South Asia Terrorism Portal

INDIA

Islamist Terrorism under Check
Ajit Kumar Singh
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management
 

Islamist terrorist formations – global, transnational and Pakistan-based – despite relentless efforts over decades to create turmoil in India’s hinterland, have failed to gain any noticeable traction. In fact, the last major attack (resulting in three or more fatalities) by Islamist terrorists, outside Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), was recorded on January 2, 2016, when 14 persons, including the six attackers, died in an attack on the Pathankot Airbase in Punjab. No major attack has been recorded outside J&K since then (data till April 18, 2021).

However, during this period, 13 attacks (resulting in one death and 29 fatalities), where the role of Islamist modules has been suspected, were recorded. Two attacks have already been recorded in 2021. On April 7, 2021, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested three persons for setting ablaze seven shops in the Kalupur area of the old city in Ahmedabad in Gujarat at the behest of Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI). The three arrestees - Bhupendra alias Pravin Vanzara (26), Anil Khateek (22) and Ankit Pal (22) - set ablaze the seven shops on March 20, 2021. During interrogation, Bhupendra told police that in March 2020, he got in touch with a person known as 'Baba Pathan' on Facebook and he was their handler. Premvir Singh, special commissioner, Detection of Crime Branch, Ahmedabad Police, stated,

On January 29, 2021, a low-intensity device exploded outside the Israel embassy, though the explosion did not cause any casualties, and the embassy was not damaged. India’s counterterrorism agencies believe a domestic Shia terrorist cell planted the bomb, and was working under the direction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force.

Earlier, one incident had been recorded in 2020. On January 8, a special Sub-Inspector of Police, Wilson, was shot dead by two suspected Islamic State terrorists at Padanthaalumoodu checkpost in Kanniyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.

Though Pakistan-based terrorist formations continued to carry out attacks in J&K during this period, the strict vigil of the Indian Security Forces (SFs) has thwarted each and every attempt by the ISI and its proxies to carry out any fatal attack in India’s heartland. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), Indian SFs have, in fact, arrested at least 78 terrorism suspects (since January 2, 2016), belonging to Pakistan-backed terrorist groups, who were planning to carry out attacks in India, outside J&K, the most recent on April 7 (above).

Meanwhile, a vice-like grip on the activities of global terrorist outfits – the Islamist State and Al-Qaeda – has not allowed these groups to make any inroad inside the Indian mainland, or, indeed, even in J&K.  SFs have succeeded in neutralizing almost all Islamic State-related modules in their incipient stages. According to the SATP database, 422 Islamic State sympathizers/recruits (222 recruits and 200 sympathizers) have been arrested in India since 2014 (all data till April 18, 2021). The National Investigation (NIA) is currently investigating 33 Islamic State module-related cases.

In the most recent development in one of these cases, on April 1, 2021, NIA filed a chargesheet against two suspected Islamic State sympathisers for their involvement in forming a group to further the activities of the global terrorist organization, in India. The case was registered by the NIA in September 2020.

The situation with regard to Al-Qaeda is similar. Over six years since the formation of its sub-continent branch, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-Continent has also failed to make any visible impact. The parent Al-Qaeda had first turned eyes on India in 1996, without any success, but secured no success. NIA is presently investigating two Al-Qaeda linked cases. Case details of one of these cases, registered on September 11, 2020, indicate,

According to an April 9, 2021, report, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court sentenced Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) terrorist Rizual Islam aka Riyaz aka Sumon, to seven-year rigorous imprisonment in a 2017 case related to planning to commit terrorist acts in India. An NIA spokesperson disclosed that Islam, a resident of Khulna in Bangladesh, was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Foreigners Act. A fine of INR 36,000 rupees was also slapped on him. The Kolkata Special Task Force (STF) had registered a case on November 21, 2017, pertaining to the arrest in Kolkata, of five members of ABT, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Bangladesh.

Transnational groups like the Bangladesh-based Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) have also failed to gain any ground, as almost all their terrorist modules have been neutralized at the planning stage. NIA is currently investigating two JMB-linked and one ABT-linked cases.

Evidently, both the SFs on the ground and the agencies involved in prosecution have done remarkably well during last several years. As a result, Islamist terrorism has remained under check across India. 

However, new challenges are emerging, as Islamist extremist groups struggle to gain ground in the country. In a worrying development, the Popular Front of India (PFI), which has remained a constant threat, has increased its activities in the recent past. On February 16, 2021, two PFI cadres – Ansad Badruddin and Firoz Khan – were arrested from the Kukrail trisection in the Gudamba area of Lucknow District in Uttar Pradesh. In their interrogation, they revealed a plan to trigger blasts to mark ‘Popular Front Day’ – the foundation day of their outfit – on February 17, 2021. Explosive devices, a pistol and seven live cartridges were recovered from the arrested duo. Indeed, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in a statement filed in a Special Court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases, opposing the bail plea filed by PFI's student wing leader K.A. Rauf Sharif, arrested in connection with a money laundering probe, asserted, “PFI has raised substantial funds to organise terrorist training camps, its related activities and to disturb communal harmony.”

