South Asia: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2022

As many as 44 Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres including nine women cadres surrendered before Police in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on January 1, reports timesnownews.com. Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP), Sunil Sharma said, the rebels, mostly lower-rung cadres who were active in Chintalnar, Kishtaram and Bheji areas of the district, turned themselves in at the newly-set up Police camp in Karigundam village. One of them, Madkam Dula, a member of CPI-Maoist platoon no. 4, was carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on his head. Others were members of CPI-Maoist's militia or the Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM), a cultural wing of Maoists, SP, Sharma said, adding the surrendered cadres said they were disappointed with the "hollow" Maoist ideology and "impressed" by the district Police's rehabilitation drive for Naxals [Left Wing Extremists, LWEs], called 'Puna Narkom'. Puna Narkom, a Gondi word, means a new dawn. Read less...

On January 1, two militants belonging to National Liberation Front of Tripura-Biswamohan Debbarma (NLFT-BM) surrendered in Tripura, reports Northeast Today. The two surrendered militants identified as Khitish Debbarma alias Kwkhwi and Swapan Debbarma alias Bathar had joined the outfit in 2019 and 2020 respectively. According to Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General (IG) Sushanta Kumar Nath, 31 NLFT-BM ultras have surrendered before the BSF in the last few years. Of these, 23 rebels surrendered between 2017 and 2020, six in 2021 and two on January 1, 2022. Read less...

Claiming that a major portion of the Bastar region was now free of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) insurgency, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM), Bhupesh Baghel on the occasion of New Year at Police Parade Ground in Raipur on January 1 hailed the Security Forces (SFs) for their successes against the rebels, reports NDTV. "I am happy that our police have been doing excellent work in Naxal [Left Wing Extremist, LWE]-affected areas. Naxalism is not just a law-and-order problem, but also a political and social problem. Security forces have set up camps in Maoist strongholds which pushed the rebels on the back foot," the chief minister was quoted as saying in an official release. "Now the forest-dwellers, mostly tribals (in Naxal-affected areas), consider security personnel as their friends and understand that security personnel have been deployed there for their own safety," CM, Baghel said, adding, "This all could become possible because the police are helping locals, and development works, including the construction of roads, bridges and culverts, are taking place. A major portion of Bastar has got rid of the Naxal menace." Earlier, when it came to Chhattisgarh, people outside the state spoke only about Naxalism, "but our government has changed this thinking and this image of the state," the CM added. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed a 38-year-old mentally challenged man accusing him of acting as a ‘police informer’ in a village in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 1, reports News18. A senior Police official said, a group of Maoist ‘Jan Militia’ (people’s army of Maoists) members on January 1 night dragged the victim, identified as Hemant Bandi, out of his house in Timmapur village under Basaguda Police Station limits, located about 400 km from the State capital Raipur, and brutally killed him with sharp-edged weapons. Maoists claimed Bandi had informed Police about their location ahead of an encounter in 2018, the official said. Read less...

In the wake of threat perception from a Pakistan-based militant group, security has been increased on The Ridge and Mall Road in Shimla, Hindustan Times reports on January 2. The Police teams carried out an anti-sabotage check in every nook and corner of The Ridge ground. As per the information provided by Police officials, a Pakistan-based terror outfit had threatened to blow up the water storage tank below The Ridge. The tank was built in 1880 to meet the water requirement of Shimla town. The local Police also took assistance from the Army, which deployed its anti-sabotage teams in the town. Read less...

On January 1, one United National Liberation Front (UNLF) militant was arrested near Umathel in Kakching District of Manipur, reports United News of India. The unnamed militant was handed over to Waikhong Police Station (PS) for further investigation. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 1 foiled an infiltration attempt by militants and killed one militant at Jumagund area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Daily Excelsior. A Police spokesman said the operation is still underway, and as of now a militant, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, has been killed in the ongoing operation. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) raided South Kalan area of Kharan District in Balochistan in the night of January 1 and arrested a person, identified as Ahmed Mullazai son of Muhammad Ashraf Mullazai, reports The Balochistan Post. SFs transferred Ahmed Mullazai to an unknown location and whereabouts of his location are unknown since. Ahmed Mullazai is a close relative of Asif Sohail who went missing 8 years ago and Ghyas Baloch who went missing in 2021. Read less...

Two alleged terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were arrested during a raid by the Police in Shah Latif Town in Karachi city of Sindh on January 1, reports samaa.tv. According to the Police, the suspects hailed from Afghanistan and were planning attacks on multiple security officials in the city. The investigation officer said that the Police have seized cracker bombs, fake passports, ball bearings, illegal arms, and detonators from their possession. The terrorists, identified as Razaullah alias Nasir and Habib Noor alias Sher Habib, had joined TTP in 2011 and 2008, respectively. Both were trained in Afghanistan and have been involved in multiple attacks on the Security Forces (SFs). Read less...

Unidentified assailants killed a Police official, identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Asghar, near a fruit and vegetable market in the limits of Mandan Police Station in Bannu town (Bannu District) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 1, reports Dawn. ASI Asghar had gone to the market for shopping when he was targeted near the Gate No-II of the market and escaped. ASI Asghar was posted as Muharrar (investigation officer) in the Police lines. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli speaking at a program virtually on the occasion of New Year 2022 on January 1 said that people in favour of instability toppled our Government, reports Republica. He claimed that the people who overthrew his ‘communist-led’ Government and formed a new Government under another party’s leadership cannot succeed in bringing socialism to the country. Stating that the CPN-UML will fulfil the remaining tasks of prosperity with a new mandate from the people in this new year, he urged the Nepali diaspora to continue their support to the party in this task. Read less...

16 persons injured in a clash ensued between security personnel and cadres of Janamat Party after the latter tried to obstruct the East-West Highway at Godar Chowk in Ganeshman Charnath Municipality, Dhanusa District on January 1, reports The Kathmandu Post. According to Police, eight security personnel including seven Police personnel and one Armed Police Force personnel were injured in the clash. Likewise, eight cadres of the CK Raut-led party have also been injured. The Janamat Party cadres had taken to the streets armed with canes obstructing vehicular movement along the highway when the police intervened leading to the clashes.CK Raut led Janamat Party, expressing solidarity with the ‘Farmers Movement’, called an indefinite strike on East-West Highway in Tarai districts during day time from December 30. Read less...

Iran’s Ambassador in Afghanistan Bahadur Aminian said that his country will not recognize the current Afghan government unless its government is inclusive, reports Tolo News on January 2. Ambassador Bahadur Aminian further said that Tehran might persuade other countries to recognize the Afghan government if the Islamic Emirate brings reforms to its government structure. “If a group comes (to power) and the group is (comprised) of a single ethnic group and all other ethnic groups are not included in the government, we don’t accept it, and, therefore, we benevolently call on the Taliban rulers to form an inclusive government,” Bahadur Aminian said. Read less...

On January 1, Taliban members killed a former Police official, Shafiqullah Mohammadi, and injured his sister at their house in Pul-e-Khumri city, the provincial capital of Baghlan, reports Aamaj News 24 on January 5. “At mid night Taliban came into our house and requested guns, after that brutally killed my brother. When my sister wanted to avoid this issue, they wounded her. She went into a coma, and now she is hospitalized,” Seddiqullah Mohammadi brother of Shafiqullah Mohammadi claimed. Read less...

On January 1, two civilians were injured in an explosion caused by a landmine planted near the Education University in Police District 5 of Kabul city in Kabul province, reports the Twitter handle of the Kabul News. Read less...

