South Asia Terrorism Portal
Manipur: Breathing Space for Rebels? Giriraj Bhattacharjee Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On November 13, 2021, five Security Force (SF) personnel, including the commanding officer of 46 Assam Rifles (AR), also known as Khuga battalion, Colonel Viplav Tripathi, were killed after their convoy came under heavy attack by militants near S. Sehken village under the Behiang Police Station, close to pillar number 43, on the India-Myanmar border, in Churachandpur District. Colonel Tripathi’s wife and son, who were accompanying him, were also killed in the attack. Another five troopers were injured in the attack. According to official reports, Colonel Tripathi visited his Behiang Company operating base on November 12 and stayed there for the night. The convoy was attacked when he was returning to his battalion headquarters in Khuga.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF), jointly claimed responsibility for the attack saying, “We are not going to sit silently till we get our rights and our sovereignty.”
This is the worst incident targeting SFs in the State, in terms of overall fatalities, since June 4, 2015, attack. On June 4, 2015, militants ambushed a military convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army killing at least 18 Army personnel and injuring 11 others, at a place between Paralong and Charong villages in Chandel District. The Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) had jointly claimed responsibility.
In between, on May 22, 2016, six personnel of 29 AR, including one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed and another seven personnel were injured in an ambush laid by militants at Hengshi village near Joupi under the Tengnoupal Police Station in Chandel District. The Coordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate body of several underground outfits, had claimed the ambush.
Significantly, the November 13, 2021, attack is the 10th on SFs by PLA and MNPF since 2013, when the two groups allied. Both PLA and MNPF are fighting for the ‘restoration’ of a ‘sovereign’ Manipur and stress maintaining cordial relations between Hill and Valley residents.
The last such incident was reported on July 29, 2020, when a joint PLA-MNPF team, linked up with the Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) and killed three AR personnel in an ambush at Khongtal village under the Chakpikarong Police Station in the Chandel District of Manipur.
The principal cause for the latest attack is most likely an effort by the PLA leadership to retain its fast-waning influence. The Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the political wing of PLA, has acknowledged the weakness of the present armed movement and blamed 'materialism' and pursuit of a 'luxurious life' by its cadres for the scenario. These have led to ‘desertion and divide’ in the outfit, and the leadership is ‘taking steps’ to halt this trend.
Indeed, on August 16-17, 2021, two unidentified PLA militants were shot dead by their comrades for trying to desert their ranks in the Nanyang Wakathan camp of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang-Yung Aung (NSCN-KYA), in the Sagaing Region of Myanmar. On August 18, however, the outfit issued a statement accusing Indian SFs of killing their cadre in a covert operation. Earlier, on August 10, six PLA militants from ‘Strategic Command-I’ were killed in a ‘factional clash’ at an undisclosed place. The deceased were identified as ‘Major’ Boycha aka Elangbam Birmani, Keisham Somen aka Suresh, Thangjam Nanao aka Lanthoujam, Chabungbam Chaoba aka Angamba, Thokchom Johnson Meitei aka Leimaba and Adhikarimaum Kiran Sharma aka Tomcha.
An unnamed official observed
Meanwhile, as feared, northeast-based militant groups, including PLA, are making efforts to exploit the changed political environment in Myanmar after the February 1, 2021, coup. According to reports, Tatmadaw troops may be using these outfits to fight those opposing the junta regime in Myanmar. On the other hand, some reports also claim that PLA is selling weapons to the Myanmarese rebels fighting Tatmadaw.
According to a September 27, 2021, report, Tamu Security Group (TSG), one of the anti-Tatmadaw groups had warned Manipuri rebel groups against cooperating with Tatmadaw. An unnamed TSG member stated,
Earlier, in May 2021, militants of the Myanmar branch of the armed Kuki National Organisation (KNO-Burma) killed four unidentified Indian Meitei militants in Tamu town and Pan Thar village. Kuki/ Zomi groups also inhabit the Hill Districts (including Churachandpur) of Manipur and Mizoram.
Significantly, the cooperation between Tatmadaw and Indian SFs had dealt a body blow to these outfits in the past. Forces from both sides had jointly conducted two major operations – Operation Sunshine 1 (February to March 2019) and Operation Sunshine 2 (May 16-June 8, 2019). Since the launch of Operation Sunshine 1, districts along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur have recorded 11 fatalities (three civilians and eight SF personnel) in three attacks, excluding the November 13, 2021 attack (data till November 14, 2021). Of these three, on was a major attack (involving three or more killings), which took place in Chandel District on July 29, 2020, and resulted in three fatalities (all SF personnel). In the preceding period corresponding, this region had recorded 20 fatalities (12 civilians and eight SF personnel) in 13 incidents. None of these attacks were major.
