India

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): On 24 February 2005, two militants suspected of links with an outlawed Pakistani-based group, who were armed with grenades and guns, stormed a government office compound in Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a three-hour siege. Approximately 250 people were inside the offices at the time. Security forces surrounded the facility and evacuated government workers and other civilians. Shortly after the evacuations, police raided the complex killing the assailants and ending the siege. Two civilians, a police officer and two soldiers were also killed in the incident. Al-Mansurain, a group security forces believe to be a reincarnation of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 2/24/2005

[Casey]

Root out ultras, orders Khaleda

Daily Star/ANN
DHAKA, Feb. 25. — The Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Ms Khaleda Zia, has instructed the home ministry and the intelligence agencies to root out Islamic militants, their hideouts and subversive activities. The Prime Minister also decided in principle to set up an additional Bench at the High Court to ensure speedy trial of cases on subversive acts.

Ms Zia held several rounds of meetings with officials of home ministry, police and intelligence agencies yesterday and asked them to take strong actions against all activities in the name of jihad. She said those who have been creating anarchy in the name of religion are the enemies of the nation and the country, adding all of them will be punished. These extremists must not be bailed out, she said.

She instructed the law enforcers to arrest anyone involved in crime, even if he belongs to a ruling party. She also warned that any misuse of power and corruption by police will not be tolerated. The Prime Minister said the country’s image will improve and foreign investment will increase with an improvement in law and order scenario,

Ms Zia also asked the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles, Armed Police Battalion and Rapid Action Battalion to keep a watch on their areas of operations.
The crackdown on militants, meanwhile, continued with 11 more suspected ultras belonging to a group banned two days ago arrested in two districts, adds PTI.

Bangladesh business leaders have urged the country’s major political parties to refrain from calling frequent strikes that hurt the economy and threatened to take action against such closures.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=8&theme=&usrsess=1&id=69806

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): Separatists planted five bombs in Assam's main city, Guwahati, on 10 March 2005. One bomb was defused at an airline counter in Guwahati's Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (VEGT/GAU), while another one exploded in the airport's parking lot. Other bombs went off at approximately the same time in various other public places, including outside of a hospital. Five other bombs went off outside of Guwahati. Four people were injured in the day's attacks, but only minimal damage was reported.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 3/10/2005

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): At approximately 2100 local time on 25 April 2005, security forces in central New Delhi engaged two suspected terrorists from the Pakistani-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in a shootout near the Pragati Maidan exhibition complex, killing both suspects. The suspects were discovered to have been in possession of firearms, the explosive material RDX, detonators, timers and a satellite telephone. Authorities indicate that at least one of the suspects may have been a Pakistani national. Security forces claim that the shootout began when authorities conducted a sting operation after tracking the suspects for several months. Officials also report that the suspects were attempting to establish a base of operations in the New Delhi area.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 4/26/2005

[candypreet]

Srinagar, May 7: Five people, including an Army major and a politician, were killed in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Police said separatist guerrillas killed Abdul Rahim Pala, a Congress party block president in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, after abducting him Friday from his home in Tangmarg, 30 km from here.

"Pala's bullet-ridden body was found today," a police officer here said.

Major Salman Ahmad Khan was killed after a gun battle with militants in north Kashmir's Kupwara district Saturday.

Police said after being tipped off, a party of Rashtriya Rifles led by Khan raided a house at Pazipora in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, 76 km from here, in the morning.

"The raiding party came under heavy fire from militants hiding in the house, resulting in serious injuries to the major. He was immediately taken to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries," said a police officer here.

Reinforcements immediately reached the spot and shot dead one of the guerrillas.

Elsewhere, a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the strategic Srinagar-Jammu national highway exploded killing a soldier.

The incident occurred near Sangrama, 40 km from here, in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. The blast destroyed an army vehicle.

In yet another incident, a civilian died in the crossfire between the guerrillas and security forces at Kupwara in north Kashmir.

[candypreet]

Five killed in Srinagar blast
Source: NDTV. Image Source: NDTV


Srinagar, May 11: Five people killed and 25 others critically wounded when a car full of explosives was detonated in Lal Mandi-Gojibagh area of Srinagar this morning.
http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandorav3/output/News/4fa94575-08e0-46af-9925-a279f2971183_1.jpg
The explosion took place outside a private clinic and the target was apparently three to four security force vehicles passing through the area.

The blast could be heard nearly 4 km away. No militant outfit has so far owned responsibility for the blast.

Window panes of buildings and shops in the vicinity were smashed and a few buildings in Regal Chowk area suffered cracks under the impact of the blast.

[candypreet]

Militants shoot dead four in Kashmir
Web posted at: 5/11/2005 9:37:39
Source ::: AFP
SRINAGAR: Suspected militants shot dead four men in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday in an apparent bid to warn rebels not to give up arms for the separatist cause, police said.

The militants shot dead three men as they were returning from praying at a mosque in southern Doda district, police said.

One of the victims was the brother of a militant who surrendered to security forces last year and was later shot dead along with his father by rebels.

In the same village, militants killed a former rebel in a paddy field, police said. The dead man had recently surrendered to troops.

None of the dozen rebel groups in Kashmir claimed responsibility for the killings but rebels often target ex-militants who have given up arms, pro-India politicians or people suspected of working for Indian security forces.

"Rebels often target families of people who have surrendered to security forces to prevent more surrenders," a police officer said.

Violence has continued in Kashmir despite a peace process started by India and Pakistan 15 months ago that the nuclear-armed nations last month called "irreversable."

Since 1989 the insurgency against Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir has left more than 40,000 people dead by official count. Separatists say the toll is twice as high.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=May2005&file=World_News2005051193739.xml

[candypreet]

Srinagar, India — Two powerful explosions rocked a crowded residential area in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding 40 others, a senior paramilitary officer said.

Suspected insurgents triggered a small explosion that then detonated a bigger bomb in an abandoned car on a busy street in Srinagar, the summer capital of India's Jammu-Kashmir state, said Hari Lal, an officer of the Central Reserve Police Force.

The nearly simultaneous blasts left three soldiers and three civilians dead, Mr. Lal said. An additional 30 civilians and 10 soldiers were wounded in the explosions, which also damaged several vehicles, he said.

The injured have been taken to local hospitals, Mr. Lal said.

The explosions shattered windows at dozens of nearby buildings and the twisted metal of the destroyed vehicle was scattered over 50 metres.

A person identifying himself as the spokesman for a Pakistan-based rebel group, Al-Nasireen, claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to the Current News Service, a local news agency.

Separatist rebels have vowed to continue fighting Indian forces despite India and Pakistan declaring a ceasefire in Kashmir and holding talks aimed at settling the decades-old Kashmir dispute. Rebels want to be part of the India-Pakistan dialogue that began in January last year.

Authorities say that nearly 160 rebels, including 38 commanders, have been killed in the Indian portion of Kashmir since January.

“The loss of their leaders has put tremendous pressure on the militants. Their is desperation among their ranks which makes them commit such actions,” said K. Srinivasan, the intelligent chief of India's paramilitary Border Security Force.

Mr. Srinivasan also said that despite peace initiatives by India and Pakistan, at least 50 rebels had entered Indian-held Kashmir from Pakistani territory since January and another 400 were waiting to cross the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between the neighbouring countries. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety.

India has long accused Pakistan of supporting and arming the rebels, a charge which Islamabad denies.

More than a dozen Islamic militant groups have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan since 1989. More than 66,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the conflict.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050511.wkashmir0511/BNStory/International/

[candypreet]

3 shot outside mosque in Kashmir

Staff Reporter




JAMMU T: hree civilians, including the brother of a former militant, were shot dead as they were coming out of a mosque in Doda district on Monday.

Police said a group of militants opened fire on those coming out of the mosque after prayers. While Shabir Ahmed (30) died on the spot, Asif Iqbal, 20 and Riaz Ahmed, 40, were died in hospital of their injuries.

Bhaderwah Ashok Sharma, Superintendent of Police, said a search operation had been launched to nab the militants. Shabir Ahmed was the brother of Akhter Hussain, a top militant of al- Jehad who surrendered to security forces. Militants killed him and his father, Bashir Ahmed, in 1998.

http://www.hindu.com/2005/05/11/stories/2005051106691200.htm

[candypreet]

13 killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir
By Mujtaba Ali Ahmad, Associated Press Writer | May 11, 2005

SRINAGAR, India -- A series of rebel bomb attacks and gunfights with security forces in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Wednesday left at least 13 people dead and dozens injured, officials said.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/05/11/13_killed_in_indian_controlled_kashmir/

[candypreet]

Kashmir blast kills 2, wounds 45
Thursday, May 12, 2005 Posted: 8:30 AM EDT (1230 GMT)



SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir -- A grenade has exploded at a Protestant missionary school in central Srinagar, killing two women and wounding 45 other, police say.

Ten of those wounded in Thursday's blast were children, they said.

The attack took place shortly after 3 p.m. (5 a.m. EDT) at Tyndale Biscoe School in central Srinagar, the main city of Kashmir.http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/12/kashmir.violence/story.kashmir.bomb.ap.jpg

Police suspect Muslim rebels were behind the attack, Reuters reported. Srinager has been at the center of a 15-year revolt against Indian rule.

"The grenade exploded as the school children were coming out of the gate of the school as it closed for the day," a police officer told Reuters.

Bloodstained school bags lay near the school gates, the agency said. Bystanders and police carried the wounded high school pupils to police vehicles which took them to hospitals.

Violence has continued in Kashmir, the cause of two of three India-Pakistan wars, despite an 18-month-old peace process between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

On Wednesday, rebels set off a crude bomb in Srinagar, killing two people and wounding 35 others.

More than 45,000 people have been killed in the revolt in Jammu and Kashmir -- Hindu majority India's only Muslim-majority state -- since 1989.

[candypreet]

update:


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8471889
Two killed, 50 hurt in blast near Kashmir school
Thu May 12, 2005 10:34 AM ET
By Sheikh Mushtaq
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim rebels detonated a grenade on Thursday as children left a Christian missionary school in Indian Kashmir, killing two women and wounding about 50 people including 20 pupils, police said.

"Please save me, I don't want to die. Call my parents," screamed a girl, her leg covered in blood, outside the school in Srinagar.

Distraught parents, many of them weeping, searched for their children at the scene of the blast in the center of the main city of Kashmir where separatist rebels are waging a 15-year-old revolt against Indian rule.

"The grenade exploded as the schoolchildren were coming out of the gate of the school as it closed for the day," a police officer told Reuters.

Bloodstained school bags lay near the school gates. Bystanders and police carried the wounded high school pupils to police vehicles which took them to hospitals.

"There was a deafening sound and, after a moment, I saw many people lying down. I grabbed my children and ran for safety," Bilal Ahmad, a father of two pupils at the school, said.

Two teachers and 30 passers-by were also wounded in the blast.

"Two unidentified women succumbed to their injuries in the hospital," hospital official Showkat Ahmad said.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Violence has continued in Kashmir, the cause of two of three India-Pakistan wars, despite an 18-month-old peace process between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and intensified counter-insurgency operations by Indian troops.

On Wednesday, rebels set off a crude bomb in Srinagar, killing two people and wounding 35
The new attacks are the worst in Srinagar since the two nations launched a cross-border bus service between the two parts of Kashmir last month, seen as a key step in the peace process.

INDIAN REMINDER TO PAKISTAN

More than 45,000 people have been killed since 1989 in the revolt in Jammu and Kashmir, Hindu-majority India's only Muslim-majority state.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reminded Pakistan on Thursday that New Delhi still expected Islamabad to do more to close camps of Kashmiri insurgents in Pakistani Kashmir.

"There should be immediate cessation of terrorist activities including the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure," Singh, who held talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in New Delhi last month to push the peace process, said.

"President Musharraf has assured us that Pakistan's soil will not be allowed for terrorist activities," Singh told the lower house of parliament without elaborating.

Although bilateral ties have improved, New Delhi still alleges that Muslim rebels in Kashmir operate from Pakistani Kashmir, a charge that Islamabad has denied.

An Indian intelligence official told Reuters last week that security forces were bracing for a summer of violence as rebel groups became desperate after many of their cadres had been killed by soldiers in the past few months.

[candypreet]

Parcel bomb explosion claims three lives

PTI[ FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2005 10:44:18 AM ]
SRINAGAR: Three member of a family were killed when a parcel bomb exploded in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday.


The parcel was delivered at the house of one Mohd Syed Kakroo in Bijbehara, 45 kms from here, around 1030 IST on Thursday night the police said.

As soon as the parcel was opened it exploded killing Kakroo, his son Mohd Rafiq and daughter Shahzada, the police said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1108643.cms

[candypreet]

Nine killed in Held Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Suspected militants in held Kashmir shot dead on Saturday the brother of an ex-militant who became a moderate separatist leader, police said.

He was one of eight people killed in incidents across the region, they said. Abdul Gani Bhat was a supporter of his brother’s party, the Kashmir Salvation Movement, which belongs to the moderate wing of the APHC. Police said Bhat was shot dead near his home on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Bhat’s younger brother, Zafar Abdul Fateh, was a former top rebel commander of the region’s biggest group, Hizbul Mujahideen, before he gave up arms and formed his own moderate separatist movement. Separately, Indian troops killed two militants in a clash near Banihal town, 100 kilometres south of Srinagar, police said. Another militant and a soldier died in clashes elsewhere, police said.

In Kalakote, 120 kilometres northwest of Jammu, suspected militants ambushed a group of coalmine workers returning home from work late on Saturday, killing three of them and injuring another, police said. The militants fled after firing at the mine workers. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. agencies

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_15-5-2005_pg7_10

[candypreet]

Militants kill four members of a family in KashmirPublished: Monday, 16 May, 2005, 12:56 PM Doha Time

SRINAGAR: Suspected militants shot dead a father and his three sons as they left a coal mine in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The four Hindus were returning home from work in the mine when the gunmen opened fire and killed them in the village of Raa in southern Rajouri district, a police spokesman said.

“All four were working in a coal mine as labourers,” the spokesman said, blaming militants for the slayings.

None of the dozen rebel groups fighting against Indian forces in Kashmir claimed responsibility for the deaths.

Police said the shooting sparked panic in the village and troops, backed by police, rushed to the spot and launched a search operation.

The killing of three Hindus is a grim reminder of the threat terrorism still poses to minority communities in the state, analysts said.

This is the second such incident in less than six weeks. Militants had earlier shot dead a Hindu villager in the same district.

“This has re-opened our wounds,” said Kuldeep Raj Gupta, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader of the district, who has been leading a campaign for stringent measures against militants. He is also a fierce and vocal opponent of the reduction of troops from the area.

“These killings have demonstrated that the decision to reduce troops from this militancy infested area was bad,” he said.

“I don’t know why this fact escapes the attention of the government that militants are ruthless and only a strong military action against them can restore some order and peace in the area.”

His argument is based on the recent spurt of killings not just in Rajouri district that borders Pakistan-administered Kashmir but also in other parts of the state where car and parcel bombs and shootouts have brought to the fore the continued danger of militancy in the state.

The security analysts are conscious of the fact that these killings are ominous. – Agencies
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=36672&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22

[candypreet]

Four ultras among 7 killed in J&K
Jammu, May 16. (PTI): Four militants were among seven persons killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir where army troops foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Rajouri district today, official sources said here.

A group of heavily armed militants entered Bhimbergali area along the LoC in Rajouri district from Pakistan's Nikial area early today, the sources said.

The troops challenged the militants and in the ensuing gunbattle, three ultras were killed, they said.

This was the fifth infiltration bid along the LoC in the state in the past three weeks in which 27 militants have been killed.

In another incident, two Special Police Officers were killed at a marriage function in Doda district last night.

A militant and a BSF jawan were killed in an encounter in Damkund area of Udhampur district last night, the sources said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200505161412.htm

[candypreet]

Six killed in Kashmir; school closed
Source: IANS.


Srinagar, May 17: Six people were killed in a resurgence of violence in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, even as a school here was attacked with an explosive device.

Two people were killed and 15 others were wounded when a hand grenade was lobbed at a congregation mourning the death of a man who was shot dead Saturday.

The slain man, Abdul Gani Bhat, was the elder brother of Zaffar Abdul Fateh, a former commander of Hizbul Mujaheedin who had met Indian officials in August 2000 after the terror group had declared a unilateral ceasefire. The truce was withdrawn after nearly a month.

"Unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade while mourners were offering fateha Bhat. Two critically injured people succumbed to their injuries while 15 are being treated in hospital," said a police officer who visited the spot.


In another incident, the Kamla Nehru School in Barbarshah area, barely a kilometre from the city centre, was closed for two days after miscreants hurled a powerful firecracker at the gates. Stone throwing followed, a teacher at the school said, adding that miscreants had warned them against running the school.

The incident, which created panic, came just five days after a grenade attack outside two schools killed two people and injured 45 others, including many students.

Meanwhile, the bodies of four villagers were found at a forest near Dara village close to the Dachigam National Park, 11 km from here. They had been abducted with three others from their homes in Dara Monday evening.

Police said the throats of all four slain villagers had been slit

http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandorav3/output/News/a8465b63-2434-45a5-8ecc-7f005bc5555b.aspx

[candypreet]

I think thats 56 killed and over a hundred injured by terrorists in Jammu and kashmir India, In the past 6 days.

[candypreet]

Grenade attack in Indian Kashmir kills two
17 May 2005 12:14:28 GMT

Source: Reuters

SRINAGAR, India, May 17 (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim rebels threw a grenade at a group of mourners in Indian Kashmir on Tuesday, killing two and wounding at least 12, police said
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP174692.htm

[candypreet]

I think thats 56 killed and over a hundred injured by terrorists in Jammu and kashmir India, In the past 6 days.

thats now 58, killed in 6 days

[candypreet]

Militants kill three civilians in Kashmir New Delhi, May 24, IRNA
India-Kashmir
Three civilians, including a woman, were killed by militants in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, reports Press Trust of India.

A group of armed militants swooped over Sumbad village in Ramban tehsil of Doda district and barged into the house of the 60-year old Fatima Begum late last night, the sources told PTI.

Police later recovered bodies of Fatima Ahmed and her son Irshad from the outskirts of village with their throats slit.

In another incident, unidentified militants kidnapped Masoom Ahmed Shah, a Special Police Officer (SPO) with Surankote police post from his residence at Gursai village in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district last night.

Shah's body was found this morning near Harmuta forest area, the sources said.

