Terrorist Activities in Pakistan
Suicide Bombings/Attacks
At least 27 people were killed and 40 others, including Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, suffered injuries in a suicide attack on his convoy in the Mastung town of same District in Balochistan on May 12, reports Dawn. Maulana Haideri is also General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JuI-F). The target of the attack was Maulana Haideri — who hails from Kalat — as motorcycle bourne suicide bomber rammed the motorcycle into the vehicle in which the Maulana was travelling on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway. Maulana Haideri had just left a seminary after attending a graduation ceremony and offering Friday prayers. A witness said the blast took place when Maulana Haideri was moving to the place where lunch was to be served to the guests of the graduation ceremony.
The bulletproof vehicle of Maulana Haideri was severely damaged in the explosion. The deceased included Maulana Hafiz Qudratullah, Naib emir of Quetta district chapter of the JUI-F Iftikhar Mughal, director staff of the Senate Maulana Haideri’s driver, Abdul Waheed, an official of the Anti-Terrorism Force and seven volunteers of the JUI-F who were escorting Maulana Haideri as guards. The victims included Mohammad Adil, Mohammad Imran, Abdul Ghaffar, Zahoor Ahmed and Abdul Karim. Several bodies have not been identified. A young girl, a child and a Mastung-based journalist, Abdul Hanan, were among the wounded.
Meanwhile, Daesh (the Islamist State, formerly Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham) claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement posted on the website of its propaganda agency Amaq.
Bomb/IED Blasts
At least three Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel were injured as a bomb went off during a search operation in Kech area of same District in Balochistan on May 3, reports Daily Times. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were stated to be in a stable condition.
Separately, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion was reported from Dera Bugti District, reports Daily Times. No casualty was reported from that incident.
Three Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials sustain injuries when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded at Khattak Pull area of Peshawar on May 7, reports The News. According to reports, the CTD officials were targeted when they were returning after defusing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found outside a girls primary school in Urmarh area. Police said the blast damaged the vehicle and the injured were moved to Lady Reading Hospital for treatment where they were stated to be in stable condition.
At least four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were injured when their vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Splingi area of Mastung District in Balochistan on May 15, reports Pakistan Observer. No one claimed the responsibility for the attack.
At least 14 people including seven children and women sustained injuries in five different hand grenade attacks in Shabqadar tehsil (revenue unit) of Charsadda District on May 19, reports The News. According to Police, the hand grenades were hurled at different places including a private school in Zareef Kore. A schoolboy and watchman of the school sustained injuries in the attack on private school, police said. Three houses were targeted in Meero area. 11 people were wounded when unidentified miscreants threw hand grenade at a house in Mosul Kore area.
Separately, a car was completely destroyed in three explosions outside a trader’s house in Ghani Rehman Karlay area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP, on May 19, reports Daily Times. However, no casualty was reported in the explosions.
Five people, including a levies personnel, were killed in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Akakhel area of Tirah valley on May 22, reports Dawn. Those killed in the blast included, head of the peace committee, Zarwali Khan and committee members Noor Khan, Hameed Khan and Amir Nawaz were amongst those killed in the bombing. Abdul Manan, a levies officer was also killed in the incident.
Targetted Killings
Unidentified gunmen on April 27 shot dead a senior Afghan Taliban leader, Maulvi Daud, near Shamshato refugees’ camp near Peshawar, reports Daily Times. The gunmen sprayed bullets at the car of Maulvi Daud – a former Taliban governor for Kabul. Daud’s driver was also killed in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. There are speculations of the Islamic State (IS) involvement in the incident, as both the Taliban and IS supporters had been involved in fighting in parts of Afghanistan.
A man and his younger sister belonging to the Shia Hazara community were shot dead in the Spiny Road area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on June 4, reports Dawn. The siblings, identified as Shakeel Ahmed and Hawa Bibi, were going to Marriabad from Hazara Town on a motorbike when they came under fire near Killi Tirkha. They suffered serious injuries and died while being taken to the hospital by the Police.
At least 10 labourers were killed and two others injured when motorcycle borne unidentified assailants opened fire at the construction site in Pishgan area Gwadar town on May 13, reports Dawn. “All the labourers were shot at close range,” said Senior Levies Official Muhammad Zareef. The slain labourers belonged to Naushahro Feroze District of Sindh. Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility of attack.
A political secretary and his security guard were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Walicheena area of Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 14, reports Dawn. The secretary, Sarfraz Hussain and his guard were travelling in a vehicle in Walicheena area when the suspects opened fire and killed them on the spot.
Unidentified militants shot dead three labourers and injured another in Hoshab town of Turbat District in Balochistan on May 19, reports The Nation. They were making a trip to a marketplace in Hoshab to buy daily supplies when suspected militants shot at them and fled, said Frontier Corps official. The slain labourers were part of a team working in coastal Makran division on a major highway linking the port-city of Gwadar to the provincial capital of Quetta, said Sarmad Saleem, a regional official.
Four Police personnel, including a Station House Officer (SHO), were gunned down in the Lachi tehsil (second-lowest tier of local Government ) of Kohat District on May 20 night, reports Dawn. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Lachi Raza Khan told that unknown assailants targeted a police mobile which was on routine patrol. “The assailants ambushed the mobile, killing four Policemen on-board, including SHO Khanullah and additional SHO Tahir Mehmood,” said the DSP.
Four assailants, riding on two Bikes, opened fire on a Police van left two Policemen killed and one critically injured near Doraji in the jurisdiction of New Town Police Station in Karachi on May 21, reports The News. East zone Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Faisal Abdullah said unidentified assailants fired at New Town Police Station’s mobile van during routine patrolling, injuring three police personnel. Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Iftikhar and Head Constable Raja Younus later succumbed to injuries at hospital. The SSP Faisal Abdullah added that 30-bore and 9-mm pistols were used in the incident.
Miscellaneous
At least six suspected militants were killed and as many were injured when jets pounded their hideouts in the Tirah valley of Khyber Agency on April 26, reports Daily Times. Security sources said that warplanes destroyed at least two hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). One of the hideouts – located in the Rajgal area of Tirah right on the border with Afghanistan was used by terrorists as an ammunition dump, they revealed.
The military claimed on April 26 that Security Forces (SFs) have thwarted a terror bid in the Zhob District of Balochistan, reports Daily Times. “The Frontier Constabulary, Balochistan, seized a huge cache of explosives and ammunition during a raid on a compound,” the military’s media wing said in a statement.
A suspected US drone strike on a house in the Lawara Mandi area of North Waziristan Agency killed at least seven militants, security officials said on April 27, reports Daily Times. “There are two militant commanders, Abdul Rehman and Akhtar Mohammad among the dead,” an unnamed intelligence official said. “We have received reports of a drone attack in North Waziristan in which some seven militants have been killed,” an unnamed security official said. Local intelligence officials said drones were seen in the area before two missiles hit a house in Lawara Mandi area, believed to be used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Officials said the missiles could have been fired by US drones, but declined to confirm the origin of the strike.
A terrorist plot was foiled by the Frontier Constabulary in Bar Qambar Khel Bara in the Khyber Agency on April 27, reports Daily Times. During the operation, two terrorists, Shahid and Abdul Raziq, who were planning a major terrorist attack based on foreign directives, were arrested, the ISPR revealed. A large quantity of explosives was also recovered from the terrorists.
Five terrorists were killed on April 27 during an intelligence-based operation in the Gawak area of Mand in Kech District in Balochistan, reports Daily Times. Two Frontier Corps (FC) officials were also injured in the operation. Deputy Commissioner Kech Sirmad Ali Khan claimed they were involved in a series of terrorist activities in the area.
