VIF News Digest:National Security - Defence Studies & Terrorism, (01 – 15 December 2023)
Anurag Sharma, Senior Research Associate, VIF

Defence

  1. Long range operational deployment of INS Kadmatt.
  2. First survey vessel (large) delivered to Indian Navy.
  3. Long range Mission Based Deployment of INS Sumedha.
  4. Indian Coast Guard Offshore patrol vessel Sajag makes port call at Dammam.
  5. India-Germany military cooperation sub group meeting.
  6. Indian Army conducts table-top exercise (TTX) for ASEAN women peacekeepers.
  7. India-Vietnam Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023.
  8. Commissioning of INS Tarmugli.
  9. DRDO undertakes flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator.

International Terrorism

Afghanistan

  1. Taliban ‘reportedly’ dismantles IS bases.

Pakistan

  1. Multiple suicide bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  2. Self-styled chief of KLF terror group dies in Pakistan.

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir

  1. NIA raids multiple locations in Bengaluru in connection with ‘LeT Prison Radicalisation’ case.
  2. Police arrest 03 TRF OGWs from Srinagar.
  3. NIA attaches properties of two LeT terrorists in connection with ‘2015 J&K terror attack’ case.
  4. Police arrest two terrorists from Anantnag.
  5. NIA raids multiple locations across J&K in ‘Terror Conspiracy’ case.

Left-Wing Extremism

  1. NIA files chargesheet against 08 Maoist supporters for supply of explosives and drones to CPI (Maoist) in Telangana.

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

  1. NIA arrests 15 IS terrorists across Maharashtra and Karnataka.
  2. NIA charge-sheets 05 IS operatives in connection with ‘ISKP terror conspiracy’ case.

Organised Crime

  1. NIA raids multiple locations in four States to crack FICN networks.

Defence

Long Range Operational Deployment of INS Kadmatt.

As part of its ongoing Long Range Operational Deployment to the North Pacific Ocean, INS Kadmatt visited Yokosuka, Japan and Manila, Philippines. Click here to read…

First Survey Vessel (Large) Delivered to Indian Navy.

Sandhayak (Yard 3025), the first of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships, being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, was delivered to the Indian Navy on 04 Dec 23. The Contract for four Survey Vessel (Large) was signed on 30 Oct 18. Click here to read…

Long Range Mission Based Deployment of INS Sumedha.

As part of Indian Navy’s Long Range Mission Based Deployment, Indian Naval Ship Sumedha undertook port calls at Antsiranana, Madagascar and Port Lamu, Kenya. Click here to read…

Indian Coast Guard Offshore patrol vessel Sajag makes port call at Dammam Saudi Arabia.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Sajag, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, made port call at King Abdul Aziz Port, AD Dammam, Saudi Arabia on 05 Dec 2023 on a three day visit. The visit was intended to strengthen long standing diplomatic ties and enhance cooperative engagements with the Saudi Border Guards and Saudi Naval Forces personnel towards professional exchange/interactions such as training on Vessel Board Search & Seizure (VBSS), Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR), cross-deck visits, Table Top Exercise on Marine Pollution Response (MPR). Click here to read…

India-Germany Military Cooperation Sub Group Meeting.

The 16th edition of the India-Germany Military Cooperation Sub Group (MCSG) meeting was conducted from 05-06 Dec 23 in New Delhi. India-Germany Military Cooperation Sub Group (MCSG) is a forum established to boost defence cooperation between both nations through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between the Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, and the Department of International Cooperation Armed Forces. Click here to read…

Indian Army Conducts Table-Top Exercise (TTX) for ASEAN Women Peacekeepers.

In a landmark initiative to promote gender inclusivity and enhancing the capabilities of women military personnel in peacekeeping operations, the Indian Army conducted a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) for the Women Officers of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi from 4th to 8th December 2023. Click here to read…

India-Vietnam Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023.

