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SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
Weekly Assessments & Briefings
Volume 8, No. 39, April 5, 2010

Data and assessments from SAIR can be freely published in any form with credit to the South Asia Intelligence Review of the
South Asia Terrorism Portal


ASSESSMENT

 

INDIA
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Red Money
Ajit Kumar Singh
Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management
Sachin Bansidhar Diwan
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

For all the talk of the Maoists as ‘criminals’ and ‘extortionists’, Left Wing Extremists perceive themselves as engaged in a coherent, strategically consistent, and enormously successful approach to the generation of necessary financial resources for their ‘revolution’. Article 60 of the ‘constitution’ of the Communist Party of India – Maoist (CPI-Maoist) lists ‘membership fees, levies, donations, taxes, penalties and wealth confiscated from enemies’ as principal sources of revenue. Of course, the overwhelming proportion of these various revenues are not ordinarily eagerly relinquished by those who ‘contribute’ to the Maoist treasure chest, and the rebels employ a range of the most unsavoury methods of extraction.

The CPI-Maoist networks of revenue generation are estimated to extend, at various degrees of efficacy, across 223 Districts (in a total of 636 Districts in the country). Significant disruptive dominance has been established by the Maoists in some 2,000 Police Station jurisdications (out of a total of over 14,000 Police Stations in the country), covering roughly 40,000 square kilometres.

On November 29, 2009, Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan claimed that the Maoists annually extort up to INR 20 billion across India. Earlier, documents and hard disks seized from Misir Besra alias Bhaskar alias Sunirmal, a politburo and Central Military Commission member of the CPI-Maoist, who was arrested in September 2007 from Jharkhand's Khunti District, had revealed that the CPI-Maoist collected over INR 10 billion in 2007 through their State Committees and had set a target of INR 11.25 billion for 2008. Accordingly, increased levies were imposed on the State Committees. The seized documents showed that Andhra Pradesh had gone down in the fund raising ranking from second to third spot, after Bihar and Chhattisgarh. While Bihar raised INR 2 billion in 2007, Andhra Pradesh collections came down from INR 3 billion to INR 1 billion. Jharkhand raised INR 750 million in 2007 and was expected to raise INR 1.1 billion in 2008. Maharashtra raised INR 1 billion while Karnataka contributed INR 780 million, and Tamil Nadu pitched in with INR 350 million in 2007. Mishra reportedly told the Police that some prominent Maoist leaders, such as Andhra Pradesh State Committee ‘secretary’ Konapuri Ilaiah aka Sambashivudu (who eventually surrendered to the Police on February 15, 2009) alone raised over INR 800 million and Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathi, the 'general secretary' of the Party, raised INR 2.85 billion in 2007. Mishra had revealed, further, "All the leaders operated their own bank accounts, funded their units and operations but reported to the central committee. They also contributed to the corpus fund of the central military commission separately for the maintenance of the provincial guerrilla army."

The Maoists target road contractors, contractors for forest products like tendu patta (leaves of the Diospyros Melonoxylon plant), bamboo and wood. They have reportedly made deals with poachers, smugglers and liquor and timber runners in the forests. In the areas under their control, including District towns, Maoists levy a ‘tax’ on small enterprises, such as spinning mills, beedi units, rice and flour mills, grocery, medical, cigarette and liquor shops, and private doctors. All ‘illegal’ operators, including private schools operating in villages and District towns, are also coerced to pay. The Maoists secure large revenues from iron and coal mining companies. Apart from abductions, extortion and looting, Maoists also set up unofficial administrations to collect ‘taxes’ in rural areas, where the official Government apparatus appears largely to be absent.

Another major source of funding for the Maoists is poppy or opium cultivation. The Ghagra area of Gumla District in Jharkhand and parts of Gumla, Kishanganj and Purnia Districts in Bihar are reported to be the principal pockets of poppy cultivation exploited by the Maoists. Security Forces claim that opium fields are screened and hidden behind peripheral maize cultivation. The Union Finance Ministry in its annual report for 2009-10, released in March 2010, said that the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) carried out destruction operations on at least 1,443 hectares in 2009 alone. In 2007, the same agency had carried out a similar action at a much larger scale in bordering areas of West Bengal, where it had destroyed illicit opium grown over 6,000 hectares. The illicit crops destroyed in the Murshidabad and Nadia Districts of West Bengal were then estimated at a value of over INR 12 billion, if diverted to drug cartels for the manufacture of heroin. In India, opium is cultivated under strict licensing procedures in select pockets spread across three States – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The entire opium crop is purchased by the Government and processed at Government-run factories for their further use in pharmaceutical industries.