A suspected militant, Habibullah, was killed in an exchange of fire with Security Forces in Pasni town on April 30, reports The Dawn. According to Levies officials, security personnel launched a search operation in the Kolanch area after receiving information about the presence of militants there. ‘Heavy exchange of fire took place in the area, resulting in the killing of an armed militant,’ they claimed.
Security forces (SFs) on May 1 recovered an enormous store of arms from a car in Kot Pindi Das in Sheikhupura city, reports The News. The Motorway Police recovered approximately a hundred rifles, Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, and a huge cache of bullets from a car, two suspects have been arrested. According to Motorway Police, the accused were transporting the arms and ammunition from Islamabad to Lahore.
Successfully foiling attacks on two check posts of Army from across the border, Security Forces (SFs) killed three terrorists and injured several others in South Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on May 1, reports The News. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Army troops valiantly repulsed the attack, killing three ‘terrorists’ and injuring a number of others in an “intense exchange of fire”.
The Motorway Police on May 1 recovered a cache of arms and ammunition near Pindi Das area in Sheikhupura District of Punjab, reports The News. The Police said the arms were recovered near Pindi Das area from a car but no arrest was made as the two men travelling in the vehicle managed to flee. Around 100 rifles, Kalashnikovs and guns were recovered beside huge cache of cartridges, the Police said, adding that the arms were recovered from hidden parts of the vehicle. The Police said the arms were being brought to Lahore from Islamabad and were supposed to be used in acts of terrorism.
Two soldiers were killed in a militant attack on a security check post in the Maidan area of Tirah valley in Khyber Agency in the evening of May 1, reports Dawn. Official sources said that a group of unidentified militants attacked a check post killing two troops. They said that the attackers managed to flee after the incident taking cover of the darkness.
A 62-year-old Ahmadi man, identified as Basharat Ahmad, was shot dead in a suspected sectarian attack in Saddar area of Rahim Yar Khan District on the night of May 4, reports Daily Times. Basharat Ahmad was on his way to his house in Green Town from a petrol pump situated in Zahir Pir Road when unidentified assailants intercepted him and opened fire on him. The reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. However, it is suspected Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya spokesperson Saleemuddin claimed Ahmad was targeted because of his religious beliefs.
Security Forces (SFs) on May 9 recovered anti-tank mines, suicide jackets, IEDs and explosive cylinder during intelligence–based operations conducted in the Khyber and South Waziristan agencies, reports The News. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, these operations were conducted under the ongoing Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.
Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) claimed to have arrested three alleged terrorists at Taaja Shaakh (water channel), in the limits of Dadupur Police Station of Ghari Khairo tehsil (revenue unit) of Jacobabad district on May 10, reports Daily Times. LEAs recovered 3 kilograms explosive substance from their possession According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jacobabad ,Sarfraz Nawaz Shaikh, Dadupur Police and law enforcers cordoned off the area and succeeded in arresting three alleged terrorists, later, identified as Nawabuddin son of Meer Muhammad aka Sher Muhammad Sandrani, resident of Baluchistan province, Balach Khan by caste Banglani, resident of Thull town of Jacobabad, Karim Dino son of Waris Dino Banglani, resident of Thull town of Jacobabad and seized 3kg explosive substance from their possession, SSP claimed.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab claimed to have killed four terrorists of a banned outfit in Jahanian area of Khanewal District on May 14, reports The News. According to CTD, terrorist Usman Basra and Abdul Rehman were hiding in a house along with their associates when the cops launched action. Four terrorists including Usman Basra and Abdul Rehman were killed in the gunfight with CTD personnel. The CTD officials recovered 10 kilograms of explosives, hand grenades and other weapons from the site of shootout.
One militant killed and two Security Force (SFs) personnel sustained injures in an exchange of firing in Kalat town of same District in Balochistan on May 24, reports Daily Times. Sources said the SFs raided a hideout in Kalat where the suspected terrorists opened fire at the raiding party, leaving two SF personnel injured. The SFs retaliated and gunned down one of the militant.
A Chinese couple was kidnapped from the Jinnah Town area of Quetta in the afternoon of May 24, reports Dawn. According to Police, unknown abductors had forced the two foreigners into a vehicle at gunpoint and driven away. “A Chinese couple was kidnapped from the neighbourhood of Jinnah town in Quetta today. The couple was running a Chinese language centre,” Acting Deputy Inspector General Police Aitzaz Goraya said.
PAKISTAN
Nine Daesh commanders among 12 terrorists killed in Mastung
In sequel to the ongoing Operation Radd ul Fasaad, security forces conducted an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in Splinji, Mastung, and killed 12 suspected terrorists including nine commanders of banned outfit (Daesh).
The security forces successfully foiled suspected major terrorist activities in Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Apr 27. The operation lasted for two days as the terrorists were hiding inside a cave and were planning, coordinating and executing terrorist activities in the province.
An exchange of fire took place which resulted in the killing of 12 hardcore terrorists besides causing injuries to five security men, including two officers. — APP AFP adds: It was suspected that the group was holding two recently-kidnapped Chinese nationals.
Security forces also seized six suicide jackets, a cache of ammunition, explosives, detonators, solar panels and food rations, a security official said, adding the cave was a base used by the IS to plan attacks across the country.
The two Chinese workers were abducted last month in Quetta, raising safety concerns for Beijing’s multi-billion-dollar investments in the country. One Chinese woman managed to escape as the men began firing in the air to scare off onlookers. A passerby, Muhammad Zahir, was shot as he tried to prevent the abduction.
Pakistan extends house arrest of Hafiz Saeed wanted by US
Pakistan has extended the house arrest of Hafiz Saeed wanted by the US for another three months. Hafiz Saeed heads Jamaat-ud Dawa, a charity that is widely believed to serve as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said extension will give investigators more time to gather evidence against the charity. Pakistan placed Hafiz Saeed and four aides under house arrest in January and vowed to act against the charity and an affiliate, both of which have since resumed their work under new names.
Sindh Police’s work on plan for deradicalisation of militants begins this month
The Sindh Police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has decided to execute a comprehensive plan that its team had prepared for deradicalisation of militants from this month, Dawn reported on May 2. A core team comprising forensic psychiatrist and psychologist, facilitator or mediator, religious scholar and a CTD official has already been established for this purpose, sources said. A few young suspected militants, who are in custody for indulging in ‘minor’ activities, were selected for a pilot project in the first phase of the deradicalisation plan, said Sindh CTD chief Additional Inspector General of Police Dr. Sanaullah Abbasi. He said a number of sessions with those youngsters would be held possibly at the CTD office in Garden police headquarters and if need be, such sessions might be held at their residences.
Four hard core terrorists tried by military courts hanged, says ISPR
Four “hardcore terrorists” of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) tried by the military courts were hanged on May 3, reports Dawn. The four were said to be involved in “committing heinous offences related to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians, attacking armed forces of Pakistan and law enforcement agencies (LEAs),” an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.
Three persons killed, 21 others injured in Afghan forces firing at Chaman cross border gate in Balochistan
At least three people were killed and 21 others, including four FC soldiers, injured as Afghan forces fired at a census team in Chaman area of Qilla Abdullah District in Balochistan on May 4, reports The Express Tribune. The Afghan forces used heavy artillery to fire at the Pakistani side of the border, an official said. Security Forces (SFs) said Pakistani border forces retaliated to Afghan firing in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted, “Afghan border police opened fire on FC troops detailed for security of census in a village along Chaman border. One civilian killed and 18 others injured, including four FC soldiers.” “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,” the ISPR said in a statement. “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. Exchange of fire continues. Chaman crossing closed,” the statement said.
