took place at Kuprel village coming under Farsegarh
Police Station limits when the Assistant Constable Tarun Sodi
(29) had gone there for some personal work, Bijapur District SP
KL Dhruv said. A group of Maoists reached into the village and
shot Sodi before slitting his throat with a sharp edged weapon,
the SP further said.
Taking stock of loses suffered
in recent encounters in Chhattisgarh due to lack of a strong courier
system, the CPI-Maoist is seeking to spread its activities and
the outfit is planning to establish a faithful courier system
in Khammam District of Telangana. According to information, the
CPI-Maoist leadership is planning to recruit new cadres and also
recruit couriers by offering huge amounts as they cannot survive
without couriers as all materials, medicines and essential commodities
including arms are supplied by the couriers to them. It is learnt
that Maoist recruitment is ongoing near the Telangana-Chhattisgarh
border. Maoists are focusing on Guttikoyas and unemployed tribals
and luring them with their preaching.
Two CPI-Maoist operatives from
Belpahari area surrendered before the Police in West Midnapore
District of West Bengal. Maniram Sardar and Kabita Sardar were
part of the Madan Baske squad of the Maoists and had expressed
desire to shun violence and return to the mainstream of the society,
the Police said. The duos also laid down one rifle, 13 one-shutter
pistols and live cartridges. Both Maniram and Kabita were wanted
in as many as 12 cases in the District and neighbouring Jharkhand
and were accused of being involved in the murders of JMM MP, Sunil
Mahato, and Belpahari CPI-M leader Sudhir Singh Sardar, the Police
said.
Terrorist violence in Jammu and
Kashmir has declined in the aftermath of surgical strikes executed
by the Army in September 2016, the Union Government said in Parliament.
According to statistics furnished by the Government in reply to
a question in the Rajya Sabha, terrorist incidents
fell to 87 between October 1 and December 31, 2016, from 110 between
July 1 and September 30, 2016. Union Minister of State for Home
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told the House that 34 SFs were killed in
the three months prior to the surgical strikes, while 19 died
in the subsequent quarter. Civilian killings also fell from 7
to 6 in the corresponding period. According to sources, the fall
in number of terrorist incidents is largely on account of weakening
of violent protests that broke out after HM ‘commander’ Burhan
Wani was killed in an encounter in July. Law and order disturbances
peaked in the Valley state between July and September 2016, but
violence witnessed a sharp decline thereafter as the protests
died down and normalcy returned to the State.
|
March 23 |
Terror suspects Atif and
Danish were arrested in Lucknow by the NIA in connection with
the Lucknow terror operation. Sources in the NIA said the arrested
duo will be taken to Kanpur and other places in Uttar Pradesh
by the investigating agency for further investigation. Uttar Pradesh’s
ATS had earlier on March 14 handed over the Lucknow terror operation
probe to the NIA.
One senior militant belonging
to AMEF, identified as Raksim Ch Momin alias Arikam (22) surrendered
before Police and Church leaders at Williamnagar in East Garo
Hills District. The militant was a cadre of GNLA earlier and later
formed the ASAK along with another militant Reding T Sangma. He
surrendered in 2014. But he managed to escape from Police custody
and joined AMEF in 2015.
SFs of Chhattisgarh and Andhra
Pradesh found three arrow bombs used by CPI-Maoist cadres in Visakhapatnam
District of Andhra Pradesh. These bombs were planned and designed
in Visakha Agency. Arrow bombs were designed and tested in Vizag
Agency 10 years ago. These bombs are aimed in the air and not
directly at the target. The bombs are made with detonators which
blasts on hitting the target, said a senior officer involved in
the anti-Naxal operations.
Simdega District Police arrested
six PLFI cadres near village Mahuatoli under Parba Police Station
in Simdega District of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group
of the CPI-Maoist. Police recovered two 7.62 mm bolt action
rifles, several rounds of ammunition, three mobile phones and
other paraphernalia from the operatives. The six men arrested
included; ‘area commander’ Sachin Topno, Dubraj Topno, Ram Topno,
Nitmohan Kongari, Ramesh Surin and Simone Kongari. The six were
residents of Kamdara in Gumla District of Jharkhand.
