South Asia Terrorism Portal
Maoists: Incoherent and Disoriented Deepak Kumar Nayak Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On July 3, 2019, two Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, identified as Madkam Deva (22) and Muchaki Deva (23), surrendered before the Police at Konta Police Station in the Sukma District of Chhattisgarh. In their statements, the duo disclosed that they decided to snap ties with the Maoists as they were disappointed with the "hollow" Maoist ideology and harsh forest life. Madkam Deva was carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head.
On June 25, 2019, six CPI-Maoist cadres, including a ‘squad member’, surrendered before the Officer on Special Duty (OSD), B. Krishna Rao, in the Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. All the six stated that Maoist leaders had forcibly inducted them into the party, and after the Police reached out to them, they came forward and surrendered.
On June 17, 2019, six CPI-Maoist cadres, including two women ‘commanders’, surrendered before the Police in the Dumka District of Jharkhand. The woman Maoist ‘commanders’, identified as PC Di aka Pirisila aka Sawarui Devi and Kiran Di, each carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on their heads, surrendered along with an AK-47 and a carbine. Two others who surrendered, Sidho Marandi, ‘area commander’, and Premshila, carried a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads. Marandi surrendered a carbine and Premshila a pistol. The other two surrenderees were identified as Sukhlala Dehri (deposited a pistol) and Bhagat Singh Kiskku (deposited A rifle).
Among the reasons given for these recent incidents of surrender was disillusionment with the Maoist ideology. In addition, the rebels also cited atrocities, discrimination, sexual harassment, mindless violence, bad health and an urge to lead a normal life by joining the mainstream.
According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 157 LWE elements have surrendered in 40 incidents reported from six States across India since the beginning of 2019 (data till July 7, 2019). During the corresponding period in 2018, at least 286 Left Wing Extremist (LWE) elements had surrendered in 45 incidents. Another 194 LWE cadres surrendered in 40 incidents in the remaining period of 2018. A total of 8,839 LWE cadres have surrendered in 878 incidents since 2010.
Year
No of Incidents of Surrender
No of Surrender
Latest data made available by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) states that at least 5,150 LWE cadres have surrendered since 2010.
Significantly, according to the SATP database, out of 8,839 surrendered LWE cadres since 2010, 371 were leadership elements. These included at least three national level leaders, 39 State/ Regional level leaders, and 329 local level leaders. In 2019, at least 14 LWE leadership elements have surrendered across the country, including one national level leader, two State/ regional level leaders and 11 local level leaders (data till July 5).
At the time of its formation in 2004, CPI-Maoist reportedly had a 16-member ‘politburo’, the outfit’s highest decision-making body, and a 34-member ‘central committee (CC)’, the second highest decision-making body in the outfit. The ‘CC’ included all the 16 members of the ‘politburo’ and another 18 members. At least eight members were added to the CC over time. Of these 42 top ranking leaders, two ‘CC members’ have surrendered, another 13 were arrested, while five have been killed in encounters with the Police. Another three died due to illness: Anuradha Ghandy aka Janaki (on April 12, 2008), Sushil Roy (on June 18, 2014) and B. Narayan Sanyal aka Bijoy Dada (on April 17, 2017). The whereabouts of the remaining 19 are not known.
‘CC member’ Lanka Papi Reddy aka Ranganna, surrendered on February 2, 2008. He refused to talk on the internal differences among the leaders in the party and cited ill health for his surrender. He also stated that his wife would soon leave the party and join him. Saroja, a ‘commander’ of the Jimalgatta dalam (armed squad of Maoists), was arrested in 2009.
The second 'CC' member to surrender is Oggu Buriyari Satwaji aka Sudhakar (53). He surrendered on February 13, 2019, along with his wife Madhavi aka Neelima aka Padma. Madhavi, a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee (BJSAC) of the CPI-Maoist, was an expert in computer operations and was looking after the accounts of the party. At the time of surrender, Sudhakar stated,
Over the years, due to the lack of adherence to their declared ideology, the Maoists have been finding it difficult to recruit new cadres. On February 13, 2019, Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) M. Mahendar Reddy disclosed that the CPI-Maoist was left with hardly 500 members and was gradually losing mass support. He further noted, “Only the eastern regional bureau (Bihar and Jharkhand) has some activity and there is no fresh recruitment.”