The cultivation of ganja (cannabis) is another source of Maoist revenue. The Justice P. K. Mohanty Commission of Inquiry, which submitted its report in December 2008 on the activities and operation of drug mafia in Orissa, highlighted that Maoists in the State were supporting extensive cultivation of ganja in hilly and inaccessible areas. The Mohanty Commission Report gave details of how the cultivation of ganja in Maoist-affected Districts was being supported by Chasi Mulia Samiti, a front organisation of the CPI-Maoist. The Samiti was banned by the State Government on June 9, 2006. The Report, based on an extensive investigation in 2003, said cannabis was being cultivated at the behest of Maoists in Ganjam, Gajapti and Malkangiri Districts. The report estimated that about 3,000-4,000 hectares of encroached forest land, mostly dominated by the erstwhile People’s War Group (which later merged with the Maoist Communist Centre to form the CPI-Maoist) were being utilised for cultivation of cannabis. The Report noted that Bargarh District had emerged as the epicentre of this trade.

The Director General of the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (DGCEIB) had written, in June 2009, to all Chief Secretaries and heads of anti-narcotics agencies, and other departments concerned, urging them to initiate steps to eradicate cultivation of illicit opium that had spread over 10 States. The Centre had provided satellite images and shared other inputs, pinpointing areas where the opium crop was grown on large tracts running into thousands of hectares. Security agencies don’t rule out the fact that Maoists are not only benefiting from the illicit trade but, in many areas, the crop is being cultivated under their supervision. The Government had asked the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), under the Home Ministry and the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), under the Department of Revenue in the Finance Ministry, to take adequate action.

Finance has never been a constraint on Maoist activities in Jharkhand. Jharkhand’s forest and mineral resources and related industries provide an almost limitless source of extorted revenues. Jharkhand Police documents suggest that a section of contractors, transporters and businessmen involved in illegal mining pay over INR 400 million annually as ‘levy’ to the CPI-Maoist in the State. Another lucrative source has been the Centre’s ongoing Golden Quadrilateral road building project. Extortion from the common folk is pegged at INR 10,000 per farmer per year, virtually across the State. The Maoists also have reportedly made deals with poachers, smugglers and liquor and timber runners in the forests. The Maoists have also approached schools for funding their activities. In July 2009, they demanded INR 50,000 from a Government School in Lathehar District's Sinjo region and threatened to blow up the school if their demand was not met.

The Maoists have also been known to receive funds from some of the top corporate houses. These companies are big players in the metals, mining, steel and manufacturing sectors. Senior Maoist leader in the Bihar-Jharkhand area, Narla Ravi Sharma, arrested in Bihar in October 2009, told the authorities that the companies regularly pay the Maoists. On March 5, 2010, Union Home Secretary Gopal K. Pillai stated, "They (the Maoists) can now bring many sectors of the Indian economy to their knees. But they don't want to do it today. They know that if they do that now, the State will come down very hard on them. They are not fully prepared to face the onslaught of the State machinery. So, they would rather go very slowly."

Reports also indicate that a number of Non Government Organisations (NGOs) were funding the training of Maoists in the Bodhyaga District of Bihar. 22 NGOs in Gaya District were issued a show-cause notice for their Maoist links in July 2007. The Block Social Welfare Officer, Chandrika Prasad noted, "A lot of NGOs are involved with Naxal elements. We even know that many of the NGO workers are Maoists themselves." Dwarko Sundrani, who runs an NGO, Samanvaya Ashram in Bodhgaya admitted to the links, stating, "Naxals often approach us for money, but we provide them food, clothing and shelter as we believe in the concept of hriday parivartan (change of heart)." A Bihar Government document lists several NGOs suspected of diverting funds to the Maoists. Most such NGOs are funded by visiting tourists or international donor agencies. The then Bihar Home Secretary, Afzal Amanullah stated, in July 2007, "Intelligence agencies did report such things being channelised. Now, we have got to warn foreigners and do a lot of planning to stop this worrisome syndrome from spreading." Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Magadh Range, Umesh Kumar Singh added, "If the money goes in bulk to them, it'll be quite threatening to the internal security of the nation."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has clarified in Mumbai on October 11, 2009, that, "There was no particular evidence or intelligence that Naxal (Left Wing Extremist) groups received funding from abroad," though he added, "Rumours are always afloat." Similarly, answering a question regarding possible foreign and other sources of Maoist funding, Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Ajay Maken told Parliament on November 24, 2009, "There is no input to indicate that CPI-Maoist is receiving funds from any foreign country. The Naxalites mainly raise funds from contractors and businessmen by imposing levy, by extortion and also by looting banks."

