General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army visited Tanzania from 02 – 05 October 2023. He called on the Hon’ble President of the Union Republic of Tanzania Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan and had meetings with the Hon’ble Defence Minister Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax and the Chief of Defence Force General Jacob John Mkunda. He also addressed the National Defence College and visited the Command and Staff College, Duluti. The visit also coincided with the 2nd India Tanzania Mini DEFEXPO conducted at Dar-es-Salaam which will showcase the growing prowess of the Indigenous defence industry complex of India. (MNCG). Click here to read… [2]
The ships of First Training Squadron (1TS) - INS Tir, INS Sujata and CGS Sarathi visited Port Klang, Malaysia from 30 Sep to 03 Oct 23 as part of Indian Navy's long-range training deployment to South East Asia. During the visit, several interactions including professional engagements, training exchanges and sports fixtures were held. The trainees of 1TS visited National Hydrographic Centre and facilities at Lumut Naval Base and interacted with the trainees of Royal Malaysian Navy. The ships subsequently entered Changi, Singapore on 04 Oct 23. Click here to read… [3]
India and Bangladesh commenced the 11th edition of annual joint military exercise, SAMPRITI on 03 October 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya. This exercise, alternately organised by both countries, signifies strong bilateral defence cooperation initiatives. With its inception in Jorhat, Assam in 2009, the exercise has witnessed ten successful editions till 2022.SAMPRITI-XI, scheduled for 14 days, will engage approximately 350 personnel from both sides. The exercise underscores the importance of enhancing interoperability between the two armies, sharing tactical drills, and promoting best practices.2022. Click here to read… [4]
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt said that the LCA Tejas symbolizes India's journey towards self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing. This programme has been a shining example of commitment to reduce country’s dependency on foreign aircrafts, and it serves as a beacon of hope for a self-reliant India. He was speaking at the handing over ceremony of LCA Tejas Twin Seater to the Indian Air Force in Banglore on 04 October 2023. Click here to read… [5]
The Annual Joint HADR Exercise (AJHE) is an outcome of Hon’ble PM’s directive promulgated during Combined Commanders’ Conference-2015. Since its first edition in 2015, the Annual Joint HADR Exercise, CHAKRAVAT, has transformed itself into a multi-agency endeavour involving participation of all three Services, Paramilitary Forces, as well as several disaster response organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and international organisations. The Annual Joint HADR Exercise 2023 (AJHE-23) 'CHAKRAVAT’ hosted by Indian Navy at Goa from 09-11 Oct 23, concluded with a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration at Mole Berth, within the Port of Mormugao, to showcase drills on rescue and relief. Teams from NDRF, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard and State Fire Services, Goa participated in the demonstration.AJHE-23 witnessed participation from various national agencies namely, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM), Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, Indian Metrological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Agencies (NRSA), State Disaster Management Agency (SDMA) and State Fire Services, Goa, District Disaster Management Agency (DDMA) of North and South, Goa, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Central Water Commission (CWC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and representatives from Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Representatives were also present from eight friendly foreign countries viz. Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Click here to read… [6]
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh conducted the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Mr Sebastien Lecornu in Paris late on 11 October2023, before concluding his two-nation Europe tour. The two Ministers discussed a wide range of topics from the assessment of regional situation to the ongoing military-to-military engagements, with a focus on enhancing defence-industrial cooperation. The Ministers reviewed the ongoing defence projects and discussed ways to deepen the collaboration between the defence industries of both the countries. They also discussed potential collaboration in niche domains such as space, cyber and Artificial Intelligence. The meeting was preceded by a Guard of Honour at the French Ministry of Defence. Click here to read… [7]
INS Sagardhwani, an oceanographic research vessel of Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO, embarked on a two-month long Sagar Maitri (SM) Mission-4 from South Jetty, Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi on October 11, 2023. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat flagged-off the ship in the presence of Officiating Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (South) Rear Admiral Upal Kundu and other senior officials of DRDO & Indian Navy. Click here to read… [8]
A two-day comprehensive Coastal Security Exercise Sagar Kavach 02/23 involving all maritime security agencies was conducted by the Indian Navy in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and the UT of Puducherry from 11-12 October 2023. The exercise was executed under the aegis of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, FOCINC (East) who also exercises the authority of Commander-in-Chief, Coastal Defence (East). About 2500 personnel from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, State and U/T Administration, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs, Intelligence Agencies, Light Houses, Ports Forest etc were engaged in the exercise. The exercise aimed to assess the efficacy and robustness of the coastal security mechanism while dealing with asymmetric threat emanating from the sea. Click here to read… [9]
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) carried out a successful medical evacuation of a Chinese crew onboard Panama-flagged vessel MT Hua Wei 8 off Mumbai coast on 14 October 2023. The ICG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai, the maritime search and rescue coordinator on the Indian Western Coast, had received a request from the vessel for medical evacuation of a 49-year-old Chinese crew due to non availability of the tug, late on 13 October 2023.