To bring Maoists into the mainstream, the Central Government has chalked out guidelines for surrender-cum-rehabilitation of the rebels in the LWE-affected States,keeping in mind the specific geographical and social landscape. The State Governments have their own surrender and rehabilitation policies, which the Central Government supplements by reimbursing the expenditure incurred on rehabilitation under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme for LWE-affected States.
To boost the surrender process, the LWE-affected States have inked different initiatives. For instance, Telangana Police on May 17, 2019, offered to withdraw cases against Maoist cadres who opt to surrender under an initiative named Operation Surrender.
Meanwhile, the Government is trying to take the help of surrendered Maoists during offensive operations against the rebels on the ground. An unnamed senior Police officer from Jharkhand disclosed,
Successful counter-insurgency (CI) operations have weakened the LWE movement, resulting in the containment the extremists. Since 2010, CI operations have resulted in the killing of at least 174 LWE leadership elements. These included three national level, 24 State level and 147 local level leaders. Another 604 LWE leadership elements, including 18 national level, 188 State level leaders and 398 local level leaders, have been arrested during this period.
The Maoists are undoubtedly a worried lot, suffering mounting losses over the past years in their erstwhile areas of dominance across the country. This is an opportunity for the State and Central leaderships to take advantage of their disorientation, through effective policies, development, the outreach of public goods, and restoring governance and public services.
Nagaland: Insurgent Traffic Giriraj Bhattacharjee Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On June 2, 2019, Security Forces (SFs) arrested a top cadre of Yung Aung faction of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K-Yung Aung), Yanghang aka Mopa, along with two other militants of the group, at Aboi in Mon District. Inspector General (IG) of the Assam Rifles (AR), Major General P.C. Nair disclosed, “These people have been instrumental in many brutal and heinous crimes including the killing of two Assam Rifles soldiers recently…”
On May 25, two AR troopers were killed and four others sustained injuries when suspected NSCN-K- Yung Aung militants attacked an AR patrol near Changlangshu village in Mon District. The militants triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and simultaneously opened gunfire on the AR personnel.
According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), these two troopers are the only fatalities in the Mon District in the current year (data till July 7, 2019). During the corresponding period of 2018, the District recorded three fatalities (all troopers). Through 2018 there were six fatalities (three troopers and three militants). There were five fatalities (one civilian, one trooper and three militants) through 2017. No fatality was recorded in 2016, but the number of fatalities stood at 11 (one civilian, eight SF personnel and two militants) in 2015.
According to the SATP database, since March 6, 2000, Mon District has recorded a total of 140 fatalities (seven civilians, 14 SF personnel and 116 militants) in a total of 36 incidents of killing (data till July 7, 2019). The highest number of civilian fatalities in a year was recorded in 2005, while the maximum number of SF personnel (eight) were killed 2015. The highest militant fatality was recorded in 2000, when 71 rebels were killed.
2000
2001
2002
2009
2010
Out of Nagaland’s 12 Districts, Mon (140 fatalities since March 6, 2000) is the 2nd worst affected in terms of insurgency-linked fatalities, with Dimapur (239 fatalities) occupying the ‘leading position’. Mon is followed by Kohima (122 fatalities), Zunheboto (80), Tuensung (71), Phek (45), Paren (31), Wokha (29), Mokokchung (26) and Kiphere (13). No fatality has been recorded in Noklak and Longleng District. Mon accounted for 23 per cent of total fatalities in the State.
Fatalities in Mon District peaked at 74 in 2000 (71 militants and three civilians), but declined sharply thereafter, till 2004, and then surged marginally between 2005 and 2007. The District recorded a fatality each year between 2008 and 2013, barring 2012, when four persons were killed. No fatality was recorded in 2014.
