J&K: Onslaught against Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
Sep 15, 2024, at 05:21 pm
On August 3, 2017, two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists, identified as Aaqib Ahmad Itoo and Suhail Ahmad, were killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) at Gopalpora village in the Damhal Hanji Pora area of Kulgam District. Their bodies were recovered along with two AK 47 rifles.
Sep 15, 2024, at 05:22 pm
At least 26 persons, including nine Policemen, were killed and another 56 were injured, in a suicide blast near the Arfa Karim IT Tower on Ferozepur Road, Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, in the afternoon of July 24, 2017. The suicide attack was carried out during the demolition of the old fruit and vegetable market. The suicide bomber, aged between 16 and 18 years, apparently riding a motorcycle, reached the spot where the Police were standing guard to avert any retaliation from the owners of the buildings being demolished. The bomber - wearing a suicide jacket containing at least 12 kilogrammes of explosives and shrapnel - triggered the blast at 3:55 pm (PST). An hour after the incident, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it had been carried out by its member Fida Hussain Sawati, and released his photograph on social media. However, on July 25, law enforcement agencies identified a new terrorist network, Taliban Special Group (TSG), an offshoot of TTP, as being responsible for the July 24 attack. This was the first assault by TSG, which reportedly includes some highly trained suicide attackers.
Sep 15, 2024, at 05:38 pm
On July 16, 2017, four terrorists of the Neo-Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) surrendered 12 hours after Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel cordoned off a tin-shed dwelling in Ashulia, a suburban area near the capital, Dhaka. The four arrested were Mozammel Huq, Rashedul Nabi, Ifranul Islam and Alamgir Hossain. Two pistols, a laptop, and some books and pamphlets were recovered from the house.
Odisha: Malkangiri: No End in Sight
Sep 15, 2024, at 05:39 pm
On June 3, 2017, Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) 'commander' Gadda Nageswara Rao aka Chinnabbai (38), carrying INR 400,000 reward on his head, was killed in an exchange of fire between the Security Forces (SFs) and Maoists in the Kapatuti Forest under Chitrakonda Police limits in Malkangiri District. A huge cache of explosives, some ammunition, a 9 mm pistol, Maoist literature and a kit bag were seized from the encounter site after the gun battle.
Sep 15, 2024, at 05:40 pm
On May 14, 2017, after an interregnum of 20 years, the first round of local level elections were conducted in 34 Districts of Province Nos. 3, 4 and 6, to elect representatives in 283 local level institutions, including four metropolitan cities, one sub-metropolitan city, 92 municipalities and 186 rural municipalities. 71 per cent voters took part in these elections. The last local elections in Nepal were held in May 1997.
Assam: BTAD: Discordant Accords
Sep 15, 2024, at 05:40 pm
On May 9, 2017, a Sub-Inspector of the 15th Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and a suspected cadre of the I.K. Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) were killed in an encounter in the forests around the Manas National Park in Chirang District. One INSAS rifle was recovered from the encounter site.
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:10 pm
At least 12 persons - 10 civilians and one sepoy each from the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps (FC) - lost their lives, and some 40 others were injured in firing and shelling after Afghan forces attacked FC personnel guarding staff conducting a census in the Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman tehsil (revenue unit) in the Qilla Abdullah District of Balochistan on May 5, 2017. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release tweeted by its Director General (DG) Major General Asif stated, "Afghan border police opened fire on FC troops detailed for security of census in a village along Chaman border. Since 30th April, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Charnan area on Pakistani side of the border. This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of census."
Northeast: A Promising Tranquility
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:10 pm
On April 2, 2017, Security Forces (SFs) killed three militants of the United Kukigram Defence Army (UKDA) in an encounter at Jullian village under the Manza Police Station of Karbi Anglong District in Assam. Another militant was injured during the encounter.
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:11 pm
On April 1, 2017, body parts of three terrorists, including a woman, were found lying scattered at a terrorist hideout in the Borohat area of the Moulvibazar District, when a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team wrapped up their 82-hour 'Operation Maximus' there. SWAT members suspected that the extremists killed themselves by exploding bombs. Some powerful explosives including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered and defused inside the building.
