Islamist Recruitment: Intensifying Efforts
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:33 pm
There is a visible increase in activity of militant outfits in South Asia - particularly India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - in their respective recruitment drives, especially using online communications. Previously, terrorist formations were using printed Jihadi literature, propaganda videos and face to face interactions with religious motivators to entice people to their cause. With the Internet boom and proliferation of online web-based communications, as well as the dramatic example of Daesh's (Islamic State's) cyber outreach, terrorist formations in the region are increasingly using the internet to communicate with youth and inspire them to embrace violent extremism.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:33 pm
On July 18, 2016, 10 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel belonging to the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were killed and five others were injured in a Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) orchestrated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast and encounter in the Chakarbanda-Dumarinala forests of Aurangabad District. Three Maoists were also killed in the encounter. Arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle, Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifle and Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), were also recovered from the encounter site. Commenting on the incident, Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) P.K. Thakur disclosed that eight paramilitary troopers were killed immediately and two of the five wounded died in a hospital.
Jharkhand: Appearances and Reality
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:34 pm
Two People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) cadres, identified as Tene Bhengra and Deepak Bhengra, were lynched by tribal villagers in Torpa block of the Khunti District on June 21, 2016. The PLFI cadres had come to Pandaria village to collect levies from a local when they were confronted by the villagers. Commenting on the incident, Khunti Superintendent of Police (SP) Anish Gupta disclosed, "The villagers who confronted the extremists became violent when the extremists threatened to kill them. The extremists were thrashed with sticks and other traditional weapons." PLFI is a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)
Dilemmas of Transitional Justice
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:34 pm
On June 16, 2016, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which had started recording testimonies regarding insurgency-era rights' violations and crimes from April 17, 2016, at District Peace Committee offices in all 75 Districts, and was supposed to wrap up the collection of complaints on June 16, 2016, decided to continue complaint collection until July 16, 2016, after it learnt that hundreds of victims are yet to lodge their complaints related to the war-era. The TRC had distributed 40,000 forms to victims and, as of June 15, 2016, had received 33,592 complaints.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:35 pm
The madrassas in Pakistan's tribal grounds are factories of suicide bombers.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:35 pm
While the turmoil and bloodshed in Afghanistan continues, with some indices escalating sharply in 2015-16, Pakistan's gameplan to restore its proxies to power in Kabul appears to be unraveling. In a development that has shaken Islamabad, a United States (US) drone targeted and killed the Pakistan-installed head of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, near Ahmed Wal in Balochistan, squarely on Pakistani soil, on May 21, 2016. While the US has long targeted al Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) linked terrorists in Pakistan, the top Taliban leadership operated under cover of impunity till now as a result of a misconceived US policy that farmed out the 'management' of the Taliban to the Pakistan Army and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The strike suggests that Washington is now losing patience with Pakistan's protracted mischief in Afghanistan.
Madhya Pradesh: Disturbing Portents
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:36 pm
On April 15, 2016, Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres from the Malajkhand Dalam (armed squad) abducted two villagers from Jalda Navhi village under the Pathri Police outpost in the Balaghat District of Madhya Pradesh. They were blindfolded and taken deep inside a nearby forest where they were assaulted and subsequently shot at. While one of the abductees, Rati aka Sunder, a Class 12 student, died on the spot with a bullet in his skull, the other, identified as Rajkumar, faked his death and managed to escape. He later told Police that there were 30 to 40 Maoist cadres and they were repeatedly asking about their linkages with the Police.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:37 pm
A group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres on April 10, 2016, killed a villager, identified as Manju Guntha (32), under the Pottangi Police Station limits in the Koraput District by slitting his throat. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) B.V. Rao said that the Maoists reached Manju's house and asked him to come out. They later took him to a nearby forest and killed him. It has not been established why Guntha was killed.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:38 pm
On April 6, 2016, United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) cadres protested the visit of Minister of Forest and Soil Conservation, Agni Prasad Sapkota, greeting him with black flags in the Rautahat District. Ram Niwas Yadav, District Coordinator of UDMF, observed, "We have restricted the Ministers or any other Government officials from visiting the District. But, Sapkota's visit sparked tension; so we protested." The agitation by UDMF - comprising the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal (FSF-N), the Mahantha Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), the Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhawana Party (SP) and the Mahendra Raya Yadav-led Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party (TMSP) began - commenced on July 1, 2015, when they burnt copies of the preliminary draft of the Constitution in capital Kathmandu, as it failed to incorporate their demands. The Madhesi protestors are the demanding redrawing of the boundaries of Provinces in the Himalayan nation as proposed in the new Constitution, and the restoration of rights granted to Madhesis in the Interim Constitution of 2007 which, they claim, the new Constitution has snatched away.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:38 pm
On March 19, 2016, Counter-Terrorism and Trans National Crime Unit (CTTC) Chief Monirul Islam stated that Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) had set up eight hideouts in Dhaka city to carry out killings of secular people. A group of 20 militants, dubbed "the killing squad" by investigators, are reportedly engaged in 'managing' these hideouts. Explaining the modus operandi, investigators disclosed that, prior to killing secular targets, ABT terrorists rent houses from where they monitor their victims before making the final move."Last month, they planned to kill a blogger named Niloy who lives in Dhaka's Azimpur," Monirul Islam stated, adding that the Security Forces (SFs) had foiled the attempt.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:56 pm
On February 18, 2016, a cadre of the Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), identified as 'lieutenant' Inato Ayee, was killed in an encounter with Assam Rifles (AR) personnel near Chumukedima village in Dimapur District.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:56 pm
On February 25, 2016, Meghalaya Government launched the third phase of Operation Hill Storm (OHS) against Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in the Garo Hills region of the State. The Garo Hills region comprises five Districts - West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and North Garo Hills.
