INDIA
PAKISTAN
NEPAL
BHUTAN
BANGLADESH
SRI LANKA
Terrorism Update
Latest
S.A.Overview
Publication
Show/Hide Search
HomePrint
 
  Click to Enlarge
   

SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 12, No. 33, February 17, 2014

Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the
South Asia Terrorism Portal


ASSESSMENT

PAKISTAN
Click for PrintPrint

KP: Rising Graph of Violence
Tushar Ranjan Mohanty
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

At least 13 persons were killed and another 19 were injured when three back-to-back grenade explosions occurred inside the Shama Cinema in the Bacha Khan Chowk area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on February 11, 2013. Around 80 people were in the cinema hall at the time of the explosions. The cinema owner had received threatening letters from terrorists about a possible attack, the Police said.

In a similar incident on February 2, 2013, unidentified assailants hurled two grenades at Picture House Cinema in the Kabuli Bazaar area of Peshawar, killing at least five persons and injuring 30. The Picture House Cinema had been attacked earlier as well, on July 13, 2012, when unidentified assailants had hurled a grenade at the Cinema Hall, injuring at least eight persons. Though no one has taken responsibility for these attacks, they are usually blamed on Islamist extremists who claim that music and films are "un-Islamic".

Following the recent attacks, the KP Home Department has directed cinema hall owners to install CCTV cameras and metal and explosive detectors, and to deploy uniformed and plain-clothed Security Force (SF) personnel. There would also be a complete ban on parking vehicles within the premises of the cinema houses.

Meanwhile, reversing the declining trend in terrorism-related fatalities in KP since 2010, year 2013 recorded a rise in killings. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), KP saw at least 936 fatalities, including 603 civilians, 172 SF personnel and 161 militants, in 210 incidents of killing in 2013, as compared 656 fatalities, including 363 civilians, 195 militants and 98 SF personnel, in 170 such incidents, in 2012. [Since media access is heavily restricted in the most disturbed areas of Pakistan, and there is only fitful release of information by Government agencies, the actual figures could be much higher.] The first 47 days of 2014 have already witnessed 156 killings, including 103 civilians, 42 SF personnel and 12 militants, in 48 incidents of killing. In the worst attack of the current year, 26 soldiers were killed and another 24 were injured in a targeted bomb blast on a military convoy in the Bannu Town (Bannu District) on January 19. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 'spokesman' Shahidullah Shahid claiming responsibility, said, "It was part of our fight against a secular system. We will carry out more such attacks in future."

Fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 2005-2014*

Years

Civilians
SFs
Militants
Total

2005

2
0
2
4

2006

60
13
27
100

2007

393
221
372
986

2008

868
255
1078
2201

2009

1229
471
3797
5497

2010

607
96
509
1212

2011

511
331
364
1206

2012

363
98
195
656

2013

603
172
161
936

2014

103
42
12
157

Total

4739
1699
6517
12955
Source: SATP, *Data till February 16, 2014

While fatalities among terrorists in 2013 declined by 17.43 per cent, as compared to the preceding year, the number of fatalities among SFs increased by 75.51 per cent, over the same period. Indeed, this is the first time since 2005 that a greater number of SF personnel has been killed as compared to terrorists during the course of a year. The number of terrorists killed in 2013 was the lowest since 2006, when just 27 were killed. Evidently, there is an operational paralysis in the SFs, working under Governments that are unwilling to antagonise the Islamist extremists.

Inevitably, SF inaction has contributed to rising fatalities among civilians, who face the brunt of terrorist violence in KP, as in the rest of the country. Civilian fatalities, which had been declining since the peak of 2009, when 1,229 civilians were killed, increased by a disturbing 66.11 per cent between 2012 and 2013, from 363 deaths to 603 fatalities, respectively.

A significant proportion of the civilians were targeted in sectarian violence. There were 10 sectarian attacks, resulting in 58 deaths and 46 injuries, in 2012. 2013 recorded nine such incidents accounting for 51 deaths and 86 injuries.

The worsening security scenario also saw several high profile political killings through 2013. The then KP Law Minister, Israrullah Gandapur, was killed with 10 others in a suicide attack at a festive gathering at his residence in the Kolachi area of Dera Ismail Khan District, on October 16, 2013. Imran Mohmand, an independent Member of the Provincial Assembly from Shergarh town of Mardan District, was killed along with 35 others, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a funeral prayer in the Shah Zaman Qala village area of Shergarh town, on June 18, 2013.

