Aug 1-15, 2017
Defence
Central Government Clears Action Program for Coast Guard
In its continuous efforts to strengthen India’s coastal security to prevent recurrence of 26/11 kind of terror siege, the Union Government, in the first week of August, approved a Rs. 31,748 crore ‘Definitive Five-year Action Programme’ for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The action plan’s objective is to bolster the capabilities of Indian Coast guard and equip the force with 175-ships and 110-aircraft units by 2022. This will plug operational gaps and strengthen capabilities of the Coast Guard in securing India’s coastal region, island territories, offshore assets, marine environment, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, oil-spill and pollution-control operations. Since Mumbai siege of 2008, the ICG in association with the Indian Navy has already strengthened its maritime vigil by introducing several operational measures. Thus, the comprehensive action plan will consolidate the modernization progress of Indian Coast guard.
India Successfully Tests IAF Jaguar Jet with AESA Radar
India has successfully test flown a modified Jaguar multi-role fighter aircraft with a foreign made Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA). This announcement was made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, (HAL) on August 11, 2017. The AESA Radar has certainly regenerated the capabilities of 40-year old Jaguars. The AESA Radar will endow the Jaguar Pilot with air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-Sea mode scanning capabilities and enable him to track multiple targets at once and provide moving target indication and mapping functionality.
Indian MNC and Israel’s RADS Commissioned Joint Missile Production Unit at Hyderabad
India’s leading defence supplier Kalyani Group and Israel’s state run Rafael Advanced Defence Systems (RADS) commissioned ₹ 70 crores anti-tank guided missile production facility at Hyderabad on August 3, 2017. The new entity, named Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems, will undertake the production and assembly of Spike anti-tank guided missiles and its related technologies such as missile electronics, command, control and guidance, electro-optics, remote weapon systems, precision-guided munitions, and system engineering in the new 24,000-square-foot facility in Hyderabad. In response to Government of India’s flagship program ‘Make in India’ the joint venture will invest in high-end technology and advanced manufacturing techniques to design, develop and manufacture state-of-the-art weapon systems for the Indian armed forces. The joint venture company also aims to export Spike ATGM family and SPICE precision-guided munitions to Southeast Asian countries in the future. This is India’s largest-ever foreign direct investment joint venture firm and its dedicated investment plan suggest to boost ‘Make in India’ program by its scheduled production of high-end technology systems for the armed forces.
International Terrorism
Anti-Daesh Operations in Tel-Afar and Syria
Tal-Afar
In continuation of its ongoing anti-Daesh campaign, Iraqi Security forces (ISF) continued with intense airstrikes on the city Tal Afar, 80 km west of Mosul, is still under the control of Daesh. After capturing Mosul last month, the 9th division of Iraqi Army is to handover the security responsibilities of Mosul to local and Federal Police Forces and move towards Tal Afar. The division will launch ground assault as soon as cleared by Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi’s orders.
Tal Afar with a population of about 200,000 faces cycles of sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shi’as since US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Some prominent Daesh commanders reportedly come from this region. Tal Afar has been in focus of wider regional struggle for influence as Turkey claims its affinity with Tal Afar based on its ethnic Turkmen population. Some of these sections are also backed by Iran. On the other hand, the US led coalition has carried out nearly 50 strikes in till August 10, 2017, against various defensive positions, headquarters, weapon caches, and bomb factories of Daesh in Tal Afar. Apart from Tal Afar, Daesh still controls Hawija, other towns and much of Anbar Province of Iraq.
Raqqa
In Syria, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued to advance in the northern city of Raqqa. By August 15, the SDF had succeeded in pushing back Daesh militants in an offensive operation. In a gunbattle on August 14-15, SDF gunned down nearly 95 Daesh militants. This operation was launched after a series of fatal IED attacks from Daesh militants in the neighborhoods of al-Romaneya, Hisham Ibn Abdelmalek and the outskirts of al-Mashlab, inflicting several casualties among the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Though the SDF has succeeded in gaining control over half of the city of Raqqa, it is expecting high resistance ahead. On August 12, 2017, the SDF had linked up their eastern and western fronts in southern Raqqa, joining forces to encircle Daesh militants. The US briefings strongly underscored that most of the Daesh operatives have fled Raqqa over the past six months for other towns in Syria which are still under the control of Daesh in the Euphrates River valley.