A Special Task Force (STF) constable was injured during a fierce encounter between the Security Force (SFs) and Communist party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in the Dongerjog Forest area in Gariyaband District of Chhattisgarh on January 2, reports The Times of India. STF chief Vijay Pandey said that the security personnel were conducting a search operation when the rebels opened fire, leading to an encounter at Dongerjog Forest area. A constable Yuvaraj Sagar, who had sustained bullet injuries on his abdomen, airlifted to the State capital, Raipur, for treatment at a super specialty hospital, and his condition was reported to be stable. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 2 recovered an explosive object on Baramulla-Uri Road in Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Greater Kashmir. A Police officer said that as soon as the explosive object was detected, it was neutralised. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) on January 2 have issued warnings to the sand mafia in Mulugu District of Telangana, reports 10tv.in. The Maoists, outraged at the sand mafia, issued a letter issuing warnings to them. In a letter issued by the ‘secretary’ of the JMWP (Jayashankar, Mahabubabad, Warangal and Peddapally) Division Committee of the CPI-Maoist, Venkatesh, he alleged that the Mafia was infiltrating and looting the Adivasi Sand Society Reaches in the Godavari basin. The letter warned that some contractors were trying to divide and rule the tribals, turning young people into slaves to alcohol and living in groups in pubs. Change your method for now. Gave a strong warning that otherwise the results would be severe. The Maoists have warned that ignoring the warnings in the letter will not be tolerated. Contractors Prabhakar Chaudhary and Pillutla Sreenu have warned that if they do not change, they will be punished by the people, the letter read. Read less...

The Coordinating Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of Manipur-based militant outfits, has called for a 17-hour shutdown in Manipur in support of its decision to boycott Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit on January 4, reports Northeast Today. In a statement issued on January 2, Publicity committee of CorCom announced its decision of boycott and shutdown. The conglomerate stated that PM’s visit is ‘just a smoke-screen and a weapon to mislead the international community with claims of India being the world’s largest electoral democracy’ and further accused India of ‘occupying a position at the United Nations by claiming to be a true democracy’. Read less...

The 8th General Convention of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Centre) has concluded on January 2 after running for eight days and electing new leadership of the party, reports Khabar Hub. The closed session of the General Convention finalized 236 members to the Central Committee, marking the end of the convention with the declaration of the new Central body. The General Convention also passed the ideological and political report tabled by CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and approved a proposed statute of the party that was tabled by leader Dev Gurung. Read less...

Terming the ruling Awami League (AL) as a 'terrorist political party,' Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on January 2 said the party in power has a lengthy history of terrorist activities, reports Observer. He made the remarks while addressing a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's political office at Gulshan in the capital Dhaka city. Fakhrul said "Basically, Awami League is a terrorist political party. The party could not survive without resorting to terrorism since it was born. Awami League enforced hartals as many as 173 days to realise its demand of caretaker government. They had burned a bus in front of Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka with gun powder which left 11 people dead. It's nothing new for Awami League. They started their terrorist activities beating the then deputy speaker Shahed Ali to death inside the assembly during the erstwhile Pakistan. Since then, they have adopted terrorism as their main weapon." Read less...

Five Tamil students summarily executed by Sri Lankan Special Task Force troops 16 years ago were remembered on January 2 at Trincomalee beach of Trincomalee District, where they were murdered, reports Tamil Guardian. The case – known as the 'Trinco 5' – remains one of the highest-profile killings in Sri Lanka to receive international attention, listed in 2014 by the then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' report on the island as one of four ‘emblematic cases’ of the Government's failure to ensure accountability and having been raised repeatedly in international forums. The five slain students, who were all 20-years-old when killed, are: Manoharan Ragihar, Yogarajah Hemachchandra, Logitharajah Rohan, Thangathurai Sivanantha and Shanmugarajah Gajendran. To date, no one has been held accountable for the murder. Read less...

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Central Committee Member and Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, on January 2 said that rulers have lost ability to govern, reports The Island. He said that the Government has proved to be a failure and it should hold elections so that the people could elect a party or an alliance which could rescue the nation from the present crisis. He said that an election can be conducted after dissolving Parliament by passing a resolution with a simple majority under the 20th Amendment. He claimed 20th Amendment contained provisions enabling the dissolving of Parliament and the forming of a new government at a time like this. Read less...

Two people one each from National Resistance Front (NRF) and Taliban were killed and one Taliban man was injured in clashes between the two groups in Elitch village of Ashkamash District of Takhar province on January 2, reports Hasht-e-Subh. Read less...

On January 2, a decapitated body was recovered in Police District (PD) 1 in Charikar, the provincial capital of Parwan, reports Hasht-e Subh. Read less...

Taliban members assaulted a teacher after labelling him as Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) member in Ghazni Province, reports the Twitter handle of Reporterly on January 3. The victim had gone for receiving a passport when he was assaulted. Read less...

A 28-year-old man identified as Mahesh Baghel was shot dead after accusing him of being a ‘police informer’ by cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) at a local market in Badrangi village under Koyalibeda Police Station limits in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on January 3, reports devdiscourse.com. Kanker Superintendent of Police (SP), Shalabh Sinha, said, "The motive behind the killing is not immediately known as the Naxals did not leave any pamphlet etc at the spot. Prima facie it seems they suspected him of acting as a police informer. Efforts are on to nab the culprits." Read less...

An Assam Police Personnel identified as Kaushik Gohain has reportedly joined United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (ULFA-I), reports East Mojo. Gohain who had gone missing from his home in Jerai Gaon of Chabua in Dibrugarh District on January 3, is stated to have reached ULFA-I camp in Myanmar on January 8. Read less...

Another operation was carried out by Police, CRPF along with Army in Gasu area under Zakoora Police Station in Srinagar. During the operation, one foreign militant, identified as Hafiz Hamza of Pakistan, linked with LeT was neutralized. Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar while interacting with media persons after the twin shootouts said that slain Hamza was "involved in several terror crimes including recent killing of two Policemen at Gulshan Chowk of Bandipora District on December 10, 2021 and after this terror crime, he shifted to Harwan area of Srinagar due to frequent cordon & search operations in Bandipora area". "He was also involved in killing of a CRPF personnel at Hajin Bandipora, killing of a civilian namely Nadif Hanief Khan of Bilal Colony Soura in Buchpora, " IGP said. Read less...

Army on January 3 foiled an infiltration bid by a group of militants in Hamirpur area of Bhimber Gali Brigade in Rajouri District, reports Greater Kashmir. Official said that Army soldiers posted in the BG Brigade, the area also referred as 'forward Balakote sector' "noticed an infiltration attempt by a group of infiltrators. The infiltrators were challenged with an explosion triggered on the spot to foil this attempt". Soon after the incident, the entire area along the Line of Control (LoC) was cordoned by the Army and searches started to nab the infiltrators, official added. Read less...

As the protests against the GO 317 [Government Order (GO) 317 which was introduced on December 6, 2021, pertaining to Telangana Public Employment’s introduction of a zonal system in the allocation of jobs] gather momentum in the State, the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) have also extended their support to the employees' demand in Mulugu District of Telangana, reports The Hans India on January 4. The letter purportedly released by the CPI-Maoist ‘Central Committee (CC)’ ‘spokesperson’ Jagan at Venkatapuram on January 3 demanded the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government to withdraw the GO and stop the employee allocation with immediate effect. The Maoists demanded the government to take up recruitment on the basis of nativity and reservations. With the government taking up the allocation of employees on the basis of seniority, a whole lot of employees especially women were put to distress. The GO is also likely to affect the unemployed youth especially the Adivasis, the letter said. Instead of implementing such thoughtless GOs, the government should focus on taking up recruitment, the Maoists said. The Maoists further opined that the TRS government had intentionally issued the GO 317 to distress the employees. The letter also questioned the rationale behind forcing the GO although nearly 3 lakh employees have been up against it. The banned outfit criticised the government for not taking the opinion of the employees before rolling out the GO. The letter also urged people to support the employees' protests until the government withdraws the GO. Read less...

Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on January 3 killed a Pakistani "intruder" in Arnia sector along the International Border (IB) in Jammu District, reports Greater Kashmir. An unnamed official said that the BSF troops manning the border outpost Balley Chak opposite to BP No 978 noticed a "suspicious activity in the forward area". “The troops challenged the intruder but he did not stop compelling them to open fire,” the official said adding the intruder was killed on the spot. Read less...