An Indian Armed Forces contingent comprising 45 personnel is in Hanoi, Vietnam to take part in the fourth edition of Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023. The exercise is being at Hanoi, Vietnam from 11 – 21 Dec 23. The Indian contingent comprises 39 personnel from an Engineer Regiment of Bengal Engineer Group and six personnel of Army Medical Corps. The Vietnam People’s Army contingent is being represented by 45 personnel. Click here to read…

Commissioning of INS Tarmugli.

The Indian Navy commissioned a Fast Attack Craft, INS Tarmugli on 14 Dec at Visakhapatnam . The ship has a unique distinction of having served under the flag of two nations with three names during her distinguished service till date. Commissioned in the Indian Navy as INS Tillanchang, a Trinkat Class ship, she was in active service till 2006, and thereafter gifted to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The ship was commissioned into MNDF as MCGS Huravee on 16 Apr 06, and served there till its decommissioning in May 2023. The ship was returned to the Indian Navy, which also provided an in-service Waterjet Fast Attack Craft, INS Tarmugli, to MNDF as the new MCGS Huravee. After detailed examination of the returned ship, a decision was taken to refurbish, repair and re-induct her into the force levels of the Indian Navy. Click here to read…

DRDO Undertakes Flight Trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out a flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga in Karnataka.This UAV is designed and developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment. The maiden flight of this aircraft was demonstrated in July 2022, followed by six flight trials in various developmental configurations using two in-house manufactured prototypes. Click here to read…

International Terrorism

Afghanistan

Taliban ‘reportedly’ dismantles IS bases.

During overnight raids on Islamic State (IS) bases near the Iran border, on 08 Dec 23, Taliban ‘security forces’ reportedly killed an IS operative and captured several others of Islamic State-Khurasan province (IS-KP). The network was involved in some of the recent attacks on the Shi’ite Muslim community in Afghanistan, according to Al-Merasaad, which is tasked to counter IS-KP propaganda in the Afghanistan and report on Taliban counter-terrorism (CT) operations against the IS. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Multiple Suicide Bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On 12 Dec 23, multiple suicide bombings targeted a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and killed 06 security personnel and injured 16 others. The bombers stormed the security compound of the Daraban police station of Dera Ismail (DI) Khan, bordering South Waziristan tribal district. Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) claimed responsibility for the attack. Click here to read…

Self-Styled Chief of KLF Terror Group Dies in Pakistan.

One of Bharat’s most wanted terrorists— Lakhbir Singh Rode, died at a hospital in Rawalpindi following a heart-attack. Lakhbir Singh was the self-styled chief of Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) and was an accused in several cases. An Interpol’s Red Corner Notice (RCN) was also issued against him. He was actively engaged in supplying weapons and explosives to Bharat from across the border to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab. Click here to read…

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir

NIA Raids Multiple Locations In Bengaluru In Connection With ‘LeT Prison Radicalisation’ case.

On 13 Dec 20, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided six locations in Bengaluru, Karnataka, in a case pertains to radicalisation in prisoners by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist. The locations included the premises of terrorists— i) Mohammad Umar, ii) Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, iii) Tanveer Ahmed, iv) Mohammed Farooq, and v) Junaid Ahmed, an absconder. The NIA recovered digital devices, incriminating documents, and cash amounting ₹ 7.3 lakh. Investigations by the NIA had revealed that all five terrorists had come in contact with another LeT terrorist and life convict— T. Naseer, during their imprisonment at Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru. It was further found that T. Nazeer had radicalised and recruited these individuals for committing violent terror acts. Click here to read…

Police Arrest 03 TRF OGWs From Srinagar.

On 14 December, Srinagar police arrested 03 Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) of The Resistance Front (TRF)— i) Danish, ii) Imtiaz Khande, and iii) Mehran, for terror related incidents in the Valley. Last week, a terrorist attack took place in Srinagar in which a policeman was injured. The attack took place during the wreath-laying ceremony of one J&K Inspector Mansoor Ahmad Wani in the city where his family and colleagues had come to pay their last respects to him. Wani was shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist when he was playing cricket in Srinagar in October 2023. He died in All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Delhi. Click here to read…

NIA attaches properties of two LeT terrorists in connection with ‘2015 J&K terror attack’ case.