Other parameters of violence also rose significantly. The province accounted for 65 major incidents of violence (each involving three or more fatalities) resulting in 694 deaths in 2013, as against 57 such incidents accounting for 434 fatalities in 2012. In the worst attack during the year, at least 85 persons were killed and another 145 were injured in an explosion at the All Saints Church near Qissa Khawani bazaar in Peshawar on September 22, 2013.

Further, while the number of suicide attacks remained the same, at 21, in 2012 and 2013, the resulting fatalities increased considerably, from 140 to 350. The deadliest suicide attack of 2013 was the All Saints Church atrocity of September 22.

Though there was a marginal decrease in the number of explosions, from 222 in 2012 to 189 in 2013, the resultant fatalities increased significantly, from 268 to 598. Moreover, the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) managed to foil at least 22 explosions by recovering and diffusing explosive devices. Despite meagre resources and staff, KP's BDU saved thousands of innocent lives by recovering and defusing over 5,000 bombs in the last four and a half years in KP and FATA, according to a statement by BDU Assistant Inspector General Shafqat Malik, on April 12, 2013.

Polio teams remained under attack in the Province, especially in Peshawar District, though heavy Police security was provided to the volunteers. 20 such attacks resulting in 19 deaths (11 SF personnel and eight polio workers) were reported during 2013, as compared to four such attacks accounting for seven deaths (all polio worker) in 2012. On October 5, 2013, the KP Government decided to engage the Army to protect polio workers in five union councils of Peshawar. The terrorists responded by killing seven persons, including four Policemen, and injuring another eight in an attack targeting a function called to distribute anti-polio material among the anti polio teams in the Suleman Khel area of the Union Council of Bazidkhel in the Badhaber area of Peshawar, on October 7, 2013.

All 25 Districts of KP were variously affected by terrorism, but Peshawar, was the worst, recording at least 174 terrorist incidents, resulting in 382 fatalities through 2013, as compared to at least 131 incidents accounting for 231 killings in 2012. Peshawar recorded eight suicide attacks resulting in 145 deaths and 319 injuries, in 2013; as against 10 such incidents with 86 fatalities and 169 injuries in 2012. 73 incidents of explosion were reported in Peshawar in 2013, as compared to 75 in 2012. Fatalities in such explosions stood at 300 in 2013 as against 145 in the preceding year.

Confirming the escalation of terror across the Province, then KP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain admitted on January 5, 2013,
The strength of militants has increased so alarmingly that now they can reach anywhere they want, to carry out their activities. The time has come to take the final decision on whether to hold dialogue with militants or to begin a meaningful operation against them.

Ominous sign, the TTP, the most lethal terrorist formation within Pakistan, is now led by Maulana Fazlullah who belongs to the Swat District of KP, the region which, prior to the 2007-2009 operations, was believed to be the ‘heartland’ of domestic terrorism. His ‘deputy’ Khalid Haqqani is from Swabi District in KP. This is for the first time that the outfit is headed by leaders from KP; earlier TTP leaders – Baitullah and Hakimullah – belonged to the adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region.

In a daring attack on July 29, 2013, TTP had terrorists stormed the Central Prison at Dera Ismail Khan, KP, and freed some 253 prisoners, including 45 top terrorists. 24 persons, including 12 Policemen, five terrorists, four prisoners, and three civilians, were killed in the attack and the counter attack by SFs. Claiming responsibility for the attack, TTP’s ‘central spokesman’ Shahidullah Shahid declared, “Some 150 Taliban, including 60 suicide bombers, attacked the Central Prison and managed to free about 300 prisoners. They were looking in particular for two ‘commanders’ – Sufi Mohammad and Shaikh Abdul Hakim. The TTP has achieved its targets and their operation was successful.” An unnamed senior Police official in Dera Ismail Khan disclosed, on August 13, 2013, that 65 prisoners had either returned or had been re-arrested and moved back to the prison. The fate of remaining prisoners is not known.

Indeed, the appointment of Fazlullah and the freeing of Sufi Mohammad and Shaikh Abdul Hakim are two events that are bound to impact adversely on the security situation in the Province.

