Naxalites of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), Maoists in short, suffered severe blows in two separate encounters with security force (SF) personnel in Bastar region of the central Indian State of Chhattisgarh. The SFs have been making significant headway since the past few months there, penetrating once impregnable areas in Bastar that comprises hilly-forested Abuj Mad. Notably a detained former Maoist State Committee secretary is waiting permission to pursue higher studies from jail.
Jammu and Kashmir recorded a decline of 70 per cent in terrorist violence in 2024 since 2019, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reportedly said in a testimony to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. While there have been no terrorist attacks in J&K, law enforcement agencies have tightened their grip over those facilitating infiltration from across the border or connected with narco-terrorism.
In the North East, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been re-imposed in Manipur, while the ban on HNLC has been extended in Meghalaya.
Besides other seizures, there have been two separate major hauls of narcotics -- off the Gujarat coast and Andaman Sea.
Digital Arrest frauds running into several crores plagued victims in different parts of the country. An attempt was made to defraud even a police officer in Kerala; the alert officer foiled it. Well educated people are falling victim to this crime.
In a pioneering initiative the MHA approved the formation of the first all-woman battalion for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that primarily guards public sector undertakings, airports and sea ports.
Ten Maoists killed in Sukma encounter
Ten Maoists were killed, on November 22, 2024, in an encounter with security forces in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. According to police, among those killed was a Maoist commander who had been involved in encounters over the years that have led to the deaths of 60-80 jawans.
The encounter began at around 9 am on Friday in the forest area of village Bhandarpadar, approximately 60 km from Sukma district headquarters and 15-20 km from the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. The identity of six of those killed has been established. The Maoists were armed with automatic weapons like INSAS, AK-47, SLR, officials said. The weapons were seized by security forces during search operations after the firing. [1] This takes the total number of Maoists killed in the State in 2024 to 210.
Five Maoists killed in Bastar
Five Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Abuj Mad, Bastar region, on November 16, 2024. Two jawans were also injured in the operation. [2]
The joint operation by the specialised anti-Maoist unit District Reserve Guards (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) began after receiving information about the presence of Maoists in north Abujhmad. The encounter lasted four hours, police said, adding that five bodies have been recovered from the site, along with weapons such as an INSAS rifle and a SLR rifle. Operations are still ongoing, said sources.
Maoist leader with Rs 20 lakh reward surrenders
A wanted woman Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), carrying a reward of Rs. 20 lakh, identified as Kodi Manjula (46), alias Nirmala, on November 14, 2024, surrendered in Warangal, Telangana. She was working as the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member, South Sub-Zonal Bureau. The police commissioner handed over a cheque of Rs. 20 lakh to her as part of the rehabilitation programme. [3]
Hailing from Budharaupeta village in Khanapur mandal of Warangal district, Manjula was involved in five exchanges of fire between 1995 and 2019.
Eight Maoists held in Bijapur
District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the local police eight Maoist cadres in an anti-Naxal operation between Usoor and Tekmetla villages, Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, on November 16, 2024. They were planning to plant an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Usoor-Tekmetla route to target Security Forces (SFs). [4]
Maoist Sabyasachi Panda to pursue Masters degree
Sabyasachi Panda, once the Odisha State Committee Secretary of the CPI(Maoist), who later parted ways with the outfit, presently lodged in Berhampur Circle Jail, has applied for permission to pursue Masters degree in Public Administration. Five others (non-Maoists), too, applied for permission to pursue higher studies. Jail authorities said permission would be received soon and they would be provided with study material. [5]
Four Janasakthi cadres held
Telangana Police arrested four individuals in Adilabad district, on November 22, 2024, foiling an alleged attempt to revive the banned Naxal outfit Janashakti group in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district. [6] Adilabad Superintendent of Police Gaush Alam said firearms procured from Bihar -- four 7.65 mm pistols, 18 live rounds, eight magazines, six mobile phones, and a car were seized during a routine vehicle check on the outskirts of Adilabad town.
The main accused, Venkata Reddy sought to rebuild the Janashakti organisation in Kurnool district with financial support from the fourth accused.
Seventy per cent decline in terror incidents in J&K
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed over 70 per cent decline in terror-related incidents under the Narendra Modi Government since 2019, according to a Union Home Ministry presentation to a Parliamentary Panel.
Official sources said that while making the presentation, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs that despite a decline in terror-related cases in the past five years, threats from militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad continued to loom large. [7]
About casualties in security forces, the Ministry said 77 security personnel were killed in various incidents in 2019. In 2020, a total of 58 security personnel were killed, 29 in 2021, 26 in 2022, 11 in 2023 and seven so far in 2024. Attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir have also come down from 141 in 2019 to just three in 2024 so far, the Home Ministry said. However, the number of terrorists eliminated has also come down from 142 in 2019 to 44 so far this year (November 2024).