After the November 13, 2021 incident, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh disclosed, "The incident took place when the armed men infiltrated four kilometers into our area from the border with Myanmar."
The changed security situation in Myanmar had given the Manipur Valley-based groups some operational leverage due to the reported cooperation between these militant groups and local Tatmadaw units. Reports of emerging linkages between these groups and armed forces opposing the junta regime add a further complexity to the problem. The conflict in Myanmar has the potential to feed chaos in Indian territories along the India-Myanmar border.
Maharashtra: Gadchiroli: Major Assault Deepak Kumar Nayak Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On November 13, 2021, at least 26 Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed in an encounter by the Commando-60 (C-60, the special anti-Maoist Force of the Maharashtra Police) units, in the forests of Mardintola in Gyarapatti area in Korchi Tehsil (revenue unit) in Gadchiroli District. Four Security Force (SF) personnel sustained injuries during the encounter.
The encounter started in the early hours of November 13, when a C-60 team was conducting a search operation based on specific intelligence that Maoists from ‘company no. 4’, Tipagad Local Organising Squad (LOS), Korchi LOS, Vistaar ‘Platoon’, ‘central committee’ member Milind Teltumbde's Guard and other Dalams (armed squads) were present in large numbers in the Mardintola forest. The commandos were fired upon by the Maoists and retaliated. Police recovered bodies of 26 Maoists, which included 20 men and six women from the encounter site. A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including five AK-47 rifles, one Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy (AKM) assault rifle, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), nine Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), three .303 rifles, nine 2.2 single bore, one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle, one pistol and explosives was also recovered.
Top Maoist leader Milind Baburao Teltumbde aka Deepak Teltumbde aka Sahyadri aka Jeeva, a ‘central committee’ member and ‘secretary’ of the CPI-Maoist ‘Maharashtra State Committee’, carrying a reward of INR five million on his head, was among those dead. Teltumbde was the ‘head’ of the MMC (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh) confluence zone of the rebels and was instrumental in building the Maoist movement in the State, along the Gondia, Balaghat and Mandla regions in Madhya Pradesh and the Rajnandgaon region in Chhattisgarh, over the last two decades. He was also an accused wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Pune Police in the alleged Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad-Maoists links case of 2018. The case relates to the violence on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several injured after clashes at the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Koregaon near Pune.
The other slain Maoists included Lokesh aka Mangu Madkam, ‘Divisional Committee Member’ (DCM), carrying reward of INR two million on his head; Mahesh Gota, ‘DCM’, carrying a reward of INR 1.6 million; ‘commanders’ Kishan Jaiman and Sannu Kowachi, each carrying a reward of INR 800,000. Among the women Maoists killed in the encounter was Vimla aka Manso Boga, who was the bodyguard of Milind Teltumbde, carrying a reward of INR 400,000 on her head.
The November 13, 2021, encounter is the most successful operation conducted by the SFs in the District, in terms of high fatalities inflicted on the Maoists, since the twin encounters on April 22 and 23, 2018, when 37 CPI-Maoist cadres were killed by the C-60 Police commandos and personnel from Battalion 9 of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Kasnasur-Boriya area of Etapalli Tehsil, Gadchiroli.
In the interim, there have been another four encounters which have resulted in five or more Maoist killings. These included:
February 28, 2019: At least eight Maoists, including five women, were killed in an encounter at Savegam Forest in Gadchiroli District.
October 18, 2020: Anti-Naxal (Left Wing Extremist) Squad (ANS) commandos killed five Maoists, including three women, in the Kosmi-Kisneli Forests under Dhanora Taluka (revenue sub-division) in Gadchiroli District.
March 29, 2021: Five Maoists, including two women, were killed while two Policemen were injured, in an operation conducted by C-60 commandos in the Khobramenda Forest area in Gadchiroli District.
May 21, 2021: At least 13 Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with C-60 commandos in the Paydi-Kotmi Forest in Gadchiroli District.
During the period between April 22, 2018, and November 13, 2021, a total of 117 Maoists has been killed in encounters in Gadchiroli. Another 28 Maoists were arrested. The mounting pressure has resulted in the surrender of 53 Maoists. More recently, on September 7, 2021, the Maharashtra Government extended the Naxal Surrender Policy in the State for another two years. The Policy was introduced in 2005 with the aim of curbing the Naxalite movement in the State. Moreover, the Police in Gadchiroli had taken several initiatives to create job opportunities in Naxal-affected areas, so that the people do not join up with the rebels. Gadchiroli, SP, Ankit Goyal disclosed,
The Maoists have killed 19 SF personnel in four separate attacks during this period. 15 of these fatalities took place in a single attack on May 1, 2019, on the Dadapur Road near Lendali Nullah in Jamburkheda village under Kurkheda Police Station limits in Gadchiroli District. One civilian driver was also killed in the attack.