On March 18, 2013, the new KP Government announced a few tentative measures to confront the rising menace of Islamist terrorism, including the setting up of a Strategy and Analysis Wing (SAW) to coordinate efforts at combating crime and terrorism, analysing data and making use of digital and internet data to these ends. Headed by the Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary, Azam Khan, the SAW hierarchy includes a media analyst, a prosecution analyst, crime analyst, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist, a database supervisor and 'data friskers'. On September 11, 2013, the KP Assembly had passed a Bill to regulate explosives in the Province. According to the new law, those found guilty of illegally manufacturing explosives would be fined up to PKR 15 million (USD 143,000) while those transporting illegal explosive would face an PKR 1.25 million (USD 12,000) penalty. The law also makes the illegal possession of explosives punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years.

These initiatives overwhelmingly represent a reluctant symbolism, rather than any clear determination to confront the Islamist extremists. Indeed, the Imran Khan led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in alliance with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) - which formed the Government in the Province under the Chief Ministership of Pervez Khattak on May 31, 2013, replacing the ANP led Government of Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti - came to power on a platform that is deeply sympathetic to the Islamist extremist ideology. The stated position of the new Government on the TTP and other Islamist terrorist formations, according to Chief Minister Khattak's declaration of January 26, 2014, is that military operations against the terrorist would be opposed. This, indeed, was only a further reiteration of the position that Imran Khan and other party leaders, both of the PTI and the JI, had defined well before the elections that brought them to power. Given a comparable ambivalence in Islamabad, under the present leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the general reluctance of the Army to initiate any resolute campaign to challenge the increasing sway of the terrorists, it is unlikely that any of fitful measures could impact significantly on the rising graph of terrorist violence in KP. 

INDIA
Click for PrintPrint

Manipur: Tentative Calm
Veronica Khangchian
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

On February 8, 2014, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), an active component group of the Coordination Committee (CorCom) of six Imphal Valley-based militant outfits, killed an Assam Rifles (AR) trooper and injured three others, near the Nambasi village under the Chasad Police Station in Ukhrul District. The AR personnel were on a road opening patrol when the militants detonated a powerful bomb.

Republic Day (January 26, 2013) celebrations in Manipur were also marred by four bomb blasts amidst high security measures, after CorCom called for a boycott. However, no one was injured in the explosions. The first bomb exploded near the deputy commissioner’s office in the eastern part of Imphal, which is also close to the official residence of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. CorCom, while claiming responsibility for the blasts declared in a Press Statement, that that the series of blast was executed as part of the collective call by several outfits of the “Western Southeast Asia” (Northeast India) region against Republic Day celebrations.

Earlier, on October 7, 2013, CorCom and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) had also jointly called an 18 hour general strike in Manipur and Twipra (Tripura), with effect from October 14 midnight till 6 pm of October 15, to protest against the 'forceful merger agreements' of October 15, 1949, by which Manipur and Tripura was merged into the Indian Union.

Despite a dramatic decline in fatalities in the State in 2013, it is evident that the militants continue to execute attacks at will. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) database, total fatalities, at 110 [25 civilians, 12 Security Forces-SFs, 73 militants] in 2012, reduced to just half, at 55, in 2013 with 21 civilians, six SFs and 28 militants killed in 10 incidents. 2013 recorded 76 incidents of bomb blast, in which 24 people were killed and 103 were injured; 107 incidents of explosion had been recorded in 2012, though the total fatalities were nine, and 90 persons were injured. Of the 107 blasts in 2012, Corcom was responsible for 33; 28 of the 76 incidents in 2013 were attributed to CorCom. 2013 data also demonstrates a sharp lethality of bomb attacks, despite their reduction in frequency.

Militant fatalities registered a sharp decline in 2013, with 28 killed, as against 73 in 2012. There were 13 incidents of encounters between militants and SFs, resulting in 15 militant fatalities, in 2013, while 2012 registered a total of 33 encounters, in which 48 militants were killed. There were no SFs fatalities in these encounters.

Fratricidal clashes between Naga militants also declined in frequency. There were at least 10 clashes between the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) – at times a combined force of ZUF and Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland–Khaplang (NSCN-K) – and the NSCN-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), which resulted in 25 fatalities in 2012. There were just seven such incidents and nine fatalities through 2013. In one major incident, on November 12, 2013, three ZUF militants were killed and one NSCN-IM cadre was injured, in a fierce five-hour gun-battle between NSCN-IM and ZUF cadres near Bhalok village in Tamenglong District. The injured NSCN-IM cadre succumbed to his injuries on January 17, 2014.