India and five Central Asian states agreed to uphold UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021), which unequivocally demands that Afghan territory not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts, and decided on full utilisation of Chabahar Port in Iran for regional connectivity, khmertimeskh.com reports on January 4. In a joint statement, foreign ministers of India, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasising respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs. Read less...

Indian Mujahideen (IM) has set a target of taking shelter in Nepal and preparing more than 200 sleeper cells as members in 2022 in some areas of Bihar-Bengal, apart from the border areas of Indo-Nepal, according to intelligence inputs, newstracklive.com reports on January 4. The report has been sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) after receiving such intelligence inputs. The list of some suspects on the Indo-Nepal border has also been sent to UMHA by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). After receiving such information, vigil has been stepped up in border areas. The unemployed and minors of Seemai area are being lured into being groomed as sleeper cell members Read less...

Manipur Police released its annual report on January 3, reports United News of India. In a statement issued by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Manipur Police, Khuplen Lhouvum, Manipur Police arrested 233 militants and seized 167 arms in 2021. Fifteen suspected militants were shot dead while twenty militants laid down arms to the government. In its counter-insurgency operation, the State Police arrested 233 cadres belonging to different outfits and altogether 167 arms, 3115 live bullets, 253 IEDs, explosive (3 kgs), 76 hand grenades, six RPGs, two safety fuses, 27 lathodes, 360 detonators, 30 NT sets and Rs 6,17,222 and 4500 Kyat in cash were seized. Fourteen persons were detained under NSA. In 2021, 313 cases related to drugs were filed and 467 persons including 95 women were arrested. Heroin (36.46 kg), Valium-10 tablet (120 pieces) 381.75 kgs of opium, Dizzy-10 tablet (70 pieces) 826.43 kg of ganja, 19,153 SP capsules, 372 pieces of N-10 tablets, about 164.69 of brown sugar and 26.50 litres of morphinated liquid among others were also seized. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an Islamic State (IS) operative, identified as Mundadiguttu Sadananda Marla Deepthi Marlah alias Maryam in a joint operation with the Karnataka Police, the agency said on January 3, 2021, reports timesnow.com. The location of her arrest is yet not mentioned. Maryam is the daughter-in-law of B M Basha, son of former Ullal MLA late B M Idinabba. Maryam is the wife of Anas Abdul Rahiman, a resident of Mangalore, and is connected with the investigation of the IS Kerala module case. The case pertains to terrorist activities of one Mohammed Ameen aka Abu Yahya of Kerala and his associates, who have been allegedly running various IS propaganda channels on different social media platforms for propagating IS ideology and recruiting new members. Read less...

On January 3, a bomb exploded in the house of Kankan Karan of Paschim Bhanganmari village in East Medinipur District. While Kankan Karan was seriously injured in the explosion, another person succumbed to his injuries. NIA took over the case investigation on January 25. Read less...

On January 3, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) militant was arrested from Seijang in Ukhrul District of Manipur, reports East Mojo. For further investigation, the arrestee was handed over to Yaingangpokpi Police Station (PS). Read less...

On January 3, NIA raided the residence of BM Bashaat at Mastikatte village near Mangaluru in Uttar Kannad District of Karnataka and arrested Mundadiguttu Sadananda Marla Deepthi Marlah alias Maryam for alleged links to the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS). Several documents were also seized. Read less...

The BSF seized a consignment of arms and heroin along the IB near the Chamliyal border outpost in Samba District on January 3, reports Daily Excelsior. The consignment was found packed in a white-coloured sack hidden in sarkanda (wild grass) near the Chamliyal border outpost. The officials said the seizure included three AK rifles along with five magazines, four pistols along with seven magazines, five packets of heroin and some assorted ammunition. The sack was noticed during patrolling, the officials said, adding that it had the markings of “Karachi Fertilizers Company Limited”. Read less...

The central government should decide within eight weeks on the extradition and repatriation of a woman from Kerala who is detained in Afghanistan with her child on charges of joining the Islamic State (IS) terror outfit, the Supreme Court ruled on January 3, reports Hindustan Times. The court was hearing a petition filed by VJ Sebastian Francis, a resident of Ernakulam District in Kerala, who requested repatriation of his daughter Sonia, alias Ayisha, and granddaughter. The two are at Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul since 2019, before the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Read less...

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken possession of properties worth INR 4.023 million belonging to Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leader Rambabu Ram alias Rajan Ji alias Prahar alias Nikhil Ji and his family members in a money laundering case, reports India Today on January 4. Rambabu is the ‘secretary’ of CPI-Maoist’s Western Zonal Committee of North Bihar and has a criminal history of 20 years. Earlier, the properties were provisionally attached on March 19, 2021, which was confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority, Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), New Delhi on September 14, 2021. The ED had initiated the money laundering investigation on the basis of 28 FIRs lodged in various Police Stations in Bihar against Rambabu and his family members under the sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substance Act for illegal activities including murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, dacoity, robbery, collection of extortion from various ongoing development work in Bihar. A cash reward of INR 500,000 has already been announced by the Bihar government on Rambabu. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to get new branches in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Jaipur, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar, as Ministry of Finance on January 3, approved the proposal of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) for six offices, reports bharattimes.co.in. “The proposal of MHA regarding creation of offices at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Jaipur, Bhopal Bhubaneshwar and creation of 435 posts was examined and it was agreed to create 300 posts,” Ministry of Finance said in a communication. According to sources, the UMHA in its letter to the finance ministry had sought an average of 72 personnel and officers for each office, but only 50 members were approved. The Bengaluru, Patna and Bhopal branches will be headed by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG), while the other three branches will be headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP) level officer. There will be five inspectors to investigate the cases along with forensic experts at all the locations. Read less...

To strengthen the presence of the force on the Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] front of Chhattisgarh, fortified Police Stations are being constructed in the interior areas of Bastar, reports naidunia.com on January 4. Director General of Police (DGP), Ashok Juneja said that the construction of 75 fortified Police Stations has been completed. Along with this, the construction of 63 new Police Stations has started in the interior areas. Operation of these Police Stations will reduce Naxalite activities. Along with this, 32 Night Landing Helipads have been constructed so far to strengthen the anti-Naxal movement, in which the operation has started on 14. Force's helicopters are working to deliver logistics and weapons to the soldiers using the In Night Landing Helipad. DGP Juneja said that 16 new camps and four new Police Stations have been opened in Tarrem in Bijapur, Bharanda in Narayanpur, Malewahi in Bastar and Anantapur in Kondagaon in the Naxal-affected core area. The Palli Barsoor Axis and Aranpur Jagargunda Axis have opened after 30 years since the opening of the camp. 525 new mobile towers were installed to strengthen the communication network. In the second phase, the process of installing 971 4G mobile towers is going on. After the camp was established, it was successful in providing electricity to the inaccessible areas of Sukma's Golapalli, Palodi, Elaramadgu, Kondasavali and Tarrem, Mekur and Tumkapal of Dantewada. Read less...

Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including a local top commander from Bandipora District, were killed in separate incidents in Shalimar and Gasu areas of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 3, reports Greater Kashmir. Based on specific input generated by Police regarding presence of terrorist in Shalimar area, a search operation was launched by Srinagar Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). During the search operation, the search party was fired upon indiscriminately by hiding militants, which was effectively retaliated leading to a brief shootout and elimination of LeT local top commander Saleem Parray. As per Police, Parray was active since 2016 and was involved in several civilian killings including of Bashir Ahmad Dar and his brother Ghulam Hassan Dar at Shahgund Hajin in Bandipora on May 5, 2018, Hilal Ahmad Parray at Parray Mohalla Hajin on May 16, 2018, even as "he was also involved in throat slitting of many civilians in Hajin area. Read less...

Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah on January 3, chaired a high-level meeting to assess the internal security situation in the country, and stressed on the threats of terrorism and the need for coordination among central and state agencies, reports Indian Express. The meeting was attended by top officials of central agencies and forces apart from police officials of various states through video conference. “Highlighting the continued threats of terrorism and global terror groups, terror financing, narco-terrorism, organised crime-terror nexus, illicit use of cyber space, movement of foreign terrorist fighters, etc. Home Minister stressed upon the need for better coordination and synergy among the central and state security agencies in countering the ever-changing CT and security challenges,” a statement from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) said. Read less...

A Policeman sustained injuries in a grenade blast at Maripur Road of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, on January 3, reports ARY News. Police officials said that unidentified motorcyclists hurled a grenade near Policeman Imran and fled from the scene. Imran sustained wounds on his hand and other parts of the body. Read less...

Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari revealed on January 3 that a bill pertaining to enforced disappearances, which was recently passed by the National Assembly (NA), had gone "missing", reports Dawn. Speaking to media persons at the Ministry of Human Rights, she said: "We had prepared the bill regarding missing persons and it was passed by the [relevant] standing committee and the National Assembly (NA). But it went missing after it was sent to the Senate." The minister said there were reports, however, that the bill was now at the Senate Secretariat. The bill, Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021, was passed by the NA on November 8, 2021, and is aimed at making amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure. It was introduced in the NA by the Federal Interior minister in June 2021. While initially there was no provision related to the filing of a false complaint or false information about subjecting a person to enforced disappearance, subsequently a provision was added to the bill to declare it a penal offence punishable by up to five years imprisonment with a fine up to PKR 500,000. The proposed law provides for the insertion of a new section 52B in the PPC for defining an “enforced disappearance”. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Centre)’s first Central Committee meeting held in Lalitpur District on January 3 has re-elected Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda to the post of party Chairman, reports Khabar Hub. The Central Committee meeting held in Lalitpur approved the proposal to make Prachanda the Chairman. Leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha was the proponent and Krishna Bahadur Mahara was the supporter of the proposal to re-elect Prachanda as party Chairman. As soon as the meeting approved the proposal, the newly re-elected Chairman took the oath of office. Read less...

A member of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) was shot dead by gunmen on January 3 while visiting his father-in-law's house at Lama in Bandarban District, reports Daily Bangladesh. The deceased was identified as Monkyaching Marma (35). Angow Marma, a resident of Anghla Para, President of Lama Upazila PCJSS, said, “I came to know about the incident at 2 pm. The farm house is 500 yards east of our neighbourhood. Monkyching Marma is my niece's husband. The incident is believed to have taken place in a conflict of regional politics.” Read less...

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) on January 3 urged the Government to summon Parliament immediately to discuss the burning problems people were beset with, reports The Island. Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said Parliament should be summoned without further delay as the country was facing massive foreign reserve crisis. “The government is trying to sell off national assets. Between 15 and 20 lands in Colombo are up for sale. Seven acres of prime land in Bogambara playground is to be sold. The government is trying to sell the Trincomalee oil tank farm. The agreements are to be signed while Parliament is closed. We need parliament open to debate the country’s problems,” Kiriella said. Read less...

Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said that they will create a special battalion of suicide attackers to be part of their future army, reports Khamma News on January 4. Deputy Minister of information and culture and spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid said that the battalion will be part of their special forces and will be active under Defense Ministry. Zabiullah Mujahid said that the battalion will be used during special operations. Read less...

On January 3, the Taliban forces clashed with Turkmen border forces when they went to the border of Khamab district of Jowzjan Province, reports Hasht-e-Subh. “Three days ago, the Turkmen border guards had killed one civilian and beaten another,” said Helal Balkhi, acting head of the Taliban Information and Culture Department in Jowzjan province. According to him, the Taliban forces faced a military response from the Turkmen border forces when they went to the border of Khamab district to check the security situation this morning. “The Taliban forces fired back in response to an attack by Turkmen border guards,” said Balkhi. The details of the incident are not yet clear and no casualties have been reported. Read less...

Former Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Manoharpur, Gurucharan Nayak, on January 4 narrowly escaped a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) attack, but the Maoists slit the throats of his two Policemen bodyguards and snatched three AK-47 rifles before escaping from the spot in Jheelruwa village in Goilkera Police Station limits in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand, reports outlookindia.com. Chakradharpur, Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Dilip Khalkho said that the attack by CPI-Maoist outfit took place in Jheelruwa village in Goilkera Police Station area after a football match in which Nayak was the chief guest. "Soon after the local football match was over, the Maoists, who were in the crowd of football-watchers, suddenly attacked Nayak. He somehow managed to escape with the help of his policemen bodyguards. The Maoists, however, slit the throats of his two policemen bodyguards and snatched their AK-47 rifles. They also snatched a similar rifle from another security personnel and fled the spot," SDPO, Khalkho said. According to villagers the Maoists were more than 25 in numbers, adds The New India Express. Earlier also, Nayak had a close shave in a Maoist attack at Anandpur in Harta region. The Maoists had also pasted posters at his residence giving life threats to him a few years back. Read less...

One National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Reformation (NSCN-R) militant was arrested from Jongsum village in Kantang circle of Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh on January 4, reports Northeast Today. The arrestee identified as Lieutenant Salhap Jugli alias Salnang was actively involved in forceful extortion in the district. An Italy-made pistol along with six rounds of live ammunition from the possession of the militant. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 4 killed two The Resistance Front (TRF) militants at Okay area of Kulgam District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Greater Kashmir. The encounter broke out in the morning shortly after SFs cordoned the area following the inputs about the presence of militants there. The identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained. “Both the killed terrorists are locals and linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT/TRF. They were involved in several terror crimes," Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said in a statement. Read less...

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth INR 2.8 million belonging to the family members and associates of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre Dilip Sahni in Bihar under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), reports India Today on January 5. Officials said, the attached properties include three land parcels, LIC policies, fixed deposits, bank balance and a motor cycle. The ED had initiated the money laundering investigation on the basis of 12 FIRs lodged in various Police Stations of Bihar against Dilip, an active cadre of the CPI-Maoist. Dilip is a habitual offender and is accused of the several offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and unlawful activities for crime related to murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, use of arms and ammunition in Bihar. Read less...

A leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), Sardarzada Mir Zahid Khan Lehri, was shot dead in Ghazi village in Kachhi District of Balochistan on January 4, reports Dawn. Sardarzada Mir Zahid Khan Lehri was on a visit to his agricultural land near Ghazi village when unidentified assailants opened fire on him. Zahid Lehri and his guard were injured. Zahid Lehri later succumbed to his injuries at hospital. Zahid Lehri was a member of the provincial council of JUI-F, Balochistan chapter. Read less...

Dawn quoting Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Annual Security Report (2021) reported on January 4 that though violence-related casualties in Pakistan declined at a steady rate since 2015, remained somewhat unchanged in 2020 but seemed to have accelerated dramatically during the year. With an increase of roughly 42pc in 2021, Pakistan suffered 853 fatalities (up from 600 last year) and 1,690 injuries directly linked to violence-related incidents. Nearly 75pc of all violence-related fatalities were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) including erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan. Of the total fatalities, Punjab accounted for 8pc followed by Sindh. Compared to the fatalities in 2020, all regions except Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan suffered an exponential surge in violence with Balochistan accounting for a net 80pc increase. According to the report, commensurately, both security operations and terror attacks increased in 2021 year. A total of 146 security operations were carried out during the year leaving 298 outlaws dead, a rise of more than 40pc, against the figures of 2020. In contrast, there were 403 terror attacks compared to 2020. Four suicide attacks took place last year that left 20 people dead compared to two suicide attacks in 2020. An alarming upsurge of over 41pc was observed in 2021 in the fatalities of security personnel. In 2020, there was a decline of 18pc in security personnel’s fatalities. Outlaws (including militants, insurgents and criminals) suffered a 26.5pc increase in fatalities while the civilians accounted for the largest number of the victims of violence. As a whole, the combined losses of civilian and security personnel’s lives were 74pc of the total fatalities while the outlaws, the main perpetrators of violence, had suffered one fourth of the fatalities. Read less...