2160/1422

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0505240754142642.htm

[candypreet]

Srinagar, May 24 : A bridge was damaged in a blast in Jammu and Kashmir but there were no casualties, police said.

The blast occurred Monday night at Sadhupadao, between Pahalgam and Chandanwadi, 110 km from this summer capital of Kashmir, on the route of the annual pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine of Amarnath.

Sadhupadao is the place where Hindu saints camp while on their way to Amarnath.

The blast damaged a wooden bridge that the authorities said would soon be repaired. Cars and other small vehicles use the bridge.

"It was a minor incident. There is no need for panic," a police officer said.

(IANS)

[candypreet]

Militants kill three in Jammu-Kashmir



New Delhi, India, May. 23 (UPI) -- Militants killed three people overnight in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian security authorities said Monday
Striking back, Indian counter-insurgency forces of the Indian Army's No. 71 Battalion carried out a search operation at Arbal village in Pulwama district Monday morning and killed Hizbul Mujahedin militant Farooq Ahmad Sheikh after a fierce gun battle, the Press Trust of India said.

In another operation, troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, shot and killed a Muslim militant from the Lashker-e-Toiba group at Gori-Uranhall in the Anantnag district late Sunday night, PTI said.

The clashes followed a Saturday ambush in Jammu in which four Indian soldiers, including the officer commanding the unit, were killed. It occurred in the Kalalara forest of the Rajouri district, the Indian Express reported.

The paper said an Army patrol of 14 soldiers from the Maratha Light Infantry was on its way for an operation in the Dharamshal area of Rajouri district when it was attacked. The militants hurled grenades and opened fire on the troops led by Maj. Satayjet Shinday, who was killed in the exchange, it said.

[candypreet]

Sufi shrine set ablaze; two ultras among five killed in J-K
Srinagar, May 24. (PTI): A 700-year-old shrine of a revered Kashmiri Sufi saint in Aishmuqam area of Anantnag district was set ablaze by unidentified persons, sources said here today.

The shrine of Hazrat Zainuddin Reshi at Pendabal in Aishmuqam area, 85 km from here, was set on fire last night, the sources said.

Armed with weapons, the accused allegedly chased away the custodian of the shrine and other staff present there before setting it on fire, they said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Anantnag range) Shiekh Owais Ahmad said a police party had been despatched to the area to probe the matter.

This would take some time as the shrine is located in a remote area, he said.

The shrine is believed to be the first halting point of the Sufi saint who has places of worship named after him across the Kashmir valley.

Two LeT ultras killed; six hideouts busted

Meanwhile another report from Jammu said that two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were killed in separate incidents in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir where security forces busted six hideouts and nabbed an over ground worker.

Quoting official sources the report said today that the two Lashkar ultras were killed in an encounter with security forces at Dhara in Bafliaz sector of Poonch district on Monday night.

The militants have been identified as Abu Farhan and Abu Haider -- both Pakistani nationals, the sources said, adding two AK-47 rifles along with five magazines and 65 rounds and a radio set from recovered from them.

In another incident, unidentified militants kidnapped SPO M H Shah from his residence at Harni village in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district on Monday night, they said adding his throat was slit and his body was found this morning near Harmuta forest area.

During a search operation, security forces busted five hideouts at Chhatarnal in Banihal tehsil of Doda and recovered from them 1.5 kg of dates, 33 pencil cells, two perfume bottles, a hurricane lamp, a stove and some utensils.

In another search operation, 80 cells were found in a cow shed of one Sher Mohammad of Kalaban area in Rajouri district.

Security forces also nabbed an over ground worker identified as Hamid Tregwal in Gool tehsil of udhampur district, they said adding he was later handed over to the police.

UNI adds: Two killed by ultras

A UNI report said that a village defence committee (VDC) member and his mother were killed by militants at Sumber in Udhampur district on Monday night.

Quoting the police the report said that the VDC member, identified as Irshad, was abducted by militants from his residence three days ago and taken to the forest area where he was tortured, but later set free on Monday.

However, the same group of militants shot him dead at his residence later and also killed his mother Fatima Begum (70), the sources added.

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): Explosions struck two movie theaters in the western region of New Delhi on the evening of 22 May 2005. The first bomb exploded at the Liberty Cinema in the Karol Bagh neighborhood of west Delhi, while the second went off about 15 minutes later at the nearby Satyam Cinema in the neighborhood of Patel Nagar. Bombs went off during screenings of a controversial new Indian film. Reports indicate that at least one person was killed and 49 were injured. Police officers were deployed in strength, and the capital was put on high alert. Hours after the two movie theater blasts, a third explosion occurred in the residential district of Nand Nagri at approximately 0545 local time (0015 UTC). The explosion occurred when a man opened an abandoned handbag near a railway crossing in eastern Delhi. While it is unknown whether the latest explosion is related to the explosions at the two New Delhi theaters, authorities sealed off the area, and an investigation is underway.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 5/23/2005

[candypreet]

LD KASHMIR
Six killed in separate incidents in J&K
SRINAGAR, MAY 26 (PTI)
Six persons, including a Special Police Officer, were killed and four soldiers injured in separate militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir where two ultras were arrested since last night, official sources said here today.

Two army personnel were killed and another was injured when militants, who had taken positions on the hill tops, fired on the troops of 8 Rashtriya Rifles during a search operation in Mushanpoki forest in Doda district early this morning, the sources said. The search party fired back but the ultras fled the scene after the gunfight.

Additional troops were rushed to the area to track down the fleeing militants, they said.

In another encounter, a police spokesman said two unidentified militants and an army jawan were killed and three soldiers injured at Drangyari forest near Chowkibal in Kupwara district of north Kashmir today.

The encounter broke out when militants opened fire on the troops engaged in search operation in the area, the spokesman said.

The deceased jawan has been identified as Naik Rajinder Singh and the injured soldiers - Major Deepak Kumar, Havaldar Dhabi Khan and Lance Naik Baljeet Singh - were hospitalised.

The spokesman said militants shot dead SPO Gori Chand at Bobar Nallah near Thathri in Doda district last night.

Chand, a resident of Zila Panie, was grazing his cattle in the area when he was confronted by militants and killed.

Security forces apprehended a militant from Handwara in Kupwara district and recovered two hand grenades from his house last night, the spokesmen said.

Another militant was arrested along with two grenades, two AK magazines and 30 rounds during search operations at Warnow in Lolab area of Kupwara district today, he said.

Security forces busted a hideout in Triyath area in Doda district last night and recovered two hand grenades and 80 rounds of ammunition, the spokesman said.

He said security forces also busted three hideouts in Beri Rakh (Mehdhar thesil), Seri (Hanamandi) and Kalaban (Prankote) in Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur districts of Jammu division and recovered six grenades, one pistol, two magazines, one wooden box, 12 IEDs and eight detonators last night.

Troops also busted two hideouts in Kanau Nala (Gandoh) and Koogwati in Doda district early today and recovered 10 grenades, one rifle, two SLR magazines, 180 rounds, 50 AK rounds, one trigger mechanism, one IED, one laminated instruction for mixing of explosives, a solar panel, besides a Hizb-ul-Mujahiden letter pad.
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=300638

[candypreet]

Aishmuqam, May 26: TWO foreign militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba are said to be involved in the attack on the 700-year-old Sufi Shrine of Hazrat Zainudin Reshi in Pendabal, south Kashmir, which was recently destroyed by militants. Sources said Intelligence reports have pointed to involvement of the Let militants. Meanwhile, Governor Lt Gen S.K. Sinha (retd) today said the Raj Bhawan would bear all expenses of repair of the shrine. The Governor, who visited the shrine today, said the damage had been minor and he asked the Army to complete the repair work in conjunction with the civil administration.

Interacting with locals of Aishmuqam after paying obeisance at the shrine of Hazrat Zainudin Wali (RA) at Aishmuqam, the Governor said he was pained on hearing about the damage caused to the shrine in the dense forest by terrorists. ‘‘But, now I feel relieved and thank God that the shrine is saved,’’ he added.

Sinha, who was earlier scheduled to visit the area by helicopter, drove the entire length of the 75-km highway to visit the shrine. A large number of locals, despite the heavy rain, walked along the Governor up to the Aishmuqam shrine, where he placed a “chadder” and prayed for peace and tranquillity in the state. The Duago, Ghulam Mohammed Khadim, led the Governor through a very narrow tunnel, where he later offered prayers at the “mazaar”.

Meanwhile, Intelligence inputs have revealed that two foreign ultras of Lashkar-e-Toiba were responsible for the heinous act.

Sinha added that it was shameful how such spiritual and religious places were being targeted by terrorists, who had “scant regard for the sentiments and feelings of the people”. He referred to the unfortunate burning of the famous shrine of Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorni in Chrar-e-Sharief some years ago and said the incident had immensely shocked the people not only in Kashmir, but all over the country and elsewhere in the world. “Sufi shrines are the shinning glory of our rich ethos and heritage,” he said, while making a fervent appeal to the people for showing forbearance.

Earlier, the locals brought to the notice of the Governor various problems of the area related to health care and drinking water. He said the state government is endeavoring to provide basic necessities to the people. He responded to their demands by assuring that emergency medical assistance would be provided in the area to supplement health care facilities. He asked Major General V.K. Singh to provide health care from Army resources for the time-being, which the latter readily agreed to. He assured the local people that he would advice the government to expeditiously meet their legitimate demands. Deputy Commissioner Baseer Khan briefed the Governor about the incident at the shrine
http://www.expressindia.com/kashmir/full_story.php?content_id=47443&type=ei

[candypreet]

Jammu, May 20: A Pakistan-trained Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant was arrested by security forces after they got lead on his hideout in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday


http://www.kashmirlive.com/full_story.php?content_id=47086&type=ei

[candypreet]

Hizb militant among three arrested in J&K

Press Trust Of India


Posted online: Sunday , May 22, 2005 at 1408 hours IST

Jammu, May 22: A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was among three persons arrested in Rajouri district, official sources said here today.

On specific information, troops launched an operation in Chapra village in Rajouri district last night and during the searches arrested the militant Abu Moosa, they said.

The militant fired a few rounds before being arrested, they said adding the recoveries included one ak rifle, three magazines, 33 rounds, one wireless set, two hand grenades and Rs 3000 Indian currency, he said troops also arrested two over ground workers (OGWs) of Lashker-e-Toiba at Chandial and Jamola areas in Rajouri district last night, they said adding all of them have been sent to joint interrogation centre for questioning.

http://www.kashmirlive.com/full_story.php?content_id=47181&type=ei

[candypreet]

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/5/28/latest/20050528193234&sec=Latest

Kashmir blasts injure 31 amid escalating violence

SRINAGAR, India: A remote controlled car bomb Saturday toppled a paramilitary truck as it drove through a village in Indian-controlled Kashmir, and a grenade exploded near a group of civilians in a separate attack, leaving 31 people injured, police said.

Eleven civilians and seven soldiers were injured when a bomb placed in a car exploded at Lazbal village, some 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu-Kashmir state, Senior Superintendent of Police Ashiq Hussain. Four of the soldiers were in critical condition, he said.

The road where the explosion took place is on the route of the annual pilgrimage to the 4,115 meters (13,500 feet) high Himalayan cave shrine of Amarnath, visited by thousands each year. This year's pilgrimage will begin next month.

A spokesman for the Hezb-ul Mujahedeen, Kashmir's largest militant outfit, claimed responsibility for the car bombing in a call to the local news agency Current News Service.

Kashmir is the scene of a 15-year-old insurgency by separatist militants fighting to carve out a separate homeland or merge the Himalayan region into Pakistan, India's western neighbor. More than 66,000 people have died.

Hours later in Srinagar, suspected rebels hurled a grenade at a paramilitary patrol vehicle but missed, injuring 13 civilians, said Superintendent of Police S.A.Sayeed.

The injured included an Indian tourist.

Violence has increased in Kashmir in recent weeks as India and Pakistan pursue peace talks aimed at ending decades of rivalry.

The militants have opposed many peace gestures between the two sides. - AP

[candypreet]

http://www.kashmirlive.com/full_story.php?content_id=47662&type=ei


Srinagar, May 30: Five militants, including a self-styled commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, were among seven persons killed across Jammu and Kashmir where a family had a miraculous escape as militants bombed their residence and followed it up with indiscriminate firing, a police spokesman today said.

Militants also shot at and critically injured a woman and abducted a civilian in the state while security forces busted three militant hideouts since last night, the spokesman said.

Ultras lobbed a grenade towards the house of Majnoon Ganai at Kalaroos in the frontier district of Kupwara last night. They also resorted to indiscriminate firing on the house. However, no one was injured in the incident, he said.

A self-styled battalion commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, identified as Zahoor Ahmad Ganai alias Arsalan was killed in an encounter with security forces at Autroosa-Boompora in Kreei area of Baramulla district in wee hours today, the spokesman said.

Ganai is the second top commander of Hizb to be killed within a week. On Thursday night, security forces shot dead Hizb district commander Mohammad Yousuf Sheikh, who was wanted in scores of killings and an attack on Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed last year.

Two militants were killed in another encounter with security forces at Limber-Boniyar in the same district last night. An unidentified militant was killed in a gunbattle with security forces at Chalkipora-Achabal in Anantnag district today, the spokesman said.

A Pakistani militant of Jehad-E-Islami, Younis Shah alias Abu Kamran of Gujranwala was killed in a gunfight with security forces at Pendobal-Aishmuqam in Anantnag district last night, he said. The spokesman said police recovered the body of one Farooq Ahmad Bhat on the outskirts of village Braw-nandina in Pulwama district. Bhat had been kidnapped by militants and strangulated to death. Militants shot dead Musahmad Ganai at Dangerpora in Baramulla last night, he said.

The spokesman said militants shot and critically wounded a woman, identified as Firdousa, after intruding into her house at Checki Truk in Kulgam area of Anantnag district last night. She has been hospitalized.

Militants kidnapped Manzoor Hussain, a civilian, from his house at Paanjai in Gucha-wali Dhok in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district last night, he said, adding police has launched a hunt to track down the abductors and rescue the hostage. He said security forces recovered two under barrel grenade launchers and 15 AK rounds from a house of one Ghulam Mohammad Mir at path Wadser in Kupwara district last night.

Four hand grenades, four AK magazines, a wireless set and one antenna were recovered from a hideout in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district, he said

[candypreet]

June 11, 2005

• Seven ultras, two policemen killed in encounters in J&K

June 10, 2005

• Alleged militant arrested in Delhi

June 09, 2005

• Six militants, jawan killed as infiltration bid foiled

June 08, 2005

• Army Major, two militants among six killed in J&K
• Army Major, militant killed in gunbattle

June 06, 2005

• Security forces kill 17 militants in J&K
• Four militants killed in J&K gunbattle
• Elderly villager mistaken as militant, shot dead by troops

June 05, 2005

• Five militants killed in Rajouri gunbattle
• 3 militants killed in J&K

June 04, 2005

• Militants’ bid to storm Army camp foiled

June 03, 2005

• NC corporator shot dead in downtown Srinagar

June 01, 2005

• One militant shot dead, RDX seized in J&K


http://www.kashmirlive.com/encounter.php

[candypreet]

Blast near JK school: 12 killed, 100 injured


http://www.wincoast.com/forum/showthread.php?p=221546#post221546

[Casey]

Kashmir still remains unstable as killings continue
(AFP)
15 June 2005

SRINAGAR — Police and troops went on high alert yesterday in revolt-hit Indian Kashmir to forestall further violence after a car bomb blast near a school killed 15 people and wounded 100.

Security was stepped up as major centres in Kashmir staged a dawn-to-dusk strike to protest against Monday’s blast in the southern town of Pulwama in response to a shutdown call from a hardline separatist.

Indian authorities accused rebels of staging the blast while militants blamed it on Indian security agencies.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/June/subcontinent_June539.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

[candypreet]

June 15, 2005

• Two militants killed in encounter in Kashmir
• Jawan killed as ultras ambush Rashtriya rifle's search party

June 13, 2005

• 14 killed, 100 injured in Pulwama blast in Kashmir

June 11, 2005

• Seven ultras, two policemen killed in encounters in J&K

June 10, 2005

• Alleged militant arrested in Delhi

June 09, 2005

• Six militants, jawan killed as infiltration bid foiled

http://www.kashmirlive.com/encounter.php

[candypreet]

Fourteen people have died in a wave of violence in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Indian troops say they have shot dead six militant infiltrators during a clash in the Tangdar sector of northern Kupwara district.

Police say the rebels had entered Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani side of the disputed region.

In further violence, Indian troops shot dead four militants in the southern district of Doda in three separate gun battles.

The fresh violence came as moderate separatists returned from a historic two-week tour to Pakistan, offering to reopen dialogue with India on the future of Kashmir.

Hardline militants however have opposed the three-way talks between separatists, India and Pakistan.

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1395022.htm

[candypreet]

Bus conductor hanged to death by militants

Press Trust Of India


Posted online: Friday , June 17, 2005 at 1305 hours IST

Srinagar, June 17: Militants kidnapped and hanged to death a bus conductor in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir last night, officials said today.

Farooq Ahmad was abducted from his house in Chadoora town by militants last night and hanged to death in a nearby field later on, they said.

It was unclear yet why the conductor was abducted and killed by the militants, they added.

[candypreet]

June 24, 2005

• Six army men killed, 19 injured in Kashmir explosion

June 22, 2005

• 10 injured in grenade attack by militants

June 18, 2005

• 'Militants-turned-SPOs killed colleagues'

June 17, 2005

• Thirteen killed in militancy-related violence in J&K
• 'Plan by ultras to kill police personnel using SPOs unearthed'
• Bus conductor hanged to death by militants

June 15, 2005

• Three Hizbul ultras gunned down in J-K, militants kill infant

June 13, 2005

• 14 killed, 100 injured in Pulwama blast in Kashmir

June 11, 2005

• Seven ultras, two policemen killed in encounters in J&K

June 10, 2005

• Alleged militant arrested in Delhi

June 09, 2005

• Six militants, jawan killed as infiltration bid foiled

June 08, 2005

• Army Major, two militants among six killed in J&K
• Army Major, militant killed in gunbattle

June 06, 2005

• Security forces kill 17 militants in J&K
• Four militants killed in J&K gunbattle
• Elderly villager mistaken as militant, shot dead by troops

June 05, 2005

• Five militants killed in Rajouri gunbattle
• 3 militants killed in J&K

June 04, 2005

• Militants’ bid to storm Army camp foiled

June 03, 2005

• NC corporator shot dead in downtown Srinagar

June 01, 2005

• One militant shot dead, RDX seized in J&K

http://www.kashmirlive.com/encounter.phpJune 24, 2005

[Atlas]

India, U.S. Sign Landmark Defense Pact
2005-06-29
United Press International

India and the United States signed a 10-year defense pact agreement that a statement said takes the relationship to unprecedented levels of cooperation.