The Central Committee of the CPI-Maoist,
called a 24-hour countrywide bandh on March 29, in Ranchi
District of Jharkhand, to protest the life imprisonment of CPI-Maoist
‘ideologue’ and DU Professor G.N. Saibaba and four others by Gadchiroli
District (Maharashtra) court for aiding Naxal activities.
The State Government of Odisha
has pressed the MHA for mobilisation of two more Battalions of
CAPF to strengthen anti-CPI-Maoist operations in Odisha. State
DGP K B Singh informed media persons that the demand was made
to CRPF Special DG (Central Zone). At present, 16 battalions of
Central Forces have been deployed in Odisha in comparison to more
than over 100 Battalions each in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Of
the 16 battalions of Central Forces deployed in Odisha, eight
are from CRPF, while one is a CoBRA unit of the CRPF.
Militants attacked the residence
and official vehicle of Mohammad Yusuf Bhat, a MLA from Shopian
in two separate incidents, in the Shopian District. Militants
attacked the residence of MLA Bhat, at Memander in the District.
Police said that militants fired several rounds at the residence
of Bhat at Memander and the security guards deployed there retaliated.
However, no one was injured in the attack. Earlier in the day,
militants fired on his official bullet proof vehicle at Hajipora
in Shopian. Several rounds of fire hit a Police bullet proof vehicles
and his ambassador car. However, the MLA was not in his car at
the time of attack. Police fired back but militants escaped.
SFs cordoned off Moshward village
in Keller area of Shopian District, after inputs about the presence
of three militants. However, the operation was later called off
after no militants were found in the village.
|
March 24 |
AR arrested one militants of NSCN-K,
identified as Narang Hakum (34) from Malo Pahar of Ledo in Tinsukia
District. One 9 mm pistol and two live rounds of ammunition were
recovered from the arrested militant. The militant was involved
in extortions.
Three militants of NSCN-IM, identified
as Ato Rengma, Ating Muisao and Hotobi Rengma were arrested by
CRPF while conducting a routine check of a passenger vehicle plying
to and fro between Dimapur and Golaghat Districts. Nine bullets
of 12-bore rifle, many pairs of camouflage outfits and substantial
incriminatory documents were also recovered from the militants.
In the primary investigation it was revealed that the trio was
bound for Jangfai, a remote Rengma Naga village in the hills of
Karbi Anglong District. The arrest hint at a possible bid by Naga
rebels to establish control in Rengma Naga-dominated areas of
Karbi Anglong Hill District of Assam which had earlier in December
2013 witnessed a series of bloody turf battles between the KPLT
and RNHPF for territorial control and major share of the extortion
pie.
In a statement, the ULFA-I criticised
the Assam Government for spending INR 0.14 billion to organise
the five-day Namami Brahmaputra Festival, beginning on March 31.
In the statement, militant group express its suspicions that organising
Namami Brahmaputra on the lines of Namami Gange programme ‘could
be a prelude’ to linking the Brahmaputra with the Ganges and it
‘vowed’ to oppose linking of any river of Assam with any river
outside the State.
Following the raging controversy
over NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Thuingaleng Muivah’s sensational
declaration on territorial integration of all Naga-inhabited areas
in the Northeast on March 21, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, clarified
that no discussion has taken place with the Central Government
of India regarding the demand of Nagalim. Reacting on Muivah’s
statement, the AASU ‘president’ Dipanka Kumar Nath and ‘general
secretary’ Lurinjyoti Gogoi, in a statement warned that nobody
can take one inch of Assam’s land. The AASU also sent a letter
seeking clarification on whether the Framework Agreement contains
parts of Assam for the proposed Nagalim to PM Narendra Modi and
CM Sarbananda Sonowal.
Following the sensational declaration
on territorial integration of all Naga-inhabited areas in the
Northeast on March 21 by ‘general secretary’ Th Muivah of NSCN-IM,
confusion and anxiety raised among the masses in the State. Referring
the statement on the Framework Agreement, the Manipur Congress
demanded an unambiguous clarification from the Central Government
India as well as the State Government.