On the expenditure side, Police sources reveal, the Maoists spent over INR 1.75 billion in 2007 for the purchase of weapons, including AK-47s, landmines and rocket launchers. According to the Police, an Australian arms dealer had struck a deal with the Maoists to supply a record 200 AK-47s by the end of 2008, via the Malaysia-West Bengal drug route. Vehicles, uniforms and medicines are another major component of expenditure. The Maoists have acquired motor cycles with special tyres to make travel easier in dense forests and tough terrain. Publicity and propaganda is another major head on which the Maoists spend considerably. Besides maintaining web sites, publishing party magazines Awam-e-jung (Hindi) and CPI-Maoist (English), they also operate a low frequency radio in the jungles to campaign against the Police and the Administration. The Maoists also spent huge sums on communication equipment, and mobile and satellite phones are common issue. The Raipur Police raided an urban Maoist network centre and seized account books for collection and disbursal of INR 50 million. The raid yielded receipts for purchase of uniforms for nearly six battalions, supplied by a Mumbai-based textile unit.

Disclosing details, DGP Vishwa Ranjan adds, "Around 20 percent of the amount extorted is siphoned off by grassroots Maoist cadres, who pass on the remaining 80 percent to the top leadership of the banned Communist Party of India - Maoist. The CPI-Maoist uses the extortion amount for smuggling ammunition even from some foreign countries, party meetings, boosting urban network and to care for a vast publication section, including a set of experts who manage the Maoist website, plus funding its legal cell that takes care of court cases against thousands of jailed Maoists across the country."

Buoyed by their inflated coffers, the Maoists are attempting to attract more unemployed youth into their ‘armed struggle’, paying out INR 3,000 to each cadre as salary, and a cut in the monies extorted. Such monetary incentives have led to many unemployed youngsters hailing from backward areas in the Naxal-hit States joining the movement, officials say. One Home Ministry official stated, "It is a matter of concern. Acute poverty, coupled with lack of job opportunities, is turning many youths to Naxalism. They get Rs. 3,000 as monthly remuneration and a cut of the extortion money they collect."

In an effort to design a comprehensive response to Maoist finance networks, a source in the MHA revealed, on the condition of anonymity, "The Government is developing innovative measures to control Naxal funding based on the specific situation in the States and on the local level. Naxals extort money from contractors. Therefore instead of giving large amounts to big contractors, it is being distributed and directly given to Self Help Groups [SHGs] for development work. Abolishing the contract system in minor forest produce collection and marketing is another such measure implemented to check extortion of tendu leaf contractors. In some locations, Police and Security Force engineers are constructing roads, instead of contractors." However, he added, it was difficult to deal with the situation because people generally do not come forward to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against Maoist extortion due to their fear for life.

The Union Government has also decided to set up a ‘centralised database’ to check terror funding by integrating intelligence from different central security agencies. Sources in the Union Home Ministry disclosed that the proposed database would act as a ‘ready reckoner’ for different security and law and order enforcement agencies to check illegal routing of money through various financial channels meant to further organised crime and support anti-national activities. They said the databank would be created to detect illegal money movement within and outside the country and among particular groups or institutions by means of banks or other intermediaries. There is presently no such consolidated data bank for collecting and disseminating intelligence which, at times, creates problem for the Government in tracing and interdicting terror funding. The data bank would be created by the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) – a national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analysing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions.

The Union Government, meanwhile, has frozen 18 bank accounts found involved in terror financing under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Also, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered around 30 cases across India over the preceding three months against terrorists on charges of money laundering and waging war against the country, according to a February 3, 2010 report. Though these actions have targeted other terrorist groups, and not the Maoists, a similar drive against Maoist finance networks is an evident imperative.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has declared, "We must meet the challenge to fight against Maoists and terrorism in the next two to three years." Success in this enterprise will depend enormously on dismantling the resource generation networks of the Maoists, which have allowed the movement to persist and thrive.

Note: The name and the designation of Misir Besra were incorrectly mentioned in the original article. The mistake is rectified on May 4, 2010.

