South Asia: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) on February 1 arrested three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, identified as Mohammad Jabbar (kingpin of the module), Majid Dar and Zohaib Khan, from unspecified locations in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and neutralised a LeT module tasked with carrying out blasts in crowded places and to target security vehicles in J&K, reports Daily Excelsior. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Rajouri, Haseeb Mughal said the module was neutralised after an investigation was launched following the recovery of sophisticated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the District on January 8 and 18. Officials also reported the recovery of two more IEDs on the basis of disclosures made by them, which were meant to be smuggled across the border and used to detonate explosions at vulnerable locations in an attempt to create chaos and challenge government order. Read less...

On February 1, BSF personnel fired four rounds at a drone entering from Pakistan into Indian territory near the Mumbeke village of Fazilka District in Punjab, reports Punjab Kesari. During the search of the area, the troops recovered three packets of contraband, suspected to be heroin (narcotics) weighing 2.622 kilograms, along with a blinker device. Read less...

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on February 1, issued an order to put into effect the listing of Pakistan-based Abdul Rehman Makki as a United Nations (UN)-listed terrorist, reports livemint.com. Makki was recently designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 16. According to the MEA, Makki is the ‘deputy chief’ of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), as well as the head of LeT's international relations section and a member of Shura. MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, “We welcome the decision of the UN Security Council's ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee to list Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki, who is also the brother-in-law of LeT chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. He has occupied various leadership roles within LeT, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). He has also played a role in raising funds for LeT operations.” Read less...

Another Army personnel was killed in a sniper bullet when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres attack an Army post in Zamuran area of Kech District on February 1, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Former Prime Minister (PM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on February 1 said that he was not responsible for the resurgence of terrorism in the country, reports The Express Tribune. "I am not part of the government... how can I be blamed for it (rise in terrorism)," he said while addressing his supporters from his Zaman Park resident in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. Imran also spoke at length about the causes of the deteriorating security situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and pointed out that he had categorically told the former Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa that the economic and security situation would go out of hand if he allowed to succeed the ‘regime change operation’. Earlier the day, on February 1, PM Shehbaz Sharif on raised serious concern over the resurfacing of terrorism in KP, accusing the PTI of failing to maintain security despite availability of special funds, reports The Express Tribune. In his remarks at a meeting of the Federal Cabinet, the PM said that PTI had been ruling the province for the last 10 years and was responsible to ensure the safety of the lives of innocent people that suffered a new spate of terrorist incidents. The PM said that PKR 417 billion were provided to the KP Government since 2010 under the National Finance Commission Award, and that the funding was supposed to be used for capacity-building of KP Police and Security Forces. He said that the money was the province's right, but questioned where the amount was spent. “Where was this money spent despite the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD)?” he questioned. He said that the nation wanted the KP Government to be held accountable for the return of terrorism in the province. “Who regarded the terrorist as ‘jihadi’ and let them return?” he asked, in an apparent remarked aimed at PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Read less...

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on February 1, arrested a fugitive War Criminal, identified as Abdul Majid alias Majid Maulana from Madaripur District of Dhaka Division, who was sentenced to death for committing Crimes against Humanity in 1971, reports The Daily Star. In March 2019, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) awarded Majid, to death for torture, abduction, murder and rape in Netrokona during the Liberation War. Read less...

A 24-year-old man, identified as Yasin, on February 1, evening was killed by unidentified armed men in Gol Qeshlaq village in Aybak, capital city of Samangan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh. Hitherto, the cause and motive of his murder have not been clarified. The occurrence of murders and criminal offenses taken place repeatedly throughout Afghanistan have caused concern and fear among citizens. Read less...

A former member of the Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), identified as Zia-ul-Haq, was kidnapped by armed men in Aybak, capital of Samangan Province on February 1, reports Hasht-e Subh. Read less...

On February 1, Saudi Arabia evacuated all its diplomats and Embassy staff in Kabul, after the Taliban barred all female employees of the Embassy from working, reports Hasht-e Subh. “Apparently, the Saudis have closed their embassy in response to the ban on female employees working with international Organizations,” the source added. “But it is also believed that the evacuation was done based on a pre-planned arrangement.” Read less...

On February 1, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced that the United States is imposing new visa restrictions on certain current and former Taliban members, non-state security group members and others who are believed to be involved in repressing the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, reports Hasht-e Subh. “The Taliban’s most recent edicts ban women from universities and from working with NGOs, and further the Taliban’s previous measures that closed secondary schools to girls and limit the ability of women and girls to participate in the Afghan society and economy”, he stated. Read less...

US Special Envoy for Afghan women, Rina Amiri, on February 1, said that restrictions imposed by the Taliban against women are not based on Sharia law and Afghan culture, reports Hasht-e Subh. She twitted, “The Taliban’s relentless measures against women and girls’ education has been repudiated by the world, including the OIC and Muslim-majority countries, as well as Afghans themselves. These actions are not about religion and culture – they stifle Afghanistan’s greatest potential.” Read less...

A senior militant of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), ‘major’ Bubul Chandra Baruah alias Sangram Saikia, surrendered before the Special Branch of Assam Police in Kahilipara locality in Guwahati city of Kamrup Metropolitan District in Assam on February 2, reports Hindustan Times. Baruah was born in Miripathar Bhajo village of Charaideo District and joined ULFA-I in June, 1997 when he was pursuing his bachelor’s degree at Sonari College. “From 1998, he was involved in imparting arms and medical training to the outfit’s cadres and since 2011 he has been working as chief of arms and medical camp at the ULFA-I camp at Taga in Hukawng Valley located in Kachin State of Sagaing Division,” said the Police release. Further, the Police report suggested that Baruah provided arms training to around 700 cadres and medical training to 150 cadres of the outfit between 2011 and 2019. Read less...

A wanted cadre of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Dablu Vishwakarma alias Shakti Vishwakarma, was arrested from Tandwa Police Station area in Aurangabad District of Bihar on February 2, reports The Times of India. Following a tip-off that the wanted cadre was hiding at Vishunpur village under Tandwa Police Station limits, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) launched a joint search operation and arrested Dablu Vishwakarma, who was wanted in several cases, including the 2018 assault on Rampravesh Mehta, a resident of Hussainabad village in Palamu District of Jharkhand, and demanding ‘levy’ (extortion money). Later, he was handed over to Hussainabad Police of Palamu District. Read less...

Huge Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) dump was recovered during a combing operation by Security Forces (SFs) in Kalahandi District of Odisha on February 2, reports Kalinga TV. A team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was conducting a combing operation in Bhuruti Forest under Narla Police limits of the District, and during the raid, the SFs busted the Maoist camp and seized two guns and other items belonging to the red rebels. The seized items include one Bharmar, 11 Electric detonators, one Gun Power, one Maoist banner, Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] literature, Electric wire, one electric extension board, four batteries, two Mosquito nets, two Water bottles, one Black polythene, one Axe, two torchlights, one pair of Shoe, one pair of Slipper, Civil clothes and Medicines including syringes and needles. Following the discovery of this dump, security has been tightened and search intensified in the area and its periphery. Read less...

On February 2, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, identified as, Mohammad Auraf Sheikh alias Arif, from Reasi District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), for carrying out multiple blasts in J&K, reports Daily Excelsior. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted inside a perfume bottle was recovered from his possession. Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh stated that arrested accused used to get IEDs and sticky bombs from the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Samba and Kathua Districts in J&K where they were drone-dropped by LeT operatives from Pakistan at the behest of LeT ‘commander’ Mohammad Qasim. He has accepted his involvement in the bombing of the bus on May 13, 2022, IED explosion in February 2022 and the twin explosions at Narwal in Jammu District in J&K on January 21, 2023. Read less...

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in a joint operation with Chhattisgarh Police arrested seven cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Kalmu Satyam, Kalmu Joga, Madivi Manga, Madakam Aitha, Kikidi Joga, Vando Unga and Kalmu Bheema, from Kondavai village in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on February 2, reports latestly.com. "All the seven apprehended were Nimmalagudem's Revolutionary People's Council (RPC) militia members of the banned Communist Party of India (CPI) Maoist Party," the CRPF said in a statement, adding that Satyam, Joga, Manga and Unga are RPC members for the last three years; Aitha and Joga are RPC members for the last two years, while Bheema is an RPC member for the last year. Read less...

