South Asia: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2024

Daily Excelsior on January 1 reported that Jammu and Kashmir Police has announced cash rewards for the people who will provide information & intelligence on trans-border tunnels, terror activities and terrorists. “Provide information and intelligence on trans-border tunnels, drones, narcotics, terror activities and terrorists and receive cash rewards”, police said in a statement. It said the “general public can share such information with district Senior Superintendents of Police and the identity of the person will be kept secret.” A reward of “Rs 5 lakh [INR 500,000] would be given to the person who locates the trans-border tunnel used by Anti National Elements (ANEs) to tranship terrorists, explosives and contraband consignments”, police said. It said INR 300,000 would be given to those who sights a drone flown from across the border to drop narcotics or explosive material and which leads to the recovery of the said dropped material. Similar cash reward would be given to those whoever gave actionable intelligence about a person connected with receiving from deliveries and or transporting arms ammunition, narcotics from border, Line of Control to hinterland or Punjab and the said intelligence get corroborated during further action. Police has also announced INR 200,000 reward for those who will provide information about the persons talking to Pakistan based terrorist handlers or separatists in jails. INR 100,000 to those persons who will provide information about the persons who are inciting people to join terrorist ranks in masjids, madrassas, schools or colleges. Whosoever provides specific information about the presence of terrorists, resulting in successful operation leading to arrest or combat, a cash reward will be provided as per category in A, B, C ranging from INR 200,000 to INR 1.25 million accordingly. Read less...

National Investigative Agency (NIA) in its year-end review at the end of 2023 declared a conviction rate of 94.7 per cent, wionews.com reports on January 1. The agency also made breakthrough in identifying 43 suspects linked to acts of vandalism against Indian high commissions in the UK, US, and Canada. NIA attributed success to the approach to crowd-sourcing information. The agency reported conducting over 50 raids and searches and said that it examined 80 individuals in India suspected of involvement in the conspiracy behind these overseas attacks. In total, more than 1,000 raids were conducted. With 625 arrests and the attachment of 240 assets valued at approximately INR 56 crore (about USD 7million), the NIA continued to combat acts of terrorism, gang activities, narco smuggling, human trafficking, and other criminal enterprises that pose threats to national interests. The NIA's operations saw a 28 per cent rise in arrests, reaching 625 compared to 490 in the previous year. Read less...

On January 1, a court declared 23 terrorists from Kishtwar District of Jammu and Kashmir, who are operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) as proclaimed offenders and process to attach their properties will be set in motion if they don’t surrender before the court within 30 days, reports Daily Excelsior. With this, total number of Kishtwar terrorists operating from Pakistan and PoJK who have been declared as proclaimed offenders, has gone up to 36. Read less...

On January 1, a six-month-old girl child was killed, her mother sustained a bullet injury on her hand, and two District Reserve Guards (DRG) jawans (personnel) were injured in the exchange of fire between the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) and DRG jawans in the forests of Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh, reports The Indian Express. A joint operation of area domination exercise was undertaken by DRG and the Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF). Read less...

On January 1, Gangster Goldy Brar was declared a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the central government, reports India Today. A notice issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) said Goldy Brar is associated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The UMHA said Goldy Brar is "backed by cross-border agencies and was involved in multiple killings and professes radical ideology, figured in making threatening calls to pro-nationalist leaders, demanding ransom and posting the claims of killings on different social media platforms". A member of the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, the Canada-based terrorist had claimed responsibility for the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022. Moose Wala was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa District in May 2022. Later, police named Brar as the mastermind behind the murder. Read less...

On January 1, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a packet containing around 480 grams of Heroin, wrapped in a yellow adhesive tape, on the outskirts of Village L S Wala in Ferozpur District of Punjab, reports ANI. Read less...

On January 1, two bombs were being hurled at security personnel by armed miscreants near Chawangphai Village in Tengnoupal District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. No casualty was reported. Read less...

On January 1, unidentified gunmen shot dead four civilians and injured fourteen others in Lilong in Thoubal District of Manipur, reports The Hindu. As per reports, the armed miscreants came wearing Police uniforms in four vehicles and opened fire on people, adds India TodayNE. Lilong is a Meitei Pangal (Meitei Muslim)-dominated locality. This was the first incident of violence not involving tribal communities since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023. Soon after the killings, the local authorities reimposed curfew in Thoubal and the adjoining Imphal East and Imphal West Districts. The relaxation of curfew in two other Imphal Valley districts – Kakching and Bishnupur – was shortened. Read less...

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has called for India’s “economic destruction” by targeting the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) from March 12, reports The Week on January 1. The day coincides with the 31st anniversary of the serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993. "Unlike 1993 which damaged the BSE buildings, the call to target BSE/NSE from 12th March is aimed at destroying India's economic system," Pannun said in a video statement. Read less...

A report, released by an Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), claimed that Pakistan witnessed another year of an unprecedented surge in militant attacks as the country saw a staggering 69 per cent rise in attacks, an 81 per cent increase in resultant deaths, and a 60 per cent surge in the number of wounded, Dawn reported on January 1. “The year 2023 witnessed at least 641 militant attacks across the country in which 974 people were killed and 1,351 injured. The year 2022 had witnessed 380 militant attacks resulting in 539 deaths and 836 injuries… By combining militant attacks and security forces actions the country saw over one thousand violent incidents in which 1,511 people were killed and 1,440 injured,” report claimed. As for militant attacks, the PICSS database shows that the average militant attacks per month rose from 32 in 2022 to 53 attacks per month in 2023, which is the highest monthly average in any year after 2015. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw the highest number of militant attacks and resultant casualties during 2023. PICSS recorded 419 militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in which 620 people were killed, including 306 SFs personnel, 222 civilians, and 92 militants, while 977 were injured, including 525 security forces personnel, 402 civilians, and 50 militants. Within KP, more violence was recorded from mainland KP than the newly merged districts (erstwhile Fata) as the mainland KP witnessed 235 militant attacks in which 336 people were killed including 213 SF personnel, 67 civilians, and 56 militants while 589 were injured including 383 security forces personnel, 163 civilians and 43 militants, says PICSS report. There was an 84 per cent increase in militant attacks in mainland KP. The newly merged Districts of KP (erstwhile FATA) faced 184 militant attacks in which 284 people were killed including 155 civilians, 93 SF personnel, and 36 militants while 388 were injured including 239 civilians, 142 SF personnel, and seven militants. The region witnessed a 59 per cent rise in militant attacks in 2023 compared with 2022. Balochistan faced at least 170 militant attacks in which 285 people were killed including 151 civilians, 114 SF personnel, and 20 militants while 388 people were injured including 195 civilians, 99 SF personnel, and four militants. The rise in militant attacks in Balochistan was 65 per cent in 2023 compared with 2022. Sindh also saw a 40 per cent rise in militant attacks in 2023 as there were 35 such incidents were reported from the province in which 39 people died, including 22 civilians, 11 SF personnel, and six militants, while 35 people were injured including 24 SF personnel, ten civilians and one militant. An unprecedented rise in militant activities was witnessed in Punjab where 14 militant attacks were reported in 2023 compared to three in 2022. In Punjab, 20 people were killed in militant attacks including 14 militants, four SF personnel, and two civilians while 14 people got injured including eight civilians, five SF personnel, and one militant. Azad Kashmir, the Federal Capital Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan each witnessed one militant attack during 2023. Read less...

At least four persons were injured in two separate firing raids on passenger vehicles in Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 1, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

In 2023, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations, including nearly 1,000 fatalities among civilians and Security Forces (SFs) personnel, Dawn reported on January 1 quoting annual security report issued by the Centre for Rese­arch and Security Studies (CRSS). Overall fatalities, including those of terrorists, mark a record six-year high, exceeding the 2018 level and highest since 2017. Moreover, the country saw a surge in violence for the third consecutive year with an uptick recorded each year beginning from 2021. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84 per cent of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and SF operations, recorded during this period. Punjab and Sindh were relatively peaceful as together, both these provinces suffered only 8 per cent of all fatalities in 2023. CRSS data claimed that the year 2023 recorded an alarming surge in violence by about 56 per cent — an unprecedented escalation in the last 10 years, with the overall number of fatalities increasing from 980 in 2022 to 1,524 in 2023. This includes a staggering 57pc uptick recorded in Balochistan and 55 per cent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Punjab saw a 96 per cent rise in violence though the number of fatalities was very low, followed by Sindh where the fatalities increased by 26 per cent. “Nearly 65pc of all violence-related fatalities recorded in 2023 resulted from terrorism, while the remaining 35pc from the security forces operations against the outlaws. The country suffered as many as 586 terror attacks this year [2023], with only 17pc of them claimed by the banned terror outfits such as TTP, BLA, Daish (Islamic State Khorasan) and others. The security forces conducted as many as 197 operations against outlaws leaving 545 of them dead,” the CRSS report stated. An alarming upsurge in sectarian violence was recorded. In 2023, acts of terrorism directed at religious communities and their places of worship resulted in the tragic loss of 203 lives, 88 of them were SF officials. Read less...

One person, identified as Haleem Jan, was killed while an Election 2024 candidate for the constituency PK-19, Syed Rahim Shah of the Mazlum Ulasi Tehrik from Mamund area of Bajaur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was injured when their vehicle was attacked by unidentified assailants on January 1, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 1 forcibly disappeared 10 persons, including the tribal elder of the Darkani branch of the Shirani tribe and two women, during a raid in Jaffarabad District of Balochistan, reports The Balochistan Post. The tribal elder, Wadera Ghulam Muhammad Shirani, was in Sibbi for a court appearance when he was taken away along with his four security guards. SFs also raided his house in the Goth Wadera Muhammad Akbar Shirani area of Rojhan tehsil in Jaffarabad District, where they abducted his three brothers and two women from his household. The whereabouts and condition of the 10 abductees are still unknown. Read less...

The caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on January 1 took exception to the support lent to Baloch protesters, who have been staging a sit-in in Islamabad for more than a week for the recovery of their loved ones and extra-judicial killings in the province, reports Dawn. PM Kakar who spent more than 15 minutes of a 20-minute press conference on the issues of Balochistan at Lahore’s Central Business District, appeared visibly irked. Speaking about those who are supporting the Baloch protest, PM Kakar said they could go join the Baloch militants. “Advocates of terrorists in Balochistan should go and join them if they are convinced on the veracity of their issue and fight the state along with them, so that we know where they stand and how to deal with them,” he said, alluding to rights activists and journalists standing with the Baloch marchers. Responding to the media on the issue of Police violence against Baloch protesters in Islamabad, the PM Kakar said that some of the people — media persons included — were trying to “mislead everyone, turning themselves into fake heroes of human rights and damaging the state”. The caretaker PM insisted that those protesting in Islamabad are the “relatives of those fighting against the state” in Balochistan. He, however, added that the state had a beef with militant outfits, not the Baloch people. “We still respect their right to protest because their dear and near ones disappeared. But they should also know that they [militants] were fighting against the state, with the help of RAW funding and aided by India. It is an armed rebellion, with foreign help,” he added. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) had been carrying out a military operation in Mashkay tehsil of Awaran District in Balochistan, which has entered its second day, The Balochistan Post reported on January 1. The operation, which began after a drone attack in the area a day earlier, has deployed highly-trained commandoes and military gunship choppers in the area. Different areas have been cordoned off and makeshift security checkpoints have been established. Read less...

Unverified tweets on X reported on January 1 that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) ‘chief’ Masood Azhar was reportedly killed in a bomb blast at 5 AM near a mosque in Bahawalpur City (Bahawalpur District) of Punjab, report Economic Times. Social media was flooded with unverified posts and a viral video of the incident. Masood Azhar is wanted in India in cases related to the 2001 Parliament attack. He is also alleged to be associated with attacks including the targeting of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya on July 5, 2005, and the Pulwama attack on CRPF troopers on February 14, 2019. Additionally, he orchestrated an assault on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh province of Afghanistan, on January 3, 2016. Azhar also believed to maintain a close association with Al-Qaeda ‘chief’ Osama Bin Laden and the founder of the Taliban, Mullah Omar. Read less...

On January 1, a former distinguished teacher at the Muslim English Language Institute, identified as Abdul Rashid Darwish, was killed under enigmatic circumstances in the Qargha area of the fifth Police District (PD) in Kabul (Kabul Province), reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. As of now, local Taliban officials have not issued any statements in response to this incident. Read less...

On January 1, a former military official from the previous government, identified as Mohammad Shahi, was beheaded by Taliban insurgents in the Gizab District of Uruzgan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 1, a former 'Police Commander' identified as Khan Sherin Tagabi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Maymana District of Faryab Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 1, the Taliban flogged two men after detaining them two months ago on the accusation of drug trafficking in Panjsher Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 2, at least eight Security Force (SF) personnel sustained injuries in an attack by Kuki militants at Moreh in Tegnoupal District of Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. Of the eight injured, five are special commando personnel while the remaining three are from Border Security Force (BSF). Five of the injured personnel have been identified as Maibam Thoiba, Chabungbam Herojit, Kamei Gaihemlung, Mangsatabam Premkumar and Maibam Dayandi. Read less...

On January 2, the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) arrested a Head Constable (HC) of police, Saif-ud-Di, posted in Kupwara District, for his involvement in narco-terror financing case, reports Daily Excelsior. After arrest, the Agency conducted raid at his house at Belicharana in Satwari area in search of more evidence. Read less...

On January 2, the Manipur government extended the suspension of mobile internet services in two kilometres stretch along the borders of nine districts, including Chandel, Kakching, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, Imphal West, Thoubal, Tengnoupal, and Imphal East, for another 15 days, reports The Sentinel. Read less...

Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah on January 2 approved ‘J&K Security Model’, reports Daily Excelsior. After the high-level security review meeting in New Delhi on Jammu and Kashmir with special focus on Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir which witnessed surge in terror attacks in 2023 with killing of 19 soldiers in four incidents, Shah approved ‘Jammu & Kashmir Security Model’ aimed at eliminating terrorism in all forms and in all places and directed all security and Intelligence agencies to unitedly fight the menace vigorously. The ‘Model’ include elimination of terrorism, intensifying search and combing operations in all vulnerable areas of Rajouri and Poonch to finish of 30-odd terrorists hiding there, ensuring that there is no local support to the militants, identification and arrest of Over Ground Workers (OGWs), strengthening Intelligence network for speedy info on terror hideouts, complete coordination among all security agencies for quick action, strengthening vigil on the borders with Pakistan to ensure zero infiltration despite foggy weather conditions, acting tough on those promoting terror using Social Media, mobilization of Village Defence Groups (VDGs), attachment of properties of militants, OGWs and others supporting militancy to maintain pressure on them and keeping local people with them with pro-people welfare measures and schemes besides other issues, the officials said. Read less...

A doctor, identified as Fida Mohammad, was killed in a gun attack by unidentified assailants in Jungle Pir Alizai area of Killa Abdullah District in Balochistan on January 2, reports Dawn. Levies officials said that the doctor Fida Mohammad, was on his way home in Jungle Pir Alizai area when unidentified assailants riding motorcycles opened fire on him and sped away. Read less...