Africa
US to Provide Training to NSCDC, Nigeria to Fight Boko Haram
The US will train and provide technical support to the personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enhance its counter terrorism campaign capabilities against Boko Haram. The announcement was made by the Senior Police Advisor, US Embassy to Nigeria Michael Bonner on August 1, 2017, in Maiduguri. The statement confirmed that such crucial support by the US to Nigeria is significant in view of NSCDC’s contribution in promoting national security, especially in the protection of critical infrastructure of Nigeria. Under this mechanism, the US will provide joint training for NSCDC and the Nigerian Police in counter-terrorism techniques which will enable Nigerian forces to identify potential threats and protect its people in soft targets and prevent terror attacks. Further, the U.S. Embassy would liaise with some humanitarian organisations to assist the command to improve its operations. Nigeria has, as part of its ongoing counter-insurgency operation against Boko Haram, begun deployment of 2000 Special Forces troops in the north east region.
Mumbai Sessions Court Verdict in Somali Piracy Case of 2011
Special Sessions Court, Mumbai, on August 02, 2017, convicted and sentenced 15 Somali Pirates to seven years of rigorous imprisonment on charges of attempt to murder and kidnapping. The 15 pirates were arrested on January 2011 with two rocket launchers and AK-47 guns in Exclusive Economic Zone of India. They were initially charged with murder but as a witness from Thailand didn’t appear in the court, they were convicted of attempt to murder based on the statements of Coast Guard officials. The accused pirates have already served more than 6 years in jail; so they are expected to be released in less than a year. Court has also imposed fine on them. Meanwhile, defence lawyer informed the court that in view of an Agreement for Transfer of Sentenced Persons between the Governments of India and Somalia, authorities may deport the pirates to Somalia to complete their remaining sentence. Around 200 pirates were arrested in the year 2011, all are being prosecuted in different cases. Sessions court is expected to pronounce its verdict in another similar case soon.
UN
China Continues to Extend its Technical Hold on Masood Azhar’s Listing
On August 03, 2017, China once again extended its technical hold on the US, France and UK-backed proposal to list Jaish–e–Mohammad (JeM) chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist by the UN. Previously, China had blocked the proposal in February 2017. A veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, Beijing has repeatedly blocked India’s move to put a ban on the JeM leader under the Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Council. In March 2016, China was the sole member in the 15-nation UN organ to put a technical hold on India’s application. Other 14, member states of the Council strongly supported India’s bid to place Azhar on 1267 sanctions list. This listing would subject Azhar to an assets freeze and travel ban.
Internal Terrorism
Jammu and Kashmir
PoK Companies banned by Jammu and Kashmir Government
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on August 11, 2017, banned 34 companies from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to carry out any trading activities through the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. The government order directed all traders not to enter into any export/import business with the 34 blacklisted companies. The ban is directed at restraining illegal activities across the LoC trade routes. The Jammu Kashmir Police seized 66.5 Kg of heroin and brown sugar coming from PoK at Salamabad trade facilitation center on July 21, 2017.
ED Custody of Hawala dealer Muhammad Aslam Wani
The Special Court, for the second time extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of the hawala dealer from the valley, Muhammad Aslam Wani, till August 20, 2017. Wani, it may be recalled, was arrested on August 06, 2017 by the ED, after a sessions court in New Delhi issued an open ended non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him. An open-ended NBW, unlike the NBW, does not carry a time limit for its execution.The agency had issued multiple summonses for his appearance in the case but he did not appear before it. During the preliminary investigations, Wani had allegedly confessed to have laundered ₹ 2.25 Crore INR through Hawala for Kashmiri separatists leader Shabir Ahmad Shah who was earlier arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on July 25, 2017, on charges of money laundering.
Kashmiri Separatists Hauled Up in Terror Funding Case
Delhi Special Court on August 14, 2017, sent four separatist leaders Altaf Ahmed Shah, Peer Saifullah, Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Nayeem Khan to Jail for 14 days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) submitted its report to the court that the three were not required for further interrogation. The Court also sent to judicial custody till September 01, 2017, three other separatists namely, Shahid-ul-Islam, Farooq Ahmed Dar, and Mohammad Akbar Khanday.
