ISLAMIST/OTHER CONFLICTS: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2019

The preliminary forensic analysis of the evidences from 10 arrested Islamic State [IS]-inspired outfit—Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam [HuHI], has revealed that the operatives had gathered powerful explosives to cause large casualties, reports The Indian Express on January 2. The group was in advanced stage of carrying out multiple blasts. The forensic report has also suggested that the explosives’ chemical compositions which are used in firecrackers (such as potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, sulphur, sugar, arsenic sulphide, aluminium powder) have been used in the earlier to make home-made explosives by terrorists for fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs]. Read less...

The Union Minister of Home Affairs [UMHA] on January 2 informed the Parliament that Pakistan-based terrorist organisations are training their operatives for underwater strike capabilities for ‘samudri jihad’ [Sea-borne Jihad] for infiltration into India by Sea to carry out terrorist attacks, report The Times of India. Earlier [date unspecified], the Intelligence Bureau [IB] had informed the State Police agencies and the government that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT] and Jaish-e-Mohammad [JeM] are giving specialized underwater training to their operatives, informed UMHA. However, as per the available information, there are no specific inputs that any terrorist group planning a 26/11 type Mumbai terror attack on ports, cargo ships and oil tankers in the high Seas, said the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs [UMoSHA] Hansraj Ahir in the Parliament. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency [NIA] on January 3 arrested Naeem [21]—an Arms supplier to the operatives of Islamic State [IS]-inspired group—Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam [HuHI] from Meerut, reports Business Standard. Allegedly, Naeem was an Arms supplier to the 10 operatives of HuHI arrested by the NIA on December 26. Read less...

The Afghanistan’s National Security Advisor [NSA]—Hamdullah Mohib and India’s NSA Ajit Doval on January 4 held talk over India’s role in Afghanistan’s development, reports The Times of India. The Afghanistan’s NSA appreciated India’s development assistance mainly reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. NSA Mohib has appreciated India’s involvement for economic development and reconstruction of Afghanistan; also, human resource development, including the training of Afghanistan’s National Defence and Security Forces in India, read a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs [MEA]. Read less...

The Anti-Terrorism Squad [ATS] on January 4 has recovered INR 61.82 lakh of Hawala [illegal transfer of money] from a man [identity undisclosed] at Ajmer Bus terminal in Ajmer District of Rajasthan, reports The Times of India. The ATS officials have informed the Income Tax [I-T] Department for further investigations. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 4 rejected the plea of Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) founder and a ‘specially designated global terrorist’ Syed Salahuddin, challenging the Delhi High Court order dismissing his bail petition in a terror funding case, reports The Tribune. The SC said that once the trial court had granted extension of time to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to complete the investigation in the case, the accused was not entitled to statutory bail. Read less...

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 5 filed a charge sheet in a Delhi court against Shabbir Ahmad Lone, a suspected member of the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), for his alleged involvement in a money laundering case, reports Daily Excelsior. The ED attached foreign currency, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), that was recovered from Lone which, it said, “was meant for the purpose of terrorist activities in India”. Lone was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in 2007 from the Chandni Chowk area in New Delhi. Read less...

Indian agencies will have to wait a little longer before Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case is extradited from US, reports The Hindu on January 6. National Investigation Agency (NIA) team that was in the U.S. a few days ago to seek the extradition of Rana, a close associate of David Coleman Headley, has been given an indication that Rana has to first complete his jail sentence. Rana, who was arrested in 2009, is serving a 14-year prison term in the U.S. for providing material support to terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which planned and executed the attacks.Though he was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2013 by a U.S. district court, his jail term would also include the period he has already served in prison and would come to an end in 2023. A senior official stated that ‘NIA team went to the U.S. in relation to the extradition request of Rana. It’s a quasi-judicial process so no one can predict when he would be extradited. He is now serving a sentence there and we have been assured that the extradition could take place closer to the date when he completes his jail sentence in the U.S.’ Minister of State Gen. V.K. Singh (retired) told the Lok Sabha last week that the Government of India had engaged with relevant U.S. authorities, under terms of the India-U.S. Extradition Treaty of 1997, for extradition of U.S.-based individuals for their role in the November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The Minister also added that ‘These consultations have been held by means of meetings/visits and teleconferences. Most recently, a team from the NIA visited the U.S. on December 13-15, 2018, for discussion with the U.S. authorities. The ‘double jeopardy’ clause in U.S. law prohibits punishment for the same crime twice, so India renewed its bid to seek Rana’s custody on the ground that he was actively involved in planning an attack on the National Defence College in Delhi and Chabad Houses (Jewish religious centres) in several cities.Rana, a Chicago-based businessman, helped Headley open an immigration firm in Mumbai, which was a cover to conduct reconnaissance on possible targets that were attacked on November 26, 2008.Rana was a school friend of Headley from Pakistan. According to the FBI, after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Headley visited India again in March 2009 to conduct additional surveillance, including of the National Defence College (NDC) in Delhi and of Chabad Houses.NIA also has registered a forgery case against Rana for opening the immigration centre based on fake documents. Read less...

A Delhi Court on January 7 extended National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody of five of the 10 people arrested on suspicion of being members of Islamic State (IS) module, reports The Hindu. The court remanded the other five accused in judicial custody after the agency said they were not required for custodial interrogation. The group was reportedly planning suicide attacks and serial blasts, targeting politicians as also government installations, in Delhi and other parts of north India. The court extended the NIA custody of Mufti Mohammed Suhail alias Hazrath (29) and Saqib Iftekar (26) till January 12.Zubair Malik (20), Rashid Zafar Raq alias Zafar (23) and Anas Yunus (24) were sent to further custodial interrogation till January 10.The others — Zubair’s brother Zaid (22), Saeed alias Sayeed (28), his brother Raees Ahmad, Mohammed Irshad (in late 20s) and Mohammed Azam (35) — were sent to judicial custody till February till February after the NIA did not seek their further remand.They were earlier produced before the court on December 27 after which they were sent to 10-day NIA custody which expired on January 7.The probe agency had initially rounded up 16 persons of the group ‘Harkat ul Harb e Islam’, which loosely translates into war for the cause of Islam.Of the 16 detained, 10 were later arrested — five from Amroha, in Uttar Pradesh (U.P) and five from Seelampur and Jafrabad localities in north-east Delhi. Read less...

Gujarat continues to toped in seizures of counterfeit currency between 2015 and 2018 among the 17 bordering states, reports Times of India on January 7. According to a report of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), post-demonetisation, in 2017 and 2018, Gujarat seized fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) of INR 101.6 million as compared to INR 39 Million and 2016. In 2018, Gujarat seized 27,724 fake notes of INR 11.5 million. West Bengal led in the value of counterfeit seizure with total value of INR 14 Million. Gujarat, which shares land and sea borders with Pakistan, topped the counterfeit currency seizure charts in 2017 when a little above INR 90 Million was recovered. West Bengal, which shares its border with three countries — Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan — in the same year seized INR 61.9 Million worth of FICN. Top Police officials claim that cops in Gujarat were alert and prevented the FICN from entering the market. A Police official stated that ‘Most of the fake currency cases suggested that they had roots in West Bengal and Bangladesh. These fake notes are routed to bigger cities of Gujarat and thereon supplied to metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore to weaken the economy’. In 2018, Gujarat registered a total of 50 FIRs and booked the same number of the accused in cases of fake currency seizures. Read less...