According to the performance report presented to the Sindh Police chief Rifat Mukhtar Raja, at least 21 Police personnel from the Sindh Police have lost their lives in the line of duty in encounters during coordinated efforts against street crimes and terrorism, The Express Tribune reported on January 2. The report highlighted the significant impact of the Police's actions, resulting in the elimination of 1,726 criminal gangs through 3,158 Police encounters across various Police ranges in the Province. The breakdown of the encounters revealed that a total of 19,803 dacoits/accused, 93 terrorists, eight target killers, 28 notified dacoits, 26 highway robbers, and 38 kidnappers, including 26,914 fugitives, were apprehended. Moreover, 16,135 wanted suspects were arrested during police encounters and raids conducted between law enforcement and criminal elements in districts such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Larkana Police range. Similarly, 278 dacoits, criminals, three terrorists, four dacoits, three highway dacoits, and one kidnapper were neutralised during Police encounters and raids. In Karachi range, 10,449 suspects, one terrorist, one target killer, one robber, 20 highway robbers, 23 kidnappers, along with 1,515 criminals and 9,090 fugitives, were arrested in 1,080 Police encounters. Read less...

At least 14 Levies Force personnel in Kohlu and 29 Government employees in Turbat town of Kech District were suspended on the allegations of engaging in political activities, specifically their support for protests against “Baloch Genocide”, The Balochistan Post reported on January 2. The Deputy Commissioner of Kohlu has established an investigative committee, led by the Assistant Commissioner, to investigate the alleged political involvement of the Levies Force officials and to determine any breaches of departmental rules. Similarly, in Turbat, 29 government employees have faced suspension under accusations similar to those in Kohlu. Reportedly, these suspensions are a response to their perceived support for protests against the extrajudicial killing of Balach Mola Bakhsh, an incident that has sparked significant public outcry in Balochistan. Read less...

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa underscored the Supreme Court's resolve on January 2 to conclusively address the issue of missing persons and enforced disappearances, and said that it should be solved "once and for all", reports The Express Tribune. However, he cautioned against politicising the matter. "We cannot grant you permission to make the matter political." The hearing was presided over by CJP Isa with Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar completing the three-member bench. The proceedings were broadcast live on the apex court's website and national news channels. As the hearing commenced, Justice Isa emphasised the importance of collective responsibility, the CJP said “This country belongs to all of us, even those who may have other points of view”. “This matter will only be resolved when we all work together and take responsibility. Let’s make Pakistan strong from within. If Pakistan is strong from within, no outside forces can touch it.” Petition Khushdil Khan Malik prayed to the court for instructions to the Government to enact legislation on the issue of missing persons. Justice Mazhar stated that a commission related to enforced disappearances has been formed. The petitioner argued that the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was formed under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, but has not made much headway so far. He further prayed that a notice should be issued to the Government regarding its lack of action in enacting the said legislation. The chief justice observed that the court does not have the authority to order the parliament to enact legislation and inquired under which article of the Constitution can the court take such a step. He maintained that all institutions of the country need to stay within their constitutional limits. Justice Mazhar added that the court does not have the power to legislate and can only declare enacted legislation null and void if they are contrary to the Constitution. Read less...

Four terrorists, including a suicide bomber, were killed by Security Forces (SFs) during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 2, reports Dawn. A press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said SFs conducted the operation based on the reported presence of terrorists. “During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and the terrorists, as a result of which four terrorists were sent to hell, including a suicide bomber,” the ISPR said. The ISPR added that arms, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists. Read less...

Police averted a militant attack on a Police post in Shahtora Takhtikhel area of Naurang town in Lakki Marwat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the night of January 2, reports Dawn. A Police official said that the personnel deployed at the post opened fire when they noticed the movements of suspected militants through night vision goggles. After the firing from Police, the militants fled from the area. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 2 allegedly forcibly disappeared three Baloch youths during house-to-house operation in Gomazi town of Kech District of Balochistan and subsequently moved them to an undisclosed location, reports The Balochistan Post. The missing youth were identified as Ghulam Rasool (Son of Suleiman), Sohail (Son of Moosa) and Uzair (Son of Mehr Dil). Read less...

Seven Army personnel were killed when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres ambushed a Security Forces (SFs) convey with improvised explosive device (IED) in Mand town of Kech District in Balochistan on January 2, reports The Balochistan Post. BLF claimed responsibility for the attack in a media statement. BLF ‘spokesman’ Gharam Baloch said that all seven enemy personnel were killed and the military vehicle was completely destroyed as a result of the bombing. He added that video footage of the attack will soon be released to the media. However, neither the Government nor the District administration confirmed or denied the incident. Soon after the incident, a large number of SFs cordoned off the area and helicopters were seen flying throughout the day. Read less...

Six non-local young barbers were killed by unidentified assailants in an incident of target killing in Moski village of Mir Ali tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 2, reports The Express Tribune. The bodies of the six men were discovered in the fields of Moski village. Preliminary investigation reveals that the victims, all of whom hailed from Punjab, were shot dead execution style. The victims, all below 30 years of age, included two youths less than 18 years’ old, hence without national identity cards (NICs). All of them were barbers, who owned barber shops in Mir Ali Bazaar, recently migrated to North Waziristan to pursue their trade. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials believe that the killings are aimed at causing fear as letters to barbers for not digressing from specific hairstyles and forbidding shaving beards had been distributed in the form of pamphlets in the area in the last few months, adds The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

The Federal Ministry of Interior on January 2 informed the Senate (upper house of parliament) that the continuous influx of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cadres in significant numbers, with recruitment, training and placing of suicide bombers, in the merged Districts [Erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)] of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is “a cause of concern”, reports Dawn. The Interior Ministry, in a written response during question hour, highlighted the TTP’s reorganisation and operational expansion during the peace talks in 2022, which has significantly increased its militant activities. “It has given significant rise to its activities and is seeking the support of other militant groups to increase strength and capabilities. It is mostly concentrated in KP, especially merged districts, with footprints in Balochistan and trying to activate its network in the country,” Ministry said. “The arrival of tashkeels of TTP in significant numbers continue in merged districts along with recruitment, training and placing of suicide bombers is a cause of concern,” the Ministry added. The Interior Ministry said Daesh (Islamic State) was also trying to establish a foothold in Pakistan and resorted to terrorist activities against Shias and religious minority communities to ignite sectarian strife. It said fencing along the western borders of Pakistan had largely been completed to further strengthen the state mechanism of curbing the illegal movement from across the border. However, it pointed out that the two organisations, particularly the TTP, continued to sabotage the fence. The Interior Ministry said data of 1.45 million registered refugees was updated and expanded through the issuance of smart identity cards. “The cards contain basic information, including biometric data, and are compatible with the local systems,” it said. It said the rationale for updating and documenting data was to strictly monitor individuals involved in criminal and terrorist activities. The Senate was also informed that more than 500,000 illegal immigrants have been repatriated so far under the Government’s deportation drive against illegal aliens. “Around 1.7 million illegal aliens are unlawfully living in the country, the majority of whom are Afghans. They are living without any legal documentation necessary for staying in the country,” the Ministry added. It said 541,210 people had been sent back after the cabinet’s approval of the deportation plan for illegal residents. Besides, close to 1.15m were still residing in the country, the Ministry said, adding that efforts were underway to identify and deport the remaining people. 271,985 people were repatriated via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 159,161 through Balochistan. Read less...

Two Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) personnel were wounded when motorcycle-borne unidentified assailants ambushed a Rangers vehicle in Dadu city (Dadu District) of Sindh in the night of January 2, reports The Balochistan Post. The Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) claimed responsibility for the attack. An unnamed SRA ‘spokesman’ said in a media statement that two Rangers personnel, including Lance Naik, were killed and three seriously injured in the attack. Read less...

On January 2, a former ‘local commander’ from the previous government was killed by unidentified armed assailants in Aybak District of Samangan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 2, the National Resistance Front (NRF) claimed on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) that they killed two Taliban fighters and injured another by blowing up a Toyota Hilux carrying the Taliban fighters near the "PRT" in Pul-e-Khumri District of Baghlan Province. Read less...

On January 2, two Taliban fighters were injured in a rocket attack orchestrated by the National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan on the Badakhshan governor’s office in the vicinity of Faiz Abad District of Badakhshan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. After the initial strike, Taliban responded by launching multiple rockets. As of now, there are no documented accounts of casualties or financial losses resulting from the Taliban’s rocket barrage. Read less...

A gun battle started between militants and Security Forces (SFs) in Hadigam area of Kulgam District of Jammu and Kashmir in the evening of January 3, reports Daily Excelsior. A police official said that a joint team of police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in Hadigam. As the SFs approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering off a gunfight. The encounter was going on at the time of reporting. Read less...

On January 3, militants managed to give slip to Security Forces (SFs) after a brief exchange of fire in Hadigam area of Kulgam District of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. A police official said that after a brief exchange of fire on January 3, there was a complete lull. “Due to darkness, the operation was suspended throughout the night [January 3]. The search operation was resumed at the first light [January 4]. During searches, no militant was found at the encounter site,” the official said. SATP had earlier reported that an encounter has started on January 3. Read less...

On January 3, two Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operatives, identified as Karan Gujjarpuria and Vishaldeep Singh were arrested by Mohali CIA team from Amritsar District of Punjab, reports Hindustan Times. Subsequently, three weapons and eight live cartridges from their possession. Read less...

The Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, issued a stern warning, stating that those perpetrating such acts would be held accountable if the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is reinstated, reports India Today NE on January 3. He expressed deep distress over the recent violent incidents, particularly the firing in the Lilong Chingjao area of Thoubal District in Manipur, which resulted in four villagers being killed by cadres of the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the political wing of the banned People's Liberation Army (PLA). Read less...

The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has decided to withdraw from peace talks with the Central government, citing a complete lack of attention to their demands, reports India Today NE on January 3. Continuing their demands, the HNLC called for the lifting of the ban on the organization. They also demanded the withdrawal of all pending cases against HNLC leaders and cadres in both lower and higher courts throughout the state, with a specific focus on cases in Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. Read less...

Use of drones to smuggle arms and narcotics from across the border into Indian territory will be over in the next six months as an indigenous anti-drone technology is being developed to check all such misadventures by the anti-national elements, a senior government functionary said, Daily Excelsior reports on January 3. Security agencies are working on as many as three designs of the anti-drone technology and the final outcome could be three or a combination of all three. “The menace of smuggling in arms and narcotics from across the border through the use of drones will be over in the next six months. Definitely the anti-drone technology will be placed by then,” the functionary said. Trials on the new technology are going on and it is in advance stage of finalisation. Dropping of arms, ammunition and narcotics from Pakistan by using the drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir has been a major problem for security agencies for several years now. Read less...

A Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) candidate for the general elections survived a bomb attack on January 3 when his vehicle was targeted with a remote-controlled device in Mamund tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports The Express Tribune. The incident occurred in where the JUI-F nominee for PK-19 constituency, Qari Khairullah, was the intended target. Khairullah’s vehicle was damaged as a result of the blast, but the JUI-F leader remained unharmed. Read less...

A Policeman who was serving as a computer operator in District Police was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Mir Ali bazar of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 3, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

Former Member of National Assembly (MNA) and National Democratic Movement (NDM) Chairman Mohsin Dawar escaped unhurt after his vehicle came under fire in Miranshah area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 3, reports Dawn. North Waziristan District Police Officer (DPO) Rohan Zeb said Dawar was targeted during an election campaign in the area. “The vehicle carrying the former lawmaker was bulletproof,” he added. Zeb said security guards accompanying Dawar responded with gunfire, adding that the attackers used sub-machine guns (SMGs) in the assault. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 3 directed the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED) to submit a “comprehensive report” on missing persons, along with the details of all production orders issued, reports Dawn. While hearing a case on the chronic malaise of enforced disappearances, the SC instructed the commission to prepare a report on all the missing persons cases and provide production orders issued “in each of the cases” to the Attorney General for Pakistan within 10 days. The orders were passed as a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali heard a set of pleas. Among the petitioners was Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan who highlighted how the unlawful practice of enf¬orced disappearances continued unabated, haunting generations upon generations. Read less...

On January 3, a civilian identified as Abdul Haq was killed by unidentified assailants within the confines of his home in Qala Village in Faryab Province, as reported by Hasht-e Subh Daily. Subsequently, poisonous substances were found in his house. Read less...

On January 3, Taliban detained the chief of a private Radio Station, ‘Seda-ye Adalat’ (Voice of Justice), identified as Abdul Salam Samim, for dissemination of messages from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Ghor Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. As of now, local Taliban officials have not provided any comments on this incident. Read less...

On January 3, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter), called for an end to arbitrary arrests, emphasizing the importance of upholding rights to family, lawyers, care, and a fair trial. The continued detention of Afghan girls' education advocates Ahmad Fahim Azimi and Sadiqullah Afghan, along with women's rights activist Munizha Sediqi since October 2023, is a cause for concern. Read less...

An operative of a terrorist module of the banned pro-Khalistan group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) suffered a bullet injury in his leg inside the Bal Gopal Gaushala in Balongi in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District in Punjab amid a joint operation conducted by the Mohali Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) and the Batala police in the evening of January 4, reports Hindustan Times. The accused, identified as Sharanpreet Singh alias Sunny, a close associate of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed terrorist Harvinder Rinda and United States (US)-based gangster Harpreet alias Happy Pasia, was arrested. Additionally, police recovered a pistol and two live cartridges from Sunny. Earlier, SATP reported that the Mohali CIA team had arrested two BKI operatives on January 3. As Sunny was wanted by Batala police, Mohali CIA and Batala police jointly interrogated his two accomplices named Karan Gujjarpuria and Vishaldeep Singh. During interrogation, it was revealed that Sunny used to work with Gujjarpuria and was hiding in Balongi following which patrolling teams launched a search and spotted him in Balongi around 5 pm. When chased, he ran into the gaushala and exchanged fire with the police. He was nabbed after being shot in the leg,” Sandeep Kumar Garg, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohali, said. Read less...

On January 4, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said that Police have busted a cross-border drug and arms smuggling racket being operated by Pakistan-based smugglers with the arrest of one suspect, identified as Simranjit Singh alias Simar Maan, after recovering two kilograms of Ice Drug (Methamphetamine), reports Punjab News Express. Apart from seizing a consignment of Ice Drugs, Police teams also recovered one .30-bore Chinese Pistol along with five live cartridges from his possession. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested accused was directly in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers Pathan and Amer, who were supplying him with Ice drugs and weapons from across the border using a drone. Read less...

On January 4, Police in Budgam District of Jammu and Kashmir dismantled a module comprising seven individuals from the Beerwah area, reports Daily Excelsior. A police spokesman said that these individuals were involved in the dissemination of anti-national propaganda by affixing posters in and around the Beerwah area. The arrested persons were identified as Romain Rasool Sheikh, Irfan Nazir Sheikh, Rizwan Nazir Sheikh and Sahil Javid Sheikh, all residents of Bonet Beerwah, Jahangir Bashir Mir, Tariq Ashraf Sheikh, both residents of Utligam Beerwah and Shakir Lateef Pathan, resident of Gandhipora and Beerwah. “The module was led by Romain Rasool Sheikh and Irfan Nazir Sheikh, who during investigation were found manipulated by a Lashkar-e-Toiba’s (LeT’s) Pakistani handler. It further emerged that the duo, acting as local motivators, instructed the other five individuals to carry out the assigned tasks. Incriminating evidence has been recovered from the apprehended persons. Investigation in the case is progressing,” spokesman added. Read less...