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on February 2, filed a chargesheet before a special court against five Popular Front of India (PFI) operatives, identified as Mazhar Mansoor Khan, Shaikh Sadik Isak Qureshi, Mohammed Iqbal Mohammed Ibrahim Khan, Momin Mohiuddin Gulam Hasan and Aasif Aminul Hussain Khan, who were earlier arrested on September 22, 2022, following nationwide raids for suspectedly being involved in unlawful activities and waging war against the nation, reports The Indian Express. The ATS stated the chargesheet consists of statements of over 250 witnesses. A book named ‘India 2047’, which was seized from Mazhar’s house in Vikhroli in Mumbai, was made a part of the chargesheet. The ATS had maintained that the PFI was working towards transforming India by 2047 and as mentioned in the book wanted India to be governed by Islamic laws. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 2, filed a second supplementary charge sheet in a special court in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, against three Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) accused, named as Hamidulla alias Mufakir alias Raju Gazi alias Chamed Ali Miya, Mohammad Shahadat Hussain alias Abdulla alias Hafijul Haque alias Obaidulla and Talha Talukder Faruq –all residents of Bangladesh, in a case related to JMB, reports The Print. NIA investigations revealed that Hamidulla, Hussain and Faruq are JMB cadres, who illegally entered India with the intention to further its violent terror activities. The NIA further mentioned in its chargesheet that the accused also provoked impressionable Muslim youth to launch violent jihad in India to establish Islamic (Sharia) law in India. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) Mumbai office on February 2, received an email threatening that a person would carry out a terror attack in Mumbai in Maharashtra, reports India Today on February 3. The email claimed that a person linked to the Taliban would carry out the attack in Mumbai. According to the Police, the email address used to send the threat message had the letters "CIA" in it and the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the sender has been traced to Pakistan. Following the threat, the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) were alerted. Read less...

Three Security Force (SF) personnel, identified as Rakesh Pathak, B D Anal and Pankaj Yadav, were injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) exploded in Chaibasa area in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on February 2, reports The Print. Based on information that top CPI-Maoist leaders including Misir Besra, who was carrying a reward of INR 10 million on his head, have assembled in forest between Meralgada and Hathiburu villages, a joint team comprising Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jharkhand Jaguar (JJ) and District Armed Police (DAP) was rushed to the area when the IED planted by the Maoists exploded, Superintendent of Police (SP), Ashutosh Shekhar said. Read less...

An Army personnel was killed in a Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) sniper bullet in Abdui Nahang Kor area of Tump tehsil (revenue unit) in Kech District on February 2, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

An unidentified terrorist was killed in retaliation by Police officials after a gun attack on a Police patrolling van in the Shabara area of Charsadda District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 2, reports ARY News. District Police Officer (DOP) Sohail Khalid said that two attackers on a motorcycle opened fire at a Police van in the Shabara area. In retaliation, Police killed one of the attackers and arrested another. Read less...

Pakistan on February 2, asked the interim Afghanistan Government to take ‘concrete actions’ against terrorist outfits including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating out of the neighbouring country in the wake of deadly terrorist attack in Peshawar killing over 102 mostly police officials, reports The Express Tribune. “Pakistan expects sincere cooperation from the interim Afghan government to address the challenge of terrorism and hopes that Kabul would live up to the commitments made to the international community in this regard,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told during a weekly news briefing in Islamabad. “We do not believe in accusations or finger pointing; however, we would reiterate our expectation that no country should allow its territory to be used for perpetrating terrorism against Pakistan,” she said without explicitly mentioning Afghanistan. “It is time the commitments made to the world and Pakistan are fulfilled with sincerity and in good faith with concrete actions,” the spokesperson emphasised, referring to the commitment made by the Afghan Taliban not to allow the Afghan soil to be used again by terrorist groups. Read less...

Police on February 2, shot dead three terrorists during an encounter in Gujarabad area under Nasta Police Station of Charsadda District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 2, reports Samaa TV. Police officials said that they received a tip-off about the presence of suspected terrorists in the Gujarabad area. As Police approached the location, the terrorists started firing upon the officers. A gun battle ensued in which three terrorists were killed. Read less...

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres on February 2 destroyed a truck plundering resources and a communications tower in two separate attacks in Mangochar and Parodh areas of Kalat District, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack on Army construction company, Frontier Works Organization (FWO), in Kallug Kalulanch area of Gwadar District on February 2 and set fire to all the machinery, reports Radio Zrumbesh. The burnt machinery included three dumpers, one loader, one water tank, one roller and a grader in 7 vehicles. The spokesperson said that all the machinery including the vehicles in the camp have been set on fire which were completely burnt to ashes. Read less...

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) fired rockets at the Army camp in Awaran from different directions, causing loss of property on February 2, reports Radio Zrumbesh. Read less...

The death count from the Peshawar Police Lines Mosque suicide attack targeting Police officers was revised down to 84 on February 2, reports NDTV. The figure had earlier been put at 101 killed. "The confusion arose and wrong statistics came out due to double registration by the families in the hospitals," Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ejaz Khan said. "Now that the rescue work has been completed, we have completed the statistics, according to which 84 people were martyred." He said 83 were Policemen, while one was a civilian woman living and working on the compound. Moazzam Jah Ansari, the Chief of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Police, confirmed the new death count to reporters. Read less...

16 ‘alleged’ convicts were publicly flogged by the Taliban in Helmand Province, Hasht-e- Subh reports on February 2. Taliban-appointed Deputy Director of Information and Culture Department for Helmand, Mohammad Qasim Riaz, said on February 2, that these people were flogged on charges of committing robbery, having extramarital affairs and breaching social and moral principles. According to him, each of these people was given 30 to 39 lashes. Read less...

Abdulhaq Haq Hammad, the Taliban-appointed publications department Director of the Ministry of Information and Culture, confirmed via Twitter on February 2, Ismail Masha’al, a former university lecturer was detained by Taliban fighters for provocative actions against the Taliban Government, reports Hasht-e Subh. He added that Ismail Masha’al had invited journalists and created a crowd on the street and recently quit teaching at the university to protest against the ban on university education for women in Afghanistan and started handing out books to young people on the streets. Read less...

Italian TG1 News Network revealed an investigative report showing that Qatar had paid Ashraf Ghani, Marshal Dostum, and Atta Mohammad Noor USD 110, USD 51, and USD 61 million, respectively, not to fight against Taliban fighters, khaama.com reports on February 3. The network has recently published three documents that indicate the receipt of bribes to the prominent leaders of Afghanistan a month before the collapse of the previous government in Afghanistan. The document state that Ajmal Ahmadi has received USD 110 million on behalf of Afghanistan’s former president Ashraf Ghani. Document shows Ajmal Ahmadi, former director of the Afghanistan Central Bank and Representative of Former president Ashraf Ghani has signed the receipt. On the other hand, the document revealed that the former first deputy of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council as the special representative of former vice president Marshal Dostum had received USD 51 million from the Qatar representative in Kabul. While Mohammad Farhad Azimi, representative of Atta Mohammad Noor and Former governor of Balkh, has received USD 61 million from Qatar’s representative in Kabul. The documents also revealed that all three representatives of the former Afghan leaders received money from the Qatar representative after signing the documents on July 7, 2021. The archive of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that Dr Mutlaq Al- Qahtani was in Kabul and had met with Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace (Arg) on July 7, 2021. Read less...

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States (US) ambassador to the United Nations (UN), said "We are going to judge them on their actions and so for that reason, they are not recognized in the UN and we have not recognized them here ...,", Tolo News reported on February 3. She further added that Taliban has always reiterated that it has completed all the conditions required for official recognition. Read less...

Local officials on February 2, said that the provincial counter-narcotic department officers eradicated poppy farms in the Pur Chaman District of Farah Province, reports bakhtarnews.af. The counter-narcotic department accelerated their efforts and will not allow anyone to buy and sell the drug, the source concluded. Read less...

A special team of the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in a joint operation against Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) recovered 1178 live cartridges (.3006 MM) hidden in a plastic bucket in the western hill area adjacent to Langurahi village near Chakrabandha Hill in Aurangabad District of Bihar on February 3, reports The Print. Following intelligence input that preparations were being made by Maoists to attack Security Forces (SFs) in Langurahi and surrounding areas under Madanpur Police Station, a joint team of CRPF's 47th Corps, 205 CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) Corps, STF and CRPF-Gaya's 159th Corps, launched an operation against the Maoists and recovered the ammunitions. Read less...