Andhra Pradesh: Maoists under Pressure
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:56 pm
Two cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with a combing party comprising Greyhounds personnel and the Vishakhapatnam District Police near Revulakota village in Koyyuru Mandal(administrative unit) under Mampa Police Station limits in the Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh (AP) on February 21, 2016. There was no casualty on the Police side and Police recovered two 12 bore single barrel guns, some cartridges and two kit bags containing two mobile phones, uniforms and Maoist literature from the site of the encounter. Reports indicate that the slain duo belonged to CPI-Maoist's Galikonda 'area committee'.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:57 pm
In the worst terror attack recorded in the state since December 2014, six persons were killed in a suicide attack that commenced on February 21, 2016, and which was continuing at the time of writing. An unspecified number of terrorists attacked a vehicle of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Sempora area of Pampore in Pulwama District killing two personnel of the CRPF and injuring another nine. Subsequently, the militants rushed into the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building nearby and took refuge there amid a heavy exchange of gunfire with CRPF personnel. When a CRPF team headed by an Assistant Commandant tried to enter the building, the Assistant Commandant and two CRPF personnel were injured and a gardener was killed in militant firing. Later, a large contingent of the Army joined the operation and over 100 employees and trainees who were trapped inside the EDI complex in three buildings were evacuated. Three Army commandos, including two Captains, and a militant were killed in the gunfight on February 22.
Chhattisgarh: Remaining Challenges
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:57 pm
A 'commander' of the Jagargunda 'area committee' of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Kunjam Linga (22), carrying a reward money of INR 100,000 on his head, was killed in an encounter with a joint team of Security Force (SF) personnel in the forests of Chintagufa Police Station area in the Sukma District on February 4, 2016. In another incident, on the same day, an unidentified CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with personnel of the District Reserve Group (DRG) in the forested hills of Korli under the Mardum Police Station limits in the Bastar District.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:58 pm
As Assam recorded the lowest insurgency-related fatalities in 2015, since 1992, hopes of a lasting peace were regenerated. Nevertheless, enduring challenges have scuttled such hopes in the past, and many of these remain unaddressed. Significantly, the trend of overall fatalities has remained erratic in the State, recording a sustained decline between 2010 and 2012 (158 in 2010; 94 in 2011 and 91 in 2012); escalated in 2013 to 101; and took Assam to the status of the worst-affected State in India, with 305 fatalities in 2014.
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:36 pm
In a nationally televised Pongal (Tamil Harvest Festival) ceremony, on January 15, 2016, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his Government was ready to devolve power to minority Tamils under a new Constitution. "We are ready to devolve power (to minority Tamils) and protect democracy. The Constitutional Assembly will discuss with all, including (Tamil-dominated) provincial councils to have a new Constitution. We will do that in a transparent manner," he said, adding that more civilian lands would soon be freed from military control and that the official language policy will be implemented where Sinhala and Tamil would be accorded the official language status. He also vowed to bring to justice all perpetrators of war crimes committed towards the end of the country's civil war in 2009.
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:37 pm
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management Nepal, which had seen 4,896 fatalities, including 3,992 Maoists, 666 Security Force (SF) personnel and 238 civilians, in a single year at the peak of insurgency in 2002, sustained the environment of peace that had been established in 2013, through 2014 and 2015, with not a single insurgency-related fatality on record. However, though the insurgency has subsided, Nepal continued to witness significant political violence through 2015.
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:37 pm
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed a Sarpanch (village level local self- government institution head) Jayaram Khara at Badapadar in Malkangiri District on December 25, 2015. 10 Maoists barged into the house of the Sarpanch, killed him and escaped. It is suspected that he was killed as a suspected 'Police informer'.
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:38 pm
Visiting Scholar, Institute for Conflict Management On December 1, 2015, Security Forces (SFs) arrested a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant, identified as Nawaz Ahmad Najar, from Harmain village, Shopian District, and recovered arms and ammunition, including two hand grenades and one Chinese grenade, among others. "The terrorist has been involved in subversive activities since August this year in Shopian area," an unnamed Army official disclosed.
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:38 pm
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management Sehkholen, a leader of a breakaway faction of the Kuki National Front-Presidential (KNF-P) and one of his associates are reported to have been killed in an inter-factional gunfight at a secluded location between Leikot and Phaijang villages under Saparmeina Police Station in the Senapati District of Manipur on November 21, 2015.
