VIF News Digest: National Security - Defence Studies & Terrorism, (01–15 August 2023)
Anurag Sharma, Senior Research Associate, VIF

Defence

  1. Port call of INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata to Port Moresby.
  2. Border Roads.
  3. Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) between Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard Kattupalli and the US.
  4. Rajya Sabha passes Inter-Services OrganisationBill – 2023.
  5. Chief of the Army Staff Reviews 201stSovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Academy.
  6. Indian Navy Participates in Bilateral Naval Maritime Partnership Exercise with UAE Navy.
  7. MALABAR-2023 at Sydney, Australia.
  8. 19thRound of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting.
  9. Indian Air Force Inducts new Heron Mark 2 Drones.
  10. Indian Air Force recommences relief operations in Himachal.
  11. Indian Air Force Gets Israeli Spike Missiles.

International Terrorism

West Asia
  1. “Islamic State still has thousands in Syria and Iraq and poses Afghan threat”: UN Experts.
  2. Islamic State claimed responsibility of killing 33 Syrian soldiers in Deir el-Zour province.
Africa
  1. Somali soldiers have been killed in a bomb explosion in Mogadishu.

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir
  1. NIA raided seven locations in Kashmir ‘NGO Terror Funding’ case.
  2. Police arrested two JeM terrorists in Srinagar.
Left-Wing Extremism
  1. Eight Maoists were arrested in joint operation in Telangana.
  2. CPI (Maoist) politburo member arrested from Bihar.
Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)
  1. NIA raided multiple locations in five States in “PFI Conspiracy” case.
  2. Police arrested an ABT terrorist in Assam.
  3. NIA arrested 6th accused in “Pune Islamic State module” case.
  4. NIA arrested a PFI operative from Bihar.
  5. NIA arrested a key conspirator in ‘West Bengal Detonators and Explosives Seizure’ case.
  6. NIA arrested 17th accused from Hyderabad in ‘HuT module’ case.
Khalistan-inspired Extremism
  1. Canada pledges ‘strong’ action against Khalistan extremism.
Narco-Terror Nexus/Organised Crime Syndicate
  1. NIA arrests two key operatives of ‘Arsh Dala’ gang from IGI Airport, Delhi.

Defence

Port call of INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kolkata, mission deployed in the Eastern IOR, visited Port Moresby from 02 – 05 Aug 23, for enhancing maritime partnership and cooperation with Papua New Guinea. During the port call, the ships had the honour to host Hon’ble Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Mr James Marape.Click here to read…

Border Roads

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) during the last three years has constructed a total of 2,445.54 Km of roads in ten states and three UTs at a total cost of Rs 2432.2 crores.Click here to read…

Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) between L&TShipyard and the US

There is no reciprocal agreement in existence or in negotiation to allow the repairs of Indian Ships in American Shipyards. However, a Master Shipyard Repair Agreement (MSRA) has been signed on April 04, 2023 between Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard Kattupalli and the US for voyage repairs of US Navy vessels. MSRA with M/s Mazagon Docks Limited and M/s Goa Shipyard Limited is at an advanced stage. MSRA qualifies a shipyard to compete for carrying out ship repair projects for US Navy.Click here to read…

Rajya Sabha passes Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill – 2023

The Rajya Sabha, on August 08, 2023, passed the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill - 2023. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 04, 2023. The bill seeks to empower Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel serving in or attached to such organisations.Click here to read…

Chief of the Army Staff Reviews 201stSovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Academy

The Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande PVSM. AVSM, VSM, ADC reviewed the 201stSovereign’s Parade held at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst on August 11, 2023. A total of 185 Officer Cadetspassed out from the Academy at the parade.Click here to read…

Indian Navy Participates in Bilateral Naval Maritime Partnership Exercise with UAE Navy

Two Indian Naval Ships INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand, under the command of Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, visited Port Rashid, Dubai from 08 - 11 Aug 2023 to participate in a bilateral Naval Maritime Partnership Exercise with the UAE Navy.After two days of detailed planning, the two navies conducted the bilateral Maritime Partnership Exercise today, aimed to enhance the interoperability and synergy between the two navies.Click here to read…

MALABAR-2023 at Sydney, Australia

Indian naval warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkataare participating in Exercise MALABAR 2023 off Sydney from 11 - 21 August 23 along with ships and aircraft from the US Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).Click here to read…