Tuesday's deal signed by Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will help facilitate joint weapons production, cooperation on missile defense and the transfer of technology.

The United States and India have entered a new era, the two sides said in a statement. We are transforming our relationship to reflect our common principles and shared national interests.

The deal comes amid warming ties between the two countries and a visit to Washington next month by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

[NYer]

Osama's strategy backfires on bank
AKHILESH KUMAR SINGH

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2005 10:22:56 AM ]

KANPUR: "Dear terrorists, new firman issued. Kill 10, take a branded T-shirt and be best terrorist in the group. Jehad begins from July 18-20 – Osama bin Laden.’’ No, this isn’t a message on the Al-Jazeera channel.

It is creative minds at work at ICICI-Prudential Insurance Company, exhorting local agents to go for a ‘sales kill’. The new strategy was aptly named ‘Mission Jehad’.

In a meeting of the company’s agents on Tuesday night, employees were asked to adopt the “bin Laden strategy”, ie, one terrorist killing 10 people.

Here, though, jehad meant sale of insurance policies. The best reward at stake — a glass tumbler — was named after the world’s most wanted terrorist.

"During the meeting, insurance company personnel apprised agents of bin Laden’s strategy and how he targeted his victims. We were told to adopt the same to popularise our insurance policies," an agent present in the meeting said.

The creative initiative proved costly as five company employees were marched off to jail on Wednesday. They were arrested immediately after the issue snowballed into a major controversy in Kanpur and saffron parties staged a protest in front of the insurance company office.

On Wednesday, the additional chief metropolitan magistrate-1, Kanpur Nagar, rejected the bail application of the employees arrested on charges of sedition.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1178466.cms

[experiencediz]

Al Qaeda MMS
Posted to the site on 28-07-2005

Police in the Indian city of Kanpur, in Uttar Pradesh have apparently been ordered to carry out random inspections of colour screen mobile phones, looking for an MMS message that is being virally distributed in the area.

There are two versions of the MMS, each containing a one minute video clip which apparently show Osama bin Laden and killings by Iraqi hostage takers amongst other clips.

"Orders have been issued to start random checking of cell phones. If anyone is found carrying the Osama MMS, he will be charged with sedition," Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhat C Meena said. "We are baffled at the origin of this Osama clip and are trying to locate its source."

The videos shows militants riding on a tank and firing into the air, followed by pictures of Osama bin Laden firing a gun and motivating his followers to take part in a jihad. They end with pictures of the Sept. 11 attacks accompanied by the message: "Thousands killed, Al Qaeda strikes."

Al Qaeda MMS (http://www.cellular-news.com/story/13579.php)

More Here: 'Osama' video clips (http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/26/asia/web.0726osama.php)

[NYer]

Bomb on crowded train in India kills 7

By Joy Banerjee, Associated Press Writer | July 28, 2005

LUCKNOW, India --A bomb exploded Thursday on a crowded passenger train in northern India, killing at least seven people and injuring 50, a railway official said.

The train was traveling from the eastern city of Patna to New Delhi when the bomb exploded, said R.K. Singh, the top official for Indian Railways. He did not elaborate.

Medical teams were sent to the scene, near the town of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh state, about 400 miles east of New Delhi, officials said.

"We have information about seven deaths," said Rajinder Singh, a senior railway official in Uttar Pradesh state, where the explosion occurred. At least 50 were wounded, and the death toll was likely to rise because many of them were in serious condition, he said.

Earlier Thursday, police found a suitcase packed with 18 small bombs inside a passenger train car in eastern Bihar state, said Uday Kant Jha, a railway official in Patna, the state capital. He said those bombs did not appear to be linked to the train blast.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/07/28/two_dead_20_hurt_in_india_train_blast/

[Ono]

Suspected Islamic Militants Kill Villagers in Indian Kashmir

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
13 August 2005


In Indian Kashmir, suspected Islamic militants have killed at least five people and wounded nine others, including four children. This latest incident comes as India claims overall violence in the insurgency-wracked region is declining.

Police in Indian Kashmir say Islamic guerrillas attacked two Hindu families with guns and grenades, as they were sharing an evening meal in a remote village about 75 kilometers northeast of the winter capital, Jammu.

Jammu is a Hindu majority region in the Muslim majority province of Kashmir.

The targeted families were members of village defense committees. These committees consist of groups of villagers, armed and trained by security forces to defend against militant attacks.

Defense committee members have often been targeted by Islamic rebels, who have been fighting since 1989 to end Indian rule in Kashmir.

Officials say attacks in Kashmir have increased in recent weeks, but Home Minister Shivraj Patil told parliament Friday that, in the past year, overall violence has declined in the restive region, where an estimated 40,000 people have been killed since the insurgency flared.

"During the current year till July end, the number of violent incidents has come down by 24.5 percent, compared to the corresponding period last year," said Shivraj Patil. "Similarly, the killings of civilians have declined by 28.5 percent since up to July. And it has happened because of fencing of the border, because of the vigilance of the forces, because of the policies of the government."

Political analysts also attribute the fall in violence to a peace process that began last year between India and Pakistan.

The latest incident took place two days ahead of India's Independence Day. Rebel groups, including those in Kashmir, often step up attacks at this time, and tens-of-thousands of security personnel have been deployed throughout the country to prevent violence.


http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-08-13-voa3.cfm

[Petronas]

Terrorists defy Jihad Council direction, kill ten in Rajouri
October 10, 2005 3:15:31 PM IST

Unidentified terrorists killed around ten persons in three different incidents in Rajouri on Sunday night, despite the Muttahida Jihad Council's (MJC) chief Syed Salahudin having decided to suspend terrorist activities in the quake-hit Valley for the time being, as a condolence over the loss of lives. While five members of two Hindu families were massacred in Rajnagar in the Budhal area, four Hindus were killed in Gabbar village, and one Muslim in Kulhar village. Budhal is said to be the worst quake-hit area where about 100 houses collapsed and 20 people sustained injuries.

Police said that terrorists barged into two homes in Rajnagar village in Budhal, about 200 km north of Jammu, around 11 pm, and killed the people with sharp-edged weapons. Stating that it was a clear act of terrorism, Rajouri SSP Jaipal Singh said: "We are investigating". The police are yet to ascertain the terrorist group behind the killings. With the telephone lines being cut due to the devastating earthquake, the police are finding it difficult to reach out the place where the incident occurred. The place is said to be at a higher altitude.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan-based Online News agency reported that the MJC on Sunday decided not to carry out jihadi activities in the quake-hit areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Participants of the meeting reportedly expressed their deep sorrow and sympathised with the quake victims. It was also decided at the meeting that no effort would be spared to help out those affected, said the report. ...

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=133756&cat=India

[candypreet]

First woman suicide bomber in Kashmir conflict reported
(AP)

13 October 2005



SRINAGAR, India - A women suicide bomber blew herself up on Thursday minutes before an army convoy was to pass on a key highway in Indian Kashmir in the first such attack by a female bomber in the region’s Islamic separatist conflict, police said.


A militant group claimed five soldiers were killed in the blast, but police denied this, saying there were no other casualties.

The explosion shattered the glass windows of several building in the area in Awantipora, a town nearly 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of Srinagar, the capital of India’s Jammu-Kashmir state, Nissar Ahmad, a police officer, told The Associated Press.

While Kashmiri militants, fighting for independence from India have carried out at least 30 suicide bombings since the outbreak of insurgency in 1989, this is the first time a woman has carried out a suicide attack there, said Javed Makhdoomi, the inspector-general of state police.

The attack was not in an area of Kashmir affected by Saturday’s earthquake.

A person claiming to be a spokesman for the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in a call to the Current News Service, a Srinagar-based news agency.

The caller identified the attacker as Hafsa, a member of the women’s wing of the group. Many people in the region go by just one name.

The caller claimed that the blast had destroyed a government vehicle, killing five soldiers.

Police denied this.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/October/subcontinent_October496.xml&section=subcontinent

[Petronas]

Delhi blasts toll crosses 60, nation put on high alert
New Delhi, October 30, 2005

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Delhi Police combed the sites of three powerful blasts in New Delhi on Sunday for clues to who carried out coordinated attacks that killed over 60 people, just days before Diwali. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who cut short a visit to Kolkata to rush back to the capital, blamed Saturday night's attacks in crowded pre-holiday bazaars on terrorists, but said it was too early to speculate who was behind the blasts. Delhi chief minister appealed for people to stay away from public areas for the next few days ahead of Diwali on Tuesday and Eid al-Fitr a few days later.

In Delhi, extra armed police manned new barricades on the streets and the turnout at some temples and mosques was lower than normal in the cool, clear autumn morning. "There is some sense of fear, obviously," said 40-year-old Mohammad Salim.

The Blasts:

Three deafening blasts rocked crowded shopping centres in the Capital on Saturday, three days ahead of the Diwali festival, killing at least 55 people and injuring 155 others, including some foreigners, police said.

The first blast was reported at around 5.40 pm from the crowded Paharganj area, popular with foreign backpackers, and among the most congested areas in central Delhi close to the New Delhi Railway Station.

The other explosion occurred soon after in Sarojini Nagar, another busy shopping area in south Delhi, popular among the middle class and even foreigners.

Soon after there were reports of similar blasts from a few other areas, including Govindpuri, also a teeming market, in south Delhi.

Police immediately ordered all shopping centres in the capital to shut and appealed to the people to go back home, throwing a damper on the celebratory mood ahead of the grand festival of lights. "I appeal to the people to please go back to their families immediately. They will feel secure when they see their relatives," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said. The almost simultaneous explosions occurred within hours after a city court deferred sentencing a Pakistani national and his six Indian accomplices who have been convicted of staging a terrorist attack at the Red Fort December 2000, in which three people were killed.

Additional Sessions Judge OP Saini had on Monday convicted Asfaq Ahmed of Pakistan and his Indian accomplices Nazir Qasim and Yusuf Farooqui of waging war against India, a charge that carries the death penalty. The sentencing has been deferred to Monday. Four others have been convicted of lesser charges. Four people have been acquitted in the case.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal did not rule out the hand of terrorists, saying it was the "handiwork of those who were backed by anti-India elements."

As the news of the blasts spread, the security around Prime Minister Manmohan Singh -- who was about to board a flight from Agartala in northeastern India for Kolkata -- was stepped up, his aides said. He expressed "deep shock" over the incident and talked to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, appealing to the people to remain calm. "No terrorist can win over the people of India," Manmohan Singh said.

"From preliminary observations, it can be said the explosives were kept in a cycle rickshaw or a motorcycle. At least 40 are injured and six to eight people have expired," Delhi Police Commissioner KK Paul told reporters in Paharganj. Asked if there was a pattern in the blasts, Paul said: "It is too early to say that but we will work it out." The primary task before the police is to ensure that there is no panic and the injured are tended to immediately, he added.

Home Secretary VK Duggal said the government was monitoring the situation as a red alert was sounded in the capital. "An alert had been sounded in all states, including Delhi, for possible terrorist attacks during the festive season," Duggal added. Police and fire brigade personnel immediately rushed to the blast spots for relief and rescue operations. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. Traffic gridlocks caused by holiday shoppers added to the woes of rescue workers.

"We have also rushed bomb disposal squads and anti-terrorist units to these markets and some other areas where we foresee problems," Sudhir Yadav, additional commissioner at the Crime Branch, said.

"There was a huge explosion and the walls of a number of buildings came crashing down," said Arun Gupta, secretary of the All Delhi Hotel Association. "It was so powerful the whole market started shaking," added Gupta, who said he was barely 100 metres away from the blast spot at Pahargunj that was full of foreign tourists that throng its budget hotels and innumerable internet cafes. The blast sites resembled a war zone with shell-shocked survivors finding their way through broken glass and collapsed masonry.

The Sarojini Nagar blast occurred at a stand-up food stall that has a number of other food stalls around it, an eyewitness said. The blast was initially thought to have been caused by the exploding of a cooking gas cylinder but its cause soon became apparent with charred bodies and ripped up shop-fronts.

A fire broke out at the Sarojini Nagar, home to innumerable clothes retailers, and eatery owners scrambled to remove cooking gas cylinders to prevent further damage. The third blast occurred near the Kalkaji depot in Govindpuri, another extremely congested area.

The Confederation of All India Traders asked for an immediate emergency meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and Delhi Police top brass to discuss security arrangements in commercial areas. An official of the brand new Delhi Metro said the trains were running normally and commuters were being thoroughly frisked before entering the stations.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1533331,0008.htm

[Petronas]

Militant-Linked Group Claims India Blasts
October 30, 2005, 10:54 PM EST


NEW DELHI -- A little-known group that police say has ties to Kashmir's most feared militants claimed responsibility Sunday for a series of terrorist bombings that killed 59 people in New Delhi. Authorities said they already had gathered useful clues about the near-simultaneous blasts Saturday night that ripped through a bus and two markets crowded with people preparing for the Hindu festival of Diwali. Investigators reportedly raided dozens of small hotels across India's capital looking for possible suspects, and police said "numerous" people were being questioned.

The attacks came at particularly sensitive time as India and Pakistan were hashing out an unprecedented agreement to partially open the heavily militarized frontier that divides the disputed territory of Kashmir to speed relief to victims of a massive earthquake earlier this month. The agreement was finalized early Sunday, and Indian officials appeared hesitant to quickly put the blame for the bombings on Pakistan-based militants, unlike in previous terror attacks during a 16-year-old insurgency by Islamic separatists in India's part of Kashmir.

The United States "strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attacks in India," said White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan. "By targeting innocent civilians making final preparations for holiday celebrations, terrorists have demonstrated yet again that they are enemies of humanity and contemptuous of the values all in the civilized world share," McClellan said in a statement.

India's accusations of Pakistani involvement in a 2001 attack on parliament put the two nuclear-armed rivals on the brink of a fourth war. But they pulled back and, after pursuing peace efforts since early last year, both appeared intent on keeping the atmosphere calm. "We have lots of information but it is not proper to disclose it yet," Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil told clamoring journalists after an emergency meeting of the Cabinet called to discuss the attacks. "Our people are making good progress. The investigation is going well."

A man called a local news agency in Indian Kashmir to say the militant Islamic Inquilab Mahaz, or Front for Islamic Uprising, staged the bombings, which police said killed 59 people and wounded 210. The caller, who identified himself as Ahmed Yaar Ghaznavi, said the bombings were "meant as a rebuff to the claims of Indian security groups" that militants had been wiped out by security crackdowns and the Oct. 8 earthquake that devastated the insurgents' heartland in the mountains of Kashmir. A senior police officer in India's Jammu-Kashmir state said the caller's name was not familiar to intelligence agencies, and New Delhi's deputy police chief, Karnail Singh, said the group had not been very active since 1996.

However, while Singh refused to comment on the claim of responsibility, he said the group is linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the most feared of the dozens of Kashmiri militant groups. A leading anti-terrorism expert said earlier that the timing and nature of the blasts appeared to indicate the work of Lashkar. "It looks like Lashkar. They are the most active group here," said Vikram Sood, the former head of the Research and Analysis Wing, India's foreign intelligence agency.

Lashkar and some other Kashmiri groups are known to have expertise in using the powerful explosive RDX, and a police officer with knowledge of the investigation said forensic experts were studying whether RDX was used in the attack. He said witnesses reported that the biggest explosion created a huge ball of fire like that usually caused by RDX. The officer agreed to discuss the probe only if granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with journalists.

Police said they also were looking for a man in his 20s who refused to buy a ticket on a bus and got off in the Govindpuri neighborhood, leaving behind a large black bag. When some of the 40 passengers raised an alarm, the driver and conductor examined it and threw it out just as the blast occurred, injuring them both along with seven others.

Several Indian television stations said dozens of hotels in New Delhi had been raided after the bombings and suspects were detained. Singh, the deputy police chief, refused to comment on the reported raids. He insisted that "no one is under detention," but said many people were being questioned.

After the attacks, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party -- India's main opposition party -- called on the government to review what it called the "soft border" policy agreed to with Pakistan. The deal reached early Sunday will allow people to cross the frontier in Kashmir at five points starting Nov. 7 to help get food, shelter and medical aid to victims of the quake, which killed about 80,000 people and left 3 million homeless, most in Pakistan. Opening the border is a touchy issue in India because of the uprising by Islamic militants who are fighting to make India's part of Kashmir independent or unite it with Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since the subcontinent was partitioned at independence from Britain in 1947, two over Kashmir, but they have been pursuing efforts to improve relations and ease tensions since early last year. "Both India and Pakistan internalized the experience of the last few years. This is reflected in the sobriety" of official comments about the bombings, said C. Uday Bhaskar, an analyst at New Delhi's Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses.

He noted that after the bloody 2001 attack on parliament, Indian leaders quickly blamed Kashmir militants and Pakistan's spy agency, nearly bringing on another fourth war. "We now have a better appreciation of the linkages in such terror attacks and a better assessment of how to articulate it in public," Bhaskar said. This time, too, Pakistan's government has been quick to condemn the bombings, which drew worldwide condemnation.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-india-explosions,0,4171845.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Casey]

New Delhi bombings

India's recent deadly bombings were blamed on 'Kashmiri separatists.' Let's look, instead, at al-Qaeda-linked groups based in Pakistan, says former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan
By GOPALASWAMI PARTHASARATHY
Wednesday, November 9, 2005 Posted at 1:23 AM EST
Special to Globe and Mail Update

Hindus and Muslims across India were busy shopping and preparing to celebrate the festivals of Diwali and Eid on the evening of Oct. 29 when three bomb blasts at crowded shopping centres and a public transport bus shook the nation's capital. As many as 70 people were killed and more than 200 seriously injured. But Delhi's citizens were determined not to be intimidated by terrorist threats: While security across India was tightened, shops in areas where the bombs exploded reopened within 48 hours.
Terrorist violence in urban centres is not new for Indians. The primary aim of such terrorist violence is to sow discord and foment violence between Hindus and India's 140 million Muslims. On March 12, 1993, serial bomb blasts in Bombay set off by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim (now designated by the U.S. as an international terrorist linked to Osama bin Laden), with assistance from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, killed 247 people and injured 1,400 others.