Police busted a Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) racket and arrested seven members of the racket on January 7 from Belgavi District, reports UNI. The gang was arrested while they were attempting to circulate FICN notes in a village in Belgavi District. The arrested gang was operating from Tallur village in Savadatti taluk in the District. Three persons used the photo copying machines to print counterfeit notes and the other four tried to circulate them in local ration shops. The arrestees have been identified as Shivanand S Kashappanavar, Sharif G Sabar,Praveen S Saradar, Meerasab K Mulla, Chetan V Goudar, Kumar E Angadi, Ziaulla and GChapati all residents of Tallur village. Read less...

Mumbai police's Crime Branch on January 8 stated that they have got custody of a close aide of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim's nephew, reports New Indian Express. According to an official, Danish Ali, a close aide of Ibrahim's nephew SohailKaskar, was deported from the United States of America on November 15 last year following which the Mumbai Police took him into custody last month. The official also added that Ali and Kaskar, along with two Pakistani nationals, were arrested by US agencies in a narco-terrorism case in 2014. Ali had left India and moved to Dubai in 2001 where he teamed up with Kaskar to operate a diamond smuggling ring. The two attempted to enter Russia to further the diamond racket but Ali was denied a visa. However, he managed to enter Russia a little while later on a student visa and regrouped with Kaskar for diamond smuggling operations after attending college there for two years. The duo came on the radar of US agencies when they moved to Spain from where they were nabbed, along with two Pakistani nationals. They were behind bars for a period of one-and-half years and were then turned over to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and remained in jail for another two-and-half year starting September 2015. Mumbai Police demanded his custody from US authorities as Ali was wanted in an extortion case. Accepting India's request, US authorities extradited Ali on November 15, 2018. He was handed over to Mumbai police in the first week of December last year and has been in jail since. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing into the attack on YSR Congress President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (on October 25, 2018) has reportedly filed a petition in the Vijayawada NIA Special Court, requesting for transfer of the case as well as the related records to it, reports The Hindu on January 9.Vijayawada NIA Special Court judge has directed the Visakhapatnam VIIth Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Court to transfer the case and the relevant records to NIA with immediate effect. Read less...

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, says 31,313 people will be immediate beneficiaries once the bill becomes an act, reports The Telegraph on January 8. The committee had asked the Government about the number of people belonging to these communities who will benefit if the bill is passed by Parliament. In response, Intelligence Bureau (IB) stated that ‘As per our records, there are 31,313 persons belonging to minority communities (Hindus- 25447, Sikhs- 5807, Christians- 55, Buddhists- 2 and Parsis- 2) who have been given long-term visa on the basis of their claim of religious persecution in their respective countries and want Indian citizenship. Hence, these persons will be immediate beneficiaries. IB informed the JPC that, if required, help of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) will be taken to ascertain claims of other people who will apply for Indian citizenship on the basis of religious persecution, but did not declare so at the time of their arrival in India. IB also added that For others to apply for Indian citizenship under this category, they will have to prove that they came to India due to religious persecution. If they had not declared so at the time of their arrival in India, it would be difficult for them to make such a claim now. Any future claim will be inquired into, including through RAW, before a decision is taken’. The IB added there will be many others who might have come and already taken citizenship by “various means”. It also stated that ‘So, for all practical purposes, they are already citizens of this country. Tribunals are already there to identify if any of them has obtained it by fraudulent means. That is a different issue altogether. The bill is for those who have applied and who have claimed that they have been persecuted in their respective countries.’ Read less...

A recent study indicate that India has witnessed a 457% rise in cybercrime incidents under the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 from the year 2011 to 2016, reports The Economic Times on January 9. Symantec Corp, a cyber security form ranked India among top five countries to be affected by cybercrime, between 2012-17, the number of internet users grew at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 44%, of which India is placed third after US and China. According to the study Using latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Facial Recognition, Internet of Things (IoT) etc., to identify and catch suspects/criminals, have gained much awareness among various law enforcement agencies. However, the implementation of these technologies is not on a National level but on a State level, which makes it crucial for the central government to fund and support state level law enforcement agencies to utilize technologies to upgrade their policing methods. Read less...

Asian Age on January 9 reports that Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on January 9 supported the talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, but said it should be without any preconditions. He stated that ‘Yes, there should be talks with the Taliban so long as they do not come out with any preconditions and so long as they are looking at a lasting peace in Afghanistan to bring about stability in that country’. Additionally, he also identified the social media as a platform to spread radicalism and generate financial resources for terrorism. The Army Chief said the time has come for some control over it. ‘We see a different kind of radicalisation in Jammu and Kashmir. My take is that terrorism is here to stay so long as there are nations which are going to continue to sponsor terrorism as state policy. We are seeing it happen in Jammu and Kashmir’. He also added that ‘I think we have a lot to do with the media and the social media, which must be controlled. For this, if one particular nation starts controlling a particular media, it will be taken as media rights are being curbed... Therefore, I think the international community must get together in ensuring that the source of the social media is prevented from spreading false information and disinformation because a lot of funds are coming from people who are getting radicalised’. He said radicalisation through social media was also helping in fundraising by terrorist organisations. They are being convinced about the acts of terrorists and the radicalised people are also helping terror outfits generate funds. Read less...

Asserting that terrorism is becoming a new form of warfare, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on January 9 that the menace is spreading its head like a "multi-headed monster" and is "here to stay" as long as statescontinue to use it as a state policy, reports Times of India. He stated that ‘"Terrorism is becoming a new form of warfare. A weaker nation is using terrorists as proxy to put pressure on another nation to come to terms with it’. The Army Chief also added that there was a need to control socialmedia as it was becoming a source of spreading radicalisation. He said a different kind of radicalisation was being witnessed in India and in Jammu and Kashmir, the youth weregetting radicalised due to a lot of misinformation, disinformation, and a lot of falsehoods on religion being fed tothem. Read less...

Government of India (GoI) has stated that India would not engage the Afghan insurgents directly, and had not changed its position on the issue, reports The Hindu on January 10. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (Retd) V.K. Singh said India’s position on direct talks with the Taliban remained the same. Earlier Indian Army Chief of Staff Bipin Rawat had reportedly stated that he supported the talks with the Taliban in Afghanistanwithout any pre-conditions. A senior government official also said India’s traditional position on a purely “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” dialogue had not altered, despite a number of countries including U.S., Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan and Uzbekistan beginning talks with the Taliban. General Rawat had stated that ‘Does India have an interest in Afghanistan? Is answer is yes, then we can’t be out of the bandwagon… Our thinking is that yes, we have interest in Afghanistan. If we have an interest and other people want to talk to Taliban, then should we in some way be involved, either directly or indirectly? But we should not be left out’. The issue over talks with the Taliban has dominated much of the conversation during the Raisina Dialogue this year, with Russian officials promoting direct talks with the Taliban, and Iranian officials offering to facilitate a dialogue between India and the Taliban. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against around 7-8 youths hailing from Kerala and Karnataka but based in Qatar who travelled to or prepared for travel to Syria since 2013 to join terrorist outfits Jund al-Aqsa (JAA) and Jabhat-ul-Nusra, reports The Hindu on January 9. Jund al-Aqsa, a militant group operating primarily in Idlib and Hama provinces of Syria, was proscribed in 2017 by the UN for being associated with the Islamic State (IS) and Al Qaida in Iraq.The youths are believed to have been radicalised while living in Qatar and had conducted preparations for or travelled to Syria from 2013 onwards. NIA officials stated that ongoing investigation into other cases involving youth from Kerala who had attempted to or joined IS, threw up information on these Qatar-based youth having joined terrorist groups other than IS in Syria. “NIA is aware of the identity and addresses of these youth. However, it is not clear how the youth travelled to Syria and if they are still alive or dead’. In past instances, youth from Kerala have travelled to Syria via two routes. First, travelling to Turkey by flight and then crossing the border illegally to reach Syria, and second, taking a flight to a Gulf country and then travelling to Iran from where they travel to Turkey by road before crossing over to Syria. JAA is comprised of approximately 1,600 militants, mostly foreign terrorist fighters. Read less...