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:11 pm
On March 25, 2017, six people, including two Policemen, were killed and 43 were injured in two powerful bomb explosions in Sylhet city of Sylhet District.
Balochistan: Violent Status Quo
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:11 pm
At least five persons, including two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were injured in a targeted hand grenade attack in the Cinema Chowk area of Turbat town in Balochistan on March 12, 2017. FC sources said that two unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle lobbed a hand grenade on on-duty FC personnel, injuring two troopers and three civilians. The attackers managed to escape from the scene.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Perishable Peace
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:12 pm
Three Shia's were shot dead by unidentified assailants in a suspected sectarian attack under the Paroa Police Station area of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on February 26, 2017.
Andhra Pradesh: Continuing Consolidation
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:14 pm
On February 5, 2017, a group of about four to six armed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres shot dead a tribal, identified as Parsika Pullaiah (40), at Alligudem village under Chintooru mandal (administrative unit) in East Godavari District. When the villagers tried to prevent the Maoists from killing Pullaiah, they were reportedly told, the Maoists would not spare any 'informer'. This is the lone Naxal [Left Wing Extremism (LWE)]-linked violent incident reported in the State thus far in 2017 (data till February 12).
Chhattisgarh: Struggling for Survival
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:14 pm
A civilian, Sukhdev Baghel, was hacked to death by suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres at a village in the Chintagufa area of Sukma District in the afternoon of January 19, 2017. According to the Police, "As per the eyewitness, two people armed with sharp weapons stormed into Baghel's shop and slit his throat before escaping from the spot."
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:15 pm
On December 31, 2016, one militant belonging to the I.K. Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS), identified as Aalai Ram Brahma aka Anthai Brahma was killed in an encounter by the Indian Army at Dhopguri village under the Orang Police Station of Udalguri District. The militant was injured in a fierce exchange of fire, and later the same day succumbed to his injuries at Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH).
Manipur: Troubles amidst Gains
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:15 pm
On December 20, 2016, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) announced that around 4,000 additional paramilitary personnel had been sent to the State of Manipur, which was experiencing increasing turmoil, as violent protests and an 'indefinite economic blockade' on the two National Highways (Imphal-Dimapur NH 2 and Imphal-Jiribam NH 37), that serve as lifelines to the State, completed almost two months. The economic blockade was launched on November 1, 2016, by the United Naga Council (UNC) - the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur - in protest against the State Government's decision to carve out new Districts from the existing nine in the State, especially from the Naga-dominated hill areas of Manipur. Worse, the Meitei dominated valley people started a 'counter-economic blockade' in protest against the UNC's economic blockade, leading to violence in the area. During the ongoing indefinite economic blockade, the State has recorded several violent incidents and a number of vehicles have been torched or vandalized by the protesters. The landlocked State has also been undergoing severe hardship in the supply of essential commodities as the main highways are blocked by protesters.
Sep 15, 2024, at 08:16 pm
Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed the death sentences of 13 'hardcore terrorists' on December 16, 2016. These 13 were involved in heinous offences related to terrorism, including the slaughter of innocent civilians, officials of law enforcement agencies and the armed forces, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said. According to ISPR, the convicted terrorists were involved in the planning and execution of the Bacha Khan, Parade Lane mosque, Marriott Hotel and World Vision NGO attacks, as well as an attack on an educational institution at Nawagai, Buner. "On the whole, they were involved in killing 325 persons and in causing injuries to 366 others. Firearms and explosives were also recovered from their possession. These convicts were tried by military courts," the statement added.