Assam Rifles Keithelmanbi Battalion in a joint operation with Police arrested one militant of the Socialist Revolution Party Kangleipak (SOREPA) from Ahallup Thongkhong in Imphal East District of Manipur on February 3, reports NE NOW . Read less...

Assam Rifles Loktak Battalion in a joint operation with Police arrested one militant of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) from Laingoubi Chingya Leikai (locality) market shed area in Kumbi village in Bishnupur District of Manipur on February 3, reports NE NOW on February 5. Read less...

On February 3, Punjab Police carried out a special Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at over 1,490 suspected hideouts of people linked with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Canada-based terrorist Goldy Brar across the state and arrested several people (names not stated) with incriminating materials, reports Tribune India. The operation was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and abroad, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated. Read less...

On February 3, Security Forces (SFs) arrested six militant associates of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), identified as Shahid Ahmad Padder alias Jeela, Ubaid Ahmad Itoo, Danish Ahmad Dar, Nawaz Ahmad Ganie, Aabid Mushtaq alias Raju and Kifayat Ahmad Lone alias Rinku from Kulgam District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Daily Excelsior. One pistol, one pistol magazine, 18 pistol rounds, one hand grenade, four Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) shells, two mortar shells, 30 AK 47 rounds, 446 M4 rounds, eight M4 magazines, one AK 47 magazine, one Insas magazine, one wireless set, four walky-talky and other incriminating materials were recovered from them. Read less...

On February 3, the Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a drone carrying contraband entering India from along the International Border (IB) in the Amritsar District of Punjab, reports Tribune India. A search of the area is being undertaken by the troops. Read less...

On February 3, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) carried out raids at Parimpora, Jawahar Nagar, Natipora, Chhanapora, Bulbul Bagh and Qamarwari areas of Srinagar District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) pertaining to financial networks of terror outfits operating in J&K, reports Daily Excelsior. Incriminating material including laptop, mobile phones, bank documents, cash worth INR 1,00,000 have been recovered. Apart from Indian currency, the SIA also recovered 550 USD, 8000 UAE Dirham, 10 Saudi Riyals, and 1,96,730 Thai Baht during the raids. Read less...

At least two terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces in the Esham area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 3, reports ARY News. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said the intense encounter continued for hours during which two terrorists were killed. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists. Read less...

Four Pakistan Coast Guard (PCG) personnel were killed and five others injured when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres attacked a patrolling team with a remote-controlled bomb and firing with automatic weapons in Jeemuri area of Gwadar District of Balochistan on February 3, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesman’ Azad Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. He said that the BLA cadres targeted the PCG team when they were on their way to the Lighthouse camp after picking up their remaining personnel on patrol from the seaside. Read less...

Nine terrorists from Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were arrested in Punjab-wide Intelligence-Based Operations (IBO) initiated by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), reports Daily Times on February 4. Terrorists were arrested in Lahore, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur Districts. Abdur Rehman, Roed Khan, Ghulamullah, Ahmad Hassan, Jalil Ahmad, Imdadullah, Basit Ali, and Junaid Ali were among those arrested. Equipment for readying suicide vests, rocket charges, hand grenades, and heavy quantities of weapons were recovered from the possession of the terrorists. Read less...

Police on February 3 arrested four terrorist, including a prayer leader, belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during a raid on a house in Hund village of Swabi District, reports Dawn. Regional police officer (RPO) Mohammad Ali Gandapur said the raid was conducted on a house adjacent to the residence of Abdur Rehman, a local Government councillor and also Pesh Imam of a local mosque, who was also present there. He said the Police had also recovered five kilogramme explosives, 26 hand grenades, 46 detonators, 60 safety fuses, two transmitters, a Kalashnikov, wire and receivers, one rocket launcher and a pistol, 49 dry battery cells, 237 rounds, four magazines, seven mobile phones and 78 CD decks. Read less...

The workers of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on February 3 vandalised and demolished the minarets of Ahmadi Mosque in presence of Police near mobile market in Saddar Town of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports Firstpost. This is the second incident in a month. Earlier, the minarets of Ahmadi Jamaat Khata on Jamshed Road in Karachi were demolished. Read less...

On January 3, Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) of Bangladesh Police arrested Tamij Ahammed Sobuj, a cadre of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) from Notun Bazar area under Vatara Police Station in Dhaka, reports Dhaka Tribune. He was convicted and sentenced to two-year imprisonment in an Anti-Terrorism Act case. "He was arrested in 2014 while distributing leaflets for Hizb ut-Tahrir. Later he went into hiding after coming out of jail on bail. Sobuj was sentenced to two-year imprisonment in the case filed with capital's Kalabagan police station," Superintendent of Police Mohammad Aslam Khan said. Read less...

Police arrested nine leaders and activists of Jamaat–e–Islami (JeI) during a secret meeting held in the house of the late Jamaat leader of Korotkola village of Raynagar union of Shibganj Sub-District of Bogra District, on February 3, reports dhakatribune.com. The arrested are identified as, Abdul Halim, Mosharf Hossain, Ashar Uddin, Momtaz Uddin, Alal Uddin, Tofazzal Hossain, Sultan Mahmud, Belal Uddin 58, and Shah Alam 55. A case was filed against them the same night. The arrestees were sent to jail through court on February 4, Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monjurul Alam said. Five cocktails, report books, extortion receipts, and some steel rods were recovered from their possession, the OC added. The officer said that JeI members called the meetings to carry out anti-government activities and spread fear among the public. Read less...

By issuing a decree on February 3, Taliban banned marriages among Shia and Sunni in Nusay in Darwaz-e Bala District of Badakhshan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh. This decree says “Regarding religious and ideological considerations, all ethnic groups in the territory of this District are instructed that from now on, no one from Sunni followers will be allowed to give a daughter to a Shia follower, nor a Shia Muslim can give a daughter to a Sunni Muslim.” Read less...

Four men, including two clerics were found dead on February 3, in Khas Kunar District of Kunar Province, reports Hasht-e Subh. Signs of injuries due to torture were visible on their bodies. No information was immediately available on the reason and perpetrators. Read less...

On February 3, unidentified assailants shot dead seven members of a family including four children, two women and one man in Jar Qala village of Chemtal District in Balkh Province, reports Hasht-e Subh. Hitherto, no information is available on the reason and motives for this mass shooting. Read less...

Two former members of Afghanistan’s National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) were killed in Jawzjan Province, Hasht-e Subh reports on February 4. Sattar Sirat, was found dead in the valleys of Jawzjan after being arrested by the Taliban two weeks ago. As Siret’s body exhibits signs of torture and beating, sources suggest that he was killed in a cruel and heinous manner. In addition, former republic government Police Officer, Enayatullah, was found dead in Fayz Abad District, reportedly his body was burned. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Malla alias Daka Muchaki (34), was arrested by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from a forest between Gondaras and Potli villages in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on February 4, reports The Pioneer. Muchaki, involved in several Naxalite [Left Wing Extremist, LWE] incidents last year, was the militia ‘platoon section deputy commander’ of the Maoist outfit in Gondaras Panchayat (village level local self-Government institution), Superintendent of Police (SP), Siddharth Tiwari said. Read less...

A member of the Popular Front of India (PFI), identified as Wasid Khan, a resident of Sheopur District of Madhya Pradesh, was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in Bhopal on February 4, reports Free Press Journal. Sources stated that the accused was associated with the PFI since 2017 and regularly participated in all the programs and secret meetings organized by the organization. Along with this, he was also in contact with the senior officials of the organization. In 2019, he joined the PFI’s legal wing, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO). Currently, he is state general secretary of the NCHRO. Read less...

An Army soldier was injured in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District of in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on February 4, reports Daily Excelsior. The landmine went off when a group of soldiers were patrolling a forward area in the Kerni sector in the morning. The injured soldier, Lance Naik Anshul Rawat, was immediately given medical aid and was later airlifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur for specialised treatment. Read less...

Based on a military intelligence information, a joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Nalbari Police on February 4 conducted raid and search operations in Dhantala village of Nalbari Sub-Division in Nalbari District and recovered a cache of arms and ammunitions, reports indiatodayne.in. The recovery included four pistols, two Air Pistols, 79 AK ammunitions, four detonators, 69mm ammunitions, ten 22 ammunitions, 12 other ammunitions, four DBBL ammunitions, four Pistol Magazines, three AK magazine and 600 grams of explosives. Read less...