Sangai Express reports that a hotline across India-Myanmar border connecting Tamu, Chandel and Imphal would be installed, to share intelligence information on various issues between two countries and to help in curbing incidents of crimes taking place on the Manipur side of the international border. According to a reliable source, installation of the hotline was discussed during the meeting of the border liaison officers attended by an Indian delegate led by Joint Secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Naveen Verma at Tamu recently. At the meeting, Myanmar officials proposed to the Indian delegation for providing telephones, bikes and vehicles in help in communication if the hotline is to be installed. Taking consideration of the request, the MHA has started the process for providing Bolero, motor bike and telephone, the source disclosed. The report adds that Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai during his recent visit to Imphal had announced that a co-ordination operation would be launched against the Northeast militants encamping and operating from the territory of Myanmar. Read less...

Even though Delhi had the highest threat perception, it remained out of bounds for terrorists in 2018, reports Times of India on January 10. Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) with face value INR 3.878 million was recovered in the city. The anti-terror unit also cracked down on gunrunners operating out of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. In 2018, Special Cell seized 422 pistols, three carbines, four revolvers and 2,777 cartridges. In a major operation in northeast Delhi, a factory producing illegal arms was busted and more than 50 weapons were seized. Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik launched an all-women SWAT team. Patnaik also launched “Parakram vans” that will be manned by heavily-armed, NSG-trained commandos. Read less...

On January 10, National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made the 12th arrest in the ISIS-inspired module 'Harkat-Ul-Harb-e-Islam' (War for the cause of Islam) case, reports The Tribune. The agency arrested 24-year-old Muhammad Absar from Gaziabad in Uttar Pardesh (UP). According to an agency official, he had visited three places in J&K in the months of May and August 2018 along with another accused Iftekhar Sakib in connection with the terror conspiracy.The case will be next heard on January 18. The probe agency also carried out searches in Meerut and Hapur on January 12 with the support of UP Police at three locations connected with Muhammad Absar.Earlier on January 3, 21-year-old Naeem, a resident of Meerut, was arrested on charges of supplying arms to the other 10 accused, including alleged mastermind 29-year-old Mohammad Sohail arrested from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh in December 2018.On December 26, the NIA in early morning raids across 17 locations in New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh claimed busting a module that was allegedly preparing to launch fidayeen attacks. Read less...

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) alleged that there has been a significant escalation of anti-India activity throughout the world orchestrated by Pakistan’s spy agency Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan assumed office, reports Asian Age on January 11. According to Government officials, developments being monitored closely by New Delhi indicate that the ISI is masterminding anti-India protests by vested interests in various parts of the world and that an escalation in such activities has been observed after Mr Imran Khan assumed office. Read less...

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 11 was granted a seven-day custody of J. Srinivas Rao, the accused in the attack on YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, reports The Hindu. The NIA, which took over the case from the State police, produced Srinivas Rao in the court and filed a petition seeking his custody. The reason behind attacking the YSRCP president, whether any other person was involved, why was a knife used in rooster fights used for the purpose, when and how was the attack planned, and any attempts made earlier were some of the issues on which the NIA police may grill Srinivas. The NIA team headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent (DSP) or above is likely to take Srinivas into custody from Vijayawada jail on January 12 (today). Read less...

Army chief General Bipin Rawat on January 11 pitched for incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data into the armed forces' system reports Times of India on January 11. He also stated that many countries, including "some of our adversaries", are spending "huge money" on this aspect of technology. Addressing the Army Technology Seminar New Delhi he stated that it will be "too late" if we don't start work on AI and big data. He also added that ‘We have identified technologies that need to be incorporated (into our system).’ Furthermore he also said that But, we also need to address, how can we incorporate AI and big data into our system. We can't just leave them to be in military glossary’. The Army chief said the next revolution in military affairs will be defined by technology and innovations in technology. Minster of state for defence Shubhash Bhamre further added that ‘Technology development has both challenges and opportunities, and it is is heralding a possibility of quantum leap in the nature of waging of war. Potential adversaries are seeking asymmetric capabilities to exploit vulnerabilities and upset our current advantages. So, we need to strengthen capabilities from human to cyberspace Bhamre also said Big data analytics, Internet of Things and AI will have major impact on way wars wills be fought in future. Read less...

Legal trouble for Bengali Hindu migrants, who have taken shelter in India, may not be over, with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) recommending that those seeking citizenship will have to first prove that they are victims of religious persecution while applying for citizenship, reports Assam Tribune on January 11. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, was passed by the Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian Parliament) early this week and is now pending passage in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indian Parliament). Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) told Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) stated that If they had not declared so at that time of their arrival in India, it would be difficult for them to make such a claim now. JPC report said that when asked to state the fate of other people belonging to minority communities who have come to India from the three countries (Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan) under reference due to religious persecution but have not declared so at the time of their arrival in India, the Intelligence Bureau submitted that any future claim would be enquired into, including through Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) before a decision is taken. So far only 31,313 people have formally declared that they came to India due to religious persecution. The IB Director deposed: “Yes, because they have claimed, they have applied. There will be many others who might have come and they might have already taken citizenship by various means. They might have obtained passport, ration card. All other documents they might have obtained and they might have already registered themselves in the voters list. So, for all practical purposes, they are already citizens of this country. Tribunals are already there to identify if any of them has obtained it by fraudulent means. The Bill is for those who have applied and who have claimed that they have been persecuted in their respective country.” The Committee then enquired whether all those who had applied would be granted citizenship once the Bill was passed or further verifications would be carried out. In response, the IB Director submitted: “Sir, as and when the Bill is passed, one thing can be thought of is that all those who have applied, who are here for a number of years, we can make one more verification whether during their stay in India if anything adverse has come to the notice of the security agencies whether it is IB, local police, local intelligence and those who have come for any activities or there is notice of any activities which is prejudicial of the nation, their case can be scrutinised. But that we will examine separately.” When the Committee desired to hear the views of RAW, its Joint Secretary deposed in evidence: “... our only concern has been that the agencies, which are inimical to us should not have a legal framework within which they can exploit our situation and infiltrate their own people into our own country. That is a matter of great concern for us.”The Committee enquired whether it was absolutely necessary to confer citizenship on the migrants as conferring political rights had larger implications and whether it would be prudent to accord refugee or temporary resident status to the migrants.In reply, the MHA submitted as under: “Conferment of citizenship to foreign migrants living in India with valid documents ensures more facilities and power to exercise franchise and feel their responsibilities towards the nation. Since India is not a signatory to the UN Convention, 1951 or its Protocol of 1967, it may not be prudent to treat them as refugees if rules permit that they could be allowed to acquire Indian citizenship.”On the same issue, the Legislative Department submitted: “The proposed Bill does not directly confer citizenship on these persons, it merely provides these persons the opportunity to be considered for the grant of certificate of naturalisation. It has become necessary to exempt these persons from being treated as ‘illegal migrants’ in order to ensure that they may avail of the opportunity to be considered for naturalisation under Section 6 read with the Third Schedule to the said Act.”In response to another related query, the MHA apprised as under: “As of now, illegal migrants have not been conferred with Indian Citizenship. However, after enactment of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, it will enable illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to apply for Indian Citizenship under Section 5 (1) (a) (Registration) and 6 (Naturalisation) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Application is required to be submitted through the District Authorities.” Read less...

