South Asia: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2020

A United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) militant who is close to ‘chairman’ Abhijit Asom was arrested from Panjabari in Guwahati (Kamrup Metropolitan District) on January 1, reports Northeast Now. The arrestee was identified as Bitopan Sonowal who had entered Guwahati on December 29. Read less...

Anti-CAA protesters waved black flags at Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s convoy at two unspecified locations in Nalbari District, reports The Telegraph on January 2. The protest was organised by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP). Police baton charged AASU members and picked up two AJYCP members. Read less...

Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat has been named as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India, reports Indian Express. General Rawat will be assuming his post as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) following his end of tenure as Army General on December 31, 2019. On December 24, the Government of India had approved the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as the principal military adviser to the government without exercising any military command over the tri-services. And on December 28, the retirement age for CDS has been upgraded to 65 years, which will be three years more than the retirement age of the three service chiefs. With the post, General Rawat will head the newly created Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary. The CDS will also responsible to bring in reforms in the functioning of three services aimed at augmenting combat capabilities of the Armed Forces. Read less...

India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on January 1, in a meeting with the three service chiefs — General M M Naravane, Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria has set June 30 as deadline for the creation of Air Defence Command, reports Indian Express. In his first meeting as CDS, General Rawat also directed various branch heads of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff to come up with recommendations for inter-service synergy and jointness in a time-bound manner. Read less...

Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) announced that it would conduct a sit-in indefinite protest demanding separate Tipraland and scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Khumulwng in West Tripura District, reports East Mojo on January 2. IPFT party general secretary and Tripura forest minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia said that despite meeting Union home minister Amit Shah on various occasions over the demand to keep Tripura out of CAA, nothing concrete has come out till date. He stated that “We have been fighting for a separate Tipraland so that the rights of the indigenous people can be secured, but so far no positive response has been made by the Centre. The Centre has passed the CAA without exempting Tripura from the Act even after making a request to the Centre during the meeting held in New Delhi,”. He also said that the life of the indigenous people has been affected by the continuous influx in Tripura and any further increase of population in the state would be dangerous for the culture and tradition of the indigenous people who have already become a minority. Read less...

Joint Movement against Citizenship Amendment Bill (JMACAB), the anti-CAA platform has announced to re-launch their movement against CAA unless Tripura is exempted from the purview of the Act, reports East Mojo on January 2. JMACAB is a platform of regional indigenous political parties, civil society organisations and students’ organisations against CAA. Read less...

On January 1, a National Democratic Front of Bodoland-S Saoraigwra (NDFB-S) militant was arrested from Chirang District, reports The Sentinel. The arrestee was identified as Laben Muchahary alias Lwithama. The arrestee was in possession of Indian and Bhutan currencies. Read less...

The Counter Intelligence (CI) Wing of Punjab Police arrested a narcotics smuggler and recovered 5.15 Kilogram of heroin, two pistols and ammunition from his possession in Ferozepur District of Punjab on January 1, reports The Tribune. The arrestee has been identified as Bhalwan Singh, a resident of Aliwala village in the said District. In a statement, The Additional Inspector General (AIG), CI, Ketan Baliram Patil said the Police recovered two pistols of .30 bore along with 10 live cartridges and two magazines from the accused. Official sources said the drug consignment was smuggled from Rajoke village in Ferozepur sector along International Border (IB) around three days ago. Smugglers on the other side of the border, taking the advantage of dense fog, had thrown the contraband over the fence. Bhalwan worked as a carrier of drugs. He had reportedly taken INR 2, 50,000 for delivering the consignment. “Investigations are underway to identify the person to whom it was meant to be delivered,” said an Official. Read less...

The Pakistan Army shelled mortars along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 1, reports The Hindu. A defence spokesman said, “Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) violation by firing of small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector in district Poonch around 2100 hours on Wednesday.” Meanwhile, Indian Army retaliated to the shelling that took place on the LoC. Read less...

Three militants were killed on the Line of Control (LoC) at Khari Thrayat in Nowshera sector of Rajouri District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 1, reports Daily Excelsior. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) had reported about the incident, in which two Army personnel were killed in the encounter that followed during an infiltration attempt by suspected militants while Pakistan army violated the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) on the LoC. The Army said Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Police launched joint operations in entire Nowshera sector to trace and eliminate the militants, who were suspected to be Pakistanis and had infiltrated into this side from the LoC for specific action like targeting defence installations and civilian areas. However, their plan was foiled by the troops who engaged the militants in the gun battle. Further, in past about one week, 13 Pakistan Army personnel have been killed in retaliation by the Indian troops during Pakistani CFA violations on the LoC, Army said. Read less...

Two Army personnel were killed in an exchange of fire with Pakistani infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) early on January 1, reports Daily Excelsior.The infiltrators were intercepted in the Khari Thrayat forest when they were trying to enter into India from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials said. Jammu-based Indian Army Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said in a statement, “Two army soldiers martyred during cordon and search operation in Nowshera sector. The operation is still in progress and further details are awaited.”The search operation was launched following information about the movement of suspected terrorists, the officials added. Read less...