The Chhattisgarh High Court at
Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh rejected the bail application
of the seven activists from Telangana, who were arrested by the
Chhattisgarh Police in Sukma District in December 2016. They were
charged of carrying CPI-Maoist literature and banned currency.
They were booked under Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act.
Police arrested two CPI-Maoist
cadres, wanted in about a dozen cases, Rohtas District of Bihar.
Police also recovered two country-made rifles, detonators and
live cartridges from their possession.
Three cadres of the TPC, a splinter
group of the CPI-Maoist, were killed after an internecine clash
at Seeta Chuan under Mohammadganj Police Station in Palamau District
of Jharkhand. One of the killed TPC cadre was identified as, ‘zonal
commander’ Ajay Yadav, who has a reward of INR 500,000 on his
head. Yadav was involved in the Kala Pahad IED blast case in which
seven Police personnel were killed in Palamu on January 27, 2016.
The other two killed were identified as ‘area commanders’ Krishna
Kharwar and Ravindra Mahto. Police also recovered one AK-47 rifle,
one INSAS rifle, one semi automatic rifle, one 303 rifle and one
0.315 bore gun along with 630 live bullets, 23 magazines, 11 cell
phones, several IEDs ,50 meter of Codex wire, flash and 6 back
packs. A person Uday Oraon was also arrested from the site. Palamu
Deputy DIG Vipul Shukla said, “It appears that the loss of life
is due to the inner fight.”
Police recovered cash worth INR
four million, sophisticated weapons such as AK-47, self-loading
rifle and a .315 bore rifle and over 100 cartridges from a TPC,
a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, hideout in Balumath area of
Latehar District of Jharkhand. The raid was followed by an exchange
of fire between Police and the rebels. However, there was no report
of any casualty or arrest.
In order to deny compensation
to the family of ‘Naxal’ Varghese shot dead by Police in
1970, the Kerala Government told Kerala High Court, in Kochi District
of Kerala that Varghese was a "notorious criminal" and
the conviction of former Inspector IGP, K Lakshmana, for ordering
his extra-judicial killing doesn't vindicate Varghese's character.
|
March 25 |
Claiming that the MLA from Jiribam
assembly constituency, Ashab Uddin, is a ‘non-indigenous person’
of Manipur, the DESAM announced a 17-hour Manipur bandh
(shutdown).
Police launched massive search
operation to arrest Mahendra Gogoi, a suspected linkman of the
ULFA-I, who has been serving extortion notes in Majuli Island
District for the last several weeks. Majuli Police have announced
cash award to anybody who can give specific information about
the ULFA linkman who has been collecting money in name of the
banned outfit, informed Police sources. However, Police so far
recovered several extortion pads and notes and two mobile phones,
eight chargers and list of people’s names.
A massive public protests following
the sensational declaration of NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Th
Muivah on the Greater Nagalim issue was registered in Golaghat
District. As the District has been suffering a lot of harassment
following the boundary dispute over the last few decades, the
people of the District have come out to protest the proposed inclusion
of the land of the District in Nagalim. The people here have demanded
the Centre to make public the Framework Agreement signed between
the NSCN-IM and the Central Government of India on August 3, 2015.
The UHM clarified that there was
no decision to carve out Nagalim from areas of states bordering
Nagaland. The statement comes after demands from several organisations
and political parties in Assam and Manipur that the Centre clarify
its position on the claim of the ‘general secretary’ of NSCN-IM,
Thuingaleng Muivah, over the issue of integration of Naga areas.
“Some media reports have appeared recently to the effect that
the Government of India has agreed to carve out a larger Nagaland
State by taking away the territories of the states contiguous
to Nagaland. Such reports are erroneous. It is clarified that
there is no such agreement or decision of the Government of India,”
said the UHM statement.
The AATS, during a central executive
meeting sought the creation of a separate autonomous council to
safeguard members of the Bodo-Kachari tribe living outside the
BTAD area.