Worryingly, PFI has a strong presence in Southern Indian states including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and some parts of Andhra Pradesh. These are also among the states where the Islamic State has established some presence. On September 15, 2020, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) informed the Parliament,

At present, of the 42 banned terrorist formations in India, 16 are Islamist groups and their affiliates.

Successes against the Islamist terrorists have also been facilitated, in part, by some augmentation in capacities for policing and intelligence. Significantly, the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) software has now been deployed at 15,773 out of 16,156 Police Stations across the country, i.e., 98 per cent. Around 15,568 Police Stations are entering 100 per cent FIRs [First Information Reports] through CCTNS, i.e., 96 per cent of the total. Connectivity is available at 15,645 Police Stations i.e., 97 per cent. CCTNS National Data Centre is receiving data from 36 States/Union Territories. Data digitization of 39 million records has been completed, i.e., 91 per cent of the target total.

Further, reports indicate that the counter-terrorism grid of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) is being expanded to cover 825 locations from the current 374 that work under the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC). Unnamed sources disclosed,

Regrettably, however, the overall strength of State Police Forces remains abysmally low. According to the latest available official data, the police-population ratio (policemen per 100,000 population) in India stands at a low 155.78. The Force, moreover, remains largely ill equipped and ill-trained. Unless genuine attention is paid to addressing the existing lacunae in the security establishment, a residual threat from various terrorist formations, including Islamist terrorists, will always remain. 

MALDIVES

Peace in Jeopardy
Giriraj Bhattacharjee
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

On April 14, 2021, the Maldives Police arrested three suspects, all Maldivian nationals, in connection with vandalism at the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headquarters in the Sosun Magu area of Malé city. Unidentified persons had vandalised the MDP headquarters on April 13, 2021. The incidents occurred during the recount of ballots for some seats in Local Council Elections held on April 10, 2021.

Meanwhile, unofficial result indicated that MDP was losing seats in its traditional urban strongholds of Malé and Addu. In capital Malé, even the crucial Mayor’s post went to Mohamed Muizzu of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). PPM contested the elections in alliance with the People's National Congress (PNC).

The result does indicate dissatisfaction with the ruling party, possibly due to the differences between MDP president Mohamed Nasheed and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. This is the first setback to the party after its twin successes in the 2018 Presidential Elections and 2019 Parliamentary Elections.

This result and the growing differences within the ruling party may create a situation which the opposition will try to exploit. Worryingly, there is apprehension that this political instability will be exploited by the radical elements within the country, who are making concentrated efforts to consolidate their position. That in turn, may result in terrorism. 

Meanwhile, according to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), four terrorism-related incidents were recorded in 2020:

February 4, 2020: Three assailants, reportedly inspired by the Islamic State, stabbed and injured three foreign nationals – two Chinese and one Australian – near Hulhumalé Red Bull Park Futsal Ground in Hulhumalé, Kaffu Atoll.

March 22, 2020: Extremists set ablaze a Police surveillance speedboat docked in the harbour of Thundi District of Gan in Laamu Atoll.

March 21, 2020: An arson incident occurred at Villa number 47 in Cheval Blanc Randheli, a luxury hotel located in Noonu Atoll. Islamic State adherents were suspected to be behind the attack.

April 15, 2020: Five speedboats, including a sea ambulance, a police vessel and the atoll council's speed boat, were damaged in an arson attack at Mahibadhoo Harbour on the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Two other speed boats and two dinghies were also affected by the fire.

The Islamic State subsequently claimed the April 15 and March 22 attacks.

Meanwhile, Security Forces (SFs) had arrested a total of 22 terrorists/extremists since January 2018 (data till April 18), three in 2019, and 19 in 2020. The most prominent arrest was made by the Police on October 23, 2019, when they detained IS recruiter Mohamed Ameen. Ameen was also on the US Department of the Treasuries Office of Foreign Affairs Control (OFAC)’s published list of terrorists.

SFs, meanwhile, successfully averted two possible terrorist acts in 2020.

On May 11, 2020, Home Minister Imran Abdulla, stated in a press conference, that the Maldivian Police had put a stop to the activities of a group of people, adhering to an extremist religious ideology, in the preceding week, who were working towards ‘a very dangerous goal.’ The Minister refrained from disclosing any further details regarding the case, adding that such information could impede investigation.

On November 11 and 27, SFs arrested eight terrorist suspects, who had planned to detonate an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the laboratory of the Thaa Atoll Education Center located in Thimarafushi, while students sat for their ‘O’ Level exams. The arrestees were working under the direction of the Islamic State.

There were three terrorism related incidents in 2019 as well.

However, the last terrorism-linked fatality was recorded on April 23, 2017, when a local affiliate of Al-Qaeda killed blogger Yameen Rasheed.

In the meantime, the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC’s) 26^th Report by the monitoring team for the 'ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee’, confirmed that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) operates along with the Khorasan Province of ISIL (ISIL-K), with a ‘network of supporters’ in the Maldives.

Indeed, SFs arrested a total of 19 persons (including the eight on November 11 and 17) on terrorism-related charges, including 14 linked with Islamic State through 2020.

