VIF News Digest : National Security - Defence Studies & Terrorism, (16 - 31 October 2023)

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract for the construction of a Training Ship for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai at a cost of Rs 310 crore under the Buy (Indian- IDDM) category in New Delhi on 17 October 2023. This is the first dedicated training platform with integral helicopter capabilities that will provide basic sea training to 70 Coast Guard and other international under-trainee officers to prepare these budding mariners on the multi-dimensional maritime aspects of Coast Guard life. Click here to read…

India-France Military Sub-Committee meeting.

The 21st edition of India-France Military Sub Committee (MSC) meeting was held on October 16-17, 2023 at Air Force Station, New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired from the Indian side by Air Vice Marshal Ashish Vohra, Assistant Chief of Integrated Staff, (Military Cooperation) at HQ IDS and Major General Eric Peltier, General Officer, International Military Relations of the Joint Staff from the French side. India-France MSC is a forum established to progress defence cooperation between both nations through regular talks at strategic and operational levels between HQ, Integrated Defence Staff and the Joint Staff HQ of French Armed Forces. Click here to read…

Conduct of operational sea training of South African ship SAS Mendi by team from Indian Navy.

An eight-member team from Headquarters Sea Training (HQST), Indian Navy (IN) undertook Operational Sea Training and Safety Audit of SAS Mendi, at Simons Town from 02 to 13 Oct 23, in collaboration with South African Navy (SAN) Operational Sea Training Team (OST) Team. This maiden training activity by team from HQST has opened new avenues for training collaboration between IN and SAN and has significantly contributed towards strengthening the professional relationship between the two navies. Click here to read…

Third Project 15B indigenous destroyer Imphal delivered to Indian Navy.

Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 October, 2023. The Project is a follow-on of the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the last decade. Imphal follows in the wake of her predecessors Indian Naval Ships Visakhapatnam and Mormugao commissioned in the past two years. Click here to read…

Indo-Malaysian armies Exercise Harimau Shakti-2023.

The Joint bilateral training exercise “Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023”, between Indian & Malaysian Army is being conducted from 23 Oct – 05 Nov 23 at Umroi Cantonment, India. The Malaysian Army contingent comprises troops from 5th Royal Battalion of Malaysian Army. The Indian contingent is being represented by a Battalion of THE RAJPUT REGIMENT. Last edition of the Exercise was conducted in Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia in November 2022. Click here to read…

EU and India carry out maiden joint naval exercise in Gulf of Guinea Paris.

India and EU ships conducted joint activities in the Gulf of Guinea, in an effort to reinforce naval maritime security cooperation in support of the region. On 24 Oct 23, the European Union (EU) and India conducted their first joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Guinea. The exercise followed the third meeting of the EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue on 05 Oct 23 in Brussels. Click here to read…

India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2023.

Indian Army and Indian Air Force contingents comprising 120 are taking part in the 7thedition of Joint Military ‘Exercise KAZIND-2023’. The Exercise is being conducted at Otar, Kazakhstan from 30 October – 11 November 2023. The Indian Army contingent comprises 90 personnel led by a Battalion from the DOGRA Regiment. The Kazakhstan contingent is mainly represented by personnel from Regional Command South of Kazakh Ground Forces. 30 personnel of Air Force from both sides will also participate in the current edition of the Exercise alongside the Army contingents. Click here to read…

Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) – 2023.

The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) was hosted by the Indian Navy from 29 – 31 Oct 23 under the aegis of the Naval War College, Goa. The conclave’s theme “Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigating Frameworks”. The event hosted Minister/ Chiefs of Navies/ Heads of Maritime Forces from 12 IOR countries comprising Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Click here to read…

IAF fighter squadron converts from MiG-21 to SU-30 MKI.

The Number 4 Squadron (Oorials) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) based at Air Force Station Uttarlai (Barmer) is converting from the MiG-21 to the Su-30 MKI, marking a watershed moment in the history of the squadron which was operating the MiG-21 since 1966. Click here to read…

International Terrorism

West Asia

“27 attacks targeted the US forces in Iraq and Syria”: US Pentagon Press Secretary.