SFs destroyed a solar-powered
printing press installed by the CPI-Maoist on a mountain top in
a remote forest of Madopara in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh.
The printing unit was reportedly used to publish documents, statements
and other publications of the banned organization. “During a search
operation, the forces found a small printing press set up, powered
by portable solar panels. Some printed documents and other publications
of the Maoists were traced at the location. This is the first
time that the police have found out such a setup used by Maoists,”
said a senior Police officer. Acting on a tip-off about the location
of Maoist leaders, a joint team of District Police Force and the
DRG launched a search operation and reached the area. “The rebels,
after being cornered, had opened fire on the troopers. There was
exchange of fire following which the ultras fled. The forces further
continued their movement and found the printing press unit, heavy
batteries and solar plates on the mountain”, the Police said.
Three wanted cadres, including
two women of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered before the District Police
in Malkangiri District of Odisha, citing exploitation from their
leaders and ill health as the reasons. Each of them carried a
reward of `one lakh on their heads. The trio, Malle Bedingi alias
Malle, Merry Karnem alias Divya alias Laxmi and
Deba Madkami alias Deba belonged to Kalimela LOS under
the AOBSZC of the CPI-Maoist. All three were active members of
Kalimela Area Committee under the Malkangiri division of the AOBSZC.
|
March 26 |
Two persons including a Bangladeshi
national were arrested from Samsherganj in Murshidabad District,
when they were trying to smuggle in FICN by crossing a river.
The Police have recovered FICN worth INR 5,00,000 and all the
notes were of INR 2,000 denomination. Police arrested Babu Sheikh,
who is a resident of Shibganj at Chapai Nawabganj District of
Bangladesh, and his Indian counterpart Salim Sheikh who is a resident
of Baishnabgarh in Malda District.
The Police suspect that Babu might
be involved in an international fake currency racket. They will
be interrogating both the accused to know about their associates
who are operating to circulate fake currency in India. The Police
feel that Babu is also involved in terror activities. The reason
being that the circulation of fake currency is a task which members
of terror outfits take up to earn money. The police are trying
to know whether Babu is in any way linked with terror outfits
like JMB.
Officials from the MEA have allegedly
established contact with Mumbra’s alleged IS recruit Tabrez Tambe
(28), who left the country in September, 2016 to join the terror
outfit’s fighters in Libya. The MEA allegedly asked Tambe, who
is wanted in a case, registered by the Maharashtra ATS under the
anti–terror UAPA last December, to return to India and face the
probe.
Sources from the ATS said that
MEA officials spoke to Tambe on the telephone on “encrypted channels”.
“We traced Tabrez through sources and later made MEA officers
talk to him two weeks ago on encrypted channels,” said an ATS
source. After contacting Tambe, the ATS shared the contact details
with the MEA. Sources from the MEA were tight-lipped about the
exact details of the encrypted conversations with Tambe as the
process is still underway. The MEA has begun approaching the various
power centres in Libya to facilitate Tambe’s return. He is allegedly
under the custody of Libyan authorities.
A tensed situation prevailed over
disputed land in Nagaland-Assam border (Dimapur and Karbi Anglong
District areas) over the allegation of intrusion of Assam Police
in Rilan village. The villagers alleged that over 30 armed Assam
Police personnel including forest guards had come inside the village
and destroyed boundary fences and plantations. They also claimed
that while leaving the village Assam Police fired some blank shots
in the air. The Nagaland Police reached the place soon after Assam
Police left the site.
Reacting on the claim of greater
Nagalim by the ‘general secretary’ of NSCN-IM, Th Muivah, the
CM of the State, Nongthombam Biren Singh said that the territorial
integrity of Manipur will be protected at any cost.
The 17-hour State wide strike
called by DESAM to protest the induction of independent MLA, Ashab
Uddin, as parliamentary secretary partially affected normal life
in the State capital.
The PREPAK militant, celebrated
their ‘37th Red Army Raising Day’ at different undisclosed places
with different communities. The militant group announced about
their celebration in a press release to media houses.