Manipur: Volatility Persists in Chandel
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:27 pm
On December 15, 2016, at least three Manipur Police personnel were killed and another 11 were injured when suspected militants ambushed road opening parties (ROPs) of the Manipur Police at two different places in Chandel District. The first ambush occurred at around 6 am [IST] near the Lokchao Bridge in Lokchao village. Two Police constables were killed and 11 were wounded. M-79 grenade launcher shells and spent bullets of M-16 assault rifles were recovered from the ambush site. Around two hours later, a Police team coming from the State capital, Imphal, was attacked in the Bongyang area of the same District, and one Policeman on ROP duty was killed. Though no outfit has claimed the attacks so far, based on a report filed by State Director General of Police (DGP) L.M. Khaute, the Manipur Government sent a report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) on December 16, 2016, stating that the Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) was suspected to be behind the twin attacks. Chandel District shares a border with Myanmar.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:27 pm
On December 5, 2016, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) handed down the death penalty to Edris Ali Sardar aka Gazi Edris (67), a leader of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), for crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971. Sulaiman Mollah aka Soleman Moulvi (84) was also charged along with Sardar, but the Tribunal did not hold him responsible for the crimes as he had died of old age complications on October 26, 2016, during the closing arguments of the case. Edris has been on the run. Four charges including death in two charges, imprisonment for life in one and seven-year jail term in another charge were proved beyond doubt against Edris. The first charge that earned Edris death was for killing 200 Hindu people by firing shots indiscriminately on May 22, 1971, in Shariatpur District. The second charge that earned him death was for killing 20 Hindu people on May 23, 1971, in Madaripur District. The third charge that earned him life in prison was for torturing and killing Lalit Mohan Kundu and Shuresh Goon by stabbing with a bayonet in mid June 1971, in Shariatpur District. Edris was also awarded seven years of rigorous imprisonment on a fourth charge, for intimidating around 1,500 people into leaving Bangladesh between March 25 and December 10, 1971.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:27 pm
On November 29, 2016, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Centre)-led Government registered a seven-point Constitution Amendment Bill at the Parliament Secretariat, seeking to amend the Constitution which was adopted in a historical step on September 20, 2015, to address the concerns of Madhes-based parties. The Amendment Bill proposed to leave only six Districts, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, Dang, Banke and Bardiya in Province 5, excluding the six hill Districts of Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Rukum, Rolpa and Pyuthan, to add them to Province 4. The Bill also seeks to amend the Constitutional provisions pertaining to citizenship, provincial border, and proportional representation, among others. Later, a Cabinet meeting held the same evening decided to form a High-Level Delineation Commission to settle all issues related to the delineation of Provinces after making a comprehensive study of all past agreements and reports submitted by various commissions. The Government had prepared the Amendment Bill in order to address the demands put forth by the agitating Madhesi parties, as the alliance of Madhesi parties had served an ultimatum, which ended on November 28, 2016, to bring an amendment proposal.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:28 pm
Just after 5:30 am AST [Afghanistan Standard Time] on November 12, 2016, terrorists carried out an explosion at Bagram Airfield in the Bagram District of Parwan Province, the largest United Stated (US) military base in Afghanistan. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is heading the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) in Afghanistan, issued a statement that "An explosive device was detonated on Bagram Airfield resulting in multiple casualties. Four people have died in the attack and approximately 14 have been wounded." No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:28 pm
Eight cadres of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) fled from the Bhopal Central Jail in Madhya Pradesh (MP) at around 2 to 3am in the morning of October 31, 2016, after killing a security guard, Head Constable Ramashankar, by slitting his throat with steel plate and glass after overpowering him. The escapees were identified as Mohammad Aqeel Khilji aka Abdullah, Sheikh Mehboob akaGuddu aka Malik, Amazad Khan aka Pappu aka Daud aka Umer, Zakir Hussain Sadiq aka Vicky Don aka Vinay Kumar, Mohammad Salik aka Sallu, Mohammad Khalid Ahmad, Mujeeb Sheikh aka Akram aka Wasim aka Nawed aka Nitin akaFaizan aka Chintoo aka Yusuf, and Abdul Majid.