MEA also denied the Pakistani allegations that it was involved in the Chinese Embassy attacks in Karachi in November 2018, reports Times of India on January 12. MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar stated that ‘Instead of maliciously pointing fingers at others for such terrorist incidents, Pakistan needs to look inwards and undertake credible action againstsupport to terrorism and terror infrastructure in its territories.’ Earlier on January 10, Karachi Police Chief had stated that attack on the Chinese consulate in November 2018 was planned in Afghanistan with the help of Indian intelligence. The attack, by three armed terrorists, was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army. It killed two police officers and two visa applicants at the mission. Read less...

An Indian Army trooper posted in a tank regiment in Jaisalmer has been arrested by the Rajasthan Police after he was allegedly found to be virtually honey trapped by Pakistan-based ISI operatives on social media and passing critical military information to them, reports Asian Age on January 13. Accordinf to Défense Public Relations Officer (PRO) ‘The jawan has been arrested in Jaisalmer by the Rajasthan police and the Army is providing all possible assistance to the civilian authorities in this investigation’. The arrest identified as Sombir, was posted in the Armour Crops and hailes from Haryana. ources in the Army said the jawan was in touch with a suspected ISI spy using the profile name of 'Anika Chopra' on Facebook and was chatting regularly on the social media and exchanging details and information about the jawan'sarmoured unit and its movement. Read less...

Army has gone in for an emergency purchase of a very small number of advanced sniper rifles, with longer ranges as well as modern telescopic sights, for troops deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, reports Times of India on January 12. The new sniper rifles, Beretta's.338 Lapua Magnum Scorpio TGT and Barrett's .50-calibre M95 guns, which have an effective kill range from 1,500 to 1,800 metres, are being purchased under the Northern Army Command chief 's emergency financial powers. The larger "capital procurement" of 5,719 new 8.6mm sniper rifles to equip all the 382 infantry battalions in the over 12-lakh strong Army - each unit is authorized 10 sniper rifles - will however take another couple of years. Sniping is posing a major operational challenge for Indian troops along the ndian infantry soldiers, in contrast, are saddled with Russian-origin 7.62mm Dragunov semi-automatic sniper rifles, which have a "limited" kill range of 800-metre and a design vintage of the 1960s. In the absence of Picatinny rails, the Dragunov rifles are also incompatible with several modern essential accessories like magnification and sight systems. The Army's Para-Special Forces units are now also getting some long-range Finnish Sako sniper rifles, which have a kill range of around 2,400-metre. Read less...

Kolkata's anti-Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) team of Special Task Force (STF) have arrested eight Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) dealers in Narkeldanga Police Station area of Kolkata District and seized FICN notes worth INR 60,000, on January 12 reports Business Standard. The Munger and Malda-based improvised firearms cum FICN dealers were intercepted while they were trading FICN notes and improvising fire arms. STF arrested the dealers with 20 FICN notes in denominations of INR 2000 and 40 FICN notes in denominations of INR 500. Three pieces of improvised 7mm semi-automatic pistols having dual magazines and 21 rounds of live cartridges and 14 pieces of Semi-finished firearms. Read less...

The special cell of Delhi Police has apprehended two alleged Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) operatives, reports Times of India on January 13. One of the suspects was identified as Kifayatullah Bukhari, who is considered to be close with HM ‘commander’ Syed Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu . The other suspect is a minor. DCP (special cell) Pramod Kushwaha confirmed Bukhari’s arrest and added that further investigation was under way. Bukhari is a resident of Pora Bara village in Shopian District of Kashmir. The two were apprehended after Police received intelligence about the movement of militants. The arrest has revealed that Kashmiri militants are procuring weapons from gun runners based in Delhi and neighbouring states as there has been a shortage of small arms used in targeted killings. The operatives travel to Delhi in a bus and carry only one or two pistols and magazines back to valley. Hindustan Times adds that a pistol and 14 cartridges were recovered from the militants. Times of India further adds that a minimal number of weapons are taken back to avoid Police detection. According to Police, the militants came under radar when he came to Delhi to procure weapons. According to sources, The modus operandi had surfaced earlier when the cell arrested two militant of Islamic State-Jammu Kashmir (IS-JK) — Parvaiz Rashid Lone and Jamsheed Zahoor Paul. The two were nabbed near Red Fort in central Delhi. The cell also nabbed three militants of the same module — Tahir, Haris and Asif — with grenades and weapons by tracking their supplier. Now, the special cell teams are trailing Naveed who may be hiding in Shopian. The police said that during this operation, an underground hideout, which could accommodate 4-5 militants at a time, was also found in J&K and destroyed. This hideout was created by Naveed himself. A resident of Nazneenpora of Shopian district, Naveed joined J&K police in 2012 as a constable. In 2017, he was deployed as a guard at a Food Corporation of India (FCI) Facility at Chandpora in BudgamDistrict when he fled with four self-loading rifles from the guard room. He later pledged allegiance to HM. Read less...

Intelligence agencies and Police are now studying the alarming rise in the number of educated people joining terrorism in India, reports India Today on January 14. According to an official, ‘education institutions - colleges and universities - are being targeted to radicalise and recruit bright young men studying there’. In November, Delhi Police Special Cell, along with Jammu and Kashmir Police, arrested three youngsters who allegedly owe allegiance to the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK). Ehtisham Bilal (20), a native of Khanyar in old Srinagar who joined Sharda University (Noida) in 2017, is a case in point. Bilal, who had reportedly joined ISJK, returned home on December 2 last year. Senior officers in the Special Cell also claimed that in October, they arrested two youths in south Kashmir. One of them, Parvez Rashid, was studying BTech in Amroha in western Uttar Pradesh. Not just students, trained engineers are also among the educated people who join the terror outfits. A senior official stated that ‘While recruiting, terrorist groups give first preference to the engineers because they are the ones who have technical expertise and would help in high profile operations and also upgrading the outfit’. The official further said due to these technologies being used by the terror outfit, it becomes impossible for any agency to pick up any clue of the operation. According to the antiterror agencies, at least 62 per cent of the Islamic terrorists are educated. An official also added that ‘information is so easy to get today and it is splashed all over the web. Speeches of Anwar Al Awlaki are most popular. Groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and the Al-Qaeda (AQ) have managed to put up a lot of information on their websites which is easily accessible and with time they have managed to get enough number of readership’.To make matters worse, these groups have intentionally put out misleading material online. What is worrying is that unlike WhatsApp which can be intercepted, Telegram and Signal are next to impossible to be tracked. Islamic State in India keeps doing talent hunt online. Read less...