12 suspected IS militants killed in Balochistan
Security Forces (SFs) on May 3 killed at least 12 suspected Islamic State militants (IS) after three days of search operation to recover abducted Chinese nationals in Mastung District of Balochistan, reports Daily Times. “Some 12-13 IS commanders have been killed after intense gun-battles and the area was cleared late Saturday,” a senior security official said, but added that the Chinese pair were not recovered from the scene despite the presence of the vehicle used in their kidnapping nearby. The Chinese couple was abducted from the Jinnah Town area of Quetta in the afternoon of May 24.
12 persons killed and 40 others injured in Afghan attack during census in Balochistan
At least 12 persons — 10 civilians and one sepoy each from the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps (FC) lost their lives and around 40 others were injured in firing and shelling after Afghan forces attacked FC personnel guarding the staff conducting census in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman tehsil (revenue unit) in Qilla Abdullah District of Balochistan on May 5, reports Dawn. Earlier it was reported three persons were killed. According to official sources, Pakistani forces immediately retaliated after taking positions. Soon after the clashes began, the Pakistani authorities closed the Friendship Gate on the border. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted, “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,” the ISPR said in a statement. “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,” the statement added.
Lt Col Habib Zahir’s abduction: Pakistan waiting for info from Napalese govt
Pakistan is still waiting for credible official information from the Nepalese government to identify a clear trail of abduction of Lt-Col (retd) Habib Zahir by RAW just after his arrival at the Kathmandu on April 6 this year, the sources told The News here on Thursday, May 4. Pakistani media was abuzz with news reports about the latest information related to the abduction of Lt-Colonel allegedly by RAW agents showing he was trapped, kidnapped and shifted to India through Lumbini area, a border point between Sonauli and Tehsil Gorakhpur of Indian State of Uttar Pradesh.
The reports suggested that an Indian citizen Dolly Ranchen waited for three hours in the parking areas of the Kathmandu Airport on April 6 for the Lt-Colonel, who finally reached there via Muscat in flight number WY-344 at 1300 hours.
Habib Zahir was then taken from the Kathmandu Airport by Dolly Ranchen in a Toyota vehicle to the Sonauli area near the Nepal-India border. The SIM card of Habib Zahir received its last signal from Kalidaha Tower near Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini area.
There are 22 border crossings between Nepal and India but identification of the mobile phone signals near Maya Devi Temple indicated that Habib Zahir might have been taken to India from the Lumbini area.
An earlier probe by family and friends of the Lt-Colonel showed that he received an interview call from a UK telephone number generated via the internet. The email career@stratsolutions.biz and the website startsolutions.biz were hosted by a company called BigRock, which is registered in India. It was also traced out that the United Kingdom (UK) cell phone number (00447451203722) was used by someone named Mark Thomson to invite Lt-Col (r) Habib Zahir to visit Nepal for the interview.
Spokesman of the Foreign Office Nafees Zakaria told The News that “We are continuously in touch with the Nepalese authorities and they informed us whenever they get any credible information about the mysterious disappearance of Lt-Col from Nepal,” he said.
Operation to continue till peace restored to Karachi: COAS
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on May 6 that peace in Karachi is vital for stability in Pakistan and the operation will continue till complete restoration of peace in the city.
The army chief said this during his visit to the Karachi Corps headquarters, the ISPR said. He was briefed on the security situation in Karachi, progress of Operation Radd ul Fassad and support to census in Sindh.
The COAS appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) for their contributions towards successful execution of assignments. He also appreciated efforts of intelligence agencies and security forces in winning back dissident/ sub nationalist elements into the national mainstream through positive engagement.
General Bajwa reiterated that efforts will continue till restoration of complete normalcy in Karachi and the province. Earlier, the COAS was received by Commander Karachi Corps Lieutenant General Shahid Baig Mirza. The DG Rangers Sindh was also present.
Over 50 Afghan troops killed, five check posts destroyed, claims Army
The Army on May 7 said it had killed more than 50 Afghan soldiers in a clash on the Chaman border crossing in Qilla Abdullah District of Balochistan on May 5, reports The News. The skirmish took place on May 5 at the Chaman border that divides the Balochistan province and Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar, as officials were carrying out a census in the area. At least 12 persons — 10 civilians and one sepoy each from the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps (FC) lost their lives and around 40 others were injured in firing and shelling by Afghan forces in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas. “We are not pleased to tell you that five Afghan check posts were completely destroyed more than 50 of their soldiers were killed and over 100 were wounded,” Frontier Corps (FC) Major General Nadeem Ahmed said. “We are not happy for their losses but we were forced to retaliate,” he said. Afghanistan quickly denied the claim. “Very false claims by a Pakistani Frontier Corps that as many as 50 Afghan soldiers lost their lives in Pak (Pakistan) retaliation totally rejected,” tweeted Sediq Sediqqi, a Afghan Government spokesman.
Death by violence saw sharp rise in first quarter of year, says CRSS report
A report of an Islamabad-based security think tank Centre for Research & Security Studies (CRSS) shows that Sindh is the only province of the country where fatalities from violence have suddenly increased during the first quarter of this year, The News reported on May 18. The quarterly report issued by the CRSS, however, states that the other provinces show a decline in violence-related casualties, when compared to data from last year’s corresponding period. During the first three months of the current year, there were 1,129 reported casualties – 594 dead and 535 wounded – across Pakistan. Regionally, Sindh is the most violent region, followed by FATA, Punjab and Balochistan. Sindh is the only province to witness a rise in violence-related casualties. Unlike in the past, Karachi is not the principal factor in the rise in the rate of homicides, Muhammad Nafees, a Karachi-based security expert associated with the CRSS, told The News.
While ongoing military operations against proscribed militant outfits, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Laskhar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), have forced terrorists to go into hiding, the Islamic State (or Daesh) has shown its presence in Sindh and Balochistan by claiming major suicide attacks on two Sufi shrines, adds the CRSS report.
Army will fight terrorists, society should fight extremism, says COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on May 19 made a subtle distinction between terrorism and extremism, saying the military could only defeat terrorists but extremism is something civil society is better equipped to deal with, reports Dawn. He was speaking at a seminar in Islamabad, titled “Role of Youth in Rejecting Extremism”, attended by students, Army personnel as well as dignitaries from the world of academia. General Bajwa said extremism is the foremost factor driving terrorism, adding that though the former is a term “relative to our perception of what is normal,” it has a lot to do with the environment in which people live. “From that perspective,” he added, “We must admit that Pakistani youth is being exploited due to the poor governance [of the country] and lack of justice in society.”
26 Baloch militants surrender to authorities
As part of the ongoing reconciliation process, 26 militants belonging to various militant groups surrendered their weapons to authorities in Khuzdar District of Balochistan on May 19, reports Dawn. The militants surrendered at a ceremony organised at the Kalat Scouts campus in Khuzdar.
Weapons, drugs recovered from Mardan University
Weapons were recovered from the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan as it was reopened for the first time since Mashal Khan a student at the university was lynched by a mob on accusations of blasphemy.
According to media report, guns, pistols and knives were recovered from the university as police conducted a search operation. Police conducted a search operation at the university’s hostel early Monday (May 22) morning and recovered guns, pistols and knives. Drugs were also seized from the hostel.
The university was closed down and hostels were vacated to avoid further escalation of violence after the lynching incident. The university had remained closed for 40 days. A day earlier a gathering was held in Swabi to observe Mashal’s Chehlum. Members of civil society and leaders of political and religious parties present at a gathering called for giving exemplary punishment to the killers of Mashal.
Mardan police have so far arrested 53 suspects for involvement in Mashal Khan murder case including the key suspect Imran, who is suspected of having shot the student. However, police are yet to arrest Arif Khan a PTI councillor who was seen warning a crowd not to name Mashal Khan’s murderer after the student’s lynching.