UHM Rajnath Singh reviewed the
security situation in Assam along with CM Sarbananda Sonowal and
top officials of both Central and State Governments. During the
meeting, Rajnath Singh was briefed about the steps taken to check
violence perpetrated by the militants, ongoing process of preparing
the NRC and security along the Indo-Bangladesh border, besides
other. Singh directed that action should be taken against those
who continue to indulge in violence, official sources said. Further,
the Minister expressed hope that the work on NRC would be completed
at the earliest without anomalies.
Two Naxals of JJMM were
arrested from Dega Degi riverside, under McCluskieganj Police
Station area in Ranchi District of Jharkhand. JJMM is a splinter
group of the CPI-Maoist.
A PLFI cadre and cousin of late
PLFI ‘Commander’ Mahadeo Munda, Shankar Munda was arrested from
Charam Bartoli under Khunti Police Station area in Khunti District
of Jharkhand. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
District Police recovered a bagful
of Naxal literature from Daltonganj in Palamu District
of Jharkhand. The SP of Palamu, Indrajeet Mahatha told
reporters that Naxals have set up Gram Kranti Committee
and there is a huge list of villagers drawn from many places.
Mahatha said the documents showed how deep is the inroads of the
Maoists in zameen vivad which used to be settled on caste
line more than on another consideration like possessing of land
etc.
CM Raghubar Das reiterated the
stand of the Government and extended a fresh appeal to the Naxals
active in Jharkhand to shun violence and join the mainstream in
Nagar Untari of Garhwa District of Jharkhand.
Two militants of the HM were killed
in an encounter with SFs in Awantipora area of Pulwama District,
after they fired at the vehicle of a Police officer. A Police
officer said that ASP Pulwama, Chandan Kohli, was on his way from
Pulwama to Anantnag in a car along with two PSOs when a group
of militants coming from opposite directions in another car fired
at the bullet proof vehicle of the ASP near Padgampora village
leading to an exchange of fire in which two militants were killed
on the spot while two of the militants fled from the spot leaving
behind the car. The slain militants have been identified as Shahbaz
Shafi Wani alias Rayees Kachroo, resident of
Beloo Rajpora of Pulwama and Farooq Ahmad Hurrah, resident of
Nazneenpora of Shopian. “Both of them belonged to Hizb ul Mujahideen.
The dead bodies have been handed over to the legal heirs for last
rites”, the Police officer said. One AK rifle, one SLR, one AK
magazine, 2 SLR Magazines, 2 pouches and a grenade was recovered
from the spot. The car in which militants were travelling was
also seized by the Police. IGP Kashmir, SMJ Gillani said, “An
AK-47 rifle and one SLR were recovered from them. Interestingly,
the SLR weapon was snatched from a minority picket in the month
of October”.
Soon after the encounter clashes
broke out between SFs and stone throwing protesters at Beloo,
Padgampora, Awantipora and Pulwama. SFs fired tear smoke to disperse
the protesters. And this morning (March 27) 1-RR of army and Kulgam
Police launched a cordon and search operation at Gretbal Qaimoh
area of Kulgam District. One SLR, three magazines and 132 rounds
of SLR ammunition were recovered during the searches.
Militants snatched five SLRs from
the security guards at the ancestral house of Minister of State,
Syed Farooq Indrabi, in Dooru area of Anantnag District. A Police
officer said that at least 13 militants including their OGWs attacked
the ancestral residence of Minister of State for Industries and
Commerce, Hajj and Auqaf and Power Development Department, Syed
Farooq Indrabi, at Shestargam in Dooru area of Anantnag District.
One of the security guards, Gulzar Ahmad, of the Minister was
injured in the attack.
Police arrested two more suspects
– one from Ban Toll Plaza at Nagrota and another from Shopian
taking total number of arrests in AK-47 rifle snatching of Police
constable to three, while the main accused remained at large along
with the rifle. IGP, Jammu Zone, SD Singh Jamwal told that one
of the suspects was arrested this morning when he was trying to
flee to Kashmir while another one was captured from Shopian. “We
are on the job to nab the main accused, who is absconding with
AK-47 rifle of police constable,’’ Jamwal said, adding a high
alert is being maintained throughout the region to nab the accused
and recover the snatched weapon,’’ Jamwal, who was monitoring
the search operation, said.