On Dec. 22, 2000, a group of terrorists of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) attacked Delhi's historic Red Fort, the citadel of the city's Mughal rulers. LET leader Hafiz Mohammed Syed then proudly proclaimed that his group had unfurled the green flag of Islam on the Red Fort's ramparts. A year later, on Dec. 13, 2001, terrorists from another Pakistan-based group, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM), attacked the Indian Parliament - an assault that took India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

Pakistan initially denied that its nationals were involved in the Dec. 13 attack. But JEM then became involved in the brutal murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, a series of attacks on Christian churches across Pakistan and an attempt to assassinate Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Speaking in Pakistan's National Assembly on March 10, 2004, a former ISI chief, Lieutenant-General Javed Ashraf Qazi, said: "We must not be afraid of admitting that the Jaish-e-Mohammed was involved in the deaths of thousands of innocent Kashmiris, the bombing of the Indian Parliament, in Daniel Pearl's murder and in attempts on President Pervez Musharraf's life."

As police investigations found evidence of the involvement of operatives and "sleeper cells" of the Lashkar-e-Taiba in the Oct. 29 bomb blasts, Gen. Musharraf called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express his condolences. Mr. Singh told Gen. Musharraf: "We continue to be disturbed and dismayed at indications of external linkages of terrorist groups with the Oct. 29 bombings. India expects Pakistan to act against terrorism directed against India."

Contrary to popular belief, the Lashkar-e-Taiba is not made up of "Kashmiri separatists." LET's website has claimed that its fighters participated in jihad in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo and the Philippines. The website prominently displayed a banner portraying LET's dagger penetrating the national flags of the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, India and Israel. And its leader has proclaimed that "Hindus, Jews and Christians" are the "enemies" of Islam.

In 2001, the U.S. State Department designated LET as a "foreign terrorist organization." Responding to international pressure and the prospects of conflict with India, Gen. Musharraf "banned" LET in January of 2002. The State Department, in Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003, describes LET as the "armed wing of the Pakistan-based religious organization the Jamaat ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad."

Yet, its parent body, the Jamaat ud-Dawa, remains active in Pakistan. Its cadres are participating in post-earthquake relief operations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. LET has established links with al-Qaeda. Osama bin Laden addressed its annual congregations regularly in the past; a senior aide, Abu Zubaydah, was arrested in a LET safe house in Faisalabad in March of 2002.

The State Department acknowledges that LET "maintains ties with religious/military groups around the world ranging from the Philippines to the Middle East, through the network of its parent organization Jamaat ud-Dawa."

Some of those involved in the July London bombings were trained in LET camps in Pakistan. LET operatives have also been arrested for involvement in terrorist activities in the U.S. and Australia.

The dialogue between India and Pakistan in recent months has led to a number of measures to enhance people-to-people contacts and promote confidence and co-operation. The Line of Control dividing Kashmir has been opened for the travel. After the earthquake, Pakistan and India opened five locations for relief and medical assistance to those affected by the quake; the opening also permits members of divided families to meet. Mutual suspicions have unfortunately prevented a more active program of Indian assistance to those who have suffered so much in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, but public opinion in both countries has welcomed these moves for reconciliation and co-operation.

Still, there is a growing feeling in New Delhi that Gen. Musharraf continues to permit his intelligence establishment to assist groups such as LET and its allies in the Taliban leadership. This cannot continue.

The entire Indian-Pakistani peace process could well be jeopardized should more evidence emerge that radical Islamist groups such as LET are being given a free hand to stage terrorist attacks across India.

Gopalaswami Parthasarathy was Indian high commissioner to Pakistan from 1999 to 2000.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051109.wcomment1109/BNStory/International/

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): On 10 November 2005, authorities increased security at airports across India due to intelligence reports indicating that terrorists may try to hijack an aircraft for a suicide attack. The Union Home Ministry issued a general alert specifically mentioning Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (VABB/BOM) and asked security personnel to maintain a tight vigil on all vehicles approaching the airport. Additional security measures include the deployment of Quick Reaction Teams and the erection of additional barriers. Airport security may also implement additional body screening. Travelers flying out of Indian airports should arrive early to avoid disruptions to their travel plans.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 11/10/2005

[Petronas]

INDIA: BOMB SUSPECT EXTRADITED FROM PORTUGAL
Nov-11-05 12:08

A man suspected of being behind a series of bomb attacks in the Indian financial capital Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, in 1993, has been extradited to India from Portugal and has appeared in court in Mumbia. Abu Salem, is one of India's most wanted men and the attacks, which also hit the Indian stock exchange, killed more than 250 people. According to local radio and television reports, Abu Salem was extradited from Lisbon together with his partner, actress Monica Bedi. The two of them appeared in front of a Mumbai court on Friday.

Abu Salem was arrested in Portugal in September 2002, after he was found to be in possession of a false passport, and was condemned to serve a four and half year sentence in jail in November 2003. Even his partner, known for having acted in some Bollywood films, was arrested and accused of detention and the use of counterfeit documents. Since their arrest, New Delhi has asked for the extradition of the couple but the procedure has been complicated by the lack of a bilateral extradition treaty between New Delhi and Lisbon and by the appeals presented by the two accused in various Portuguese courts. The conclusion of the legal proceedings was made possible only after long negotiations when the Indian authorities assured those in Portugal that Abu Salem would not get the death penalty, in line with European laws which are against the death sentence. According to the Indian television channel NDTV, the Portuguese authorities surrendered to Indian pressure based on growing concerns over the threat of international terrorism. Bedi recently wrote a letter to the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, asking for his intervention to block the negotiations for the extradition.

According to security experts interviewed on local radio and TV, now that Abu Salem will be interrogated by the investigators of India's Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the agency of the Indian federal police, they will finally be able to clarify the details of the plot that led to the series of attacks that occured on 12 March 1993 and left around 1,400 injured. A team of 20 CBI agents left for Lisbon on 29 October to take back Abu Salem, who is believed to have been handed over to them on Thursday and brought to India on a special flight.

According to investigators, the attacks in 1993 were carried out by Islamic terrorists linked to Kashmiri separatists with the help of organised criminal gangs in Mumbai which are controlled by the Indian crime lord, Dawood Ibrahim, who has been living in Karachi, Pakistan for a number of years.

Abu Salem, who has denied every charge in relation to the attacks, is believed to be a key associate of the crime boss, who decided to help the terrorists, to avenge the deaths of hundreds of Muslims who were killed in the course of clashes between Muslims and Hindus that occured in previous years in the Indian financial capital. Abu Salem, according to the CBI detective, also has to respond to other accusations in relation to dozens of homicides, kidnappings and the extortion of producers and actors in Bollywood. The investigators also say that the movie industry in Mumbai lives under the constant threat of organised crime which punishes those who do not pay the protection money with death and is capable of preventing the distribution of the films in cinemas.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.227712132&par=0

[Petronas]

Delhi police get bomb threat
Monday, November 14, 2005

NEW DELHI: Emergency services on Sunday rushed to Delhi’s police headquarters following a bomb alert which came amid reports of a breakthrough in the probe into blasts which killed 62 shoppers in the Indian capital. Explosives experts scoured the headquarters as fire trucks raced to the cordoned-off building after an unidentifed person in a telephone call claimed a bomb had been planted there, a police official told AFP.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005\11\14\story_14-11-2005_pg4_20

[Casey]

Western UP on high alert after Al-Qaeda 'threat'
Press Trust of India
Ghaziabad, November 20, 2005

An alert has been sounded in Meerut zone after police received a letter, purportedly by Al-Qaeda, threatening a series of blasts in trains and major railway stations of western Uttar Pradesh.

Security had been tightened and a general alert sounded, especially on trains and railway stations in Meerut, Bareilly, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Ghaziabad after "the receipt of a letter" claimed to be that of Al-Qaeda, Inspector-General of Police NB Singh said here on Sunday.

"The letter might be a fake one but the police cannot ignore it," he said.

He said the letter was received by the Muzaffarnagar police two days ago and immediately brought to the notice of state Home Secretary Alok Sinha who directed senior police officials of the zone to ensure security in trains and railway stations.

The letter had mentioned Meerut and Bareilly stations but had not named any specific trains.

The IGP added the public had been advised not to touch any objects found lying around in trains, buses, public parks and markets.

The state capital went into a tizzy a few days ahead of former US President Bill Clinton's visit in early September after an Al-Qaeda letter claimed to have planted mines and explosives at Charbagh railway station and other sites. The letter turned out to be a hoax.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/onlineCDA/PFVersion.jsp?article=http://10.81.141.122/news/181_1551740,000900010004.htm

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): On 21 November 2005, a warning from the Indian Intelligence Bureau about possible terrorist attacks in New Delhi led authorities to increase security throughout the city. The New Delhi metro (subway) network and Indira Gandhi International Airport (VIDP/DEL) were named as sensitive areas, and physical security was increased at these locations. The report stated that the Kashmiri-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad may attempt to perpetrate an attack in New Delhi. Quick reaction teams and other security agencies have been deployed to prevent any attack from occurring.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 11/22/2005

[candypreet]

January 16, 2005: The Delhi Police arrested a Pakistan trained terrorist, Aijaz Ahmed Farash of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) at Karol Bagh.
February 12, 2005: The Delhi Police arrested a Pakistani agent, Mohammed Ahsun Untoo, from Church road in the Cantonment area.
March 7, 2005: A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) cadre, Iftikar Ehsan Malik, was arrested from Dehradun, Uttranchal.
March 10, 2005: Khalil Husain Shah, a suspected Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent, arrested at Lalkurti, Uttar Pradesh.
March 19, 2005: Eyaz Mohammad, a member of the Al Badr, arrested at Kaliachak in Malda, West Bengal.
April 28, 2005: Abdul Rezzak, a suspected ISI agent, arrested in Mumbai, Maharashtra, for running a fake currency racket.
May 11, 2005: Mohammad Aish-ur-Rahman, a citizen of Nepal suspected to be linked with the ISI, arrested from the New Delhi Railway Station with high quality heroin worth INR 10 million and fake currency of INR 195,000.
May 12, 2005: Harun Rashid, a resident of Siwan, Bihar, working with the LeT, arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
May 15, 2005: Mohammed Hasifuddin, working for the ISI, arrested at Minkrie Village, Khliehriat Police Station, Meghalaya, with 400 gelatine sticks. He is believed to have supplied explosives for the August 15, 2004, blasts in the Dhemaji town of Assam.
May 30, 2005: ISI agent Mohammad Mehmood @ Sahil @ Aplu arrested from a hotel in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
June 10, 2005: An HM cadre, Ali Mohammed, arrested with RDX at the Inter-State Bus Terminus, New Delhi. He transported explosives to supply to a module of the organisation in Delhi.
July 1, 2005: Four terrorists, Masood, Zahid, Bashir and Nazir, are arrested from the South-West Delhi area. Recoveries included arms, ammunition and a map of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

[candypreet]

Jammu and Kashmir Timeline - 2005
January 1
A senior Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) cadre, identified as commander’ Abu Askari, is shot dead by the troops during an encounter at village Sarhuti in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

January 5
A fifty-four year-old terrorist, identified as Hussain Kohli alias Jabbar, an ‘area commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), and one of his associates are killed by the security force (SF) personnel at Thillu Bharneli in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.

In another incident, SF personnel shot dead the ‘district launching chief’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Abu Assadullah alias Janbaaz, in an encounter at Batkote village in Kupwara district.

January 7
A Deputy Commandant of the Border Security Force (BSF), two soldiers, one police personnel and a civilian are killed and four persons sustain injuries when a two-member Fidayeen (suicide squad) attacked the Income Tax office in the capital Srinagar. While one of the terrorists was killed on January 7, the other was shot dead the next day.

An ‘area commander’ of the LeT, identified as Dilawar Ikramah, who was the most wanted terrorist in Mendhar, is shot dead along with his body-guard by the troops at Chak Banola in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

January 8
Khalid Chitrali, a ‘district commander’ of the HM is shot dead by the police during an encounter in the Mandi area of Poonch district.

January 10
Four separatist organisations jointly appeal to people to boycott the municipal elections being held for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) after 28 years.

January 11
SFs shot dead three terrorists of the Tehreek-ul-Jehad outfit, including ‘district commander’ Tariq Surfi alias TS, at Naika Majari in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

January 13
Two SF personnel, including a Major of the Rashtriya Rifles, are killed during a gun-battle with the terrorists at Wathora village in the Budgam district.

January 17
A Congress party candidate for the municipal elections of Ward No 2 of Baramulla district, Noor-ud-din Sherwani, is shot dead by unidentified terrorists close to his house when he was returning after performing his Isha prayers at the Jamia mosque.

January 18
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel foil an infiltration attempt by a group of terrorists on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Balnoi area of Mendhar sector in Poonch district killing five terrorists. In the first violation of the 14-month-old cease-fire along the LoC, Pakistani forces fire 16 mortar shells on Indian positions in Poonch sector wounding a girl.

January 19
In two separate operations, security forces’ kill six terrorists, four in the Bahi Nambal village of Rajouri district and two in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district.

January 21
While rejecting the Union Government’s move to have a fresh look on the issue of granting autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, the moderate faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) terms it as a futile exercise and said this was not a solution to the Kashmir issue.

January 24
India rejects as "baseless" Pakistan’s allegation that Indian troops had violated the truce along the LoC. "We investigated this allegation and the report was found to be baseless," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Navtej Sarna, told reporters in Delhi when asked about Islamabad’s charge.

January 26
A ‘commander’ of the Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islami (HuJI) outfit, identified as Fareed Ahmed alias Manzoor alias Khalid, is reported to have died during an encounter with the Army in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district.

January 28
On the eve of the phase-I of the municipal elections in Kashmir valley, a group of terrorists are reported to have shot dead Ghulam Rasool Dhobi, a candidate of the National Conference (NC), and injured another in the Pampore area of Pulwama district.

January 31
Four members of a family, including a woman and three children, are shot dead and two others sustain injuries during a terrorist attack on their house at village Nashla Bajarni in the Doda district.

February 1
At least 65 per cent voters are reported to have exercised their franchise for the Jammu Municipal Corporation elections held after a gap of nearly 27 years.

Elections to the 68-ward Srinagar Municipal Corporation were also held on the same day without a single incident of terrorist violence. District Election Officer, Shailendra Kumar, said that the turnout was around 20 percent.

February 4
A ‘district commander’ of the HM, identified as Abdul Aziz Khan alias Ali alias Babar, is killed during an encounter with the security forces’ at Reshi Bazaar in the Anantnag district.

February 6
During an encounter at Muhri Mohalla in the Surankote area of Poonch district, two LeT cadres, identified as Abu Qasim alias Mike 4 and Abu Tallah alias W3, an ‘area commander’, are killed.

In phase-III of the ongoing civic elections in Jammu and Kashmir, 56 per cent turnout was reported in Pulwama district and 34 per cent from Anantnag district.

February 8
Suspected terrorists kill a member of the Beerwah Municipal Committee, who had been recently elected unopposed on the ticket of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

February 9
An elected member of the National Conference (NC) and would-be Mayor of Srinagar, Mohammad Maqbool Shah Khaksaar, is shot dead by the terrorists in the capital’s Jawahar Nagar area.

February 11
The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel kill four terrorists of the Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islami (HuJI) outfit during an encounter at village Tiranga in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.

February 16
Pakistan and India agree to start a bus service between Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir from April 7, 2005, with people from Kashmir, Pakistan and India to travel across the Line of Control (LoC) by an entry permit system. Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri announced this in Islamabad in a joint statement with his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh after talks between the two.

February 17
Due to threats by terrorist groups, three more newly elected Municipal Councilors are reported to have resigned, taking the number of Councilors who resigned to six.

February 18
Sheikh Abdul Aziz, an APHC leader, is arrested in Delhi along with fake currency worth Rupees 13 lakh.

February 21
Two HM terrorists, including ‘battalion commander’ Jubair Hussain alias Nadeem, are shot dead by the police at village Tamlad in the Kathua district.

February 24
Three police personnel, a woman employee of the Revenue Department and two terrorists are killed and four persons sustain injuries during a Fidayeen (suicide squad) attack at the Divisional Commissioner's office in the capital Srinagar.

February 25
An ‘area commander’ of the LeT, Jamaal Din alias Waleed, and his bodyguard are killed by the troops during an encounter at Jamlan Malla village in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.

March 2
A ‘deputy district commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment, identified as Aijaz Ahmed, is among two terrorists killed during an encounter with the SF personnel at village Ari in the Poonch district.

March 3
SF personnel recover 130 kg of RDX and a large quantity of explosive devices and ammunition from two terrorist hideouts in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district.

March 4
Four terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohamed (JeM) outfit are killed during an encounter that ensued after SF personnel launched a cordon-and-search operation in the forest area of Tral in Pulwama district.

March 7
Six terrorists, including Nazir Kakkar, a ‘battalion commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, are killed during an operation by the SF personnel in the snow-clad Dooraswani forest area of Kupwara district.

March 10
A ‘district commander’ of the LeT, Mudasar alias Abu Hamza, is killed during an encounter with the SFs at Konibal in the Pampore area of Pulwama district.

March 11
Troops kill three HM terrorists, including ‘company commander’ Khursheed Ahmed Shah, during an encounter at Hablish in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.

March 12
SF personnel kill HM 'divisional commander (Finance)' and 'launching chief' Farooq Ahmed War, along with his bodyguard, in a gun-battle in the Machhipora forest area of Kupwara district.

March 14
The HM ‘district commander’ for the Budgam-Tangmarg area, Mohammad Yusuf Sheikh, manages to escape from a cordoned locality in Tangmarg while killing a Major of the Army and a civilian.

LeT ‘district commander’, identified as Abu Umar, is killed by the troops during an operation at Phagla Nursery in the Surankote area of Poonch district.

March 16
Two civilians are killed and 29 persons, including two soldiers, sustain injuries during a grenade attack by a terrorist in the Rajouri town.

March 17
Suspected terrorists kill Fayaz Ahmed Mahjoo alias Bitta Bijli, a former ‘district commander’ of the Al-Jehad outfit, who had recently been elected as a member of the Baramulla Municipal Council.

Troops kill five terrorists during an encounter at Doninar and Sondbrari villages in the Verinag-Kokernag area of Anantnag district.

March 22
Asatullah alias Abu Umar, a ‘district commander’ of the LeT, Abu Talha alias M4, an ‘area commander’ of the TuM and Abu Mudassar, an ‘area commander’ of the LeT, are killed during an encounter with the troops at Chinar Mohalla in the Surankote area of Poonch district.