According to media reports, the ‘close ties’ between PLA and the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) appear to have ruptured. On May 29, 2013, Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (Northeast) in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), observed, "The link between Maoists and Manipur's PLA has been broken long time ago due to logistical problem in Myanmar and strong presence of Security Forces along the India-Myanmar border". He added that the relationship between these two rebel outfits had disintegrated over the preceding year, after the PLA shifted their training camps to Taga in the Northern part of Myanmar. In October 2008, top CPI-Maoist leaders had met PLA leaders in Myanmar and signed a Joint Declaration for unified actions to wage war against India. Noting that the Maoists had not been able to establish themselves in the other States of the Northeast, Singh added, "They (Maoist leaders) have visited Manipur and Nagaland, but they have not been able to establish themselves." Singh also disclosed that Indian rebel groups operating from Myanmar had been facing difficulties infiltrating into India, since most of the routes had been blocked by the SFs. The Khaplang faction of the NSCN (NSCN-K) had even cautioned the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) not to move out of Myanmar, in view of the strong security presence, according to Singh. Singh, conceded, nevertheless, that there were certain areas along the international border that needed improvement: "But the overall troop deployment has improved."

In May 2012, the Myanmar Government had ordered militants operating in India’s Northeast - including Manipuri groups such as PLA and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) - to shut down their camps and training facilities and leave Myanmar.

There were at least 23 recorded incidents of abductions through 2013, resulting in 40 abductions; as against 30 registered incidents involving 46 abductions in 2012 [as a large proportion of such incidents go unreported, these are likely to be severe underestimates]. In one incident, on August 1, 2013, seven persons, including two engineers from Kolkata, were abducted by Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) militants from Imphal East District. The other five included two senior engineers of the Manipur Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD), two drivers of the department and a local contractor. They were all released by the abductors on August 4, 2013. According to the abductees, the abductors told the hostages that they had been abducted because the IFCD always turned down their “requests.” The hostages denied any knowledge of ransom being paid. Engineers of the department also denied a financial exchange. No arrests were made.

Only 14 incidents of extortion were recorded in 2013, as against 35 in 2012 [once again, this is a severely under-reported crime]. In one incident, on November 4, 2013, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) seized INR 11.4 million in cash from a Bangalore businessman. According to investigators, the money belonged to the Manipur-based PREPAK and United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK). During questioning, the agency learnt that PREPAK-UPPK had raised the money through extortion and that its ‘general secretary’ N. Shanti Meitei gave the money for relocation to his childhood friend, who is a real estate developer based in Bangalore. The NIA refused to share the name of the businessman and said that his statement had been recorded before a magistrate.

At least 273 militants surrendered in 2013, as against 303 in 2012. In the most significant incident of the year, on September 9, 2013, 149 cadres belonging to three different underground organisations laid down arms and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Government. The groups that laid down arms included 44 cadres of the Nongdrenkhomba faction of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-Nongdrenkhomba), 50 of the Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) and 55 of the Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF).

368 militants were arrested through 2013, as compared to 609 in 2012. Arrested militants prominently included 50 of the PLA; 46, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL); 34, PREPAK; 30, Progressive faction of PREPAK (PREPAK-Pro); 20, United Nation Liberation Front (UNLF); 19, KCP-Military Council (KCP-MC); 13, KCP; nine, ZUF; and five, NSCN-K.

Worryingly, the year recorded seven incidents of attacks on non-locals, resulting in 12 fatalities and 39 persons injured, as against no such attack through 2012. In the worst attack, on September 13, 2013, at least nine migrant labourers from Assam were killed and another 11 were injured in an explosion inside a working shed located on the slab cover put up over Naga Nullah (drain) at Nagamapal in Imphal West District. While five persons died on the spot, four succumbed to their injuries later. The year also saw an intensive campaign against ‘illegal migrants’ in the State by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), a umbrella body of several Hill and Valley based civil organizations demanding introduction of the ILP system in the State. During the recent communal unrest in Myanmar, sources claim that an estimated 4,200 Rohingya Muslims affected by the unrest allegedly intruded to India illegally through Bangladesh, and that at least 400 of them entered Manipur.