Terrorist hide out busted in Jammu
Police in Handwara, on November 24, 2024, along with Army and CRPF personnel busted a terrorist hideout in the forest area of Mughalpora Kremhora and recovered ammunition and explosives. Acting on a specific input, Police along with Army’s 15RR and CRPF 92Bn, launched a meticulous combing operation in the forest area of Mughalpora Kremhora, Police Post Zachaldara. [8]
During the operation, a terrorist hideout was discovered, and a significant cache of explosives and ammunition, including 10 grenades was recovered from the site.
NIA raids premises of infiltration facilitators
National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials, on November 21, 2024, simultaneously carried out raids at eight locations spread over five districts of Jammu region[9] targeting Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who had been facilitating infiltration of the terrorists from across the Line of Control (LoC) as well as the International Border (IB). All eight locations raided by different teams of the NIA who had reportedly facilitated the infiltration attempts by the terrorists from Pakistan on the LoC and IB. Locations of the OGWs were searched in Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu region.
The searches led to the seizure of various materials showing linkages between terrorists of banned outfits with overground workers (OGWs) and hybrid terrorists whose premises were searched. Premises of sympathizers and cadres of these organisations were also searched as part of the crackdown. The suspected hybrid terrorists and OGWs of today searches were linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of the banned terrorist outfits... based on information regarding the infiltration of active terrorists belonging to LeT and JeM into Indian Territory through the international Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC). [10]
Ban on ULFA extended
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on November 25, 2024, Monday extended the ban on the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for five years for continuing to work to secede Assam from India and maintain links with other insurgent groups for extortion and violence, according to a notification issued by the ministry. [11]
The outfit was first banned in 1990 and since then the ban has been extended periodically. It was last banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, of 1967 on November 27, 2019. The notification said that ULFA, along with all its factions, wings and front organisations, has been involved in such activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
MHA extends ban on HNLC
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the ban for five years on Meghalaya-based insurgent group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), on November 13, 2024, for its involvement in violent incidents and for carrying out activities prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity. In a notification, the MHA said the Central government is of the opinion that the HNLC has declared objective for secession of areas in the Meghalaya, largely inhabited by Khasi and Jaintia tribes, and continued intimidation and bullying of the civilian population to extort funds for their organisation. [12]
AFSPA re-imposed in parts of Manipur
A year and a half after the start of ethnic violence in Manipur, the MHA, on November 14, 2024, Thursday re-imposed the Disturbed Areas status under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the jurisdiction of six police stations in the state’s valley areas, including violence-hit Jiribam. The MHA issued the notification, citing the “volatile” situation in Manipur and instances of “active participation of insurgent groups in heinous acts of violence”. The Disturbed Areas status, which was in place for all of Manipur except 19 police stations in the Meitei-dominated valley areas from where it was withdrawn between April 2022 and April 2023, has now been extended to the jurisdictions of Sekmai and Lamsang police stations in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Moirang in Bishnupur, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Jiribam police station in Jiribam. [13] Meanwhile there have has been a extend ASFPA to all the districts in the State.
Bodies of six persons killed by Kuki militants recovered
Bodies were recovered, on November 15, 2024, of a woman and two children -- of the six people who went missing from a relief camp on November 11, following a gunfight between Kuki militants and security forces (SFs), near Jirimukh village, Jiribam District of Manipur. [14] A day later, three more bodies of woman were recovered. They were all abducted on November 11, after a thwarted attack by Kuki militants.
On November 16, civil society groups in Manipur have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government, demanding decisive action against armed militant groups. Manipur witnessed unrest again Saturday evening after a mob attempted to breach the residence of Chief Minister Biren Singh. [15]
Coast Guard seizes six tonnes narcotics
In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized a vessel with six Myanmarese crew carrying 6,000 kg of contraband Methamphetamine near Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on November 24, 2024.
The drugs were found packed in around 3,000 packets of 2 kg each, which are worth several crores of rupees in the international market.
On November 23, the pilot of a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft while on routine patrolling noticed a suspicious movement of a fishing trawler near Barren Island which is nearly 150 km from Port Blair... “the pilot alerted the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Immediately, our nearby fast patrolling vessels rushed towards Barren Island and towed the fishing trawler to Port Blair.” [16]
700 kg narcotics seized in Gujarat
In a joint operation, on November 15, 2024, carried out by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Indian Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police, a vessel with consignment of approximate 700 kg of Meth was interdicted in the territorial waters of India. (eight) 08 foreign nationals found on the vessel without any identity documents have claimed to be Iranians. [17]
Continuous intelligence collection and analysis resulted in generating a reliable input that an un-registered vessel, which does not have any AIS installed on it will be entering in Indian waters with Narcotic drugs/Psychotropic substances. Operation codenamed “SAGAR-MANTHAN-4” was launched on this intelligence input and the vessel was identified & interdicted by Indian Navy by mobilising its mission-deployed maritime patrol assets resulting in the above said seizure and apprehension on November 15, 2024.
