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

In response to the Mayday signal from the Malta-flagged ship MV Ruen, which was involved in the hijacking incident in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy diverted its warship on an anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden and its Naval Maritime Patrol aircraft conducting surveillance in the area on 15 December 2023, to locate and assist MV Ruen. Click here to read…

President led the nation in paying tribute to Vijay Diwas, commemorating Bharat’s victory in the 1971 war.

On 16 December 2023, the President of Bharat— Droupadi Murmu led the nation in remembering and paying tribute to the brave-hearts on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, commemorating Bharat’s historic victory in the 1971 war. Through a post on X (earlier Twitter), the President said that “the nation remembers with gratitude the selfless sacrifice and unparalleled courage of the Armed Forces personnel which ensured India’s victory.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid heartfelt tribute through his post on X: "On Vijay Diwas, we pay heartfelt tributes to all the brave heroes who dutifully served India in 1971, ensuring a decisive victory. Their valour and dedication remain a source of immense pride for the nation.” Click here to read…

Indian Navy and IIT Bombay signed a MoU for an M. Tech programme in ‘System and Control Engineering.’

The Indian Navy and IIT Bombay signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an M. Tech degree in ‘Systems and Control Engineering’ on 18 December 2023. This MoU will enable naval personnel to pursue post-graduate courses in the speciality subject from 2024 onwards to stay up with increasing automation requirements on board naval ships and conduct research projects in marine applications. Click here to read…

The Royal Thai Navy hosted the 08th edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) in Thailand.

From 19-22 December 2023, the Royal Thai Navy hosted the 08th edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) in Bangkok, Thailand. Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, led a three-member Bharatiya naval delegation for the Conclave. The Chiefs of Navies/Heads of Maritime Agencies of IONS countries attended the 08th Conclave, which witnessed the transfer of IONS Chairmanship from France to Thailand. On the sidelines of the CoC, a seminar titled ‘Blue Economy: Ways Forward for Sustainable Development of IONS Member States’ was held. Click here to read…

Long Range Operational Deployment of INS Kadmatt.

On 19 December 2023, INS Kadmatt visited Bangkok, Thailand, as part of its ongoing Long Range Operational Deployment to the North Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. The arrival of INS Kadmatt aims to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation and improve interoperability between the two navies. Click here to read…

Raksha Mantri commissioned INS Imphal in Mumbai.

On 26 December 2023, in the presence of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, INS Imphal— a Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. The induction was the third of four indigenous ‘Vishakhapatnam’ class destroyers, designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai. Click here to read…

Raksha Mantri visited the border areas of J&K.

On 27 December 2023, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh visited the border areas of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC). The Raksha Mantri was given a detailed brief on the prevalent security situation, counter-infiltration grid and operational preparedness. “The Indian Army is not an ordinary army. The soldiers are our protectors. It is their duty not only to safeguard national interests but also to win the people's hearts,” said Raksha Mantri. Click here to read…

Missile-cum-Ammunition (MCA) Barge, LSAM 10, inducted into the Indian Navy.

At Mumbai’s Naval Dockyards, the fourth Barge of 08 x Missile-cum-Ammunition (MCA) was admitted into the Indian Navy on 28 December 2023. Cmde MV Raj Krishna, CoY (Mbi), oversaw the induction ceremony. These barges are designed and constructed following relevant Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam conducted model testing for the Barge during the design phase. These Barges are honoured to represent the Government of Bharat’s “Made in Bharat (India)” effort. Click here to read…

The Defence Secretary inaugurated a new design and test facility at HAL’s AERD Centre in Bengaluru.

On 29 December 2023, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurated a new design and test facility at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)’s Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The AERDC is currently working on the design and development of multiple new engines, including two strategic ones: the Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE), which has a thrust of 1200 kN and is intended to power light and medium-weight helicopters (3.5 to 6.5 tonnes in single or twin engine configuration), and the Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE), which has a thrust of 25 kN and is used to power trainers, UAVs, twin-engine small fighter aircraft, and regional jets. Click here to read…

Vice Admiral V Srinivas takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Kochi.

On 31 December 2023, Vice Admiral V Srinivas, AVSM, NM, took over as the 30th Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCINC), Southern Naval Command, at an impressive ceremonial parade held at Naval Base, Kochi. Vice Admiral Srinivas succeeded Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, who retired upon superannuation after an illustrious career spanning nearly four decades in the Indian Navy. Click here to read…

International Terrorism

Africa

Somalia

Top al-Shabaab commander killed in a joint operation in Jilib city.

In a joint operation carried out by the United States military and Somali Armed Forces, on 17 December 2023, a senior al-Shabaab commander— Maalim Ayman, was killed near the city of Jilib, Somalia. “U.S. Africa Command, alongside its partners, continues to take action to prevent this malicious terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks on civilians. Somalia remains the key to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools needed to degrade al-Shabaab,” read the AFRICOM statement. Click here to read…

Nigeria

“Bandits” killed at least 160 people in a series of attacks in central Nigeria.

Reportedly, “Bandits”/armed groups carried out a series of attacks on villages and killed at least 160 people in Central Nigeria. The attacks started in the Bokkos area and spilled into neighbouring areas, including Barkin Ladi. “As many as 113 persons were confirmed killed as hostilities persisted to early hours of 25 December 2023. We found more than 300 wounded people who were transferred to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos and Barkin Ladi,” said Monday Kassah, Head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Key LeT recruiter killed in a road accident in Punjab province.