United Liberation Front of Asom-Pro Talks Faction (ULFA-PTF) leader Anup Chetia on January 1 stated that Centre’s imposition of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was provoking a section of youths of Assam to take up arms, reports The Telegraph. Chetia’s apprehension came in the wake of a recent media reports that amid the nationwide protests against the CAA, Bordumsa police arrested six youths who were secretly preparing to join ULFA-I. Joining the anti-CAA agitation of the Nagarik Samaj in Kamrup Metropolitan District, he stated that However, the Centre’s conspiracy against the indigenous people will not work,” he added. “We have not instigated or provoked anyone to commit violence and crime in Assam since 2010. He also stated that I appeal to them (youths) to refrain from any thought of taking up arms. We must stay united and resist any move of the Centre democratically if there is anything against the interests of the people of Assam.” Read less...

An unidentified group on January 1 (today) planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Pipira-based Ncell tower in Birendranagar city of Surkhet District in Province No. 6, reports Republica. Officials suspect the involvement of the cadres of outlawed Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist-Chand) for planting the IED. Read less...

Police on January 1, arrested a cadre of Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist-Chand) in Bhojpur District of Province No. 1, reports The Himalayan Times. The arrested has been identified as Birendra Bahadur Thapa (27). Police recovered four rounds of bullets, two diaries and documents related to the CPN-Maoist-Chand from him. Read less...

Unidentified groups set on fire communication towers of Ncell, a private sector telecom company, at different parts of the country, reports Kathmandu Post. In Dhading District of Province No. 3, an Ncell tower was torched on January 1. According to Police, radio set, generator and other equipment were destroyed in the arson. Some leaflets, stating that Ncell has swindled Nepali people and evaded billions of tax, were also found in the incident site. Read less...

Officials of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) said that Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B) planned to form a ‘robber wing’ in the country’s southern and northern regions, reports The Daily Star on January 2. As per the plan, the banned militant outfit leaders managed to communicate with 20 people, who were involved in petty crimes like snatching and theft. These people were asked to use chloroform on their victims, said officials of the CTTC. The leaders wanted 30 percent cut for the ‘welfare’ of the wing. The wing was supposed to take care of all legal issues of the members if they got arrested. It was also supposed to pay for arrested or on-the-run gang member’s family expenses. The CTTC unit learnt the latest strategy of HuJI-B after interrogating robbers who were arrested in the capital Dhaka city on December 26. Read less...

Eight Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on a Security center located in Alamkhail village along the Mazar-e-Sharif-Sheberghan Highway in Balkh District of Balkh Province on January 1, reports bhaktarnews.com. Read less...

On January 1, seven Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed when Taliban attacked a joint forces checkpoint in Darqad District of Takhar Province, report Tolo News. Read less...

14 Taliban militants were killed in separate raids in Shahwalikot, Khakriz and Maiwand districts in Kandahar Province, reports Bakhtar News on January 2. Read less...

On January 1, Security Forces in air and ground raids destroyed three bomb and mine factories of Taliban located in Nahersaraj District of Helmand Province, reports bhaktarnews.com. Read less...

The national defense ministry in a statement reported killing of 72 armed oppositions in clearing operations in Faryab, Herat, Takhar, Zabul, Ghazni, Kunar, Baghlan, Helmand, Kandahar and Kunduz Provinces in the last 24 hours, reports bhaktarnews.com on January 2. Read less...

Two militants of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) were arrested from Panisagar Railway Station in North Tripura District on January 2, reports Assam Tribune. Based on the information provided by the two arrested militants, the Police raided the Dharmanagar Railway Station in North Tripura District and arrested another NLFT militant. Read less...

Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) leaders in a press meet on January 2, alleged that they will issue a petition against CAA in Supreme Court, reports East Mojo. AJYCP has also listed out a series of protests in the coming days. Read less...

Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) and Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) held a joint demonstration in Tinsukia District on January 2, to press for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for tea tribes and repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), reports The Telegraph. They were supported by the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA), Adivasi Suraksha Samiti, Chai Janajati Mahila Samiti, Adivasi Mahila Samiti and dozens of other organisations. Read less...

On January 2, one person was arrested along with Fake Currency Notes (FICN) worth INR 700,000 from Park Circus area in Kolkata, reports Republic World. Th arrestee is a resident of Malda in West Bengal. Read less...

On January 2, unidentified assailants fired up on a vehicle at Habial in Golaghat District, reports The Telegraph. The assailants fired upon the house of Rupa and Pranjal Rajkhowa, who had organised anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. A vehicle was also damaged in the incident. Reacting to the incident, All Assam Students Union (AASU), Assistant General Secretary, Monowar Hussein stated that “This is not the first time that anti-CAA movement leaders have been targeted. On December 12, bullets were fired at AASU member Nitu Saikia’s house at Melamora in Golaghat District. A case was registered at Kamargaon Police station but the police have failed to make any headway till date.” Read less...

Police arrested three individuals along with Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) worth INR 7,00,000 on January 2, from Lakhimpur in Lakhimpur District, reports The Sentinel. The arrestees were identified as Moinuddin, Mohidul Islam and Sahidul Islam. Read less...

The cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) shot dead a tribal man after branding him a ‘Police informer’ at Burdamaha village of Latingia panchayat (village level local self-government institution) under K. Nuagaon tehsil (revenue unit) in Kandhamal District of Odisha on January 2, reports The New Indian Express. The deceased has been identified as Ranjan Digal, a resident of Mardudi village within Baliguda Police Station limits in the District. As per the sources, a group of about 8 to 12 armed Maoists reached the village in late hours of the night and broke into his house and dragged Ranjan out. The Maoists took him to a local school and shot him dead. The Maoists also left posters near his body in which the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of the CPI-Maoist claimed responsibility of the killing. The posters also said that Ranjan was killed as he worked as ‘Police informer’. Read less...

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), P. Sunderraj of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh said that the division had witnessed a decline of Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE]-related incidents by 40 per cent in 2019, reports Pioneer on January 3. The IGP further said that there was a decline in loss of security personnel lives in different incidents by 55 per cent and loss of civilian lives in the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) attacks by 45 per cent in the previous year. The IGP attributed the decline to the success of the ‘Faith-Development-Security’ policy. He said Chhattisgarh Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) have been working in coordination for effective control. He also said that seven security camps have been established at Chindnaar, Chikpal and Potali of Dantewada District, Khodgaon in Narayanpur District, Pusnar and Bodli of Bijapur District and Sureli in Kanker District. The IGP also added that along with the anti-Naxal operation, the Security Forces (SFs) have been providing security to the construction of roads and bridges. Read less...

Two leaders of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Rafi Ahmad Mir and Abdul Majeed Paddar were released on January 2, from house arrest after around five months, reports Daily Excelsior. Two more leaders, former legislator Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and former PDP legislator Mohammad Ashraf Mir, who were released from Sub-Jail Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) hostel last month, will be released on January 3 (today) while Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, was detained at her residence on January 2.Mir and Paddar were put under house arrest in August last year (2019) ahead of abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).Government released five politicians – Zahoor Mir, former PDP, MLA, from Pampore, Ghulam Nabi, National Conference (NC) leader from Tral, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, former NC, MLA, from Ganderbal, Yasir Reshi, former Member of Legislative Council (MLC) and Bashir Mir, PDP leader from Kangan- from MLA hostel sub-jail last week. However, they were kept under house arrest. Read less...

Government on January 2, received the Cabinet approval to withdraw the Counter Terrorism Bill, which was drafted by the previous Government to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), reports Colombo Page. The controversial Bill is being considered by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations in Parliament. However, considering the views expressed by various parties regarding certain provisions contained in the Bill, Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena has proposed the withdrawal of the Bill. Read less...

A civilian was killed and a child was injured, in a mine blast, in a main road of Gulran District in Herat Province, reports bhaktarnews.com. Security officials blamed Taliban for the incident. Read less...

On January 2, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) reduced the institution's alert status to normal, with the conclusion of the special operation conducted with strengthened security, reports Edition. MNDF raised the alert status to 'Yellow Two' at 1900hrs on December 24. Yellow alerts are issued when there is an increased or predictable threat to the security and sovereignty of the country, but authorities asserted that the alert level was not raised due to an imminent threat. Read less...

Following the recent spurge of violence allegedly orchestrated by Popular Front of India (PFI), Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Assam Government has sought ban on the group, reports The Times of India on January 4. On January 3, in a press meeting, Assam Finance Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the PFI, an offshoot of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has been involved in the violent protests in the state and the State Government is awaiting report from Central Forensic Laboratory's report (CFL) to support its case to ban the outfit. Earlier, the U.P Government has accused the organisation and its political front, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) of "masterminding and instigating violence" during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). PFI, formed in 2006 as a successor to the National Democratic Front (NDF) has come under the scanner of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) for instigating demonstrators to clash with the Uttar Pradesh Police. The group had already been under the radar of National Investigation Agency (NIA) for running arms' training camp in Kannur District’s Narath town in Kerala in 2013. In 2018, Jharkhand Government had banned the organisation, saying its members were “internally influenced” by the Islamic State (IS). Read less...

AASU which had suspended its night agitation in the wake of violence, resumed night agitational activities against CAA from January 3, reports Assam Tribune. AASU had called off the night-time protest for one week on December 13. Subsequently, all protest activities of the students’ union remained suspended after 1700 hrs. AASU Chief Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya stated that “The AASU is determined that the movement remains disciplined and democratic. Our today’s procession was wound up within 2000 hrs. Also, we would ensure that the academic activities of the students are not hampered and both the agitation and studies go hand in hand,” Read less...

Arunachal Indigenous Students Union (AISU) organised a rally in Itanagar in Papum Pare District on January 3, demanding deportation of Chakma Hajong, and Tibetan refugees from Arunachal Pradesh, reports Arunachal 24. AISU demanded the state government and home department in specific, to continue strict Inner Line Permit (ILP) checking at all the check gates bordering the state. Read less...

Assam along with other states have established the role of Popular Front of India (PFI), an alleged radical group, in the violence that erupted during anti-CAA protests, reports Assam Tribune on January 4. Assam Government has sent a detailed report on PFI’s role in the violence in Guwahati on December 11. A Home Ministry official stated that Assam Police and Police forces of several other States have established PFI’s role in the recent violence. At least two PFI activists were arrested in Assam in connection with the violence. National Investigation Agency (NIA) had also submitted reports on the group to the home ministry, claiming it was involved in terrorist activities, including running terror camps and making bombs. Read less...