INDIA
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Assam: Bodo vs. Bodo
Sandipani Dash
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
Chennabasaveshwar A. Patagundi
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management

The second poll for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is scheduled to be held on April 9, 2010. The BTC was created under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (which deals with the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram) back in February 2003 over the four contiguous Districts of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang. Despite the completion of seven years of the BTC, the Bodo insurgency remains intact in Assam, though the trajectory of violence has seen sharp irregularities.

Official sources indicate that violence in BTC areas increased by 74 percent in 2009, as compared to the previous year. In 2008, a total of 110 persons were killed in Assam in all insurgency-related violence, but in 2009, 194 people – at least 127 in Bodo-related violence – lost their lives. This abrupt escalation was attributed principally to fratricidal clashes among different Bodo groups.

Bodo Insurgency related Fatalities in Assam: 2003-2010

Year
Civilians
SFs
Militants
Total
2003
24
2
116
142
2004
48
0
28
76
2005
0
0
10
10
2006
3
5
6
14
2007
1
0
2
3
2008
85
0
13
98
2009
32
3
92
127
2010*
4
0
20
24
* Data till April 2, 2010
Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal

The Bodo insurrection accounts for around 44 per cent of insurgency-related fatalities in Assam in the first three months of 2010. Assam is presently the second most violent State in the Northeast, with 55 fatalities (trailing just behind Manipur, with 59 killed). The violence unleashed by Bodo groups had registered a steady decline in 2003-2007, with a slight variation in 2006. The trend has, however, subsequently taken an abrupt turn for the worse, with annual fatalities involving the groups spurting from just three in 2007 to 98 in 2008. The momentum of acceleration of violence has since been sustained.

2008 had witnessed serial bomb blasts in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Bongaigaon, on October 30, which claimed 84 lives and injured over 300. While initial suspicion fell on the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), subsequent evidence indicated that a hit-team of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), under the direction of its ‘president’, Ranjan Daimary, executed the serial bombings in Assam, to demonstrate frustration at the alleged lack of progress in talks between the Bodo group and the Union Government. These serial blasts, in fact, triggered a split in the outfit into a pro-talks and an anti-talks factions. The NDFB had earlier entered into truce with the Assam Government and Union Government in New Delhi on May 25, 2005, and a cease-fire was declared. After the serial blasts, the NDFB, on December 15, 2008, held its ‘general assembly’ meeting at Serfanguri designated camp in Kokrajhar District and elected B. Sungthagra as its new ‘president’, replacing Ranjan Daimary. The Sungthagra group became the pro-talks faction, while erstwhile ‘president’, Daimary broke away to lead the anti-talks Bodo group.

Sungathgra had condemned the October 30 serial blasts in no uncertain terms, declaring, "The killing was inhuman and unfortunate; it reveals nothing but his (Daimary’s) sadism. He committed not only crimes against humanity but also violated the ceasefire which he himself declared unilaterally on October 8, 2004. The act is undoubtedly an act of terrorism and can never be part of revolutionary struggle." Daimary, on the contrary, in a statement issued from Kokrajhar, described his expulsion from the NDFB by the B. Sungthagra-led faction as "ridiculous", "After waging a war for 18 years for the legitimate rights of the Bodo people, when almost all the leaders were either in jail or missing, I declared the ceasefire on October 4, 2004, to solve the Indo-Bodoland issue peacefully and democratically… Now the NDFB shall have no other option but to renew the war for the liberation of Bodoland."

The rift was followed by attacks and revenge attacks by cadres belonging to the two factions in the Bodo populated Districts. On October 8, 2009, for instance, Bodo rights leader and sister of NDFB’s anti-talks faction leader Ranjan Daimary, Anjali Daimary, survived an attempt on her life, when suspected militants opened fire at her vehicle at Barama College in Baksa District. Further, on October 21, 2009, S. Sangjarang, ‘publicity chief’ of the pro-talks faction, was shot at and injured by unidentified militants at a crowded market in Udalguri Town. Again, on January 2, 2010, a relative of a pro-talks ‘commander’ of the NDFB was shot dead by suspected cadres belonging to the anti-talks faction, at Silapur village in the Balijuri area under Sootea Police Station in Sonitpur District, along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The victim was identified as Udai Mushahari, brother of NDFB ‘commander’ M. Failou. Similarly, on January 4, 2010, a 52-year-old schoolteacher, Lilabati Basumatary, Daimary’s elder sister, was shot dead by suspected cadres belonging to the pro-talks faction, at Harisingha Deolguri in the Udalguri District. However, the pro-talks faction subsequently denied its involvement in the killing.