Army chief General Bipin Rawat on January 15 said that India will not hesitate in taking strong action against its neighbour, Pakistan, if it indulged in any ‘misadventures’ on the border and declared that the Indian Army has inflicted heavy losses, both in terms of lives and infrastructure, on Pakistan in retaliatory firing on the Line of Control (LoC), reports Daily Excelsior. “If our neighbour doesn’t mend its ways, we will not hesitate from taking strong retaliatory action to thwart the inimical moves of the western neighbour aimed against India,” General Rawat said without naming Pakistan in his address to the Army jawans on the occasion of Army Day on January 15 in which he declared that the Army was committed to crush militancy in the Kashmir valley. Read less...

Farooq Devdiwala, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim whose deportation was sought unsuccessfully by the Indian Government after his arrest in Dubai in 2018, is believed to have been killed in Karachi, Pakistan by Chhota Shakeel on the suspicion that he was plotting against Dawood Ibrahim, reports Times of India on January 15. Though India wanted Devdiwala for various offences and for recruiting youngsters for the terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM), Pakistan in July 2018 succeeded in getting him extradited to its own soil by submitting bogus identification documents, including a passport showing him to be a Pakistani national. According to officials, Shakeel, who is among Dawood's closest operatives, got to know through his informants that Devdiwala had had a meeting with Indian agency officials in Dubai and was conspiring against Dawood. Though senior officials of the Mumbai police's crime branch refused to comment on the matter, well-placed sources tracking developments said that the Interpol was trying to confirm Devdiwala's death in Karachi. If the death is confirmed, it would make Devdiwala the second Dawood aide to be killed in Pakistan. Earlier, in late 2000, gangster Feroz Kokani was killed allegedly after he was overheard showing disrespect to Dawood. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet before a special court in Ahmedabad in connection with a Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) racket being operated in Gujarat, reports Ahmedabad Mirror on January 16. A spokesperson of NIA stated that a charge sheet was filed against two accused, SanjaykumarMohanbhaiDevadiya alias SanjaykumarMohanbhaiDevaliya and SureshbhaiMavajibhaiLathidadiya alias Guruji and Chakor. The case was first registered by Ahmedabad Anti-Terrorist Squad, on inputs provided by the NIA, when it intercepted Devadiya, a resident of Junagadh, and seized 53 FICN’s in the denomination of INR 2000 and 92 FICN’s in the denomination of INR 500. The total face value of the fake notes seized from him was INR 1,52,000. NIA spokersprson also stated that NIA, subsequently, registered a fresh FIR in the instance. Investigation revealed that Devadiya purchased fake currency from wanted accused Tahir Saikh alias Kaliyo on the directions of Lathidadiya, who is presently lodged in Presidency Correctional Home in West Bengal's Alipore in another NIA case. He added that Devadiya subsequently "brought" the fake currency from New Farakka in West Bengal "for circulation in crowded areas and in markets of Junagadh (in Gujarat). The investigation has also revealed inter-state and international linkages pointing towards supply of FICN received from across the border. Further investigation is in progress. Read less...

A Salafi group preacher identified as Zakkariya Swalahi blamed Jamaat-e-Islami and Popular Front of India (PFI) for growth of extremism in Kerala, reports Times of India on January 16. He alleged that seeds of Islamic State (IS) was sowed by PFI and Jamaat. Incidentally, the Salafi group is facing the allegation that it was responsible for the spread of extremist ideology among Muslims in the state. Abdul Rashid Abdulla, the leader of the IS who is believed to be in Afghanistan, has sent an audio clip recently in which he alleged that the extreme Salafi group was the launching pad for the youth who had migrated to Syria and Afghanistan. Read less...

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on January 16 said that there is no question of talks with Pakistan over any issue till they stop cross border terrorism, reports Daily Excelsior. “Terror and talks cannot go together,” she said while stressing that it is the policy of the country that till Pakistan stop cross border terrorism there would be no talks. Read less...

A Anwar, an Azhikode (Kannur District) native, who reportedly left India to join Islamic State (IS) has been killed in Afghanistan, reports Manoramaonline on January 17. Anwar who was a Popular Front of India (PFI) activist, had travelled Iran from the Karipur airport on November 19, 2018 with his pregnant wife Nafsila and three daughters aged 7, 4, and 2. He was previously employed as a driver in Dubai and had come to Kerala in October, 2018. Nafsila’s father filed a Police complaint on December, 2018 after there was no news from the couple. Police said they had examined a voice message from Nufsila on social networking site Telegram. Subsequently, a Police team sifted through other social media accounts and concluded that Anwar could have been killed. However, there is no official confirmation yet. Police said hostile conditions could have prevented the family’s movement to Syria from Iran. They moved to Afghanistan where Anwar could have been killed. Police had then confirmed the death of Shameer’s children Salman and Safwan too. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided at least six locations in four districts of western Uttar Pradesh and detained four men for interrogation in connection with the recently uncovered Islamic State (IS) inspired module, reports Hindustan Times on January 17. NIA teams and local Police conducted early morning raids in Athsaini and Badarkha villages of Garhmukteshwar area in Hapur, Kaloli village in Bulandshahr, Battkheri village of Amroha and Jasora and Ajnera villages of Meerut. Hapur’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Sankalp Sharma stated that NIA teams raided the two villages in the District after receiving a tip-off from a man called Naeem. He said Naeem was arrested from Rardhana village of Meerut on charges of supplying a pistol to terror module Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam. Three people have been taken into custody from Hapur for further interrogation, however, no arrest have been made. Another team raided Kaloli village of Bulandshahr and took a grocery shop owner Habib in custody. Habib returned to his village after spending many years in Saudi Arabia. Raids were also conducted on the house of Zubair in Batt Kheri village of Amroha but he slipped out before the officials could start the search. The agency had earlier arrested five members of the outfit from Amroha. Officials also raided Jasora, whose resident Absar was arrested on January 12, and Ajnera village of Mundali Police Station in Meerut. Absar was working as a teacher in Jamia Hasania Abul Hasan Madarsa in Piplera village of Hapur. According to officials, Absar had visited three places in Jammu and Kashmir between May and August, 2018 along with Iftekhar Saqib in connection with the terror conspiracy. Read less...

A Delhi Court, on January 18, extended remand of Muhammed Absar, a man arrested from Uttar Pradesh under custody of National Investigation Agency (NIA) by seven days, reports News 18. He was arrested in connection with probe against an Islamic State (IS) inspired group for planning attacks in New Delhi and other locations. Special Judge Rakesh Syal allowed the NIA's plea for further remand during in-chamber proceedings after 24-year-old Muhammed Absar was produced in court on the expiry of his six-day custodial interrogation. Read less...

Delhi Police's Special Cell and an intelligence agency have reportedly arrested three sharp shooters including an Afghan national, reports Times of India on January 19. The arrestees were tasked by Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) to assassinate two prominent political leaders before Republic Day (January 26). Intelligence sources stated that mastermind of this operation was identified as Pak-based underworld don Rasool Khan 'Party', who was allegedly among the key plotters in assassination of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya in 2003. He is a key member of D-Company. The Afghan shooter was identified as Wali Raja, while the two other suspects were identified as Riyazuddin and Sonu. One of the arrestees hails from Kerala. At least two of these were picked up from near Nizamuddin area of southeast Delhi. The plot was busted after an agency intercepted a call exchanged between Rasool Party and a person from south India while they were talking about procurement of weapons and two "high-value" targets. This module, sources said, was being tracked since mid-December. Read less...