Nepali Congress (NC) President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba addressing an inauguration program of the newly established NC office in Dharan city of Sunsari District on December 4 said that the party will be united, reports Republica. He said “Unity in the party is necessary for the future of the party. For unity, all the friends of the party must be united. I am confident that it will start from Dharan.” Read less...

Dhaka Special Tribunal on January 4 rejected bail of former Joint Secretary General of Hefazat-e Islam (HeI) Mamunul Huq who is a charge sheeted accused in subversive case, reports Daily Observer. Judge Fatima Imrose Khonika of Special Tribunal of Dhaka passed the order responding to a plea. At the same time, she set March 13 for recording the depositions of the witnesses in the case. On January 14, 2015, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) leaders and workers vandalised vehicles and set those on fire at Madhya Pirerbagh of Sheorapa under Mirpur Model Police Station in Dhaka city. Later, ASI Khondker Rajib Ahmed of Mirpur Model Police Station filed the case under the Special Powers Act. Mamunul Huq was a charge sheeted accused in the case. On December 4, he was produced before the tribunal for showing him arrested. After the hearing the tribunal granted the petition. Afterward, Mamunul Huque's lawyer Syed Zainul Abedin Mesbah submitted a prayer to the tribunal seeking his client's bail. After the hearing, the tribunal rejected the bail prayer. Read less...

Pabna District Special Court on January 4 sentenced to life imprisonment four cadres of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) for killing a man in Santhia upazila (sub-District) of Pabna District in 2006, reports The Daily Star. The convicts are Wasim Munshi (39), Mohammd Mostafa (42), Mirazul Islam (43) and Shahadat Hossain (30). Of them, Shahdat and Wasim were present before the court while the other two accused were tried in absentia. District Special Judge Mohammad Ahsan Tarek also fined the convicts Tk 25,000 each. According to the case statement, Rafikul Islam of village Gobindapur village went to visit his in-laws' house at Sagarkandi village on October, 19, 2006. The same day, PBCP cadres abducted Rafikul from the house and later killed him. Read less...

A suspect who was remanded in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks was died on January 4 while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital, reports Colombo Page. The deceased has been identified as Mohammed Kalin (42), a resident of Church Road, Kalmunai. According to the Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake, the suspect was remanded on April 6, 2021 in connection with the Easter Sunday attack. The suspect was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital on December 5 after receiving treatment at the Prison Hospital on November 23 due to an illness. He had died while receiving treatment as an inpatient at the Intermediate Coronary Care Unit (ICCU) of the Colombo National Hospital, Police told. Read less...

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) on January 4 condemn the decision to involve Government representatives in the historic Jaffna Kite Festival, reports The Sunday Morning. In a media statement, the TNPF said that they condemn the decision taken to invite Government representatives and officials to the Jaffna Kite Festival as they claim that it is this same Government that is contributing to the erasure of Tamil culture and history. The TNPF has noted that this is a move to ‘destroy the Tamil tradition. The kite festival in Jaffna is an annual event, held in concurrence with the Thai Pongal festival every January. Hundreds of participants are usually seen at the event. Read less...

Deputy Foreign Minister (FM) of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai said that they have completed all preconditions for recognition and now is the time for the International Community to come forward and recognize the IEA, reports Khamma News on January 5.Minister Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai, speaking at a convention in Paktia province, said that security, rule of law, and full control over Afghanistan’s borders are the major preconditions for recognitions that have been met by the Taliban. Read less...

Former Justice Minister, Fazel Ahmad Manawi, in a post on his Facebook page, asked Afghans to join National Resistance Front (NRF), reports Aamaj News 24 on January 5. Minister also said that for the people who have lived in dignity, it is a big shame to work in illegitimate government of Taliban. Read less...

On January 5, a self-style ‘private’, Bansam Hangphuk, of NSCN-R surrendered at Changlang Police Station (PS) of Changlang District. Read less...

On January 5, a suspected drug peddler identified as Jahangir Alom was injured in police firing while attempting to evade arrest in Saidaria in Rupohihat Police Station (PS) area of Nagaon District in Assam, reports Assam Tribune. Alom who was also wanted in at least three dacoity cases initially threw stones and attacked Police with stick in order to escape from arrest. It was at this moment he was shot at his leg. Later he was arrested after the shootout along with three boxes of suspected drugs. Read less...

On January 5, one jawan identified as Rifleman L Wangshu of 16 Assam Rifles (AR) was killed in an Improvised Explosive device (IED) blast at Lilong Ushoipokpi Sangomsang along the Imphal-Moreh Road in Thoubal District of Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. Another jawan identified as Pinku Das was injured in the blast. It is reported that the Road Opening Party (ROP) of 16 AR Company occasionally take their lunch at the blast site. The attack which is suspected to be the handiwork of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-progressive (PREPAK-pro) came just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the State capital. Read less...

One cadre of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) was killed in an encounter took place between the Police and Maoists in the Pachrukhia Hill area under Madanpur Block in Aurangabad District of Bihar on January 5, reports prabhatkhabar.com. Aurangabad Superintendent of Police (SP), Kantesh Kumar Mishra said that on January 5 evening, the Commando Battalion for resolute Action (CoBRA) personnel were conducting a search operation, and during this, on seeing them, the Maoists started firing, to which the soldiers also took the front and started retaliation. However, Police personnel are safe in the incident. Meanwhile, the Maoists also triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, as has been confirmed by the SP himself. The identity of the slain Maoist is yet to be ascertained. Read less...

Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants including a local militant killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) in Chandgam village of Pulwama District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 5, reports Greater Kashmir. "Acting on specific input regarding presence of terrorists in village Chandgam area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 55RR and 182Bn CRPF in the said area, " a Police spokesman said. "During the search operation, as the joint search party proceeded towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter, " he added. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 02 M-4 Carbine and 01 AK series rifle were recovered from the site of encounter. Among the killed militants, two have been identified as Mir Owais resident of Ashmander area of Pulwama District and a Pakistani national Talha Yasir. Regarding the third killed militant, although the recoveries made from the site of encounter indicate him to be a foreigner however his identification is being ascertained. As per Police, the slain trio was "part of group involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities". "Several terror crime cases were registered against both the killed identified terrorists. Terrorist Owais was involved in killing of a civilian namely Azad Ahmad Dar of Kangan Pulwama. The killed Pakistani terrorist Talha was mastermind in preparation of Vehicle-borne IEDs besides, involved in attack on civilian at Wanpora area of Pulwama”, Police said. Read less...

TS Tirumurti, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, has taken over as Chair of the Counter Terrorism Committee for 2022, reports Goa Chronicle. India is a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council and its two-year term ends on December 31, 2022. The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate tweeted the news of TS Tirumurti assuming the chair of the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) which was established in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Read less...

Two soldiers were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBOs) in Kot Kili village of South Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 5, reports Dawn. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was carried out by Security Forces (SFs) following reports of terrorists' presence in the area. The dead soldiers were identified as sepoy Faridullah (31), a resident of Karak District and sepoy Shuaib Hassan (29), a resident of Dera Ismail Khan District. Read less...

