VIF News Digest: National Security, Defence Studies and Terrorism, August 1-15, 2019

Defence:

• MoU Between Indian Navy and Cochin International Airport Ltd;
• MoD reaches out to OFB employee unions on their strike notice;
• 5th Army International Scout Masters Competition Concludes-Indian Contingent Emerges Champions.

International Terrorism:

Afghanistan

• Indian-origin Islamic State terrorist killed in Nangarhar province.;

Africa

• Somalia- Somali Army killed 16 al-Shabaab terrorists in Lower Shabelle region;
• Nigeria- Nigerian Army killed eight Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State;
• Mozambique- India to assist Mozambique on combating terrorism.;

Yemen

• 19 soldiers killed by Al-Qa’ida in Abyan Governorate.

Domestic Terrorism:
Jammu and Kashmir

• NIA arrests Ex-J&K MLA Rashid Engineer in terror-funding case;
• Security forces kill four terrorists in two separate incidents.

Left-Wing Extremism

• Maoist posters surface in college premises in Balasore;
• Andhra Pradesh government extends ban on CPI (Maoist) under APPSA.

Khalistan-Inspired Extremism

• Govt. establishes tribunal to adjudicate ban on SFJ.

Islamist Extremism in India (including Islamic State)

• IS sympathiser found guilty of criminal conspiracy.

Cyber & Artificial Intelligence (Security Perspective)

• Around 10,000 cyber-attacks per day on small businesses in the UK;
• Philippines emerges as a Dark Web hub.

DEFENCE

MoU between Indian Navy and CIAL

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Naval Air Enclave (NAE), Kochi and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) was signed on 08 Aug 19 in a formal function held at CIAL. Captain Satish Kumar S, Officer-in- Charge, NAE and Shri ACK Nair, Airport Director CIAL, signed the document on behalf of the two organisations. The MoU is in connection with commencement of naval air operations from the NAE, a naval aviation facility comprising an independent dispersal, aircraft hangar, administrative building and taxy track, located on the northwest side of CIAL. Military aircraft would use the CIAL runway for take-off and landing and the NAE taxy track for proceeding to and from the dispersal / hangar. It lays down Standard Operating Procedures for ensuring safe, secure and uninterrupted military air operations.

Naval Air Enclave is capable of supporting operations of highly capable P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft, which was extensively used to coordinate Search and Rescue Operations off the coast of Kerala and the Lakshadweep Islands in Dec 2017, following Cyclone Ockhi. The optimal exploitation of the NAE would significantly enhance the maritime reconnaissance capability of Southern Naval Command, as also the Indian Navy.

For more information: Click here to read.... [2]

MoD reaches out to OFB employee unions on their strike notice

A team of senior officials led by Additional Secretary, Deptt. of Defence Production along with Chairman Ordinance Factory Board (OFB), met the office bearers of the All India Defence Employees Federation, Indian National Defence Workers Federation, Bhartiya Pratiksha Mazdoor Sangh and Confederation of Defence Recognized Association to resolve the issues for which strike notice was issued by the Federation, threatening to start strike action from August 20, 2019. Both parties constructively engaged in candid discussion and agreed to keep the process of dialogue open to arrive at a mutual understanding.

For more information: Click here to read.... [2]

5th Army International Scout Masters Competition concludes-Indian contingent emerges champions

The Indian Army team comprehensively won the 5th Army International Scout Masters Competition held at Jaisalmer Military Station from 06 to 14 August 2019, in a fiercely fought competition with teams from Armenia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Sudan and Uzbekistan. The Indian Army team was selected and trained under the aegis of Southern Command. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh was the Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony which was also attended by Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, Lieutenant General SK Saini, Army Commander, Southern Command and delegates from the participating countries.

In his address, the Defence Minister complemented the International Organising Committee and the Southern Command for the flawless and successful conduct of the event. He appreciated the sportsman spirit, dedication and the professional standards displayed by all the teams in the competition. He also said that such competitions are an excellent platform to allow countries to build a constructive dialogue, strengthening friendship, partnership and trust. He also mentioned that such joint Military events would lead to interoperability and sharing of best practices thereby, benefiting all the participating Nations. Champions Trophy was presented to the Indian team and the Runner’s Up Trophy went to the Uzbek team.

For more information: Click here to read.... [2]

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

Africa

Somalia

Somali Army kills 16 al-Shabaab terrorists in Lower Shabelle region

On 11 August, Somali Special Forces attacked al-Shabaab positions in Lower Shabelle region and killed 16 al-Shabaab terrorists in a gun-battle. In a statement released by the Somali National Army (SNA), it was stated that the 66th Battalion had conducted an ambush and killed 16 terrorists in the region.

For more information: Click here to read.... [3]

Nigeria

Nigerian Army kills eight Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State

On 10 August, eight terrorists of Boko Haram were killed and two Nigerian Army soldiers were martyred during an exchange of fire in Gubio in Borno State. Gubio is located at 80 km north of Maiduguri. Some Boko Haram terrorists also sustained injuries but managed to escape.

For more information: Click here to read.... [4]

Mozambique

India to assist Mozambique on combating terrorism

During his three-day visit to Mozambique starting from 28 July, India’s Defence Minister has stated that India will co-operate with Mozambique in combating terrorism and growing problem of radicalisation.