Five people were arrested along with FICN worth INR 123,000 from Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border near Mathala village in Kotturu Mandal of Srikakulam District in Andhra Pradesh, reports Republic World on January 4. The five accused were allegedly cheating tribal people by circulating fake notes in the region. Among the five, 43,400 were seized from Meesala Prakash in the denomination of 83 notes of INR 500, one INR 2000 note, one INR 200 note, and two INR 100 notes whereas FICN denomination of INR 500 notes worth INR 20,000 each were also caught from four persons Ponturu Ramarao, Sheik Nabi, Ramachandra Sundararao Patro, and Sasupalli Rajesh. Read less...

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) is plotting the assassination of five persons in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), two Security Forces (SFs) officers, a journalist, a professor and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson, according to the intelligence inputs, reports The Print on January 4. The inputs have been provided to all security agencies by the Multi Agency Centre (MAC), a coordination authority under the Union Home Ministry (UHM) that includes representatives from security and intelligence agencies.The inputs say JeM terrorist Adil Gulzar organised a meeting in Pakharpur in Budgam District of J&K in December, along with an unidentified foreign terrorist. They are said to be targeting a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a doctor with one of the Paramilitary Forces, a journalist, a professor and a BJP spokesperson.The Print has intentionally omitted the names of these individuals, so as to not add to the security risk. Read less...

On January 3, Pakistan violated Cease Fire Agreement in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch District, reports Daily Excelsior. Mortar shelling and firing targeted forward defence posts and civilian locations. There was no report of casualties from the incident. Read less...

The ‘south sub-zonal bureau’ of Maoists had fixed a banner calling for boycotting upcoming panchayat (village level local self-Government institution) elections in an interior area of Bastar District, reports New Indian Express on January 4. The banner citing the polls as 'fake' was recovered by Security Forces (SFs) during their search operation in the area. The banner further said, “The political party leaders are not the people’s representatives. Here in the political bazar there remains horse-trading business”. A 3-tier panchayat election is scheduled to be held in three-phase on January 28 and 31 and February 3 in the State. Read less...

The cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) killed a civilian identified as Phulsingh Darro (45) after accusing him of being a ‘Police informer’ in Brehbeda village in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh on January 3, reports The Week. According to a Police official, "Maoists came to Phulsingh Darro's house and asked him to accompany them for some work. In a forest nearby, they first hit him with sticks and then strangled him. Preliminary information is that Maoists believed he was a ‘police informer’. Investigation into the incident is underway". The Official also added that the incident came to light after relatives of the victim brought the corpse to Chhote Dongar Police Station in the District on the following day. Read less...

The cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) set ablaze six vehicles of a company engaged in construction of a bridge in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand. According to Police, about 20 to 25 Maoists attacked a private construction company's camp office involved in bridge construction over Karigara river situated between Keredari and Piparwar Police Station limits of the District and set on fire six vehicles used for construction work. According to Police sources, Maoists had sought levy of INR 80 million from the construction company. The denial of levy is said to be the reason of the attack. Read less...

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on January 3, saying members of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan have been subjected to acts of violence at the holy city of Nankana Sahib. The statement said, "India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place, we call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community." The statement further said, "Strong action must be taken against the miscreants who indulged in desecration of the holy Gurdwara and attacked members of the minority Sikh community". The MEA’s statement comes following the reports of vandalism and stone pelting at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on January 3, by a group of locals, led by the family of a man who had allegedly abducted the daughter of an official of the Gurdwara. Read less...

Two cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) carrying cash rewards of INR 100,000 each on their heads, were arrested from Kirandul Police Station limits in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 3, reports Pioneer. The two cadres identified as Lachhu Kunjam (40) and Kosa Uika (35) were arrested based on intelligence inputs, by a joint of team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and local Police, said a Police Official. While Kunjam was active as the head of DAKMS (Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan- a frontal wing of Maoists), Uika was a ‘Jan Militia Commander’. The duo was allegedly involved in setting ablaze six trucks, two bulldozer machines and a poclain machine engaged in works related to the Screening Plant number 3 of the NMDC in its Bailadila iron ore mining region on November 24 last year, the Official said adding that they were mainly tasked with arranging the meeting of villagers for Maoists, spreading Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] propaganda and conducting recce on movement of Security Forces (SFs). Read less...

Two cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were arrested from a place near Palna dam in Chandil town in Seraikela Kharwsawan District of Jharkhand on January 3, reports The Telegraph. The arrested duo, identified as Mangal Topno alias Lallu and Soyana Singh Sardar alias Mota are members of CPI-Maoist squad headed by Mahraj Pramanik. Both were involved in the killing of five Policemen at Khukru Haat under Tiruldih Police Station limits in the District on June 14, 2019. The Superintendent of Police (SP) Karthik S. said, “We had received a tip-off about the presence of Mangal and Soyana in the said locality. A special team rushed to the spot and arrested the duo by surrounding the entire area last evening.” Read less...