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar said on January 5 that the purpose of erecting the fence along the Pak-Afghan border was to provide security to people along the border, not create divisions among them, reports The Express Tribune. ISPR Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar gave an overview of the year 2021 at a press conference. During the press conference, General Iftikhar talked about the security situation along the border with Afghanistan, especially the border fencing. According to the ISPR DG, the fencing work along the Pak-Afghan border is almost completed while over 71 per cent of the work on fencing has been completed along the Pak-Iran border. Pakistan has more than 1,200 border posts along the Pak-Afghan border while there are 377 posts on the other side of the border. “This means that there is a distance of at least 7-8 km between check posts,” he said, adding that the shortage of posts has made it challenging to keep the militants in check. In 2021, 164 forts were constructed along the Pak-Afghan border and 31 forts were established along the Pak-Iran border, he said, adding that so far, a total of 673 forts/border posts have been constructed. “Pakistan has set up 67 new wings for FC Balochistan and FC KP to strengthen border security while the formation of six more wings is in the process,” he added. Speaking about the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, General Iftikhar said the operation was different from other operations as it was not area-specific or military-specific. At least 60,000 IBOs were conducted under Radd-ul-Fasaad. The measures taken by the Security Forces (SFs) busted terrorist networks across the country, he added. Over 800 security alerts were issued during the year that managed to thwart terrorism incidents by 70 per cent, the ISPR chief added. Read less...

Two terrorists were killed and three arrested during another IBO carried out by SFs in Tank area of Dera Ismail Khan District on January 5, reports Dawn. One militant surrendered to SFs and a cache of ammunition, including improvised explosive devices and rockets, were recovered from the possession of terrorists. Read less...

World Hindu Federation during a gathering at Bharatpur of Chitwan District on January 5 called to reinstate Nepal as Hindu state, reports Khabar Hub. Federation Chairman Dr. Ramchandra Adhikari said the movement to restore the Hindu state should be launched from Chitwan and made nationwide. Federation General Secretary Ganesh Prasad Neupane called for unity among like-minded people for the protection of the religion. He accused that Nepal was dismissed as the Hindu state due to the vested interests of political parties. Federation Secretary Netranath Poudel urged the masses to vote for the party carrying the agenda of Nepal as a Hindu state in the upcoming election. Read less...

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on January 5 observed the eighth anniversary of the 10th parliamentary election day — January 5, 2014 — as ‘democracy killing day’ across the country amid police obstruction, reports New Age. In Dhaka city, addressing a human chain in front of the National Press Club, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said “On this day [January 5, 2014], the illegitimate government of Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, killed democracy. A deceptive and farcical election was held on that day to completely depoliticise Bangladesh and to remove it from the list of fully democratic countries.” Read less...

On January 5, unidentified gunmen shot dead a rickshaw driver in the Saracha Ali Khan area of Police District (PD) 9 of Jalalabad city, the provincial capital of Nangarhar, reports Etilaatroz. Read less...

Chhattisgarh Police claimed that Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres had killed three of their own, including a ‘militia commander’ and a woman member, at a ‘Jan Adalat’ (People’s/ Kangaroo Court organized by the Maoists) in Pusnar-Idinar village under Gangaloor Police Station limits in Bijapur District, reports The Week on January 7. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) had reported that the CPI-Maoist cadres holding a ‘Jan Adalat’ (People’s/ Kangaroo Court organized by the Maoists) where they accused three tribal civilians of being a ‘Police informer’ and shot them dead in the presence of the villagers, Idinar village under Gangaloor Police Station limits in Bijapur District on January 6, as reported in hindi.news24online.com, stands corrected. Bastar Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sundarraj P. said the killings were the result of a 'gang war' within the western Bastar division of the CPI-Maoist. However, in an official statement, IGP Bastar said according to available information, “prima facie it appears that on January 6, Maoists have killed two of their own cadre, Kamlu Punem (militia platoon commander) along with militia member Mangi. Both Kamlu and Mangi left the Naxal camp in order to get married.” The IG said as of now, details of the third person (Maoist) killed was not available and the Bijapur Police was trying to gather more information. Read less...

Police on January 6 neutralised a “hybrid module” of The Resistance Front (TRF) outfit in Bagat Barzulla area of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), by arresting two militants and two of their associates, reports Greater Kashmir. Among arrested terrorists, Suhail Qadir Khanday S/O Ghulam Qadir Khanday R/O Tral Pulwama, Suhail Mushtaq S/O Mushtaq Ahmed Waza R/O Niklora, are active terrorist, while their associates are identified as Basit Bilal Makaya S/O Bilal Ahmed Makaya R/O Qamar Abad Qamarwari and Naikoo Imad Nasar S/O Farooq Ahmed Bhat R/O Kiloora Shopian. Both the associates worked as Over Ground Workers (OGW). Two pistols along with two magazines and 30 pistol bullets were recovered on spot. On further questioning of terrorists Incriminating material, arms and ammunition including two pistols, six pistol magazines, 69 rounds two pistol silencers have been recovered from their hideout in Srinagar city. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, central Kashmir, Sujit Kumar said they have “busted a module on credible human intelligence”. The members of this module are said to have carried out a recce of headquarters of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Delhi Police Headquarters in New Delhi. During the press conference, DIG Sujit Kumar said: “On December 22, 2021 terrorists targeted and killed a property dealer in Safakadal area”. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres holding a ‘Jan Adalat’ (People’s/ Kangaroo Court organized by the Maoists) where they accused three tribal civilians of being a ‘Police informer’ and shot them dead in the presence of the villagers, Idinar village under Gangaloor Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 6, reports hindi.news24online.com. According to the information, two youths and a woman are among the dead, and one of the youths killed is identified as Kamalu Punem, while the woman is identified as Mangi. The identity of the third youth killed is yet to be ascertained. Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP), Kamlochan Kashyap said that he also got information about this incident, after which the Police team is sent in for investigation. Read less...

Police on January 6 arrested three terrorists from Korangi District of Karachi, reports ARY News. According to Police, three terrorists associated with Lyari Gangsters were planning to attack important installations in Karachi city. Arms, hand grenades and other explosives were recovered from the possession of the terrorists. Read less...

SFs arrested a man from Bonistan area of Panjgur District on January 6 and transferred him to an unknown location, reports The Balochistan Post. The missing person was identified as Mahmood son of Rehmat Baloch, resident of Bonistan Chungi-Sar. Read less...

The meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) to be convened on January 6 has been postponed on January 5 at the request of Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), reports Republica. The Parliament Secretariat issuing a statement said that the meeting scheduled for January 6 has been postponed and has been called for January 12 at 1:00PM. The CPN-UML had requested the Parliament Secretariat to postpone the meeting for some time as it is yet to hold Conventions in some Districts. Read less...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam on January 6 said that the present Awami League (AL) Government believes in fascism and autocracy, reports Observer. He said “They don't tolerate any kind of opposing views or ideologies. As a result, they have completely destroyed democracy using the law enforcing agencies, particularly police force to serve its own purposes unlawfully. The Awami League wants to cling to power in Bangladesh forever. They are heading to establish one-party form of government in the country. The present government is working to reach this goal.” Read less...

On January 6, Taliban forces arrested former deputy head of the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC), Mawlawi Din-Mohammad Azimi, in the Qasba area under Police District 15 of Kabul city of Kabul Province, reports Hasht-e Subh. Din-Mohammad Azimi has also served as a representative of the people of Ghor in Afghanistan’s National Assembly and the deputy governor of Ghor. He is a prominent member of the Jamiat-e-Islami party. Read less...

On January 6, two Taliban members and a civilian were killed and, at least, four others were injured in the clashes between Safauddin, Criminal Investigations Bureau Chief, and Salahuddin, the police chief of Maimay District in the Maimay District of Badakhshan Province, reports Hasht-e-Subh. The dead civilian was from Shekay District of the Province. Read less...

The First Deputy of the Prime Minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, called on foreign nations to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghans without consideration of the country's political issues, reports Tolo News on January 7. Mullah Baradar, in a video message broadcast, called the Afghan situation “critical." “On the one side, there are the oppressive sanctions, and on the other side there is no infrastructure in Afghanistan from the past 20 years to facilitate job opportunities for citizens,” he said. According to Mullah Baradar, citizens across the country are in grave need of cash, shelter, and food. Read less...