Click here to read… [10]
INS Sumedha made a port call at Lagos, Nigeria on 13 October 2023 as part of its deployment to Gulf of Guinea. Sumedha will also be undertaking Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with NNS Unity, with the aim to augment interoperability between both navies. This is the Indian Navy’s second deployment to the piracy prone Gulf of Guinea (GoG) patrol after the maiden GoG patrol was undertaken by INS Tarkash in Oct 22. The Indian Navy aims to partner with Regional countries in combating piracy & ensuring secure seas for unimpeded trade. Click here to read… [11]
Linking the nexus between Hamas and Islamic State (IS), the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released an image showing the cover of “al-Qa’ida and Islamic State (IS) training and inspiration booklet” found on one of the bodies of Hamas terrorists who infiltrated into Israel during a terror attack on 07 October 2023. Click here to read… [12]
On 08 October 2023, IDF carried out strikes and destroyed Hamas’ operation infrastructure in the Gaza Strip which was used for carrying out terror attacks against Israel. Among them, an intelligence headquarters and a military compound used by Hamas’ aerial forces were targeted. To counter terror funding, the Islamic National Bank and the First Bank were also targeted that provided funds to Hamas. Over 300 Israelis were murdered, and several were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip in a surprise attack carried out by Hamas on 07 October 2023. Click here to read… [13]
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) carried out strikes and killed several terrorists of Boko Haram, and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State, Nigeria. “Similar strikes were also undertaken at Tumbun Shitu after structures believed to be of terrorists’ hideouts were observed tucked under thick foliage. Additionally, three-gun trucks with terrorists were sighted moving into the location. The aftermath of the air strike revealed several terrorists were neutralised and the trucks destroyed,” said Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director, Public and Information, NAF. Click here to read… [14]
In a counter-terrorism (CT) operation carried on 10 October 2023, security forces killed two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists— i) Morifat Maqbool, and ii) Jazim Farooq, in Alshipora area, Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). As per the police records, both killed terrorists were involved in several terror cases including attacks on security Forces and civilian atrocities. Jazim Farooq was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma. Click here to read… [15]
The Government of Bharat categorised the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an ‘Unlawful Association’ on 05 October 2023, in accordance with Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] 1967. The JKDFP has been involved in anti-national actions since 1998, and its members have always encouraged separatist and terrorist acts in Bharat. Several criminal proceedings have been filed against this group under various parts of the UAPA of 1967, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Arms Act of 1959, and the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) of 1932. Click here to read… [16]
On 02 October 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Chandra Narasimhulu, a CPI (Maoist)’s State Executive Committee member of the Pragathiseela Karmika Samakya (PKS), from Satya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh. On the same day, NIA raided 62 locations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, leading to the arrest of Chandra. A pistol, 14 rounds of ammunition, around ₹ 13 lakh, Maoist literature, and other documents were seized from other locations. Click here to read… [17]
In a major operation, the Special Cell of Delhi Police busted a Pakistan-sponsored Islamic State (IS) module and arrested three IS operatives— i) Shahnawaz, ii) Mohammad Rizwan Ashraf, and iii) Mohammad Arshad Warsi, from Jaitpur area in South district of Delhi. Post arrest of three IS operatives, Karnataka Police remain in constant contact with Delhi Police officials regarding the matter. According to initial interrogation, the arrested IS operatives carried out elaborate recce in Western Ghats, Southern Bharat, including Hubbali, Dharwad, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat to establish their hideouts. Click here to read… [18]
A Canadian immigration tribunal has ruled to allow Kamaljit Ram, a Bharatiya, who provided shelter and food to Khalistani terrorists, to enter the country. According to the tribunal, the Sikh man did so out of necessity and fear of retribution. However, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) had argued that Kamaljit Ram is ineligible to come to Canada as the immigration law prohibits individuals who engaged in or instigated the “subversion by force of any government”. Kamaljit told the CBSA that between 1982 and 1992, he sheltered and fed armed Khalistani terrorists at his farm in Bharat on-and-off. The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) tribunal said in a recent ruling that the federal government did not have reasonable grounds to stop Kamaljit from entering Canada. Click here to read… [19]
In a two-day anti-terror conference organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Punjab Police’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Internal Security) — Nilabh Kishore shared the information that a total of 56 pro-Khalistan entities are active across various countries, including the United States (US), Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), and some of these groups were responsible for 15 targeted killings in Punjab over the last six years. Click here to read… [20]