On January 4, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheeted Manpreet Singh alias Peeta, a close aide of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative, Canada-based, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, in the terror-gangster network case, reports Hindustan Times. Manpreet Singh was arrested following his deportation from the Philippines. The chargesheet was filed against Peeta in the multi-state terrorist-gangster-drug smuggler network case registered in 2022 before the special NIA court in Delhi. This was the third chargesheet in the case, in which 21 accused have so far been chargesheeted. “Peeta was operating as a full-fledged crime-terror-extortion node from the Philippines as per the directions of Dala. He was actively involved in collection of weapons from the India-Pakistan border and making extortion calls to raise funds for Dala and the KTF,” an NIA spokesperson said. The central government had in February 2023 banned the KTF and declared it as a terrorist organisation. Read less...

On January 4, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) attached properties of two people in Pulwama and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir in a narco-terror case, reports Daily Excelsior. The SIA executed the attachment orders issued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, Srinagar, against Abdul Rashid Bhat, a resident of Larkipora in Pulwama District’s Awantipora, as he is absconding. Read less...

The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Javed Mattoo, a wanted terrorist associated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), in Delhi on January 4, reports Hindustan Times. Mattoo was held after a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had launched a search operation for him. According to the Police, they seized a pistol, magazine, and a stolen vehicle from Mattoo. “With the coordination of Special Cell of Delhi Police and central agencies, Javed Mattoo, an A++ category terrorist who has a bounty of ₹10 lakh on him, was arrested today…After taking him into police custody remand, we will further action against him,” Special Commissioner of Delhi Police HGS Dhaliwal said. Mattoo, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore District, was involved in five grenade attacks in the union territory. He was also responsible for the killing of five police personnel in different incidents. According to the police, Mattoo is one of the last surviving A++ designated terrorists from Jammu and Kashmir. Read less...

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a man, identified as Satyendra Siwal from Hapur District of UP working at the Indian Embassy in Moscow for suspectedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), Hindustan Times reports on January 4. The accused worked as a multi-tasking staffer at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and has been currently posted as an India- based security assistant (IBSA) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia since 2021, officials said in a press note shared with the media. He was sharing crucial information with his ISI handlers, they said. The accused was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 121-A for conspiring to attempt to wage war against the country and sections 3/5/9 of the Official Secrets Act,1923, officials said in the press note. Read less...

According to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies’ Pakistan (PIPS) security report for 2023, the banned outfits like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) accounted for over 82 per cent of terrorism-related deaths and conducted 78 per cent of terrorist attacks recorded in 2023, reports Dawn. The report said militants’ intensifying attacks indicate that the TTP and its affiliates will continue to resort to an intensified terrorism onslaught with a view to ‘force’ Pakistan to reinstate the process of dialogue. The PIPS report highlights Pakistan’s inadequate response to the rising terrorism and militancy challenge, exacerbated by negotiation attempts with the TTP and wan­ing political focus due to ongoing crises. Escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, fuelled by issues like TTP and Afghan refugees, demand a comprehensive and sustainable counterterrorism strategy, report added. The report correlates a surge in terrorist violence with the Taliban’s ascendancy in Afghanistan, noting the Afghan Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to control TTP’s cross-border activities. In 2023, security and law enforcement agencies intensified anti-militant kinetic actions with 129 operational strikes, compared to 87 in 2022, resulting in 425 deaths and 51 injuries. Of these strikes, 97 occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 28 in Balochistan, three in Punjab, and one in Karachi, Sindh. A total of 306 terrorist attacks took place in Pakistan in the year — including 23 suicide bombings — which killed 693 people (330 security personnel, 260 civilians, and 103 militants) and injured 1,124 others. These attacks marked an increase of 17pc from the year before, and the number of people killed in these attacks also represented an increase of 65pc from those killed in similar attacks during the previous year. That comparative upsurge of 17 per cent in terrorist violence was contributed by an increase in the number of attacks reported from all four provinces. Compared to 2022, the frequency of terrorist incidents in the Balochistan province increased by 39 per cent, in KP by 3 per cent, in Sindh by 87 per cent and in Punjab by 100 per cent. Read less...

One person was killed in a suspected incident of sectarian attack on a vehicle in Jhandari area of Kurram District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 4, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

Three children, aged between 5 to 15 years, were killed in a landmine blast in Khajoori Zakir Khel village of Mir Ali tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 4, reports ARY News. The children were shepherds who were grazing their cattle in the fields near Khajoori checkpost when the explosion took place. Read less...

Two Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) personnel were killed in a bomb explosion in Shawal area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 4 when the BDU unit were involved in a clearance operation searching for landmines and Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

Two children were injured in the Gat Agra area of Loye Mamund area in Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 4 when a hand grenade in the mountains exploded while they were grazing their cattle, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

14 Armed Police Battalion (APBN) arrested Rohingya terrorist, identified as Syed Alam along with weapons at Camp No. 4 in Madhurchhara of Ukhiya sub-Distirct of Cox's Bazar District on January 4, reports Daily Bangladesh. A one-shooter gun and a shotgun cartridge were recovered at that time. Syed Alam is the son of Noor Hussain of Camp No. 4 of Ukhiya. Deputy Commander of 14 APBN, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Arefin Jewel said that Syed Alam was arrested for conducting a joint operation based on secret information. A case under Arms Act has been filed against him in this incident and handed over to Ukhiya Police Station. Besides, there are five more cases against him in Ukhiya Police Station. Read less...

On January 4, a former military officer from the previous government, identified as Akhtar Mohammad was killed by Taliban fighters in the village of Kandugak in Gizab District of Uruzgan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 4, Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice officials detained multiple girls on the accusation of violating the Taliban’s prescribed dress code in Jaghuri District of Ghazni Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Detained girls faced physical punishment administered by the Taliban as a form of retribution. Read less...

On January 4, the Taliban's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, responded to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)'s request to end arbitrary arrests by stating that all arrests are carried out in accordance with the law, reports Tolo News. He said, "If someone was arrested based on information or suspicions, they were detained and later released, indicating that no one experienced injustice or mistreatment. Therefore, this claim is not true." Read less...

A Hindu temple in California in the United States (US) was defaced with pro-Khalistani graffiti, reports India TV on January 5. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) shared information about the vandalisation of California's Sherawali Temple in a social media post on January 5 (today). A photo of the defacement was also shared by the HAF. On December 23, 2022, a Hindu temple was defaced with pro-Khalistani slogans in California's Newark city. The pictures were shared on X by the HAF, showing slogans scribbled on the walls of the Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha. Read less...

Islamic State (IS) threat is increasing with growing radicalisation in India and terror group’s entry into the war theatre in West Asia is dangerous for Indian youth, top intelligence sources stated on January 5, reports news18.com. India has a huge number of IS sympathisers and the neighbourhood has seen many attacks by operatives linked to the group like in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, they said, adding that such attacks are ongoing and continuous in these countries. “India also faces a strong ISIS threat but due to continuous interventions we have been able to avert these attacks so far,” said an unnamed official. “Though we have not seen major ISIS cadres in India, we can’t rule it out.” “But we have seen the Coimbatore attack by Jamesha Mubeen who was influenced by Sri Lanka ISIS attacker Zehran Hashim in 2019,” an official said. “He was not successful, but he could have killed 50 people easily. Mangaluru attempt by Shariq who wanted to create a blast through a pressure cooker to attack Kadri Temple could have also killed around 20 people.” Read less...

On January 5, at least three Special Operations Group (SOG) jawans (personnel) were injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), suspected to have been planted by the Communist Party of India (CPI-Maoist), exploded during a combing operation in the Badepanga forests bordering Boudh-Kandhamal in the Boudh District of Odisha, reports The New Indian Express. Read less...

On January 5, security agencies arrested a Pakistani spy, identified as Batti Lal Meena, from near the Railway Station in Jammu District of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. He was reportedly sending photographs and locations of vital installations to Pakistan through his mobile telephone. Read less...

One militant identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat, affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) was killed in Chotigam area of Shopian District of Jammu and Kashmir on January 5, reports Daily Excelsior. A police spokesman said that acting on specific information regarding the presence of a militant in village Chotigam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched. The spokesman said that during the search operation, as the joint party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militant fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter. “In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter”, he added. “As per police records, Bhat was involved in several attacks including killing of local Army personnel Umer Fayaz son of Fayaz Ahmad Parray, resident of Sudsan Kulgam and hurled grenade upon non-local labours in Hermain, resulting in on spot death of two labourers. He was also involved in killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sunil Kumar Bhat son of G Bhat and injuring other Kashmiri Pandit Pitamber Nath son of Arjun Nath Bhat, both residents of Chotigam Shopian. He was also involved in an attack on local Bal Krishan alias Sonu resident of Chotigam. Moreover, he was involved in instigating local youth to join militancy and induced 12 local youth into the militancy,” he added further. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 5 (today) shot dead two terrorists, including one ‘high value terrorist’ during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Tank District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports ARY News. During an intense exchange of fire, two terrorists were killed,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, adding that weapons and ammunition were recovered from their possession. The ISPR said Gul Yousaf, one of the killed terrorists, was wanted in many heinous crimes and PKR 2.5 million was fixed on his head by the Government. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 5 neutralised a pressure cooker bomb, a locally assembled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Kamangara area of Bajaur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on January 5 released its annual operational report detailing its activities against Security Forces (SFs) and associated personnel, reports The Balochistan Post. The report, published in the magazine “Dhak” by the BLA’s media wing Hakkal, outlines a series of attacks and operations conducted throughout 2023. According to the report, the BLA carried out 247 attacks against SFs, including nine special operations and two suicide missions. The outfit claims that these attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 171 soldiers and injuries to 251 others. Additionally, the BLA claims to have neutralized 42 individuals identified as collaborators or informants. The report also details substantial material damage inflicted by the BLA on SFs, including the destruction of 99 vehicles and motorbikes, as well as targeting 23 military installations and four drones. The Majeed Brigade, an elite unit of the BLA, is credited with two notable operations. The first, on June 24, 2023, carried out by fidayeen Sumaiya Qalandarani in Turbat, targeted a high-value Pakistani military figure. The second, on August 13, 2023, as part of operation Zir Pahazag, involved fidayeens Naveed Baloch and Maqbool Baloch in Gwadar. This operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of four Chinese nationals and 11 soldiers. The BLA’s Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) and Fateh Squad are reported to have conducted seven operations, including the capture of an Army camp near Quetta and the arrest of two Army personnel. In a commemorative section, the BLA honors 14 of its cadres who died in 2023. Read less...

The central deputy secretary general of Sunni Ulema Council of Pakistan, and spokesman of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama'at (ASWJ), Allama Masood-u-Rehman Usmani, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Ghori Town area of Islamabad on January 5, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

Two Policemen were injured when militants attacked a Police checkpoint in Aman Mela area of Darazinda in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 5, reports The Khorasan Diary. A search operation was lunched in the area as the militants managed tried to escape. Read less...

A former Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Pujari Ramudu alias Bheemanna (59), was found brutally beaten to death near RS Pendakal railway station in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh on January 6, reports jantaserishta.com. Pujari, a resident of RS Pendakal village, is also known to be the brother of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRC) women's wing president and Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Pothula Sunita. He was associated with the Maoist gang for 30 years. He later surrendered before the police in 1991 and started leading a normal life. On January 6, some unknown people attacked Ramudu with stones, due to which he died. After the incident, the attackers fled from the spot. Read less...

On January 6, a 25-year-old school teacher, identified as Ramlal Nureti, was arrested from Karekatta village under Madanwada Police Station limits in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki District of Chhattisgarh for allegedly being a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) supporter, reports Devdiscourse. Angered by the arrest, a group of villagers, including schoolchildren, have launched a protest in front of Sitagaon Police Station, demanding his release. Ramlal was allegedly involved in putting up Maoist banners and posters in the area in September last year, the Police said. On September 15, 2023, the police recovered posters and banners from the Madanwada area, where Maoists appealed to observe the 19th anniversary of the outlawed movement, the Police added. Read less...

On January 6, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel stationed at the border uncovered a dropping sound near the border fence in the proximity of village-Daoke in Amritsar District, reports Midday. Following a thorough search of the area, BSF troops successfully recovered three packages suspected to contain Heroin (Gross weight - approximately 3.21 kilograms), securely wrapped with yellow adhesive tape and one Android mobile phone from a farming field, the BSF said. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres targeted a construction site and set ablaze at least three machines involved in soil cutting at Bariatu in Chandwa in the Latehar District of Jharkhand on January 6, reports The Avenue Mail. Kashyap Construction, responsible for the third railway line project in Bariatu, faced disruption as Poclain, JCB, and mixer machines were burned by the Maoists. Following the arson, at least seven rounds of firing were also reported, creating an atmosphere of fear and panic in the area. Read less...

Vehicles engaged in bridge construction work on the Manak River in Kurumdari village in Simaria in Chatra District of Jharkhand were set on fire by cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) on January 6, reports The Avenue Mail. Read less...

One person was injured in a landmine blast in the Dera Bugti District of Balochistan on January 6, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

Two persons were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in an explosion at Qala-e Nazir Station in the Dasht-e Barchi area within the sixth security district of Kabul on January 6, reports Hasht-e Subh. Khalid Zadran, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s security command in the city, has confirmed that two individuals lost their lives and 14 others sustained injuries when the explosion occurred targeting a civilian vehicle. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for that particular act of violence. The death toll has climbed to five, with five civilians killed and 15 others injured in a blast that occurred in a minibus at Qala-e Nazir Station in the Dasht-e Barchi area in the sixth Police District (PD) of Kabul on January 6, reports Tolo News. One of the deceased persons was identified as Hossein. Earlier, SATP had reported that two people were killed and 14 others sustained injuries. Read less...

Challenging the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visiting United States (US), the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), blocked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, with a float depicting the assassination of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, reports News 18 on January 7. Top intelligence sources said, “This is a money-making tactic used by Pannun [SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun]. He is using handful activists and forcing them to face the law. Blocking any consulate is a serious issue and we will speak to our counterparts.” They said they would “speak to their counterparts". Read less...

Five cadres of the Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), were arrested from the Tandwa Police Station area in Chatra District of Jharkhand on January 7, reports latestly.com. Superintendent of Police (SP) Rakesh Ranjan said a 'sub-zonal commander' identified as Adesh Kumar Ganjhu alias Prabhakar Ji, wanted in several cases of arson and extortion in the Tandwa coalfield area, was among the five arrestees. The other four were identified as Upendra Kumar Ganjhu alias Bhola, Laldev Kumar Ganjhu, Pintu Kumar Ganjhu and Rajesh Kumar Ganjhu. Arms and ammunition were also seized from them. Among these were a rifle, two pistols, 14 live cartridges, a knife, and pamphlets of the banned organisation, the SP said. Read less...

