VIF News Digest: National Security – Defence Studies & Terrorism, 01-15 May 2022

DEFENCE

  • Raksha Mantri’s (RM) keynote address for the 37thAir Chief Marshal PC Lal Memorial Lecture.
  • Enhance capability through latest technology for faster infrastructure development in border areas.
  • Visit of INS Kolkata to Djibouti.
  • Ships of First Training Squadron are on a visit abroad.
  • Advancements in futuristic technologies need of the hour.
  • Extended Range Version of BrahMos Air Launched missile from Su-30 MKI.
  • Deployment of INS Gharial to Seychelles – Mission Sagar IX.
  • Return of Indian Embassy in Ukraine to Kyiv.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa
Egypt
  • Islamic State-affiliated group claimed responsibility for an attack on Egyptian security forces.
Somalia
  • At least 30 Burundian African Union personnel were killed in a terror attack in southern Somalia.
  • Four people were killed in a suicide explosion near the airport in Mogadishu.
Nigeria
  • Boko Haram began massive recruitment in Kaduna.
Afghanistan
  • Islamic State claimed responsibility for rockets fired from Afghanistan into Tajikistan.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir
  • NIA searched multiple locations in Kashmir and arrested two TRF OGWs in the ‘TRF conspiracy’ case.
  • Police arrested an HM terrorist from Anantnag.
  • NIA filed a chargesheet against seven terrorists/OGWs in the ‘LeT conspiracy’ case.
  • Security forces eliminated three HM terrorists, including commander, in Anantnag.
  • Yasin Malik pleads guilty in a terror funding case.
Left-Wing Extremism
  • NIA filed the chargesheet against 11 accused in the case of ‘Pilferage of arms and ammunition’ in Jharkhand.
  • “1/3 of CPI (Maoist) central committee leaders eliminated in last nine months”: MHA report.
  • Police arrested two Maoists from Andhra Pradesh.
Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)
  • NIA Special Court (Mumbai) sentenced an Islamic State operative in ‘Parbhani ISIS/IS’ case.
Organised Criminal Groups (OCGs)
  • NIA arrested two criminals from Maharashtra in connection with ‘D-Company’ case.

DEFENCE

Raksha Mantri’s (RM) keynote address for the 37thAir Chief Marshal PC Lal Memorial Lecture.

RM has exhorted the Indian Air Force (IAF) to become an Aerospace Force and be prepared to protect the country from the challenges of the future in his keynote address. Shri Rajnath Singh called for technology evolution, gaining expertise and human resource management to defend the country against space-guided attacks and protect the space assets. “Steps are being taken by our adversaries towards military use of space. This is likely to have an adverse effect on our interests. We, therefore, need to identify and be fully prepared for the evolving security challenges,” he said. He added that the nature of future wars can be assessed through a closer look at the situation in Syria, Iraq & Afghanistan and the recent Ukrainian conflict. “Although these trends are suggestive, but we can gain a deeper understanding by correlating them with our local threats”.

Shri Rajnath Singh also asserted that through the process of integration structures can be built for bringing together the forces and greater synergy can be established between them through joint vision, training, planning and execution of operations. “The ongoing process of integration of the Armed Forces is aimed at not only increasing the combined capability, but also efficiency. There have been deliberations in the Armed Forces regarding the envisaged changes. This consultative process will continue till the implementation of the reforms.
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Enhance capability through latest technology for faster infrastructure development in border areas.

Raksha Mantri called upon Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to further enhance its capability through optimum use to technology and strive to strengthen the infrastructure of the border areas at a faster pace. He was addressing all ranks of the BRO at an event organised in New Delhi on the 63rd Raising Day of the Organisation. The RM mentioned about the recent announcement of increase of capital budget of BRO by 40% to Rs 3,500 crore in Financial Year 2022-23, reiterating the Government’s commitment to the country’s security and development of border areas. He assured the BRO of not just budgetary, but all possible support in this endeavour.
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Visit of INS Kolkata to Djibouti.

INS Kolkata visited Djibouti from 04 – 07 May 22, as part of the anti-piracy patrol being undertaken by the Indian Navy to ensure safe transit of merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden.
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Ships of First Training Squadron are on a visit abroad.

The ships of First Training Squadron are on a visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of their five nation Overseas Deployment. Issues of bilateral Naval cooperation and training initiatives between the two countries were discussed. During the visit, the ships were involved in interaction with officials from Royal Navy of Saudi Arabia and various other dignitaries as well as training exchange.
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Advancements in futuristic technologies need of the hour.

Raksha Rajya Mantri called upon the scientific community to make advancements in technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), so that the Nation is prepared to deal with future threats. He was addressing the National Technology Day function organised by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). National Technology Day is observed on May 11 every year to commemorate the nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran in 1998. The theme this year is ‘Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for Sustainable Future’.
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Extended Range Version of BrahMos Air Launched missile from Su-30 MKI.