2013 also saw the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) renewing its demand for the creation of a separate ‘Kuki State’, an area covering around 65 per cent of the whole territory of Manipur, spread over five Hill Districts: Churachandpur, Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.  On October 17, 2013, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella body of Kuki militant formations, also reiterated its demand for a separate Kuki State carved out of Manipur's territory. Moreover, on September 13, 2013, a large number of people from the Kuki community gathered at the Brigadier Thomas Ground in the Kangpokpi area of Senapati District, to observe 'Kuki Black Day', commemorating the death of over 900 Kukis in the Naga-Kuki clashes of the early nineties. Haojakhup Lupheng, the Vice-President of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM - an apex body of the Kukis), complained that, instead of taking action against the NSCN-IM, the Government has started dialogue with them. He demanded that the Government should deliver justice to the victims first, before reaching any agreement with the NSCN-IM. A SoO between the Government and the two umbrella organizations of Kuki outfits, KNO and the United Peoples Front (UPF) has also been extended for another one year, with effect from August 30, 2013, at a tripartite meeting held at New Delhi. 

Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC) held its seventh tripartite talk and first round of political level talks in Senapati District on February 6, 2014, focusing on its primary agenda for alternative arrangements for the Nagas in Manipur, outside the State Government, and pending a final settlement to the ongoing negotiations between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India. Paul Leo, Chairman of the Committee for Alternative Arrangements stated that the upgradation of the talks to the political level was a positive development, as the issue was directly discussed at this level. Meanwhile, KIM noted that the outcome of UNC’s tripartite talk at Senapati, in whatever form, would not be accepted by the Kukis, since the objective behind the talks is purely for the disintegration of Manipur, as well as for the disturbance of peace and tranquility among the major ethnic tribes of the State.

Significantly, on August 15, 2013, Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh had declared that his Government was committed to the protection of the State's territorial integrity. Any attempt to disintegrate the State in the form of 'Alternative Arrangements' or Kuki Statehood was impossible and not permissible, the Chief Minister asserted. Also, on December 8, 2013, the Union Home Ministry's Joint Secretary (North East), Shambhu Singh, had observed that it is still uncertain when the vexed Naga issue could be resolved and that, currently, nothing was certain on what the outcome of the ongoing peace talks with the NSCN-IM would be. Admitting that the dialogue with the Isak-Muivah led faction of the Naga rebel group had not seen any concrete progress, the Joint Secretary disclosed that the outfit had submitted its charter of demands in July 2011, after abandoning the demands for sovereignty, unification of Naga areas and Nagalim (Greater Nagaland). He noted that, the involvement and consent of the Governments of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland was necessary, regarding the NSCN-IM's demands, the Centre is yet to give any reply to the Naga rebel group.

The year also saw the merger of two Naga outfits, the Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF) and United Naga People’s Council (UNPC), to form a new group, the Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF). In a recent incident, the MNPF carried out a bomb attack on December 20, 2013, at the residence of NSCN-IM's ‘town commander’, Newmai Liangmei, at Bulen Colony in Senapati District.

Despite the visible slowdown of the surge of violence in Manipur, the continuous activities of the militants, the competing ethnic demands and rivalries, and the failure of the State to resolve the conflicts, continue to undermine peace in the State.


NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia
February 10-16, 2014

 

Civilians

Security Force Personnel

Terrorists/Insurgents

Total

BANGLADESH

 

Islamist Terrorism

0
0
1
1

Left-wing Extremism

0
0
1
1

Total (Bangladesh)

0
0
2
2

INDIA

 

Assam

0
0
2
2

Jammu and Kashmir

0
0
3
3

Left-wing Extremism

 

Chhattisgarh

0
0
4
4

Total (INDIA)

0
0
9
9

PAKISTAN

 

Balochistan

2
0
4
6

FATA

5
23
0
28

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

30
2
4
36

Sindh

19
13
12
44

Total (PAKISTAN)

56
38
20
114
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


INDIA

IM recruited Pakistan nationals for India operations, says report: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers claim that wanted accused Waqas Ahmed was not the only Pakistani roped by Indian Mujahideen (IM) for India operations as with most IM operative being arrested, the outfit has done a lot of recruitment of Pakistani nationals. Asadullah Akhtar, one of the planters in July 13, 2011 (13/7) Mumbai (Maharashtra) serial blasts case, has given ATS some valuable information about co-planter Waqas and IM's operation. DNA, February 13, 2014.