Khalistani terrorist and founder of banned organisation— Sikh for Justice (SFJ) — Gurpatwant Singh Pannun warned Bharat of Hamas-styled terror attack. In the video, terrorist Pannun warned Bharatiya Prime Minister (PM)— Narendra Modi to learn from Israel-Hamas conflict lest a similar ‘reaction’ unravels in Bharat. In the video, terrorist Pannun said that “people under illegal occupation from Punjab to Palestine will react, and violence begets violence. [PM] Modi, learn from Israel-Palestine conflict. If India is going to keep occupying Punjab, there will be a reaction and, Modi and India, you will be responsible.” Click here to read… [21]
On 08 October 2023, the chief of Khalsa Aid’s office in Bharat— Amarpreet Singh, resigned over allegations of receiving funds from proscribed unlawful organisation— Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). In a statement issued on Khalsa Aid’s social media handles, the organisation has claimed to have made changes in the NGO’s structure. Click here to read… [22]
On 02 October 2023, Scotland Yard arrested a British-Sikh man on suspicion of violent disorder in connection with pro-Khalistan attack on the Bharatiya (Indian) High Commission in London, UK, in March 2023. The arrest was made during a protest on 02 October, called to demand the UK government’s intervention over Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau’s claims of alleged involvement of Bharat in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar. Click here to read… [23]
On 06 October 2023, the crime branch of Delhi Police arrested five criminals for printing and circulating Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) worth 19.74 lakh. Fake notes were in denomination of ₹500. According to police, the criminals were inspired by a web-series— “Farzi”, released on an OTT platform. Police arrested them from Delhi and Alwar in Rajasthan, where they were running printing units. Along with FICNs, the crime branch officials also seized raw materials and tools, including laptops, printers, lamination machines and printed FICNs worth around ₹ 08 lakh on uncut sheets. Click here to read… [24]
On 10 October 2023, Assam’s Jalukbari police outpost carried out an operation and arrested two criminals— Mofidul Islam and Rofikuddin, involved in printing Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs), from Mirza, Jalukbari, Assam. Police also recovered FICNs worth ₹ 2.16 lakh and a FICN printing machine. Click here to read… [25]
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Links:
[1] https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2023/october/18
[2] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1963166
[3] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1965122
[4] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1963629
[5] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1964133
[6] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1965929
[7] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1966922
[8] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1967131
[9] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1967695
[10] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1967751
[11] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1968203
[12] https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-islamic-state-inspiration-booklet-found-on-body-of-hamas-infiltrator/
[13] https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378077
[14] https://www.channelstv.com/2023/10/03/air-force-strikes-kill-several-terrorists-in-borno/
[15] https://kashmirvision.in/2023/10/11/two-let-terrorists-killed-in-shopian-encounter-2/
[16] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1964826
[17] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1576_1_Pr.pdf
[18] https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/we-are-in-constant-touch-with-delhi-police-karnataka-cops-after-isis-terrorists-arrest-101696388809763.html
[19] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/man-who-housed-pro-khalistan-terrorists-gets-canada-asylum/articleshow/104354601.cms
[20] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-police-mha-pro-khalistan-outfits-abroad-total-56-behind-15-killings-8977282/
[21] https://www.livemint.com/news/world/prokhalistan-leader-gurpatwant-singh-pannun-warns-pm-modi-of-hamas-like-attack-in-new-video-ballot-or-bullet-11697017447517.html
[22] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amarpreet-singh-khalsa-aid-sikhs-for-justice-khalistan-nijjar-canada-funding-2446078-2023-10-08
[23] https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/british-sikh-man-arrested-at-london-pro-khalistan-protest-over-indian-mission-attack-550662
[24] https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/5-arrested-in-delhi-with-fake-indian-currency-notes-worth-19-74-lakh-101696578207693.html
[25] https://www.guwahatiplus.com/guwahati/guwahati-counterfeit-currency-racket-busted-in-mirza-two-apprehended
[26] http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?title=VIF News Digest : National Security - Defence Studies & Terrorism, (01 – 15 October 2023)&desc=&images=&u=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2023/october/18
[27] http://twitter.com/share?text=VIF News Digest : National Security - Defence Studies & Terrorism, (01 – 15 October 2023)&url=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2023/october/18&via=Azure Power
[28] whatsapp://send?text=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2023/october/18
[29] https://www.vifindia.org/author/anurag-sharma
[30] https://www.vifindia.org/author/commodore-gopal-suri