Political activists have frequently been targeted by the violent Bodo groups. In one such attack, on January 14, 2010, a Congress party leader, Arun Sarkar, nominated from Mazbat Assembly constituency to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), was shot dead by suspected militants belonging to the anti-talks faction at Khusurabari in Udalguri. Subsequently, the Congress party in Assam asked its activists in the Bodo area not to venture out after sunset, since security agencies apprehended that the Daimary faction could target them. An unnamed PCC leader argued that the party had been expecting such a turn of events in the run-up to the BTC elections: "Two factors are involved. One, our party Government has gone all out against the Ranjan Daimary group and they are out to take revenge. Second, the upcoming BTC elections in which the outfit would want to play a crucial role. This could also be a warning to us that we keep out of the polls so that they can take on the Bodo People’s Front, which is headed by former Bodo Liberation Tigers chief Hagrama Mohilary."

Again, on January 22, 2010, unidentified militants exploded a remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on a subway at Garibangha area under the Bijni Police Station of Chirang District along the India-Bhutan border. Two BTC members, Daneswar Goyary and James Basumatary, along with some officials, survived the attack.

Meanwhile, the pro-talks faction declared that it would participate in the upcoming BTC elections. The ‘general secretary’ of the outfit, Gobinda Basumatary, declared, "We might not put up candidates on our own, but would support candidates or political parties that advocate our cause for a separate Bodoland."

The Union Government on December 31, 2009, extended the cease-fire agreement with the pro-talks faction for a further period of six months, up to June 30, 2010. Earlier, tripartite peace talks between the NDFB and the Union and Assam Governments, were held in New Delhi on September 23, 2009. NDFB 'general secretary' Govinda Basumatary observed, "The first round of dialogue was satisfactory. It has been four years since we surrendered. For the first time we received a positive response." Again, the pro-talks group had met the newly appointed Union Government interlocutor, P.C. Haldar, on February 1, 2010, and had expressed the demand for a separate State within the Indian Union, for the indigenous tribal group.

Nevertheless, there have been signs of some disenchantment with the negotiating process. On March 8, 2010, Assam Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain informed the State Legislative Assembly that 40 NDFB cadres had deserted their designated camps. According to one estimate, around 700 pro-talks cadres of the NDFB are confined to three ‘designated camps’ in Kokrajhar, Baksa and Udalguri Districts.

The anti-talks has, meanwhile, consolidated its presence in the four BTC Districts and the adjoining Sonitpur District, establishing safe hideouts in the forests. Earlier, the Manas National Park, stretching over parts of the Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darang Districts, used to be a hotbed of united NDFB activity. Currently, the Rowta Reserve Forests in Udalguri District and Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur District have emerged as the anti-talks faction’s safe havens. As one Police official disclosed, "The NDFB cadres carry out strikes and vanish into the Reserve Forest. It is difficult to catch them because of the inaccessible areas where they take shelter." An Army official, commenting on the presence of NDFB cadres in the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary stated, "The Park has also turned into a hotbed of militancy. We have reports of the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB having a strong base inside the sanctuary."

The densely forested terrain along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border also provides sanctuary to the violent faction of the NDFB. The Bodo group is active in parts of as many as six Districts of Arunachal Pradesh: East Siang, West Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Upper Dibang Valley, Lohit and Papum Pare. Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Tako Dabi, on January 10, 2010, stated that he had recently toured and taken stock of the situation in Mebo and the adjoining areas of East Siang, and the Likabali area of West Siang, where NDFB and ULFA cadres were engaged in extortion activities. He said these groups’ cadres were also smuggling timber out of the forests in Seijosa in East Kameng and the Balijan area of Papum Pare District. Deputy Inspector-General of Police (East Range), Tashi Lama, further confirmed "The substantial presence of ULFA cadres in East Siang, West Siang, Upper and Lower Dibang Valley Districts, besides movements of NDFB militants in belts of Papum Pare and East Kameng Districts, have raised security concerns in the State." Another Police officer in East Kameng District stated that NDFB cadres had intensified extortion activities and set up camps in Seijosa, adding that the fact that a suspected NDFB cadre was shot dead in a joint operation in the Khanamukh area under Missamari Police Station of Sonitpur District in Assam, bordering Arunachal’s East Kameng District, on January 5, 2010, indicated that the anti-talks faction of the Bodo group was active in the area.

