DEFENCE

• RakshaMantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviews work of Armed Forces Medical Services to contain COVID-19
• BRO constructs bridge in record time on a key road connecting strategic areas in Arunachal Pradesh
• Defence PSUs, OFB ramp up their resources to fight COVID-19 pandemic
• Army Extends Support to Narela Quarantine Centre
• IAF’S Support Towards Fight Against Covid-19
• BRO builds 484-meter permanent bridge connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab with rest of the country
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviews operational & COVID-19 preparedness of Armed Forces
• Border Roads Organisation clears Rohtang Pass three weeks in advance despite Covid-19 lockdown

International Terrorism

Germany

• German police raided Mosques and houses linked to Hezbollah.

Afghanistan

• Islamic State’s ‘Shadow Court’ Head arrested in Afghanistan;
• Three people were killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul.

Pakistan

• Four AQIS terrorists arrested from Karachi;
• Pakistan removed around 4000 terrorists from its terror watch list.

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir

• Security forces killed four HM terrorists in Kishtwar and Shopian;
• Police arrested HM terrorist from Kulgam;
• TRF emerged as new terrorist group in Kashmir;
• Data: 50 terrorists killed in J&K in 2020;
• Security force arrested four OGWs from Shopian and Budgam;
• ‘Most wanted’ terrorist from Kashmir was caught with IS-KP leader in Afghanistan.

Left-Wing Extremism

• Maoist urban-support network cracked in Chhattisgarh;
• Security forces killed a Maoist in Chhattisgarh;
• NIA filed a charge sheet in Pantheerankavu Maoist case.

Cyber & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective)

• Israeli Cyber Security firm warned of COVID-19 phishing attacks;

• CISA issued an advisory on North Korean Cyber Security threat.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviews work of Armed Forces Medical Services to contain COVID-19

The RM was briefed on the quarantine facilities for civilians were created and are currently functional at six stations for civilian evacuees from Italy, Iran, China, Malaysia and Japan. Standby quarantine facilities have also been created at other stations. Starting 1st Feb 2020 these facilities have housed 1,738 individuals. Six viral testing labs have already been established with the help of ICMR and are functional at various AFMS hospitals. DG Armed Forces Medical Services has briefed that following emergency financial powers granted by Raksha Mantri to DGs MS and further down the hierarchy, procurement of essential health equipment such as face masks, sanitisers, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), ventilators, etc is going on smoothly and at a fast pace.

Army Medical Corps is currently also providing medical cover to the quarantine camp at Narela, New Delhi where a team of six medical officers and 18 paramedical staff have been deployed. To cater for isolation and treatment (Including ICU based care) for COVID-19 cases, orders notifying 50 AFMS hospitals as dedicated COVID hospitals and mixed COVID hospitals have been issued. These hospitals have a combined bed capacity of 9,038 patients. Civilian COVID-19 cases would also be admitted in these hospitals as a surge capacity to augment the state healthcare facilities.

Training activities have been suspended at AMC Centre & College, Lucknow and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) Pune. Approximately 650 medical officers undergoing post graduate training at AFMC will be reverted back to units for provision of medical cover depending on the evolving situation. In addition, 100 medical officers from recruiting organisations are being detailed to work in hospitals where COVID wards are being established.

A list of retired AMC officers and paramedical staff has been readied who may be requested to volunteer for working in AFMS hospitals at their current home stations in case the need arises. Forty three officers and 990 paramedics have volunteered till date.

A medical team of 15 members have been sent to Kuwait along with a PCR machine and diagnostic kits to help the Government of Kuwait in developing the strategy for handling COVID. Click here to read....

BRO constructs bridge in record time on a key road connecting strategic areas in Arunachal Pradesh

Even through there is nationwide lockdown Daporijo bridge over Subansiri river has been constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The bridge on Daporijo River is a strategic link towards the LAC between India and China. All supplies, rations, constructional material and medicines pass over this bridge.