A group of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres set around twenty-seven vehicles on fire in Gumla District of Jharkhand on January 7, reports The Free Press Journal. Gumla Police said, "A group of Naxals set around 27 vehicles on fire in Gumla district yesterday [January 7] evening. Many vehicles have burnt completely." An extensive search operation has been launched, the Police said. Read less...

Anup Chetia, ‘general secretary’ of Pro-Talks faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-PTF), has blamed the social media for influencing the youths in Assam to join ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I), reports Northeast Now on January 8. Anup Chetia stated that youths are being easily attracted towards the militant outfit due to sentiments and influential social media. This statement was made following the reports of two Assam Police personnel identified as Koushik Gohain and Numal Phukan joining the ULFA-I. Another person identified as Pinku Moran is also believed to have joined the banned outfit. Read less...

Three Jash-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants including two foreigners were killed and an Army officer was injured in an encounter in Zolwa Chadoora area of Budgam District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in the morning of January 7, reports Daily Excelsior. Based on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in Zolwa Chadoora area, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Security Forces (SFs) in the evening of January 6. “During the search operation, as the presence of militants was ascertained they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated, leading to an encounter. The SF evacuated the civilians trapped around the encounter site. “To avoid any collateral damage due to darkness, the operation was suspended during night hours”, an official said. However, in the wee hours, the operation resumed, resulting in the killing of three militants of JeM. An Army officer received minor splinter injury. One of the killed militants has been identified as Waseem Mir son of Ghulam Qadir Mir, resident of Nowgam Srinagar, who was active since December 2020. The official said that documents recovered revealed that the other two killed militants appeared to be foreigners. As per Police records, Waseem was a categorized militant and part of group involved in several cases including attacks on SFs and civilian atrocities. Several cases were registered against him. Read less...

Five drug peddlers were arrested along with narcotics in two separate incidents in Assam, reports Assam Tribune. Tweeting about the arrests, Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 7 stated that under the leadership of Joint Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta, drugs worth several crores were seized and five interstate drug dealers were arrested in two separate incidents. Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a journalist identified as Sajad Gul for allegedly instigating people to “resort to violence and disturb public peace”, reports Greater Kashmir on January 8. According to Police, Sajad had “uploaded the objectionable videos with anti-national slogans raised by some women folk on the day when most wanted terrorist Saleem Parray was eliminated in Shalimar Srinagar". Further Police stated that Sajad operates a twitter account in the name of Sajad Gull and is always propagating against the government and uploads tweets not based on facts in order to provoke the people against Govt and to spread animosity, ill will among the people and against the Nation. Two cases FIR No. 12/2021 U/S 147, 447, 336, 353/IPC and FIR No. 79/2021 U/S 120B, 153B, 505/IPC has already been registered against him. Read less...

Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said on January 7 that as many as 11 terrorists have been gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir in 2022 so far, and most of them were top commanders of JeM and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), reports Daily Excelsior. Asked about the “hit list” of the city terrorists that the SFs had prepared, the IGP Vijay Kumar informed that all of the terrorists on the list have been killed. Read less...

Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha said on January 7 that terrorism is on its last legs in Kashmir, people of the Valley were also fed up with violence, they want development like other parts of the world and public support for extremism is ending, reports Daily Excelsior. He stated this in an interview to Gulf News during his four-day visit to Dubai in which the J&K Government signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with top business houses of Dubai for investments in the Union Territory. To a question that conflict in Kashmir could be a bottleneck in attracting foreign investments, Sinha said going by the data, you will find that terrorism in on its last legs in the Valley. Read less...

On January 7, a high alert has been sounded at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur of Maharashtra after a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist admitted conducting recce, reports Hindustan Times. A JeM terrorist of Jammu and Kashmir who was recently arrested revealed that some members of the group have conducted a reconnaissance of some buildings in Nagpur including RSS headquarters and Hedgewar Bhavan at Reshimbagh. Following this, Police have increased security and also banned photography and the use of drones around the RSS headquarters at Mahal and the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Bhavan, Reshimbagh. Read less...

The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) dump along with five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other Maoist-related items near Korhigandi village in Swabhimaan Anchal in Malkangiri District of Odisha on January 7, reports ommcomnews.com. According to reports, an operation team of the newly established Company Operating Base (COB) Ghanabeda/09 Bn recovered the IEDs, later on, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of BSF, cordoned the area and destroyed the IEDs in situ, thwarting a possible threat to the operating Security Forces in the region. Read less...

Three accomplices of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, an aide of KTF’s Canada-based ‘chief’ Hardeep Singh Nijjar, were arrested with two hand-grenades and two pistols from Chogawan village in Moga District of Punjab on January 7, reports Hindustan Times. The arrestees identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of Shadiwala village, Varinder Singh alias Vinda of Makhu and Baljeet Singh of Fatehgarh Panjtoor village in Moga District, had planned to attack a church in Moga to disturb the law-and-order situation, the Police said. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Charanjeet Singh Sohal said, “The accused had done a recce of a church and planned a grenade attack on it. However, we caught them and averted the attack.” The SSP further said, “First the accused tried to run over the police team with their vehicle when they were intercepted and then they tried to throw grenades at them. They also pointed pistols at the police personnel. However, the police managed to catch them.” A .9mm pistol, a magazine and six cartridges were recovered from Gurpreet Singh, while a .9mm pistol, two magazines and 12 cartridges were found with Varinder Singh and two hand-grenades were recovered from Baljeet Singh. The SSP said, “During interrogation, they said that they were in regular touch with Arsh Dala, who provided them the grenades to throw at a religious place. He had also given them money for this task.” According to the Police, Dala along with KTF’s Canada-based chief Nijjar is a co-conspirator behind the targeted killings in Punjab, including the murder of a Dera follower and firing on a priest in Nijjar’s village. Besides, he was the prime accused in the murder of gangster Sukha Lamme and a trader in Moga. At present, he is hiding in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Read less...

On January 7, two terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on Amirwanda Road within the Lakki Police Station (PS) of Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Daily Times. Two Kalashnikovs, six magazines, a huge amount of ammunition, two identity cards, cash, a sack full of explosive material, and other equipment were recovered from the possession of slain militants. Read less...

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on January 7 acquitted 17 workers of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), reports Samaa TV. A case against them was registered at Shahdarah Police Station of Lahore for disrupting the Government’s work and giving death threats. Police in its report had declared them not guilty. The court decided to acquit the accused in light of the Police report. In October, thousands of TLP workers were arrested and FIRs, under sections of inciting violence and terrorism, were registered at multiple Police stations in Lahore after they clashed with the Punjab Police during their march on Islamabad. Read less...

Police on January 7 foiled a terror bid by recovering 20 hand grenades stuffed in a shopper from the Garden area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports ARY News. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), City, Sarfaraz Nawaz said that they have recovered a shopper carrying 20 hand grenades from a garbage dump in the Dhobi Ghat area of Garden. “Bomb Disposal Squad is currently involved in defusing the bombs and clearing the area,” SSP Sarfaraz Nawaz added. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli inaugurating the convention of 63 Districts across the country through virtual medium on January 7 said that the result of the National Assembly (NA) election could be unfavorable, reports Khabar Hub. Oli said “Seats were distributed in the name of adjusting various parties some four years ago and now a reactionary alliance has been formed using the same as weapon. We are still strong alone.” He claimed that the alliance will have a poor show in the fresh elections and urged party cadres to face the unfavorable situation for the time being. Election for the 19 vacant seats in the NA is being held on January 26. Read less...

Colombo District Court on January 7 rejected a request made by former President Maithripala Sirisena that he be released from several civil lawsuits filed by the victims of Easter Sunday attacks, reports Daily Mirror. The relatives of those who have died during the suicide bomb blasts took place in Colombo and individuals who injured had filed 128 lawsuits before Colombo District Court claiming compensations from former President Maithreepala Sirisena and several others. President's Counsel Faizer Mustapha appearing for the former President made a request to release his client from these cases. He further contended that there is no legal basis to proceed with these lawsuits. President's Counsel Shamil Perera appearing for the aggrieved party raised objections for the request and said the application to release the defendant from the cases is contrary to the provisions of Civil Procedure Code. The victims alleged that the defendants including former President Sirisena have failed to perform their official duties entrusted to prevent the terrorist attacks that took place on April 21, 2019 which caused irreparable damages to them. Read less...