Ashiq Hussain Shah, a ‘company commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, is killed during a gun battle with the troops at Vail village in the Aeshmuqam area of Anantnag district.

March 24
A group of terrorists shot dead Mohammed Akram Bhat, elder brother of the Minister of State for Home, Abdul Rehman Veeri, in the Bijbehara town of Anantnag district.

March 26
A group of terrorists are reported to have killed the mother, wife and infant daughter of a surrendered militant, Mohammad Shabir Gujjar, in the Hassote village of Udhampur district.

March 27
A ‘divisional commander’ of the HM, identified as Ghulam Mohammed Malik alias Assad Malik alias Kamran, is reported to have died during an encounter with the SF personnel at Drushpura forest in the Kupwara district.

March 28
Two BSF personnel are killed and nine others were wounded when a BSF operational party was ambushed by the terrorists at village Chatyari in the Kalakote area of Rajouri district.

March 30
Two terrorists and a paramilitary soldier were killed when a group of two Fidayeen (suicide squad) terrorists attempted to storm a BSF post at Arampora in the Sopore town of Baramulla district.

Ali Mohammed alias Abu Burhan, an ‘area commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment is shot dead by police in the Barmandal area of Rajouri district.

March 30
Four terrorist groups - Al-Arifeen, Al-Nasreen, Farzandan-e-Millat and Save Kashmir Movement - warn the people against traveling by the April 7 inaugural Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus while describing it as a ‘coffin’.

March 31
Dead bodies of three civilians, abducted by terrorists on March 29, are recovered by the police from Sonabrari forest in Anantnag district.

April 1
Three terrorists, including Zakrullah Khan alias Faisal Khan Rehmani, a ‘district commander’ of the Al-Badr Mujahideen, are killed during an encounter with the security forces at Molchitragam in the Shopian area of Pulwama district.

April 3
Three terrorists, including two suspected JeM cadres, die and a civilian sustains injuries during an encounter with the security forces at Zahid Bagh Litter village in the Pulwama district.

April 5
Three terrorists of the Al-Badr Mujahideen, including ‘divisional commander’ Nayeem Majid and ‘deputy district commander’ Feroz Ahmed Mir, are killed during an encounter with the troops in the Shopian area of Pulwama district.

Two days before the commencement of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, terrorists detonate an IED on the route of the bus in the Pattan area of Baramulla district injuring seven civilians.

April 6
A day before the bus from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir is to be flagged off, two Fidayeen (suicide squad) terrorists attack the Tourist Reception Centre which was reportedly accommodating 24 passengers. Both the terrorists were killed in the ensuing gun-battle and seven persons, including a police personnel, were injured. 45 persons, including the passengers, were subsequently evacuated to safety.

April 7
The trans-Line of Control (LoC) bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad commences without any incident and passengers from both sides arrive safely in the two capitals. While Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, flagged off the bus from Srinagar, Sikandar Hayat Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), did the same in Muzaffarabad.

April 8
Two cadres of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, including Zahoor Ahmed Bhat alias Abdul Islam, a ‘district commander’ and Sarfaraz Ahmed, a ‘tehsil commander’, are killed during an encounter with the SFs at Karewa Manloo village in the Shopian area of Pulwama district.

April 10
Two civilians are killed and 20 others sustain injuries when terrorists lobbed a hand grenade targeting a patrol party of the Rashtriya Rifles at Main Chowk in the Shopian town of Pulwama district.

April 12
While endorsing the pace of Confidence Building Measures between India and Pakistan, including the reopening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, a faction of the separatist APHC, led by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, announces that it would meet Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, during his forthcoming visit to New Delhi.

April 13
A Lashkar-e-Toiba ‘area commander’, identified as Abu Qasim, is killed by the troops during an encounter at Kasblari in the Mendhar area Poonch district.

April 14
Three HM cadres, including ‘company commander’ Mohammad Yusuf Gorsi alias Gazi, are killed by the SFs during an operation at Dangarpora in the Pulwama district.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee while accusing Pakistan of having "double standards" on terrorism says that the terrorist infrastructure in that country was still intact despite the thaw in bilateral ties. "Pakistan is having double standards on terrorism as on one side it is saying something else and on the other it is abetting terrorism in the name of religion in J and K," the Defence Minister said in Chandigarh.

April 15
The SFs are reported to have killed four terrorists during an operation at Kanir village in the Budgam district. While official sources claimed that they belonged to the LeT, unofficial reports identified the slain terrorists as members of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM).

April 16
Troops kill HM ‘divisional commander’ Shabir Bidoori and ‘district commander’ Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar during an encounter at Mirhama village in the Anantnag district.

April 17
During their talks in New Delhi, Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, commit themselves to increasing the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and commencing the Munabao-Khokhrapar railway link by the end of December 2005. While the Prime Minister described the talks as "very positive, fruitful and forward-looking," Gen. Musharraf said progress had been made in the discussions during which all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, came up.

Gen. Musharraf meets leaders of the separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) at the Pakistan House in New Delhi on April 17-night. Both factions of the APHC, led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, met the President separately and reportedly apprised him of their views on the situation in J&K.

April 18
India and Pakistan while underlining that the peace process between the two countries was "now irreversible," agreed to open trade across the Line of Control (LoC) by allowing trucks between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, open the trans-LoC Poonch-Rawalakot route and take steps for the meeting of divided families along the LoC. Condemning the attempts to disrupt the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, pledged in a joint statement that they "would not allow terrorism to impede the peace process."

April 19
Security forces kill two HM cadres, identified as Javed Ahmed Pir, a ‘divisional commander’ and Vikas Ahmed, during an encounter at Darpora Khas in the Kandi area of Kupwara district.

April 20
A young man and a woman die and at least 17 civilians sustain injuries during a grenade attack by the terrorists on SFs at Sopore in the Baramulla district.

April 21
The second trans-LoC Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service concludes without incident. While 38 passengers from Srinagar traveled to the other side of the LoC, the number of passengers coming from Muzaffarabad, capital of the PoK was 28, including 11 new passengers.

April 22
SF personnel are reported to have intercepted a group of infiltrators, killing four terrorists in the Uri sector of Baramulla district.

Two terrorists are killed when they were trying to infiltrate into Indian territory from the LoC at Sabra Gali in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

Five LeT cadres, including Abu Dujana, a ‘deputy divisional commander’, are killed by troops of the Rashtriya Rifles at Bakh-e-Hakar village in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.

April 25
The Delhi Police is reported to have shot dead two Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists near the Pragati Maidan area of the capital.

April 26
During a cordon-and-search operation in the Chokibal area of Kupwara district, the security forces are reported to have killed six terrorists.

Moosa Gujarati, an ‘area commander’ of the Hizb-e-Islami group, is hot dead by the police during an encounter at village Harni in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

April 27
The Army along with Border Security Force personnel kills four more terrorists in the ongoing cordon-and-search operation at Drangiyar forests in the Chokibal area of Kupwara district.

April 28
The Army foils an infiltration attempt on the LoC at village Balnoi in the Poonch district by killing four terrorists.

May 1
Chairman of the hard-line faction of the APHC, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, alleges in Srinagar that a conspiracy was being hatched to kill him.

The General Officer Commanding 16 Corps, Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma, discloses in Nagrota that despite a fall in the terrorism-related violence in J&K, nearly 2000 armed terrorists were still operating in the State.

May 2
Itiqullah Shah, nephew of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was wounded during a terrorist attack at Bijbehara in the Anantnag district a day earlier, succumbs to injuries at a hospital in the capital Srinagar. The Al-Nasireen outfit has reportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of Shah.

May 3
Mian Mohammad Ramzan, Chairman of the Municipal Committee of Pattan in Baramulla district, and both his security guards are killed by terrorists.

May 5
According to Daily Excelsior, in a major search operation, the troops have been fighting a freshly infiltrated group of 18 terrorists at Lawaypora village in the Bandipore area of Baramulla district since May 4. Latest reports said that at least 14 terrorists were still holed up.

Two girls are killed and 16 persons, mostly women, were wounded during a bomb blast in the house of a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member, Dhani Ram, at Lower Matta in the Reasi area of Udhampur district.

Two terrorists, including Abu Mussa Khan, a ‘district commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, are killed during an encounter with the police at village Chandyal in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

May 9
Three civilians are reported to have died as a group of terrorists opened fire on people coming out of a mosque after evening prayers at village Chakka in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district

May 11
At least two persons are killed and 50 others sustain injuries when terrorists triggered a car bomb explosion in the Jawahar Nagar area of capital Srinagar. Over a dozen vehicles and approximately 40 shops, bank branches and residential houses were damaged in the blast. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Nasireen and Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front have reportedly claimed responsibility for the blast in separate statements.

Three terrorists are killed during an encounter with troops of the JAK Rifles near Eagle Post in the Shamsbari forest area of Kupwara district.

May 12
Two women are killed and at least 60 persons, including 25 children, are wounded when terrorists lobbed a hand grenade targeting a patrol party of the BSF at the main entrance of the Tyndale Biscoe School in the Lalchowk area of Srinagar.

During an encounter at the Zalora forest area in Kupwara district, troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group shot dead two terrorists, including Shabir Ahmed Magray, a ‘district commander’ of the Hizb.

May 13
A civilian, Mohammad Sayeed Kakroo, and his son and daughter are killed during a bomb blast at Bijbehara town in the Anantnag district.

Two HM terrorists, Jamaal Din alias Saifullah, a ‘district commander’, and Ghulam Mohammed Bhat alias Gulfam, a ‘communication operator’, were shot dead by the troops in an encounter at Bujala in the Banihal area of Doda district.

May 14
Two unidentified terrorists killed four members of a family when they were returning from their daily work in the Kalakote area of Rajouri district.

May 15
A ‘battalion commander’ of the Hizb, identified as Mohammad Abbas Koka alias Abid alias Omar, is killed by the police in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.

May 16
The Army foils an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district killing three terrorists of the Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islami.

In the Doda district, a group of terrorists shot dead two Special Police Officers, who were attached to a village headman and Congress party leader, Mohammed Iqbal Keen, and injured another at Thathri in the Kishtwar area.

May 17
Four civilians are abducted and later shot dead by a group of terrorists near the Dachhigam National Park of Harwan area outside the capital Srinagar.

Two persons are killed and at least 20 others sustain injuries when a group of unidentified terrorists lob a hand grenade targeting a remembrance ceremony at Shankarpora in the Bagh-e-Mehtab area of Srinagar.

May 20
Four Army personnel, including a Major, are reported to have died and five others sustained injuries during a gun-battle with a group of terrorists at village Jatyari in the Kalakote area of Rajouri district.

May 23
Troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group shot dead two 'commanders' of the LeT, Dr Abu Farkan, reportedly a medical practitioner from Pakistan, and Abu Haider, also from Pakistan, during a search operation at Dhara Morha in the Surankote area of Poonch district.

A ‘section commander’ of the HM, Liaquat Ali (code Osama), is killed by the SFs during an encounter in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district.

During an interview to Daily Times, President Musharraf said he would prefer some kind of "international guarantees" for the implementation of any pact reached with India on the Kashmir issue.

May 25
The APHC faction headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decides to travel on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus scheduled for June 2.

May 26
The police neutralise a training centre of the HM outfit killing five terrorists at Sui Patyala, about 32 kilometers from Gandoh, bordering Himachal Pradesh, in the Doda district.

During an encounter at Machan Koti nullah in Doda district, three terrorists, including Mohammed Shaffi, a ‘divisional commander’ of the LeT, and two Army personnel are killed.

The Union Government says that the travel of APHC leaders’ beyond PoK would be contrary to the understanding between the two countries.

The JKLF chairman, Mohammed Yasin Malik, announces in Srinagar his party's decision to accept the Pakistani invitation to visit that country by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus on June 2.

May 28
Terrorists detonate an explosive-laden car on the Khanabal-Pahalgam road in Anantnag town of South Kashmir injuring 13 civilians and seven SF personnel.

In another incident, terrorists hurl a grenade towards a Border Security Force vehicle in the Dalgate area of Srinagar, injuring 20 civilians.

May 29
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, leader of the breakaway faction of APHC, rejects Pakistan’s invitation to visit that country and PoK by the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus on June 2, in protest against Islamabad’s "flexible stand" on the Kashmir issue. "We have decided against going to Pakistan and PoK in the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus on June 2. We are showing our resentment to the present policies of the Pakistan Government vis-à-vis Kashmir issue," Geelani told a press conference in Srinagar.

May 30
In Baramulla, the troops kill a HM ‘battalion commander’, Zahoor Ahmad Ganai alias Viky, during an encounter at Authroosa.

Ruling out a further division of India on religious lines, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh says in New Delhi that the Government is willing to consider "greater autonomy" for Jammu and Kashmir.

May 31
Five front ranking terrorists of different outfits, including two ‘district commanders’ and three ‘area commanders’, and one soldier are killed and another soldier sustained injuries during an encounter at Makhi forest in the Surankote area of Poonch district. Those killed were later identified as Omar Bhai of the HM and Haroon Zulfi of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, both ‘district commanders’, Abu Hassan alias 88 of the JeM, Aasid Jeelani of HM Pir Panjal Regiment and Abu Bhai of the LeT, all ‘area commanders’.

June 2
A group of terrorists are reported to have abducted four members of two families, including a police personnel posted with the Special Operations Group, from the New Thead area of Harwan on the outskirts of capital Srinagar and later beheaded them.

Three LeT terrorists, including Samma Pakistani, a ‘tehsil commander’, are shot dead by the troops during an encounter at Mahakund in the Gool area of Udhampur district.

June 3
A group of terrorists kill Mohammad Ashraf Bulla, a Councilor affiliated to the National Conference party, near Babademb in the Khanyar-Fatehkadal area of capital Srinagar.

June 5
Five JeM terrorists, including a ‘commander’ identified as Shah Ji and his body-guard Manhaz Ali, are killed during an anti-insurgency operation at Kalalkas Jamola in the Rajouri district.

June 6
Hizb-e-Islami ‘divisional commander’ Abu Maviya along with two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, ‘district commander’ Abu Lareb and Pappu, are killed by the troops in an encounter at Naika Majari in Poonch district.

Three family members of a surrendered terrorist are killed by unidentified terrorists within five hours of his surrender in the Ramban area of Doda district.

June 7
Security forces raid a terrorist hideout and shot dead a Pakistani ‘divisional commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, identified as Abu Moosa, in Sumbal-Bandipore belt of north Kashmir.

June 8
A Jaish-e-Mohammed ‘commander’, identified as Zulfikar, and an Army Major are killed and two soldiers sustain injuries during an encounter at Katari Gala in the Rajouri district.

June 9
Security forces kill a group of six terrorists during an encounter at Kundian village in the Keran sector of Kupwara district. A soldier, Lance Naik Rajinder Singh, is also killed in the gun-battle.

June 11
A joint search party of the BSF and Army kill a 'company commander' of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Mohammad Ashraf Mir alias Majid, in an encounter at village Seer Jageer in the Pulwama district.

June 13
At least 13 civilians, including two schoolchildren, and three officers of the Central Reserve Police Force are killed and over a 100 people sustain injuries when an explosives-laden car blew up at a crowded marketplace in front of a Government school in the Pulwama township of south Kashmir.

The troops kill three HM terrorists, including Firdous Ahmed, an ‘area commander’, during an encounter at Sikri Top in the Marmat area of Doda district.

June 16
Three Special Police Officers are killed and two others are reported missing during a search operation at Barha Draman in the Budhal area of Rajouri district.

Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen cadres, including Noor-ud-Din alias Furkan, a ‘section commander’, are shot dead by the troops in an encounter at Ramban in the Doda district.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, a constituent of the hard-line faction of the APHC, states that it has suspended pro-Pakistan leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his three associates from its advisory council.

June 19
The troops kill Chand Babar alias Abdullah Qamar alias Golf Golf, ‘operational chief’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, during an encounter at Sirajpora in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.

Two Fidayeen terrorists and a civilian die and three police personnel sustain injuries when the latter repulsed a terrorist attack at Commando Group and Sub-Divisional Police Office in the Mendhar town of Poonch district.

June 20
The Centre rejects the All Parties Hurriyat Conference’s demand for inclusion in the India-Pakistan dialogue process but said the separatist alliance could give its suggestions for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. "There is no question of involving Hurriyat in the Indo-Pak talks," Union Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal, told reporters in Dehradun.

June 21
The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen rejects calls for a cease-fire in Jammu and Kashmir and instead told militants to prepare for Jehad. Syed Salahuddin, ‘supreme commander’ of the Hizb, also dismissed the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan as "a waste of time."

June 22
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has reportedly rejected the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's assertion that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government had "mishandled" the visit of the APHC to PoK. Dr. Singh was responding to Vajpayee's charge (in a letter dated June 15) that "the peace process with Pakistan has taken [a disturbing turn]." In his reply, the Prime Minister said "it is our endeavour to take the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan forward while ensuring that India's vital interests are fully safeguarded." Dr. Singh's letter, dated June 20, was released by the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi.

The Hurriyat Conference says it is awaiting a formal response from the Centre to its offer of holding an "unconditional" dialogue with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at a "date and venue" convenient to him.

June 24
Nine soldiers are killed and 21 others sustained injuries when their bus was blown up in an explosion caused by the terrorists on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.

India rejects the Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed's application to travel by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus.

June 26
The troops kill three terrorists when they attempted to infiltrate from across the LoC in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.

A ‘commander’ of the JKLF, Abdul Ahad Waza, reveals in Srinagar that the Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid’s Rawalpindi mansion was not only used as a guesthouse for Kashmiri recruits but also as an arms storage for the trainee militants in the 1987-92 period.

June 27
A HM ‘divisional commander’, identified as Showkat Ahmed alias Waris, is shot dead by the SFs in the house of a harbourer at Kundgawani in the Kishtwar town of Doda district.

June 28
Three front-ranking Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists and two Special Police Officers are killed in a gun-battle at Chakka near the Bhaderwah town in Doda district.

The Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee says in Washington that although there have been several positive developments in the relations with Pakistan over the last 18 months, including the November 2003 cease-fire holding and the composite dialogue entering the second round, it cannot be said for sure that the peace process is "entrenched".

July 3
Two Ministers and two legislators belonging to the Congress party had a narrow escape in an IED blast that damaged a culvert in the Sopore area of Baramulla district.

Troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Anantnag Police kill three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists during an encounter that ensued after a cordon-and-search operation was launched on the basis of disclosures made by a detained terrorist at Marhama in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district.