The overall SF:Maoist kill ratio thus works out at 1:6.15 since April 22, 2018. Prior to that date, between March 6, 2000, and April 21, 2018, the ratio was 1:1.34. The Maoists are evidently facing the heat.
Of Gadchiroli’s total area of 14,412 square kilometres, 11,694 square kilometres, i.e., 78.40 per cent, fall under forest cover. Gadchiroli shares borders with four Districts – Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, the worst Naxal-affected Indian State, and two Maoist affected Districts – Adilabad and Karimnagar – of Telangana. The difficult terrain and the location of the district had long made it a safe haven for the Maoists, as the dense forests and hills of the district made the task of SFs’ locating and sanitizing Maoist hideouts difficult. Gadchiroli emerged as the epicentre of Maoist violence in Maharashtra, and at its peak in 2009, had registered at least 99 fatalities, including 52 SF personnel, 37 Maoists and 10 civilians. Since then, however, the situation started to improve.
Nevertheless, concerns remain. Gadchiroli is listed among the ‘25 Most Affected (LWE) Districts’ in eight States of the country, and is also covered under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme that funds focused operations against Left-Wing Extremists.
Significantly, Gadchiroli District, along with Gondia and Nagpur in Maharashtra, fall into what is designated as the CPI-Maoist's 'Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) zone', where the Naxalites have been engaged in efforts to set up a base similar to 'Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC)' in the Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh. An unnamed senior Chhattisgarh Police official observed, on November 13, 2021,
Maoists are fighting a last-ditch battle in their earlier strongholds, including Gadchiroli. Sustained SF efforts to completely sanitise the purported ‘Red Corridor’ are necessary to restore an enduring peace in the region. The Maoists must also be denied the opportunity to carry out any major retaliatory attacks, which tend to infuse life – however transient – into the movement. Political and administrative consolidation and measurable improvements in the quality of life available to the people will act as a bulwark against future mobilization by the rebels.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia November 8-14, 2021
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
NS
Total
AFGHANISTAN
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
Manipur
INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
Maharashtra
India (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
PAKISTAN (Total)
Total (South Asia)
Qatar to act as US diplomatic representative in Afghanistan, says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: On November 12, the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, signed the agreement making Qatar the U.S. "protecting power" in Afghanistan at a State Department ceremony after holding talks. "Qatar will establish a U.S. interest section within its embassy in Afghanistan to provide certain consular services and monitor the condition and security of U.S. diplomatic facilities in Afghanistan," Blinken said. Reuters, November 13, 2021.
600 Daesh militants detained in Past three months, says Taliban Officials: Taliban official on November 10 informed that at least 600 Daesh (Arabic acronym for Islamic State) militants were arrested within the past three months across the country. "In several parts of the country, nearly 600 members of Daesh who were involved in subversive acts and killings were detained," said Khalil Hamraz, a spokesman for the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), speaking to reporters in the government's information and media centre. Tolo News, November 11, 2021.
US supports Taliban's vigorous efforts to wipe out Daesh, says Envoy Thomas West: On November 8, the United States (US) envoy to Afghanistan Thomas West said that the US supports the Taliban's vigorous efforts to wipe out Daesh (Arabic acronym for Islamic State). US Envoy West further said that Washington has no plans to establish diplomatic relations with the Taliban any time soon. Arab News, November 10, 2021.
Taliban to take military actions if talks between TTP and Pakistani government fail, says Pakistani ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan: Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan has said that the Taliban have promised to be taking military actions against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or other militant groups if talks between them and the Pakistani government fail. Tolo News, November 8, 2021.
26 Maoists killed in encounter in Maharashtra: In a notification on October 11, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) has stated that Border Security Force (BSF) can now search, seize and arrest within 50 kilometres stretch from the International Border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. This notification comes following an amendment to the BSF act. Indian Express, November 14, 2021.
Seven persons, including Assam Rifles Commanding Officer killed in ambush in Manipur: Militants ambushed an Assam Rifles (AR) convoy in Churachandpur District of Manipur on November 13, killing a Commanding Officer (CO), his wife and their five-year-old son and four others AR personnel. At least six other AR personnel were injured in the attack. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) jointly claimed responsibility for the ambush. Indian Express, November 14, 2021.
ULFA-I extends unilateral truce for another three months: On November 14, United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) extended the unilateral ceasefire for another three months. In a statement, Paresh Baruah, 'commander-in-chief' of the banned outfit, stated that the outfit would not indulge in any kind of military operations during these extended three months unilateral ceasefire. Northeast Now, November 14, 2021.
India and seven other regional nations pledge to combat terror and call for inclusive Afghan Government: Eight regional countries, including India, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan pledged at Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10, to combat terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and called for an open and inclusive Government in Kabul with representation from all sections of Afghan society. Hindustan Times, November 11, 2021.