REGIONAL
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Four Neo-JMB militants killed in Chapainawabganj District
Four Neo-Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) militants holed up at a den in Shibnagar Trimohoni of Chapainawabganj District was killed as Operation Eagle Hunt concluded on April 27, reports The Daily Star. Rafiq-ul Islam alias Abu was among the dead. The other three, believed to be Abu’s accomplices, were yet to be identified. Police said all the four persons were killed in suicide bomb explosions. Abu’s pregnant wife Sumaiya Begum and their six-year-old daughter Khadiza were rescued from the den. Police recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), bombs and pistols from the den.
Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three militants of Neo-JMB from Savar upazila (sub-District) of Dhaka District, reports Dhaka Tribune. A foreign made pistol, three rounds of bullets, bomb-making materials and jihadi books were recovered from their possession.
HuJI ‘regional commander’ arrested in Jhenaidah District
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the Jhenaidah District unit ‘military commander’ of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B) from Hathgopalpur village on April 29, reports Dhaka Tribune. The arrestee is Abdul Alim (50), a close aide of Mufti Hannan, the chief of HuJI-B hanged recently. The accused admitted planning sabotage in Chuadanga, Meherpur and Jhenaidah Districts, RAB said.
ABT IT chief arrested in Dhaka
Police on May 1 arrested the ‘Information Technology (IT) chief’ of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) in Bhatara area of Dhaka city, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee was identified as Mohamad Ashfaq-Ur-Rahman Ayon alias Arif alias Anik.
Five Neo-JMB militants arrested from different places
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on May 2 arrested three militants of Neo-Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) from Narayanganj District and Dhaka city, reports Dhaka Tribune. In Narayanganj District, RAB arrested Qaiqum Hauladar (32) and Selim (32), accused in an Anti-Terrorism Act case filed with Siddhirganj Police Station in April, from Ruposhi Bus Stand area. In Dhaka city, RAB arrested Mohamad Tomal Uddin (40), an accused in an Anti-Terrorism Act case filed with Adabor Police Station in 2014, from Baitul Aman Housing Society.
Meanwhile, RAB on May 3 arrested two Neo-JMB militants at Rupganj in Narayanganj District, reports New Age. Identities of arrested persons could not be known immediately.
Top ABT militant arrested in Rangpur
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on May 4 arrested a “member” of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), ‘Rangpur regional chief’ Zahid Hasan (28) alias Abu Zayed Al Ansar, along with explosive-making materials from Keranipara area in Rangpur, reports Daily Star.
Two Neo-JMB militants killed during operation in Jhenidah District
Two Neo-Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) militants were killed and two Policemen were injured during an operation in Jhenidah District’s Maheshpur area on May 7, reports The Daily Star. The militants were killed in suicide bomb explosion. The identity of the dead militant could not be known immediately.
Ahmadiyya mosque Iman hacked in Mymenshing
The imam of an Ahmadiyya mosque in Mymensingh District was critically injured after being hacked inside the mosque by a group of three men in a suspected militant attack on May 8, reports Dhaka Tribune. Imam Mostafiz-ur Rahman (35) of Khanpur mosque in Ishwarganj area was hacked by the assailants indiscriminately with sharp weapons inside the mosque. The attackers tried to flee as locals came to his rescue. One of the three attackers, Ahad, has been arrested by the locals. Police, however, did not say anything about the motive of the attack.
JMB’s IED supplier and associate arrested from Dhaka
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on May 7 arrested Jama’at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)’s Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) supplier and his associate from Ashulia area on the outskirt of Dhaka city, reports Dhaka Tribune. The arrestees are Imran and Rafiq. A huge stockpile of IEDs and explosives have been recovered from them.
Five suspected militants and one fire-fighter killed in militant hideout in Rajshahi District
Five suspected militants and one fire-fighter were killed in a militant hideout in Benipur village of Rajshahi District on May 11, reports Dhaka Tribune. Police said that they had asked the militants to surrender. But, they blew themselves up while coming out of the house. Fire-fighter Abdul Motin was injured in the blast. Five militants, including Sazzad, his wife Beli, their sons Alamin (30), and Soheb (25), and daughter Karima (18), died in the suicide bomb explosion. Meanwhile, fire-fighter Abdul Motin died when taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Shazzad’s another daughter Sumaiya and her two children have surrendered.
Two PBCP-ML militants killed in Rajbari
A ‘regional leader’ of Purbo Banglar Communist Party’s (PBCP-ML) Lal Pataka (Red Flag) faction and his aide were killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Goalanda upazila (sub-District) of Rajbari District on may 13, reports Daily Star. The deceased were identified as Rakib-ul Hasan Roky alias Bappi (35) [regional leader] and his aide Lalon Mollah (40). RAB recovered one foreign-made pistol and one 22 bore rifle, one shutter gun, one sword and 60 bullets from the spot.
India – Internal Dynamics
NIA arrests three State Government officers for funding militant groups in Nagaland
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on April 26, arrested three senior officials of the Nagaland Government for their alleged role in large-scale extortion and illegal ‘tax collection’ on behalf of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang faction (NSCN-K) from various Government organisations, reports The Telegraph. An NIA source said that, the accused – the joint director of the social welfare department, Tulula Pongen, the joint director of the land resources department, Alienba Pangjung Jamir, and a cashier of the land resources department, K. Lashito Shequi were arrested from Kohima in connection with case registered at its Guwahati branch last year (2016). The NIA had registered the case number RC-01/2016 following the arrest of an NSCN-K member, S. Khetoshe Sumi, in Dimapur on July 31 last year (2016). The subsequent probe revealed that at least 12 Government departments in the State regularly paid money to members of the NSCN-K and other militant organisations like the NSCN -Isak-Muivah faction (NSCN-IM) and the Naga National Council (NNC).
New militant group becomes active in Arunachal Pradesh, says NIA sources
A source from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that a new militant group of Nagas, named as Eastern Naga National Government (ENNG) has emerged in the Arunachal Pradesh in recent times, reports The Telegraph on April 27. The ENNG was formed in January last year (2016) by R. Stephen Naga to strengthen the “Naga army” in ‘eastern Nagaland’ to have a separate political entity and build up alliances with armed groups of Myanmar. The source said “In the last year, the new outfit has already served over two dozen extortion notes, mostly to contractors working in Arunachal Pradesh, demanding 3 per cent of the total order value as extortion money.”
Bihar ranks third among 10 states hit by Maoist violence
Bihar ranked third among the ten states hit by Left Wing Extremists (LWEs) violence in 2016, according to the data available on the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) website, reports The Times of India on April 28 from Patna District. Besides Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are the other states affected by LWE. The MHA figures say altogether 1048 incidents of LWE violence took place in these 10 states in 2016. Bihar was third with 129 incidents. Chhattisgarh with 395 incidents was on top followed by Jharkhand 323.
Two labourers killed in Manipur
Unidentified militants, in an ambush, killed two locals engaged for transporting water by the Border Road Organisation (BRO), identified as Lallianmang and Ginlam Khaute at a place near Behiang in Churachandpur District along the Indo-Myanmar border on April 29, reports Sangai Express. A heavily armed militant group reportedly waylaid the water tanker in with Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), and fired a volley of bullets on them at around 7.50 am, local sources said. The tanker was meant for transporting water meant for the Indian army posted at the border village.
Meanwhile, unidentified militants triggered a low intensity IED near the temporary Border Security Force (BSF) post at Nongren Chenjel under Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East District, reports Epao. No one was injured in the blast.