AP-Telangana: Maoists, Fading Fortunes
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:38 pm
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) abducted six local leaders of the Bhadrachalam division of Telangana State's ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), including constituency in-charge Maane Ramakrishna, from Pusuguppa, a village on the fringes of forest in Charla mandal (block administrative unit) in Telangana's Khammam District, late on November 18, 2015. The TRS leaders had reportedly gone to the village to discuss about Government's scheme to build two-bedroom houses in the village. A letter issued in the name of Maoist 'spokesperson' Jagan listed three demands - stringent action against Police officials involved in alleged "fake encounters", immediate halt to combing operations in the entire tribal belt spanning Adilabad and Khammam Districts and an end to "fake encounters". The Maoists warned of "serious consequences" if their demands were not met. They also accused the TRS Government of repressing people's movements and pursuing "feudal and pro-imperialist" policies.
CHHATTISGARH: Swing of the Pendulum
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:38 pm
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management Four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including the 'intelligence chief' of Bhairamgarh unit of the party, were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) near Hallur and Hakawa villages under the Mirtur Police Station limits in Bijapur District on November 13, 2015. The Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Bijapur, Indira Kalyan Elesela, disclosed, "Acting on a specific tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) about the possible major attack planned by Maoists in the region, a joint team of Bijapur District Police force and specially trained District Reserve Guards (DRG) launched the search operation. Close to Hallur, the rebels opened fire on the forces. In the ensuing gun-battle, four Maoists, including the head of intelligence wing of Bhairamgarh unit, identified as Rainu, were killed." Rainu carried a reward of INR 5,000,00 on his head. Following the hour-long gunfight, the bodies of four Maoists were recovered from the encounter site along with their weapons. "The police found a pistol, two rifles and a 12 bore gun from the spot," ASP Elesela added.
Sep 15, 2024, at 10:39 pm
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management On November 2, 2015, an Indian national was killed and 40 others, including 32 United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) cadres and eight Policemen, were injured when Nepal Police opened fire to forcefully evacuate UDMF cadres who were agitating at the Miteri Bridge in the Birgunj town of Parsa District in Nepal. The incident occurred in the area along the Birgunj-Raxaul (a town in East Champaran District of the Indian state of Bihar) border. Witnesses claim the deceased, Ashish Kumar Ram aka Sonu Ram (24), was killed very close to the border on the Nepal side while he was going to Birgunj town on a personal visit.
Meghalaya: Vulnerabilities Persist
Sep 15, 2024, at 11:19 pm
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management On October 26, 2015, the body of Rezaul Parvez, a student of the CV Raman Junior College in Nagaon town, was recovered by Police at Nongpoh in the Ri Bhoi District of Meghalaya. He had been abducted on October 21, from a private hostel at Nagaon Aminpatti (Assam) and is believed to have been killed by his abductors.
Redrawing Battle Lines in the Northeast
Sep 15, 2024, at 11:19 pm
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management The Myanmar Government signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) with eight ethnic armed groups on October 15, 2015, enhancing prospects of ending a majority of the country's long-running internal conflicts. President U Thein Sein hailed the signing of the Accord as a "historic" event. The signing ceremony was witnessed by international observers including representatives from India, Thailand, Japan, China, the United Nations and the European Union. Fifteen armed groups were invited to take part in negotiations that lasted almost two years, with eight groups finally agreeing to sign the NCA, while seven groups chose to stay away. Acknowledging that the ethnic Kachin and Wa - with tens of thousands of soldiers - are still determined to fight, President Thein Sein pledged to "try harder to gain agreement with other groups".
Sep 15, 2024, at 11:20 pm
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management On October 5, 2015, following inputs about movement of terrorists in the Hafruda Forest near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Handwara area of Kupwara District in the preceding days, Security Forces (SFs) launched a search operation in the area. On seeing the Army personnel, the terrorists opened heavy fire, triggering an exchange that resulted in the death of four Army personnel, while the terrorists managed to escape. Reports indicate that the terrorists had infiltrated from across the border three days earlier.
Sep 15, 2024, at 11:20 pm
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management In a significant shift in policy, on September 24, 2015, Colombo decided to co-sponsor a draft resolution (A/HRC/30/L.29) that was tabled at the 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. The draft resolution titled 'Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka', based on the findings of the OISL [OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) Investigation on Sri Lanka], was sponsored by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and United States of America (USA). Notably, the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa had vehemently opposed a strident campaign by the international community, particularly western nations, to interfere in the country's internal affairs in the guise of 'investigation of war crimes' through the adoption of such resolutions.
Sep 15, 2024, at 11:20 pm
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management At least 43 persons, including 14 terrorists, were killed as the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base at Inqalab Road in Badaber area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, came under attack by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the early morning of September 18, 2015. The Badaber camp used to be an operational Air Force base, but is now a PAF training centre.
Sep 15, 2024, at 11:21 pm
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management On September 10, 2015, a Police constable was injured when a pressure bomb laid by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) exploded in Bijapur Valley, some five kilometres from Bijapur town towards Bhopalpattanam, as a squad of Security Force (SF) personnel was patrolling an under-construction road. Following the blast, the Maoists also opened fire on the SF personnel.