On February 4, a hand grenade exploded at Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal East District under Porompat Police Station in Manipur, reports Imphal Free Press. The incident is connected to the upcoming fashion parade on February 5, in which Bollywood actor Sunny Leone is expected to be the star attraction. Furthermore, according to the Police report, the incident is highly suspected to have been carried out by an insurgent group. No casualties were reported during the incident. The Porompat Police have filed a case for further investigation. Read less...

On February 4, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, identified as Nisar Ahmad Dar alias Usman, has been sentenced to five years in jail by National Investigation (NIA) court in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under section 16, 18, 19, 20, 39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and 7/25 I. Arms Act (AA), reports Greater Kashmir. Dar was earlier arrested on January 4, 2020 along with one AK-47 Rifle with two Magazines, 60 live rounds and two Chinese-made hand grenades with one pouch, Police said. Read less...

Police detected and destroyed a landmine planted by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) party on a main road in Cherla Mandal (administrative sub division) in Bhadradri Kothagudem District of Telangana on February 4, reports Telangana Today. Cherla Police, Special Party personnel, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 141 Bn personnel and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) personnel while inspecting the road between Bodanelli- Erraboru villages in Cherla Mandal as part of routine inspections spotted a 20 kilograms landmine and later the BDS diffused it safely. Read less...

The Madhya Pradesh (MP) Police on February 4, arrested three members of the PFI, identified as Gulam Rasool Shah, a resident of Dhar District in MP, Sajid Khan aka Gulam Nabi, a resident of Indore in MP and Parvez Khan, resident of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, in connection with a case registered by the MP Police's Special Task Force in 2022, on charges of conspiring against the Government and indulging in unlawful activities, reports NDTV. A Police official stated that Parvez Khan was in a jail in Aurangabad and was brought to Bhopal on February 4, on a production warrant. He was associated with the PFI since 2017 and came to Madhya Pradesh as the physical endurance (PE) instructor of the PFI to impart the training on several occasions. Gulam Rasool was an active member of the PFI and used to inspire people to work for the organisation by visiting various areas of the state. Gulam Nabi was looking after the PFI's financial management in Madhya Pradesh. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 4 arrested three suspected activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) from Chakia Police Station of Motihari town in East Champaran District of Bihar, reports The New Indian Express. The case pertains to the involvement of the accused and suspected persons, associated with the PFI in unlawful and anti-national activities, who had assembled in Phulwari Sharif area of Patna. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a First Information Report (FIR) on January 25, and taken over the investigation of the case relating to the arrest of three persons, identified as Abdul Zahed alias Zahed alias Mohammad, Maaz Hasan Farooq and Samiuddin by Hyderabad Police for suspectedly conspiring to hurl grenades on public gatherings in the city, reports Hindustan Times on February 5. The FIR stated that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had made hand grenades available to their sympathisers and conspired with them to carry out "lone wolf" attacks and blasts in Hyderabad City. The FIR mentioned that the accused persons booked by the NIA were instructed to hurl hand grenades at public gatherings and processions in order to create communal tension. As per the FIR filed by NIA, Abdul Zahed, who was accused in several terror-related cases in Hyderabad and was booked by the NIA, was given the task of recruiting several youths who would carry out terror attacks in the city on the directions of the ISI and LeT. The NIA also booked Maaz Hasan Farooq and Samiuddin for conspiring terror attacks in Hyderabad in October 2022, who have been charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Hyderabad Police had registered a case on October 1, 2022, under the charges of UAPA after it seized two hand grenades, two mobile phones and INR 3,91, 800 from the premises of Zahed. Considering the gravity of the case, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs' (UMHA) Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation Division in January handed over the case to the NIA as the case had inter-state and international linkages. Read less...

A mother and her son were injured in a remote control bomb planted near their house in the Tangi Shaltalo Shah village of Salarzai Tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur District of KP on February 4, reports Daily Times. According to details, given by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sattar Khan, a remote control bomb planted near the house detonated suddenly, injuring the wife of Jan Sardar and his 15-year-old son Abdullah. Read less...

Two terrorists ‘commanders’, identified as Izhar and Zeenat Saqib, were killed and four arrested during a Police operation in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 4, reports ARY News. Police said that Izhar used to plan attacks from Afghanistan and send teams to carry out attacks. Izhar was wanted by the Police in more than six cases while a reward of PKR two million was fixed for the information of the dead terrorist. The Police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition and explosives from the possession of arrested terrorists. Read less...

Tejgaon Police arrested two people, identified as Mohammad Kajal and Mohammad Hriday, in connection with the stabbing and mugging of Sadek Hossain Chowdhury, Assistant Personal Secretary (APS) to Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur U Shwe Sing and the editor of the online news portal paharbarta.com on February 4, reports dhaktribune.com. The arrests were made from undisclosed locations. Read less...

On February 4, two persons were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack at 6:00 pm at the Pashtunistan intersection of 2nd Police District in Kabul, reports Hast-e Subh. Khalid Zadran, the spokesman of the Taliban Police for Kabul Province confirmed that the blast targeted a civilian Hilux-type vehicle. No individual or group so far had claimed responsibility for the blast. Read less...

Aizawl Battalion of the Assam Rifles in a joint operation with Criminal Investigation Department (Special Branch) Aizawl Police arrested four suspects along with weapons from General Area Hmuifang village in Aizawl District of Mizoram on February 5, reports India Today NE. At least 22 AK Automatic Rifles (Made in China) - 02, .22 ammunition -04 and Magazine -02 were recovered from the individuals. The arrested individuals and the recovered weapons were handed over to the Sialsuk Police Station for further investigation. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres hacked to death a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary, identified as Neelkanth Kakem (40), while he was attending a wedding function in Paikram village under Awapalli Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on February 5, reports The Hindu. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said, the incident took place on Sunday (February 5) in Paikram village where the victim, Neelkanth Kakem, who was the president of Awapalli Mandal (administrative sub division) of the BJP, had gone with his family to attend the marriage of a relative. A Maoist pamphlet, in the name of the Madded Area committee, claimed responsibility for the killing, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Chandrakant Governa said. Read less...

A couple of hours after the attack in Tank District, another Police post was attacked by terrorist in Daraban area of Dera Ismail Khan District on February 5, reports The News. Police said the attack was repulsed by the Police and Army. No casualty was reported. Read less...

One Security Force (SF) personnel, identified as Tanveer, was killed and eight others injured in a suicide blast on Gulistan Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on February 5, reports Samaa TV. Police found remains of the suicide bomber from the blast site. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the outfit said their target was SF officials. Read less...

Police on February 5-night repulsed a terrorist attack on Pir Tangi Police post near Jandola Police Station of Tank District, reports The News. According to the Police statement, Tank Police and residents of the area repulsed the attack on Pir Tangi Police post when dozens of terrorists armed with automatic weapons had attacked the Police post. “The cops, however, were alert and retaliated strongly. A number of locals also came out of their homes to support the police. The attackers managed their escape after an exchange of fire for around 10 minutes,” Tank District Police Officer Waqar Ahmad said. Read less...

Six Army personnel were killed and unspecified number of others sustained injuries when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres attacked Brigadier Shahid Nadeem's convey with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the Quetta-Sibi national highway at Sirajabad area of Bolan District in Balochistan on February 5, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’ Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility. The convoy was moving from Sui to Quetta. Read less...

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres attacked the main camp of Army with rockets in Nali area of Mashkay in Awaran District on February 5, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch. Read less...

Three Army personnel were injured when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres attacked an Army camp with heavy weapons in Tagran area of Zamuran in Kech District of Balochistan on February 5, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. "Three enemy personnel were injured in the attack and the enemy camp suffered heavy damages. After defeat at the hands of Baloch freedom fighters, the Pakistani forces harassed and brutalised the local population", he said. Read less...

Three Army personnel were injured when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres orchestrated a hand grenade attack at the main gate of Kalat scout camp in Khuzdar town (Khuzdar District) on February 5, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

On February 5, night guard for an NGO based in Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya Sub-District of Cox’s Bazar District, identified as Noor Boshor, was shot dead by criminals, reports The Daily Star. Syed Harun-ur-Rashid, Additional Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) said, "On information, APBn members rushed to the spot and recovered his bullet-hit body”. Read less...

The process of relocating stranded Rohingyas who fled into Bangladesh territory from a zero-line refugee camp amid violence began on February 5, reports The Daily Star. To this end, at least 180 Rohingyas from 35 families were taken to a transit camp in Ukhiya's Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar, said Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman. They are among the nearly 3,000 people who fled the gunfights between two Myanmar armed groups near the Tambru border of Bandarban District’s Naikhongchhari Sub-District. Read less...