On 31 October 2023, the United States (US) Pentagon Press Secretary— Brigadier General Pat Ryder said that “US forces deployed in Iraq and Syria have been attacked with drones or rockets at least 27 times in recent day.” In a statement, US Secretary of Defense— Llyod Austin said the US strikes were in response to earlier attacks on US forces and were narrowly tailored to protect and defence US personnel in Iraq and Syria. Click here to read…

Africa

Boko Haram terrorists attack the Customs Office in Yobe and kill an official.

On 21 October 2023, Boko Haram terrorists attacked an office of the Nigeria Customs Service in Geidam town of Yobe State and killed an official identified as Usman Gombe. According to a security official, “the insurgents stormed the Customs office along Maine Soroa Road, and started shooting. They struck when they were sure the Customs officers had retired home. Panicked by the rain of bullets, the officers scampered for safety; some escaped through the gate, while others scaled the fence. Unfortunately, one of the officers, Usman Gombe, was shot dead, while attempting to climb the fence. They also burnt down the Customs patrol van, a generator, and part of the office building.” NAF. Click here to read…

Security forces kill six Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

The Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), on 25 October 2023, eliminated six terrorists in a counter-attack in the Binduldul area, Borno State. “The troops recovered two PKT guns, five AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, and 239 rounds of ammunition of various calibres,” said the Military Public Information Officer (MPIO) of N’djamena, Chad, Lt Col Abubakar Abdullahi. In a separate incident on 17 October 2023, the military spokesperson said that “Bulama Bukar, a 23-year-old, who claimed to be a commander of Boko Haram at the terrorist camp Tafkin Chadi in Gilima village of Abadam Local Government, surrendered before security forces in the Gubio area of Borno State. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Islamic State claims responsibility for a bomb blast in Kabul.

On 26 October 2023, at least four people were killed, and seven others were critically wounded in a bomb explosion in a Shiite Muslim neighbourhood in Dashti Barchi area of Kabul, Afghanistan. Islamic State-affiliated group claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement released on Aamaq, the group claimed that it “managed to leave a booby-trapped suitcase inside a Shiite gathering place that exploded, killing and injuring about 35 people and inflicting heavy damage on a sports club.” The Dashti Barchi area has been repeatedly targeted by the IS-affiliated group, carrying out major attacks on schools, hospitals, and mosques. IS has been waging armed violence since the Taliban took power in 2021. Click here to read…

Pakistan

JeM chief Masood Azhar’s aide assassinated in North Waziristan.

In the early hours of 20 October 2023, unidentified gunmen killed Daud Malik in Mirali area of the North Waziristan tribal district, Pakistan. Daud Malik was a close aide of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar. According to news reports, Daud Malik was attacked at a private clinic, leaving Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies puzzled as perpetrators managed to flee. Click here to read…

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir

Security forces foil infiltration attempt and neutralise five LeT terrorists in Machil sector.

On 27 October 2023, security forces countered an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Machil Sector and neutralised five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. “Around 16 terrorist launchpads remain active along the LoC, and there are ongoing attempts to infiltrate terrorists from Pakistan,” said the Director-General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)— Dilbag Singh. Official statistics indicate that so far in 2023, 46 terrorists were killed; of these, 37 were Pakistani nationals, and only nine were locals. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) assessment states that there are currently about 130 terrorists operating in the Valley, at least half of whom are foreign terrorists. Click here to read…

JKDFP declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ under the UA(P) Act.

The Government of Bharat categorised the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an ‘Unlawful Association’ on 05 October 2023, in accordance with Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] 1967. The JKDFP has been involved in anti-national actions since 1998, and its members have always encouraged separatist and terrorist acts in Bharat. Several criminal proceedings have been filed against this group under various parts of the UAPA of 1967, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Arms Act of 1959, and the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) of 1932. Click here to read…

Left-Wing Extremism

“In 09 years, Maoist violence down by 52 per cent,” said the Union Home Minister.