SF personnel killed, 11 others injured in two separate Maoist attacks in Maharashtra
A Security Force (SF) Personnel was killed and at least 11 jawans of Gadchiroli District Police and the 37 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained injuries in two separate incidents under Bhamragarh Taluka (administrative division) in Gadchiroli District on May 3, reports Indian Express. In first incident, two jawans of Gadchiroli Police and one CRPF constable were injured during an exchange of fire with Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres in the Koparshi-Pulnar jungle near Koti in Bhamragarh. Later, one of them succumbed to injuries.
Separately, a Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) of the C-60 Commandos came under a landmine attack by CPI-Maoist cadres near Kier village injuring at least nine SF personnel. According to Police, the Area Rakshak Dal and Gram Rakshak Dal of the CPI-Maoist triggered the blast by completing the circuit of explosives planted earlier.
SFs recovered arms, ammunition in search operation in Jharkhand
In a joint operation launched by the Jharkhand Police and 158 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a massive cache of arms and ammunitions was recovered from a Naxal [Left Wing Extremists (LWEs)] hideout in Lohardaga District on May 4, reports The Hindu. 5 7.62 mm Light Machine Guns (LMGs), 3 semi-automatic US made rifle, 3 AK 47s, a Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) rifle, three Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifle, five 303 rifles, four 315 rifles, communication sets, along with magazines and around more than 3000 ammunitions of different calibres were among the weapons and ammunition that were recovered.
Explosives recovered in Jharkhand
Lohardaga Police recovered a large cache of explosives, including 53 can bombs, one container bomb weighing 10 kilograms and 15 litres of fuel from Husru forest in Lohardaga District of Jharkhand on May 6, reports The Times of India. Lohardaga Superintendent of Police (SP) Kartik S said, “We have seized 93 can bombs each containing 500 gm of explosives, one container bomb of 10 kg, 20 bundles of codex wires of 10 kg each and some unidentified explosive powder and 15 litres of unidentified fuel. A gas welding and cutting machine along with a gas cylinder and 30-40 kg of iron rods which were meant to be used as splinters were also recovered. We will send the powder and the fuel for forensic analysis to know the chemical compositions. It will explain what were they meant to be used for.” The recovery made on May 6 was on the basis of disclosures made by surrendered Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘zonal commander’ Nakul Yadav and a tip-off received by the Lohardaga Police. According to Police sources, the explosives were hidden underground inside the forest.
Two Territorial Army personnel killed by militants in Manipur
Two personnel of the 165th Territorial Army Battalion, identified as Arjun Baral and Vareisho Hungyo, were killed and another two sustain serious injury after suspected Manipur people’s Army (MPA) [armed wing of United National Liberation Front (UNLF)] triggered an Improvised explosive device (IED) at Lokchoa area in Tengnoupal District on May 8, reports The Sangai Express. The injured personnel were identified as Toijam Chandra and Y Govind.
Meanwhile, a brief gun fight broke out between Security Forces (SFs) and suspected cadres of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) at Chingkhonglung under Tousem Police Station in Tamenglong District on May 8, added The Sangai Express. However no casualty from either side has been reported so far.
Bangladeshi national arrested on charges of espionage in Himachal Pradesh
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) arrested a Bangladeshi national, identified as Mohammad M Hussain on May 4 from near Lepcha check-post of Spiti (Lahaul-Spiti District) close to the Indo-China border on suspicion of espionage in the area reports The Times of India. ITBP apprehended him while he was sleeping and handed him over to the Spiti Police for further investigation. It is also learnt that he was pretending to be dumb and tried to convince cops that he hailed from Thane in Maharashtra. Later Police were shocked seeing his prowess over Hindi, English and Bengali. He eventually disclosed he was a Bangladeshi. He has been booked on charges of sedition and breaching national security.
“He doesn’t have any travel document, permission to visit the area and personal identity proof. He said his name is Mohammad M Hussain. We are interrogating him to get more details,” Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police Raman Kumar Meena said. Police have recovered a mobile phone believed to have been made in Bangladesh. He also carried a damaged SIM card. The cops have also recovered a map, small amount of flour and few bottles of tomato sauce from him. Charged with sections 123, 124A IPC, the suspect was produced before the court and has been sent to Police custody till May 10. Meena said that although Police suspect he is Bangladeshi and he himself has admitted it, but his identity cannot be verified because of lack of documents.
Two including a SSB trooper and a NDFB-IKS militant killed in Assam
An unidentified Sub-Inspector of 156th battalion Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and a suspected IK Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) militant were killed, in an encounter, in the in the forests around Manas National Park in Chirang District on may 9, reports Times Now. The SFs have recovered an INSAS rifle from the encounter site and efforts are being made to recover the body of the militant, an unnamed officials said.
Four districts on high alert as Maoists form new combat unit for revenge in Kerala
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres have formed a new ‘combat and operational’ unit at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu-Karnataka ‘tri-junction’ at Nilambur in Malappuram District on May 9, reports Manorama Online. The new combat unit is formed in a bid to ‘avenge’ the death of CPI-Maoist leaders Kuppu Devaraj and Ajitha at the Nilambur Kurulai forest area last year (2016). The new unit has been named Varahini Dalam. The Police suspected eight CPI-Maoist cadres to be part of the unit. Police stations and strategic institutions in Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts had been placed on high alert.
As per reports, the Varahini Dalam will work around the Wayanad Wildlife Reserve, Tamil Nadu’s Muthumala Wildlife center, and Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve. CPI-Maoist leader C.P. Moideen heads the unit. The new unit is the fourth that the CPI-Maoist cadres have. The other units are Kabani Dalam comprising of Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malapuram Districts, the Nadukani Dalam which focuses on Nilambur and Tamil Nadu’s Gudalur. The third one, Bhavani Dalam, is focused on areas like Palakkad and Coimbatore.
37 million painkillers from India seized in Italy, meant for IS fighters in Libya, says report
A ship load of tramadol, a synthetic opioid-like drug, from India to be sold to Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Libya to give them greater resilience has been seized by the Italian Police, on May 10, reports Hindustan Times. The 37 million tramadol pills, worth USD 75 million, were found packed into three containers at the port of Genoa, labeled as blankets and shampoo and set to be loaded on a freighter bound for Misrata and Tobruk in Libya.
Italian Police said the consignment had come from India and would have been used for two purposes: to help finance Islamist terrorism and for use by jihadist fighters as a stimulant and to heighten resistance to physical stress.
Boko Haram, the Nigerian terror group, is said to feed child soldiers dates stuffed with tramadol before sending them on missions. IS is already known for feeding its fighters Captagon, an amphetamine that blocks hunger, fear and fatigue. Italian investigators traced the tramadol shipment to an Indian pharmaceuticals company, which allegedly sold the pills for USD 250,000 to a Dubai-based importer, which then shipped them from India to Sri Lanka where they disappeared from the freighter’s documents.
Two DRG personnel injured in shootout in Maoist encounter
Two personnel of the District Reserve Group (DRG) were injured in an encounter with Communist Party of India-Maoist cadres in Bijapur District on May 14, reports The Hindu. Officials said the encounter took place at about 10:00 a.m. near the forests of Timarpur-Basaguda axis in the District, when a security squad led by the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had an exchange of fire with Maoists in the area. The CoBRA team, a special guerrilla and jungle warfare force of the CRPF, and other troops are still undertaking the operation and more details are awaited, the Officials said.
ULFA-I joining forces with other outfits, says Assam DGP
Sustained counter-insurgency operations against militants in the North-eastern region have hit the Independent faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) hard, forcing it to try combining forces with other militant outfits, says Mukesh Sahai, Director General of Police (DGP), Assam, reports The Sentinel on May 14. They are trying to put up a united platform to attack Government forces, the DGP added, while interacting with media persons recently. He further said that ULFA-I has been weakened but is still recruiting cadres. “We have information of a number of youths joining the outfit in recent times, some of whom we have nabbed. But the magnitude of recruitment is not like before. ULFA (I) is led by Paresh Barua, who is opposed to the government’s ongoing talks with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction. Barua leads hundreds of heavily-armed fighters from his camps in China-Myanmar border and in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division,” he said. The Assam DGP added, “Stringent operations against NDFB(S) are also going on in Sonitpur district, along with other probable sensitive areas in the State.”