A cache of arms and ammunition recovered and seized from Wor Mamay District of Paktika Province by The Ministry of Defense (MOD) forces, Bakhtar News Agency reported on February 6. The recoveries are 12 Kalashnikovs, one Pika, two rifles, a motorbike, and some ammunition. Read less...

Two employees of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) involved in reconstruction projects went missing in Spin Ghar District of Nangarhar Province, Hasht-e Subh reported on February 6. There was no further information provided on the identity of the missing individuals. Sources stated that Taliban took these individuals to an unknown location after an activist in Sweden burned the Quran. Read less...

A woman Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre identified as Bhime Hemla (27) surrendered to Security Forces (SFs) in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on February 6, reports The Pioneer. Hemla, a ‘militia’ (people's army of the Maoists) member of Potali Panchayat (village level local self-Government institution) in the Malanger Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist, was involved in several Naxalite incidents in Malanger area in the district, Superintendent of Police (SP), Siddharth Tiwari said. Read less...

On February 6, a civilian, identified as Mohd Maroof, was injured in a landmine blast near Line of Control (LoC) in Kirni sector of the Poonch District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Daily Excelsior. Officials said that the individual was grazing goats and sheep when he stepped on a landmine, causing the blast and injuring himself. Read less...

On February 6, Kerala Police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in connection with the visit of a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) group led by a cadre identified as C.P. Moideen and four others, namely, Jisha, Jayan, Vikram Gowda, and Soman, to the Vietnam Colony at Aralam Grama Panchayat (village level local self-government institution) in the Kannur District of Kerala, reported The Hindu. Police stated that the armed Maoists who spoke Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi reached the colony, collected food items, and went back to the Kottiyoor Forest. In the statement, the residents of the colony told the Police that the Maoists entered two houses, enquired about wages and the availability of rations, and allegedly threatened them not to inform the Police about their arrival. Maoist presence in Aralam was not reported earlier, Samakalika Malayalam adds. Read less...

Police arrested two cadres of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Niral Purti alias Niral Topno (45), resident of Gadigada village under Bandgaon Police Station, and Chattan alias Birsa Purti (25), resident of Halmad village under Tebo Police Station, from Bandgaon area in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on February 6, reports jagran.com. Police recovered 160 rounds of live bullets on the disclosure of Niral, who had been a of the squad of PLFI ‘area commander’ Sanichar Surin, and Santosh Kadulna, and is currently working for the squad of ‘zonal commander’ Sukhram Gudiya. Following information that Naxalite [Left Wing extremist, LWE] Niral Purti had come to his house, Police laid siege and arrested him. At the same time, the Police also arrested Naxalite Birsa Purti, who used to collect ‘levy’ (extortion money) from the contractor for the PLFI. Read less...

The Border Security Force (BSF) personnels recovered weapons and cartridges which were hidden by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on February 6, reports The Print. Based on intelligence input, the personnels of Company Operated Base (COB) Amabeda 135 Vahini launched a special operation in the area, and during the operation, they recovered a country-made pistol, a country-made gun (Desi Katta) and 30 live cartridges that were hidden 500 metres away in the west direction of the waterfall, Indraj Singh, Inspector General (IG), Frontier Headquarters (Special Operations), BSF, Chhattisgarh, said. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on February 6, arrested one more person identified as Irshad alias Belal from Jitaura village in Motihari in East Champaran District of Bihar, reports India Today. The suspect was arrested for his active involvement in the Popular Front of India (PFI)’s criminal conspiracy to spread communal hatred. As per the agency, Irshad had attended training classes held under the garb of physical education at Ahmad Palace, Phulwari Sharif and Patna. He was also associated with the PFI’s training centres and activities. A printed PFI banner and two iron swords have been recovered from a hideout in the village of Parsauni in Muzaffarpur District. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) had reported the arrest incident, the NIA, on February 4, had arrested three suspected activists of the PFI in Motihari in connection with the case. The arrests were made after the NIA carried out raids on eight locations based on a suspected terror module that was hatched by the PFI. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on February 6, recorded the statement of the wife of Jamesha Mubin, who was the prime accused and was killed in a cylinder explosion in a car in Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu on October 23, 2022, reports The India Express. The statement was recorded in-camera at fourth Judicial Magistrate Court presided by Magistrate Saravana Babu. NIA sources stated that Mubin had told his wife about the purchase of explosives and plan to execute the blast. The Police had seized around 170 kg of materials, including explosive raw materials from the residence of Jamesha Mubin on October 24, 2022. Sources revealed that on February 7, 50 kg of black powder, 75 kg of potassium nitrate, 45 kg of aluminium and one kg of Sulphur, including fertilizer, were destroyed in a controlled environment near Sulur in Coimbatore District in a joint exercise supervised by officials of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of the Tamil Nadu police in accordance with instructions from the court. Read less...

Unidentified terrorists lobbed grenades at the house of a Police official in Lashora area of Khar tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the night of February 6, reports Dawn. However, no casualty was reported. A Police statement said the grenades landed inside the house of Police instructor Sahibzada. The statement did not mention the number of grenades used in the attack, saying the Police official and his family members remained unhurt in the attack. A wall of the house was slightly damaged. The unidentified terrorists managed to flee from the scene. Read less...

On February 6, ten people, including three journalists, were injured in several cocktail bombs blast during clash between two local Awami League (AL) groups over the distribution of warm clothes in Tangail’s Gopalpur Sub-Division (Dhaka Division), reports The Daily Star. Bhuapur Municipality Mayor Masudul Haque Masud along with his supporters went to distribute warm clothes in Gopalpur an attack was launched on it. The injured journalists are Ovijit Ghosh, district correspondent of Dhakapost.com; Ashikur Rahman, camera-person of DBC Television, and Farman Sheikh, district correspondent of Dhaka Prakash. All injured people were taken to the Gopalpur Sub-District (Upazila) Health Complex and different private clinics. Read less...

Addressing the General Assembly in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that women and girls in Afghanistan are now “exiles in their own country” due to laws banning them from public life tolonews.com reports on February 7. The UN said in a statement that Guterres expressed his concerns about the right of women and girls in Afghanistan. “In Afghanistan, where women’s rights are being trampled,” the UN statement reads. Read less...

Chief of Taliban’s Counter-Narcotics Department of Laghman Province, stated that poppy farms on 10 acres of land were eradicated in Umarzi village on the outskirts of Mehtarlam, the capital of the province, bakhtarnews.com reports on February 7. Read less...

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, identified as Sanjiv Kumar, who belongs to the CRPF’s 60th battalion, was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on February 7, reports NDTV. Security Forces (SFs) were on an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation at Hathiburu jungle under Goilkera Police Station area when the IED planted by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) exploded, injuring the CRPF personnel, State Police's Inspector General (IG), Operations, Amol V Homkar said. Read less...

Chhattisgarh Police arrested four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) supporters from Bhothali village in Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh on February 7, reports The Pioneer. Following a tip that some goods had been brought to be provided to the Maoists in Dhamtari and Gariabandh districts, a search operation was launched. Gariabandh, Superintendent of Police (SP) identified the four as Tamradhwaj Sahu alias Rinku, his father Shivkumar Sahu, Rakesh Kashyap and Ishwarlal Netam, all from Dhamtari District. The Police also seized 12 walkie-talkies, Naxalite uniforms and other items from them. The arrestees admitted that they work for Naxalites, attend their meetings, spread Maoist ideology in rural areas, extort money from traders and contractors, and hand it over to the Maoists. They also supply ration, daily use and other essential materials for senior Naxalite cadres. They also buy walkie-talkies through an online platform for the Maoists. Read less...

Mumbai Police on February 7, arrested one person identified as Irfan Ahmed Sheikh, who made a call threatening to carry out a terror attack at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and introduced himself as a member Indian Mujahideen (IM) terror group, reports the week.in. The airport authority immediately informed the Mumbai Police which formed a special team and arrested the caller from Chembur area in Mumbai. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at Sahar Police Station under relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections including 505 (I) (causing alarm or fear by spreading false rumour). Read less...

On February 7, Border Security Force (BSF) fired down a drone entering Indian territory from Pakistan near Baba Peer Border Outpost (BOP) in Amritsar District of Punjab, which fell in Pakistan territory across the Border, reports The Tribune. Read less...