On 07 Dec 23, the NIA attached the properties of two key LeT terrorists for their involvement in a terror attack on a BSF convoy in Udhampur, J&K, in 2015. As per investigations, both LeT terrorists i) Fayaz Ahmed Itoo, and ii) Khursheed Ahmed Bhat, are currently undergoing trial in the NIA Special Court, Jammu. Four immovable properties belonging to Fayaz Ahmed Itoo, in village Khudwani, Tehsil Qaimoh in Kulgam district, and a double storey residential house, along with two plots of land, belonging to Khursheed Ahmed Bhat in village Chursoo and Sail, Awantipora, Pulwama district, have been attached under Section 33 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], 1967, in pursuance of the recent orders of NIA Special Court, Jammu. Click here to read…

Police Arrest Two Terrorists From Anantnag.

On 12 Dec 23, police arrested two unidentified terrorists and recovered massive ammunition from their possession in Bijbehara, Anantnag district. Acting upon an intelligence input, a joint mobile vehicle checkpost was established by security forces at Zabilpura, Bijbehara. Click here to read…

NIA Raids Multiple Locations Across J&K in ‘Terror Conspiracy’ Case.

The NIA, on 05 Dec 23, raided multiple locations across J&K in connection with terror conspiracy operationalised by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM), al-Badr, and al-Qa’ida. Teams of NIA cracked down on eight locations in the seven districts of Poonch, Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara and Srinagar of the UT of J&K. The locations raided were residential premises of ‘hybrid’ terrorists and Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) of the newly-formed affiliates and offshoots of the banned terrorist organisations. Click here to read…

Left-Wing Extremism

NIA files Chargesheet Against 08 Maoist Supporters for Supply of Explosives and Drones to CPI (Maoist) in Telangana.

On 01 Dec 23, the NIA filed a chargesheet against 08 Maoist supporters for supplying explosives, drones and other equipment to CPI (Maoist) for attacking security forces in Naxal affected area. All 08 Maoist supporters were arrested under various Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A]. While three of them, working as courier, were arrested while on their way to supply explosives, drones, and a Lathe machine, others were arrested subsequently. Click here to read…

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA arrests 15 IS terrorists across Maharashtra and Karnataka.

On 09 Dec 23, the NIA raided 44 locations in Padgha-Borivali, Mira Road, Thane, and Pune in Maharashtra, as also Bengaluru in Karnataka and arrested 15 Islamic State (IS) terrorists. Massive amount of cash, firearms, sharp-edged weapons, incriminating documents, smartphones, and other digital devices were recovered during raids. NIA investigations have further revealed that all IS terrorists of Maharashtra module, were operating from Padgha-Borivali, where they had hatched the conspiracy to spread terror and carry out acts of violence across Bharat. The terrorists had aimed to disturb the peace and communal harmony of the country and to wage a war against the Government of Bharat. Click here to read…

NIA Charge-Sheets 05 IS Operatives in Connection with ‘ISKP Terror Conspiracy’ Case.

On 05 Dec 23, the NIA charged five Islamic State (IS) operatives in the 'IS-Khurasan Province (ISKP) terror conspiracy' case. So far, investigations have revealed that the operatives identified as i) Ubaid Nasir Mir, ii) Hanan Hayat Shawl, iii) Mohd. Hazim Shah, iv) Sumera Banu, and v) Zubair, intended to travel to Afghanistan illegally via Iran from Porbandar, Gujarat, for training and to commit terrorist acts in Afghanistan, but they were apprehended by Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, based on credible information. The ATS discovered that the five operatives were active members of the ISKP. Click here to read…

Organised Crime

NIA Raids Multiple Locations in Four States to Crack FICN networks.

The NIA, on 02 Dec 23, raided multiple locations in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Bihar, and seized Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs), currency printing paper, printer, and other digital gadgets. The case relates to a larger conspiracy hatched by suspected individuals for trafficking of FICN across the borders and for promoting its circulation across various states of Bharat. Click here to read…

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