The District saw a sudden spike in violence in 2015 (11 fatalities), as NSCN-K, the most violently active group in the District, on March 31, 2019, announced a unilateral abrogation of the ceasefire agreement (CFA) signed by it on April 28, 2001. Though no fatality was recorded in 2016, the number of fatalities rose to five in 2017 and further, to six in 2016. 2019 has already recorded two fatalities. Other parameters of violence also indicate increases. Five out of six incidents of explosion in the District have been recorded after 2015, with two occurring in 2019.
Almost at the same time, the militant conglomerate United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFWESA) came into prominence, mostly targeting SFs. All the 14 SF fatalities recorded in the District have occurred after 2015 onwards, since NSCN-K abrogated the CFA.
Mon, with an area of 1,786 square kilometres, is bounded in the North by the Sibsagar District of Assam; by the Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh in the North East; by Myanmar in the South East; and the Tuensang and Longleng Districts of Nagaland in the South. The District can topographically be divided into two regions – the Upper Region (Longching, Chen, Mopong and Tobu) and the Lower Region (Mon, Tizit and Naginimora). The foothills lie adjacent to the plains of Assam (Tizit and Naginimora areas). The hill ranges extend from the foothills to the slopes of Naga Hills and Patkai Range in the Eastern side of the District. Mon District shares a 130-kilometre long International border with Myanmar.
The insurgents have always sought to take advantage of Mon’s strategic location. According to a 2017 report, the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) has established a camp at Hakiyot in Myanmar’s Sagiang region, located just opposite the Mon District, to facilitate militant ingress.
Mon is home to the Konyaks, who are numerically the largest tribe in Nagaland. The Konyaks along with five other tribal groups – the Chang, Phom, Khiamniungan, Yimchunger Sangtam – have long demanded the creation of a ‘Frontier Nagaland’. Significantly, the numerical dominance of the tribe is a major factor for the selection of leadership in various Naga militant groups. One of the factions of the NSCN-K, the NSCN-K-Khango Konyak, is led by Khango Konyak, of the Konyak tribe. Further, Tongmeth Wangnao Konyak is the newly appointed ‘vice-chairman’ of the rival Isak Muivah faction of the NSCN (NSCN-IM). Tongmeth Wangnao Konyak has replaced Kholi Konyak who died in 2018. Kholi Konyak had joined NSCN-IM in 2016 and became its ‘vice-chairman’. Before joining NSCN-IM, he was leading the Kholi Khitovi faction of the NSCN (NSCN-KK). M.B. Neokpao Konyak, who replaced Kholi Konyak in NSCN-KK as its new ‘chairman’ in 2017, is also a Konyak. Similarly, Y. Wangtin Naga, ‘president’ of the Reformation faction of NSCN (NSCN-R), belongs to the Konyak tribe.
Meanwhile, concerned over the sudden spike in violence in the wider region along the India-Myanmar Border, which has emerged as the last remaining ‘hub of militant activities’ in India’s Northeast, SFs of Myanmar launched several operations in recent past, in cooperation with Indian SFs. Most of these operations have been in the areas in and around the Mon and Tuensung Districts of Nagaland and Arunachal’s Changlang, Tirap and Longding Districts. During these Operations, Indian SFs also increased vigilance along these borders.
Myanmarese SFs launched two-phase Operations in 2019 – February 17 to March 2 and May 16 to June 8 – against NSCN-K and other Indian Insurgent Groups (IIG)s in Myanmar, which seemingly crippled IIGs based in Myanmar.
Under pressure, five National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Saoraigwra (NDFB-S) militants were arrested from Chenmoho village in Mon District on February 16, 2019. According to SATP, at least 129 militants have been arrested in the District since March 6, 2000 (data till July 6, 2019). On March 24, 2019, the ‘foreign secretary’ of NDFB-S, Ne Esera Evangel, along with his body guard ‘lance corporal’ R. Mwnthwr, surrendered in Mon District.