Four active cadres of Naga National Council-Non Accordist (NNC-NA) surrendered before Assam Rifles at Wakching in Mon District of Nagaland on January 7, reports India TodayNE. Assam Rifles confirmed the information on their official Twitter handle stating, "The relentless efforts of #AssamRifles lead to the surrender of four cadres of Naga National Council (Non-Accordist) cadres with one 9 mm Pistol at Wakching, Mon District, Nagaland. The cadres have been highly active in the area since 2019. Read less...

On January 7, a cadre of National Liberation Front of Tripura Biswa Mohan Debbarma faction (NLFT-BM) identified as Uday Manik Jamatia surrendered before the Border Security Force (BSF) in the Chawmanu area of Dhalai District in Tripura, reports India TodayNE. Jamatia, joined the NLFT-BM outfit in September 2023. Read less...

On January 7, Kuki militants attacked security forces (SFs), particularly Manipur Police personnel using sophisticated weapons including bombs in Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. The attack came after Kuki militants warned and asked the Kuki civilians to vacate the Moreh town before January 7. State security personnel retaliated resulting in heavy exchange of firing between the two sides. Moreh than 30 bombs, rocket-propelled grenade (RPGs) and Lathod bombs were fired by the Kuki militants toward the security personnel. No casualties were reported. Read less...

On January 7, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a drone from Ferozepur District in Punjab, reports India Today. Upon receiving information from locals about the presence of a drone in the Hazara Singh Wala village of Ferozepur, a search operation was launched by BSF personnel which led to the recovery of the drone in a broken condition, officials said. According to the BSF officials, the recovered drone is a Chinese Quadcopter with the model number-- DJI Matrice 300 RTK. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested three Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, identified as Madakam Handa (35), Medium Podia (38) and Korsa Dhurva (21), allegedly involved in the attack on a team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), in which one officer was killed and another soldier was injured, from Pandumeta hills under Jagargunda Police Station area in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on January 7, reports ibc24.in. All three were active as members of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (DAKMS) in Jagargunda. Officials said, “The arrested Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists, LWEs] were involved in the attack on a team of the 165th battalion of the CRPF on December 17. CRPF Sub Inspector Sudhakar Reddy was killed in the attack, and a constable was injured by the bullet.” Read less...

Four persons, including two security personnel, were killed and three others were injured in a firing on a passenger coach and a vehicle near Sadda Bazaar in the Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 7 (today), reports Dawn. District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran said that the vehicles were targeted by gunmen with automated weapons. Read less...

The car of a local leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazal (JUI-F)'s, Haji Gul Zareen, was fired upon by unidentified assailants in Paharkhel area of Lakki Marwat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 7, reports The Khorasan Dairy. However, Haji Gul Zareen escaped unhurt, said Police. Read less...

The Sindh Police killed as many as 289 suspects in thousands of encounters in different parts of the province during 2023, Dawn reported on January 8 quoting Police official data released on January 7. A Police spokesperson said that a total of 3,158 encounters took place with suspected robbers/criminals across Sindh in the previous year and as a result a total of 1,726 ‘criminal gangs’ were busted. In the previous year, the provincial Police also arrested a total 26,914 suspects including militants, hitmen, dacoits, kidnappers and many proclaimed offenders, the spokesperson said, adding that a large quantity of explosive material, arms and ammunition were also seized from their custody. Read less...

Unidentified assailants shot dead a school teacher in a suspected incident of target killing in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 7, reports The Khorasan Dairy. Read less...

On January 7, a child was killed, and another one was injured in an explosion caused by a grenade from previous wars while playing with it in the Qaysar District of Faryab Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

The Taliban detained a civilian, identified as Faisal about three weeks ago on charges of collaborating with the National Resistance Front (NRF) in Nimroz Province upon his return from Iran while en route to Kabul, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily on January 7. Read less...

Against the backdrop of Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) withdrawing from peace talks with the state and central government, its interlocutor Sadon K Blah on January 8 said that the leaders of the outfit are ready to reconsider the decision with the condition that the state government will not be reluctant in dropping the cases against the leaders of the group and grant general amnesty to them, The Shillong Times reports. The outfit has set ‘amnesty’ as a condition for resumption of tripartite peace talks with the union and the state governments. HNLC’s demands included lifting of the ban on the outfit under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the withdrawal of all pending cases against its cadres. They also demanded the release of jailed HNLC cadres and individuals suspected of association as well as the dropping of charges against all its leaders. Read less...

Assam Police arrested two persons from Demow in Sivasagar District of Assam, identified as Rajpal Gogoi and Biplob Barua who were involved in the grenade blast in Jorhat District on December 14, 2023, The Assam Tribune reports on January 8. Police sources stated that the accused deposited an amount of INR 5,000 in the account of already-arrested Biraj Kachari and supplied two grenades. United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) had claimed responsibility for the grenade blast. Read less...

In 2023, a total of 119 drones were seized shot down by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the western border with Pakistan, marking a more than five-fold increase from the 22 drones recovered there in 2022, Times of India reports on January 8. Of the 119 drones retrieved, 108 were in Punjab and 11 in Rajasthan. Surprisingly, these numbers only represent the drones that were successfully shot down or recovered, whereas the actual drone activity is believed to be much higher. It has been reported that approximately 400-500 drone sightings were reported in 2023 alone. Read less...

On January 8, a combined team of Kakching District commando and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel recovered and seized arms and ammunition buried at Waikhong Tangsam Leikai in Kakching District of Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. The recovered arms and ammunition include two country made single barrel guns, one 81 mortar with cover and carrier, one walkie-talkie set, five hand grenades and 12 numbers of 12 bore live rounds. Read less...

On January 8, a drone attack took place, targeting a United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) camp in Myanmar, reports India TodayNE. The camp in Myanmar is said to be one of several that serve as bases for cross-border operations into India, providing shelter and training grounds for new recruits. ULFA-I ‘chief’ Paresh Baruah claimed that the attacks have been carried out by the Indian Army. The drones came from the border area of Arunachal Pradesh. Read less...

On January 8, one cadre of Ang Mai faction of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) surrendered before Assam Rifles at Aboi in Mon District of Nagaland, reports Assam Rifles on X. The cadre was highly active in the area since June 2023. Read less...

Punjab Police on January 8 arrested three more members of the Mannu Mahawa gang and recovered 3.5 kilograms of Heroin from their possession, reports Hindustan Times. Those arrested were identified as Balraj Singh alias Kaka of Lahorimal village in Amritsar, Anmol Singh alias Laalu, and Sarabjit Singh, both residents of Ranjhe Di Haveli in Amritsar. With this, the police have arrested 10 persons and recovered 22.5 kilograms of Heroin in the case. Earlier, SATP had reported that Punjab Police on December 31 claimed to have busted a cross-border drug and arms smuggling racket being operated by United States (US)-based smuggler Mannu Mahawa with the arrest of two persons from Amritsar in Punjab. Read less...

Two former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students carrying a reward of ₹25,000 each, identified as Amas alias Faraz Ahmed and Abdul Samad Malik were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on January 8, for their suspected links with Islamic State (IS), reports Hindustan Times. “According to ATS, the former was arrested from Aligarh District while latter was from Sambhal District. According to Police, Faraz had graduated in psychology from AMU in 2022 and took the entrance examination for MBA in 2023 while Abdul Samad Malik was pursuing Master’s in Social Work from AMU. Read less...

At least 10 construction workers were abducted by terrorists in Hasan Khel area of Lakki Marwat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 8, reports The Khorasan Diary. The terrorists were dressed in Police uniform. The contractor was being asked for extortion by terrorists since the last three months for the construction of the road, said Police. Read less...

At least five Police personnel were killed and 22 others were injured in a bomb attack on a Police vehicle in Mamond tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 8, reports The Express Tribune. The Police personnel were on their way to perform security duty for polio vaccinators when their vehicle was targeted. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the responsibility of the attack, adds The Khorasan Diary. The death toll from the January 8 attack on a Police van in Bajaur District rose to seven on January 9, reports Dawn. At least five Police personnel were killed and 22 others were injured in a bomb attack on a Police vehicle in Mamond tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur District on January 8. The Police personnel were on their way to perform security duty for polio vaccinators when their vehicle was targeted. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the responsibility of the attack. On January 9, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) also claimed responsibility of the attack. Read less...

One Army soldier, identified as Havaldar Muhammad Zahir (41), was killed during an exchange of fire with terrorists in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 8, reports ARY News. One terrorist was arrested in injured condition. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) allegedly forcibly disappeared two Baloch youths from Dazin area of Tump tehsil (revenue unit) in Kech District of Balochistan on January 8, reports The Balochistan Post. According to eyewitnesses, SFs detained two Baloch young men in front of several people from the playground in the Dazin area. The missing youths were identified as Hasan son of Asif and Jassim son of Muhammad Bakhsh. Their whereabouts of both the youths remained unknown since. Read less...

At least four minor daughters of an education official for Hesarak District were killed in a hand grenade attack in Nangarhar Province, reports Pajhwok Afghan News on January 8. Read less...

On January 8, a Taliban fighter, identified as Kamardin, was killed by terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) at his residence in the Waygal area of the Dara-e Nur District in Nangarhar Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 9, Security Forces (SFs) recovered arms and narcotics near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara District of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. “Based on a specific input, the arms and narcotics were recovered from Keran Payeen near Cobra Post view point along River Kishanganga,” an unnamed police official said. He said an AK-47 rifle, two AK magazines and packets of narcotics-like substance were recovered from the spot. The official said a person identified as Mohammad Amin Lone, resident of Naga Mandiyan, has been picked up for questioning. Read less...

Suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres set ablaze several vehicles, including dumpers and trucks, parked near the Serangdag bauxite mine at the Ghagra community development (CD) block in Gumla District of Jharkhand on January 9, reports indiatvnews.com. “A search operation has been launched to nab the miscreants, who are believed to be members of a Maoist outfit,” the Police officer said, adding that the demand for ‘levy’ (extortion money) is likely to be the reason behind the act. Read less...

The Border Security Force (BSF) in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered a drone along with a packet weighing 515 grams and suspected to contain Heroin from the outskirts of Dal Village in the Tarn Taran District on January 9, reports ANI. "At approximately 06:30 pm, the troops successfully recovered a quadcopter (Model - DJI Mavic 3 Classic, made in China) along with a packet weighing 515 grams, suspected to contain heroin. The packet was meticulously wrapped with yellow adhesive tape and attached to the drone using a metal wire ring for suspension," a BSF release stated. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 9 filed a supplementary charge sheet against three terror operatives including a Pakistani national of ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF) – an offshoot of proscribed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) – for conspiring to unleash terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) including Rajouri and Poonch districts, reports Daily Excelsior. The charge sheet was filed against Habibullah Malik alias ‘Sajid Jutt’, hailing from Kasur District in Pakistan’s Punjab Province, and two South Kashmir residents Hilal Yaqoob Deva alias “Sethi Soab” and Musiab Fayaz Baba alias “Shoaib Zarar” of Shopian before the NIA Special Court. Malik, who is known by various other names like Saifullah, Noomi, Numan, Langda, Ali Sajid, Usman Habib and Shani, has been found to have been involved in various terrorist attacks in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region, the official said. The supplementary charge sheet follows investigations in the case registered suo-motu by the NIA on June 21, 2023. The case relates to a conspiracy hatched “physically as well as in cyberspace” by various proscribed terrorist organisations to spread fear and terror and disrupt peace in J&K by carrying out attacks using sticky bombs, Improvised Explosive Devices and small arms. Read less...

At least four people including three Policemen and a civilian were after terrorists attacked a Police post near Lachi Toll Plaza in Kohat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the night of January 9, reports ARY News. The dead Policemen were identified as Amjad, Junaid and Waqar. The attack triggered a gunfight that lasted for a while after which the terrorists were forced flee. “The militants used sophisticated weapons, we collected evidence of M-4s and M-16s”, an investigating officer said, adds The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

At least two Policemen were killed and two others injured as terrorists attacked Policemen deployed for protection of the Polio team in Miryan area of Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 9, reports ARY News. Two terrorists also killed in the subsequent operation. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Qasim Ali Khan said that exchange of fire took place between terrorists and Police. The terrorists took refuge in a house however clashes between the police officials and terrorists continued. Later, the District Police Officer (DPO) Iftikhar Ali Shah announced the successful completion of operation stating that a rocket attack was launched at the house where the terrorists were hiding and two dead bodies of terrorists recovered. Read less...

At least two Policemen were killed in a late-night terrorist attack on a Police checkpoint in Regi Model Town area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on January 9, reports ARY News. “Two constables Wajid and Farman were martyred while two others sustained injuries in the terrorist attack,” a spokesman for the Peshawar Police said. Read less...

So far, 109 people have been killed in polio-related incidents since 2012, according to a report, which puts the number of injuries suffered by Policemen and polio workers at 162 during this period, Dawn reported on January 9. The report said that a total of 13 people were kidnapped during vaccination drives. The total number of killed and injured remained 284, including 166 Policemen, 87 health workers and 31 civilians. They included 255 men and 29 women. Vaccinators continue to fall to bullets of unidentified assailants since long but not as aggressively as they had been since 2012. However, the year 2014 witnessed 17 deaths, highest in any year since 2012 during which seven people were murdered in Charsadda district whereas in 2013 and 2016, militants killed 13 people in both years. According to the report, Peshawar has registered 23 deaths since 2012, Charsadda 12, Swabi and Dera Ismail Khan 10 each, Bannu nine, Bajaur seven, Mardan six, Tank five, Mansehra and North Waziristan four each, Bannu and Buner three each, Lower Dir, Swat and Khyber two each and one person each was killed during anti-polio campaigns in South Waziristan, Nowshera, Kurram and Lakki Marwat. Read less...

The United Nation (UN) Sanctions Committee said Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and chief of Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), is serving a 78-year-imprisonment sentence in Pakistan, PTI quoted the United Nations as saying. He is facing conviction in seven terror financing cases. Saeed, who was designated as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council's 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee in December 2008, is "in (the) custody of the Government of Pakistan, serving a 78-year imprisonment sentence since 12 February 2020 as a result of conviction in seven terror financing cases," the Sanctions Committee said in an amended entry, PTI added. Additionally, the Security Council Committee enacted amendments to certain entries in its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo. Under these amendments, the Sanctions Committee also noted that Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, founding member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Saeed's deputy, is "confirmed deceased." Read less...

On January 9, a civilian, identified as Mohebbullah was killed in the Sarband-e Payan area of Hisa Duwum-e- Kohestan District of Kapisa Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. According to reliable sources, Mohebbullah had a brief association with the Taliban before his departure to Iran. Read less...

On January 9, at least three civilians were killed and four others were injured in an explosion in the Alwkhil area in 16th Police District (PD) in Kabul, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. The Taliban's security command spokesperson, Khalid Zadran, mentioned that the explosive device was planted in the back side of a vehicle (Mercedes), and no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident. The Islamic State - Khorasan Province (IS-KP) claimed responsibility for the second attack that occurred on January 9 in the Alwkhil area in the 16th Police District (PD) in Kabul, reports Hindustan Times on January 10. Earlier, SATP reported that at least three civilians were killed, and four others were injured in this attack. Read less...

On January 9, Taliban detained a Badakhshan merchant, identified as Abdul Bashir in Kunduz District of Kunduz Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily on January 23. Read less...