Spread of terrorism can reverse efforts of international community, India states at the UN: India on November 9, said that spread of terrorism, particularly in countries facing conflicts, can reverse efforts of the international community. Addressing the UN Security Council open debate on 'Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Exclusion, Inequality and Conflict' held under the current Presidency of Mexico, Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said that those supporting it in any manner should be held responsible. Times Now News, November 11, 2021.
Ruling alliance forms 11-member coordination committee to oversee CMP: The five-party ruling alliance on November 8 formed an 11-member coordination committee to oversee the execution of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the coalition Government. According to Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Center) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the coordination committee will be first led by senior Nepali Congress (NC) leader Ramchandra Paudel, followed by a new leader every two months from among the alliance partners. The Himalayan Times, November 10, 2021.
32 journalist harassment cases filed in a year, Islamabad Police inform Supreme Court: The Supreme Court was informed on November 12 that Islamabad Police had, over the last one year, submitted to trial courts the cases of 32 persons suspected of involvement in 16 attempts on the lives of journalists or of assaulting them. A report on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police operations in Islamabad stated that out of 16 cases registered by police from September 13 last year to September 12 this year, four were still under investigation. Dawn, November 15, 2021.
Afghan Taliban mediating between Pakistan Government, TTP but no agreement yet, says Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi: The Afghan Taliban are mediating between Pakistan Government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) but no agreement has been reached so far, said Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister (FM) Amir Khan Muttaqi on November 14. In an interview with BBC News Urdu, FM Amir Khan Muttaqi said the Afghan Taliban were acting as mediators on the desire of both the parties in Pakistan. Dawn, November 15, 2021.
No anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan, says Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi: Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on November 12 denied the presence of anti-Pakistan elements in his country, assuring that the Taliban-led Government was making all-out efforts to ensure that Afghan soil was not used against any country. Muttaqi, who is leading a 20-member delegation on a three-day visit to Pakistan, expressed the views while addressing a seminar at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad. Dawn, November 13, 2021.
54 TLP activists removed from the fourth schedule: The names of 54 activists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were removed from the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 following the recent agreement between the Government and TLP. The 54 TLP activists belonged to the Rawalpindi division. 28 of the individuals belonged to the Rawalpindi District, 14 to Chakwal District, 11 to Attock District and one to Jhelum District.
Earlier, the Punjab Government on November 10 removed TLP chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi's name from the Fourth Schedule - a list of proscribed individuals who are suspected of terrorism or sectarianism under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. Geo News, November 6, 2021.
Supreme Court grills PM Imran on talks with the TTP, questions govt's inaction against perpetrators of APS carnage: The Supreme Court on November 10 grilled Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan over the Government's inaction against those responsible for the Peshawar Army Public School (APS) attack in 2014 and the ongoing talks with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). During the hearing, Justice Amin reminded the PM that Pakistan is not a small country. "We have the sixth largest army in the world," he said. With regards to media reports regarding negotiations with the TTP, Justice Amin questioned whether "we are bringing them [TTP] back to the negotiating table instead of taking action against them?" "Are we going to surrender once again?", Justice Amin asked the premier. Geo News, November 6, 2021.
National Assembly approves protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill: The National Assembly (NA) on November 8 gave its nod to the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021. The bill paves way for establishing an independent commission for the protection of journalists and media professionals. Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, who had moved the bill on May 21 this year, said the bill was okayed by the standing committee on human rights headed by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Nation, November 10, 2021.
TTP declare one-month ceasefire starting November 9 after talks with Government: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on November 8 declared a one-month ceasefire, starting from November 9. The spokesperson for TTP said the ceasefire could be extended with the consent of the parties involved - the TTP and the Government - while both parties should abide by the rules of the ceasefire. Geo News, November 8, 2021.
President issues new Gazette with changes to Task Force on 'One Country, One Law': President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on November 6 issued a new Extraordinary Gazette Notification with amendments to the Presidential Task Force on 'One Country, One Law' formed on October 26. According to the new Gazette issued, the President has appointed three new members to the Task Force "taking into consideration the representations made by various parties with regard to the composition of the membership and Terms of Reference of the said Task Force and, focusing on the need for the pluralistic character and gender equity of the Sri Lankan Society to be reflected in the composition of the membership of this Task Force, as per the terms of reference of the Task Force." Colombo Page, November 11, 2021.
Final draft of new constitution expected at end of this year, says Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa informed Parliament on November 10 that the committee of experts appointed to draft a new constitution was expected to submit its final draft at the end of this year. Responding to a question raised by National Peoples' Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, he said the committee was appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers to draft a new Constitution as pledged by the Government in its policy statement "Vistas of Prosperity". Daily Mirror, November 11, 2021.
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