For more information:

Click here to read.... [5]

Afghanistan

Indian-origin Islamic State terrorist killed in Nangarhar province

According to US intelligence reports, Muhasin, a native of Malappuram district of Kerala, who had joined Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP) in Afghanistan, was killed in a US drone strike in Nangarhar province on July 18, 2019. The news of Muhasin’s death was conveyed to his family on July 23 from an unknown phone number from Afghanistan. According to the data from the Ministry of Home Affairs, till 15 June 2019, around 98 people from India, comprising 40 men, 21 women, and 37 children, were part of IS-KP in Afghanistan.

For more information: Click here to read.... [6]

Yemen

19 soldiers were martyred in Al-Qa’ida led attack in Abyan Governorate

On 02 August, al-Qa’ida terrorists attacked a military camp in the village of Al-Mahfad in Southern Abyan Governorate in Yemen, in which 19 Yemeni soldiers were martyred. The terrorists managed to took over the control of the camp before it was re-captured by Yemeni forces hours later. In another incident on 01 August, a VBIED (Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device) exploded in a military camp for the Security Belt forces in the Southern port city of Aden in which 13 policemen were martyred.

For more information: Click here to read.... [7]

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Jammu and Kashmir

NIA arrests Ex-J&K MLA Rashid Engineer in terror-funding case

On August 9, 2019, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested former independent MLA of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)—Sheikh Abdul Rashid aka Rashid Engineer, in connection with a case related to terror financing in Kashmir. Rashid’s name had emerged in the course of interrogation of J&K businessman Zahoor Watali. Earlier, NIA had registered the case against Separatist leaders, including unknown members of the Hurriyat Conference, for their active involvement with proscribed terrorist organisations including Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM), Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
For more information: Click here to read.... [8]

Security forces killed three terrorists in two separate incidents

On August 3, security forces killed four terrorists in two separate incidents. In the first incident, security forces conducted Cordon-And-Search Operation (CASO) in Malamapanpora/Warpora area in Sopore in Baramulla district. The terrorists fired on the search team which led to exchange of fire between terrorists and the security forces. In the gun-battle, security forces killed two terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). In the other incident, a joint team of police, Army, and CRPF killed a Hizb ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorist— Manzoor Ahmad Bhat in an exchange of fire at Pandushan village in Shopian district.

For more information: Click here to read.... [9]

Left-Wing Extremism

Maoist posters surface in college premises in Balasore

On August 13, multiple posters suspected to have been pasted by the Maoists, surfaced in the premises of Nilgiri College in Balasore district. The posters raised the demand for cancellation of Students’ Union Poll in the college. On being informed, Nilgiri police seized the posters, and initiated investigation of the matter.

For more information: Click here to read.... [10]

Andhra Pradesh Government extended ban on CPI (Maoist) under APPSA

On 07 August, the State government of Andhra Pradesh issued a notification under Andhra Pradesh Public Safety Act (APPSA) 1992, and extended the ban on CPI (Maoist) for a further period of one year with effect from August 17, 2019. The ban was also imposed on six front organizations of CPI (Maoist) party— Radical Youth League (RYL), Rythu Coolie Sangham (RCS), Radical Students Union (RSU), Singareni Karmika Samakhya (SIKASA), Viplava Karmika Samakhya (VIKASA), and All India Revolutionary Students Federation (AIRSF).

For more information:
Click here to read.... [11]

Khalistan-Inspired Extremism

Govt. establishes tribunal to adjudicate ban on SFJ

The Central Government has established a tribunal to adjudicate validity of reasons to ban US-based pro-Khalistan group—Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), which was declared as unlawful organisation in July 2019. According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, exercising powers of Section 5 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] 1967, the government constituted an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, consisting of Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating if there are sufficient evidences of declaring SFJ as an unlawful organisation.

For more information: Click here to read.... [12]

Islamist Extremism in India (including Islamic State)

IS sympathiser woman found guilty of criminal conspiracy

In a 2016 Islamic State (IS) case in Kerala, the Supreme Court of India, on August 2, found Yasmeen Mohammad Zahid—an IS sympathiser from Kerala, guilty on counts of criminal conspiracy and association with a proscribed terrorist organisation with intentions to propagate its activities. Yasmeen was arrested with her child on 01 August 2016 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport while attempting to travel to IS-controlled territory in Afghanistan, to join her husband. However, the Court discarded the claim of the investigating agency that Yasmeen had raised funds for the IS, and was managing meetings to garner support for the group. Yasmeen was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, and ordered to pay INR 25,000 as a fine under the count of criminal conspiracy.

For more information: Click here to read.... [13]

CYBER & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (Security Perspective)

Around 10,000 cyber-attacks per day on small businesses in the UK

According to a report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in the United Kingdom (UK), small businesses are the victims of cyber-attacks with around 10,000 attacks per day. In the last two years, more than 1,100 small firms reported more than seven million cyber-attacks. The annual loss to the small firms due to cyber-attacks is estimated to be GBP 4.5 billion (approx. INR 3900 crore). According to the research conducted for the report, only 36 percent of businesses confirmed that their employees were skilled with cyber security trainings. However, more than 59 percent of businesses do not have a cyber incident action plan.

For more information: Click here to read.... [14]

Philippines emerged as a Dark Web hub

The mass shooting of El Paso, Texas, had online roots in the Philippines via Dark Web-hosted forum administered by American expatriates. In his xenophobic manifesto posted on the popular Far-Right extremism website “8Chan”, Patrick Wood Crusius— the terrorist behind the attack had warned of “Hispanic invasion of Texas”, and had encouraged people to spread the message far and wide. The Philippines authorities confirmed to investigate the connection between the El Paso shooting and “8Chan” forum.
For more information:
Click here to read.... [15]