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on January 3, saying members of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan have been subjected to acts of violence at the holy city of Nankana Sahib. The statement said, "India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place, we call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community." The statement further said, "Strong action must be taken against the miscreants who indulged in desecration of the holy Gurdwara and attacked members of the minority Sikh community". The MEA’s statement comes following the reports of vandalism and stone pelting at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on January 3, by a group of locals, led by the family of a man who had allegedly abducted the daughter of an official of the Gurdwara. Read less...

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Chief Monirul Islam on January 3 said that fines, prison sentences and death penalty are not enough to curb militancy since it is yielded in one’s mind, reports Dhaka Tribune. Monirul said “We need to target the psyche of the militants and the youth can play an important role in that regard. Families, educational institutions, civil society, cultural personalities, and Islamic clerics are responsible for clarifying and providing the correct explanations. Only then can we instill a culture of harmony, tolerance in future generations.” Read less...

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa opening the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament on January 3, said constitution should be changed to protect the country, reports Colombo Page. Presenting the policy manifesto, the President said the country's independence would not be compromised and in order to safeguard the security, sovereignty, stability and integrity of the country, it is essential that changes be made to the existing Constitution. Read less...

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya at the opening of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament on January 3, announced the appointment of United National Party, (UNP) Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa as the Leader of the Opposition, reports Colombo Page. In addition, the Speaker announced the appointments of Minister of External Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena as the Leader of the House and Minister Johnston Fernando as Chief Government Whip. Gayantha Karunatilaka was appointed as the Chief Whip of the Opposition. Ranjith Aluvihare has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Opposition. Read less...

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a statement on January 3 saying that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against any nations as per a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) signed between Washington and Kabul in 2014, reports Khaama News. His statement comes after the assassination of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani. Read less...

A civilian was injured in a grenade blast in Kawadara area of downtown Srinagar town in Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 4, reports Rising Kashmir.Police said suspected militants lobbed a grenade from lane towards the main road in Kawadara area, 50 meters away from the deployment Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), of the old city at around 12 noon.In the blast, a civilian, whose identity is yet to be established, was injured while two private vehicles were damaged.After the explosion, forces launched a massive hunt to arrest the attackers. However, no arrests were made, neither any outfit has claimed responsibility for the blast. Read less...

A high alert has been sounded along the India-Nepal border in Maharajganj, Kushinagar and Siddharth Nagar Districts of Uttar Pradesh following the infiltration of two wanted terrorists, Abdul Samad and Iliyas, reports Indian Express on January 5. In a press meet, Inspector General-IG (Basti range) Ashutosh Kumar, has stated that alert was sounded following intelligence input of two wanted terrorists entering Uttar Pradesh through India-Nepal border. Though the exact affiliation of the terrorist group is not clear, but the suspected terrorists earlier spotted in Siliguri of West Bengal is believed to be associated with Islamic State (IS). Read less...

A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant was arrested from a hospital in Srinagar of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 4, reports NDTV. The militant identified as Nisar Ahmad Dar, a resident of the Hajin area of Bandipore District, was arrested by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) from Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in the city. Dar, wanted in many terror crimes, had escaped from an encounter in Kullan Ganderbal in which one LeT militant was killed. Read less...

On January 4, two persons identified as Krishnamurit Kawander and Rajesh Tulsidas Joshi were arrested along with narcotics worth INR 120 million near Malad railway station in Mumbai Suburban of Maharashtra, reports Financial Express. A total six kilograms of heroin was seized from the duo. Anti-Narcotics Cell’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DGP), Shivdeep Lande stated the arrest of duo has been “significant as the cartel controlled around 80 per cent of Mumbai’s heroin supply, which comes from Rajasthan”. Read less...

17 Taliban militants were killed, in two air strikes, in Khakrez and Shorabak Districts of Kandahar Province on January 4-5, reports bhaktarnews.com. Read less...

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion killed a civilian and caused injuries to three others in the 10th District (PD10) of Mazar-e-Sharif City of Balkh Province on January 4, reports Khaama News Agency. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested a Taliban ‘commander’, identified as, Qari Nezamuddin, in suburb of Maimana city, provincial capital of Faryab Province on January 4, reports bhaktarnews.com. Mohammad Hanif Rezaee Shaheen 209 Army Corps Spokesman, stated that Nezamuddin looked after Taliban activities in Garzewan, Belcheragh and Kohistan Districts. Read less...

Three Taliban ‘commanders’, Mullah Shoukat, Mullah Nasir and Mullah Shaheen, were killed in Ahmadkhail region of Khogyani District in Nangarhar Province on January 4, reports bhaktarnews.com. The trio died when Security Forces (SFs) conducted air strikes in their strongholds. Read less...

Two civilians died in a mine explosion suspected to be planted by the Taliban in Khashrod District of Nimroz Province on January 4, reports bhaktarnews.com. The duo was travelling from Shahrak District to Khashrod District when the vehicle triggered the mine to detonate on contact. Read less...

National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Saoraigwra (NDFB-S) militant was killed near Dwimalupara village in Chirang District on January 5, reports Northeast Now. The militant was identified as Sansula Basumatary alias B Sotbangsa. Two 7.65 mm pistols; two pistol magazines (7.65 mm); two grenades, two detonators, 15 live ammunitions of 7.65 mm caliber; five 7.65 mm empty cartridge and 4 empty cases of AK-47 were recovered from the militant. Read less...