The Garo Hills area in Meghalya remains a corridor for the movement of cadres of the NDFB’s anti-talk faction across the India-Bangladesh border. On February 15, 2010, an NDFB anti-talks cadre, identified as Godadhar Hajong, was arrested by the Border Security Force from Debojani village of West Garo Hills District. He disclosed that, following the crackdown in Bangladesh by the Shiekh Hasina Wajed regime, almost all NDFB camps operating close to the border had been shut down, with a majority of cadres shifted to the Rangamati area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. He also revealed that the NDFB’s main camp at Haluaghat in Bangladesh, opposite Gasuapara in the South Garo Hills sector, had to be closed down in 2006 after its ‘camp commander’, Bongcha Boro, surrendered. Further, he said, some of the NDFB leaders continue to be holed up in Dhaka, including S. S. Dhansuran Boro, the ‘treasurer’ of the anti-talks faction. Hajong further indicated that cadres were taken to Bangladesh for training and later pushed back to India through three different sectors in the Garo Hills: Beldova in Mahendraganj sector, Nokchi in the Dalu sector and Gasuapara under the Baghmara sector. The movement of NDFB militants through the Chokpot and Nokrek Hills was also confirmed by the arrested cadre.

With the operational expanse of the NDFB’s violent anti-talks faction extending well beyond the Assam State’s territory, and the absence of a coherent and holistic counter-insurgency strategy covering the entire Northeast region, the scope of extinguishing the remnants of the Bodo militancy remain limited.


NEWS BRIEFS

Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia
March 29-April 4, 2010

 

Civilian

Security Force Personnel

Terrorist/Insurgent

Total

INDIA

 

Assam

0
0
1
1

Jammu and Kashmir

0
5
18
23

Manipur

2
0
2
4

Left-wing Extremism

 

Bihar

1
0
0
1

Jharkhand

1
0
2
3

Maharshtra

0
0
1
1

Orissa

0
9
1
10

West Bengal

2
0
0
2

Total (INDIA)

6
14
25
45

PAKISTAN

 

FATA

9
12
213
234

NWFP

0
0
5
5

Sindh

0
0
2
2

Total (PAKISTAN)

9
12
220
241
Provisional data compiled from English language media sources.


BANGLADESH

15 foreign militant outfits still operating in Bangladesh since 1991, reveal detained foreign militants: As revealed by different detained foreign militants, 15 foreign militant outfits were active or are still operating in Bangladesh since 1991, using the country as a safe shelter or transit to infiltrate neighbouring countries. The organisations are Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Tehrik-e-Jehad-e-Islami-Kashmiri (TJI), Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami (HuJI), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Hezbe Islami, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM), Harkat-ul-Ansar, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), India-based Asif Reza Commando Force (ARCF), Myanmar-based militant groups Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) and National United Party of Arakan (NUPA). The statements of detained militants also reveal that agents of a Pakistani intelligence agency not only coordinated the militants' activities in Bangladesh but also provided them with necessary funds and training. The Daily Star, March 30, 2010.



INDIA

Union Government freezes 18 bank accounts involved in terror financing: The Union Government has frozen 18 bank accounts found involved in terror financing under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bank accounts located in Pune (Maharashtra) , Guwahati (Assam) and West Bengal have been frozen under section 51A of the UAPA which enables the Government to freeze accounts of individuals or terror groups to prevent and cope with terrorist activities. "14 bank accounts of Moshin Ismail Chowdhary (involved in terrorist activities) in the Ratnakar Bank, Nana Peth branch, Pune, two bank accounts held by S.S. Brig Ningthoujam Rajen Singh, ‘commander-in-chief’ and ‘finance secretary’ of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup in the ICICI Bank, Guwahati, and two bank accounts held by Rajen Singh's associate in SBI, Kurseong" have been frozen, said Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Economic Times, April 1, 2010.

550 militants operating and 250 waiting to enter the Indian territory, says Army: The Army, on March 29, said that nearly 550 terrorists were operative in the State, including around 250 in Jammu region, while 200-250 others were waiting at different launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) to enter Indian territory to help the depleted rank and file of militant organizations in launching offensives. Brigadier Gurdeep Singh, Brigadier General Staff (BGS) 16 Corps, said that there was no let-up on the Pakistani side in abetting and aiding terrorism against India, as 42 training camps still exist across the LoC, out of which 34 were operational, where 2000-2500 militants were getting training.