July 6
The Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Public Health Engineering, Syed Bashir Ahmed, has a narrow escape when terrorists targeted him in an ambush near the Budshah Chowk area of capital Srinagar. The Minister escapes unhurt but three of his guards are wounded.

Two soldiers die and two others sustain injuries during a terrorist ambush on a patrol party in the Kalaroos area of Kupwara district.

Troops kill HM ‘district commander’ Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar alias Khadim during a raid on his hideout in the Saribal forest area of Baramulla district.

Abu Wahid bin Abdul Qadir Zahid, an ‘area commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, is shot dead by the Army at village Chhunga in the Poonch district.

July 7
Security forces disrupt a meeting of at least 12 Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists at Zaipora village in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district and kill three terrorists.

July 8
Four terrorists of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) and an equal number of Army personnel are killed and two soldiers sustain injuries as troops foil an infiltration attempt by the terrorists in the Balakote sector of Mendhar area in Poonch district.

Speaking in London, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejects the Hurriyat Conference’s demand for early elections in J&K. However, Dr. Singh declared that the doors of the Government were always open for dialogue with any group willing to eschew violence.

July 9
Four Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, including Jamal Bhai, 'chief operations commander' and Mullah Naseer, 'Deputy chief', are killed during an encounter with the SFs in Pulwama district.

July 10
Two LeT terrorists, including ‘area commander’ Mohammed Akbar alias Abu Rehan alias Alfa 4, are killed during an operation launched by the troops at Gambhir Mugalan in the Rajouri district.

A ‘section commander’ of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Mohammed Rafiq, is killed by the police near Bhatta in the Doda district.

Terrorist training camps in Pakistan have reportedly resumed functioning after a year-long hiatus and the old and new recruits are flocking to them notwithstanding the official ban, according to the Karachi-based Herald. Citing an example of the camps being reopened, the magazine in its cover story, said one of Pakistan’s oldest training camps at Mansehra in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) is bustling with activity after a year-long closure, as old and new cadres converged on it to resume their training.

July 11
A ‘district commander’ of the JeM, Momin Khan of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, is killed along with his local associate Mohammad Iqbal Wani in an encounter with the SFs at village Chhatawach-Shopian in the Pulwama district.

Mohammed Hafiz Pir alias Saiful Islam alias Abu Kari, a ‘divisional commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, is shot dead by the SFs during an encounter at Ghodal in the Dashnan area of Doda district.

The External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, says in London that terrorist camps are still operating in Pakistan and New Delhi has photographic evidence to prove it.

July 12
Unearthing a terrorist plot to attack the capital’s Palam Air Force Station, the Delhi Police arrests a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist and a Deputy Director of the J&K Government and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

July 13
Foiling an infiltration bid, troops manning the LoC kill three infiltrators in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district.

July 14
SFs recover bodies of seven infiltrators killed during a gun-battle in the Gurez sector of Baramulla district.

A ‘divisional commander’ of the Hizb, identified as Luqman, is killed along with two of his associates in an encounter with the SFs at Shogund village in Anantnag district.

July 16
Nine infiltrators are killed when they were confronted by the troops at Chotali-Samawali in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. Six-year old Naseema was also killed in the exchange of fire.

Troops kill four infiltrators affiliated with the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and Al-Barq outfits in the Keran sector of Kupwara district.

Inspector General of Police (Jammu range), Shesh Pal Vaid, says five terrorists were killed by troops in an encounter at Jogma Barroh in the Jammu district.

A 'battalion commander' of the Al Badr, Harron Rashid, is killed by the SFs at Bon-Watseer in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.

July 18
Three infiltrators are shot dead by the Army at Batali near the LoC in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district.

July 19
A group of terrorists, suspected LeT cadres, are reported to have killed six civilians at Dungi Bahak in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.

Troops of the 14 Sector Rashtriya Rifles foil another infiltration attempt in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district killing three terrorists, including Shamsher Khan, a ‘district commander’, and Abu Ali, an ‘area commander’, of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

July 20 A Major of the Indian Army and two soldiers were among five people who died and 17 persons were wounded when a suspected suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into an Army vehicle near Burnhall School in the high-security civil lines area of Srinagar.
July 22 A group of three terrorists reportedly abducted two brothers, Mohammad Shafi and Abdul Gani, both Village Defence Committee (VDC) members, from their house at village Ind in the Gool area of Udhampur district and later shot them dead in the adjacent village of Narla.

During a cordon-and-search operation at Ajar village in the Bandipore area of Baramulla district, SFs encountered a group of terrorists and in the resultant gunfire, three soldiers were killed and a terrorist was shot dead.

July 24 Three young boys were killed when the troops opened fire in a late night ambush around the venue of a marriage ceremony at Bungargund village in the Kupwara district. Even as the Army described it as a case of 'mistaken identity' and two separate inquiries have been ordered by the Government, a demonstration ransacked a Police Station and a goodwill camp of the Army.
July 25 The SFs are reported to have killed six terrorists in two operations in the Lashdat area, close to the LoC, of Kupwara district.
July 27 SF personnel kill two cadres of the HM, including 'deputy district commander' Afaq Bhai alias Khalid, in a gun-battle at Malikpora in the Bandipore area of Baramulla district.

The breakaway APHC leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's call for a strike to protest against the killing of three young children in Army firing on July 24 in Kupwara district evokes a significant response in the capital city of Srinagar.

July 28 A group of three terrorists attack village Saakund in the Udhampur district and kill three members of a family inside their residence. Among those killed were the house-owner's wife and a five-month old infant.
July 29 In an attack at Budshah Chowk in the heart of the capital city of Srinagar, terrorists kill two SF personnel and injure at least 18 civilians, including ten journalists, and four SF personnel.

Five VDC members, including two brothers, are killed by a group of terrorists at Thub dhok in the Kandi area of Rajouri district.

July 30 The two terrorists, who had occupied two prime commercial centres in the Civil Lines area of Srinagar, were killed by SF personnel after a 24-hour-long gun-battle.
July 31 Troops of the Rashtriya Rifles kill a 'battalion commander' of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Irshad Ahmed Dar alias Bitta alias Khalid, during an encounter near Sirigufwara in the Anantnag district.
August 1 Two HM cadres, identified as 'district commander' Mohammad Rafeeq Piswal alias Fighter Khan and Mohammad Abbas Khan, are killed by the SFs during a cordon-and-search operation at Arah village in the Anantnag district.

Three more Hizb cadres, including 'district financial chief' Ghulam Hassan Mir alias Arshid, were killed by the SFs who had laid an ambush in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.

A 'sector commander' of the JeM, identified as Adil, is shot dead by the troops in the Phagala area of Poonch district.

August 2
Two terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, including Abu Shahid, an 'area commander', are killed and another was arrested during a search operation by the SFs at Jamsalan in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.

August 3
Cross-border infiltration increased in June and July 2005 due to melting of snow along the border, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament). "It was observed that there was a reduction in the number of infiltration attempts from across the border in the initial five months of 2005. However, there has been an increase in cross-border infiltration in June and July 2005," he said during the Question Hour.

August 4
The Supreme Court confirms the death sentence of Jaish-e-Mohammed activist, Mohammed Afzal, in the Parliament attack case, but condoned the death sentence of Shaukat Hussain Guru and passed the order of 10 years rigorous imprisonment and Rupees 25,000 fine. The apex court also upheld the Delhi High Court judgment of acquitting S. A. R. Geelani and Afsan Guru, wife of Shaukat Guru.

August 8
India and Pakistan agree to continue the cease-fire on the Line of Control (LoC) as part of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between the two countries.

August 9
A top Jaish-e-Mohammed 'commander', identified as Abu Khalid alias Kari Magheer, is shot dead by the SFs at Bhatti Dhar in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

August 12
Five civilians are killed and three others sustain injuries when a group of four terrorists attacked two houses at village Chajru in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.

August 13
Three LeT terrorists and two soldiers are killed during an encounter at village Khudwani in the Baramulla district.

Troops kill Abu Haroon, a 'district commander' of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) at Gounthal in the Surankote area of Poonch district.

August 15
Addressing the nation on Independence Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted that the entire infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan should be "totally dismantled" as "half-hearted" efforts at curbing terrorists cannot succeed. "I am aware that the Government of Pakistan has put some checks on the activities of terrorists from its soil. However, it is not possible to achieve success through half-hearted efforts. It is necessary that the entire infrastructure of terrorism is totally dismantled," he said.

August 16
Waheen Qureshi alias Waleed, a 'district commander' of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, is killed by the police at village Matipora in the Anantnag district.

August 17
One Central Reserve Police Force personnel is reported to have died and at least three civilians and six CRPF personnel were wounded in a car bomb explosion at Qazigund in the Anantnag district.

August 19
A HM 'section commander' Uttam Singh alias Saifullah is killed by the troops at village Thaloran in Doda district.

August 20
An 'area commander' of the Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islami, Mohd Yunis alias Hafeez is killed, while one of his associates was arrested during a search operation by security forces at village Chacho in the Kishtwar area of Doda district.

August 22
Three members of a family, including a Village Defence Committee member, are shot dead by terrorists in their house at village Paira in the Koteranka area of Rajouri district.

Two cadres of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, including a 'commander' identified as Ghulam Mohammad Rather alias Bashir Langda, are killed in an encounter with the SFs in Pulwama district.

August 23
A court in the national capital New Delhi convicts a Kashmiri terrorist who planted a bomb in a building in the busy Connaught Place area on May 2, 2001.

August 27
Forest Minister Sofi Ghulam Mohiuddin escapes unhurt when terrorists fired at his motorcade at Laribal in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

August 28
The Army foils an infiltration attempt near Keran Tanghdar sector on the LoC in Kupwara district killing four terrorists.

A 'commander' of the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, identified as Abdul Qayoom Parray, and a civilian, identified as Ghulam Mohiuddin Gujjar, were killed and two soldiers sustained injuries in an encounter at Barzalla village in the Baramulla district.

August 29
India is reported to have handed over to Pakistan a list of nearly 30 wanted people, including mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and ULFA chief Paresh Baruah, seeking their deportation to face trial. The list, which also includes names of Dawood associate Chhota Shakeel and HM chief Syed Salahuddin, was handed over by the Union Home Secretary V. K. Duggal to his Pakistani counterpart Syed Kamal Shah on the opening day of the two-day Home Secretary-level talks in New Delhi.

August 30
A 'deputy battalion commander' of the HM, Shamas-ud-Din alias Basharat, is shot dead by the SF personnel in an encounter at village Bharneli in the Mahore area of Udhampur district.

The Minister for Public Health and Engineering, Qazi Mohammed Afzal, former minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain and Member of Legislative Council, Basharat Bukhari, escape an attempt on their lives when terrorists fired rifle grenades towards their rally at Pattan in the Baramulla district.

August 31
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invites the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for talks in New Delhi on September 5. Farooq, who will lead the delegation, accepted the invitation for the talks that will take place nine days ahead of Dr. Singh's meeting with the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in New York.

September 1
After a 48 hour gun-battle on the LoC in the Nowgam Sector of Kupwara district, nine terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit are shot dead by the SFs.

September 2
Three civilians are killed and four others, including two women, sustain injuries in a terrorist attack near village Soundhar in the Doda district.

The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference announced a five-member delegation led by its chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq for talks with the Prime Minister in New Delhi on September 5. The team comprises former Hurriyat chairmen Abdul Gani Bhatt and Maulana Abbas Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone and Fazal Haq Qureshi.

September 5
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh holds talks with leaders of the Hurriyat Conference faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in New Delhi and is reported to assured that conditions will be created for reduction of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir if there is a cessation of violence and an end to infiltration.

Two Special Police Officers, Liaquat Ali and Noor Mohammed, and a civilian, Nazakat Ali, are killed by a group of terrorists in their house at village Achar in the Doda district.

September 6
A Hizb 'section commander', Mohammed Rafiq, is killed in an encounter with the SFs at village Dugga Banjoi in the Bhalla area of Doda district.

September 9
Six members of three families are killed and eight others sustain injuries when a group of terrorists attacked their houses at Dharmari in the Udhampur district.

Two of the three shepherds who were abducted by a group of terrorists from Pir Panjal range in the Udhampur district on September 8 are killed in captivity.

Foiling an infiltration attempt, the SFs shot dead three terrorists in a gun-battle in the Balnoi sector of Poonch district.

September 10
Five soldiers are killed during a terrorist attack on an Army convoy on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Awantipore in the Pulwama district.

September 12
Troops kill two cadres of the HuJI, including 'deputy district commander' Nasir Ahmed Khanday alias Musafir, at Synthan Top in the Chatru area of Doda district.

The Border Security Force announces withdrawal of nine battalions (approximately 10,000 personnel) from the Srinagar and Anantnag districts and made way for the Central Reserve Police Force to take over counter-terrorism duties.

September 13
SF personnel kill three infiltrators near the LoC at Nabad Pathri in the Kupwara district.

September 14
Three Afghan terrorists are shot dead by the Army on the LoC in the Shahpur area of Poonch district.

September 17
The 'financial controller' of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Masood Ahmed Natnu alias Yunus Sadiqui, is killed by the troops at village Dama in the Doda district.

September 19
Syed Ali Shah Geelani describes Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's invitation to elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir as "contradictory" to Islamabad's stance on Kashmir. "Pakistan in a way has accepted the representative character of these political leaders and was surrendering its 57-year-old stand over the Kashmir issue," he said.

September 21
Two terrorists each affiliated to the HM and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfits are reportedly killed in an encounter with the security forces at Zainpora Sogan in the Pulwama district. The slain terrorists include Javed Ahmed Thoker, a Hizb 'battalion commander' and Jamsheed, a HuM 'commander'.

September 23
An 'area commander' of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Khurshid Ahmed Butt alias Kamran alias Fayaaz, is arrested by the Delhi Police from the Pampore area of Pulwama district.

A 'section commander' of the HM, identified as Guddu Gujjar, is killed in an encounter with security forces at Achholbani in the Dessa area of Doda district.

September 26
Three unidentified terrorists are killed in an encounter with the SFs at Malakgund village in the Shopian area of Pulwama district.

In another encounter, troops of the Rashtriya Rifles killed a 'section commander' of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Mohammed Hussain alias Abu Abrar, at Kanau in the Doda district.

September 27
The Army foils an infiltration attempt on the LoC by killing three terrorists in the Machil sector of Kupwara district.

Abu Osama, a Lashkar-e-Toiba 'commander', is killed by the SFs at Pathana Teer in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

September 28
Four Hizb cadres, including an 'area commander' of the outfit, identified as Zakir Hussain, surrender before the SFs after an exchange of fire, in which a woman and her minor daughter are killed and another woman is injured at village Malad in the Billawar area of Kathua district.

September 30
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen 'section commander' Mohammed Yusuf alias Umar Farooq and one of his unidentified associates are killed during an encounter with the SFs at village Bhargi in the Doda district.

A self-styled commander of the HM, Ibrahim Dar, is killed in an encounter with the troops at Lawaypora on the Srinagar-Tangmarg road.

A 'battalion commander' of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit is killed in a gun-battle with the troops at Uttarsu in the Anantnag district.

October 2
Abdul Rashid Gujjar, 'operational commander' of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, is killed by the SFs at village Bismai Karamulla Top in the Pulwama district.

October 3 A Harkat-ul-Mujahideen 'commander', Kari Umar Inqullabi alias Mast Gul, is shot dead by the security forces in an encounter at Gursai in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.
October 4 A group of terrorists shot dead two prominent counter-insurgents, Ghulam Hassan Baba and Mushtaq Ahmed, at a spot between Nasrullahpora and Waterwani in the Budgam district.

A 'district commander' of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Mehnaz, is shot dead by the SFs in an encounter at Kasuli in the Dharmari area of Udhampur district.

October 5 Three members of a family are shot dead by two terrorists in their house at village Gumeri in the Gool area of Udhampur district.

SFs killed a 'deputy district commander" of the HM Pir Panjal Regiment, Sofian Gaznabi, at Khadoon in the Kandi area of Rajouri district.

October 6 On the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, terrorists blew up a vehicle of the State Bank of India with an improvised explosive device killing an official and injuring his Police guards at Kreeri-Naupora in the Anantnag district.
October 9 The Army foiled an infiltration attempt by killing eight Lashkar-e-Toiba cadres near the LoC at Jamia Galli Gulmarg in the Baramulla district. A soldier was also killed while two others were injured in the gun-battle.

Three terrorists, including a 'district commander' of the HuM, are shot dead by the SF personnel during a search operation at village Sayan under the Kokernag police station in the Anantnag district.

October 10 Ten persons belonging to four families were reportedly killed by terrorists of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit at Dhara and Gabbar in the Budhal area of Rajouri district.

A Press Trust of India report has indicated that the October 8-earthquake is understood to have caused massive damage to some terrorist training camps in PoK. According to central security agencies, camps of outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Al-Badr had been damaged.

October 11 The Army is reported to have foiled an infiltration attempt by killing eight terrorists in the Nowgam sector of Handwara in the Kupwara district.
October 12 Unidentified gunmen kill Fayaz Ahmad Dar alias Fayaz Kandroo, a former 'commander' of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, at Sopore in the Baramulla district.
October 13 Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen cadres, Noor Hussain, Mehmood Khan and Abdur Rasheed Chichi, are reported to have died in an encounter with the SFs at Chuntiwari Aloosa in the Bandipore area of Baramulla district.

Mohammed Ashraf alias Hanfi, a tehsil (administrative subdivision) 'commander' of the HM, is killed while two of his associates were arrested in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district.

October 17
A leader of the CPI-M, Ghulam Nabi Ganai, is shot dead by a group of terrorists outside a mosque at Seer Hamadan village in the Anantnag district.

October 18
Terrorists assassinate the Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Education, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Lone, while CPI-M legislator, Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, escaped unhurt in a similar attempt in the high-security Tulsibagh area of capital Srinagar. Two SF personnel and a civilian are also killed in the incidents, for which the Islamic Front and Al-Mansooran have claimed responsibility.

October 19
Two civilians are killed and 10 persons, including a Sub Inspector of Police, sustain injuries when a veil-clad terrorist opened fire on a Police party at Kadalbal in the Pampore township of Pulwama district. The hitherto unknown Hamadania Brigade, which security agencies suspect is a front name of a major terrorist group, claims responsibility for the incident.