Balochistan: Reaping the Whirlwind
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:29 pm
At least 61 Security Force (SF) personnel were killed, and another 164 were injured as terrorists stormed the New Sariab Police Training College (PTC), some 13 kilometres from Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, in the night of October 24, 2016. Three militants entered the PTC and headed straight for the hostel, where around 700 Police recruits were sleeping. The attack began at around 11:10 pm, with gunfire continuing to ring out at the site for several hours. Major causalities were inflicted when two suicide bombers blew themselves up. One of the militants wearing suicide vest was killed by the SFs. 250 cadets who were held hostage were rescued by the SFs. SFs were able to clear the area after five hours. Entry and exit routes to the area were opened for traffic the next morning.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:29 pm
On October 17, 2016, a large group of heavily armed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants, allegedly led by its 'commander-in-chief (C-in-C)' Sohan D. Shira, shot dead the outfit's former 'finance secretary', Rakkam D. Shira aka Bilding Ch Marak aka Rikchie at his residence near Williamnagar in East Garo Hills District. Rakkam, a surrendered militant, was confined inside the Goeragre camp in West Garo Hills District under a rehabilitation process, and was killed shortly after he visited his house in the afternoon. Rakkam, along with the entire 'finance wing' of the outfit had surrendered before the then State Home Minister Roshan Warjri in Shillong on May 9, 2016. According to the District Police, "He (Rakkam) was supposed to be inside the Goeragre camp. He did not inform anyone about his sudden trip to Williamnagar. Even the police were unaware of his visit to his home." Surrendered GNLA militants are housed in two transit rehabilitation camps located at the Second Meghalaya Police (MLP) Battalion headquarters at Goeragre and Baljek Airport at Jengjal in West Garo Hills District.
J&K: The Tragedy of Complacence
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:30 pm
In the worst ever attack in terms of fatalities of Army personnel since terrorism began in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in 1988, at least 17 Army personnel were killed and another 19 were injured when terrorists stormed the administrative base of one of the units of the Indian Army near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri town of Baramulla District at around 5:30 am IST on September 18, 2016. Four terrorists involved in the attack were also killed.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:31 pm
My family has been falsely implicated in drug racket. It is distressing to see that my family is suffering because of my profession. It is difficult to be a journalist in Pakistan and that too in tribal areas. You are punished for bringing out stories that do not sit well with the military establishment, which is ubiquitous here. We see Taliban commanders visiting military quarters in the tribal belt. What happens inside is not for us to know. We are caught between the military and the terrorists. Being a journalist has cost me my family, who disowned me after the slapping of false charges. And now I am without money, looking for alternative means of sustenance. ------An unnamed journalist from an unspecified location in tribal areas to SAIR .
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:31 pm
On August 3, 2016, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was elected as the new Prime Minister of Nepal after garnering 63.35 per cent of votes in Parliament. Out of 595 lawmakers, 573 cast their votes in the poll, of which 363 were in Dahal's favour. Dahal was backed by the largest party in the House, Nepali Congress (NC), constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), the Federal Alliance, and some fringe parties. 210 lawmakers, including those of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) voted against the Maoist leader. This is Dahal's second stint as Prime Minister; he led the Government after the first Constituent Assembly (CA) elections from August 18, 2008, to May 25, 2009.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:32 pm
In one of the worst terrorist attack on the civilians in the recent history of Assam, terrorists of the I.K. Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) opened indiscriminate fire at a crowded weekly market, Balajan Tiniali Weekly (Friday) Market in Kokrajhar District on August 5, 2016, killing 14 persons, including two women, and injuring another 20. According to eyewitnesses, there were four to five terrorists in military fatigues, armed with sophisticated weapons, who fired at the crowd in the market at around 11.30 am. The terrorists also lobbed grenades at shops, destroying at least six. Personnel of the 3rd Rajput Regiment based in Kokrajhar, who were passing through the market, started retaliatory firing, killing one terrorist, while the others managed to escape. One AK-57, 2 magazines, one grenade, 47 rounds of ammunition, 3 bags with clothes, one mobile and 2 SIM cards were recovered from the spot.
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:33 pm
On July 24, 2016, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned from his post after spending 287 days in Singha Durbar (Lion's Palace), the seat of Nepal's Government minutes before Parliament was to vote on a no confidence motion he was likely to lose. Addressing the Parliament on the no-confidence motion, Oli rued, "The game for a change in the Government at this time is mysterious."
Chhattisgarh: Dwindling Maoists
Sep 15, 2024, at 09:33 pm
On July 16, 2016, at least four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed in an encounter with Security Force (SF) personnel in the forests of Bijapur District. SFs recovered four bodies along with rifles, pipe bombs and other supplies during an area search operation. Commenting on the operation, Bastar Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) S.R.P. Kalluri disclosed that a joint force led by Laxman Kewat, Inspector-in-Charge Awapalli Police Station and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) Commander Ashok Kumar carried out the encounter in the forests of Pamed in Bijapur District.