Legislators also paying ‘levy’ to Naxals, says arrested Maoist in Bihar
Musafir Sahni, a self-styled ‘zonal commander’ of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPUI-Maoist), confessed during interrogation that one north Bihar Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) had recently paid INR 500,000 to CPI-Maoist in Muzaffarpur District on May 15, reports The Hindustan Times. Sahni further added that at least 25 elected people representatives, including three legislators, had been paying ‘levy’ to Maoists operating in north Bihar. Sahni was arrested along with two other CPI-Maoist cadres from Ramnagar village in Sakra Police Station area of the District on May 11.
Monthly Fatalities
The following deaths, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during period to April 26, 2017 to May 25, 2017:
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Arunachal P | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| Assam | 03 | 00 | 01 | 04 |
| Manipur | 04 | 02 | 02 | 08 |
| Nagaland | 02 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Left wing | 10 | 28 | 09 | 47 |
| Total | 20 | 30 | 13 | 63 |
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
TRC starts probe into cases
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on June 4 started the probe into the cases of rights violation committed during the decade-long Maoist insurgency from Province 6, reports Republica. A three-member probe committee headed by Joint-Attorney General of the Surkhet High Court has started investigation into over 10,000 complaints of Province 6. The committee includes advocate Bibas Kumar Basnet and Kaushila Yogi as its member. Over 10,000 cases of rights violations are registered with the TRC in Province 6. Officials said investigations into 1,000 complaints will be completed within three months.
Meanwhile, a Provincial level office of the TRC was set up in Biratnagar city of Morang District on June 4 to settle conflict-era cases of Province No 1, reports The Himalayan Times. The commission’s was set up to probe various incidents and cases that took place from 1996 to 2006. As many as 6,288 cases have been filed at the TRC from Province No- 1.
16 persons injured in clashes between NC and CPN-Maoist Centre cadres over civic polls in Rukum District
16 persons were injured in clashes between cadres of the Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Centre) over civic polls at different places in Rukum District on May 6, reports The Himalayan Times. Nine persons were injured when CPN-Maoist Centre cadres attacked NC cadres at Triveni Rural Municipality-8. Similarly, seven persons were injured in a clash when Young Communist League cadres threw an NC flag hoisted at the house of a Dalit candidate from the NC at Musikot-2at Musikot Municipality-2.
Earlier, in Nuwakot District, a group vandalized the Scorpio SUV (Ba 11 Cha 3499) owned by Ram Krishna Thapa, the NC candidate for Shivapuri Rural Municipality and set it on fire, reports The Himalayan Times.
Meanwhile, a jeep used in the election campaign was set ablaze in Thankre Rural Municipality of Dhading District on May 6, reports The Himalayan Times. The jeep (Ba 9 Cha 8929) was vandalized and set ablaze in Sangramtar. The four-wheeler was parked on the premises of the residence of Raj Kumar Poudel, a Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) candidate for Ward Chair of Thankre-2.
Separately, Police have arrested four persons including the Janakpur Zonal Bureau Chief of Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN- Maoist) in possession of bomb making materials from Bardibas in Mahottari District on May 7, reports The Himalayan Times.
Earlier, three cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-Maoist were arrested from different parts of Sindhuli District on May 6 for carrying out activities against the May 14 local elections, reports The Himalayan Times. The arrestees are Juddha Bahadur Bishwokarma, Sujan Shrestha and Bodhraj Ghimire.
One person killed in clash between CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre cadres in Dolakha District
A man succumbed to injuries after cadres of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Centre) clashed at Jungu of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality in Dolakha District on May 9 during their campaigns for the upcoming local level elections, reports Republica. CPN-UML cadre Kul Bahadur Tamang succumbed to the injuries when he was being rushed to a hospital. In the same brawl, a local teacher Dil Bahadur Budhathoki, who is believed to be close to the CPN-UML and Maoist Center’s candidate for ward-chairman Bharat Karki have sustained serious injuries.
Meanwhile, Police arrested two Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN- Maoist) cadres for their involvement in anti-poll activities from Shivaghat of Bharatpur Metropolitan City in Chitwan District on May 9, reports The Himalayan Times. Police recovered some explosives and two pieces of detonators from them.
RPP candidate found dead, bomb explodes
A candidate of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) was found dead in Kavre District headquarters, Dhulikhel, on May 11, reports Republica. The deceased is Sukalal Tamang (55), of Dhulikhel Municipality-12. He was RPP candidate for member of ward-12.
Meanwhile, a powerful bomb was exploded on May 12 morning at the house of RPP leader Madhab Khatri at Duwakot Village Development Committee (VDC) in Bhaktapur District, reports Republica. The explosion has damaged the house of RPP leader who had contested the election to the Constituent Assembly (CA) from Bhaktapur constituency-2.
Similarly, a bomb planted at a public place near the Purano Kawasoti intersection at Kawasoti – 3 in Nawalparasi District on May 11, reports Republica. The bomb that targeted a Nepali Congress (NC) assembly actually went off but did not cause human casualties.
Separately, on May 11, a bomb was recovered at the residence of Mahendra Pokharel, NC mayoral candidate for Kawasoti Municipality in Nawalparasi District, reports Republica. The Nepal Army bomb disposal squad defused the bomb the same night.
On the same day, a bomb was planted near the residence of Durga Datta Dhungana, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Centre) mayoral candidate for Gaindakot Municipality in Nawalparasi District, reports Republica.
Another bomb was found at the residence of Dasiram Basyal, a CPN-Maoist Centre’s mayoral candidate for Kawasoti Municipality in Nawalparasi District the same day, reports Republica.
Two bombs explode in separate incidents in Saptari and Kaski District
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded at Survey Office in Rajbiraj, the District headquarters of Saptari District on May 12, reports The Himalayan Times. The bomb which exploded at the office garage damaged a motorcycle and a cycle and blew away the roof of the office building and the garage walls developed cracks. However, no human casualty was reported as the incident happened when there were no service seekers at the office. Meanwhile, an underground armed Tarai outfit Akhil Tarai Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (ATJTMM) has taken responsibility for the incident. Issuing a press statement after the incident, ATJTMM Coordinator, Jay Krishna Goit said that his outfit had exploded the bomb to warn against rampant corruption at the survey office.
Meanwhile, an unidentified group exploded a bomb at the premises of the Barahi Higher Secondary School, a polling centre for ward no 6 in Lakeside of Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City in Kaski District late on May 12, reports The Himalayan Times. Baidam Police suspected that the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) cadres could be involved in the incident. However, no human casualties were reported in the explosion.
Separately, Nepal Army’s Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused two bombs planted at two separate locations in Dhangadi Sub Metropolitan City in Kailali District on May 13, reports Republica. A presser cooker bomb with a placard reading khatara’ and translated as ‘dangerous’ was found at Traffic Chauraha Bazaar in downtown Dhangadi, while another presser cooker bomb wrapped inside a jute bag was found at a roadside in Manhera Bazaar. According to District Police Office, Kailali Spokesperson, Bir Bahadur Budhamagar, the authorities believe that the Maoist cadres led by Biplov group are behind the activities aimed at spreading terror among the voters.