Closer Security cooperation with Myanmar has dealt a significant blow to the insurgent movements in the wider Northeast region, including Mon. The weakening of NSCN-K has also had an impact on militant activities in the region, and in Mon. NSCN-K ‘founding chairman’ S.S. Khaplang died on June 9, 2017. Soon thereafter, the Khaplang faction split into two – one led by the Myanmar-based Yung Aung, and another led by India-based Khango Konyak. The Khango Konyak faction (NSCN-K-Khango Konyak) signed a CFA with the Union Government on April 28, 2019, for one year. The CFA with another major Naga group active in the District – the Reformation faction (NSCN-R) – was initially signed on April 27, 2015, and was most recently renewed on April 28, 2019.
Nevertheless, the threat to peace in Mon continues, and additional measures need to be taken to consolidate the gains of the recent past. Indeed, on December 13, 2019, a parliamentary committee on Working Conditions in Border Guarding Forces, examined the dual role of conducting counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast and guarding the Indo-Myanmar border, which is now done by AR, and recommended that these must be performed by two separate Forces. The report stated further,
AR, which presently guards the Indo-Myanmar border operates under the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, and, the report noted, is increasing its "presence" and "occupying additional locations" to curb trans-border crimes.
Crucially, the fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border has not been done yet because of the difficult terrain as well as the unique arrangements for population movements across the border under the Free Movement Regime (FMR). On January 16, 2019, Lieutenant General M.M. Naravane, Chief of the Army’s Eastern Command, noted, “I won’t even say that it (border fencing between India and Myanmar) is in the pipeline… it [fencing] was under consideration… we will have to see how it pans out”.
There is also a need to keep tight vigil in the District, as Mon has emerged as a crucial launching ground for IIGs coming from Myanmar. The much-abused FMR, which is applicable along the Indo-Myanmar District, must be implemented with all alertness. FMR allows resident tribals along the border to move up to 16 kilometers across the boundary without restrictions, and tribals are permitted to carry headloads across the border.
The focus of sustained CI operations in the Mon District will have to continue till the entire Indo-Myanmar border is secured, and the insurgent formations operating across the international boundary are effectively neutralized.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia July 1-7, 2019
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
Terrorists/Insurgents
Total
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)
Chhattisgarh
Maharashtra
INDIA (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
PoK
Azad Kashmir
Punjab
PAKISTAN (Total)
US and Taliban expected to rewrite the draft agreement indicate reports: United States (US) and the Taliban negotiators are about to resume their talks after a one-day break on July 6, reports indicate that the two sides are expected to rewrite the draft agreement to verify that all foreign troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan and the group will ensure that neither Al Qaeda (AQ) or any other terrorist outfits will operate from the country. Suhail Shaheen, a 'spokesperson' for the Taliban's political office in Qatar, told The Associated Press earlier that a draft agreement was being rewritten to include agreed-upon clauses.Tolo News, July 6, 2019.
Afghans must be prepared to make compromises in coming months, says US Ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass:The United States (US) Ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass has said that Afghans must be prepared to make compromises in coming months. Speaking during an event to mark the 243rd independence of the United States, Ambassador said the coming months will bring opportunities to achieve a political settlement and to select a new leader. Khaama, July 5, 2019.
Al Qaeda elements are seen in parts of Afghanistan, states US and NATO Forces Commander in Afghanistan General Scott Miller: The US and NATO Forces Commander in Afghanistan General Scott Miller said that there are some indications about the movements of al-Qaeda elements in some parts of Afghanistan but gave no details about the nature of these movements. "We have seen al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Yes, in different parts of Afghanistan. In different parts of Afghanistan, we can find them, so it's not one particular region, it's across the country," stated Miller. Tolo News, May 16, 2019.
Government will not compromise on the Afghan Security Forces in the Peace Process, says President Ashraf Ghani: Afghan Government will not compromise on the Afghan Security Forces in the peace process, President Ashraf Ghani said on July 3 as violence raged on in multiple fronts across the country with backdoor peace talks between the United States (US) and the Taliban moving on for the fourth day in the state of Qatar. "I will not allow the disintegration of the Afghan security forces," said Ghani, adding that corruption and ethnic issues in some extent have been undermining the development and progress of the Afghan forces that need to curb. Tolo News, July 4, 2019.