Work had started for construction of the bridge on March 17, 2020 by 23 BRTF. Finally after 27 days on April 14, 2020 the bridge was jacked down successfully and safely on the supports. It has been successfully upgraded from class 24 tons to class 40 tons thereby allowing heavier vehicles to pass catering for not only Army requirements but the future Infrastructure development requirements of Upper Subansiri district. Click here to read....

Defence PSUs, OFB ramp up their resources to fight COVID-19 pandemic

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Bengaluru has set up isolation ward facility, in addition, a building having 30 rooms was readied. In all, 93 persons can be accommodated at HAL facility.Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is developing a prototype of ventilator which is likely to be tested and certified by 1st week of May before it starts off with manufacturing. Click here to read....

Army Extends Support to Narela Quarantine Centre

Narela Quarantine Centre in Delhi is amongst the largest centres in the country for managing the COVID suspects at Delhi. The centre was established by the Delhi Government in mid of March 2020. Initially 250 foreign nationals arriving from friendly foreign countries were kept in this centre, later an additional strength of approximately 1000 more were brought here from Nizamuddin Markaz.

A team of Army Doctors and Nursing staff have been assisting the Civil administration at Narela Quarantine Centre since 01 April 20. From 16 April 20, the Army has taken the initiative to manage the facility from morning 8:00 am to evening 8:00 pm relieving the Delhi Government Doctors and medical staff to manage the facility only during the night. The Army Team comprising of 40 personnel which includes six Medical Officers along with 18 Paramedical Staff have volunteered to stay within the premises only.

The professional approach of the Army Medical Team has won the hearts of inmates, who have been very cooperative and positive to the Army Medical Team, thereby, facilitating smooth handling of all medical procedures. As on 19 April 2020, 932 members from Markaz were being taken care in the facility and 367 out of them have been tested COVID positive. Click here to read....

IAF’S Support towards Fight against Covid-19

IAF has airlifted material to locations in 16 States and Union Territories of J&K, Ladakh and Puducherry. The critical requirement of transporting swab samples for testing from the UT of Ladakh continues to be undertaken by IAF. In addition, IAF has also airlifted COVID support material for various agencies including DRDO and ICMR. On 25 Apr 20, IAF's transport aircraft landed at Lengpui Airport in Mizoram with 22 tonnes of medical supplies meant for combating Covid-19. The supplies were airlifted for the governments of Mizoram and Meghalaya. Till 27 April 2020, IAF has transported approximately 600 tonnes of medical equipment and support material.

A 15 member team of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) Rapid Response had been sent to Kuwait on 11 Apr 20 in response to the request from state of Kuwait to the Govt of India On completion of the task, the team was airlifted back from Kuwait in a C-130 aircraft of IAF on 25 Apr 20. During the return, a six-year old girl suffering from cancer, requiring immediate emergency surgery was also evacuated along with her father. Click here to read....

BRO builds 484-meter permanent bridge connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab with rest of the country

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and opened a new permanent bridge on the river Ravi connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab to the rest of the country much ahead of its schedule. The enclave of around 35 square kilometres had hither to been connected via pontoon bridge of limited load capacity. The BRO teams did the work by taking all necessary COVID-19 precautions and all available resources were diverted and approach work of far bank completed in a short time. On the first Monday after Vaisakhi, the bridge was opened for the farmers who transported their harvests on tractors to the market. Click here to read....
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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviews operational & COVID-19 preparedness of Armed Forces

The RM on 24 April 2020 reviewed the operational preparedness as well as measures to fight COVID-19 with all the Commanders in Chief through a video conference. Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary Department of Military Affairs, Chief of Army Staff General, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Defence Secretary and Secretary (Defence Finance) participated in the conference.

The Raksha Mantri in his address appreciated the role of the Armed Forces for the assistance extended to the local civilian administration and preparatory measures taken to fight COVID-19.

Border Roads Organisation clears Rohtang Pass three weeks in advance despite Covid-19 lockdown

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has opened Rohtang Pass (13,500 feet above sea level) on 25 April 2020, more than three weeks in advance amid Covid-19 lockdown after clearing snow. It is the arterial road connecting Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh from rest of the country. The pass was opened on May 18, last year. Himachal Pradesh Government had approached BRO to expedite the snow clearance to facilitate return of farmers for starting cultivation and movement of essential supplies and to bring relief materials to Lahaul Valley in wake of COVID-19. Click here to read....