According to intelligence sources, Maldives is not only a hub of Islamic State (IS) operatives but also of Pakistan-based terror groups and narcotics smugglers as well, news18.com reports on January 9. Sources stated that a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) base was also identified in Maldives in the past. The Maldives is facing a major problem from radical Islamic fundamentalists who are funding the local governments with the involvement of some big business houses. These business houses have been drawn towards China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the sources said. Sources said that many Lashkar leaders have settled in the Maldives to expand their global activities. Key Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) operative Umar Nisar Bhat alias Qasim Khorasani who was arrested in 2021 by agencies said in his confession that he was in regular touch with the Bangladesh and Maldives-based Islamic Ameer (chief), and he could have used that to expand terrorist propaganda networks. Read less...

A woman Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) hailing from Chhattisgarh, identified as Ungi Madvi alias Roshni, surrendered before the Police in Malkangiri District of Odisha on January 10, reports The Times of India. Madvi, a resident of Pitadaba village under Katekalyan Police limits in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh, was an active member of Mahupadar Local Organising Squad (LOS) in Kanger Ghati area associated with the ‘Dharba division’ of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) of the CPI-Maoist and was reportedly involved in several Maoist offensives in the district. The Odisha government had announced a cash reward of INR 100,000 on her head. In a release, the Police said establishment of Border security force (BSF) Company Operating Bases (COBs) at Mahupadar, Temurpalli and Kartanpalli, which created a peaceful and secure environment in Tulsi Pahad area, also led her to surrender, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police (SP) Nitesh Wadhwani said. Read less...

Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres shot dead their former companion Nelson Bhengra near his house in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on January 10, reports The New Indian Express. He was accused of being a ‘police informer’. Bhengra, who was once active in subversive activities in the Saranda area, was a resident of Samtha village in Jeraikela, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Saranda Forest Division. “After getting information about the killing, the police launched an intensive search operation in the Kolhan jungles and recovered the dead body in the afternoon. He had a criminal history and had been to jail in Jharkhand and Odisha as well,” said West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashutosh Shekhar. Prima facie, it appears that he has been killed by the Maoists, he added. Read less...

On January 10, four militants belonging to combined forces of Arambai Tengol and Valley Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs) were killed in a gunfight with Kuki-Zo village volunteers at Haotak Phailen Village in Churachandpur District of Manipur, reports India TodayNE. The gunfight resulted from some illegal cutting of firewood in the forest by the insurgents. The village volunteers on receiving reports of illegal activity in the forest acted swiftly to disperse them, resulting in the killing of four militants. On January 10, four civilians identified as Oinam Romen Meitei (45), Ahanthem Dara Meitei (56), Thoudam Ibomcha Meitei (53) and Thoudam Anand Meitei (27) were killed by Kuki militants at Haotak Phailen village in Churachandpur District of Manipur, reports India TodayNE. All four belong to Meitei community and were from Tampha Khunou Village in Bishnupur District, adjacent to Haotak Phailen. Locals in the Tampha Khunou claim that the four dead were innocent civilians who had gone to harvest ginger near the area where they were killed. SATP earlier citing India TodayNE report had reported that the killed persons were militants. Read less...

On January 10, Manipur Security Advisor, Kuldiep Singh ruled out any possibility of foreign hands behind the persistent attacks on the Security Forces (SFs) at Moreh township which lies on the Indo-Myanmar border on the Indian side in Manipur, reports Northeast Now. Singh further asserted that there is no evidence of Myanmar-based militants to be found, however, reports have been received that attacks on SFs at Moreh were carried out by Kuki village volunteers and suspected Kuki militants using highly sophisticated weapons that included rocket-propelled grenades. Read less...

On January 10, security forces (SFs) recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition in Churachandpur District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. The recoveries included one carbine with a magazine, one country-made 9 mm pistol with a magazine, five single barrel guns, one tear gas gun, eight Highly Explosive (HE)-36 hand grenades, 26 rubber bullets, 1 self-loading rifle (SLR) magazine, six tear gas shells, four rounds of 5.56 mm bullets, four rounds of 9 mm, twenty .30 mm M1 carbine ammunition and five pumpis. Read less...

On January 10, security forces (SFs) recovered one unserviceable AK-56 Rifle, one country made pumpi, five country-made shotguns, four number 36 Hand Grenade, fifteen 5.56mm ammunition rounds, 11 AK-56 ammunition rounds, four Bullet Proof (BP) Pouches, one Unserviceable 9mm Pistol, one country made.303 Rifle, one country made Mortar, five Country made bombs, four Impoverished Explosive Devices ( IEDs), 62 Metal pieces likely for bomb-making, two M16 Magazine, one Knife, seven Shotgun rounds, one Motorola set, one Pencil cell charger, one AK-47 magazine, one 9mm magazine and Country made .303 magazine from Tegnoupal District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. Read less...

On June 10, the Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted a drone near the International Border in the Fazilka District of Punjab, following which about six kilograms of narcotics were recovered from the area, reports Tribune India. During the intervening night January 9-10, troops intercepted a drone intrusion near Majar Jamsher Pattan Dhani village and fired at it,” a BSF officer said. An initial search in the early hours of Wednesday led to the recovery of a large black-coloured packet, containing three small packets, weighing about three kilograms, with luminous sticks attached to them. Further, a joint search operation by the BSF and Punjab Police yielded another bag nearby containing three similar looking packets of Heroin weighing three kilograms. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 10, arrested the key and last absconding accused, identified as Savad, in a 2010 case wherein a Malayalam professor’s palm was chopped off by operatives of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala, reports Hindustan Times. Savad was arrested from Mattannur in Kannur District. He had a reward of INR 10,00,000 for his arrest. On July 4, 2010, TJ Joseph, a former head of Malayalam department of Newman College in Thodupuzha in Idukki District, was attacked by a group of PFI operatives in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam District. According to investigators, Savad chopped off the professor’s palm with a machete. After the incident, he reportedly flew to Bengaluru and other parts of the country before escaping to the Middle East. Read less...

Former Senator (Member of Upper house of Parliament) and Provincial Minister Aslam Buledi, candidate for the upcoming General Elections for National Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), came under attack in the Qami Park area of Turbat town in Kech District of Balochistan on January 10, reports Dawn. Buledi who is contesting for the polls from NA-258, was walking in a park when unknown persons opened fire and wounded him, said Kech Superintendent of Police (SP) Zia Mandokhail. Read less...

One tribal elder Kaleemullah Khan, an independent candidate contesting for the upcoming general elections from PK-104, was killed along with two of his bodyguards in firing on his vehicle in the Tappi area of North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 10, reports Dawn. North Waziristan District Police Officer (DPO) Rohan Zeb said that Kaleemullah was on his way back home from Miranshah when his convoy was attacked by unknown assailants. Read less...

Two Army soldiers and two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire in Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on January 10, reports ARY News. Two soldiers were identified as Sepoy Muhammad Afzal (resident of Bhimber District, PoJK) and Sepoy Ibrar Hussain (resident of Mansehra District, KP), whereas two terrorists were identified as Aftab aka Malang and Masood Shah. Weapon and ammunition were also recovered from the possession of killed terrorist. Read less...

On January 10, a 35-year-old man was found dead with visible signs of torture on his body under mysterious circumstances in Guzara District of Herat Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 10, at least seven civilians were injured following a hand grenade attack that targeted a police car in Drwazi Khosh locality of Police District 2 in Herat, the capital city of Herat Province, reports Xinhua. Read less...

On January 10, Taliban detained the deputy of student affairs at the Roshan Afghanistan Online University (RAOU), identified as Jawid Noorzad Kakar, in Kabul, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Sources indicate that Kakar was detained by the Taliban due to his affiliation with RAOU. Read less...

Army chief Gen Manoj Pande on January 11 said the situation in Rajouri-Poonch region is a matter of “concern”, adding the Army is enhancing deployment of troops, boosting intelligence apparatus and reaching out to local people as part of measures to contain terrorist activities, reports Daily Excelsior. “The situation in Poonch-Rajouri has been an issue of concern to us,” Gen Pande said. There has been a drop in overall incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir but such incidents increased in Rajouri-Poonch sector, he added. Read less...

On January 11, a joint operation between Military Intelligence (ECIB), Security Forces (SFs) and the Longding Police resulted in the arrest of six hardcore cadres of National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) in Longding District of Arunachal Pradesh, reports India TodayNE. The arrested cadres, on interrogation, revealed information about a concealed cache of arms located between Knoknu and Khasa Villages. In response, the SFs extended their operation to the specified area, resulting in the recovery of three MQ assault rifles, detonators and various warlike stores. Read less...

On January 11, Assam Rifles arrested two active cadres of United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) identified as Swayambhu 2nd ‘Lieutenant’ Manuj Buragohain alias Pramod Axom and Masud Karim Sarkar alias Fatik Axom, while they were attempting to enter India via Arunachal Pradesh’s Lazio region in Khonsa Town in Tirap District, reports India TodayNE. The two cadres were said to have come from ULFA-I's Hachi camp in Myanmar and were apprehended while trying to cross the Indo-Myanmar border by crossing the border at Lazio in Arunachal Pradesh. Read less...

On January 11, in a multi-state crackdown on the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and the Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided 32 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh, reports ANI News. The agency said it has seized illegal arms and ammunition, incriminating documents, digital devices and cash during the raids. “The raids were conducted as part of a mega operation that began early Thursday morning in connection with three cases related to the activities of the BKI and the Bishnoi gang. The seizures during the raids included two pistols, two magazines and ammunition, Rs 4.6 lakh cash, besides documents and digital devices,” a NIA spokesperson said. Read less...

On January 11, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a China made Pakistani drone carrying a drug consignment near the International Border in Amritsar District of Punjab, reports ANI News. The quadcopter (model DJI Mavic 3 Classic) drone was recovered along with one packet of Heroin (gross weight approximately 470 grams) from a farming field adjacent to Dhanoe Khurd village in Amritsar. Read less...

On January 11, the Government directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to seize all assets and freeze bank accounts and finances belonging to the pro-Pakistan separatist amalgam Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) and Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (MLJK) headed by separatist Masarat Alam, reports Daily Excelsior. Issuing two identical notifications, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said the MLJK-Masarat Alam faction was declared unlawful outfit on December 27, 2023 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and the TeH was banned on December 31, 2023 under the same law. “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central Government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it Under Section 7 and section 8 of the said Act shall be exercised also by the State Governments and the Union Territory administration in relation to the above said unlawful association,” the notification read. The Section 7 of the UAPA is related to power to prohibit the use of funds of an unlawful association and the Section 8 is related to power to notify places used for the purpose of an unlawful association. Read less...

Prominent Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leader Sabyasachi Goswami alias Kishore (55) was arrested from a house in Chounia village under Bagmundi subdivision in Purulia District of West Bengal on January 11, reports The Telegraph. Police recovered Maoist literature and a 9mm pistol from Goswami, who was produced in court and remanded in Police custody for 14 days on January 12. Goswami, originally from Ghola in Sodepur, North 24-Parganas District, has been arrested at least five times since 2004 in connection with alleged Maoist activities. In 2022, he was last arrested in a village in South 24-Parganas but walked out on bail. Sources said the National Investigating Agency (NIA), probing ultra-Left activities in Assam, had been looking for Goswami for allegedly masterminding the Maoist movement in the Northeast. The central agency had also announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any tip-off about Goswami. Purulia police said Goswami was wanted in several cases by various state and central agencies and in one case in the district. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 11 recovered explosive material and ammunition, including four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) fitted in a tiffin, in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

The Chhattisgarh government has extended an invitation to the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) to engage in unconditional talks, suggesting that dialogue can take place through video conferencing if they are reluctant to come for physical meetings, reports The Times of India on January 11. The aim of the dialogue is to restore peace and stability in the tribal region. Read less...

The joint team of Security Forces (SFs), consisting of Bastar Fighters and District Reserve Guards (DRG), recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition in between Danteshpuram and Korajguda in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh on January 11, reports The Free Press Journal. The SF team recovered two Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL), 12 bolt guns, one bird hunting rifle, 16 BGL cells, 24 BGL cartridges, three backpacks, a magazine pouch, one bundle of red cloth, and other daily use items, including banned Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] literature. The Maoists escaped deep into the jungle, seeing the Police team approaching their location, Sukma Police said. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) thwarted potential subversive activities by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) by recovering an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing seven kilogrammes in the forest and hilly areas around the Meralgada village under the Goilkera Police Station area in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on January 11, reports The Avenue Mail. A joint operation team comprising Chaibasa Police, Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) 209 Bn, 203 Bn, 205 Bn, Jharkhand Jaguar, and CRPF 60, 197, 157, 174, 193, 134, launched the combing operation following information about the presence of top leaders of the CPI-Maoist outfit, including Misir Besra, Anmel, Maechhu, Chaman, Kande, Ajay Mahta, Sagden Angriya, and Ashwin, along with their squad members, in the Kolhan area. Later, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) diffused the IED safely. Read less...

Tribune India reported on January 14 that the investigation into the seizure of 1.5 kilograms of Heroin from two persons - Akashdeep Singh and William Masih, both residents of Kandial village - at the Jhanjhoti village turn in Amritsar District of Punjab on January 11, led the Punjab Police to another drug module being operated from foreign shores. The preliminary probe revealed that the racket was run by a Netherlands-based drug peddler, Lovely, having links with Pakistan-based smugglers. The seized contraband was smuggled from Pakistan through drones. Lovely’s name has cropped up for the first time in the illegal drug trade. Read less...

A gas pipeline was blown up when unidentified persons planted an improvised explosive device (IED) near the pipeline in Bolan District of Balochistan on January 11, reports The Express Tribune. The detonation of the IED resulted in a huge explosion, causing significant damage to a 12-inch diameter gas pipeline. Subsequently, gas supply to various regions of Balochistan experienced partial disruption. Read less...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) local leader Shah Khalid was shot dead by unknown assailants in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 11, reports ARY News. Two armed motorcyclists opened fire on the vehicle of PTI leader, killing him on the spot. The attackers managed to escape from the scene. Read less...

The caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaarul Haq Kakar on January 11 said militants had decided to fight against the State and therefore, the State had no choice but to fight that war with wisdom and courage, reports Dawn. “This is their [militants’] own choice to become suicide bombers and assassins, so they don’t deserve sympathy,” PM Kakar said during a Police darbar at the Governor’s House in Peshawar. PM Kakar said the nation never forgot the 2014 massacre of children at Peshawar’s Army Public School, so militants had lost the “sympathy they used to enjoy 20 years ago.” The State would fight against all those people, who subscribed to militant ideology, adds PM Kakar. Read less...

Unidentified assailants targeted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (N) candidate Qari Mahar Ullab for PB 45 in the upcoming general election in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, in the morning of January 11, reports The Khorasan Diary. However, he narrowly escaped the attack. Read less...