Addressing election rallies in Jagdalpur and Kondagaon in Bastar, the Union Home Minister— Amit Shah, said that incidents of Maoist violence have dropped by 52 per cent in nine years of the Narendra Modi-led government. “In nine years of the Modi government, deaths in Maoist violence came down by 70 per cent, civilian deaths decreased by 68 per cent, and the number of Maoist-affected districts declined by 62 per cent,” said Home Minister Shah. Click here to read…

Security forces kill two Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

On 21 October 2023, security forces eliminated two Maoists in a gun-battle in Kanker district of Bastar region, Chhattisgarh. Police have also recovered an INSAS rifle and a muzzle loading gun from the operation site. Click here to read…

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA Special Court sentences an IM operative in a conspiracy case.

On 26 October 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Delhi, sentenced Syed Maqbool, an Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative in a conspiracy case— RC-06/2012/NIA/DLI. Under Sections 38(2) and 39(2) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], Syed has been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Syed was arrested in the case on 28 February 2013 for his active involvement with the operatives of IM based in Pakistan and Bharat. Along with key operatives of IM, including Riyaz Bhatkal, Syed and others conspired to carry out explosions at various locations in Bharat. Extensive reconnaissance of key sites, including Hyderabad, was also conducted. Click here to read…

Arrested AQIS terrorist admits to “close nexus” of al-Qa’ida and JMB in Uttar Pradesh.

During his interrogation, al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)’s terrorist— Mufakir aka Hamidullah, admitted to the nexus between al-Qa’ida and Bangladesh-based Jamaat ul-Mujahideen (JuM) to construct terror networks by recruiting Bangladesh nationals who are legally staying in Uttar Pradesh. The Bangladeshis living in Deoband and Saharanpur area were recruited by the AQIS-JMB module as sleeper cell members. The sleeper cell members used to do recce and gave training to new recruits to carry out terrorist attacks. Click here to read…

Insurgency in North-East Bharat

Kuki militants ambush a security forces’ convoy in Manipur.

In separate attacks carried out on 31 October 2023, militants of Kuki community ambushed a security forces’ convoy and killed a senior police official in Manipur. According to a police spokesperson, militants opened fire at a sub-division police officer (SDPO— Chingtham Anand while he was overseeing the construction work of a helipad in Moreh, a town on Bharat-Myanmar border. In a separate incident, militants ambushed a security forces’ convoy near village Sinam in Tengnoupal district. Two policemen were injured in the ambush. Click here to read…

Organised Crime

NIA arrests an absconder in “Sri Lankan Human Trafficking” case.

On 22 October 2023, the NIA’s Absconder Tracking Team (ATT) arrested Mohamed Imran Khan aka Haja Najerbheeden, in the Sri Lankan human trafficking case. Imran Khan, a key person in the case, had been on the run since June 2021. Over several months, the ATT was monitoring Imran’s movements, leading to his arrest from an undisclosed location in Theni District, Tamil Nadu. According to preliminary investigations, Imran Khan was revealed as an infamous smuggler with a long-standing history of illegal activities in the region. For various illicit activities, he was wanted by multiple law enforcement agencies. On 06 June 2021, Mangalore Police arrested 38 Sri Lankan nationals who had arrived in Mangalore without having valid documents. Their arrest led to the revelation that Sri Lankan nationals were brought in Mangalore from Sri Lanka via Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru. Click here to read…

Assam ATF arrests a person and recovers FICN in Guwahati.

The Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police conducted an operation on 31 October 2023, to combat the illicit distribution of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs). During the raid, they apprehended Najrul Mazumdar, who was allegedly involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit currency. Police found a total of 280 FICNs in the denomination of ₹ 500during the operation, along with many other items involved in the manufacture of FICNs, two cell phones, a FICN printing machine, 21 dazzling tapes, two transparent book covers, and an HP-brand printer. Click here to read…

NIA files supplementary chargesheet against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Gujarat case.

On 19 October 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary chargesheet against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in a case pertaining to seizure of 39-kilogram heroin by Gujarat Police. In addition to section 66C of the Information Technology (IT) Act, the chargesheet has been filed under several Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B, 201, 465, and 471. In addition, the Chargesheet refers to sections 17, 18, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] as well as sections 8(c), 21(c), 23(c), 25, 27A, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Click here to read…