October 20 Two HM terrorists, including ‘district commander’ Abdul Majeed alias Shamsheer, are shot dead by the SFs in an encounter at Thannamandi in the Rajouri district.

October 21
A ‘tehsil commander’ of the HM, Abdul Hamid alias Sher Khan, and a soldier are killed in an encounter at Khari in the Banihal area of Doda district.


10 civilians and four SF personnel are wounded when terrorists lobbed a hand grenade targeting a paramilitary position near Akbar Hotel in the crowded Batmaloo area of capital Srinagar.


October 22 A group of terrorists are reported to have abducted and subsequently shot dead Ghulam Rasool Shah, an activist of the National Conference party, at Ratnipora in the Pulwama district.

October 24
Two terrorists of the HM, ‘tehsil commander’ Mohammed Sultan Ganja and Atta Mohammed alias Irfan, are killed and another surrendered while two SF personnel were wounded during an encounter at Chakka Sarbaghni in the Banihal area of Doda district.



October 25
A ‘district co-ordinator of the Al Badr Mujahideen and two other terrorists are killed by the SFs during a cordon-and-search operation at Sheikhpora in the Rafiabad area of Baramulla district.

Mushtaq Ahmed, a constable of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (6th Battalion), is arrested for allegedly working as an active militant of the HM outfit.


October 26
A soldier is killed and 30 persons, including 10 civilians, sustain injuries when terrorists triggered an IED targeting a bus of the BSF at Omarabad near Lawaypora, on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. The HM has taken responsibility for the blast.

October 27
Two self-styled commanders of the Al-Badr – ‘district commander’ Tamya and ‘battalion commander’ Babar alias Azeem - are killed along with their bodyguard Anwar in an encounter with the troops at Panzla in the Baramulla district.


According to the BSF, terrorists in J&K are currently trying to regroup and mobilise overground workers, after the destruction caused by the Octoberober 8-earthquake and the reverses at the hands of SFs.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, is to be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Azad will be sworn in as the Chief Minister on November 2.

October 30
A HM ‘tehsil commander’, Farid Ahmed Malik alias Harish, is killed in an encounter with the troops at Tandla in the Gannon area of Doda district.

October 31
During a search operation at Krotan forests in the Udhyanpur area of Doda district, the SFs recover eight kilograms of RDX, seven detonators, six Chinese hand grenades, two RPG rockets, one disposable rocket launcher, one rocket launcher, one wire cutter, three AK magazines and 832 AK rounds.


November 1
SFs shot dead three terrorists during an operation at Katwan-Chakri in the Doda district.

November 2 A few hours before the swearing in of Ghulam Nabi Azad as the tenth Chief Minister (CM) of Jammu and Kashmir, a Fidayeen (suicide squad) terrorist detonated a powerful car bomb in the Nowgam area of capital Srinagar near the old residence of outgoing CM, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, killing at least 10 people and injuring 18 others.

November 3
The SFs are reported to have arrested Abdullah Banday, a Congress party leader with alleged links to the outlawed LeT from village Bharat in the Doda district. Banday, a prominent Congress leader of Doda, was operating as Lashkar’s main conduit for Hawala operations in the district for last more than three years.

November 7
Two ‘commanders’ of the LeT are killed and a soldier sustains injuries during an encounter at Dharam forests in the Gool area of Udhampur district. The slain terrorists are identified as Abu Adil, a ‘tehsil commander’ and Abu Aria, an ‘area commander’, both residents of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Shahnawaz Ahmed alias Nika Taxi, a ‘district commander’ of the HM is killed by security force personnel near Kalipora in the Kulgam area of Anantnag district.

November 8
A group of terrorists are reported to have shot dead the brother and sister-in-law of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Member of Legislative Council, Master Tassaduq Hussain, in their house at Larkuti in the Budhal area of Rajouri district.

November 10
An Army officer, identified as Major G. S. Rathore, is reported to have died and two soldiers sustained injuries during an encounter with terrorists who attacked a search party of the Rashtriya Rifles at Bandipora in the Baramulla district on Novemberember 10. The encounter ended after 17 hours on Novemberember 11 with the killing of a terrorist.

November 14
Two soldiers of the CRPF and an equal number of civilians are killed while 17 persons, including a Japanese journalist, sustain injuries when terrorists carried out a Fidayeen attack at the business hub of Lalchowk in Srinagar. The Al-Mansooran and J&K Islamic Front has claimed responsibility for the attack. The 24-hour long gun-battle between the terrorists and security forces (SFs) came to end on Novemberember 15-afternoon when Police shot dead one of the suicide squad terrorists and arrested the other.

November 15
Six persons are killed and 90 others sustain injuries when terrorists targeted the former Minister and PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Mir’s public meeting with a grenade explosion at Tangmarg in the Baramulla district. The PDP leader and five of his Personal Security Officers, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer of Tangmarg are among those wounded. The Al-Arifeen outfit has claimed for responsibility for the attack.

Three persons are detained in Srinagar by the Delhi Police in connection with the October 29-serial blasts in the national capital.

November 16
Four civilians are killed and 72 persons, including legislator and former Minister Usman Majeed, sustain injuries in a powerful car bomb explosion near the main entrance of the J&K Bank Corporate Headquarters in Srinagar. The Al-Arifeen, believed to be a front outfit of the LeT, claimed responsibility for the blast.

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): The chief minister of the state of Karnataka stated on 29 December 2005 that the shooting which occurred the previous day outside the conference hall at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore was a terrorist incident. There has been no claim of responsibility. Authorities have also not identified any group with certainty, but have mentioned Kashmiri militants -- and particularly Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) -- as the most likely suspects. They added that the purpose of the attack was to create panic in Bangalore, a city chosen due to its reputation as a center of high-tech industry. Reports emerging after the attack stated that a few days earlier officials had received warnings of possible terrorist attacks in India, but this information had not been made public before the shooting.

A manhunt is underway for the suspects. There are increased patrols and checkpoints in Bangalore, and exits from the city have been sealed off. Security has been increased at "vital installations," particularly in the northern outskirts of the city, where many of the high-tech firms are located. Despite these measures, officials state that life in Bangalore is proceeding as normal. The Indian Space Research Organization and outfits similar in nature to the Indian Institute of Science (such as the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi) have increased security at their facilities throughout the country. There is also increased general security in other parts of India, such as along the state line between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as well as in the city of Hyderabad.

One person was killed and at least five others were injured in the 28 December attack when assailants opened fire indiscriminately from a vehicle. According to preliminary investigations, the attackers used an AK-56 rifle. Officials have recovered empty magazines, ammunition and grenades from the site of the attack.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 12/29/2005

[Casey]

Unknown group threatens New Year’s Eve suicide attacks in Bangalore

Militant Group / News
Date: Dec 30, 2005 - 03:56 PM

(AP)

30 December 2005

BANGALORE, India - Suicide bombers threatened in letters sent to local media to target a top politician and launch attacks against New Year’s revelers in India’s southern city of Bangalore, police said on Friday.

A letter from a previously unknown group outlining the threatened attacks in Bangalore was faxed to several newspapers late Thursday, the director-general of police, B.S. Sial, said.

“It will be the most coordinated attack the country has ever seen,” independent television channel CNN-IBN quoted the letter, written in English, as saying.

Six attackers will trigger explosions including, “two human bombs to target the state chief minister,” Moin-ud-Din of the Al-Jehadi group said, according to the report.

Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state, is India’s technology and software hub - home to about 1,500 software companies.

“Newspapers have received the letter late last night, and we are trying to find out if it is a hoax. But we will not take any chances,” said Sial, without giving further details.

The letters were sent a day after gunmen opened fire Wednesday outside a prestigious science institute in Bangalore, killing a retired professor and wounding four others.

Police set up barricades, patrolled streets and continued to search cars at checkpoints Friday across the city, hunting for the attackers, Sial said.

Police suspect Kashmiri rebels were behind Wednesday’s attack, but no group has claimed responsibility.

More than a dozen rebel groups have fought in Indian Kashmir since 1989 to wrest a separate homeland or merge with neighboring Pakistan. The insurgency has left 66,000 people dead.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/December/subcontinent_December1079.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

[Petronas]

Terror shadow stalks 'India's Silicon Valley'
January 2, 2006, 1:41 PM PST

A suspected militant raid on one of India's top science universities has confirmed fears that the country's booming information technology sector could be a new target for terror groups, officials and analysts said. A professor was shot dead, and four other people were wounded last week when an unidentified gunman drove on to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus in the southern city of Bangalore, India's tech capital, and opened indiscriminate fire from an automatic rifle outside a conference hall.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on what security experts said is a "soft target." But the nature of the attack--the use of a Kalashnikov rifle to open fire randomly and the recovery of unexploded grenades and cartridges from the site--points to anti-Indian Islamist militant groups, they said. "Whatever information is coming out of Bangalore shows that one of these groups is responsible," said B. Raman, a former head of the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency. "Although the damage was not much, it was a very daring attack. Unless there is evidence to the contrary, I would believe this is the work of jihadi groups," he said, referring to Muslim militants fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir.

India has been a victim of separatist violence for decades and Kashmiri militants have struck regularly in the disputed Himalayan region as well as at targets in northern India, including in the capital, New Delhi, since the 1990s. India has long accused archrival Pakistan--with which it is locked in a decades-old dispute over Kashmir--of aiding the militants and sending them across the border. Islamabad denies the charge. While southern India has largely been peaceful during this period, intelligence agencies have warned over the past two years that Islamist militants were making inroads in the south, setting up cells and recruiting sympathizers.

Bangalore and the rival tech centers of Hyderabad and Chennai were prime targets as they were symbols of India's technological might and economic progress, analysts said. A city of 6.5 million people, Bangalore alone is home to more than 1,500 technology and back-office firms, among them dozens of global giants such as Intel, Motorola and IBM, and is now known as 'India's Silicon Valley'. The firms account for a third of India's $17.2 billion software industry and employ about one million people. Several Indian defense, space and scientific research institutions are also based in Bangalore.

"The country is waking up to a new reality--its success in IT and concomitant economic boom has excited malice in certain quarters, who would like to attack symbols of that success," the Times of India wrote in an editorial on Friday. "Within the frame of this inchoate rage against modernity, an international conference of scientists is also a target," it said referring to the shooting at the IISc. While hard targets such as government offices and defense establishments are well protected, security at technology firms and institutions is in no way comparable, experts said.

Following the Bangalore shooting, IT firms would need to boost physical security at their facilities, while government agencies should strengthen intelligence gathering and destroy militant cells before they could strike, they said. "The Indian IT industry...already has in place many security measures," the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), the leading industry body, said in a statement after the Bangalore shooting. "This incident emphasizes the need to review and upgrade these. NASSCOM and the IT industry will work, in collaboration with the police and government, toward tightening security measures to create a safer working environment for the industry," it said.

http://news.com.com/Terror+shadow+stalks+Indias+Silicon+Valley/2100-7348_3-6015293.html?tag=cd.top

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): On 1 January 2006, authorities in Hyderabad seized a large amount of explosives and arrested two men believed to be planning attacks against companies in the information technology (IT) sector in the city. Officials discovered approximately 31 lb/14 kg of explosives in three steel containers. The men were allegedly planning to attack the office of the city's police chief, police headquarters and buildings housing top IT firms. Hyderabad -- which is hosting a series of international events this month -- has been on a heightened state of alert following the 28 December 2005 attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. On 2 January, security checks were heightened for all flights traveling between Chennai and Hyderabad. All passengers on Hyderabad-bound fights are being carefully frisked before being allowed to board. No delays were reported as a result of the additional checks. In addition, on 3 January, hundreds of police officers were deployed on the streets of Hyderabad. Police officers set up barricades, patrolled streets and searched cars at checkpoints across the city. Security officials have warned residents to be prepared for attacks.

AIR SECURITY International - HOT SPOTS 1/3/2006

[Petronas]

Bangalore breakthrough: ‘South India head of LeT’
Wednesday, January 04, 2006

The Bangalore police on Tuesday announced their first major breakthrough in the investigations into the December 28 attack on the Indian Institute of Science by showing the arrest of a 35-year-old resident of Nalgonda district in Andhra Pradesh, Abdul Rehman alias Umed alias Mohammed Raiz-ur Rehman— reportedly the head of the south India operations of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. Rehman was picked up in Nalgonda on January 1, Bangalore Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh said without elaborating on Rehman’s role in the December 28 attack that killed former IIT Delhi professor M C Puri.

Sources said that the arrest has been made on the premise that Rehman funded and masterminded the IISc attack. Rehman’s passport shows that he has been in Saudi Arabia for nearly 13 years. The passport also bears immigration stamps for Bangladesh, sources said. ‘‘He has been in India since Ramzan. The passport is stamped for entry at the Hyderabad airport on October 15, 2005, for his arrival from Riyadh,’’ sources revealed. During his interrogation over the past few days, Rehman has said that he has never visited Bangalore. He claims to have only visited Hyderabad and Chennai on one occasion.

According to sources, Rehman is a follower of the Al Haddees sect in Islam and was a sort of preacher and a translator from Arabic to Urdu at an Islamic Study Centre in Saudi Arabia. Police are trying to follow up on leads on friends and contacts of Rehman found at his Nalgonda residence. ‘‘We don’t think he was the perpetrator of the attack. His arrest is in relation to the conspiracy. He amassed a lot of wealth in Saudi Arabia and was funding organizations involved in proselytizing for Islam in India. There are discrepancies in what he is telling us,’’ a senior police official said.

Rehman’s family has been living in Nalgonda for several years and his father is reportedly a retired state government employee, while three of his brothers run a business in Nalgonda town, sources said. According to Rehman, he has visited only Chennai outside of Hyderabad in recent years. In 2003, he went to Chennai to collect a consignment of Islamic books in English and Urdu, he has told investigators. Police officials are expecting to obtain major leads on the IISc attack through Rehman. They have obtained his custody for 14 days.

http://indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85258

[Petronas]

Son killed 'for not changing to Islam'
05/01/2006

A mother described yesterday hearing her son shot dead after he refused to convert to Islam. Ruth Marriott told an inquest into her son's death that she heard gunshots on the day Adrian was shot five times in the head a few weeks before his 21st birthday. Mr Marriott, an accountancy student and gang member, was killed in a park near his home in Brixton, south London, in June 2004. Three members of a rival gang, known as the Muslim Boys, were cleared in September last year of conspiracy to murder Mr Marriott after the prosecution offered no evidence at the Old Bailey.

His mother told the inquest at Southwark Coroners' Court yesterday: "We heard the shooting. We heard gun fire. "The thought did strike me that Adrian could be involved, but it was a fleeting thought. Then we heard from police the following evening what had happened.

"Adrian was told on the Sunday prior to his death that he would be killed if he did not become a Muslim by the Wednesday, which was the day he died." Asked by the coroner, John Sampson, whether her son had taken the threat seriously, Mrs Marriott said: "I do not think he did."

She said she had last seen him on the afternoon he was killed. "He was happy. He was pestering me to order something for him out of my catalogue," she said. "Adrian was very much a family man."

The coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing. Det Sgt John Stafford, who led the murder investigation, told the inquest that he was still searching for evidence to convict Mr Marriott's killers. He said: "It does indeed remain a live matter. We are still keen to talk to witnesses."

http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&xml=/news/2006/01/05/nshot05.xml

[Petronas]

Hijack plot by ‘pregnant’ woman worries police
January 24, 2006

Look what the Delhi Police have as specific leads on terror attacks on Republic Day: Female suicide bombers planning an attack and one ‘pregnant’ woman plotting to hijack a plane. The threats are listed in a special cell booklet.

According to one input, two female suicide bombers are staying in a rented place in Bhogal near Nizammuddin Aulia. In the city on the pretext of selling shawls, the women are staying with a militant with the alias Pintoji. The police have stepped up tenant verification in the area.

According to another input, seven “highly motivated” militants of the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba have entered the Capital. They are probably staying in Najafgarh. These terrorists will later be later joined by four men from Afghanistan. The men plan to plant a bomb in Chandni Chowk. The local police and the special cell have been trying to track them, but have not succeeded so far.

The other input says that, according to intercepts, eight high-ranking LeT terrorists from Kashmir are planning a fidayeen attack on Parliament, VVIP complex and residences of many politicians on Akbar Road. The module is led by Abu Azan, a foreign terrorist.

The report further states that 12 jehadis along with a ‘pregnant’ woman will try to hijack a plane. The report says the woman will pose to be pregnant and the group will enter either from Mumbai, Delhi or Guwahati airport. Delhi airport has been put on high alert.

The intelligence agencies have also warned that seven Hizbul Mujahideen militants led by one Ashad Gilani have infilitrated into Rajouri during last week of October. The group is carrying 5 kgs of RDX.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1606613,0008.htm

[Petronas]

Hizb conduit with cash, explosives held in Delhi
5 February 2006

NEW DELHI — An alleged conduit of the banned militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was arrested with a large quantity of explosives and hawala cash from south Delhi, police said yesterday. Acting on a tip-off from an intelligence agency, the special cell of the Delhi Police apprehended Nasir Safi Mir, a Dubai-based conduit of the Hizbul outfit from Defence Colony Friday evening. Abut 2kg of RDX, a timer, a detonator, one pistol, six live cartridges and Rs5.5 million was seized from Mir, who is a resident of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Mir has been involved in a number of cases of routing funds through hawala channels and supplying explosives to the banned terrorist outfit for carrying out operations," said Ajay Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (special cell). After sustained interrogation, Mir revealed that he also had close links to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chief of the Hurriyat Conference," Kumar told reporters. He said the alleged conduit had received the consignment on February 2 from one person Latif on the direction of Sayed Salahuddin, chief of HM, which was supposed to be delivered to another terrorist named Zahoor, in the Defence Colony area.

Of the Rs5.5 million, Mir was directed to give Rs1 million to Zahoor along with the consignment of explosives to carry out some terrorist activity in the national capital. A sum of Rs4 million was to be sent to Jammu and Kashmir to be distributed among various other members of the outfit.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2006/February/subcontinent_February194.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

[Petronas]

Delhi police foil new terror plot
1/27/2006 4:10:00 PM -0500

NEW DELHI, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- New Delhi police have captured two suspected Islamist terrorists believed to have been planning a Republic Day attack. As the Indian capital lay under a high security blanket in the run-up to Republic Day, two Bangladeshi terrorists owing allegiance to an offshoot of the Jaish-e-Mohammad guerrilla organization were captured in East Delhi with a sizable amount of ammunition possibly meant to spread terror, The Times of India reported Thursday. The two men were captured near Shastri Park after the special cell of Delhi Police laid a trap. The accused reportedly told the police that the explosives were brought in from Bangladesh, The Times of India said.

