Internal Security Monitor (16-30 April, 2025) Vol 1, No 13

Dr P V Ramana

May 1 , 2025 Views: 163 Comments: 0

Twenty-six people, including army personnel, families on holiday and couples on honeymoon were brutally massacred by terrorist of The Resistance Front in Pahalgam, Jammu Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sternly warned Pakistan of a befitting reply that would be beyond their imagination. Immediately retaliating, India kept in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty, 1960, exercising its sovereign right.

Across the political and social spectrum India as one voice condemned the terrorist act as cowardly and demanded strict punishment and a befitting reply. Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a unanimous resolution condemning the attack.

The investigation in to the case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency.

Earlier, after a similar attack, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Pakistan is stuck with its old habit of promoting cross-border terrorism in India.

Over 100 surrenders of Maoists have been reported from various affected Sates. Security forces have launched a massive combing operation in Chhattisgarh. The Central Committee of Communist Party of India (Maoist) reiterated its demand for time-bound cease-fire and unconditional talks. Political and civil society leaders have supported this demand.

Separately, National Investigation Agency has filed charge sheet in a Jammu court against three terror accused. A suspect in Punjab terrorist attacks has been arrested. Supplementary charge sheet has been filed in the 2022 Coimbatore suicide attack.

Police in Gujarat seized cocaine worth Rs 42 crore. Meghalaya police have busted a huge narcotics network.

India warns Pakistan of befitting reply

India on April 25, 2025, rattled Pakistan amid strong signals of a build-up to a Pulwama-type retaliation, or even a stronger response, to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent people.

The stage was set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who echoed the anger of the nation when he declared that “India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers” and will “pursue them to the ends of the Earth” to punish them “beyond their imagination.^[1]”

Pakistan stuck with bad habits: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the 2008 Mumbai terror attack marked a turning point in relations with Pakistan when Indians collectively felt that such behaviour from a neighbouring country could no longer be tolerated.^[2]

In contrast, Pakistan has remained unchanged, continuing with what he termed as its “bad habits.” He said, “India has changed. I wish I could say Pakistan has changed. They unfortunately, in many ways, are continuing their bad habits. I would say the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack was the turning point. I think that was when the Indian public, across political parties, said this is too much,” he said.

Twenty-six tourists killed in Kashmir

In a dastardly act, at least 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed at the famous hill station of Pahalgam, on April 22, 2025.^[3] An official said that terrorists opened fire at civilians at Baisaran meadow in the hills of Pahalgam killing at least 26 of them, mostly tourists. The attack is the deadliest in Kashmir since the Pulwama strike in 2019 on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy.

The 26 dead included two locals, 24 tourists including a Navy officer and two foreigners from UAE and Nepal. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), claimed responsibility.

Police announced a bounty of Rs 20 lakh for information leading to the neutralisation of terrorists involved in the gruesome killing of tourists.^[4] Twenty-six people, including 24 tourists, were killed when terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon. The horrific incident is the deadliest attack in the valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. The dead included two foreigners and as many locals.

J&K Assembly unanimously condemns Pahalgam attack

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution condemning attack on innocent civilians at Pahalgam on April 22, 2025,^[5] describing “such acts of terror” as “direct assault on the ethos of Kashmiriyat, the values enshrined in the Constitutions and spirit of unity, peace and harmony that have long characterized Jammu and Kashmir and the nation.” It also supported diplomatic measures initiated against Pakistan.

After debate and reply by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the one-day special session of Legislative Assembly lasting a little less than three hours, unanimously passed the resolution which was put to vote by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.

Police search several houses of terrorists

Police in Kashmir carried out raids at dozens of places in Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region as part of the massive clampdown on the terror ecosystem launched after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead.^[6] “The searches were conducted in accordance with proper legal procedures in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses under the supervision of the officers of Jammu and Kashmir,” police said.

Union Minister Gadkari highlights Gadchiroli transformation

Once known as a stronghold of Naxalite activity, Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, is now witnessing a wave of positive transformation driven by education, infrastructure, and employment, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.^[7]

Mr Gadkari recalled visiting Gadchiroli nearly three decades ago during a tense electoral campaign period. “Twenty-nine years ago, Gadchiroli was infamous for Naxal violence. The police had to surround me during my visit,” he said. “But today, there are 1,200 teachers and 30,000 students in the district.”