India successfully fired the Extended Range Version of BrahMos Air Launched missile from Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The launch from the aircraft was as planned and the missile achieved a direct hit on the designated target in the Bay of Bengal region. It was the first launch of Extended Range version of BrahMos missile from Su-30MKI aircraft. With this, the IAF has achieved the capability to carry out precision strikes from Su-30MKI aircraft against a land/ sea target over very long ranges.
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Deployment of INS Gharial to Seychelles – Mission Sagar IX.

As part of the ongoing deployment of Indian Naval Ship Gharial in South West Indian Ocean, under Mission SAGAR IX, the Ship called at Port Victoria, Seychelles from 11 to 14 May 22. Following up on the proposal received from the Govt of Seychelles earlier, three ceremonial Saluting Guns, with ammunition, were delivered by the Ship to the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).Before calling at Port Victoria, the ship had also visited Colombo, Sri Lanka and Male, Maldives to deliver essential medical supplies.
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Return of Indian Embassy in Ukraine to Kyiv.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine, which was temporarily operating out of Warsaw (Poland), would be resuming its operation in Kyiv w.e.f. 17 May 2022. The Embassy was temporarily relocated to Warsaw on 13 March 2022.
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INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa
Egypt
Islamic State-affiliated group claimed responsibility of an attack on Egyptian security forces.

An Islamic State (IS)-affiliated group carried out an attack on 07 May 2022, in which at least 11 Egyptian security forces personnel were killed, and five others were wounded. The IS terrorists targeted troops at a checkpoint of the water pumping station located in the east of the Suez Canal in Qantara town of Ismailia province, Egypt.
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Somalia
At least 30 Burundian African Union personnel killed in a terror attack in southern Somalia.

According to a Burundian official, on 03 May 2022, at least 30 Burundian African Union (AU) soldiers were killed in a terror attack on an AU base in Southern Somalia. The attack was carried out by al-Shabaab terrorists. Claiming responsibility for the attack, al-Shabaab informed that it killed 173 soldiers in the attack on the AU base in the village of El-Baraf, about 150 kilometres north of Mogadishu.
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Four people were killed in a suicide explosion near the airport in Mogadishu.

On 11 May 2022, al-Shabaab carried out a suicide explosion targeted a checkpoint near the airport in Mogadishu, in which at least four people were killed, including two of soldiers. A number of wounded were taken away to the hospital for further treatment, said a witness HamdiNur.

The blast took place as Presidential candidates were heading into the heavily fortified airport area to address the lawmakers ahead of Sunday’s election for President.
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Nigeria
Boko Haram began massive recruitment in Kaduna.

On 04 May 2022, the Ansaru— a faction of Boko Haram, visited Damari, Farin Ruwa, Kwasa Kwasa, Kuyello, Gobirawa, Tabanni, Kutemeshi, and Kazage villages, in order to recruit villagers into their group under the guise of celebrating and distributing the Sallah gifts to the residents. According to the newspaper Daily Trust, the terrorists distributed Sallah gifts— biscuits— to them, and also performed the motorbike stunts to entertain the villagers. The Ansaru group also distributed a pamphlet titled – “We are not Boko Haram but Ansaru”. “Whoever believes in Shahada and faces Qibla to pray is considered a Muslim to us and so deserves to be protected just as we would protect ourselves and our family members,” read the pamphlet.
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Afghanistan
Islamic State claimed responsibility of rockets fired from Afghanistan into Tajikistan.

According to the Afghan Islamic Press, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility of firing seven rockets from the Khwaja Ghar district in Takhar Province towards unspecified military targets in Tajikistan on 07 May 2022. However, in a statement released regarding the incident, Tajikistan informed that “bullets, not rockets, were fired accidentally into Tajik territory during an exchange of fire between Taliban and IS, on the Afghan side of the border.
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DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir
NIA searched multiple locations in Kashmir and arrested two TRF OGWs in the ‘TRF conspiracy’ case.

On 14 May 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched four locations in Kashmir valley and arrested two Over-Ground Workers (OGWs)— i) MuzamilMushtaqBhat, and ii) Fayaz Ahmad Khan, in connection with the TRF conspiracy case.

The case— RC-32/2021/NIA/DLI relates to activities of an off-shoot terror group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)— ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF), and its self-styled commander— SajjadGul, for his active involvement in radicalisation and recruitment of youth of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Along with other commanders of LeT based in Pakistan, Gul has been recruiting OGWs to conduct reconnaissance of pre-determined targets, and providing other logistic support to LeT and TRF terrorists in order to carry out attacks on security forces. During the search the NIA officials recovered digital devices and incriminating material used to fabricate IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and jihadi literature.
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Police arrested a HM terrorist from Anantnag.

On 06 May 2022, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police arrested a Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist— Ishfaq Shergojri, with arms and ammunition from the Kokernag area of Anantnag district. Shergori was an active terrorist since September 2017. He was a ‘C’ category HM terrorist and was wanted in many terrorist incidents.
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NIA filed charge sheet against seven terrorists/OGWs in ‘LeT conspiracy’ case.

On 13 May 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed chargesheet against seven terrorists/Over-Ground Workers (OGWs)— i) Khuram Parvez, ii) Muneer Ahmad Kataria, iii) Arshid Ahmad Tonch, iv) Zafar Abbas, v) Rambhawan Prasad, vi) Chandan Mahato, vii) Arvind Digvijay Negi, in a LeT conspiracy case.