19th Round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting

The 19thround of India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on 13-14 August 2023. In line with the guidance provided by the leadership, they agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through military and diplomatic channels. In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas.Click here to read…

Indian Air Force Inducts new Heron Mark 2 Drones

The Indian Air Force has inducted the new Heron Mark 2 drones on August 13. Their remarkable ability to remain airborne for a continuous 36-hour period makes them invaluable for conducting numerous surveillance missions across different sectors consecutively.Click here to read…

Indian Air Force recommences relief operations in Himachal

Western Air Command, IAF on Tuesday recommenced its relief operations in Himachal Pradesh where many areas are havocked by heavy rains. The IAF rescued 150 citizens from various rain-affected areas of the state.Click here to read…

Indian Air Force Gets Israeli Spike Missiles

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received the Israeli Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) anti-tank guided missiles which can hit targets from distances up to 30 km. These missiles are now going to be integrated with the Russian-origin fleet of Mi-17V5 helicopters.Click here to read…

International Terrorism

West Asia
“Islamic State still has thousands in Syria and Iraq and poses Afghan threat”: UN Experts.

In a report circulated on 14 August 2023, the United Nations (UN) experts highlighted that Islamic State (IS) terror organisation still has between 5,000 and 7,000 operatives across Syria and Iraq, and its terrorists pose a serious threat in Afghanistan in current time. “The group (IS) has adapted its strategy, embedding itself with local populations, and has exercised caution in choosing battles that are likely to result in limited losses, while rebuilding and recruiting from camps in the northeast of the Syria and from vulnerable communities, including in neighbouring countries,” said the UN experts.Click here to read…

Islamic State claimed responsibility of killing 33 Syrian soldiers in Deir el-Zour province

On 11 August 2023, Islamic State (IS) terrorists ambushed two army trucks and killed at least 33 Syrian soldiers in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. The death toll rose to 33 as some of the wounded succumbed to their injuries.Click here to read…

Africa

Somali soldiers have been killed in a bomb explosion in Mogadishu

On 10 August 2023, several Somali soldiers were killed in a bomb explosion as a military vehicle drove over a landmine near Darussalam area in Mogadishu. According to local media reports, all six soldiers aboard the vehicle died. A day before, six people were killed in a roadside explosion between Marka and Qoryooley districts. Reportedly, al-Shabaab terror group has been in conflict with Somali government and African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia since 2007.Click here to read…

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir
NIA raided seven locations in Kashmir ‘NGO Terror Funding’ case

On 01 August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out widespread searches in seven locations in four districts of Kashmir— Srinagar, Budgam, Kupwara, and Pulwama districts, in connection with NGO terror funding case. Raids were conducted at the homes and offices of Trusts and people connected to the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS), an NGO that supports in the funding of terrorist organisations. Additionally, raids were conducted in areas associated with the NGO's programme coordinator Khurram Parvej and his partner Irfan Mehraj.Click here to read…

Police arrested two JeM terrorists in Srinagar

On 09 August 2023, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police arrested two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists— i) Arshad Mushtaq, and ii) Suhail Majeed Mir, from Srinagar. Srinagar police also recovered two grenades from their possession.Click here to read…

Left-Wing Extremism
Eight Maoists were arrested in joint operation in Telangana

On 02 August 2023, Telangana police arrested eight Maoists in Bhadradri Kothagudem, in Telangana. The arrests were made as a part of a joint operation, carried out by Charla police, Special Party Personnel (SPP), and 141 and 81 Battalions of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), in the Tippapuram forest area of Charla Mandal. The arrested Maoists were members of the Kanchala Rasapalli RPC Militia Committee of the Pamed Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist terror group and had been working with the group for the last two years.Click here to read…

CPI (Maoist) politburo member arrested from Bihar

In a joint operation carried out on 10 August 2023, security forces arrested key Maoist ideologue and CPI (Maoist) politburo member— Pramod Mishra, from Gaya district, Bihar. Mishra and his associate— Anil Yadav were arrested in an operation conducted on an intelligence input, said Gaya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ashish Bharti. Mishra was accused on 14 November 2021, in Dumaria massacre in which four people of a family were killed and hanged to avenge the death of four Maoist cadres. He was appointed to the CPI (Maoist) central committee in 2004, following the merging of the MCC and the People’s War Group (PWG).Click here to read…