On January 11, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina took oath as the Prime Minister (PM) of Bangladesh for the fourth consecutive term and formed the government, reports The Dhaka Tribune. President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed 25 ministers and 11 state ministers for the new cabinet along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Among them, there will be two technocrat ministers this time. The 25 ministers are AKM Mozammel Haque, Obaidul Quader, Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Dr Dipu Moni, Tajul Islam, Farooq Khan, Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, Advocate Anisul Haq, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Abdus Shaheed, Sadhan Chandra Majumder, RAM Ubaidul Mokhtadir Chowdhury, Abdur Rahman, Narayan Chandra Chanda, Abdus Salam, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, Farhad Hossain, Faridul Haque Khan, Zillul Hakim, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Nazmul Hasan Papon, Yeafesh Osman, and Dr Samanta Lal Sen. The 11 state ministers are Mohammad A Arafat, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Nasrul Hamid, Simeen Hossain (Rimi), Rumana Ali, Ahsanul Islam (Titu), Shafikur Rahman Chowdhury, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Zahid Farooq, Kujendra Lal Tripura, and Mohibbur Rahman. Of them, Yeafesh Osman and Dr Samanta Lal Sen are technocrat ministers. Read less...

On January 11, two civilians were killed and 12 others injured in a grenade explosion outside a commercial center in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Shi'ite neighbourhood in Kabul, reports abc News. Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police chief, said that it was the third deadly blast to hit Kabul in less than a week, and security forces would do their best to bring the assailants to justice. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘militia’ (people’s army of the Maoists) ‘commander’, identified as Toya Potam alias Somlu (30), carrying a reward of INR 100,000 on his head, was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) during an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation in a forest near Pusnar village under Gangalur Police Station limits in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 12, reports NDTV. "Intelligence inputs were received about the presence of senior Naxalites, including Gagalurarea committee secretary Dinesh Modiyam, and some 20–25 armed ultras cadres in Pusnar forest. In the ensuing gunfight, Naxalite Toya Potam alias Somlu (30), was killed," a Police official said. "Potam carried a reward of ₹ 1 lakh and was the militia commander of the outlawed Maoist organization. Four warrants were pending against him. He was involved in acts of murder, attacks on security forces, etc.," the official said, adding that arms, explosives, and other items have been recovered from the site. Read less...

Kailash Khichan, a key operative of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda alias Rinda, who was supplying weapons to the associates of a terror outfit to carry out "sensational crimes" in Punjab, has been arrested from Lohawat village in Phalodi District of Rajasthan, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on January 12, reports NDTV. A Chinese-made pistol and eight live cartridges were seized following his arrest. He was also associated with United Sates based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia. Preliminary interrogation has revealed that on Rinda's directions, Khichan was supplying weapons to the associates of terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) for carrying out sensational crimes in Punjab, the DGP added. Read less...

On January 12, a local Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), one carbine, one pistol, three hand grenades, ammunition & war like stores were recovered from Lousangkhong in Imphal East District of Manipur, reports Assam Rifles on X. Read less...

On January 12, an exchange of fire took place between government forces and militants at Haotak Tampha Khunou Thoubal Leikai village in the inter-districts of Bishnupur and Churachandpur in Manipur, reports Northeast Now. Government forces included two Maha Regiment, 144 Batallion Border Security Forces (BSF), and Bishnupur District Police. Reports stated that the militants in large numbers coming down from the high Dumpi Kuki hill range of Churachandpur district opened fire to which the security forces (SFs) retaliated. However, no casualties were reported. Read less...

On January 12, suspected terrorists fired upon a convoy of vehicles carrying Security Force (SF) personnel at Khanetar in the Poonch District led by a Commanding Officer (CO), prompting SFs to launch a search operation in the area, reports Daily Excelsior. The vehicles that came under attack were carrying SF personnel back to the camp. There were no casualties among the SF personnel. Sources said that despite provocation by terrorists, the troops did not fire back as a lot of civilians were present there. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 12, filed a charge sheet against four operatives of the Islamic State (IS) module based in Kerala's Thrissur District for their involvement in raising funds to promote the agenda of the global terror network, reports NDTV. They were identified as Mathilakath Kodayil Ashif alias Ashif M K, Seyid Nabeel Ahammed alias Nabeel, Shiyas T S alias Shiyas, and Saheer E P alias Saheer Turkey. They have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-UAPA. The official said Ashif and Nabeel were members of the erstwhile National Development Front (NDF) as well as the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), and had committed murders for the PFI, besides participating in its violent agitations. Read less...

The Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in a fresh video released on January 12 announced that it is going to start Khalistan referendum voter registration in India on January 26, reports IANS. It said it will spend USD one million to promote it in the national capital, Delhi. Calling the Tiranga (Tricolour) as their target, SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the video that January 26 is going to be a "D-Day" in Delhi. "On 26th January, we are going to start Khalistan voter registration in India...the target is Tiranga. Twenty-Sixth January is going to be D-Day in Delhi. We are going to spend $1 [USD One] million to raise Khalistan flag in Delhi," Pannun, the SFJ's legal counsel, said. Pannun also targeted French President Emmanuel Macron who will be visiting the country as Chief Guest for the celebrations. Read less...

A Police constable assigned to safeguard polio workers was killed in a firing incident near Eastern Bypass School in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on January 12, reports The Balochistan Post. Unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire and injured a Police head constable, identified as Jameel Ahmed, appointed for the security of the polio campaign near Eastern Bypass School. He was rushed to the Quetta Civil Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. However, the Polio team remained unharmed in the attack. Read less...

As many as two persons, including a woman sustained injuries in a bomb blast that occurred in Utman Khel area of Bajaur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 12 (today), reports ARY News. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 12 killed two terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports The Express Tribune. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists Abdullah Khadri and Khalid aka Janan were killed during the operation conducted on the reported presence of terrorists in the area. The killed terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area including target killing of innocent civilians. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 12 arrested two Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) suicide bombers, allegedly involved in planning an attack on Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Fazlur Rehman and Awami National Party (ANP)’s Aimal Wali Khan, from Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn. In an official statement, the CTD said Peshawar was “saved from a major catastrophe” with the arrest of the two Afghanistan-trained militants. According to CTD Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (Operations) Najamul Hasnain Liaquat, the suicide bombers were nabbed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) from Matni area and Achini areas of Peshawar. Two suicide vests, three hand grenades and a pistol were recovered from them, he added. Read less...

The Jamiat-ud-Nazria (JuN) chief Qari Mehrullah was attacked by unidentified assailants in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on January 12, reports The Balochistan Post. Qari Mehrullah who is contesting the elections from Balochistan Assembly Constituency PB-45 in the upcoming survived the attack. Read less...

On January 12, a Rohingya (former community leader), identified as Rahim Ullah was killed by suspected Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) cadres inside a refugee camp of Ukhia Upazila (Sub-District) in Cox’s Bazar District of Chittagong Division, reports The Daily Star. Mohammad Shamim Hossain, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Ukhiya Police Station, confirmed the incident and mentioned that Rahim was a listed criminal, absconding in several cases, including a police assault case. Read less...

Daily Excelsior reported on January 13 that security agencies have stepped up focus on human intelligence while going ahead with use of technology even as the Army proposed to launch Operation Sarvshakti on both sides of Pir Panjal range to finish off the terrorists in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch which have witnessed surge in terror attacks since last year resulting into killing of 19 Army soldiers in four incidents. “After technology took centre-stage in tracing the terrorists and Over Ground Workers (OGWs), dependence of security agencies on human intelligence had come down though it wasn’t completely over. However, the adversary too took advantage of technology in keeping locations of the terrorists’ secret. With terror activities rising in Rajouri and Poonch, the focus has been back on human intelligence,’’ the officials said. The operations are being launched in close monitoring by the Army Headquarters and the Northern Army Command in Udhampur and were planned soon after Home Minister Amit Shah held a security meeting with all stakeholders including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army, intelligence agencies including both internal and external ones and police officials from Jammu and Kashmir and Central agencies in New Delhi on January 2. Army has also started the process of inducting more troops in the Rajouri-Poonch sector. The operations are expected to be on the lines of Operation Sarpvinash, which was launched in Hill Kaka in 2003 to eliminate terrorists in the South of Pir Panjal range. Read less...

On January 13, Assam Rifles along with Arunachal Pradesh Police arrested one over-ground worker (OGW) of United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) in the general area of Jairampur in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh, reports Assam Rifles on X. The individual was involved in various extortion related activities. Read less...

On January 13, Assam Rifles seized six Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), explosives, and assorted wires in Chikim Veng in Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur along the Indo-Myanmar border, reports Northeast Now. Read less...

On January 13, Security Forces recovered a China-made drone near the International Border in the Tarn Taran District of Punjab, reports Tribune India. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 13, said it has filed a chargesheet against eight people in connection with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) prison radicalisation and suicide attack conspiracy case, reports The Indian Express. The case was originally registered by the Bengaluru city police on July 18, 2023, following the seizure of arms, ammunition, hand grenades, and walkie-talkies from the house of one of the accused. According to the NIA, the probe revealed that T Naseer, who was involved in several blast cases, had come in contact with the other accused while they were all lodged in Bengaluru prison in 2017. Naseer has been serving a life sentence since 2013, while two other accused, Junaid Ahmed and Salman Khan, are suspected to have fled abroad. The remaining suspects – Syed Suhail Khan, Mohammed Umar, Zahid Tabrez, Syed Mudassir Pasha, and Mohammed Faisal Rabbani – have been arrested. The NIA said Naseer had managed to get all the accused shifted to his barrack after carefully assessing whether they could be radicalised and recruited into the LeT. He first managed to radicalise and recruit Junaid Ahmed and Salman Khan and, thereafter, he conspired with Junaid Ahmed to radicalise and recruit the other accused. Read less...

Three Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, one of whom carried a reward of INR 500,000 on his head, surrendered in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 13, reports The Pioneer. Lokesh Muchaki alias Ganga alias Barum, Muchaki Muda, and Ayata Kuhdam turned themselves in on January 13, Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Rai said. Ganga, who carried the bounty, was the Dumam Local Organisation Squad (LOS) ‘commander’ while the two others were lower-rung cadres of the CPI-Maoist outfit. The trio was involved in several Naxalite [Left Wing Extremist, LWE] incidents. Read less...

On January 13, a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Azad Mandi area of Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

On January 13, a Policeman was shot by unidentified assailants on Makran Road in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan, reports The Khorasan Diary. However, he succumbed to his injuries on the same day. Read less...

On January 13, at least four security personnel were killed, and three others were injured following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack on their vehicle in the Buleda area of Kech District of Balochistan Province, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

On January 13, two militants were killed as they opened fire on the Security Forces (SF), prompting a retaliatory response in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

On January 13, two terrorists were killed, and a soldier sustained minor injuries following a fire raid on a military checkpoint in the Mir Ali area in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports The Khorasan Diary. Later, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility. Read less...

Security Forces allegedly forcibly disappeared a Baloch youth from Sangani Sar town of Kech District in Balochistan at 2 pm on January 13 and subsequently shifted him to an undisclosed location, reports The Balochistan Post. The missing youth was identified as Shahabuddin, son of Abdul Wahid, a resident of Mir Yaqoob Mohalla in Absar. Read less...

On January 13, a Rohingya individual, identified as Hujit Ullah, was killed by suspected Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) cadres in the Jamal Bazar area of Ukhiya Upazila (Sub-District) in Cox’s Bazar District of Chittagong Division, reports The Daily Star. Mohammad Shamim Hossain, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Ukhiya Police Station, confirmed the incident and stated that two Rohingyas, Kari Jobi Ullah and Abdus Sharif, called the victim to the Jamal Bazar area, where 10-12 ARSA cadres attacked him. Read less...

On January 13, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) claimed on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) that it killed two Taliban fighters and injured another during a rocket attack on the Taliban’s governor’s office in Panjsher Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. As of now, local Taliban officials have not commented on this incident. Read less...

On January 13, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) reported on the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) that three Taliban fighters were killed and two others were injured as a result of targeting a Taliban ranger vehicle in the Tajikan town of Jabalussaraj District of Parwan Province. Read less...

On January 13, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) said on the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) that two Taliban fighters were killed, and four others were injured following a rocket attack in the Kilagai area of Baghlan Province. Read less...

An encounter took place between Security Forces (SFs) and cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) near the hill of Takameta village in Narayanpur District of Chhattisgarh on January 14, reports The Print. After the exchange of fire, the SFs arrested four Maoists identified as Aaitu Ram Nuruti (26), Manoj Hichami (22), Suresh Nuruti (25), and Budhu Ram Padda (25) during the operation, which was part of Operation Surya-Shakti undertaken by the SFs. 'Operation Surya-Shakti' was conducted between January 12 and 16 in villages including Urchapal, Paraidhi, Pangur, Tekameta, Musparse, Kukur and others, a Bastar Police statement said. Read less...

On January 14, an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani Forces took place along the International border in Khour area of Akhnoor sector in Jammu District, reports Daily Excelsior. Army later clarified that it was a speculative exchange of fire and no ceasefire violation (CFV) has taken place. “The news of CFV on Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector is circulating on various media platforms. It is clarified that no CFV has occurred,” a Defence spokesman said. He added that it is just a speculative exchange of fire due to fog and poor visibility, which is a normal activity on forward posts. “The Sector where speculative firing has taken place is primarily the International Border sector and not LoC,” the spokesman stated. Read less...

On January 14, Assam Rifles along with Nagaland Police arrested one active cadre of Ang Mai faction of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) from Tizit in Mon District of Nagaland, reports Assam Rifles on X. Read less...

On January 14, five insurgents of National Liberation Front of Tripura - Parimal Debbarma faction (NLFT-PD), identified as Netajoy Reang alias Naising(33), Mohonda Reang alias Salthang(36), Sukumar Reang alias Sinai (27), Kiranjit Reang alias Berem(20) and Bishnuram Reang alias Baikang(26), surrendered before the Tripura Police with arms in Agartala in West Tripura District of Tripura, reports Northeast Now. Police stated that they surrendered with one Chinese Pistol, two Chinese-made rifles, 17 live rounds, a 70 mm short gun shell- 10(ten), a walkie-talkie with charging port, BDT 770, two Bangladeshi mobile SIM cards, five Extortion notice and five extortion receipts. Read less...

On January 14, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command said the neighbouring country has orchestrated the recent terrorist attacks in the Poonch-Rajouri region as they did not like the ongoing development work here, reports Daily Excelsior. “There was prosperity and improvement in the lives of people in Poonch-Rajouri area. Investments were coming in and people were getting jobs. Our neighbouring country did not like this atmosphere of peace and prosperity. That’s why they have been promoting militancy in the area but we have launched counter operations,” he said, expressing confidence that they will control militant activities in the coming days. Lt Gen Dwivedi said the coordination among police, military and local people needs to be improved in the area. “The number of Police Stations is being increased while we are carrying out some reorientation as well. This will help us in controlling the situation,” he said. The Army Commander said 2023 has been declared as “zero-infiltration year” as no terrorist was able to come in through the Line of Control (LoC). “…But as you said many terrorists are coming. We have taken action…. If you see last year, only 21 terrorists killed were locals, the remaining 55 were foreigners. In 2022, 121 terrorist recruitments took place but in 2023 only 19 have taken place,” he told reporters. Read less...

On January 14, security forces (SFs) arrested three active cadres of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) from Wanglee Market in Kamjong District of Manipur, reports Imphal Free Press. Read less...