Naxalism in last phase: CM Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the State’s long-standing battle against Naxal insurgency is now in its final phase. His assertion came during a solemn wreath-laying ceremony held at the Jharkhand Jaguar Headquarters in Ranchi, where the mortal remains of Constable Sunil Dhan were honoured.^[8]

Mr. Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar jointly paid floral tributes to a fallen jawan, who succumbed to injuries sustained in an improvised explosive blast.

Maoists reiterated demand for peace talks

Reiterating that the CPI (Maoist) is ready for peace talks, the banned outfit’s North-West Sub-Zonal Bureau has renewed its call for halting the ongoing offensive against Maoists by security forces, which it called a ‘surround and destroy’ operation along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.^[9]

A statement issued by ‘Rupesh’ of the CPI (Maoist) called upon the government to stop the ongoing ‘Operation Kagar’ for one month to create a favourable environment for peace talks for the peaceful resolution of the problem through dialogue. He said, “Despite the opportunity to peacefully resolve the problem through dialogue, the government is trying to resolve it through repression and force.”

Separately, in a statement issued on April 25, 2025, Central Committee spokesperson ‘Abhay’, the Maoists called for a time-bound cease-fire and reiterated their demand for unconditional peace talks.

Telangana government favours peace talks

A peace dialogue committee lead by a former Judge of the Telangana High Court, Justice Chandramouli and retired Professor Hargopal met with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and requested him to impress upon the Union Government to hold peace talks. The Chief Minster responded positively and said he would discuss with the Congress leadership.^[10] He discussed the matter with senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and senior Congress leader of Telangana K Jana Reddy, who had lead the peace talks with the Maoists in 2024.

Hold peace talks: Chandrasekhar Rao

Alleging that tribals and youth are being killed in the anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh, former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao urged the Centre to halt the ‘operation Kagar’. Addressing a public meeting organised in Hanumakonda, on April 28, 2025, to celebrate the silver jubilee of Bharat Rashtra Samiti, he favoured holding talks with the CPI (Maoists).

“Today, the Central government, in the name of Operation Kagar, is killing youth and tribals in Chhattisgarh. It is not fair," he said. Referring to the reported proposal of Maoists for peace talks, he said eliminating the ultras with the use of force (by the Centre) is not in the spirit of democracy.

“I am requesting the Central government. It is not democracy that you go on killing people. Operation Kagar should be stopped immediately. Give naxalites democratic space and hold talks,” he said.

Maoist tunnel-hideout discovered in Telangana

Joint police forces uncovered a vast Naxalite hideout deep within the dense forests of the Karangutta hills, Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, during a search operation on April 26, 2025.^[11] According to senior officials, the cave could shelter up to 1,000 insurgents and contained a large cache of arms and ammunition. Investigators seized automatic rifles, explosive materials and sophisticated communication equipment. Inside the cave, officers discovered a narrow, concealed tunnel at the rear, which emerges on the opposite side of the hill. “This passage would have allowed cadres to move covertly and evade capture,” said a police spokesperson.

Maoist leader Manjhi killed in Jharkhand

In the first major Maoist encounter in two years in Jharkhand, eight alleged members of the banned CPI (Maoist), including Prayag Manjhi alias Vivek, a member of its Central Committee, who carried a bounty of rupees one crore on his head, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Bokaro district. The encounter came after the security forces set out on an operation in the Lugu Pahad area.

Fifty-five Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh

In two separate incidents, 55 Maoists surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh. Twenty-two Maoists, including nine women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the police and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), citing disappointment with ‘hollow’ and ‘inhuman’ Maoist ideology and atrocities on local tribesmen.^[12]

In another incident, 33 Maoists with a collective bounty of over Rs 50 lakh surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Bijapur districts While 22 cadres, including nine women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 11 others, including two women, surrendered.^[13]

Twenty-three Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh

At least 23 Maoists, including seven women, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, on April 29, 2025, as confirmed by a senior police official.^[14]

The surrendered Naxalites were members of the Bhairamgarh Area Committee of the Maoists in south Bastar. They laid down their arms before police officials and personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), according to Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai. Their decision to surrender was influenced by the police's rehabilitation initiative called ‘Lon Varratu’. Separately, 15 Maoists escaped after an exchange of fire in the Maredumilli agency area in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh.^[15]

Fourteen Maoists surrender in Warangal

In a significant development, 14 members of the banned CPI (Maoist), including two senior Area Committee Members (ACMs), surrendered to Telangana police in Warangal on April 24, 2025.^[16] The surrender took place before Inspector General of Police (IGP) Multi Zone-I, S. Chandrashekhar Reddy. Each surrendering Maoist was provided with Rs 25,000 as immediate financial assistance to support their reintegration into society.