Also, the BDS defused a pressure cooker bomb found on the premises of Nepali Congress (NC) Ward Contact Office in Sharadpur of Bharatpur Municipality-9 in Chitwan District on May 13 morning, reports The Himalayan Times. Security personnel found the object to be a 2.5-litre pressure cooker bomb, said Police. The bomb was later defused at an open space, according to Police. Police suspected the involvement of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist cadres in the terror plot.
Three persons killed
One Nepali Congress (NC) cadre died in Police firing during a clash with cadres of Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) in Melung Rural Municipality of Dolakha District on May 14, reports The Himalayan Times. The one killed in Police firing is identified as Nukul Bhujel. Police reportedly resorted to firing to contain violent situation at Pabati polling centre of Melung Rural Municipality during local level elections.
Meanwhile, Dhanarup Batala, a ward chairman candidate from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in Naraharinath Rural Municipality of Kalikot District, succumbed to injuries on May 14, reports Republica. Batala, the candidate of ward number 6 of the Naraharinath, had received bullets in afternoon after Police open fire when cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) tried to capture the ballot boxes. Three others were injured in the incident.
Separately, a CPN-UML activist was killed on May 14 at Pipalbhanjyang area in Dhading District, reports Republica. Laxman Chepang (30) was beaten to death with a stick inside an under construction house. Police recovered his body covered with a tarpaulin sheet and zinc sheet. Officials also recovered a blood stained stick beside the dead body.
Pressure cooker bomb defused
Nepal Army has defused a pressure cooker bomb in Parasi, the District headquarters of Nawalparasi, on May 17, reports The Himalayan Times. The bomb was planted near the office gate of the Nawalparasi District Contractors Association.
Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics
Tamils and Muslims state Hartal paralyzing North-East
Tamil and Muslim groups in the North-East on April 27 staged a Hartal (General Strike) calling for the Government to release the lands that are still under occupation of the security forces, mete justice to the disappeared persons and provide employment to the war-battered, reports Colombo Page. The Hartal organized by the Tamil National Council (TNC) and supported by the North East trade associations, businesses, bus and three-wheeler associations, teachers’ unions and voluntary organizations paralyzed the North-East. The Hartal is also backed by all major Tamil and Muslim political parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF).
ITAK decides to integrate rehabilitated LTTE cadres into party as part of bid to give them opportunity to involve in political affairs
Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), the main Tamil party of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on April 29 said the party has decided to integrate rehabilitated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres in to the party as part of a bid to give them the opportunity to involve in political affairs, reports Colombo Page. ITAK party spokesman MA Sumanthiran told that the party took the decision at the party’s central committee meeting held in Batticaloa. “Considering the rehabilitation, livelihoods and political life of former LTTE members, the ITAK has agreed to obtain their assistance for the party’s political work,” Sumanthiran said after the meeting.
TNA says ‘perturbed’ by proposed Counter-Terrorism Act
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on May 4 said it is ‘perturbed’ by the proposed Counter-Terrorism Act, reports Colombo Page. The TNA said in a statement they were ‘shocked’ by the extent to which the draft framework “curtails civil liberties, erodes judicial control over the state security apparatus and the staggering potential for abuse and torture.” However, the TNA said the party is “unequivocally committed” to supporting a legal framework to prevent and punish terrorism. “We are unequivocally committed to supporting a legal framework that would prevent and punish acts of terrorism in a manner that is lawful, in compliance with fundamental rights and the rule of law. To this end, we have engaged constructively in Parliament. We are therefore deeply perturbed by the turn the government’s latest draft has taken,” the TNA said.
Cabinet approves to implement National Reconciliation Policy drafted by ONUR
The Cabinet on May 2 approved the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena to implement the National Reconciliation Policy drafted by Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) Chaired by Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, reports Colombo Page. The policy was prepared by discussing with all the relevant parties to affirm reconciliation and coexistence in the country and to prevent a future conflict. “The decision by the Cabinet of Ministers to approve the policy is historic given that this is the first-ever National Reconciliation Policy to have adopted by Sri Lanka,” the ONUR said in a statement.
‘SL embassies sheltered criminals’
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister on May 5 accused the previous administration of using its embassies abroad as “safe houses” for murderers accused of perpetrating human rights abuses during the civil war.
Mangala Samaraweera told parliament a deputy ambassador posted to Brazil and two staffers sent to Germany were among those suspected of murders and war crimes that were sheltered in embassies by the former government. The minister said the envoy sent to Brazil by the Mahinda Rajapakse government was accused of murdering another embassy employee and committing human rights abuses in the dying days of the decades-long conflict, which ended in 2009.
Meanwhile the two given postings in Berlin were key suspects in the 2009 high-profile assassination of newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, a Rajapakse critic, he added.
Both have since been remanded in custody over the murder, which triggered international outrage.
INTERNATIONAL
Syrian Army takes Aleppo from IS
Syria’s army on Apr 27 seized a key town from the Islamic State group in the east of Aleppo province, a military source said, nearing its goal of expelling the jihadists from the region. The capture of Maskana, on the western bank of Lake Assad, comes as part of a major Russian-backed military operation that began in mid-January to drive the jihadists from Aleppo province.
Maskana was a key target for the Syrian army, and lies around 15 kilometres (10 miles) from neighbouring Raqa province, where the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are expected to soon launch an assault on the IS bastion of Raqa city. Syria’s army is not so far expected to play a role in that operation.
A military source told AFP the “Maskana area is the last important civilian population centre on the eastern border of Aleppo province before Raqa province. Whoever controls Maskana controls the axes running between Aleppo city and Raqa city,” he added. IS presence in the east of Aleppo province is now “at its end”, he added.
The Syrian army has captured more than 200 towns and villages since it launched its operation in the east of Aleppo province, after retaking the provincial capital in December.
IS now holds just a handful of “scattered villages that can easily be captured in the east and southeast of Aleppo province, in desert areas,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.
Chemical weapons used 45 times in Syria
Experts from the world’s watchdog tasked with destroying chemical weapons are probing reports that toxic arms have been used 45 times in Syria since late last year, the body’s chief said on Friday, Apr 28.
Director general Ahmet Uzumcu said there was “a huge list of allegations” of the use of toxic arms reported to the operations hub of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In the “second part of 2016, 30 different incidents, and since the beginning of this year, 15 separate incidents, so 45,” he told a reporters, brandishing a list of several pages which he chose to keep confidential. They include the April 4 sarin gas attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun that was reported to have killed 88 people, including 31 children.
The OPCW is currently trying to ensure it is safe enough to deploy its fact-finding team to the town for further analysis, after Uzumcu said last week that “incontrovertible” test results from OPCW-designated labs on samples taken from victims showed sarin gas or a similar substance had been used.
The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has “already stated that they would support this mission, actually they have invited us to go via Damascus,” he said. “The problem is that this area is controlled by different armed opposition groups, so we need to strike some deals with them to ensure a temporary ceasefire, which we understand the Syrian government is willing to do,” he added.
UK foils terror plot
British police said on Friday, Apr 28 they had arrested six people as part of an active plot, the day after a knifeman was arrested near parliament in a separate counter-terrorism operation.
A woman in her twenties was shot on Thursday evening when armed police raided a property in north London as part of a counter-terrorism investigation, firing CS gas as they entered. Six people have been arrested as part of the probe, while the woman — who is also suspected of involvement — remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Hours earlier, a 27-year-old man was arrested near parliament on suspicion of terrorism offences and possession of knives, in what police confirmed had also been an unrelated but ongoing investigation. Media reports said he was a British national who was born overseas and grew up in London, but police declined to confirm the details until and if he was charged.
Asked if police had foiled an active plot, he said: “Yes.”
Britain’s national terror threat level has been at “severe”, meaning an attack is highly likely, since August 2014 and remained unchanged after the attack on parliament on March 22.