On January 14, Security Forces (SFs) continued searches in different areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts to track down the hiding terrorists, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

A Private security official guarding an oil and gas company in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was shot dead by unidentified assailants when he was collecting water on January 14, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 14 allegedly ‘forcibly disappeared’ a Baloch youth from Kohar village in the Tump area of Kech District in Balochistan and subsequently moved him to an undisclosed location, reports The Balochistan Post. The whereabouts of missing youth, identified as Ismail son of Mohammad Bakhsh, have not been disclosed since then. Read less...

On January 14, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) said on the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter) that a Taliban fighter was killed, and two others were injured following an attack against the Amre-bel-Maroof administration in the Pul-e-Khumri District of Baghlan Province. AFF further stated that this attack was carried out in response to the discriminatory and oppressive actions of this notorious administration against Afghan girls and women. Read less...

On January 14, two suicide bombers attacked the Taliban governor's office, injuring at least seven Taliban fighters and officials who subsequently detonated themselves after entering the office and opening fire in Zaranj District of Nimroz Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for this attack, and the local Taliban officials have not commented on this incident. Read less...

On January 15 Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande said that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control but there has been an uptick in terrorist activities in the southern region of Pir Panjal and Rajouri-Poonch over the last few months, reports Daily Excelsior. General Pande said, “The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control. But in the past few months, there has been an increase in terrorist activities in the southern region of Pir Panjal and Rajouri-Poonch.” He added, “There is a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), but from the attempts made to infiltrate, it is clear that the terror infrastructure across the border is intact. Attempts to infiltrate have been foiled by the Army.” The Army chief underlined that the number of terror-related incidents has seen a significant drop in the interior areas of Jammu and Kashmir due to the continuous efforts of the security forces. “We are working with all the stakeholders in a committed manner to uproot the terror network from the country,” he further said. Read less...

On January 15, a 22-year-old youth identified as Liyansulal Volnam was arrested by a joint team of security forces (SFs) for his unauthorized possession of a pistol, a smoke bomb, tear gas, and a live bullet from Churachandpur District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. Read less...

On January 15, a joint team comprising the special commando unit of Manipur Police along with the Moreh Police, arrested two main accused identified as Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, in the killing of Moreh Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anandkumar on October 31, 2023, from near the Moreh College in the Indo-Myanmar border Town of Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur, along with arm, ammunition and explosive, reports Northeast Now. The recoveries include a pistol with two live rounds of ammunition, a Chinese hand grenade, 10 live rounds of AK series ammunition, and 10 detonators with fuse. Read less...

On January 15, security forces (SFs) arrested one active cadre of National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) from Porompat in Imphal East District of Manipur, for involvement in extortion in the Imphal Area, reports Imphal Free Press. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) exchanged fire with the cadres of the Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Angarha Forest in Kunda in Chatra District of Jharkhand on January 15, reports Devdiscourse. The TSPC cadres managed to escape from the spot after the rebels realised that they could be overpowered by the joint team of the District Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and personnel of the Special Forces Jaguar, Chatra Superintendent of Police (SP) Rakesh Ranjan said. ''The forest area has been cordoned off, and the operation is going on. Three firearms were recovered from the spot,'' the SP added. Read less...

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police recovered a computer and two SIM cards from a madrasa (Islamic Seminary) of West Bengal being operated by Abu Saleh, a member of the human trafficking and terror funding syndicate, reports dajiworld.com January 15. Abu Saleh, accused of receiving foreign funds to the tune of INR 58 crore in the name of two trusts and misusing them to carry out anti-national activities, was arrested from Lucknow’s Manak Nagar area on January 8, 2024. Saleh reportedly had claimed to be a Director of various trusts, including Kabir Bagh Millat Academy and Haroa-al Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom Madrasa. An ATS officer said Ummah Welfare Trust had its accounts with Barclays and HSBC, but were closed due to its activities in the UK. The trust had worked with Interpol, a Palestinian organisation, designated as a terrorist entity by the US. He said a large part of the funding was obtained in the form of cash through false billings. Read less...

The cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) allegedly killed a man, identified as Rishu Punem, in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 15, reports The Pioneer. The body of Rishu Punem was found near Pusnar village in the Gangalur area, Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP), Anjaneya Vaishnav, said. The incident came to light after some villagers informed the Police that Punem’s body was lying on the road, a few kilometres from Pusnar village. Allegedly, the Maoists killed the villager in a fit of rage after the killing of Gangalur Area Committee’s ‘Jan Militia’ (people’s army of the Maoists) ’commander’ Toya Potam by the Police on January 12. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 15, filed a chargesheet against one of the two members of the Islamic State (IS) Jharkhand module arrested last year, as part of the agency’s crackdown on the proscribed global terrorist organization, reports India Today. As per the chargesheet filed before the NIA Special Court in Ranchi under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the accused, identified as Faizan Ansari alias Faiz, was involved in propagating IS propaganda and in the recruitment of individuals. "Ansari created and administered multiple 'ISIS-aligned' cyber groups on social media platforms such as Telegram and Instagram for dissemination of terrorist propaganda materials, including ISIS magazines 'Voice of Hind’ and 'Voice of Khorasan' to influence and recruit youngsters to carry out violent attacks in India," the chargesheet added. "The accused had taken an oath of allegiance (Bayath) to the self-styled Khalifa (leader) of the ISIS," it said. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation into the grenade attack at Kopahtoli camp of the Indian Army in Tinsukia District of Assam take took place on November 22, 2023, by the United Liberation Front of Asom - Independent (ULFA-I), adding that it will also look into the larger conspiracy behind such attacks, The Hindustan Times reports on January 15. Two more incidents of lobbing grenades at camps of security forces (SFs) were reported recently – one near the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp on December 9, 2023, at Joysagar in Sivasagar District, and another near the army camp gate on December 14, 2023, at Jorhat military station, both in Assam. The NIA will look for common links in the three incidents since ULFA-I claimed responsibility for the attacks. Read less...

A truck driver and a passenger sustained injuries when a suicide bomber on motorbike exploded himself near Machi Khel checkpost in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 15, reports The Khorasan Diary. However, there was no casualties from within the Security Forces. Read less...

An election training center, established in Government Model High School in Kharan town (Kharan District) of Balochistan, was attacked by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA-Azad Faction) cadres during a training session for local election officials on January 15, reports The Khorasan Diary. BLA-Azad Faction, in a statement claimed the attack. It's the first attack by Baloch insurgent groups against the upcoming general election in the province. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre, identified as Ratan Kashyap alias Salam (31), involved in the killing of three Policemen and carrying a reward of INR 500,000 on his head, was killed in a gunbattle with Security Forces (SFs) in the forest near Mangnar village under Barsur Police Station limits in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh on January 16, reports Deccan Herald. Personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters (BF), both State Police units, and the Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) 195th battalion were out on an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation after receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of armed Naxals of the Aamdai Area Committee in the Mangnar Forest, a senior Police official said. Kashyap was the Todma ‘Militia Platoon Deputy Commander’ as well as an Aamdai ‘Area Committee Member (ACM)’ of the outlawed Maoist organisation, the officer added. In 2020, Kashyap was involved in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in which two Policemen were killed and in the murder of a Policeman elsewhere in the Mardum area of Bastar District, the official said. Kashyap was involved in a total of nine Naxal violence incidents in Dantewada and Bastar Districts, he added. Read less...

A gunfight took place between Security Forces (SFs) and cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in the hills between Takilkot and Binagunda villages in Kanker District of Chhattisgarh on January 16, reports The Print. A makeshift Maoist unit that manufactured Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs) was demolished during the operation. A Bipod Grenade Launcher, 14 BGL shells, two air rifles, two muzzle-loading weapons, three INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) magazines, a telescope, two generators, Maoist uniforms, and food materials in huge quantities were also recovered. “Given the amount of arms and ammunition recovered, it seems that the Maoists had hidden these things with the aim to cause damage to security forces, citizens and public property,” Bastar Police said. Read less...

Chhattisgarh Police have refuted the claims of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) that as many as 35 security personnel were killed in the PLGA (People's Liberation Guerilla Army) attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Dharmaram camp in Pamed area in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh on January 16, reports Telangana Today on January 23. The Police described the claims of CPI-Maoist ‘central regional bureau (CRB)’ ‘spokesperson’ Pratap about the casualties on the Police side as far-fetched and baseless. They asserted that only four security personnel lost their lives in the attack. According to sources, as many as 65 Maoist sympathisers and those supporting the Maoists have been arrested in the Bastar region in the past week following the attack, and a probe is underway into the incident. Read less...

Islamic State (IS) sympathiser from India, Mehdi Mosroor Biswas, who gained notoriety as a propagandist on social media for the terrorist outfit in 2014, was convicted on January 16, by a Bengaluru court on charges of terrorism, waging war against an Asiatic ally and promoting enmity, reports The Indian Express. Biswas, who went by the name @shamiwitness on X (formerly Twitter), used the social media handle to sympathise with the outfit during the rise of the IS in Syria in 2014. Biswas, now 34, was arrested when he was 24-year-old in Bengaluru on December 13, 2014. His arrest came after the UK’s Channel 4 revealed that he was behind the @shamiwitness handle that was helping British IS recruits join ISIS (then Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in Syria. He has also been convicted under Section 125 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for attempting to wage a war against an “Asiatic Power in alliance or at peace with the Government of India” which also entails seven years in prison and under IPC Sections 153 A for promoting enmity between groups and 505 for statements conducing to public mischief. The court has posted the hearing on sentencing in the case to January 19, 2024. Read less...

On January 16, Chinar Corps Commander Lt General Rajiv Ghai said that the security situation in Kashmir is good, but there is still some distance needed to cover to achieve complete peace, reports Daily Excelsior. “…the situation is good. You heard our Army Commander (Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi) also speak about it. It is good, but yet, there is a little distance that we have to move forward (to cover),” the Army officer said. He said the Army is trying to control the aspect of narco-terrorism in Kashmir. “We are completely involved with the UT administration and the Police in trying to control that aspect of terrorism. So, we are working in that direction,” he added. Read less...

On January 16, Director General of Police (DGP) R. R. Swain declared that just like police has classified the terrorists in A, B and C categories, the narcotic dealers will also be classified and stern action under law will be taken against them as he sought support of the families to curb the menace, reports Daily Excelsior. “Funds generated from narcotics are being used to finance terrorism in J&K. We will be doing a massive mapping and categorizing the narco-dealers like we have classified terrorists in A, B and C category. We will soon be able to frame a list of narcotics dealers A, B and C,” Swain said. Read less...

On January 16, Manipur Police stated that four cadres of People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) were arrested along with arms, ammunition, demand letters, and INR 22,000 in cash from different locations in Imphal West District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. In one incident, two PREPAK-Progressive cadres were arrested for extortion of money from the general public in Imphal West District. While in another incident, Police raided a hideout and arrested two cadres of PREPAK-VC for extortion from various shops in Imphal West District. One .32 pistol along with one magazine with four live rounds were recovered from them. Read less...

On January 16, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatened to kill Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, on Republic Day (January 26), reports India Today. Pannun urged gangsters to unite and launch an attack on the Chief Minister on January 26. In the video, Pannun, also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the Republic Day function without security cover, add Indian Express. “I dare Modi, you come to Delhi without your security. If you are a popular leader, come to Delhi on Republic Day without security. The SFJ will raise the Khalistani flag and avenge the killing of Shaheed Nijjar [Canada-based pro-Khalistan leader and 'chief' of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot dead by two unidentified youths at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey city of British Columbia Province in Canada on June 19, 2023],” he said in the video. This is the latest in the series of threats the SFJ founder and designated terrorist, Pannun, issued against Indian establishments and authorities. Read less...

On January 16, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against five persons, including 'designated individual terrorist' Lakhbir Singh Rode alias Baba and Ranjot alias Rana, in a case relating to cross-border smuggling of arms by drones into Punjab, reports NDTV. Besides Rode and Ranjot, the others named in the charge sheet are Taranjot Singh alias Tanna and Gurjit Singh alias Paa of Gurdaspur in Punjab, and Pakistan-based smuggler Rehmat Ali alias Miyan, an NIA spokesperson said. The charge sheet was filed in the NIA special court, Mohali (Sahibzada Ajit SIngh Nagar), Punjab, in the case in which a cache of firearms and ammunition was recovered from a cremation ground in village Bagtana Boharwala, Dera Baba Nanak, Batala, in the border area of Punjab, on March 24, 2023. Read less...

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘central regional bureau (CRB)’ has described the January 16 PLGA (People's Liberation Guerilla Army) attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Dharmavaram camp in Pamed area in the Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh state as "unprecedented," reports Telangana Today on January 22. Its ‘spokesperson’ Pratap, in a statement released to the media on January 22, claimed the attack was a “befitting reply to the recently launched ‘Operation Kagaar-Surya Shakti’ by the Brahmanical Hindutva fascist rulers to eradicate the Maoist movement and to the ongoing onslaught on adivasis”. The PLGA fighters, along with thousands of revolutionary masses, executed the raid. In the three-hour raid, the guerillas fired more than 600 grenade launcher shells and other country-made grenades with rapid firings on the CRPF camp, he said. Pratap claimed that as many as 35 security personnel were killed and more than 40 were seriously injured. Prior to the raid, the guerillas took the entire periphery of the camp under their control. The locals disabled the movement of additional forces by blocking the roads with huge tree logs, and the militia kept landmines to attack the incoming forces. A Maoist ‘commander’ Devalu, ‘battalion member’ Vikram, and People’s ‘militia’ (people’s army of the Maoists) member Madkam Devalu were killed during the raid. Police officials, the State and Central governments were silent regarding the raid and trying to keep the details of casualties on their side in darkness, Pratap alleged. Police barricaded the total area, not allowing the journalists to cover the facts and figures of the raid. Thousands of police were deployed in Bastar division, particularly Narayanpur district, to establish several new advanced base camps. In order to keep their morale high, the higher officials were hiding the facts, Pratap said. Another reason for hiding the facts was that the newly elected BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government in Chhattisgarh feared the opposition parties’ criticism of its failure to tackle the Maoists. The Centre also feared that the attack might divert public attention from the Ram Janmabhoomi temple consecration, Pratap alleged, adding that the BJP government was hiding the facts in view of the upcoming 2024 general election and to preserve its power at the Centre. Read less...

The Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police arrested a senior functionary of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), who was declared "most wanted" by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2022, from the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in Guwahati (Kamrup Metropolitan), the capital of Assam, on January 16, reports The Times of India. The 54-year-old leader, Amiruddin Ahmed alias Amiruddin Laskar alias Sunil alias Rana Choudhury alias Rana Das alias Suryo, was declared "most wanted" in May 2022 as he was absconding after CPI-Maoist ‘central committee (CC) member’ and ‘politburo’ of the CPI-Maoist, Arun Kumar Bhattacharjee, was arrested in March that year in Barak Valley in Cachar District. Ahmed is a resident of Dhubri District, Assam. According to the Police, the alleged senior Maoist leader joined the organisation in 2009 and was allegedly officiating as a mass organiser in the Cachar area in Assam’s Barak Valley as well as the observer for Dibrugarh District of Assam. The Police stated that the accused was camping in various Adivasi-inhabited areas of the Barak Valley and was working for the organisation. Read less...