On February 7, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) arrested three militant associates of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), identified as Umar Adil Dar, Bilal Asmad Sidiqi, and Salik Mehraj, from Srinagar District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and recovered INR 31,65,200 in cash and other incriminating materials, including one mobile Phone and three pages of LeT letter pad from their possession, reports Daily Excelsior. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar stated that the money was received by them on the directions of their handlers based in Pakistan “as a part of larger criminal conspiracy hatched by the LeT within and across the border to pass/ raise money/ funds for furthering their activities and cause large scale disturbances in J&K”. Read less...

On February 7, Rajesh Parihar, Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN), stated in response to Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting that Islamabad harbours a deep sense of insecurity and orchestrated hatred for India and its secular credentials, reports PTI. Parihar added that “irrespective of what the representative of Pakistan believes or covets, the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India”. Read less...

The investigating officers of the Mangaluru Cooker Bomb blast case of November 19, 2022, collected some very crucial information about two of the accused in the case, namely Shariq and Rihan, who were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 19, 2022 and January 6, 2023 respectively, udayavani.com reported on February 8. During the investigation, the officers gathered that Shariq and Rihan used to hurl bombs on the cars and hotels to prove their potential to their handlers. The duo used to carry out such anti-social acts in isolated places, as a result, there were no reports about it. Read less...

Three wanted terrorists from Kerala are still at large even after years of issuance of Red Corner Notices (RCN) against them by the Interpol, The Indian Express reports on February 8. The terrorists are Chanamparambil Mohammed Bashir from Kayyur in Kasaragod District in Kerala and one of his co-accused Taher Ansari who is a resident of Hyderabad, Telangana as well as Kochupeedikayil Sabir from Kannur District in Kerala. Once a RCN is issued by Interpol, the details of the criminals at large are shared with the immigration officers in airports across the world, making it impossible for one to travel from one country to the other. According to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources, an Interpol division of the investigating agency based in Delhi follows up the red corner notices issued from India. While many of these red corner alerts were issued several years ago, some even decades ago, the international police agencies are yet to areest the accused. Read less...

Two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, identified as Bhima Podiyam and Hirdesh Kumeti, carrying a collective reward of INR 1 million on their heads, were arrested from forest of Mandanar village in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on February 7, reports The Pioneer. Kanker, Superintendent of Police (SP), Shalabh Sinha said, Podiyam, who carried a bounty of INR 800,000, was the ‘commander’ of Platoon 17 of the Kiskoda Area Committee, while, Kumeti was a member in the same platoon, carrying a reward of INR 200,000 on his head. The Police seized a walkie-talkie, a 5 kilograms Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bomb, an axe, Maoist literature and pamphlets from them. Read less...

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector-General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said on February 7, that the threat of terrorism cannot be ruled out during the upcoming election in the Province, reports Geo News. “It cannot be presumed that the next elections will be completely peaceful,” Ansari said in a meeting on KP polls presided over by Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The polls were triggered earlier than scheduled after the ex-KP Chief Minister, Mahmood Khan, dissolved the Provincial Assembly on directions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on January 18. Read less...

Police on February 7, arrested two terrorists, identified as Ahmedullah alias Bashir and Naeemtullah from the site Superhighway in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports ARY News. Four hand grenades and two Kalashnikovs were recovered from the possession of the terrorist. The Police after initial integration said that the terrorists got training from Afghanistan and were involved in incidents of terrorism, firing at houses and extortion money. Read less...

Police on February 7, thwarted a terrorist attack on the Hathala check post in Dera Ismail Khan District of KP, reports ARY News. A group of terrorists carried out attack on the Hathala check post in Kulachi Police Station. Police said the exchange of fire between the Police and terrorists continued for over 30 minutes. Following the attack, District Police Officer (DPO) along with additional contingents reached the check post. The terrorists fled from the scene after the failed attack. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed 12 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists during an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the night of February 7, reports Dawn. According to a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), SFs and the terrorists exchanged fire during which the militants were killed. “Terrorists’ movement and activities were being watched by intelligence tentacles for the last one week. Terrorists were lured in by providing a vehicle for escape that was intercepted and neutralised,” the ISPR said. Weapons, ammunition, and Afghan currency were also recovered from the terrorists during the operation, it stated, adding that SFs were carrying out a clearance operation in the area. Read less...

The cadres of Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) on February 7, attacked an Army water supply post with rockets and heavy weapons at Gawak in Mand Tehsil (revenue unit) of Kech District in Balochistan, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Two soldiers sustained injuries in landmine blast planted by Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) in a temporary shelter of the Army in Kolwah Chambar area of Awaran District in Balochistan on February 7, reports Radio Zrumbesh. The Army uses these bases for convoy packet security. When two soldiers entered there, it exploded which seriously injured both soldiers. BLF ‘spokesman’, Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility of the blast. Read less...

A Khulna court on February 7, sentenced two war criminals, identified as Amjad Meena and Sabaj Halder to life imprisonment for in the crime against humanity case for killing a freedom fighter Mohammad Amin Uddin during the Liberation War, reports dhakatribune.com. The convicts are residents of Chandpur village of Rupsa Sub-District of Khulna District. At the same time, they have been fined BNR 20,000, in default, they have to serve 3 months rigorous imprisonment. Read less...

Nine Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members sustained injury as 17 operatives of newly formed militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three operatives of Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) were arrested following a daylong gunfight in Remacri bridge area of Thanchi Sub-District of Bandarban District on February 7, reports The Daily Star. Khandaker Al Moin, Director of the RAB’s legal and media wing, said they seized firearms and materials used in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) following the operation. Three to four of the arrestees were seen in the video that was recovered from Masukur Rahman alias Ronobir, ‘military commander’ and shura member of Jama'atul Ansar, after his arrest on January 23 in Cox's Bazar District along with an associate. The eight-minute video shows militants being trained in modern fighting techniques, including operating assault rifles. Read less...

On February 7, United States (US) Representative for United Nations (UN) Management and Reform, Chris Lu said, “First, we join United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other Member States in condemning in the strongest terms the Taliban’s edicts that ban women from universities and from working for Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), this on top of an existing ban on girls from secondary school, reports Tolo News. Equal access to education and work is an essential component for the vitality and resiliency of populations, including all young adults and children, regardless of gender”. She also asked donor UN agencies, and humanitarian partners to take a strong, unified stance against the replacement of women with men in humanitarian aid delivery. Read less...

Six people, including a woman, were flogged in Firozkoh, capital of Ghor Province during a Taliban trial on February 7, reports Hasht-e Subh. There were a variety of charges against these people, including extramarital affairs and alcohol consumption and production. These people were publicly beaten by Taliban members and received 15 to 39 lashes each. Read less...

Taliban have killed a judge, Mawlawi Sayed Gol, of the former regime’s arbitration court in Helmand Province on February 7, reports Hasht-e Subh. Taliban killed him after arresting him at his home in Lashkar Gah. Read less...

Taliban’s Deputy Interior Minister for Counter-Narcotics Abdul Haq Akhundzada, said that the counter-Narcotics department of the Ministry conducted 3,700 operations against eradicating narcotics in the country, in which 147 drug factories and 404 tons of drugs were discovered and destroyed, bakhtarnews.af reports on February 8. He said that the Islamic Emirate is determined to fight against narcotics and has collected 75,000 drug addicts across the country sent them for treatment, of which 5,000 have been treated received treatment so far. Read less...

A villager, identified as Punem Lakhmu (48), was killed in a 'cross-firing' during an encounter between Security Forces (SFs) and cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Gundam-Chutwai forests of Tarrem region in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on February 8, reports The Times of India. Based on a specific input about the presence of Udham Singh, Maoist ‘commander’ of south Bastar division and his aides, joint forces of Special Task Force (STF), Commando Battalion for resolute Action (CoBRA) unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and District Reserve Guards (DRG) were launched a search operation. The Maoists tried to ambush the SFs by firing upon them leading to an exchange of fire from both sides. Lakhmu, a resident of Gundem village was caught in a 'cross-firing' and sustained bullet injury on his back and died on the spot. Read less...

