Border Security Force (BSF) personnel unearthed two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) dumps containing a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the Bejangiwada Reserve Forest area under Kalimela Police Station limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha on April 18, reports ommcomnews.com. According to an official press release, the seizure from the two dumps includes seven Single Barrel Muzzle Loading (SBML) guns, two sealed tiffin Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), four hand grenades, two solar panels, one domestic LPG cylinder, 500 steel balls and 20 metres electric wire.
A combined team of the Central and State Forces on April 18 launched search operations at Langza area of Churachandpur District of Manipur and seized weapons and explosives, reports Northeast Now. The seized items included three single barrel 12 mm bore rifles, one 9mm CMG with the magazine, one tear gas gun, 14 live ammunition rounds, two 38mm anti-riot cartridge with a rubber bullet, three tear smoke shell (CSS), two improvised long range mortar, one improvised long range mortar ammunition
At Aigejang and Irengbam Maning villages Bishnupur District of Manipur, the Security Forces (SFs) team recovered a cache of arms and ammunitions on April 18, reports Northeast Now. The seized items included one carbine with one empty magazine, two pistol with three empty magazines, one revolver pistol, one flare pistol, one IED weighing about 1.4 kilograms, three 21 mm high-explosive (HE) mortar shell, one 51mm HE mortar shell, two 2-inch smoke shell, one 2-inch mortar ILLU ammunition, four HE hand grenade without a detonator, one PEK (Plastic Explosive) IED bomb, 107 (one hundred and seven) live ammunition rounds, five ballistic cartridges, one IED remote control, 16 IED fuse, one heavy morse key, CW Key with 3.5mm plug for IED, two Motorola walkie talkie set, one Icom walkie talkie, two empty magazines of AK-47, eight USA Carbine charger, 24 HE detonator, twelve 7.62 ammunition chargers, five .303 chargers, two tube launcher with two rings, 1 of 36 HE hand grenade lever, and three helmets.
On April 17, the Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a drone and recovered 2.5 kilograms of Heroin near the International Border (IB) of Sakhi and the Nemichand border in the Sriganganagar city of Rajasthan, according to The Tribune. The recovered heroin is worth crores of rupees in the international market.
Manipur Chief Minister (CM) N Biren Singh on April 17 asserted that any form of peace talks between the warring communities should not compromise the territorial integrity of the State and must ensure the protection of the indigenous population, reports The Telegraph. Speaking at the launch of the 'Sankalp Patra' at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office at Imphal, Singh said, "The peace talks should not compromise the territorial integrity of the state and the well-being of our indigenous people. We will not accept peace negotiations that dilute these fundamental issues." He added, "During his recent visit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had unequivocally said the BJP is committed to preserving the unity of Manipur." Singh highlighted Shah's acknowledgment of attempts by illegal immigrants to disrupt the demographic balance in the state, stating, "This fact is unknown to the opposition." Speaking on the contents of the BJP manifesto, Singh said whatever Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises is always implemented.
Chhattisgarh government is working on a new surrender policy in which Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres who give up arms may have their FIRs quashed, but the terms will not be lenient for hard-core ‘commanders’, deputy Chief Minister (CM) and state Home Minister Vijay Sharma said in an interview on April 18, reports The Times of India. "Our govt is holding discussions to bring major changes in the surrender policy for Maoists. We want to encourage more insurgents to give up violence, join the mainstream and avail benefits of the state's progress," he said, adding that it is mulling wiping out FIRs of those who surrender. Asked if FIRs against Madvi Hidma or other such dreaded Maoist ‘commanders’ will also be quashed if they give up arms, he said: "It's Maoist central committee members who have fanned the fire of violence and launched this unending conflict in society. We are ready to talk with anyone, be it Hidma or any of the central committee members. They can surrender, but the provisions will not be the same for them. Quashing their FIRs will be difficult because of the harm they have caused. But there's no ill-feeling towards them, we welcome them to surrender."
Seven persons including five Customs Intelligence personnel and two civilians, including a five-year-old girl, killed in terrorist attack in Saggu area of Draban Tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 18, reports The Express Tribune. According to the Police, the Customs Intelligence personnel were conducting routine checking at Saggu area, when they came under intense gunfire from the terrorists, who were hiding in the nearby bushes. As a result, five Customs Intelligence officials and two civilians were killed. The dead personnel were identified as Shahab Ali Khan, Attar Alam, Akbar Zaman, Inayatullah, Muhammad Aslam of the Customs Intelligence, and civilians Safatullah and five-year-old Laiba Bibi. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a statement claimed the attack adding that attackers snatched weapons from the customs officials, adds The Khorasan Diary.
A Policeman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Miryan area of Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 18, reports The Khorasan Diary.
A car belonging to Idris Khan, a member of Marwat Qaumi Jirga, was targeted by a group of at least five assailants on Tajuri road in Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 18, reports The Khorasan Diary. Idris Khan managed to survive the attack. The attackers managed to flee the scene and are being chased by the Police. Idris Khan was previously kidnapped by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in 2007.
Two persons were killed in suicide attack on Japanese nationals foiled in Landhi area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, in the morning of April 19 (today), reports The Khorasan Diary. Two terrorists fired at a van carrying Japanese nationals. One of the terrorist blew up himself while another one was shot dead by the Security personnel after an exchange of fire. A driver and guard protecting the foreigners were killed. All five Japanese nationals, who were working at the Port Qasim, were unhurt and shifted to a safer location. A bag containing hand grenades and a sub-machine gun was recovered from the site.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on April 18 foiled a major terrorist attack bid as four terrorists were arrested along with explosives were recovered during a search operation on National Highway in Rohri area of Sukkur District in Sindh, reports ARY News. According to CTD personnel, the four terrorists were transporting explosives to Karachi in their car for a terrorist attack. The arrested terrorists were wanted in over 16 cases filed at different Police Stations in Karachi.