NIA charge sheet on Kashmir terror accused

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today filed a charge sheet against three accused, including a Pakistani handler, in a terror conspiracy case involving seizure of arms and ammunition in the border district of Poonch.^[17] The charge sheet was filed before a special NIA court in Jammu. It named Abdul Aziz, Munawar Hussain and Nazir Hussain as accused in the case under Section 61 (2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Samihiti (BNS), 2023 read with Sections 13, 17, 18, 20, 23 and 38 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act.

Nazir Hussain, currently active in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK), is an operative of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) terrorist organization, a statement issued by the NIA today said.

Mr Karan Singh on Jammu and Kashmir terror attacks

Expressing concern over the recent terror attacks in the Jammu region, veteran Congress leader Karan Singh, on April 18, 2025, urged the government to shift the Jammu division back under the Nagrota Corps from Western Command in Chandigarh to ensure better and integrated dominance of the area, in view of increasing terror attacks.^[18]

“I trust the civilian and military authorities are making every effort to track down the militants as soon as possible. My deep sympathy to the bereaved families and prayers for the recovery of those wounded in these attacks,” he said.

Anti-terror grid strengthened in J&K

Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat said that efforts are on to strengthen the counter-terrorism grid and tackle the cyber criminals in Jammu and Kashmir.^[19] “The counter terrorism grid has been strengthened and new technologies are being developed to identify and nail the cyber criminals,” Prabhat said in his address at a passing out parade in Ganderbal. “We are thankful to the Centre and Ministry of Home Affairs for providing us with all the support and help,” he said.

New CoBRA units for J&K

The Central Reserve Police Force has decided to raise a special CoBRA battalion for counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, 17 years after this jungle warfare unit was raised in the paramilitary to undertake operations in Naxal-affected states.^[20]

CRPF Director General (DG) Gyanendra Pratap Singh announced this during the 86th Raising Day event of the force held Neemuch which is the ‘birthplace’ of about 3.25 lakh strong world’s largest paramilitary force. The DG said the force was in the process of raising a new Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) for Jammu and Kashmir, as directed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to the CRPF chief, the futuristic unit will be used to enhance operational activities of the force in the Union Territory.

Fourteen extremists arrested in Manipur

Fourteen extremists were arrested from six districts – Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur and Jiribam. Of the 14 ultras, four cadres each were arrested from Imphal East and Thoubal districts while three were held from Tengnoupal district, one each from Imphal West, Bishnupur and Jiribam districts.^[21]

The detained militants belonged to Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), PREPAK and Socialist Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (SOREPA) outfits. The arrested militants were involved in various crimes including extortion of money from the government employees, contractors, traders and common people in different districts.

Ripples of Pulwama attack felt in North East

In the wake of the cowardly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, police forces across the north-eastern States have intensified their crackdown on provocative and “anti-national” content circulating on social media.^[22] Officials confirmed that at least 25 individuals — including a sitting MLA, a government employee, a retired teacher, a student leader, and a lawyer — have been arrested or questioned over their online activities in Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

Punjab terror suspected arrested

An Indian, wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab and who is alleged to have collaborated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been arrested by the FBI, the US agency said.^[23]

Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia alias Jora, an “alleged terrorist who had illegally entered the US”, was arrested by the FBI and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Sacramento.

NIA charge sheet in Coimbatore blasts

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on April 17, 2025, filed a charge sheet against five more persons in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria inspired Coimbatore car bomb explosion case of 2022, in which the suicide bomber who perpetrated the blast was killed.^[24]

In its fourth supplementary charge sheet in the case RC-01/2022/NIA/CHE, NIA has charged Sheikh Hidayathullah, Umar Faaruq, Pavas Rahman, Sharan Mariappan and Aboo Hanifa for their involvement in terror financing and other activities linked with the terror attack that had targeted a Hindu temple in Coimbatore. With this, a total of 17 accused have been charge sheeted in the case so far.