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

German police raided Mosques and houses linked to Hezbollah

Germany’s Minister of Interior— Horst Seehofer, on 30 April 2020, ordered a ban on Hezbollah’s activities due to violations of the criminal law. Acting upon the orders, police force raided the Mosques and residences in Berlin, Bremen, and North Rhine-Westphalia, which are linked to the Iran-supported terrorist organisation— Hezbollah. Earlier, Germany drew a distinction between the political and military wing of Hezbollah. The group was banned due to its call for violent elimination of the State of Israel and questions the right of its existence. Click here to read....

Islamic State’s ‘Shadow Court’ Head arrested in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) has confirmed the capture of Muneeb— a senior operative and Head of Islamic State (IS)’s ‘Shadow Court’, from an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. Muneeb was a Pakistani national, and former member of al-Qaeda. Later, Muneeb had shifted his allegiance to IS-KP (Islamic State Khurasan Province) and headed its shadow court being a member of IS-KP’s central council. During the interrogation, Muneeb admitted to involved in establishing and strengthening ties between IS-KP and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including other regional terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Haqqani Network (HQN). Click here to read....

Three people were killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul

On 29 April 2020, three people were killed, and 15 others were injured in a
suicide bombing which targeted the Afghanistan Special Forces’ base in Char Asiab district in Kabul province. No group claimed the attack, however, the Afghan officials blamed Taliban group for this attack. Click here to read....

Four AQIS terrorists arrested from Karachi

A team of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Karachi, on 19 April 2020, raided the area of Gulistan-e-Jauhar in Karachi district, and arrested four terrorists— Muhammad Umer, Muhammad Bilal aka Fida, Muhammad Waseem, and Muhammad Amir, of al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The SIU team also recovered explosive material used in preparation of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), 10 detonators, three remote devices, a receiver, two meter bona cards, three hand grenades and two AK-47s. The interrogation revealed that they were planning terror attacks on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE), city courts, the Police Training Centre, and other installations of law enforcement agencies. Click here to read....

Pakistan removed around 4000 terrorists from its terror watchlist

According to a report published by US-based AI (Artificial Intelligence) driven start-up— Castellum, in past 18 months, Pakistan has deleted 3,800 records of terrorists from its Proscribed Persons List “without any notification to public”. Among 3,800 terrorists, Zakaur-Rehman which is an alias name of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader— Zakiur-RehmanLakhvi who masterminded 2008 Mumbai attacks. According to the data of the FATF (Financial Action Task Force), in October 2018, Pakistan’s terror watchlist had 7,600 names. Click here to read....

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

Security forces killed four HM terrorists in Kishtwar and Shopian

In two separate counter-terrorism (CT) operations on 17 April 2020, security forces killed four Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists in Kishtwar and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). In first CT operation, joint teams of J&K police, Army, and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) carried out a search operation and killed two HM terrorists— Basharat Hussain and Ashiq Hussain in Sauder village in Kishtwar district. Security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle and an INSAS rifle from the operation site.

In a second CT operation, Army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifle (RR), SOG of J&K police and CRPF killed two HM terrorists— Asif Dar and Rahil Hameed Magray, in Dairoo village in Keegam area of Shopian district. Click here to read....

Police arrested HM terrorist from Kulgam

On 22 April 2020, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) police arrested a Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist— Shakir Ali, at a checkpoint Nihama area in Kulgam district. Police also recovered arms and ammunition from his possession. Shakir was missing since 14 April 2020 and had joined HM. Click here to read....

TRF emerged as new terrorist group in Kashmir

Amid COVID-19 pandemic, a new terrorist group— The Resistance Front (TRF), has emerged in Kashmir valley. According to news report, TRF is formed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in early March 2020, and some terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) suspected to have joined TRF. On 05 April 2020, TRF carried out a gun-battle along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district in which five Army personnel attained Veergati (fell in the battle). In an attack on 18 April 2020, TRF’s terrorists killed three CRPF personnel in Sopore area in Baramulla district. Click here to read....