Reliable sources told that Shahid
Ahmad, a resident of Memander in Shopian was arrested by the Police
from Ban Toll Plaza at Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway
this morning (March 26), when he was fleeing from Jammu in a Tavera
taxi car to Kashmir. Another accused Mohammad Asif, resident of
Shopian has been arrested by the Police from Shopian on a tip
off given by Jammu Police to their counterparts in Shopian. The
main accused Amir Hussain, resident of Hallpora, Ratnipora of
Shopian is absconding along with AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds. Fourth
accused Masrool Ahmed, resident of Ratnipora in Shopian was arrested
from the spot yesterday (March 25). Two motor-cycles have also
been seized from the accused.
|
March 27 |
The SOG of Bhavnagar Police arrested
two persons from Atabhai Chowk in Rajkot city along with FICN145
of INR 1,000 denomination.The arrested accused were identified
as Ashish Agrawal, 26, a resident of Devki Nandan Apartment near
Atabhai Chowk and Abdul Rashid Khursheed Sheikh, 20, a native
of Daulatabag in West Bengal. One fake note of INR 2,000 denomination
was also seized from them. H A Jadeja, Police sub-inspector, SOG
said that the duo were probably trying to pass off the fake notes
to someone for commission as RBI is accepting the invalid INR
500 and INR 1,000 notes till March 31, 2017. Agrawal, who is also
a native of West Bengal, is engaged in gas welding work at the
Alang ship breaking yard.
Two of the three men arrested
from Madhya Pradesh within hours of an explosion on board the
Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train on March 7 have told the NIA that
their original target was not this train but the Lucknow-Bhopal
Pushpak Express on which they travelled the previous night, Indian
Express reports on March 28. Atif Muzaffar and Syed Mir Husain
told the NIA that they travelled in the Pushpak Express on March
6 with an explosives-filled bag, but could not plant it because
of the “heavy rush” and “alert passengers”.
Official sources said Atif bought
three tickets for the Pushpak Express but throughout the journey,
they could not find a suitable spot or the right time to plant
the bomb. They got off at Bhopal railway station on March 7-morning
where Atif and Danish made a last-minute decision to place the
bomb on the passenger train that was waiting to leave for Ujjain.
“After their failure to plant the bomb on the Pushpak Express,
they got desperate. They managed to get into the last coach of
the Bhopal-Ujjain train that was about to leave the station, left
the bag filled with explosives and got off”, sources said. The
explosion left 10 persons injured.
From the question of the arrested
men, the NIA has learnt that the four Saifullah included met each
other in December 2015 and two months later, in February 2016,
they decided to form a group in the name of jihad. “They rented
a room in Lucknow where they gave themselves “code” names — Jiya
Abu Ibrahim for Atif; Jafar Abu Ismail for Danish; Ali Abu Makaiel
for Saifullah; and, Hamza Abu Waqas for Husain,” sources said.
Syed Mir Husain told his interrogators that they used the code
names while interacting with each other, and also with the intention
of hiding their original identities. “Saifullah had even made
a fake ID card in the name of Ali,” sources said.
For one year, from February 2016
to February 2017, the four travelled across the country, hoping
to cross over into Pakistan from Jammu, Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan;
or into Bangladesh, but found it was not as simple as they had
imagined.
They also went to Kozhikode in
Kerala to explore ways of “migrating to the Caliphate”. While
they did not meet with much success, they met several persons
who they thought could help them establish contact with the IS,
sources said. In July 2016, during Ramzan, Atif became the ameer
(chief) of the group and the four took the oath of allegiance
to the Islamic State.
SFs recovered an IED, planted
on the Ukhrul-Imphal road near the abandoned cement factory, at
Hundung in Ukhrul District.