CPI-Maoist ranked fourth among top 10 most active non-state armed groups in 2013, says report: The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has been ranked fourth among the top ten most active non-state armed groups in 2013, according to study released this week by the IHS Jane's latest 'Global Terrorism and Insurgency Attack Index'. According to the report a total of 258 attacks were claimed by, or attributed to, the CPI-Maoist, even though this represented a 29 per cent decrease from the 362 attacks recorded in 2012. Among other insurgent groups listed in the top ten rankings are the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (Thailand, first), Taliban (second), Islami Chhatra Shibir (Bangladesh, third), al-Qaeda in Iraq (fifth), al-Shabaab (sixth), Colombia's FARC (seventh) and Syrian Jabhat al-Nusra (ninth). The Hindu, February 14, 2014; IHS Pressroom, February 14, 2014.

10 Districts are Naxal-affected, says Madhya Pradesh Home Minister: Referring to Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)]-affected Districts in the State, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur on February 9 said that a total of 10 Districts are hit by "red-sponsored terrorism" which has hampered development in these areas. "We have requested Union Home ministry to allocate INR 2 billion and two helicopters for the Naxal-affected Districts but so far the state has received only INR 700 million from the Centre in this regard", Gaur said. Times of India, February 13, 2014.

43 Urban Maoists arrested in state in last five years, says Chhattisgarh Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra: Chhattisgarh Government on February 12 said that 43 people, who were part of the urban network of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), were arrested in the State during past five years. In a written in the State Assembly, Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra informed the House that as many as 43 people, including women, were arrested from 2009 till January 20, 2013 on charges of involvement in urban channel of Maoists. However, six of them were later exonerated while cases against 37 others were pending in the court of the law. Outlook, February 14, 2014.

New militant group ASAK formed after breaking away from GNLA in Meghalaya: A group of senior Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) leaders led by former 'finance secretary' Reding T Sangma have broken away from the outfit's military 'chief' Sohan D Shira and formed their own organization christening it A'chik Songna An'pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK). On February 12, the 'commander-in-chief (C-in-C)' of the new outfit, Reding T Sangma, gave in detail the reasons for parting ways with Sohan D Shira. Shillong Times, February 14, 2014.

FICNs worth INR 1.07 billion seized in over three years, says Finance Minister P. Chidambaram: Parliament was informed on February 11 that Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) worth INR 1.07 billion have been seized in three-and-half years till June 2013. FICNs with face value of INR 236.6 million were seized in 2010, INR 314.6 million in 2011, INR 345.7 million in 2012 and INR 176.4 million until June 2013, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament). Business Standard, February 13, 2014.

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh a threat to national security, says Army Chief General Bikram Singh: Army Chief General Bikram Singh on February 11 called the infiltration matter from Bangladesh border a matter of grave concern and a threat to national security. "The problem of illegal migration in Bangladesh has led to demographic changes in the northeast. It has led to serious internal security challenges in Assam," Singh told. Times of India, February 12, 2014.


NEPAL

Sushil Koirala becomes Nepal's 37th Prime Minister: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala became Nepal's 37th Prime Minister securing more than two-thirds votes in Parliament on February 10 nearly three months after the election was held in November. His election as Prime Minister has ended nearly a year of government by a non-political technocratic council of ministers led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi and restored the country to a multi-party political course. Koirala secured 405 out of the total 553 votes cast at the parliament meeting. Altogether, 148 lawmakers voted against his candidacy. Republica, February 11, 2014.

Laxman Lal Karn elected as Chairman of Constituent Assembly Regulations Drafting Committee: The first meeting of the 49-member Constituent Assembly (CA) Regulations Drafting Committee on February 14 elected CA member Laxman Lal Karn as its Chairman. Ramesh Lekhak, one of the committee members, said the panel also passed a 10-day action plan. Himalyan Times, February 15, 2014.

Maoist parties regret split and stress re-unification: Both Maoist parties of Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) and Mohan Baidya led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) on February 13 expressed regret over their split, realizing that the change movement launched by their 'people´s war' had weekend after the separation. Commemorating the 19th 'People´s War' Day at separate functions in Kathmandu, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya stressed the need for unification of the communist parties into an alliance. The CPN-Maoist broke away from the UCPN-M in June 2012. Republica, February 14, 2014.