A new information warfare team is being set up at the Army Headquarters to prevent online honey trapping of Indian Soldiers by Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) operatives, reports India Today on January 20. Several Twitter handles and Facebook accounts being run to 'honey trap' soldiers have been identified. The Army has described 'honey trap' cases as a weapon of hybrid warfare being waged by the enemy across the borders. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has ordered the force to crack the whip in cases of social media rules being flouted. General Rawat on January 10 had stated that ‘Soldiers have been told not to accept social media friend requests with names of film stars. These could be honey traps. We are taking this very seriously and cannot allow security to be compromised through social media. For those (soldiers) who are not reporting the matter, the punishment is heavy’. Rawat said that social media cannot be banned in the military but it is to be used in a constructive manner. Read less...

Indian missions in the United States and Canada have sought security arrangements from local police and authorities as a separatist pro-Khalistan group plans to disrupt the flag-hoisting ceremony during the 70th Republic Day functions, reports NDTV on January 20. In the US, functions have been planned in Washington, New York, Houston, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta. Similar functions have been planned in Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto in Canada. Toronto and Vancouver is home to a large number of Indians, especially from Punjab and the Sikh community. A statement issued by the separatist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), said it will honour the pro-Khalistan Sikhs who will disrupt the hoisting of the Indian flag. The SFJ is considered a Sikh separatist group by intelligence agencies which are demanding the creation of Khalistan as a separate territory for Sikhs. In recent years, the SFJ has increased its separatist activities in US, Canada and Britain. In December last year, the SFJ put up separatist posters and hoardings of 'Referendum 2020' in Pakistan when Indian pilgrims went to Nankana Sahib town to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak Dev. Read less...

On January 20, Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted on the suggestion of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to look into the issue of Scheduled Tribe (ST) to six ethnic communities decided to hold discussions with all tribal communities of the State before submitting its report, reports Assam Tribune. GoM, headed by State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also decided to examine the population pattern of the six ethnic communities. Official sources said the GoM will hold discussion with the All Assam Tribal Sangha, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) administration and other tribal communities of the State later this month. It will also meet representatives of the six ethnic communities. Tribal groups with ST status, including Bodos, have expressed apprehension that the Bill tabled without consulting them may lead to curtailment of their rights. The GoM will suggest with modalities for granting ST status to the six communities, but without harming the rights of the tribes that are currently enjoying the status. Read less...

Ahead of Canada’s federal elections, a section of Sikh community with separatist agenda have begun 'Prove it or Remove it’ campaign to pressurise the Government for removal of Khalistani extremism component from 2018 report on the terrorism threat to Canada, reports Times of India on January 21. A large number of Khalistan supporters, who support the ruling Liberal Party have reservations on continuing to extend their support to Liberals in the upcoming elections if the Khalistan extremism component is not withdrawn. In the recently released 2018 public report on the terrorism threat to Canada, the Government has expressed concern over pro Khalistani Sikhs in Canada and admitted that some individuals in Canada continue to support extremist ideologies and movements. The report also mentioned about the 1985 Air India bombing which claimed 331 lives. Barring this incident of terrorism, the report doesn’t point to any current incident of violence or terrorism associated with the Sikh community in Canada. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Mohammad Hussain Molani in Jaipur on January 21 when he returned from Dubai, reports NDTV. He is accused in a terror funding case involving the banned Pakistani organisation Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), The Hindu further adds that the NIA statement also added that ‘The accused was evading arrest by hiding in Dubai, UAE, for long. A Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued by NIA. He was detained on arrival at Jaipur International Airport from Dubai on January 20’. NIA said this was the fourth arrest in the case, relating to “receiving terror funds being sent by FIF operatives to their associates through hawala operators for furthering their nefarious activities to create unrest in India.” The accused was in close contact with foreign-based financiers of FIF. The arrestee was produced in front of a special NIA court which granted nine-day custody to the agency. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been handed over the probe in the case in which a man, Harpalsingh Pratapsingh Naik, allegedly linked to the Khalistani movement was arrested from Chakan in Pune city of Pune District, reports Indian Express on January 21. Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) that was probing the case till now had arrested one more suspect from Delhi in connection with the incident. Earlier, ATS on December 2, 2018 arrested Naik for using social media to provoke youths to carry out terror attacks. The ATS probe had brought to light the links of Naik with some operatives in Pakistan and United Kingdom. Later, Punjab police arrested another suspect, identified as Mohin Khan Alias Munna Khan, from Sirhind on December 24. Khan was found to be associated with Naik. Read less...

Non-Bailable warrants were issued on January 21 by a sessions court in Mumbai against two Pakistani Army officers for their involvement in 26/11 attack in Mumbai, reports New Indian Express on February 4. The Pakistani Army officers were identified as Major Abdul Rehman Pasha and Major Iqbal. Major Iqbal and Major Pasha are wanted accused as per the charge sheet filed by the Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch in the case. While Major Pasha has retired, Major Iqbal is still believed to be serving as an Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) official in Pakistan. Read less...

Ravi Suliya Pujari, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim was arrested from Dakar in Senegal on January 21, reports The Hindu on February 1. Ravi Pujari is accused in at least 91 cases in Karnataka and a further 50 cases in Mumbai (Maharashtra). According to Karnataka Government press release, he had obtained a new identity of one Antony Fernandez, and even got a Burkina Faso passport for himself and his family. According to Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka has started formalities to bring Pujari to India. Read less...

Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested a Malda based smuggler identified as Khalik Sheikh near Anand Vihar Railway station in Delhi on January 21 along with Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) with face value of INR one Million, reports The Times of India. This is the biggest seizure of FICN since demonetization. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), "The recovered FICN appear to have been printed in a sophisticated unit. They have almost all the security features, including thread and watermark. It is very difficult for a common person to distinguish the fake ones from the original currency." The accused was roped into the FICN trade by a Bangladeshi national identified as Ashfaq. According to Police, the last four fake currency busts, including the second largest seizure of INR 800,000 in May 2018 had FICN notes of INR 2000 denomination. Read less...

Indian Navy on January 22, started the biggest search operation exercise to hunt for militants aiming to attack India through sea route similar to the 26/11 (November 26, 2008) attacks in Mumbai, reports The Tribune. The two-day exercise is part of an unprecedented exercise, named Operation ‘Sea vigil’, which will test and validate India’s coastal security architecture set up after the attack on Mumbai. Involved in these search operations will be the Navy, Coast Guard, Customs, marine Police and State Police forces, warships, helicopters, fast-attack crafts and a chain of radars set up all along the coast, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and satellites. The National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network with the Information Management Analysis Centre at Gurugram will also be taking part in the exercise. A total of 51 nodes of the Navy and Coast Guard are integrated—all will provide comprehensive maritime domain awareness. The exercise will be undertaken along the entire 7,516-km coastline and exclusive economic zone. NDTV further adds that according to Navy officials, nearly 150 ships, 40 aircrafts and a number of other strategic assets of the Navy and Coast Guard have been deployed as part of the 'Sea Vigil' exercise which is "unprecedented" in its scale and size. Read less...