MHA directs for decisive push to tackle Maoists: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on July 2, directed Central Forces and State Police personnel deployed in Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE]-hit areas to make a decisive push to tackle Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in the limited geographical area to which they have retreated in the wake of their shrinking influence over the past five years. A review meeting chaired by home secretary Rajiv Gauba in Delhi on July 2, also decided to push for greater connectivity of Naxal-hit areas through construction of roads, which would not only offer the locals timely access to facilities like hospitals but also ensure secure movement of counter-Naxal forces. Times of India, July 5, 2019.
More separatists, militants to be moved out of Jammu and Kashmir jails: Continuing with crackdown against separatists and militants, the Central Government is reported to have decided to shift more separatists and militants, mostly Pakistanis, out of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and lodge them in the jails at New Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The decision comes on the basis of specific Intelligence inputs that stay of some of the separatists and Pakistani and Kashmiri militants in J&K jails wasn't appropriate," official sources said. Daily Excelsior, July 4, 2019.
Pakistan using Kartarpur corridor to back Khalistani agenda, says Indian intelligence agencies: Indian intelligence agencies apprehend that Pakistan is more concerned and interested in opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor because it wants to exploit Sikh sentiments to support the Khalistani agenda in India. The security agencies also apprehend that after opening of the corridor, Sikh radicalization will be increased manifold in the State of Punjab'. Times of India, July 5, 2019.
800 terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir between 2014-18, Government informs Lok Sabha: The Security Forces (SFs) have killed 800 terrorists since 2014, of which 249 were in 2018, the Union Government informed the Lok Sabha (lower House of Indian Parliament) on July 3. In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State in the Defence Ministry Shripad Naik said 104 terrorists were killed in 2014, 97 in 2015, 140 in 2016 and 210 in 2017. Daily Excelsior, July 4, 2019.
119 terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir in the current year, Government informs Rajya Sabha: A total of 119 terrorists were killed so far this year (June 26, 2019) in Jammu and Kashmir by Security Forces (SFs), which also lost 24 personnel, Rajya Sabha (upper House of Indian Parliament) was informed on July 3. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy also said that 252 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018 when 44 SF personnel lost their lives. Daily Excelsior, July 4, 2019.
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160 Islamic State members or sympathisers arrested across India, Government informs Lok Sabha: As many as 160 members and sympathisers of the banned terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) have been arrested so far from different parts of the country, the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) was informed on July 2. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said intelligence inputs on terror threats are regularly shared with the State Governments and agencies concerned with the advice to take appropriate steps and sensitise their field formations to prevent any untoward incident. First Post, July 3, 2019.
Displaced Maldivians in Syria will be brought back, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih: President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on July 4, stated that efforts are underway to bring back displaced Maldivian families who went to take part in the Syrian war. President Solih claimed that many Maldivian women with children were forced to accompany their husbands to the country and that they need to be brought back. He further stated that his administration is currently working with the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations to secure their transfer back to Maldives. The Edition, July 5, 2019.
State not responsible for all missing persons, says ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor on July 5 said that the responsibility of all missing persons does not lie with the State as many such individuals are either involved with militants in conflict zones or have been killed fighting against the State. "Our hearts go with the families of missing persons being Pakistanis. However, we must realise that not every person missing is attributable to the state," the ISPR DG said in his meeting with Defence of Human Rights Chairperson Amina Janjua. Pakistan Today, July 6, 2019.
JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and 12 other leaders booked for terror financing: Top 13 leaders of the Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD), including its chief Hafiz Saeed and Naib Emir (deputy chief) Abdul Rehman Makki, were booked in nearly 23 cases for terror financing and money laundering under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), which registered the cases in five cities of Punjab, declared that the JuD was financing terrorism from the massive funds collected through non-profit organisations and trusts including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc. Dawn, July 4, 2019.
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