On January 7, unidentified Gunmen shot at a former member of parliament from Kapisa province, Hadi Safi, while he was returning home from mosque after Friday prayers in Police District (PD) 4 in Kabul city of Kabul Province, reports Tolo News. Read less...

Police, in an operation, arrested an individual suspected to be linked to terrorism in Vilimale’ under North Male Atoll on January 7, reports Sun.mv. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Masa Sodhi, surrendered in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 8, reports UNI. Sodhi, a resident of Fulpad village within Kuakonda Police Station limits, and carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, stands accused of triggering an explosion in 2016 at Mailewada, which resulted in seven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. Sodhi was also allegedly involved in the 2017 Burkapal encounter that claimed the lives of 12 personnel and two Maoists. Cases of attempts to murder, damaging roads and other property are also registered against the insurgent at various Police Stations. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘Area Committee Member, (ACM)’ of Pedabayalu Dalam (armed squad) identified as Korra Singru alias Sundarrao alias Palem Sundarrao alias Joyo (52) was arrested by Sileru Police at Sapparla junction under Sileru Police Station limits in G K Veedhi Mandal (administrative sub-division) in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh on January 8, reports The Hans India. Korra Singru joined Raithu Coolie Sangham as a Maoist party member in 2000. Since then, he worked as Maoist militia, Dalam member, party member and ACM. Currently, he's working as Pedabayalu ACM. He moved along with Maoist party in Galikonda, Korukonda, Pedabayalu areas of Visakhapatnam District and cut off area, and committed several offences. So far, he was involved in over 70 offences in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Odisha. He has been with the Maoist party for the past 21 years and played an active role to mobilise public support, arrange logistics and to recruit fresh cadres. Superintendent of Police (SP), Visakhapatnam District, B Krishna Rao said, along with involving in the brutal murder of Chikkudu Satyarao, Singru was also involved in murders of Korra Rangarao, Korra Sathibabu and Kolakani Surya Chandrababu. In addition, Singru also played a key role in two landmine blasts and five exchanges of fire. The Police seized one country made pistol, two detonators, a steel carriage and an electrical wire from Singru. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre Vijay Yadav, the ‘secretary’ of the Northeast area of Bihar and Jharkhand of CPI-Maoist, was arrested during an operation by a joint team of Special Task Force (STF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from his house in Bhalgodi village under Jhajha Police Station limits in Jamui District of Bihar on January 8, reports hindi.news18.com. Arrested Maoist Yadav was also an assistant to the top leader Pravesh of the CPI-Maoist, as well as he used to provide essential goods for Naxalite [Left Wing Extremist, LWE] incidents. Police was also looking for it in the case of explosive ammonium nitrate recovered from Sono Police Station area in recent days. It is said that Jamui Police had recovered a huge quantity of explosives from Jhajha Police Station area in the past. After this it was revealed that there was a conspiracy to blow up several under-construction bridges in Sono Police Station area of the district at the behest of Maoist leader Pravesh. Read less...

Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP) ‘sub-zonal commander’ Bhavani surrendered before the Police in Palamu District of Jharkhand on Jharkhand 8, reports prabhatkhabar.com. Bhavani, a resident of Huntar located in Ramgarh Police Station limits in Palamu, was active in Latehar and Garhwa Districts. He was earlier associated with Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) and joined JJMP in the year 2016. He was made ‘commander’ after JJMP hardcore extremists Mahesh Bhuyan and Ramsunder Ram were killed in an encounter. Bhavani's surrender has dealt a big blow to the JJMP organization, because it was because of Bhavani's activity that JJMP was creating panic in the areas of Palamu division. JJMP and TPC are splinter groups of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist). Read less...

On January 8, arms and ammunition along with narcotics were recovered from a house in Chavangphai village of Tengnoupal District, reports United News of India. During search operation, a huge quantity of WIY narcotics tablets, 12 live rounds and two fired cases of 12 Bore Rifle and two live rounds of the pistol were recovered. Read less...

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 has been extended for one more year in Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal areas, reports The Northeast Today. In a notification signed by the Special Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur, H. Gyan Prakash released on January 8, “Whereas the Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that due to violent activities of various extremist/insurgent groups, the entire State of Manipur is in such a disturbed condition that the use of Armed Forces in aid of civil power is necessary; And, whereas the Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that the areas within the State of Manipur be declared as a ‘Disturbed Area’ under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, as amended from time to time.” Further adding, the notification states, “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act No.28 of 1958) as amended from time to time, the Governor of Manipur hereby accords ex-post facto approval to declare the entire State of Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal Area as ‘Disturbed Area’ for a period of 1 (one) year with retrospective effect from December 1, 2021.” Read less...

Dawn quoting the United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) data reported on January 8 that fifty-five journalists and media professionals, four Pakistanis among them, were killed 2021, with nearly nine in 10 killings since 2006 still unresolved. UNESCO, which collected the data, stated that nearly three-quarters of female media professionals surveyed had experienced online violence linked to their work. In Pakistan, 85 journalists have been killed since 1993, including four killed in 2021. Read less...

On January 8, three people were killed and three others were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire at their convoy at the Loni Road area in Sibi city of Sibi District, reports The Nation. The convoy also included Nawabzada Baru Khan Barozai, brother of Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Barozai, the ex-interim Chief Minister of Balochistan who sustained injuries. Two soldiers who lost their lives in the attack were identified as Sepoy Naseeb Ullah and Sepoy Insha Allah. Read less...

Six terrorists of Islamic State (IS) including Asghar Samalani were killed during exchange of fire at Eastern Bypass area of Quetta of Balochistan, reports Ary News on January 9. The terrorists initially lobbed grenades and fired at Security Forces (SF) when asked to surrender. In retaliation, six terrorists were killed. Improvised explosive device, three submachine guns with 200 rounds, two 9mm pistols with 47 rounds, a hand grenade and two motorcycles were recovered from the terrorist hideout. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) and Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba on January 8 urged the main opposition party Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) to stop Parliament obstruction, reports Republica. He paid a courtesy call to CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli at his residence in Balkot. Earlier, the high-level political coordination committee meeting of the ruling alliance held at the official residence of PM Sher Bahadur Deuba on January 7 had decided to take initiatives to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament. Read less...

A gunfight broke out between militants and Security Forces (SFs) in Hasanpora area of Kulgam District in Jammu and Kashmir in the afternoon of January 9, reports Greater Kashmir. "Encounter has started at Hasanpora area of Kulgam. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow, ' a Police spokesman said. It was not immediately known as to how many militants are trapped in the area. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Jharkhand have been using luxury vehicles, bought with the money extorted from businessman and contractors, reports The New Indian Express on January 10. The recent arrest of cadres of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) from Ranchi has revealed that the Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) in the State are leading a luxurious life and the top Maoists are using highly expensive vehicles even up to worth INR 15 million. These vehicles are being used by the rebels for collecting ‘levy’ (extortion money) from the local businessmen and supplying arms to its cadres. According to an official communiqué issued by Ranchi Police, a tip-off was received by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) that some of the people involved in supplying arms and ammunitions had been spotted near Dhurwa. A raid was conducted at a roadside Dhaba near Ring Road in Ranchi on Thursday (January 6) during which Arya Kumar Singh and Ujjwal Kumar Sahu were arrested along with Amirchand Kumar, who had come to receive the SIM cards for the PLFI cadres. Three others — Nivesh Kumar, Shubham Kumar and Dhruv Kumar — escaped in a BMW car and Thar jeep. They reportedly belong to the