PAKISTAN

30 civilians and four militants among 36 persons killed during the week in KP: At least 13 persons were killed and 19 others injured when three back-to-back explosions occurred inside Shama Cinema in the Bacha Khan Chowk area of Peshawar (Peshawar District), the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on February 11.

Nine persons were killed on February 11 after unidentified assailants attacked a house by opening fire and hurling hand grenades in the Badhaber area of Peshawar.

Three suspected militants were killed in an explosion in the Bacha Khan locality of Kolachi area in Dera Ismail Khan District.

Four women were killed and three others were injured in a suicide blast near a house in the Essa Khel Garhi area of Peshawar on February 10.

Unidentified motorcyclists shot dead three school teachers in the Kach Banda area of Hangu District when they were on their way home following school duty on February 10. Daily Times; Dawn; The News; Tribune; Central Asia; The Nation; Frontier Post; Pakistan Today; Pakistan Observer, February 11-17 2014.

19 civilians and 13 SFs among 44 persons killed during the week in Sindh: At least 14 persons were killed in separate incidents of target killing and violence in Karachi on February 16.

Four persons, including a supporter of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), were killed in different parts of Karachi city (Karachi District) on February 15.

At least 13 Policemen were killed and 34 others were injured in a suicide blast targeting a bus carrying 50 Police officers near the gate of Razzakabad Police Training Center in Shah Latif Town of Karachi.

Three persons were killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi on February 11.

Five persons were killed in separate incidents of target killing and violence in Karachi on February 10. Daily Times; Dawn; The News; Tribune; Central Asia; The Nation; Frontier Post; Pakistan Today; Pakistan Observer, February 11-17 2014.

TTP kills 23 kidnapped FC personnel: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on February 16 claimed to have killed 23 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel kidnapped in June 2010 from Shoonkri Post of Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Daily Times. According to reports, the TTP Mohmand Agency 'spokesman', Omar Khurasani said that the kidnapped FC personnel were killed as revenge because the Government was continuously killing their men in different parts of the country, including Karachi, Peshawar and Swabi. He said if the Government does not stop killing the TTP supporters, they would also continue to kill Security Force personnel.

After the TTP claim, it was decided that the Government committee and TTP negotiators will not be meeting on February 17 (today). Daily Times; Tribune, February 17, 2014.

TTP has 500 female suicide bombers ready, says TTP negotiator Maulana Abdul Aziz: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sees no urgency to reach an agreement with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Government, Maulana Abdul Aziz, one of the three negotiators representing the TTP, said February 10. In an interview at his Islamabad seminary, where some 1,300 female students are studying, Aziz said, "You should know that at the moment they (TTP) have at least 400 to 500 female suicide bombers in Waziristan and other tribal areas". Aziz said the TTP is most interested in implementing Sharia (Islamic Law) in Pakistan. Pakistan Today, February 11, 2014.

Pakistan fourth most dangerous countries for journalists, says CPJ report: A report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on February 12 that at least five journalists were reported to be killed for their work in Pakistan in 2013. According to the report, Pakistan was ranked as the fourth most dangerous country, behind countries such as Syria, Iraq and Egypt in terms of journalists killed. Earlier in 2012, seven journalists were killed for their work in Pakistan. Tribune, February 13, 2014.


SRI LANKA

Presidential Commission on missing persons begins its public hearings: The Presidential Commission appointed to look into missing persons in the North and East during the period between 1990 and 2009 began its public hearings on February 14 in Jaffna District. The hearings will continue till February 17, 2014, the Government Information Department said. The Commission is investigating the alleged abductions or disappearances of people who were residents in the Northern and Eastern Provinces during the period 1990-2009. Secretary of the Commission H. W. Gunadasa said that the Commission received the highest number of missing cases from Jaffna District. The Commission received 3000-4000 cases from the Jaffna District. Daily Mirror, February 15, 2014.


The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

South Asia Intelligence Review [SAIR]

Publisher
K. P. S. Gill

Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


A Project of the
Institute For Conflict Management



To receive FREE advance copies of SAIR by email Subscribe.

Recommend South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) to a friend.

 

 

 

 

 
Copyright © 2001 SATP. All rights reserved.