On 24 December 2023, a key recruiter for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group— Abdullah Shaheen, was killed in a road accident in Kasur city, Punjab province. He was known for his role as a recruiter, instrumental in luring individuals to join the cause and participate in terror acts. Click here to read…

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir

Unidentified terrorists killed a former police officer in Baramulla district.

On 24 December 2023, unidentified terrorists fired upon and killed a retired police officer— Mohd Shafi, while he was praying Azan in the mosque at Gantmulla, Sheeri Baramulla. Mohd Shafi, 72 years old, retired as a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) from J&K Police in 2012. According to a news report, his security has been withdrawn recently. Click here to read…

PAFF claimed responsibility for an ambush on two army vehicles in Poonch district.

On 21 December 2023, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)’s proxy terror group— People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), carried an ambush on two Indian Army vehicles in the Poonch district in J&K. Two army vehicles carrying personnel to the Cordon And Search Operation (CASO) site, came under attack between Dhera ki gali and Bufliaz in the Savni area. Five Jawans attained Veergati in the attack. Click here to read…

Left-Wing Extremism

NIA chargesheet two individuals in CPI (Maoist) Magadh Zone revival terror financing conspiracy.

The NIA, on 18 December 2023, chargesheet two individuals— i) Vijay Kumar Arya and ii) Anand Paswan, both residents of Bihar, in connection with the CPI (Maoist) Magadh Zone revival terror financing case. As per the chargesheet, the proscribed group attempted to revive Naxal activities in the Magadh region in Bihar and to carry out activities related to violence. Click here to read…

Maoists destroyed railway tracks in Jharkhand.

On 21 December 2023, CPI (Maoists) blew up a segment of railway tracks in West Singhbum district in Jharkhand, disrupting train services on the Howrah-Mumbai route for several hours. “Information about damage to the third tracks between Mahadevsal and Posoita section was received in divisional headquarters at 11.47 pm on the same day. Tracks of around two to three metres were damaged in the blast by unidentified persons,” said Vinit Kumar, South-Eastern Railway’s Chakradharpur Division Assistant Commercial Manager. Click here to read…

NIA raided various locations in four States and arrested two operatives in the ‘PLFI extortion and levy collection’ case.

On 15 December 2023, the NIA raided four States and arrested two operatives in connection with ‘The People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) extortion and levy collections. During the raids, the NIA officials seized an Indian Army uniform, arms and ammunition, incriminating devices and documents, cash and jewellery. A total of 23 locations across Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and New Delhi were searched. These included 19 locations in Jharkhand (Gumla, Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Palamu, and West Singhbhum districts), one location each in Bihar (Patna district) and Madhya Pradesh (Siddhi district), and two locations in New Delhi. Click here to read…

Islamic Extremism (excluding J&K)

NIA chargesheet six key IS operatives in the ‘Maharashtra IS Terror Module’ case.

On 28 December 2023, the NIA chargesheet six key Islamic State (IS) operatives— i) Tabish Nasser Siddiqui, ii) Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, iii) Sharjeel Shaikh, iv) Aakif Ateeque Nachan, v) Zubair Noor Mohammad Shaikh, vi) Dr Adnanali Sarkar, in connection with the ‘Maharashtra IS terror module’ case. The NIA investigation revealed a larger conspiracy with international connections, including the involvement of foreign-based IS handlers. The investigation unearthed a network of operatives committed to propagating the extremist ideology of the IS within Bharat. Click here to read…

NIA Court sentenced two AQIS operatives to 7 years imprisonment.

On 27 December 2023, the NIA Special Court, Bengaluru, convicted and sentenced two al-Qa’ida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terrorists— i) Akhtar Hussain Laskar and ii) Abdul Aleem Mondal, to 7 years imprisonment. As per NIA investigations, the duo had been radicalised and recruited by foreign-based online handlers of AQIS and were actively engaged in furthering the activities of the terror group. Click here to read…

NIA foiled a plan of IED blasts and arrested 08 IS operatives during raids in four States.

On 18 December 2023, the NIA raided 19 locations in four States and arrested 08 IS operatives of the ‘IS Ballari module’, including its leader— Minaz, and foiled a conspiracy by arrested operatives to carry out IED blasts. NIA officials searched 19 locations across Ballari and Bengaluru in Karnataka, Amaravati, Mumbai, and Pune in Maharashtra, Delhi, Jamshedpur, and Bokaro in Jharkhand. Click here to read…

Radical Sikh Elements

A Hindu temple was vandalised with anti-Bharat graffiti in the US.

On 22 December 2023, a Hindu temple— Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California, US, was vandalised with anti-Hindu and anti-Bharat graffiti defacing its exterior walls. The term “Khalistan” was also spray-painted on a signpost outside the temple. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed grave concern over the incident and demanded a prompt investigation, followed by action against the perpetrators. Click here to read…

Organised Crime

NIA arrested an absconder in a human trafficking case from Kerala

The NIA arrested an absconder and 11th operative in a human-trafficking case. Absconder Saudi Zakir was arrested from his hideout in Kochi, Kerala. Investigations have revealed that the accused had illegally crossed into Bharat via Benapole at the Bharat-Bangladesh border. He had moved to the Bellandur area in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where he had set up a Waste Collection and Segregation Unit and employed other foreign nationals who had illegally crossed into Bharat through the border. Click here to read…