A convoy of Security Forces came under an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Khoi Bahara area of Ramak in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 16, reports The Khorasan Diary. No loss of life was reported. The attackers managed to escape after SF’s retaliation. Read less...

A tribal elder, Malik Raz Muhammad got injured along with his son and brother in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack near his car in Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 16, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

At least two children were killed and three women critically injured as Iran laun¬ched attacks in Pakistan on January 16 targeting the bases of a terrorist outfit Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur District in Balochistan, reports Dawn. “Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan” were “specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks”, Dawn reported quoting Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Jaish al-Adl has previously mounted attacks on Iranian Security Forces in the border area with Pakistan. Tuesday’s attack in Balochistan came a day after Iran’s elite Revo¬lutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles. Pakistan strongly condemned the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that the strike inside Pakistani territory. “This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences,” the ministry said in a statement. The statement didn’t mention the location of the attacks. Tasnim reported that the “focal point of this operation was the region known as Kouh-Sabz (green mountain)” in Balochistan. Read less...

At least two Security Forces (SFs) personnel were reportedly killed and four other personnel were injured in an IED attack on a SF convoy on the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) highway in the Sami area of Kech District in Balochistan on January 16, reports The Balochistan Post. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeeyand Baloch said that “BLA fighters targeted a military convoy, resulting in the killing of two enemy personnel and injuring four others, while the vehicle was completely destroyed in the remote-controlled blast.” Read less...

Police on January 16 foiled two attacks in the Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - one on a Police Station and another at a check post, reports Geo News. An attack was thwarted at the Peezo Police Station, during which the terrorists opened fire and threw hand grenades. The Police retaliated, forcing the terrorists to escape. There was no casualty reported, according to the Police. Meanwhile, an attempt to attack the 15th Police post at the Gundi Chowk in Dara Pezu area of Lakki Marwat District, was also thwarted by the Police in the morning. Read less...

The brother of a candidate of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for provincial assembly seat in the upcoming general election, Meer Asghar Rind, sustained injuries when unidentified persons hurled a hand grenade at the resident of Meer Asghar Rind in Kech District of Balochistan on January 16, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 16 arrested a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist during an operation on Bonga Hayat Road near Sahiwal in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, reports ARY News. The CTD recovered an improvised explosive device (IED), two Prima Cards, and a detonator from the possession of the arrested terrorist. The CTD spokesperson claimed that the terrorist, identified as Osama Farooq, belongs to Jampur and is affiliated with the TTP. Read less...

The SFs conducted an Intelligence-based operation (IBO) and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from a drain on Patak Road in Dera Bugti District of Balochistan on January 16, reports ARY News. The Police officials in a statement claimed that a total of five pistols with additional ammunition were recovered from a drain. The spokesperson further added that five kilograms of TNT ammo and an LMG automatic machine gun were also among the recovered weapons. However, no arrest has been made during the operation. Read less...

Two Policemen were injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on them in Regi area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on January 16, reports The Khorasan Diary. Read less...

On January 16, a 46-year-old civilian, identified as Ali Ahmad was killed by unidentified assailants in the Khash Rod District of Nimroz Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. As of now, the reasons behind this incident are unclear, and the silence from the local Taliban officials adds to the enigma surrounding the incident. Read less...

On January 16, a civilian, Arbab Hamed, was killed, and a female member of his family sustained bullet injuries in an attack by unidentified gunmen in the Khaja Kala area situated in Herat, the capital city of Herat Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. The local Taliban officials have issued no statements or comments regarding this incident. Read less...

On January 16, Taliban fighters raided a local radio station, ‘Total FM’ in Khost, the capital city of Khost Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. The forced entry led to the detention of four staff members, including a reporter, two producers, and an administrative staff member, while the Taliban fighters also damaged the station's equipment, disrupting its broadcasts. The Taliban officials have yet to comment on this incident. Read less...

On January 16, two girls were detained by the Taliban near Mustafa Kamal School for allegedly violating the specified dress code, which includes wearing white boots and socks in Pul-e khumri (District), the capital city of Baghlan Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

A Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) camp was busted and a huge quantity of explosive materials and ammunition seized by Security Forces (SFs) following an exchange of fire with a group of Maoists in the Budhakhol Forest area in Boudh District of Odisha on January 17, reports odishabytes.com. Acting on a tip-off about the presence of Maoists, the combing team launched a search operation in the forest. On seeing the force movement, the Maoists opened fire, and the security personnel fired back in self-defense. Following a brief gunbattle, the Maoists fled the site. During the search of the area, a huge cache of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines, electric wires, and other explosives were seized from the spot. Some batteries, Maoist uniforms and literature, medicines, and other items were also recovered from the camp. Read less...

A security personnel who suffered injuries in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh succumbed after 20 days of treatment at a private hospital in Raipur District on January 17, reports The Times of India. Earlier reported by South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) that the security personnel from District Reserve Guards (DRG), head constable, Arvind Ekka, sustained severe leg injuries in a pressure IED blast in Kavadgaon village in the Gangalur region of Bijapur District on December 29, 2023. While he underwent surgeries and regular monitoring by doctors, Ekka succumbed to his injuries. Read less...

On January 17 (today) morning, the Security Forces (SFs) exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants in three different locations in Moreh town of Tengnoupal District of Manipur, reports Indian Express. The militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of SFs near SBI Moreh, police said, adding that the SFs retaliated the fire. The militants also fired rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity. The SFs retaliated. The suspected Kuki militants fired at a SFs post in Moreh against the arrest of two suspects. SATP had reported that on January 15, a joint team comprising the special commando unit of Manipur Police along with the Moreh Police, arrested two main accused identified as Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, in the killing of Moreh Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anandkumar on October 31, 2023, from near the Moreh College in the Indo-Myanmar border Town of Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur, along with arm, ammunition and explosive. On January 17, two Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) troopers, attached to Manipur Police commando, identified as Wangkhem Somorjit Meetei and Takhellambam Sieleshwor Singh, were killed and six others were injured as Kuki militants attacked security forces (SFs) with rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and numerous live rounds in Moreh in Tengnoupal District of Manipur, reports The Hindustan Times. The six injured Police personnels were identified as Mohammad Kamal Hassan, Songsuathui Aimol, Mohammad Abdul Hasim, Ngasepam Vim, Sidarth Thokchom and K Premananda. SATP had yesterday reported the killing of Wangkhem Somorjit. Read less...

On January 17, a Village Defence Volunteer (VDV) identified as Takhellambam Manoranjan (26) was killed and another volunteer identified as Mangshatabam Wanglen, sustained bullet injuries when suspected Kuki militants attacked a village at the Kangchup area in Imphal West District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. Read less...

On January 17, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was recovered and destroyed in Kupwara District of Jammu and Kashmir, reports Daily Excelsior. The IED was recovered near Chowkibal on the Srinagar-Chowkibal highway. Read less...

On January 17, Assam Police seized a huge quantity of explosives in Goalpara district of Assam, reports Northeast Now. The recoveries included 2000 gelatin sticks, 1800 detonators, eight bundles of blasting wires and one battery. Read less...

On January 17, Border Security Force (BSF) troops recovered a drone near the International Border (IB) in Samba District of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said, reports Daily Excelsior. The drone was found in a field in the Chambliyal area, they said. Read less...

On January 17, three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel sustained bullet injuries, when a mob attacked Police headquarters in Khangabok in Thoubal District of Manipur, reports NDTV. The injured have been identified as Constable Gourav Kumar, ASI Sobram Singh, and ASI Ramji. Police stated that the mob fired at security forces (SFs) and tried to vandalise and burn installations including the Police headquarters, prompting the SFs to retaliate. Read less...

One state policeman was killed when suspected Kuki militants attacked a Security Forces (SFs) vehicle in the border area in Moreh town in Tengnoupal District of Manipur on January 17 (today), police said, reports Indian Express. The deceased was identified as Wangkhem Somorjit, an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) trooper, attached to state police commando in Moreh. Read less...

Slogans supporting Khalistan surfaced in parts of Delhi on January 17 morning (today) ahead of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's threats for Republic Day (January 26), reports NDTV. Slogans in support of Khalistan were found written on walls of Chander Vihar area of Outer Delhi. The slogans sought a referendum and voting for the demand of separate Khalistan. The Delhi Police have removed the slogans and filed a case in this matter. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Imphal West District of Manipur, issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against ten individuals including a member of Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and cadres of Kuki militant outfits including Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki National Front Military Council (KNF-MC) and the self-styled publicity secretary of Kuki National Front-P/United People's Front (UPF) in three different cases, reports The Sangai Express on January 17. The ten individuals under the NIA scanner have been identified as Mamang Kipgen, Lelen Hangsing, Gougou Lotzem, Haogulal, Lamkhogin Doungel alias Lamhin alias Gigin, LH Stephen, Sasat alias Boipu, Sominthang Sitlhou, Paojachup Sitlhou and Hemkhongam Hangshing. They have been accused of firing on security forces (SFs) and civilian settlements at Kangchup Chingkhong and burning down several houses of the Meiteis The investigating officers stated that the ten persons belonging to different Kuki militant organisations are actively operating in the areas of K Songlung, Twikun Village, Patjang Village, Kharam Vaiphei and Potland villages. Read less...

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) on January 17, arrested a student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), identified as Faizan Bakhtyar, from Aligarh, for being suspectedly involved in radicalizing youths through spreading Islamic State (IS) ideology to establish the rule of Islam in India, reports Hindustan Times. UP Police Director General (DG), law and order, Prashant Kumar said the arrested accused Bakhtyar, 24, presently stayed in AMU’s VM Hall, room number 9. He said Bakhtyar’s name surfaced after the arrest of Abdullah Arslan, Maaz bin Tariq and Wajihudeen in 2023, all linked to the same self-radicalized group. Thereafter, a reward of INR 25,000 was announced on his arrest, he added. He said the accused was pursuing Master of Social Work (MSW) from AMU. Read less...

At least nine people, including a traffic Policeman and three children, were injured in a blast on Zarghoon Road in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on January 17, reports Dawn. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operation Jawad Tariq said that explosive material was planted in a heap of trash that had been lying for some time. The explosion occurred when children, who were picking trash, were sifting through the garbage, he said. It was unclear what kind of explosive device was used, Tariq said. “The explosion was not a security lapse,” he asserted. Read less...

On January 17, a 55-year-old civilian, identified as Abdul Samad, was shot dead within the confines of Pul-e-Jallad alley in Taloqan, the capital city of Takhar Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Mobin Safi, the articulate spokesperson for the Taliban security command, confirmed the incident. Read less...

On January 17, a former military official from the previous government, identified as Ali-Gol Hassani, was killed by Taliban officials upon his return from Iran, in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul Province, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 17, two children were killed, and seven others were injured while they were involved in selling a mortar shell to a local blacksmith in the village of Kohna Qala in the Baghlan-e-jadid District of Baghlan Province, Hasht-e Subh Daily. Read less...

On January 21, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) said that Taliban intelligence has detained Ehsan Akbari, a journalist from Japan’s Kyodo News, in Kabul on January 17, reports The Khaama Press News. Read less...

Following inputs regarding the use of Thuraya mobile sets by suspects in the Dergarh area of Samba District of Jammu and Kashmir on January 18 night, Security Forces on January 19 launched a search operation in the area, reports Daily Excelsior. Read less...

On January 18, four Meitei civilians including a father-son duo, were shot dead by Kuki militants at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou in Bishnupur District of Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. The father-son duo was identified as Oinam Bamonjao (63) and Oinam Manitomba (37) while the other two victims were identified as Thiyam Somendro (53) and Ningthoujam Nabadeep. Read less...

On January 18, Manipur Police recovered three 51mm mortar live shells, four.36 HE Grenades, a Chinese grenade, a smoke grenade, and a mortar cover in Kakching District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. Read less...

On January 18, Police attached property of Ab Salam Rather, a militant associate, in Anantnag District, reports Daily Excelsior. During the investigation of a case it had surfaced that Zahoor Ahmad Rather, son of Ab Salam Rather, was working as terrorist associate (OGW) and was providing food, shelter and other logistic support to killed terrorists, identified as Asif Reshi alias Khubaib and Wakeel Ahmad Bhat, alias Talha, at his residential house and thus it falls within ambit of “proceeds of terrorism”. Confirmation of attachment of property was sanctioned by competent authority. Read less...

On January 18, Punjab Police, in a joint search operation with Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, recovered a drone in Amishah Village in Tarn Taran District of Punjab, reports Tribune India. Punjab Police registered a case under sections 10, 11 and 12 of the Aircraft Act on January 19. Read less...

On January 18, security forces (SFs) recovered a cache of weapons and explosives in Langvon Village in Churachandpur District of Manipur, reports Northeast Now. The seized arsenal included a M4A1 assault rifle, a 9mm pistol, seven single-barreled rifles, and twelve improvised mortars. Read less...

On January 18, three persons were arrested by the UP Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) during the checking of the vehicle in front of Trimurti Hotel in Ayodhya District in Uttar Pradesh. The arrestees were identified as Rajasthan residents Shankar Dussad alias Shankar Jajod, Ajit Kumar Sharma and Pradeep Puniya. Police has found Khalistan links of three suspects, Police said on January 19. Dussad was in touch with Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun through another Canada-based arms smuggler Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa. Khalistan leaders had asked Dussad to visit Ayodhya and prepare a map of the site. Dussad revealed that he had brought along two of his associates to help him conduct a recce of Ayodhya and prepare a map. Read less...

On January 19, a Border Security Force (BSF) spokesperson stated that an AK-47 assault rifle, two magazines, 40 cartridges and INR 40,000 were seized by the BSF in Ferozepur District of Punjab along the India-Pakistan border on January 18, reports The Hindu. BSF said the seizure was made during a search operation by the BSF after noticing a drone movement which resulted in the recovery of a packet wrapped in a white coloured gunnysack, containing the seized items. Read less...

Tribune India on January 18, reported that the Special Task Force (STF) arrested Sukhwant Singh, a drug peddler with links to cross-border smugglers, and seized seven kilograms of heroin from his possession in Chakk Bajiada Village, Jalalabad area, Ferozpur District, Punjab. According to information, the seized consignment was dropped via drone. Sukhwant had received heroin from Pakistan earlier as well. Read less...

Tribune India reports on January 18 that the Special Task Force (STF) arrested a drug peddler, Sukhwant Singh, having links with cross-border smugglers and seized seven kilograms of Heroin from his possession. According to information, the seized consignment was dropped via drone. Sukhwant had received heroin from Pakistan earlier as well. Read less...

Two persons were convicted on January 18, by a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case related to the recruitment and radicalisation of youth for establishing a terror module affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-Continent (AQIS), reports India Today. The accused, Jalaluddin Sheikh and Abdus Subhan, residents of Goalpara District, Assam, were radicalising youth for the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) affiliated with AQIS, according to NIA. The duo had pleaded guilty to the crime under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-UAPA in the case initially registered by Assam Police in August 2022 and taken over by the NIA in September, 2022. Read less...

A bomb planted near the Police Headquarters close to a bridge in Chinarbagh area of Gilgit District in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan Administered Jammu and Kashmir (PaJK), was neutralised b