A series of such maritime operations have been launched by NCB in coordination with the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard and till now about 3,400 kg of various narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substance have been seized and 11 Iranian Nationals and 14 Pakistani Nationals have been arrested in three cases, who are all in jail awaiting trial.
Hunt on for narcotics kingpin Haji Salim
Crackdown efforts have been launched to trace Haji Salim, one of the most wanted drug kingpins in the Indian Ocean region. His network is suspected to be responsible for a massive drug pipeline spanning multiple countries, from Pakistan to India and beyond, officials said.
The effort is part of 'Operation Sagar Manthan', which was started early this year by NCB by constituting a team of officers of Operations Branch of NCB headquarters and officers of Operations/Intelligence Wing of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and ATS Gujarat Police to counter the threat to national security emanating from maritime trafficking of illicit drugs.
Apart from India and Pakistan, Salim's alleged massive smuggling syndicate is responsible for trafficking large quantities of narcotics across several other countries such as Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Multiple international law enforcement agencies including those in the United States, Malaysia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, New Zealand, and Afghanistan are on the lookout for him. NCB officials have seized drugs worth an estimated Rs 40,000 cr in the past two and a half years alone. [18]
Narcotics smugglers arrested in Punjab
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurasv Yadav said Amritsar district police, on November 19, 2024, arrested five persons and seized and 3.9 kg heroin, three Glock Pistols, a 1.32 bore pistol. The arrested persons were in contact with Pakistan-based operatives using drones to smuggle drugs and arms into India. [19]
Amritsar rural police have seized a total of 6.5 kg of heroin across four separate cases. Additionally, the Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted a drone and seized 3 kg of heroin near Mullakot border village, reports said on November 21, 2024. [20]
BSF seizes drugs in West Bengal
On November 23, 2024, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel seized a consignment of 69,347 Yaba tablets worth Rs 6.9 cr and foiled a smuggling operation, near the India-Bangladesh border in Ghojadanga in North 24 Parganas District, West Bengal. The drugs were found in a backpack. [21]
J&K: Narco-terror accused arrested, properties attached in separate cases
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a wanted accused in a 2020 Kashmir narco-terror case linked with a conspiracy of banned Pakistan-based terrorist organisations to procure and sell narcotic drugs to raise funds for promoting terrorism... NIA, which took over the case and re-registered it as RC-03/2020/NIA/ JMU on June 23, 2020, under various sections of IPC, NDPS Act and UAPA, has filed a series of charge sheets so far against a total of 15 persons. [22]
Police, on November 25, 2024, attached properties worth Rs 1.60 crore in two separate cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Anantnag district, officials said.
The Aishmuqam police station has attached and froze properties (double-storey building and shop) belonging to Mushtaq Ahmed Ahanger, a resident of Hapatnar, valued at around Rs 1.3 cr. [23] In a separate operation, the Anantnag police station attached a double-storey building with six shops worth Rs 30 lakh belonging to Bashir Ahmed Mir in Sadoora.
11.6 cr cyber fraud in Mumbai
In the second biggest cyber fraud of the year in Mumbai, a 75-year-old Colaba-based retired ship captain was duped of approximately Rs 11.16 crore by cyber fraudsters through a share trading scam. The South region cyber police, on November 25, 2024, registered an offence in the matter.
Between September 5 and October 19, the complainant sent Rs 11,16 crore in 22 transactions to various bank accounts as directed by the accused persons, the FIR stated.
In April this year, a senior citizen from the city’s western suburbs was duped of nearly Rs 25 crore in the digital arrest cyber fraud method. It is the biggest cyber fraud case in Mumbai this year. [24]
10 cr ‘digital arrest’ fraud in Delhi
A 72-year-old retired engineer was duped of more than 10 cr after being kept on ‘digital arrest’ for eight hours at his house in Rohini, Delhi, police said, on November 15, 2024. [25]
On a complaint from him, an FIR has been filed by the Delhi Police's Cyber Cell of the district and it was further investigated by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) wing. Police managed to freeze Rs 60 lakh as the money was further distributed in several bank accounts.