Data: 50 terrorists killed in J&K in 2020

According to a senior official (identity undisclosed) in the security establishment, 50 terrorists, including key commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM), have been killed during counter-terrorism (CT) operations in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) this year so far. During these CT operations, 17 security forces personnel attained Veergati (fell in the battle). Among those 50 terrorists, 18 terrorists were killed during the on-going lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19. Click here to read....

Security force arrested four OGWs from Shopian and Budgam

On 20 April 2020, security forces arrested two Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)— Zahoor Ahmad Koka (26 years-old) and Uzair Ahmad Dar (16 years-old), from Shopian district. A pistol and two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

In another incident, security forces arrested two OGWs— Ishfaq Ahmad Dar and Farooq Ahmad Malla, of Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) from Beerwah area in Budgam district. These OGWs were providing logistic support to terrorists who were trying to revive terror in Budgam district. Click here to read....

‘Most wanted’ terrorist from Kashmir was caught with IS-KP leader in Afghanistan;

For almost 25 years, Aijaz Ahmad Ahangaraka Abu Usman al-Kashmiri— a ‘most wanted’ terrorist from Srinagar who had been arrested once for terrorism links but released, was arrested by the Afghan security forces along with IS-KP (Islamic State-Khurasan Province) leader Aslam Farooqui in earlier April 2020. Earlier in 1990s, Aijaz disappeared soon after his release from jail and travelled to Bangladesh from where he went to Pakistan. Click here to read....

Left-Wing Extremism

Maoist urban-support network cracked in Chhattisgarh

On 24 April 2020, the Chhattisgarh police raided different places in Chhattisgarh and arrested five people— Ajay Jain, Komal Prasad Varma (both contractors), Rohit Nag, Sushil Sharma, and Suresh Sharnagat, as a part of Maoist urban support network. Earlier, on 24 March 2020, police had arrested two people— Tapas Palit and Dayashankar Mishra, of the same network for their alleged logistic support and transportation of large consignments of shoes, fabrics, and walkie-talkie sets meant for Maoists. The interrogation of Tapas and Dayashankar had revealed the urban support network which had been supplying various materials and cash to Maoists since last two years in north Bastar region. Click here to read....

Security forces killed a Maoist in Chhattisgarh

The joint team of CRPF 227 Battalion and District Reserve Guard (DRG), on 25 April 2020, killed a Maoist— Mahadev, a section commander of platoon number 31 of Kanger Valley Area Committee, in the forests of Damankonta in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. A firearm, communication device, and other material were recovered from the operation site. Click here to read....

NIA filed a charge sheet in Pantheerankavu Maoist case

On 27 April 2020, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet in the Pantheerankavu Maoist case, before the Special NIA Court in Ernakulam. In the charge sheet three accused in the case— Alan Shuaib, C P Usman, and ThahaFasal were involved being a member of proscribed terrorist organisation— CPI (Maoist) and held secret meetings of the committee and carried out certain unlawful activities for furthering the terror causes of CPI (Maoist) in Kerala. The third accused, C P Usman is absconding. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nia-files-chargesheet-in-maoist-case/article31448747.ece
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Cyber & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective)

Israeli Cyber Security firm warned of COVID-19 phishing attacks

According to a report by Cyber Security firm— Check Point, there has been a recent rise in online scams or phishing attacks targeting people seeking financial relief amid COVID-19 pandemic. These phishing attacks included a fake page designed to look like government website that require people to fill in their personal details. Since March 2020, several fake registrations of websites related to COVID-19 stimulus packages and financial reliefs were flagged as malicious and hundred others suspicious. Click here to read....

CISA issued an advisory on North Korean Cyber Security threat

The United States’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on 15 April 2020 has released an advisory on the ‘North Korean Cyber Threat’. The advisory highlighted the cyber threats posed by the North Korea (officially Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and provide guidance to mitigate the threat. As per the advisory, North Korea’s malicious cyber operations- code named ‘Hidden Cobra’ by the US, threatens the US and broader international community with a significant threat to the international financial system and US’ Critical Infrastructure (CI). Click here to read....