He also said that the recoveries, including SIM cards, music players, eatables etc, made from the Pakistani militants killed at Kalakote in the Rajouri District on March 27, have once again proved that Pakistan is aiding and abetting militants, as all the materials recovered from their possession were found made in Pakistan. Daily Excelsior; Rediff, March 30, 2010.

Recoveries made in Keran sector of Kupwara District indicate Afghanistan link to the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir: Some of the items seized from the eight infiltrators killed in the Keran Sector of Kupwara District last week (March 23-27) indicate that there is an Afghanistan link to the insurgency in the State. In fact, the militants were carrying arms, ammunition, gadgets, clothing, food and cosmetic products manufactured in at least seven different countries including the USA, the UAE, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, China and Russia. Army recovered several cans of tin-food meant for the personnel of Afghanistan's defence forces from the slain militants in Keran sector. The cans carried a label which read Wizarat-e-Defah (Defence Ministry), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Daily Excelsior, March 31, 2010.

Maoists warn of nationwide struggle to avenge killings of their leaders: The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) central committee spokesperson Azad, on March 30, said that the party will build country-wide people’s struggle to avenge the killings of Maoist leaders Sakhamuri Appa Rao and Kondal Reddy on March 12. Indian Express, March 31, 2010.

Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh see drop in Naxal violence in 2009, indicates MHA report: As per the Annual Report 2009-10 of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Left Wing Extremist (LWE) violence in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have seen a drop in 2009 as compared to the situation in 2008. There were only 529 incidents of LWE violence in 2009 in Chhattisgarh as against the 620 in 2008. Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, as against the 92 such incidents in 2008, there were only 66 in 2009. West Bengal has seen a seven time increase in LWE violence, with the State reporting 255 such incidents in 2009, as against a mere 35 in 2008. In Orissa, the incidents have more than doubled as compared to 2008. While there were 103 such incidents in the State in 2008, there were 266 in 2009. Other LWE infested States like Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Bihar and even Uttar Pradesh have seen an increase in LWE violence. Overall, 908 lives were lost to such violence in 2009 as against 721 in 2008. DNA India, March 31, 2010.

Manipur Cabinet approves Suspension of Operations with KCP faction: The Manipur Cabinet, on March 30, gave its approval to the signing of a tripartite agreement for Suspension of Operations (SoP) with the Lallumba faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP). Sources said the Government would set up designated camps for the KCP cadres at a Manipur Rifles post at Leikun in Chandel District. Telegraph India, March 31, 2010.

Trial of November 26, 2008, Mumbai terrorist attacks ends: The year-long trial of the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terrorist attacks (also known as 26/11) accused ended, as the Special Sessions Court in Mumbai, on March 31, announced May 3, 2010, as "the day of judgment." Judge M.L. Tahaliyani gave the date after the lawyer for the third and last accused, Sabahuddin Ahmed, concluded his final arguments. On May 3, the Court will give its verdict on the various charges against Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, and co-accused Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin. The recording of the judgment will be done in April 2010. The trial, which began on April 15, 2009, had 191 hearings, during which 653 witnesses were examined by the prosecution. The final arguments began on March 9, 2010, and lasted through the month, with the prosecution laying out its case over a span of 11 days. The Hindu, April 1, 2010.

Filipinos trained tribals in guerrilla warfare in Kerala forest, say Gujarat Police: The Special Investigation Team interrogating suspected Naxalites in Gujarat disclosed that International Maoist groups are involved in the arms training and one such session was held in the forests of Kerala. Surat Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) A. K. Singh said that interrogation of Bharat Puwar and Sulat Puwar, who were allegedly involved in Naxalite activities in Dangs District, revealed that members of the Communist Party of Philippines (CPP) had trained a batch of 25 tribals from various parts of the country in guerrilla warfare and the use of arms, ammunition and explosives. The Kerala training camp was held nearly 10 years ago. Indian Express, April 3, 2010.

Terror infrastructure in Pakistan remains intact: The Government said the terror infrastructure in Pakistan continues to remain intact and infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir remains unabated, with a substantial increase in 2009. "There are reports to indicate that the infrastructure for training terrorist elements across the border continues to remain intact," the 2009-10 annual report of the Home Ministry said. It said the Government was firmly committed to thwarting the challenge posed by terrorists and violence sponsored from across the border. "The available information reveals that the infiltration that consistently decreased since 2005, has reversed in 2009 and increased substantially when compared to 2008," the report said. There were 485 attempts of infiltration last year in comparison to 342 in 2008. PTI News, April 5, 2010.