A parcel Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was found by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at the gate of BSF’s 173 Battalion Headquarters at Panj Tila area of Samba town in Samba District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 5, reports Daily Excelsior. Addressed to the Commandant, the parcel had been filled with 100 grams explosive, reports said, adding that a terror plot to assassinate the BSF Commandant has been foiled with timely detection of the explosive material in the parcel. Read less...

About 40,000 people demonstrated against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on January 5, at Chapakhowa playground in Sadiya in Tinsukia District, reports The Telegraph. The Sadiya unit of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) organised the rally with support of 32 other organisations and people in Tinsukia. Read less...

Pakistan government's claims on not allowing anti-India elements to operate from its soil were exposed when its pro-Khalistan face, Gopal Singh Chawla, was given free access to mingle with Indian pilgrims at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur Sahib complex on January 5, reports The Times of India. As per the report, Chawla was allowed to meet the Indian devotees during the celebrations organised by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. According to sources, Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which - as per intelligence sources - is under the direct command of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allowed Chawla to lead the functions, address the gathering and meet Indian pilgrims. "Chawla has close ties with terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed and many other militants for his anti-India ranting, so he is indispensable for ISI that uses him as an anti-India Sikh face of Pakistan, and he has been accordingly awarded with various benefits," a source said. According to sources, Chawla had delivered a hate speech against India during the function. Chawla was also present at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on January 4, during the visit of Islamic scholars and religious leaders, aimed at restoring the confidence among Pakistani Sikhs following the protest and stoning of the Gurdwara. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) launched massive searches against two local militants, identified as Omar Lone and Gulzar Ahmad, after inputs arrived about their presence in Magraypora Pattan area of Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 5, reports Daily Excelsior. The 29 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) of Army, Special Operation Groups (SOG) Pattan and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted searches in Magraypora Pattan. Sources said that these boys had joined militants and are back in their area. The troops conducted house to house searches of the village, however, no one was arrested. Read less...

Seven cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were arrested in separate incidents in Latehar District of Jharkhand on January 5, reports The Telegraph. The arrested cadres were allegedly part of the team that ambushed and killed three home guards and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) ranked Official of Latehar Police at Lukaiya More on NH 39 under Chandwa Police Station limits in the said District on November 22, 2019. The cadres are said to be associated with dreaded Maoist – Ravindra Ganjhu and have been identified as Baijnath Ganjhu, Kunwar Ganjhu, Rajesh Ganjhu, Sunil Ganjhu, Faguna Ganjhu, Sanjay Ganjhu and Naresh Ganjhu. They were arrested following an intelligence input that the rebels had come to collect levy from a contractor on behalf of Ravindra. First, the Police tracked down three rebels at Saroj Nagar in Chandwa block of the District. The arrested trio spilled the whereabouts of four more who were arrested later on from an unspecified location the District. The Police recovered forty live bullets that the rebels had looted from the Police, blood-stained pouches and clothes of the Police including three Aadhaar cards, three bikes, INR 500,000 which the rebels had collected as levy from a contractor named Sonu Singh in the said block. Read less...

The Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) is all set to get Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and more Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)cameras for enhanced surveillance system,reports Daily Excelsior on January 6.More than one hundred UAVs or Drones of different specification and thousands of CCTV cameras worth INR 1.16 billion are being purchased soon while process is also on for hiring helicopter on lease.Official sources said more than 100 UAVs of different specification will be purchased and placed at the disposal of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) level across Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for dealing in law and order as well as anti-militancy operations.Pertinent to mention that the JKP so far used to seek assistance from Army units for using Drones. The Army has been using UAVs for a few years in different parts of the Valley and on the Line of Control (LoC) to track the militant movements in forest areas. The Army has also used small UAVs during encounters in different parts of J&K, especially in South Kashmir. Read less...

Two tiffin bombs, suspected to have been planted by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were recovered in Sarguli area of Saraguli village at Raighar block in Nabarangpur District of Odisha on January 5, reports Orissa Diary. According to the report, a local youth while passing through the road in the said area noticed two suspected bombs laying on the roadside. Following which he informed the local Police, who rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The bomb disposal squad of Border Security Force (BSF) arrived at the spot on the following day and took the two bombs to a secluded place and defused them. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) defused a remote-controlled bomb in Salarzai tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on January 5, reports Dawn. The bomb, which had been planted along the road in Dara area, was successfully defused by Bajaur Scouts’ Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel. They added that the personnel of BDS were moved to the area soon after information from the local residents about the presence of the bomb in the locality was received. Read less...

Holding of local-Government polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) seems impossible in the next couple of months as so far, the Government has not taken the required steps for the purpose, reports Dawn on January 6. They further said that the Government so far did not frame delimitation rules for holding the polls. The Government could not hold elections within the stipulated 120 days since the expiry of the last elected local bodies on August 28, 2019. Official sources said that there was no possibility of holding polls in the near future. However, Provincial Information Minister, Shaukat Yousafzai told Dawn that the Government desired to start electoral process in March, 2020. He said that till that time all legal formalities would be fulfilled. Read less...