The case— RC-30/2021/NIA/DLI pertains to a conspiracy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to fund and recruit terrorists/OGWs for providing support and execution of terror activities in the valley.
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Security forces eliminated three HM terrorists, including commander, in Anantnag.

On 06 May 2022, security forces killed three Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists, including commander— Ashraf Molvi, at Srichand Top (forest area) in Pahalgam of Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). According to police records, Ashraf Molvi hailed from Tengpawa Kokernag and joined HM in 2013. “The operation on the Amarnath Yatra route was a major success for us. The area, Pahalgam, served as the base camp for the Yatra, which is scheduled to start on 30 June this year after a gap of two years.
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Yasin Malik pleads guilty in a terror funding case.

On 10 May 2022, Yasin Malik pleaded guilty before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court, in a terror funding case. On 19 May, the court will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence under which Malik may get maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

“The analysis reflects that the statements of witnesses and documentary evidence have connected almost all the accused with each other and to a common object of secession, to the commonality of means they were to use, their close association to terrorist/ terrorist organisations under the guiding hand and funding of Pakistani establishment,” said the NIA Judge while passing the order.
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Left-Wing Extremism
NIA filed chargesheet against 11 accused in case of ‘Pilferage of arms and ammunition’ in Jharkhand.

On 11 May 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed chargesheet in NIA Special Court, Ranchi, against 11 accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], for their involvement in supply of arms and ammunition to terror groups and gangs. The chargesheet was filed against— i) Avinash Kumar, ii) Rishi Kumar, iii) Pankaj Kumar Singh, iv) Kamendra Singh, v) Arun Kumar Singh, vi) Hirla Guman Singh Ucchware, vii) Shivlal Dhawal Singh Chauhan, viii) Kumar Gurlal Ucchware, ix) Kartik Behra, x) Aman Sahu, and xi) Sanjay Kumar.

According to the investigation, Kartik Behera stole ammunition of various calibres from a Border Security Force (BSF) official’s magazine and supplied it to his close associate Arun Kumar Singh. Furthermore, the same were supplied to the armed cadres of the CPI (Maoist) and Aman Sahu’s terrorist gang in collaboration with some of the other chargesheet accused. Four of the chargesheet accused in the case were also discovered to be involved in the procurement and illegal transfer of firearms. Due to accused Kartik Behera’s involvement in pilferage and ammunition supply, he was dismissed from the BSF.
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“1/3 of CPI (Maoist) central committee leaders eliminated in last nine months”: MHA report.

According to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), eight central committee leaders have been neutralised in last nine months, making one-third (1/3) of the total strength of the CPI (Maoist). Five other committee members were arrested in Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, and Kerala, based on months-long intelligence operations. “The loss of senior Maoist leadership has created a vacuum in the group. In the absence of credible second rung leadership and the extension of the security grid in the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) regions, the government will be able to disconnect the Maoist movement from the local population in all regions barring Chhattisgarh”, said UMHA officials on the basis of anonymity.
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Police arrested two Maoists from Andhra Pradesh.

On 06 May 2022, the Andhra Pradesh police arrested two senior CPI (Maoist)— i) KorraNageswara Rao, and ii) Seendri Jagan, while the other five operatives have surrendered. Addressing a Press Conference, along with Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)— Law & Order— Ravishankar Ayyanar, the Director-General of Police (DGP)— K V Rajendranath Reddy informed that Nageswara Rao was involved in over 100 offences, including two double-murders and a murder. Rao twice escaped in exchange of fire incidents with police in 2020 and 2021.

The DGP informed that five of who surrendered, three were CPI (Maoist) members who carried a reward of ₹ 1 lakh each of their heads. The other two were commanders.
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Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)
NIA Special Court (Mumbai) sentenced an Islamic State operative in ‘Parbhani ISIS/IS’ case.

On 06 May 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court (Mumbai) convicted an Islamic State (IS) operative— Naserbin Abubakar Yafai, under Section 13, 16, 18, 18B, 20, 38, 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 4, 5 of Explosive Substances Act, and sentenced him to 7 years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) and a fine of ₹ 5,000.

The case— RC-03/2016/NIA/MUM relates to the activities carried out by Yafai to contact other IS operatives/terrorists to support their jihadi activities. Chargesheet was filed against four other IS operatives on 07 October 2016.
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Organised Criminal Groups (OCGs)
NIA arrested two criminals from Maharashtra in connection with ‘D-Company’ case.

On 12 May 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two associates of D-Company— i) Arif Abubakar Shaikh, and ii) Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh, from Mumbai. The case— RC-01/2022/NIA/MUM relates to terrorists/criminal activities of D-Company involving Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his associates Haji Anees aka Anees Ibrahim Shaikh, Shakeel Shaikh aka Chhota Shakeel, Javed Patel and Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razzaq Memon, for their involvement in Arms smuggling, narco-terrorism, money laundering, and circulation of FICNs (Fake Indian Currency Notes). Their involvement also includes raising of funds and working actively with terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and al-Qa’ida.
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