PAKISTAN

213 militants and 12 SFs among 234 persons killed during the week in FATA: The Security Forces (SFs) backed by tanks and artillery, repulsed Taliban attacks in Orakzai Agency of Federally Administer Tribal Areas (FATA) on March 4, killing 40 Taliban militants. In addition, three volunteers and two Taliban militants were killed during an encounter near a checkpoint of the Baizai Amn Committee in far-off Manzari Cheena village of Mohmand Agency. Also, four Taliban militants were killed and some others sustained injuries in a clash between two factions of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led militants in North Waziristan Agency.

30 Taliban militants were killed in ground and air attacks in Orakzai Agency on April 3. Military sources also said that six troopers were killed and five other injured in clashes with Taliban militants.

Seven Taliban militants were killed and five were injured, as SFs destroyed three Taliban hideouts in Orakzai Agency on April 2.

Around 24 Taliban militants were killed as helicopter gunships targeted their vehicles and SFs pounded suspected hideouts during the Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham (I will see you) in Orakzai Agency on April 1. Also, six Taliban militants, including a local ‘commander’, were killed and five others injured during a factional clash between the Mullah Toofan and Maulana Rafique factions of Taliban at Chappar Mashti in the Orakzai Agency. Separately, two ‘commanders’ of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed during their bid to escape the custody of SFs, while six cadres of the Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), including the nephew of LI ‘chief’ Mangal Bagh, were shot dead in a similar incident at Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber Agency.

At least 25 Taliban militants and six soldiers were killed on March 31, as SFs clashed with militants in Jansi area of Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency. Also, helicopter gunships pounded militant hideouts during the operation Khwakh Ba De Sham in different parts of Orakzai Agency, killing at least 11 militants. Separately, US drones fired three missiles, killing six Taliban militants and destroyed a compound in North Waziristan Agency. In addition, five militants were killed and a SF trooper was injured when militants attacked a Frontier Corps (FC) post with automatic weapons in the Milanga area of Safi tehsil in Mohmand Agency.

At least 35 Taliban militants were killed and 22 were injured as fighter jets bombed suspected Taliban compounds during Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham in Orakzai Agency on March 30.

At least 11 Taliban militants were killed during clashes with SFs in Orakzai and Khyber Agencies, while three key militant ‘commanders’ were arrested by troops on March 29. In addition, the bodies of three anti-Taliban tribal elders, with their throats slit, were recovered in the Chinarak area of Kurram Agency. Dawn; Daily Times; The News, March 30- April 5, 2010.

Russia points finger at Pakistan over Moscow suicide bombings: The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on March 30, said that militants operating on the Pakistan border may have helped organise suicide bomb attacks that killed 38 persons in Moscow on March 29. Lavrov did not mention al Qaeda, but said the bombers may have had links to militants on the Afghan-Pakistan border, where al Qaeda militants, and Afghanistan and Pakistan Taliban militants are present. Asked if there could have been any foreign involvement in the March 29 attacks, Interfax quoted Lavrov as saying, "I do not exclude that. We all know that in the Afghan-Pakistan border, in the so called no-man’s land, the terrorist underground is very well entrenched." Daily Times, March 31, 2010.

US seeks Pakistan’s action against Lashkar-e-Toiba: The US, on April 1, called on Pakistan to curb anti-India militants. Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia said, "I think one can argue there is a lot of important progress that has been made but we think there also needs to be progress against these Punjab-based groups." He was referring to banned groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Daily Times, April 2, 2010.

G8 announces Pak-Afghan economic plan: The Foreign Ministers of the G8 countries agreed on an economic initiative plan for the Pak-Afghan border regions, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said, on March 30, at the start of two days of G8 talks, "Stability in the region is critical for global security." Daily Times, March 31, 2010.


SRI LANKA

60,000 Police officers deployed for elections: Sri Lanka Police has taken measures to deploy nearly 60,000 Police officers to maintain law and order during the upcoming General Election, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya said on March 30. The IGP said all arrangements have been finalized to provide security for the parliamentary polls scheduled to be held on April 8 throughout the country, including in the North and East. The Police will also solicit assistance of 19,500 armed forces personnel to strengthen security, in addition to the 58,700 Police officers that will be deployed. Colombo Page, April 1, 2010.


The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.

SAIR is a project of the Institute for Conflict Management and the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

South Asia Intelligence Review [SAIR]

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K. P. S. Gill

Editor
Dr. Ajai Sahni


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