SFs arrested one arms smuggler,
identified as Mohammad Najir Ali (37), from Arapti Bridge under
Lilong Police Station in Thoubal District. One 9 mm pistol was
also recovered from the arrestee.
After the new initiative of CM
Nongthombam Biren Singh, who invited the JAC-AATB to a meeting,
the Joint Action Committee continued its series of consultations
with various sections of the tribal society. Earlier, on March
24, the JAC-AATB said that they were not in a position to attend
a meeting arranged by the Manipur CM over the current agitation
in the hills, saying they were in the process of holding a series
of consultations with various sections of tribal society.
The AAPSU termed the comments
of NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Th Muivah on integration of Naga-inhabited
areas as ‘disturbing.’ The apex students’ body of the State stated
that the people would not accept any solution at their cost and
that of the land of the state.
A 24-hour bandh (shutdown)
called by the NCHIPF seeking bifurcation of the Dima Hasao District,
crippled life across the Hill District. Addressing the media in
Haflong, NCHIPF working ‘president’ S Zemi and ‘general secretary’
Vairinsingh Verte said that the bandh has been called seeking
bifurcation of the Hill district between the Dimasas and the non-Dimasa
ethnic groups.
After UHM Rajnath Singh termed
NSCN-IM ‘general secretary’ Th Muivah’s statement that New Delhi
has said “yes” to integration of Naga areas as “erroneous”, there
was no reaction from the militant group and instead it maintained
a studied silence over the Government of India’s flat response
over Muivah’s statement.
Suspected PLFI cadres killed David
Soy (20), outside his house in Gompilla under Torpa Police Station
in Khunti District of Jharkhand. The rebels suspected Soy of being
a ‘Police informer’. PLFI is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.
Suspected militants opened fire
on the house of two Policemen, who are brothers, in Shopian District.
The militants opened fire on the houses of ASI, Dilbar Ahmad and
Constable Reyaz Ahmad at Keegam in Shopian. A Police official
said the militants broke some window panes of the house and vehicle
of the Policemen before fleeing. However, no one was injured in
the attack.
SFs busted a HM militant module
in Kulgam District, and arrested eight of its members who were
tasked to carry out attacks on SFs and snatch weapons. SP of Kulgam,
Shridhar Patil, said that the District Police and Army received
a specific intelligence input on March 21 that HM militant has
constituted a module of about a dozen OGWs to carry out attacks
on SFs, Police personnel and snatch weapons. Patil said that the
module was formed by district ‘commander’ of the outfit Altaf
Dar alias Al-Kachroo and Towseef Sheikh
alias
Mossad. “We registered a case on the basis of this information
and during the investigations, it came to the fore that Zubar
Ahmad Badar, a resident of Nai-Basti in Qoimoh area of the district
was the main king-pin of this module and he was subsequently arrested
along with one of his associates”, he said. The SP said that during
further course of questioning, it became evident that leader of
this module and other members were having large quantity of arms/ammunition
for conduct of subversive activities.
|
March 28 |
No ‘high quality’ FICN have been
recovered post demonetisation, although some scanned/photocopied
notes were seized by BSF and NIA at the Indo-Bangladesh border,
Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal stated. He
also said the government has been taking a host of steps, including
setting up of a special cell in the UMHA to deal with the menace
of FICN.
In a written reply to the
Rajya
Sabha
(Upper House of Indian Parliament) Meghwal said:
“No high quality FICN has been recovered post demonetisation.”
The government had scrapped old currency of INR 500 and INR 1,000
on November 8, 2016 and replaced them with new INR 500 and INR
2,000 notes. As regards seizure of FICN of 2,000 denomination
by BSF and NIA on the Indo-Bangladesh border, Meghwal said: “The
forensic lab had reported the use of stamp paper in printing these
notes. These notes have been scanned/photocopied. Examination
of the specific parameters reveals that the notes are of low quality.”
The government on its part, he
added, has taken various measures to combat terror funding and
check smuggling and circulation of fake notes. These initiatives
including setting up of a special CFT cell in the UMHA of coordinate
with the central intelligence/enforcement agencies and state law
| |