Pakistan government's claims on not allowing anti-India elements to operate from its soil were exposed when its pro-Khalistan face, Gopal Singh Chawla, was given free access to mingle with Indian pilgrims at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartapur Sahib complex on January 5, reports The Times of India. As per the report, Chawla was allowed to meet the Indian devotees during the celebrations organised by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. According to sources, Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which - as per intelligence sources - is under the direct command of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allowed Chawla to lead the functions, address the gathering and meet Indian pilgrims. "Chawla has close ties with terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed and many other militants for his anti-India ranting, so he is indispensable for ISI that uses him as an anti-India Sikh face of Pakistan, and he has been accordingly awarded with various benefits," a source said. According to sources, Chawla had delivered a hate speech against India during the function. Chawla was also present at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on January 4, during the visit of Islamic scholars and religious leaders, aimed at restoring the confidence among Pakistani Sikhs following the protest and stoning of the Gurdwara. Read less...

Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on December 5, removed International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor Mohammad Ali, from his post for breaching discipline and professional code of conduct, reports Dhaka Tribune. Mohammad was taken off from all cases since February 9, 2016, and stands accused of misconduct in the case charged against Jatiya Party’s ex-lawmaker M A Hannan. He was appointed to ICT as a Prosecutor on October 5, 2011. Read less...

An unnamed source within the Taliban says the leadership of the group has initially agreed that they do not want to be taken advantage of by recent US-Iran escalation, reports Tolo News on January 6. According to the source, there is acknowledgement that the killing of the Iranian elite force commander General Qassem Soleimani will certainly have an impact on the peace talks between the US and the Taliban, but the group does not want to be hated by the people of Afghanistan for fighting on someone else’s behalf. Sources close to the Taliban said that Iran has an influence on the Taliban faction of Mullah Akhtar Mansour, which is mostly stationed in the western and southern parts of Afghanistan. Read less...

Eleven Taliban militants were killed, in an air raid, by Afghan Security Forces in Sangeen District of Helmand Province on January 5, reports Bhaktarnews.com. Read less...

In another incident, on January 6, two Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) racketeers were arrested from Raicharan Sadhukhan of Ultadanga area in Kolkata. The arrestees identified as Jiaul Haque and Rakib Sheikh alias Rocky of Malda were intercepted with 300 fake notes of Rs 2000 denomination and 200 notes of Rs 500 denomination. Read less...

Kolkata Police on January 6 evening arrested a youth identified as Md Shamim with 800 gram of heroin from Keshab Chandra Sen Street in Kolkata, reports Millennium Post. Shamim was arrested following the arrest of several drug peddlers including few women. A case has been registered against Shamim. Read less...

On January 6, five persons of Pakistani nationality were arrested with narcotics worth INR 1.75 billion from mid-sea in the Kutch coast in Gujarat, reports Zee News. The five Pakistani nationals identified as Anees, Ismail Mohammed Kachchi, Ashhraf Usman Kutchhi, Kareem Abdulla Kutchhi and Abubaqar Ashraf Sumra from Beet Zajeera in Karachi of Pakistan was intercepted following intelligence information. Nearly 35 packets of heroin were recovered from the arrestees’ fishing boat. Read less...

SFs, on January 6, launched search operations in dense forest belt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)after some civilians sounded Police and Army that they had observed movement of suspicious persons in the area, reports Daily Excelsior. SFs immediately combed Dabud area in Nowshera sector and subsequently extended search operations to Khodi, Darath, Moghaldaye and Potha.However, no contact has been established with the militants, Police said. Read less...

The Border Security Force (BSF) said that the amount of heroin seized along the India-Pakistan border has come down considerably in the last couple of years, reports The Tribune on January 7. This year, the BSF had seized 227.5 kilogram heroin, which is the lowest in the last five years. In 2014, the BSF had recovered 361.41 kilogram heroin, besides seizing weapons, ammunition, over 100 Pakistani SIMs and mobiles. This was followed by the recovery of 344.30 kilogram of heroin in 2015, 230.56 kilogram in 2016 and 278.14 kilogram in 2017. The seizures went down in 2018 to 221.30 kilogram and the trend continued this year too. The BSF claimed that this was a result of better border domination and increased technical surveillance by the BSF authorities, along with various counter-smuggling measures launched by other security agencies like the Special Task Force (STF) set up by Punjab Police. Meanwhile, the recovery of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) too has virtually stopped. Notes with face value of INR 5.204 million were seized in 2013, followed by INR 1.1 million each in 2014 and 2015. As per data available with the BSF, the recovery of Pakistani mobiles and SIM cards had also dipped. Moreover, only 17 Pakistani nationals, besides four other nationals were arrested or interdicted this year. From 2013, around 30 Pakistani infiltrators were apprehended or killed annually. BSF officials said in addition to increased surveillance through hi-tech equipment like LORROS, HHTI, thermal and infra-red imagers, the latest ground sensor devices were also being used to penetrate much farther across the fencing. A BSF official asserted that over and above, the deployment of additional battalions along the border had also helped. Additionally, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ferozepur District of Punjab, Vivek Sheel Soni, attributed the decrease in seizure of heroin to better security measures and enhanced coordination of information amid various security and intelligence agencies. The SSP said, “We are identifying both suppliers and consumers to break the nexus and chain of supply in this region.” Read less...