However, prosecution failures  in cases relating to terrorism are quite startling. The Islamic State affiliated terrorist Moosa Inas and two of his associates, Abdul Latheef Ibrahim and Ali Rasheed, arrested on May 5, 2020, for their alleged role in the April 15, 2020, arson attack, were let off by a Maldives court on June 18, 2020, as the Court conceded that the evidence submitted against them by the Police was not legally valid or sufficient for prosecution. Later, on July 29, 2020, the Prosecutor General’s Office charged Moosa Inaas and Abdul Latheef Ibrahim for “possession of material implying support for a terrorist organization” under Article 6 (b) of the Counter-Terrorism Act. Again, on August 2, 2020, the Office of the Prosecutor General filed an additional terrorism charge against Moosa Inaas, for setting ablaze a Police surveillance speedboat on March 22, 2020.

Most recently, on January 17, 2021, two terrorist suspects, who were arrested in September 2017, were released by a Criminal Court for lack of evidence.

Significantly, the Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances (also Disappearances and Death Commission, DDCom) has not come up with any fresh findings since the departure of DDCom’s firs President, Uz Husnu Al Suood, on December 8, 2019. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had announced the establishment of the DDCom on November 18, 2018. The Commission commenced its work officially on November 21, 2018, with a two-year deadline to investigate 27 cases of Disappearances and Death. On September 1, 2019, DDCom disclosed that, of the 27 cases being investigated, only 4 or 5 were 'currently pending'. No update on findings in any of the cases were made public in 2020.

The Government’s apathy towards the commission is evident from the fact that, after more than year of vacancy, the post of the President of DDCom was filled when member Fareesha Abdulla was elevated as the commission’s President on February 3, 2021. Uz. Husnu Al Suood resigned from the Commission after his nomination to the Supreme Court as a Judge.

This Government's failure on this count has emboldened the spirit of the terrorist outfits, and has also given leeway to radical elements to spread their tentacles, more so in the present crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lethal combination of economic meltdown and poverty-led marginalisation has the potential to lead to heightened radicalisation, greatly destabilising the island nation. Lieutenant Colonel Amanulla A. Rasheed in his article 'Global Trends of Crime and Terror Nexus during COVID-19 Pandemic: Building Community Resilience to Prevent Violent Extremism' published by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Newsletter in April 2020 observed,

The internal churn within Maldivian society on the question of the ‘true Muslim’ as a result of the ingress of Salafism has resulted in the promotion of ultraconservative attitudes creating new vulnerabilities.

There is need to keep constant vigil on the activities of terrorist groupings and sympathisers that are active in Maldives. Greater efforts are needed to ensure that the vocal proponents of a particular hard-line religious identity do not overwhelm the voices of those who believe in moderate Islam or in secular civil rights, in turn curbing the country’s vibrant democracy and creating further spaces for extremist forces. The government needs to strengthen its investigative and enforcement institutions, as well as civil society groups, so that the larger challenge of radicalisation is effectively countered.

AFGHANISTAN

US will complete withdrawal all American troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11, says President Joseph Biden: President Joseph R Biden said United States (US) will complete withdrawal all American troops from Afghanistan over the by the 20th anniversary of the September 11. The Khaama Press, April 14, 2021.

Taliban will not participate in any conference till all the foreign forces withdraw, says Taliban spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Naeem Wardak: On April 14, Dr. Mohammad Naeem Wardak, spokesperson to the Taliban group in Qatar, in a tweet, said that until the full foreign forces withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban group will not participate in any conference on Afghanistan. The Khaama Press, April 14, 2021.

BANGLADESH

Hefajat-e-Islam leader Maulana Abdullah Mohammad Hasan resigns from the organisation: On April 13, Nayeb-e-ameer of Hefajat-e-Islam, Maulana Abdullah Mohammad Hasan, resigned from the Qawmi madrasa-based Islamist outfit, protesting the group's leaders' involvement in violent activities. Hasan also alleged alleging that Hefajat became a platform to materialise the personal agenda of some controversial Hefajat leaders. The Daily Star, April 17, 2021.

HeI Amir and 42 others involved in hastening death of Islamist outfit's supremo Shah Ahmad Shafi, says report: The Police Bureau of Investigation in a probe report submitted to a Chattogram Court on April 12 said Hefajat-e Islam (HeI) Amir (Chief) Junaid Babunagari and 42 others were involved in 'creating an atmosphere that hastened the death' of the Islamist outfit's supremo Shah Ahmad Shafi. After Shafi's demise in September 2020, his brother-in-law Mohammad Moin Uddin claimed that Shafi was murdered in a planned way and filed the case on December 17, 2020, against 36 people, including HeI leader Mamunul Haque. The Daily Star, April 13, 2021.

SRI LANKA

Government issues gazette notification proscribing 11 Islamic Organisations that have links with extremist activities: The Government on April 13 issued an extraordinary gazette notification proscribing 11 Islamic Organisations that have links with extremist activities. Earlier, Attorney General Dappula de Livera had authorized the proscription of eleven such organisations. Accordingly, these regulations may be cited as the Prevention of Terrorism (Proscription of Extremist Organizations) Regulations No. 2 of 2021. Daily Mirror, April 14, 2021.