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)
NIA raids multiple locations in five States in “PFI Conspiracy” case

On 13 August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids in 14 locations in five States— Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Bihar, in connection with PFI Conspiracy case. According to the NIA officials, the raids were aimed at unearthing the PFI (Popular Front of India)’s conspiracy to disturb the peace and harmony of Bharat. In April 2022, the NIA registered the case and during September, several top PFI leaders were arrested in country-wide operations. PFI’s aim was to create an Islamic State by 2047, the time Bharat completes 100 years of its independence.Click here to read…

Police arrests an ABT terrorist in Assam

On 05 August 2023, State police arrested Abdus Sukur Ali, an Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) terrorist from Dhubri district in Assam. ABT is a terrorist organisation based in Bangladesh. In April 2023, police arrested three ABT terrorists from Dhubri district, whereas, in 2022, Assam police cracked nine modules of ABT and al-Qa’ida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and arrested 53 operatives of these outfits. The arrests and subsequent demolition of private madrasas (Islamic educational institutions), where lecturers/Mullahs with ties to these militant organisations reportedly radicalised youths, were described as grave risks to the state’s security.Click here to read…

NIA arrests 6thaccused in “Pune Islamic State module” case

On 11 August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 6thaccused— Shamil Saquib Nachan, for his active participation in promoting Islamic State-inspired terrorist activities. Shamil was involved in fabrication, training and testing of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) for carrying out terror acts. He had been working with other members of the al-Sufa group. The NIA investigation revealed that accused had plans to commit terror acts with aim to disturb communal harmony.Click here to read…

NIA arrests a PFI operative from Bihar

On 05 August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a Popular Front of India (PFI) operative— Shahid Reza, from Bihar. The NIA seized a pistol, ammunition, an air-pistol, a sword, and two knives from Shahid’s residence.The NIA has been conducting in-depth investigations into the matter involving the illegal and anti-national acts of PFI members. The accused had been supporting the PFI’s illegal and violent agenda and actions and channelling illegal cash from other countries to PFI members.Click here to read…

NIA arrests a key conspirator in ‘West Bengal Detonators and Explosives Seizure’ case

On 04 August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an accused— Islam Chowdhary, from his Baralipara house in Birbhum district, West Bengal. Islam was arrested in connection with the ‘West Bengal electric detonators and explosives seizure’ case. The NIA also seized ₹ 1,50,000 in cash, bank transaction documents, paper slips with mobile numbers, SIM cards, three mobile/cellular phones, and other incriminating documents.Click here to read…

NIA arrests 17thaccused from Hyderabad in ‘HuT module’ case

On 01 August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) operative— Salman, from his hideout in the Rajendra Nagar area in Hyderabad in Telangana. Including this arrest, the NIA has made 17 arrests in the HuT module case.Salman actively participated in the HuT module in Hyderabad, which was led by Salim, another operative arrested earlier in the case. Salim was working to expand his Tanzeem (authority) with the goal of establishing a Caliphate based on Shariat, along with Salman and four other operatives arrested in the same case.Click here to read…

Khalistan-inspired Extremism
Canada pledges ‘strong’ action against Khalistan extremism

In response to the security concerns raised by Bharat regarding the safety of its diplomats based in Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) and Australia, Canada’s Department of Public Safety tweeted that “there is no place in Canada for the incitement of violence. Law enforcement has been engaged following the circulation of an online video in relation to threats against Indian diplomatic officials. Canadian law enforcement and the Government continue to work to ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic representatives in Canada.” The announcement was made nearly a month after the online circulation of Khalistani posters showing photos of Bharatiya diplomats. Bharat’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar had urged the allied nations to not to provide platform for the propagation of the ‘extremist Khalistan ideology’, as it is detrimental to the respective bilateral relations.Click here to read…

Narco-Terror Nexus/Organised Crime Syndicate
NIA arrests two key operatives of ‘Arsh Dala’ gang from IGI Airport, Delhi.

On 11 August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials arrested two key operatives of Canada-based Arsh Dala gang— i) Manpreet Singh, and ii) Mandeep Singh, as soon they landed from Manila, Philippines, at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi. Bothwere wanted close aides of Dala and had non-bailable arrest warrants against them for carrying out terror acts, including funding for banned terror group— Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The duo was also engaged in cross-border trafficking of arms and ammunition for the KTF.Click here to read…

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