The cadres of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) attacked a construction company site, beat up its workers set and ablaze vehicles near Baksauti village under Govindpur Police Station limits in Nawada District of Bihar on January 6, reports Devdiscourse. As per the report, around 30 to 40 armed cadres of CPI-Maoist stormed a construction site, thrashed 17 workers and set a JCB machine and a pickup van on fire. The Station House Officer (SHO), Nagendra Prasad said the Maoists took all the workers towards a river, on which a bridge is being constructed, tied them with ropes and beat them up. Before leaving the spot, the Maoists also took away mobile phones and money from the workers. The Maoists fired two rounds in the air before moving towards a nearby hillock. Read less...

The Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) on January 6 started an indefinite sit-in at Khumulwng in West Tripura District against the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA), creation of a separate Twipraland and implementation of National Register of Citizens, reports The Telegraph. The IPFT said it will continue the demonstration at Dukmali Bazar at Khumulwng, Headquarters of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, till the Centre takes a positive step on these issues. IPFT president and state Revenue Minister N.C. Debbarma stated that “Several reports, some by the Centre, confirmed the presence of illegal immigrants in Tripura. In 1996, the then home minister Indrajit Gupta had said in Parliament that more than 8 lakh illegal immigrants are present in Tripura. Settling more illegal immigrants will be detrimental to interests of the indigenous people”. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) have recovered pamphlets of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Samnapur and Baghatola areas in Balaghat District of Madhya Pradesh, reports The Times of India on January 7. As per the report, two kinds of pamphlets were found in the said areas – one was against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), the other was protesting against the displacement of tribals. While the Police are checking the authenticity of the leaflets, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Tiwari said, “Some papers were found. They are being verified.” He further said, “Joint teams from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are working in tandem in search operations. Inter-State issues will not crop up, and combing operations have been intensified in all affected areas of the District.” Read less...

In a bid to restart the long-stalled transitional justice process, at a meeting on January 6, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali said that Government will hold consultations with conflict victims and other stakeholders in all seven Provinces from January 13, reports Republica. According to Government officials, consultations will be held in two sessions – one session exclusively for conflict victims and another round of consultations together with all the stakeholders. The consultations will primarily focus on how to address the concerns raised by conflict victims and other stakeholders while drafting the laws and on ways to resolve the insurgency era-cases. Read less...

Presenting a memorandum to Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali, the Conflict Victims’ Common Platform (CVCP) on January 6 demanded that the transitional justice act be amended on the basis of the Supreme Court’s verdict of January 2, 2013, which states any amendment or new act should be drafted by a drafting task force including victims, experts and human rights activists. The CVCP said the process of appointment of members to two transitional justice commissions should start only after the amendment of the act. The commissions — Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) — have remained vacant since the office-bearers retired in mid-April. A recommendation committee led by former chief justice Om Prakash Mishra has published a list of 61 candidates aspiring for TRC and CIEDP posts. However, former CVCP Chairperson Suman Adhikari said “None of the 61 candidates are competent enough to lead the commissions as no competent person wants to lead such toothless commissions. We suggested amendment to the act in line with SC verdicts to empower the commissions and search for competent office-bearers.” Read less...

An official said the Government has decided to review the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Act enacted by Parliament during the former regime, reports Daily Mirror on January 7. The Act was brought in as part of the previous government’s commitment to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in terms of resolution 30/1. It provided for the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons as part of that government’s reconciliation process. Resolution 30/1 envisaged the setting up of such a mechanism to trace the fate of persons who went missing, particularly during war time, to maintain a database of them. The rulers of the incumbent Government - who were in the opposition at that time - were then opposed to the Act saying it would be a step in the direction of pressing war crime charges against the military. Read less...

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on January 6 said some provisions in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution were impractical and that alternative solutions should be sought instead, reports Daily Mirror. The President expressed these views when a group of European Union (EU) Ambassadors called on him at the Presidential Secretariat. Referring to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, President Rajapaksa said “Instead, politicians should seek alternative solutions. For an example, if the provincial councils were given police powers, the police will become politicised. What is more practical is appointing people from the districts belonging to the Provincial Councils to the police ranks up to the level of OIC. It will help solve issues caused by language and cultural differences.” Read less...

President Ashraf Ghani on January 6 met with the family of Amer Abdul Sattar, a former Mujahideen leader, who was killed on January 5 in a National Directorate of Security (NDS) operation in Kabul, reports Tolo News. Elders from the provinces of Kapisa, Panjshir and Parwan were also present at the meeting in which Ghani extended his condolences to Amer Abdul Sattar’s family and ordered an investigation into the incident that occurred on January 5. Amer Abdul Sattar was a former mujahideen leader who was killed with four others in an operation by the NDS special unit in the north of Kabul. Read less...

Security Forces killed seven Taliban militants while they were trying to occupy a Police checkpoint in Faryab Province on January 6, reports bhaktarnews.com. A Policeman was also killed and two others were injured in the attack. Read less...