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) during the intervening night and early morning of January 22, arrested nine people (including a juvenile) from Mumbra, Thane and Aurangabad for alleged links with Islamic State (IS), reports Hindustan Times. The arrested persons were identified as Salman Khan, Fahad Shah, Zamen Kutepadi, Mohseen Khan, Mohammad Mazhar Shaikh, Taki Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Zahid Shaikh and the 17-year-old juvenile was not named. Mohammed Shaikh worked as a computer engineer in Bhiwandi (Thane District) and was arrested from Mumbra. The ATS also seized chemicals, powder, mobile phones, hard drives, SIM cards, acid bottle, knives etc. during the raids. These arrests came during the course of an investigation into the presence of sleeper cells ahead of Republic Day. Three of the men Salman, Mohseen and Taki are brothers; their main task was to recruit and radicalise. Further, Mohseen, the eldest of the trio was 'head' of the local module and was monitoring every member from Mumbra. He was also connected with propaganda module of IS. Additionally, Fahad Shah was a civil engineer while Zamen Kutepadi worked as a medical representative. The Hindu further reports that the arrested individuals were linked to Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala. Furthermore, Times Now reports that the nine arrestees had formed an organisation Ummat-e-Muhammadiya and were in touch with IS. Additionally, it was reported that, Mazar Sheikh, is the son of a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, identified as Rashid Malbari. According to Maharashtra ATS the arrestees were planning a mass killing by mixing poison in food and drinks at a gathering. DNA further adds that an ATS officer stated that ‘Since his father Rashid Malabari was linked with the underworld, we would be probing if Mazar too had links with underworld operatives’. Read less...

On January 22, Border Security Force (BSF) arrested one unnamed person, linked to circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), from Sabdalpur in Malda District, reports Business Standard. BSF recovered FICN worth INR 476,000 from the arrestee. Read less...

India Today reports on January 23, that a pro-Khalistan group, 'Sikhs for Justice' is planning a 'burning of the Indian flag' protest right across the Indian Embassy building in Washington DC on January 26. An invitation has been sent out to join the protest in the public park across the street from the Embassy of India at Massachusetts Avenue. Sources in the Indian Government have raised concerns and shared information regarding this group and its funding. The Group has also taken up Jammu and Kashmir issue and has taken a pro-Pakistan stance. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a suspected militant for his role in the 2006 Kozhikode twin blasts case on his arrival from Saudi Arabia at Delhi Airport on January 23, reports The Hindu. The arrestee has been identified as Mohammed Ashar. NIA in a statement said ‘The cases pertain to the twin IED blasts that had occurred at the Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Mofussil Bus Stands in Calicut (Kozhikode) City on March 3, 2006, causing injuries to two persons and damage to property. NIA had taken over the investigation of the cases on December 18, 2009 and had filed a chargesheet against eight accused persons, including Ashar’. Trial in this case against four available accused persons was completed in August, 2011 and two of the accused identified as T. Naseer and Sagas were sentenced to life imprisonment. Indian Express further adds that NIA Inspector General (IG) stated that ‘Investigation by NIA had revealed that Mohammed Ashar besides the other absconding accused P P Yusuf were parties to the criminal conspiracy hatched by the prime accused T Naseer, Safas (both convicted) and others to carry out Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts in Kozhikode city in protest over the denial of bail to Muslim accused persons involved in the Marad communal riots of 2003 at Kozhikode District. Mohammed Ashar, along with P P Yusuf, had assisted T Naseer in preparing the IEDs and had planted the explosive devices at the bus stands in Kozhikode city. Accused Mohd Ashar had gone to Saudi Arabia in 2007 itself, to evade his arrest’. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids at eight different locations across the country in connection with terror funding case of Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), reports The Times of India. The places where raids were conducted include - Gonda (UP), Sikar and Jaipur (Rajasthan), Delhi, Valsad and Surat (Gujarat) and Kasargod (Kerala). The raids were carried out in continuation following the arrest of Mohammad Hussain Molani from Nagor in Rajasthan on January 21. The Tribune further adds that 26 SIM cards, including three foreign ones, 23 mobile phones, five memory cards, one compact disc, five hard discs, one pen drive, one DVR and one CPU have been recovered. Read less...

Delhi Police Special Cell and Military Intelligence arrested a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant identified as Abdul Latif Ganai alias Umair alias Dilawar from Rajghat in Delhi, reports Times of India on January 25. He is the ‘district commander’ of JeM in Ganderbal in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Police recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 26 cartridges and a.32 bore pistol from him.A second militant identified as Hilal Bhat, from Hazratbal was arrested from Bandipora District in J&K. He had conducted reconnaissance of targets in Delhi. JeM was planning to conduct serial blasts in Delhi and Srinagar on January 26. The module had procured around a dozen IEDs, which are being located. JeM had chosen five targets in the city, including the Delhi Secretariat IGL gas pipeline in south Delhi, Haj Manjil building at Turkman Gate, India Gate and Lajpat Nagar market, and taken pictures of spots where IED had to be planted. During the interrogation, the arrested militants revealed that their Pakistan-based handler, Abu Mauz alias Abu Bakar, had provided them the IEDs in November 2018. Read less...

New York-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) protesters tried to burn the Indian Flag in the presence of media, a move which has been criticized by the local Sikh community, reports The Tribune on January 26. The local Sikh community slammed the SFJ for the protest. Meanwhile, the twitter account of the SFJ has been suspended by the social media company. Read less...

Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on January 26 arrested one more person for his suspected links with Islamic State (IS) from Mumbra in Thane District, reports Indian Express. The arrestee has been identified as Talha Potrick alias Anu Bakr Potrick. Earlier on January 23, Mumbai ATS had arrested seven men and detained a minor for allegedly plotting to carry out a chemical attack. According to ATS, Talha Pudrik, the latest arrest, was picked up from his Mumbra residence after those arrested earlier “revealed his role” in the alleged conspiracy. The ATS seized a laptop, a tablet, a hard disk, pen drives, a router, cell phones and diaries from Pudrik’s residence. Read less...

Azamgarh Police on January 27 arrested Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, reports Indian Express. The arrestee was identified as Mohammad Faiz. Faiz was arrested in 2001 on charges of being an active member of SIMI. In November 2018, the Azamgarh Police had issued a lookout notice against Faiz after it discovered during a verification drive that he had travelled to Sharjah in July on a passport renewed while withholding information about the case against him. Read less...

Officials suspect that handler of the alleged Amroha-Delhi terror module was based in Pakistan, reports Indian Express on January 28. According to National Investigation Agency (NIA), the handler assumed the online identity of Abu Malik Peshawari and was instrumental in motivating the module’s alleged mastermind, Mufti Suhail, a preacher from Delhi’s Jaffrabad; to join the Islamic State (IS) inspired group. Moreover, NIA investigators, appear to have ruled out a link between Sohail’s alleged module and another led by Abdullah Basith from Hyderabad, who was also found to have been in touch with suspected members of the Islamic State in Jammu & Kashmir. Two members of Basith’s group had been arrested by Delhi Police from Amroha, from where Mufti Suhail and some of his associates hail. Read less...

