Bihar (Islamist/Other Conflicts): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2010

A high security alert was sounded in Bihar on January 1 following intelligence reports that six Pakistani-trained terrorists have infiltrated into the State from Nepal, officials said, reports Times of India. Director General of Police (Bihar) Anand Shankar said that a high security alert has been sounded after the reported entry of six terrorists, and all Police officials have been asked to keep a close vigil on movement of suspects. "Police are alert and ordered to maintain constant vigil at important places, including railway stations, bus stands, temples and markets," he said. Police sources said that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had informed Bihar Police about infiltration of six well-trained terrorists from Nepal. "The terrorists have sneaked into Araria District from Nepal after killing an ISI agent in the neighbouring country Dec 27," the sources said. "Soon after receiving the intelligence reports, Police Headquarters alerted Superintendents of Police of Districts bordering Nepal to put tight security and to launch operations to arrest them," Police officials added. Read less...

As reported earlier, the Intelligence Bureau had informed the Bihar Police about the infiltration of six well-trained terrorists from Nepal. After that an alert was sounded in the State on January 1. Read less...

An alert has been sounded in the Eastern and East Central Railway (ECR) zones after intelligence inputs suggested infiltration of Taliban-trained suicide squads into Bihar and in metropolises like Kolkata, official sources said on January 4, reports Times of India. Senior divisional security commissioner of the Railway Protection Force of East Central Railway N.K. Sinha in a note to superintendents of railway Police in Bihar, informed of the inputs suggesting infiltration by suicide squads into Bihar and metropolitan cities including Kolkata, they said. The copies of the letter were available with superintendents of railway Police at Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar, Jehanabad, Nawada, Gaya, Nalanda, Lakhisarai, Jamui and Begusarai. Read less...

Bihar Police on January 4 denied the media reports of Taliban and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists infiltration into the State from Nepal side, reports Times of India. Additional Director General (ADG) (headquarters) U.S. Dutt wondered where from the media got such information. "There is no such indication from the Central intelligence agency either," he said. He said that a man was killed in Nepal side across Araria District and the killers are suspected to have entered Bihar. Apparently this led to speculations about terrorists moving in Bihar, Dutt added. As for the threat to Indian Railways, meanwhile, sources said an ADG-rank police officer in Kerala received an anonymous call recently. The caller identified himself as Bashir and said trains and railway properties would be targeted. The caller did not give any specific details about the location of the target. As a precautionary measure, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) circulated a nationwide warning to the Railway Police. Read less...

The Hindu reports that the Union Government has asked Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam to remain fully alert to prevent any attempt by terrorists to disturb peace. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) advisory asked the authorities in these States to take all precautionary measures. “The advisory has been sent after the intelligence agencies recorded conversations between militants and their handlers across the border during recent encounters,” senior officials of the Ministry said. Read less...

Bihar Police on January 19 said Ghulam Rasool, who was arrested from a train at Purnia Junction, is a member of Taliban and has links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), according to Times of India. Purnia Superintendent of Police (SP) Nayyar Hasnain Khan said Rasool sneaked into Jogbani from Nepal and was on his way to Bangladesh. Acting on a tip-off, however, the Special Task Force (STF) personnel arrested him in the evening of January 12. Rasool, the SP said, has his base at Hyderabad. A murder convict, he was in a Hyderabad jail for eight-and-a-half year — in two phases. It was while serving the jail term that he came in touch with a fellow prisoner, Mehmood, who was a Talibani. On his release, Rasool shifted to Afghanistan, the SP said. Rasool is learned to have told his interrogators that he worked as an operative of Taliban and LeT between 2004 and 2008. He also confessed to his involvement in several terror strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Police sources said and added Rasool later escaped to Nepal where he was once handpicked by Nepal police but let off for want of evidence. Rasool also revealed that he wanted to return to Afghanistan via Bangladesh. “That’s why he clandestinely crossed into Jogbani taking advantage of the long and porous Bihar-Nepal border,” the SP said. Read less...