Lashkar Commander Abu Dujana Killed
In an intelligence based search-and-cordon operation, launched by the Security forces, Abu Dujana, head of Lashkar-e-Toiba’s (LeT) in Kashmir, along with another LeT terrorist Atif Lilhari was killed in Pulwama district on August 01, 2017. Dujana hailed from Gilgit-Baltistan, in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). As per security analysts, Dujana was known to have established LeT’s network across Jammu and Kashmir, especially in south Kashmir, which has been a hotbed of militancy since the past year. Police confirmed that he was under observation since he had turned up at a funeral of a militant from Kakpora, Pulwama. Dujana was the mastermind behind the Pampore terror attack that killed eight CRPF men in 2016. Operating mostly in Pulwama district, Dujana had made several public appearances last year during protest rallies in south Kashmir. Dujana was a most wanted terrorist carrying over Rs 15 lakh bounty on his head. Following the news of Dujana’s and Lilhaari’s killing, clashes broke out near the encounter site between protesters and Police. Shutdown call was given by residents of Pulwama, Pampore, Kulgam, and Anantnag. Clashes also reported in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar town.
Shopian Encounter
Militants opened fire on a search party of the Army on August 03, 2017 in Shopian district of South Kashmir. In the fierce gunbattle, two army men, including a Major, were killed and a jawan severely injured. According to the statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, cordon and search operation was launched by the army in Zaipora area of Shopian. On the same day in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, two militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces. Two weapons and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
Delhi Court Orders Framing Charges in Jama Masjid Blast Case
The Special Court at Delhi ordered re-framing of charges against Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and nine others in Jama Masjid blast case of September 09, 2010. It may be recalled that Additional Sessions Judge had acquitted alleged IM members Ismail Affaque, Abdus Saboor and Riyaz Ahmad Sayeedi due to lack of evidence. These three accused were later named in a supplementary chargesheet accusing them of having conspired with IM members to carry out a terror strike in Delhi. The final charges would be framed on August 29, 2017.
IS in India
NIA Conducts Raids in Coimbatore and Alappuzha
The NIA, on August 03, 2017, conducted searches on three suspected locations in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and Alappuzha (Kerala) as part of its ongoing investigation into Omar-al-Hindi Kerala module of Islamic State (IS). Three suspects were examined by the NIA team. During the searches, the NIA has recovered several mobile phones, laptops, hard disks, pen drives, DVDs/CDs, memory cards, SIM cards besides documents, including books and manuscripts that have been seized. One out of the three persons whose premises have been searched has also admitted that he had been in regular contact with Abdul Rashid Abdullah who is accused in another ISIS related case of the NIA.
After the searches, an NIA Statement confirmed that certain persons from Kerala and Tamil Nadu were in touch with the members of the Daesh terror module in this case, over the internet based social media platforms and have been radicalized on the ideology of Daesh. NIA has already filed a chargesheet against six persons besides Shajeer Mangalassery, who, while being outside India, had hatched the criminal conspiracy and formed the terrorist gang to further the objectives of Daesh in India. Shajeer Mangalassery had migrated to Daesh controlled territory in Afghanistan from UAE in June 2016. The NIA also informed all the agencies responsible for the security of entry points in India about the possibility of militants returning to India from Syria and Iraq after the defeat of Daesh at Mosul and Raqqa.
Left Wing Extremism
CPI-M Cadres Surrender in Chattisgarh
Eleven cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist surrendered in Sukma District on August 2, 2017. Two of them namely Kunjam Hadma and Madvi Hidma were carrying rewards of ₹ 8, 00,000/- and ₹ 02, 00,000/- respectively. They cited their disappointment with the ‘hollow Maoists ideology’ as the reason for their surrender and expressed their wish to join the mainstream under rehabilitation program declared by Chattisgarh Government. They expressed support for government's rehabilitation policy. Further on August 05, District Police of Lohardaga District of Jharkhand recovered a massive arms haul from the CPI-M hideout located near Hesag Village. The Police recovered 4225, detonators, two rifles.