Eight persons accused in the blast of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Bodh Gaya Temple complex, Bihar, in January 2018 had travelled to Hyderabad, Chennai and other southern cities and hatched the conspiracy, reports The Hindu on January 28. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its supplementary chargesheet said, “The accused also committed several dacoities in Bengaluru to raise funds for their criminal activities. With regards to the conspiracy, NIA further added that ‘In furtherance of the conspiracy, the accused contacted and assembled at various places, took hideouts at Jehanabad [in Jehanabad District] and Masaurhi [in Patna District], recceed Bodh Gaya temple, procured the explosives and material for fabrication of the IEDs’. Furthermore, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants arrested by NIA in relation to Bodh Gaya blast had spend 15 days in Hyderabad, reports Times of India adds that. During subsequent probe, the NIA had arrested eight JMB operatives, including main accused Jahidul Islam alias Kausar, a Bangladeshi leading JMB network in India who was arrested from Bengaluru International Airport. The accused used fake and assumed names for travel and renting hideouts. They introduced themselves to the house owners in Hyderabad and Bengaluru as garment sellers. Read less...

Investigation officers of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) stated that the recently arrested 10 Islamic State (IS) linked crossed paths with their handler while being radicalised on the Internet, reports The Hindu on January 28. According to ATS sources, around six months ago, the accused starting reading IS-related literature online. They then began interacting with other, like-minded individuals on various discussion forums. An officer stated that ‘While the exact sequence of events is being verified, inquiries indicate some of the accused, in the course of these discussions, started interacting with their handler. After several such conversations, during which they were further radicalised, the handler put them in touch with each other. We believe this handler is the common link between the Aurangabad module and the Mumbra module’. The officer said this was the genesis of the Ummat-e-Mohammadiya, the second alleged IS sleeper cell to be busted in the State. The accused discussed the plan to procure chemicals and poison food or water. In 2016 15 IS inspired Junood-e-Khalifa-e-Hind (the Army of the Caliphate in India) operatives were arrested. Read less...

Two Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants, identified as Kadar Kazi and Sajjad Ali, wanted in the 2014 Burdwan blast case, were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Aram Bagh in Hooghly District on January 28, reports New Indian Express. An NIA official stated, “They were wanted in the Burdwan blast case. Kazi has also declared a proclaimed offender while Ali was his associate”. Official also stated that the duo had returned to West Bengal a couple of months back. Read less...

Kolkata Police in 2018 confiscated Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) worth INR eight million and arrested 30 people in connection with it, reports Times of India on January 29. The accused were based in Malda District as well as Jharkhand and Rajasthan. The Special Task Force (STF) is also worried about FICN dealers trading in illegal firearms. The Police believe that some criminals from both West Bengal and Bangladesh are contacting Munger (in Bihar) based workers to complete the assembling of weapons and paying them with FICN. STF official stated, “It seems that the accused were sending weapons in Bangladesh in lieu of the FICN. This is a win-win situation for both. While the FICN dealers could escape the glare of security forces on the border, those operating here could release the FICN received in smaller lots. This minimizes the chances of their arrest”. Read less...

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has wrapped up its probe into the case of alleged force conversion of a women from Pathanamthitta District after it failed to get concrete evidence, reports New India Express on January 30. The anti-terror agency has referred the investigation back to the Ernakulam Rural Police following the inability to unearth evidence to slap the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) Sections on the accused persons. Sources stated that, ‘Since no evidence about offence under UAPA Sections could be found, the state police can probe the offence charged under various IPC Sections. The state police after conducting the probe can chargesheet the accused and based on it trial can be conducted.” Read less...

Fifteen States and Union Territories, including Delhi, have sought fresh ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for continuing involvement of its members in unlawful activities, reports Indian Express on January 31. According to sources, a fresh ban will be brought for five more years after January 2019. The Police from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala are learnt to have provided details of conviction against top SIMI leaders Safdar Nagori, Abu Faisal, among others. The last time it was banned was under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on February 1, 2014, for a period of five years. The ban was confirmed by a tribunal on July 30, 2014. According to Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) officials, SIMI cadres have been under probe in 21 cases, including rioting at Mumbai’s (Maharashtra) Azad Maidan in 2012. The state police have provided a list of five cases registered in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and two cases in Gujarat. Read less...

Police have identified a group of youth from Kerala who have gone to Syria in 2013 to join terrorist organizations such as Jabhat al-Nusra (currently known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham) and Jundal-Aqsa before the declaration of ‘caliphate’ by Islamic State (IS), reports The Times of India on January 30. According to sources, the youths left for Syria from Qatar where their families have been staying for years. Some of them were born and brought up in Qatar. According to the sources, the youths were initially radicalized by a Pakistani who gave a CD containing the lecture titled 'Thereafter' by Anwar Al Awlaki, the AmericanSalafi preacher. An individual who hails from Perumbavoor (Ernakulam District) was the first one to be radicalised, who is turn brought others into the group, reports The Times of India on January 31. Two persons, one from Wayanad and the other from Mangaluru (in Karnataka), left for Syria in September 2013 via Turkey. Their intention was to join Jabhat al-Nusra and Jundal-Aqsa.Other members of the group left for Syria in early 2014. A native of Thrissur (Thrissur District) came back and two people hailing from Thalassery (Kannur District) and Wayanad (Wayanad District) married after reaching Syria. The security agencies do not know if they are still alive. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against the individuals. NIA stated that ‘Credible information was received that from 2013 onwards, certain youths, originally from Kerala and Karnataka but based in Qatar, had hatched criminal conspiracy to wage war against Syria’. Read less...

Police officials stated that four people from Kerala who had joined Islamic State (IS) along with their families have been killed, reports New Indian Express on January 31. The individuals who were killed have been identified as TV Shameer, Anwar and Shameer’s son’s Safwan and Salman. Shameer and Anwar were members of Popular Front of India (PFI). Families of two PFI members numbering 10 were missing since November 19, 2018. Kerala Kaumadi adds that Shameer and his family first joined IS and later he was joined by Anwar’s family. An investigation had revealed that they had reached Syria via Iran. Almost 35 people from Kannur have joined IS. Read less...

A Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson stated on January 31,it would participate in “all formats of talks” on discussing a solution for peace in Afghanistan, reports Asian Age. India said it hoped the Afghan presidential elections would be held as per schedule. Moreover, India is also worried that Afghan conflict has been caught up in the current tensions between Russia and the United States (US). Read less...

Economic Times on January 31, reports that Bengaluru (Karnataka) registered the highest number of cybercrime cases in 2018. In the year, 5,035 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered in the city. Additionally, according to Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis, 2,945 cases were registered in the state till September 2018 and most of them were in Mumbai. In Delhi, as per Delhi Police, in 2017, only 84 FIRs were registered at the cybercrime cell. In Chennai, as per reports, 5,703 complaints have been received by the cybercrime cell in the past five years. Read less...

The Special Task Force (STF) of the Kolkata Police (West Bengal) arrested a Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militant identified as Abdul Motin from Malappuram District (Kerala) on January 31, reports NDTV. The militant hails from Assam’s Barpeta District He was one of the 15 people trained in handling arms and manufacturing improvised explosive devices at Simulia madrasa in Burdwan (Purba Bardhaman District. According to Police, Abdul Motin had left Bengal for Kerala immediately after the Burdwan incident on October 2, 2014, when an explosive accidentally went off on the first floor of a rented house in Khagragarh area. His presence in Kerala came to light after National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two militants Kadar Kazi and Sajjad Ali, from Arambagh in Bengal's Hooghly District on January 28. Read less...