Separately, Uttar Pradesh Police launched an investigation after a Noida resident found herself at the receiving end of a new cyber fraud trend, wherein she was duped of more than Rs 11 lakh and held under ‘digital arrest’ for a day, officials said, on November 23, 2024. This is the first case in the new trend of ‘digital arrest fraud’ lodged at the Cyber Crime police station in Noida. [26]
Elsewhere, a media report from Kerala, on November 17, 2024, said ‘digital arrest’ fraudsters attempted to swindle a police officer of the ‘cyber cell’ in Kerala’s Thrissur. The officer played along for 45 minutes, but the fraudsters disconnected the video call after they saw him in his uniform. [27]
Mumbai woman loses 4 cr in ‘digital arrest’ fraud
A 77-year-old woman from Mumbai was duped of Rs 3.8 crore by cybercriminals acting as an IPS officer and other law enforcement authorities in the longest-ever ‘digital arrest’. In a fake money laundering case, the woman was threatened with arrest and placed under digital arrest for a month.
The scam started with a random WhatsApp call from an unidentified number. The woman got a WhatsApp call one day informing her that the package she had shipped to Taiwan had been stopped. According to the caller, five passports, a bank card, four kg of clothing, and MDMA drugs were confiscated. Mumbai Crime Branch officials said, on November 26, 2024, the cybercriminal also gave the woman a phony notice stamped by the Crime Branch to make the call appear authentic.
For a full day, the woman was asked to remain on the video call. Initially, 15 lakh rupees were transferred. The scammers would phone her again and threaten to turn on the video if the video call was interrupted for any reason. For a month, this went on. And, the woman ended up losing approx Rs 4 crore. [28]
First all-woman battalion for CISF
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government has approved the 1st all-women battalion of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
In a post on X, he said, “... the Modi government has approved the establishment of the first all-women battalion of the CISF. To be raised as an elite troop, the Mahila Battalion will shoulder the responsibility of protecting the nation's critical infrastructure, like airports and metro rails, and providing VIP security as commandos. The decision will certainly fulfil the aspirations of more women to participate in the crucial task of protecting the nation.” [29]
References
[1] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sukma-encounter-maoists-killed-chhattisgarh-9683079/
[2] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/encounter-breaks-out-between-security-personnel-and-naxalites-chhattisgarh-9672701
[3] https://telanganatoday.com/warangal-cpi-maoist-woman-member-with-rs-20-lakh-reward-surrenders
[4] https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Nov/17/eight-naxals-planning-attack-on-security-forces-held-in-chhattisgarh-2
[5] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/maoist-leader-sabyasachi-panda-pursues-masters-in-public-administration-from-jail-at-age-55/articleshow/115389117.cms
[6] https://news.abplive.com/states/telangana/telangana-police-arrest-four-for-attempting-to-revive-naxal-group-seize-arms-1733208
[7] https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/civilian-safety-in-jk-prime-concern-mha-to-parl-panel/
[8] https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/terrorist-hideout-busted-in-j-ammunition-and-explosives-recovered/
[9] https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/nia-raids-ogws-houses-at-8-places-in-jammu-regions-5-distts/#google_vignette
[10] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1841_1_PR21112024.pdf
[11] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-extends-ban-on-ulfa-for-5-years-under-unlawful-activities-prevention-act-101732551192371.html
[12] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/govt-bans-meghalaya-based-insurgent-group-hnlc/articleshow/115298558.cms?from=mdr
[13] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-afspa-violence-jiribam-mha-9669599/
[14] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/protest-breaks-out-in-imphal-valley-after-3-bodies-found-in-manipurs-jiribam-district/articleshow/115355089.cms
[15] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/manipur-protests-after-biren-singhs-house-attacked-meitei-group-issues-24-hour-ultimatum-7037731#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll
[16] https://www.rediff.com/news/report/coast-guard-seizes-6000-kg-methamphetamine/20241125.htm
[17] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2073666
[18] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pakbased-lord-of-drugs-haji-salim-under-ncb-radar-after-massive-seizures-101731801342360.html
[19] https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Nov/22/punjab-police-busts-trans-border-arms-smuggling-network-six-arrested-ten-pistols-recovered
[20] https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/rural-police-seize-6-5-kg-heroin-in-four-separate-cases/
[21] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/major-drug-bust-near-india-bangladesh-border-bsf-seizes-yaba-tablets-worth-6-9-crore-in-north-24-parganas/articleshow/115657588.cms
[22] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1840_1_PR20112024.pdf
[23] https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/police-attaches-rs-1-6-cr-worth-properties/
[24] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/75-year-old-man-loses-over-rs-11-cr-in-mumbais-second-biggest-cyber-fraud-of-2024-9692111/
[25] https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/retired-delhi-engineer-cheated-of-rs-10-crore-via-digital-arrest-7021217#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll
[26] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/new-scam-noida-woman-digitally-arrested-duped-of-rs-11-lakh-4627048#pfrom=home-ndtvelex_live_day_watch_live
[27] https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cyber-criminal-swindle-kerala-cop-9673596/
[28] https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/you-are-under-digital-arrest-all-about-rs-4-crore-fraud-in-mumbai-nc-124112600896_1.html
[29] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2072993