Property of drug peddler attached in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir Police have attached a property worth rupees one crore belonging to a notorious drug peddler in Poonch. The action was taken under Section 68-F (2) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.^[25] The attached property includes a double-storey building and a residential house built over 7 marlas of land owned by one Mohammad Hafiz of Kunnian, Poonch.

Meghalaya police bust narcotics racket

Cachar Police, Meghalaya, achieved a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking, arresting 10 individuals and seizing a significant quantity of suspected heroin in four separate operations.^[26] The coordinated raids were conducted based on credible intelligence inputs. The estimated value of the confiscated narcotics in the black market is around rupees two crore.

Gujarat police seize Rs 42 cr worth cocaine

In the biggest drug seizure in Goa's history, police recovered over four 4 kg of cocaine valued at Rs 43 crore, concealed in chocolates and coffee packets, leading to the arrest of three individuals and an investigation into suspected international links. Superintendent of Police (Crime) Rahul Gupta told reporters, on April 15, 2025, that a husband-wife duo and another person were arrested in Chicalim village, South Goa, for possessing cocaine. “The ... [consignment] was concealed in 32 chocolate and coffee packets.

Mumbai customs seize huge cocaine consignment

Customs officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai, booked a case on the seizure of suspected cocaine weighing 785 grams having an illicit market value of approx. Rupees seven crore and eighty-five lakhs.^[27] A foreign passenger was arrested. On the basis of spot profiling he was intercepted by the Customs Officers at the airport. Upon questioning, the passenger exhibited signs of nervousness and uneasiness. Further examination and medical investigation revealed that the passenger had swallowed multiple yellow-coloured pellets, which were later found to contain white coloured crumbled substance purported to be Cocaine.

Andhra police seize hash oil

In a major anti-drug operation, the Special Task Force (STF) Central Team on Wednesday seized 23 kilograms of hashish oil in Maradapalli village, Pedabayalu mandal, within Paderu limits.^[28] The contraband was smuggled from Odisha. Three accused—repeat offender Vantala Mahesh, Chinna Rao, and supplier Kurra Dasu—were arrested.

Two Odisha-based suppliers and a local receiver are absconding. Hashish oil is made by boiling ganja leaves with petroleum jelly and filtering the vapour through muslin cloth.

Cyber-attacks on India

India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Tuesday said the country has seen a sharp rise in cyber-attacks, with such incidents increasing by nearly 300% between 2021 and 2024.^[29]

Speaking at the launch of ‘Cyber Shikshit Bharat’ in New Delhi, Mr Kant also revealed that during the G20 Summit in September 2023, the summit’s official website faced over 16 lakh cyber intrusion attempts per minute.

Mumbai lady loses rupees two crore in cyber fraud

Cyber fraud cases in Mumbai show no signs of slowing down. In a recent incident, an elderly resident of Nana Chowk, Mumbai, was duped of rupees two crore and twenty-one thousand to fraudsters posing as Provident Fund managers and verification officers.^[30] A case has been registered but no arrests have been made yet. This is not the first time Mumbaikars have fallen prey to such scams. Cyber criminals often outsmart the city police by swiftly transferring stolen funds through a complex network.

IC4 advisory on online booking frauds

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting religious pilgrims and tourists across the country.^[31] These frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, Facebook posts, and paid advertisements on search engines like Google. These scams involve the creation of professional-looking but fake websites and social media profiles and WhatsApp accounts offering services such as: helicopter booking for Kedarnath, Chaar Dhaam; guest house and hotel booking for pilgrims; online cab/taxi service bookings; holiday packages and religious tours.

RPF deploys drones

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has procured 45 drone cameras to strengthen the surveillance and monitoring of railway land across the NFR zone. It is a measure initiated to protect the railway land from illegal activities and encroachments by leveraging AI-powered technology. “Enhancing this capability further, dedicated AI-based software is currently under development. This advanced system will enable the detection of fresh encroachments.^[32]

References