According to a United Nations (UN) report: 16th report of the Secretary-General the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISKP) threatened to launch attacks against the embassies of India, Iran and China in Afghanistan to undermine the relationship between the Taliban and the UN member states in the Central and South Asia region, reports NDTV on February 9. The reports states, “The activities of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISKP) remained a significant terrorist threat in Central and South Asia, and the group retained ambitions to conduct external operations…The group also threatened to launch terrorist attacks against the embassies of China, India and the Islamic Republic of Iran in Afghanistan”. The report also mentioned that ISKP had positioned itself as the ‘primary rival’ to the Taliban and was reportedly set to portray the Taliban as incapable of providing security in the country. Read less...

India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval emphasised the need for intensified intelligence and security cooperation to tackle Daesh, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) while participating in a multilateral meeting on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia on February 8, reports Hindustan Times. The fifth multilateral meeting of senior security officials of regional countries focused on various issues related to Afghanistan, including the security situation and humanitarian challenges. Doval made it clear India “will never abandon the Afghan people in their time of need”, the people said. He pointed out terrorism has become a major threat in the region, and that dealing with Daesh or Islamic State, LeT and JeM requires “intensified intelligence and security cooperation” between states and their agencies, the people said. Read less...

Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) released its English-language magazine, Voice of Khurasan's 20th edition, titled “The Rise of Far Right Extremists in Palestine and the Silence Before Storm for the Muslims” in which they published an article of four pages with the headline of ‘Crackdown on Popular Front of India: Lessons for Indian Muslims’, reports Times Now on February 9. In the article the ISKP mouthpiece came in direct support of the Popular Front of India (PFI). The article also mentioned about the arrests of the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI members. The article further praised the PFI by writing that the PFI established itself as a prominent organization for predicament of Indian Muslims. It glorified work of the PFI in India saying that many PFI supporters joined the banner of Tawheed in different parts of the world and many of them may have attained Shahdah (so-called martyrdom for Islam and terrorism in civilized parlance Read less...

On February 8, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai stated in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) that “a total of 187 terrorists were killed and 111 counter-terror operations were carried out in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in 2022”, reports Daily Excelsior. He further added that a total of 25 security personnel including two from Jammu District, one each in 2019 and 2022, two in Rajouri District in 2020, five in 2021 and four in 2022, nine in Poonch District in 2021, one in Ramban District in 2019, one in Kishtwar District in 2020 and one in Doda District in 2020 were killed in militant attacks post August 5, 2019. Sharing year-wise data on terror related incidents, the minister said 228 cases were reported in 2018, 153 in 2019, 126 in 2020, 129 in 2021 and 125 in 2022. “As many as 257 terrorists were killed in 2018, 157 in 2019, 221 in 2020, 180 in 2021 and 187 last year,” he said. Meanwhile, the minister also informed that the government had decided to pay INR 4,500 every month to the heads or the coordinators of the Village Defence Groups (VDGs), set up in the more vulnerable areas of J&K, and INR 4,000 to each member of the VDGs. “At present, the sanctioned strength of the members of the VDGs is 4,985, who are a part of 4,153 VDGs,” Rai told the Rajya Sabha. The Minister further added that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had imparted necessary training to 948 VDG members in collaboration with the District Police of Rajouri from January 6 to January 25,2023. Regarding narcotics related incidents, the Minister stated that the number of cases of drug smuggling registered in J&K in the last five years include 743 in 2017, 680 in 2018, 918 in 2019, 933 in 2020 and 1324 in 2021, adding that there is no data or study to indicate an increase in smuggling and consumption of narcotics or drugs in J&K in the last five years. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed an FIR against five identified and 26 unidentified banned Popular Front of India (PFI) operatives at Baruraj Police Station in the Muzaffarpur District of Bihar, reports freepressjournal.in reports on February 8. It has said that PFI was recruiting militants in the border districts. Sanjiv Kumar Dubey, officer-in-charge of Baruraj Police Station said, NIA Inspector Vikash Kumar lodged the FIR against Mohammad Belal of Chakiya, Riyaz Maroof of Kunwana, Takub Khan of Mehsi, Afroz of Kasba and Mohammad Kabir of Parsauni village. He claimed that during the raids (date not mentioned) at a training centre, the NIA had found two swords and some objectionable posters, which were a threat to the communal harmony. Read less...

One Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ‘commander’, identified as Irfanullah, was killed following an exchange of fire between Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and a group of terrorists in Khanewal District of Punjab on February 8, reports Samaa TV. Three other terrorists, however, managed to escape. A suicide jacket, grenade and weapons were recovered from the possession of the slain terrorist. According to a CTD Spokesperson, Irfanullah was the mastermind of the Rawalpindi car bombing and planning to target sensitive installations and important personalities along with his accomplices. Read less...

The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres attacked and set fire to an Ufone mobile tower of Pakistan Telecommunication Limited in Koh Dagar area of Mand in Kech District on February 8, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’, Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility of the arson. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 8 arrested a Daesh ‘commander’ during a raid in Korangi Industrial area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports ARY News. According to the CTD officials, the arrested ‘commander’ was identified as Abdul Malik. A pistol along with rounds was seized from their possession, the CTD officials added. The initial investigation of CTD revealed that Abdul Malik is associated with Daesh’s Mula Abdul Manan group since 2011. The arrestee is an Afghan national, who is residing in Karachi for a long time. CTD officials further said that the arrestee used to collect donations in Ramzanul Mubarak and was sending them to Daesh in Afghanistan. Read less...

A retired Army Sergeant was arrested, on February 8, after a team of Police from Matara District in Southern Province unearthed a cache of explosives, other accessories and ammunition from the garden of his house in Thihagoda in Matara District, reports Daily News. The Police recovered 3 kg and 350 grams of C04 high explosives, 01 bar of explosives weighing 610 grams, 2 bars of explosives weighing 205 grams each, 1 bar of explosives weighing 105 grams, 288 ammunition of 9mm type, T56 type 181 ammunition, five 3.8 mm type ammunition, 8 ammunition used for 12 bore type firearms, 10 electronic detonators used to detonate bombs, 153 non-electronic detonators, a smoke bomb, 32 feet of wire used to detonate explosive devices and several other items. The Police also recovered 153 sweet balls mixed with cannabis from a shop owned by the retired Army Sergeant. Investigations revealed that the suspected sergeant had taken the military equipment from an Army camp in Mullaitivu in Southern Province. Police information stated that the Police received information about these explosives from a person who heard the suspect talking about a deal to sell them to someone. Read less...

A young man, identified as Naser Khalid was killed by Taliban three days after being arrested in Kabul, on February 8, reports Hasht-e Subh. He was working as a psychologist and civil society activist. Many civilians have been arrested and tortured since the Taliban seized power. There are no known reasons behind the Taliban’s actions. Read less...

In a statement released on February 8, the University of Afghanistan announced it has ceased operations due to economic problems and a lack of students, reports Hasht-e Subh. “We would like to point out that due to the many economic problems caused by the dropout of students and the prohibition of girls’ education, the founding board of the University of Afghanistan has decided to sell or, if not, to suspend the university,” stated the announcement of this educational institution. “Consequently, the university will cease operations at the beginning of the next academic year.” Read less...

On February 8, an explosion targeted the Imam Abu Hanifa Mosque in Maymana, the capital city of Faryab Province, reports Hasht-e Subh. No casualties have been reported. Read less...

The Taliban tortured a Regiment Commander, identified as Sayed Merajuddin of the former army in Jawzjan Province and he died as a result (in an undisclosed location), Hasht-e Subh reported on February 9. Two weeks after his detention, the Taliban released the body of Sayed Merajuddin to his family in Jawzjan. It appears that the Taliban severely tortured the victim, as evidenced by signs of torture visible on his body. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Ganesh Bhuian alias Abhyas Bhuian alias Prem Bhuian (34), carrying a bounty of INR 1.5 million on his head, surrendered before Security Forces in Gaya District of Bihar on February 9, reports The Print. Bhuiyan, a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand regional committee of the banned CPI-Maoist outfit, laid down his rifle and cartridges before Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandant Kumar Mayank and Gaya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ashish Bharti in Rampur area. Bhuiyan, wanted in over 12 cases pertaining to murder, loot and dacoity, was a resident of Bansi village under Pratappur Police Station in Chatra District of Jharkhand, and was active in the CPI-Maoist outfit since 2003. He was involved in attack on Police party, triggering Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast and other Naxal [Left Wing Extremist, LWE] violence in Bihar and Jharkhand. The Jharkhand government had announced a reward of INR 1.5 million, and the Bihar government had put a bounty of INR 25,000 for his arrest, SSP, Ashish Bharti said. Read less...