N Korea fires missile, defying US push for new sanctions
North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday, Apr 29 in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons ambitions.
The latest launch, which South Korea said was a failure, came just hours after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the UN Security Council of “catastrophic consequences” if the international community most notably China failed to pressure the North into abandoning its weapons programme.
Military options for dealing with the North were still “on the table”, Tillerson warned in his first address to the UN body.
The launch ratchets up tensions on the Korean peninsula, with Washington and Pyongyang locked in an ever-tighter spiral of threat, counter-threat and escalating military preparedness.
US President Donald Trump, who has warned of a “major conflict” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s regime, said the latest test was a pointed snub to China — the North’s main ally and economic lifeline.
The US is deploying a naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier to the Korean peninsula, and a missile-defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) that officials say will be operational “within days”.
North Korea recently conducted its biggest-ever firing drill and has threatened to “bury at sea” the US aircraft carrier, amid signs it could be preparing for a sixth nuclear test.
Turkish authorities block access to Wikipedia
Turkey on Saturday, Apr 29 blocked all access inside the country to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, the communications agency said, in the latest restriction on a popular website to hit Turkish users. Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) said it had implemented the ban on wikipedia.org, without making clear the reason for the move.
Turkish media said that the ban was imposed because Wikipedia had failed to remove content promoting terror and also linking Turkey with terror groups. There was no indication as to when the ban might be removed, with a formal court order expected to follow in the next days.
A block affecting all language editions of the website in Turkey was detected from 0500 GMT after an administrative order by the Turkish authorities, the Turkey Blocks monitoring group, which watches internet restrictions in the country, said in a statement.
Residents in Istanbul were on Saturday morning unable to access any pages of Wikipedia without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), AFP correspondents said.
The BTK confirmed the ban in a statement but gave no details. No reason was given for the order to block Wikipedia. Other websites, including leading social media, appeared to be working normally.
But the Hurriyet daily said Turkish authorities had been in contact with Wikipedia to press for the removal of content by writers “supporting terror” and also claiming Turkey collaborated with terror groups. It said the site had failed to respond to the demands and, as a result, the ban was imposed.
No further details were given but Turkey has always taken a hard line against what it calls “terror propaganda” in favour of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Drone strike kills 5 Qaeda suspects in Yemen
Five suspected members of Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch were killed Sunday, Apr 30 in what local authorities said was a US drone strike east of the capital Sanaa. The early morning strike targeted a car in central Marib province that had been transporting arms from Yakla in Baida province, a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The official said the car belonged to a known local leader of Yemen’s al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which the United States views as the radical group’s most dangerous branch.
Sunday’s strike comes 24 hours after a similar raid killed three suspected AQAP operatives in southern Shabwa province, which has been a central target of the US military.
Yakla was the target of the controversial January 29 air raid ordered by US President Donald Trump, his first since taking office. That raid, during which US special operations forces entered an AQAP compound in Yakla, killed a Navy SEAL and several Yemeni civilians, including a child with US citizenship.
The Pentagon has confirmed more than 70 strikes against Jihadist targets in Yemen since February 28.
Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the chaos caused by more than two years of civil war in Yemen to expand its presence in the war-torn country.
US-led fight on ISIS kill 352 civilians
At least 352 civilians have been killed in US-led strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria since the operation began in 2014, the US military said in a statement on Sunday, Apr 30.
The Combined Joint Task Force, in its monthly assessment of civilian casualties from the US coalition’s operations against the militant group, said it was still assessing 42 reports of civilian deaths. It added that 45 civilians were killed between November 2016 and March 2017. It reported 80 civilian deaths from August 2014 to the present that had not previously been announced.
The report included 26 deaths from three separate strikes in March.
The military’s official tally is far below those of other outside groups.
Monitoring group Airwars said more than 3,000 civilians have been killed by coalition air strikes.
Turkey sacks 107 judges, prosecutors
Turkey dismissed 107 judges and prosecutors over alleged links to a failed coup in July last year, Turkish television reported on Friday, May 5 in the third major purge since President Tayyip Erdogan was granted sweeping new powers.
Turkey has now fired about 145,000 civil servants, security personnel and academics, local media reported.
The number of ousted judges and prosecutors has reached 4,238.Ankara has blamed the network of the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for a coup attempt last July in which he has denied all involvement. Detention warrants were issued for the dismissed judges and prosecutors, Turkish TV said.
More than 40,000 were arrested in the aftermath of the failed putsch in which 240 people were killed, mostly civilians.
Turkey on Saturday expelled more than 3,900 people from the civil service and military as threats to national security, after a referendum in April which rights groups and some Western allies say brought the country, a Nato member and European Union candidate, closer to one-man rule.
Egyptian forces kill eight Brotherhood members
Egyptian security forces killed eight militants they identified as members of the Muslim Brotherhood in a shootout in the country’s south, the interior ministry said on Monday, May 8
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has launched the toughest crackdown on Islamists in Egypt’s modern history after toppling President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. Egypt outlawed the Brotherhood later that year and has designated it a terrorist group. The organisation maintains that its activities are peaceful and had no immediate comment.
An interior ministry statement said those killed included Helmi Saad Masri, whom it described as a prominent Brotherhood leader.
The statement did not identify the exact location of the shootout but said police came under heavy gunfire while trying to approach the group and had to respond with force.
5,000 Chinese Uighurs fighting in Syria
Up to 5,000 ethnic Uighurs from China’s violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang are fighting in various militant groups in Syria, the Syrian ambassador to China said on Monday, May 8 adding that Beijing should be extremely concerned about it.
China is worried that Uighurs, a mostly Muslim people who speak a Turkic language, have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight for militants there, having travelled illegally via Southeast Asia and Turkey.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the killing of a Chinese hostage in 2015, highlighting China’s concern about Uighurs it says are fighting in the Middle East.
Syria’s ambassador in Beijing, Imad Moustapha, told Reuters on the sidelines of a business forum that while some of the Uighurs were fighting with Islamic State, most were fighting “under their own banner” to promote their separatist cause.
Beijing has never given a number for how many Uighurs it believes are fighting in the Middle East, but has repeatedly warned they pose a serious threat to China. It is not possible to independently verify the number of Uighurs in Syria.
IS-claimed suicide bombings kill 35 in Iraq
Suicide bombings at checkpoints in Baghdad and south Iraq claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 35 people and wounded dozens more, officials said on Saturday, Mat 17.
The bombings, which hit Iraq the previous night, came as Iraqi forces battle IS in Mosul in a massive operation launched more than seven months ago to retake the country’s second city from the Jihadists.
In Baghdad, suicide car bombers attacked in the area of a checkpoint in the city’s southern Abu Dsheer area, killing 24 people and wounding 20, Brigadier General Saad Maan told AFP.
Current Threat Levels
City/Region Threat Level
Islamabad Level 2 **
Karachi Level 2 **
Lahore Level 2 **
Punjab Level 2 **
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Level 3 **
Peshawar Level 2 **
Quetta Level 2 ***
Upper Balochistan Level 3 ***
Lower Balochistan Level 2 **
Upper / Rural Sindh Level 2 **
Gilgit and Northern areas Level 3 **
Tribal areas, close
to Afghan border Level 3 ***
Index to Threat Level References
Threat Level 1 *
No threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required.
Threat Level 2 **
No specific threat to foreigners, however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised, especially if traveling.
Threat Level 3 ***
Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation.
Threat Level 4 ****
Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law and order leading to possible anarchy. All foreigners to remain indoors and confined to their own city. Families and staff not required to be evacuated retaining only a skeleton staff.
Threat Level 5 *****
Indicates complete breakdown of law and order, enemy action/hostilities, invasion/ occupation by enemy.