Bishnupur District Police Commandos arrested a militant, identified as Tongminthang Haokip alias Thangboi alias Chingsang of Kangleipak Communist Party - Military Council (KCP-MC) along with one 7.65 pistol with magazine and six live rounds from Pheidinga village of Imphal West District in Manipur on February 9, reports The Sangai Express. The arrested person along with the seized items were handed over to Sekmai Police Station for further investigation. Read less...

Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) recovered 18 hand grenades from different locations during search operations in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports PTI on February 10. Station House Officer (SHO), Mendhar, Niaz Ahmed stated that the grenades were recovered in different cases and were destroyed in Behri Rakh forest area in Poonch District. ''While fourteen grenades were recovered in 2020 from different areas, four were recovered in 2018,'' he further said. Read less...

On February 9, Border Security Force (BSF) fired 16 rounds at a Pakistani drone, spotted in Adia border outpost near International Border (IB) in Gurdaspur District of Punjab, which flew back to Pakistan, reports The Tribune. A search operation is under way. Read less...

On February 9, Security Forces (SFs) neutralised a militant hideout in Naka Majiari village in Mendhar Tehsil (revenue unit) of Poonch District in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India and recovered four AK rifle magazines with ammunition, two grenades, some explosive material, one binocular and other materials, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) allegedly threatened to kill Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Aurangabad Member of Parliament (MP) Sushil Kumar Singh and Bihar ruling party Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Ranvijay Kumar Singh on February 9, reports The Telegraph. According to the Police, handwritten posters were put up and several pamphlets bearing the threat were scattered in the Goh area of Aurangabad District. The posters demanded a canal in the area and prohibited Sushil from venturing out into the district. They also alleged that Ranvijay, who is a former MLA, was of feudal mentality and would be bombed in his office. While Sushil was busy attending the ongoing budget session of Parliament in Delhi and did not respond to calls made to him, Ranvijay said that he was not afraid of any such threat. “I have been fighting against the Maoists for over four decades. They have lost their strength and relevance. The operations launched by the security forces have rendered them ineffective,” Ranvijay said. Sources said that Sushil has been on the hit list of the Maoists for a long time now. He is a landlord and they view him as an exploiter and oppressor of the poor. Read less...

Uttam Lahon alias Uday Asom alias Udhab, a cadre of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) who was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) expert was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) at Tikak Mulung Parbat near Margherita town in Tinsukia District of Assam on February 9, reports India Today NE. One pistol, one rifle, two grenades, IED materials, one backpack with blanket, medicines, etc. were recovered from the deceased cadre. Tinsukia Police launched a search operation with the Army after they had received an input that a group of 7-9 ULFA-I cadres led by Uday Asom few other cadres were taking shelter in the village for last a few days with a plan to kidnap one influential businessman of Tinsukia District. The entire area has been cordoned by the joint team of Police and Army and further search operation is on in search of the absconded cadres. Read less...

According to the monthly report of the human rights organisation Paank, in January, 2023, Security Forces (SFs) forcibly disappeared 41 people from Balochistan, including 18 students and a journalist, The Balochistan Post reported on February 10. While 14 forced missing persons were released from the torture cells of the Army after severe physical and mental torture. According to Paank, in December 2022 and January 2023, the cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances significantly increased in Balochistan. The report issued by Paank states that this trend clearly violates the UN Conventions against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The right to life and freedom from torture is enshrined in numerous international treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and The United Nations Convention against Torture (CAT) and in other conventions against cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and other security agencies on February 9, neutralised a suicide attack plan in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by arresting two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists during a joint operation in Police Lines area of Rawalpindi city in Punjab, reports Samaa TV. According to a spokesman, the terrorists had planned suicide attacks on Saddar Bairuni Police Station, Rawalpindi District Courts and St Paul’s Church. The terrorists, along with their local facilitators, had conducted a recce of all the targets and sent their pictures to the Afghanistan-base operated by the Haji Faqir group. Sensitive documents, arms, ammunition, modern weapons and satellite phones were recovered from the arrested terrorists. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on February 9, shot dead two terrorists during an operation in Misri Banda area under Risalpur Police Station of Nowshera District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Samaa TV. According to the Police Spokesman, the CTD Mardan range killed two terrorists while acting on a tip-off in Misri Banda area. Two pistols, a hand grenade and a motorcycle were recovered from the terrorists. Two to three other terrorists escaped by taking advantage of the darkness. Read less...

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on February 9, refuted the claim made by former Prime Minister Imran Khan that people from South Waziristan had been tasked with killing him, reports Dawn. TTP said its war was against the Security Forces and intelligence agencies, not against any political personality. “We have received information that the head of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in a meeting with the party’s provincial spokespersons claimed an assassination attempt was being planned by the TTP and South Waziristan residents have been tasked with executing the task,” a TTP statement said. It added that a similar baseless claim was made by some party members 10 days ago. The statement said that the outfit’s war was against security forces and intelligence agencies and not against political figures. However, it warned politicians of attacks if they became part of the war. Read less...

A six-member team of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) led by the Dhaka north unit majlish-e-sura (central governing body) and Lawyer Wing President Mayeenuddin on February 9, said that it applied to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police seeking permission to hold a procession in the capital on February 11, demanding national elections under a caretaker government and protesting against recent price hike and inclusion of ‘un-Islamic’ issues in textbooks, reports newagebd.net. JeI said it would hold the procession from Baitul Mukarram to Moghbazar between 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Read less...

The Kandeketiya Police arrested one suspected person from the Maliyadda area in Central Province who was possessing a cache of explosives hidden in a house, reports Daily News on February 10. The explosives included 51 sticks of gelatine, 20 service threads used for blasts and15 kg of ammonia. The suspect is a resident of Balangoda, Kirimatitenna in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province. Read less...

Sultan Ahmad, the former intelligence Chief in Farsi District of Herat province, has gone missing from Taliban detention, Hahst-e Subh reports on February 10. The place of his detention is not disclosed. According to sources, he was abducted five months back by Taliban’s Intelligence Force. Despite approaching Taliban authorities in Herat numerous times, his family members have not received a response. Read less...

A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, identified as Sagar Sahu, vice-president of BJP's Narayanpur District unit, was shot dead by suspected cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) at his home in Chhotedongar village in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh on February 10, reports NDTV. As per the preliminary information of the Police, two unidentified persons barged into the leader's house and shot him in front of his family members. "Prima facie the incident seems to be the handiwork of Maoists but an investigation is underway, Police said. Read less...

Bishnupur District Police Commandos arrested a militant, identified as Mayanglambam Danabir Meitei of Kangleipak Communist Party- Lamyanba Khuman (KCP- Lamyanba Khuman) faction from Kiyamgei Maning Leikai (locality) under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East District of Manipur on February 10, reports The Sangai Express. The arrested militant was handed over to Irilbung Police Station for further investigation. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘commander’ Mithilesh Singh aka Duryodhan Mahato, an accused in 104 Maoist attacks, surrendered before the Jharkhand Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Ranchi District on February 10, reports ommcomnews.com. Mahato, carrying a reward of INR 1.5 million, had been absconding for the past 30 years and is an accused in crimes pertaining to murder, arson and looting weapons from Police Stations and CRPF camps, among others. The Police said that Mahato was responsible for commanding Maoist activities in the areas of Jhumra Pahar, Bishnugarh, Ramgarh, Bokaro etc. under North Chhotanagpur division of Jharkhand. Read less...

Delhi’s Patiala House Court on February 10, convicted four operatives of Al-Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), identified as Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Abdul Rehman, Zafar Masood, and Abdul Sami, for conspiracy to commit terror acts across the country and recruiting members for the terror group, reports NDTV. All were convicted under sections 18 (Conspiracy for Terror Act) and 18B (Recruitment for Terror Act) of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Apart from the four AQIS operatives, the Court acquitted two other people, identified as Syed Mohammad Zeeshan Ali and Dr. Sabeel Ahmad, who were accused of being part of a conspiracy for providing financial and logistics assistance to the cadres of AQIS in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Read less...

On February 10, Border Security Force (BSF) fired at a Pakistani drone near Khem Karan area in Patti Tehsil (revenue unit) along the International Border (IB) in Tarn Taran District of Punjab, reports Tribune India. During subsequent search by BSF troops, a packet of consignment dropped by the intruding drone, containing three kilograms of heroin (narcotics), a China-made pistol, five cartridges and a magazine were recovered. Read less...