The terrorists -- identified as Mohd Saidul and Sohed ul -- are Bangladeshi nationals and members of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islam (HUJI), an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammed active in Bangladesh, the newspaper said. Around three pounds of explosives, four detonators and two hand grenades were seized from them. police said. They were directed by their handler, Anwar Bhai, to deliver the consignment from Bangladesh. It was to be handed over to one Saeed Bhai," Ajay Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (special cell), said.

The arrests were made after the special cell received inputs that Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence agency and Pakistan-based militant organizations were using Bangladesh as a transit point for pushing militants into India, with the intention of planning attacks on key installations. These militants were being aided by Bangladeshi nationals settled in the city, who were providing them hideouts and also acting as couriers for explosives and hawala money, the newspaper said.

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20060127-030331-2972r

[Petronas]

Court issues fatwa on cartoonists
February 21, 2006

AN Islamic court in India has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, condemning to death the 12 artists who drew the controversial images of the prophet Mohammed. The decree was issued on behalf of the Idar-e-Sharia Darul Kaza Islamic court in northern Uttar Pradesh state by its religious head in the state capital, Lucknow.

"Death is the only penalty for the cartoonists who had drawn sacrilegious cartoons of the prophet," Maulana Mufti Abul Irfan, the religious head of the court, said overnight. The court's ruling is binding on Muslims, but can be challenged under Indian law. Mr Irfan said it was clearly written in the Muslim holy book, the Koran, that anyone who insulted the prophet deserved to be punished. He said the fatwa was applicable wherever Muslims live.

Jaffaryab Zilany, a member of the authoritative national body of Muslim clerics, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, said however that although the fatwa was legitimate under Islamic law, it had no legal binding in India.
The sentence comes days after a minister in the state government, Mohammed Yaqoob Qureshi, offered a reward of $US11.5 million ($15.6 million) for the beheading of any of the cartoonists.

The cartoons, drawn by 12 artists, were first published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September and later reprinted in other mainly European dailies. They have sparked protests worldwide, some of them deadly.

On Saturday, a cleric in Pakistan offered a $US1-million ($1.35 million) reward and a car for the death of any of the cartoonists responsible for the drawings, one of which portrayed the prophet with a bomb in his turban. Muslims consider any depiction of the prophet to be blasphemous. Muslims make up about 130 million of mainly Hindu India's billion-plus population. While there have been large demonstrations against the cartoons in India, they have been mainly peaceful.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18220608-38197,00.html

[candypreet]

Court issues fatwa on cartoonists
February 21, 2006

AN Islamic court in India has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, condemning to death the 12 artists who drew the controversial images of the prophet Mohammed. The decree was issued on behalf of the Idar-e-Sharia Darul Kaza Islamic court in northern Uttar Pradesh state by its religious head in the state capital, Lucknow.

"Death is the only penalty for the cartoonists who had drawn sacrilegious cartoons of the prophet," Maulana Mufti Abul Irfan, the religious head of the court, said overnight. The court's ruling is binding on Muslims, but can be challenged under Indian law. Mr Irfan said it was clearly written in the Muslim holy book, the Koran, that anyone who insulted the prophet deserved to be punished. He said the fatwa was applicable wherever Muslims live.

Jaffaryab Zilany, a member of the authoritative national body of Muslim clerics, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, said however that although the fatwa was legitimate under Islamic law, it had no legal binding in India.
The sentence comes days after a minister in the state government, Mohammed Yaqoob Qureshi, offered a reward of $US11.5 million ($15.6 million) for the beheading of any of the cartoonists.



http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18220608-38197,00.html

its not exactly a court - but yes this was shamefull and I am sure he will be punished by the law. There have been a number of people wanting his arrest

[candypreet]

LUCKNOW: Religious clerics and prominent Muslims on Friday made light of senior Samajwadi Party leader Mohammed Yaqoob Qureshi's call for the beheading of the cartoonist who had sketched Prophet Mohammed for a Danish newspaper.

"Anyone who does anything wrong has to be punished under the law of the land to which he belongs," pointed out Idgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rasheed
"In our religion, the authority to pronounce a judgment rests only with a qazi and no one else," said board member Zafaryab Jilani.

"Had such a statement originated from a native of an Islamic country, then under the laws of that country it could have been justified, but not in India."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1419377.cms

[candypreet]

http://news.google.com/news?q=Mohammed+Yaqoob+Qureshi&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-30,GGLG:en&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr

[candypreet]

Monday, February 27, 2006

3 killed, 3 wounded in Kashmir violence

SRINAGAR: Troops shot dead three Islamic rebels in a gun battle, while two soldiers and a civilian were wounded in a car bomb blast in Kashmir, the army said on Sunday.

The explosion occurred as an army convoy was moving near Srinagar, army spokesman Vijay Batra said. He said a lone militant parked a car packed with explosives on the roadside and fled into a neighbouring housing development. “The army convoy immediately stopped and troops tried to follow the militant but he blew up the car with a remote (device), injuring two soldiers and a civilian driver,” Batra said. The spokesman said troops shot dead three militants of two hard-line rebel groups near the northern town of Bandipora on Saturday.

“All three were Pakistani nationals and were planning suicide attacks in Bandipora and Srinagar,” he said. Passions are running high in Kashmir over the killing of two men and two boys by the army on Wednesday after they had launched a manhunt for militants in Kupwara district. The army has regretted the killings and paid Rs 200,000 each to the families of the victims. afp
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02%5C27%5Cstory_27-2-2006_pg7_46

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): ... protests escalated into riots in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, after Hindus in the old quarter of the city refused to close their shops in compliance with a call by Muslim demonstrators. The rioters threw stones and set fire to property, and police officers fired into the air to disperse them. One man was shot and killed in the violence, but police sources have denied responsibility for the shooting.

http://www.airsecurity.com/hotspots/HotSpots.asp

[Petronas]

India rail, temple blasts kill 14
Tuesday, March 7, 2006; Posted: 3:57 p.m. EST (20:57 GMT)

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Three explosions in the holy Indian city of Varanasi have killed 14 people and wounded dozens more, Indian authorities have told CNN.

The first blast was in the Hindu Sankat Mochan temple, Varanasi's police chief Navneet Sikera said. Crowds at the temple are at their peak on Tuesdays with devout Hindus making an offering to the monkey-god Hanuman. The idols at the temple were not damaged, Sikera said. The other two blasts occurred at a railway station where an express train was boarding, police said.

Officials said they did not know how many casualties those blasts caused. The Associated Press quoted policeman Mohammed Hashmi as saying the railway station blast went off inside a train. Witness Sunil Yadav told AP there also was a blast near the ticket counter in the waiting room of the crowded station. Another bomb, found in a crowded area of the city called Gudolia, was defused, Sikera said. There was no claim of responsibility for any of the blasts.

The blasts were aimed at "soft" targets "to create tension and disrupt communal harmony," Indian Home Secretary V.K. Dugal said. The three blasts occurred just a few minutes apart, between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. (noon and 12:30 p.m. GMT). Several parts of the Indian city in Uttar Pradesh state were cordoned off, police said, and temples in the area -- and as far away as New Delhi -- were on high alert.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemning the explosions and a top state official promising stern action against those responsible, AP reported. Singh also appealed for calm, his spokesman, Sanjaya Baru, said. Varanasi is Hinduism's holiest city and is ordinarily filled with pilgrims visiting temples and bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges River, which runs through town. It is also a popular spot with foreign tourists, especially backpackers, according to AP. Varanasi is about 725 kilometers (450 miles) southeast of the capital.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/07/india.blasts/index.html

[Petronas]

Explosives found in Indian rail station
March 11 2006 at 01:42PM

New Delhi - Police found a cache of explosives Saturday at a railway station in Mumbai, India's financial hub, four days after a series of deadly blasts in a holy Hindu city blamed on Islamic militants. Officers discovered explosives and components for making an explosive device inside a bag on a commuter railway station platform in central Mumbai, city police commissioner AN Roy said. "Some explosives and some parts which can be used for making an IED (improvised explosive device) have been found at Byculla railway station on top of a toilet block," said Roy. "It contains about two kilograms of explosive."

He said the explosives were found during a security sweep that was put in place after 23 people died Tuesday in three blasts in the northern holy Hindu city of Varanasi, two at a railway station and one at a crowded temple. The discovery came on the eve of the 13th anniversary of a wave of bomb blasts in Mumbai's financial district that killed around 260 people in what was seen as a reprisal for Muslim deaths in Hindu-Muslim riots.

Roy said there had been no arrests in connection with the explosives found Saturday and it was too early to say who put them in the station. Hundreds of thousands of people pass through the station every day and Roy said all stations in the city were being searched. Police say they believed the bomb would have been a rudimentary device made from ammonium nitrate fertiliser.

Police say they suspect pro-Pakistan Islamic rebels fighting New Delhi's rule in Indian Kashmir were responsible for Tuesday's explosions in Varanasi. Cities across the country including Mumbai were put on alert after the Varanasi bombings amid fears of further attacks and retaliatory violence against Muslims in the mainly Hindu country. In August 2003, two car bombs killed nearly 60 people in Mumbai. Police believed those blasts were the work of pro-Pakistan Kashmiri militants.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1142075520846B253

[candypreet]

how did I miss that

[candypreet]

Indian soldier killed, 6 wounded in Kashmir blast
19 Mar 2006 11:44:15 GMT

Source: Reuters

SRINAGAR, India, March 19 (Reuters) - An Indian soldier was killed and six others wounded on Sunday when suspected separatist guerrillas hurled a grenade at a security bunker outside a bank in Kashmir, authorities said.

"The grenade exploded inside the sand bag bunker, killing a BSF (Border Security Force) personnel on the spot," a BSF spokesman said.

He said the soldiers were guarding a bank in Sopore town, north of Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state.

Militants also threw a grenade at a police patrol elsewhere in Sopore but it exploded without wounding anyone.

No militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since a separatist revolt broke out in 1989 in Jammu and Kashmir, mainly Hindu India's only Muslim-majority state.

Separatist violence in Kashmir is not as bad as it used to be but continues despite a slow peace process between India and Pakistan, who have fought two wars over the divided Himalayan region.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL211435.htm

[candypreet]

Jammu & Kashmir wants Interpol help to fight militants

Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
Sunday, March 19, 2006 23:50 IST

SRINAGAR: Encouraged by the arrest of top militant commanders in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Jammu and Kashmir Police have doubled efforts to get the red corner notice issued by Interpol against the most-wanted militants hiding there.

The PoK-based militant commanders against whom the Interpol notices are being sought include Hizb-ul-Mujahdeen supreme commander Mohammad Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salah-ud-din, who also heads the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group of militant organisations in PoK. Others include Al-Umar chief Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar and Jaish-e-Mohommad chief Moulana Azhar Masood, who were released in exchange of passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-841 in Kabul. Several Lashkar-e-Tioba commanders are also in the list.

One of the cases pending against Salah-ud-din is the assassination of former power minister and National Conference leader Ghulam Hassan Bhat. Jaish-e-Mohommad chief Moulana Azhar Masood is wanted in a number of cases including the fidayeen attack on the state assembly. Al-Umar chief Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar is also wanted in a number of killings of political leaders, bomb blasts and other subversive activities.

Inspector general of police, Kashmir range, K Rajendra Kumar told DNA they are collecting the details of all the cases of militant commanders so that formalities for issuance of Interpol notices is completed.

“There are several cases relating to killings, bomb blasts and other subversive activities registered in different police stations across the state. We have asked all the concerned officers to share the details so that a case can be prepared for the formal issuance of red corner notice,” Rajendra said.

The IGP said the police would also approach the local courts for issuance of warrants and declaring the commanders as proclaimed offenders. “The next step is to get them declared as proclaimed offenders and criminals. This will help us in convincing Interpol to issue the notices,” he said.


Rate this

http://dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1018930&CatID=2

[Petronas]

Indian court lets off minister who put bounty on Danish cartoonists
20 March 2006

NEW DELHI - An India court on Monday rejected demands for action against a lawmaker who put a bounty of 11.5 million dollars on the heads of Danish cartoonists who drew controversial images of the Prophet Mohammed. A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal described as “unfortunate” the offer made by Mohammed Yaqoob Qureshi, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh state government, last month. The court, however, said it cannot “entertain” such appeals and suggested the petitioner, Vijay Kumar Tiwari, register a criminal complaint with the police against the firebrand Muslim politician.

Qureshi told a Muslim rally after Friday prayers last month that he would give “the avenger” 510 million rupees (11.5 million dollars) and his weight in gold. “The money will be paid by the people of Meerut (city),” said Qureshi, who is the state’s minister in charge of minority affairs and of the annual Haj pilgrimage which Muslims undertake to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The cartoons, drawn by 12 artists, were first published in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September and later reprinted in a number of other mainly European dailies. They sparked Muslim protests worldwide. Islamic teachings ban any depiction of the prophet. Denmark last week agreed indefinitely to postpone an April 2 visit by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen after New Delhi reportedly warned the trip could rekindle protests in India, home to 130 million Muslims.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2006/March/subcontinent_March757.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

[NYer]

Indian court lets off minister who put bounty on Danish cartoonists


http://images.animationfactory.com/imagedir/animations/food/food/hot_potato/hot_potato_lg_wm.gif

[candypreet]

Indian court lets off minister who put bounty on Danish cartoonists
20 March 2006

NEW DELHI - An India court on Monday rejected demands for action against a lawmaker who put a bounty of 11.5 million dollars on the heads of Danish cartoonists who drew controversial images of the Prophet Mohammed. A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal described as “unfortunate” the offer made by Mohammed Yaqoob Qureshi, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh state government, last month. The court, however, said it cannot “entertain” such appeals and suggested the petitioner, Vijay Kumar Tiwari, register a criminal complaint with the police against the firebrand Muslim politician.

Qureshi told a Muslim rally after Friday prayers last month that he would give “the avenger” 510 million rupees (11.5 million dollars) and his weight in gold. “The money will be paid by the people of Meerut (city),” said Qureshi, who is the state’s minister in charge of minority affairs and of the annual Haj pilgrimage which Muslims undertake to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The cartoons, drawn by 12 artists, were first published in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September and later reprinted in a number of other mainly European dailies. They sparked Muslim protests worldwide. Islamic teachings ban any depiction of the prophet. Denmark last week agreed indefinitely to postpone an April 2 visit by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen after New Delhi reportedly warned the trip could rekindle protests in India, home to 130 million Muslims.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2006/March/subcontinent_March757.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

he is an IDIOT who actually deserves punishment. But such are the ways of democracies. Sometimes I wish we were in a dictatorship, so we could have hanged him

[Petronas]

HUJI terrorists planned to blow up Hanuman temples
Lucknow, April 5, 2006

Six Harkat-ul-Jehad al Islami (HUJI) terrorists, including the mastermind behind the Varanasi blasts, had hatched a conspiracy to blow up the two Hanuman temples' in the city on Ramnavami, state police's Special Task Force sources said. A map of the city had been recovered from the possession of terrorists, who were arrested on Wednesday, marking the spots, which they had planned to strike, the sources said.

They said terrorists had planned to blow up the old Hanuman temples at Aliganj and the one near Lucknow university in the city Ramnavami day on Thursday as a large number of devotees pay obeisance there on this day. Sources said some Pakistani passports had also been recovered from them.

The STF was in touch with Central intelligence agencies and efforts were on to nab their masters in Bangladesh with the help of the Interpol, they said. The STF had arrested six HUJI terrorists, including Wali ullah, who was the mastermind behind the twin blasts in Varanasi on March 7. They also revealed during interrogation that three Bangladeshi terrorists who had triggered blasts in Varanasi could also be behind the last year's terror blasts in Delhi and Shramjeevi Express train near Jaunpur.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1668308,001302170000.htm

[candypreet]

HUJI terrorists planned to blow up Hanuman temples
Lucknow, April 5, 2006

Six Harkat-ul-Jehad al Islami (HUJI) terrorists, including the mastermind behind the Varanasi blasts, had hatched a conspiracy to blow up the two Hanuman temples' in the city on Ramnavami, state police's Special Task Force sources said. A map of the city had been recovered from the possession of terrorists, who were arrested on Wednesday, marking the spots, which they had planned to strike, the sources said.

They said terrorists had planned to blow up the old Hanuman temples at Aliganj and the one near Lucknow university in the city Ramnavami day on Thursday as a large number of devotees pay obeisance there on this day. Sources said some Pakistani passports had also been recovered from them.

The STF was in touch with Central intelligence agencies and efforts were on to nab their masters in Bangladesh with the help of the Interpol, they said. The STF had arrested six HUJI terrorists, including Wali ullah, who was the mastermind behind the twin blasts in Varanasi on March 7. They also revealed during interrogation that three Bangladeshi terrorists who had triggered blasts in Varanasi could also be behind the last year's terror blasts in Delhi and Shramjeevi Express train near Jaunpur.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1668308,001302170000.htm
bad news:sad_01: :sad_01:

[candypreet]

400 kg explosives, ammunition recovered in J&K
Source: PTI.


http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandorav3/output/News/01479c3d-e20c-4ffe-b271-a45fd37d5424.aspx

Srinagar, Apr 10: Security forces today recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition including 400 kg of explosives, probably meant for disrupting the April 24 bypolls to three assembly segments of the valley, from a militant hideout in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.

On a tip off four quintals of explosives along with three under barrel grenade launchers, 20 UBGL grenades and four handgrenades were recovered from a cowshed in Lulipora area of Pattan in the district, a defence spokesman said here.
Six AK rifles, 300 AK rounds, 30 IED circuits, 25 IED detonators, one radio set and a large number of Russian primers were also recovered, the spokesman said.

He said the arms and ammunition were probably stored in the area to disrupt the electioneering and voting for bypoll to Pattan, Rafiabad and Sangrama assembly segments in the district on April 24. Fifteen candidates are in fray for the byelection.

[Petronas]

13 Injured in Bombings at Indian Mosque
54 minutes ago

NEW DELHI - Two bombs exploded at New Delhi's main mosque shortly after hundreds of worshippers offered Friday prayers, injuring at least 13 people, an official said. The two blasts occurred within 30 minutes of each other at the Jama Masjid mosque, said Police Chief K.K. Paul. "We are investigating what kind of explosive devices were used," Paul said.

Thirteen people were injured, said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The mosque was evacuated and police bomb disposal squads combed the mosque complex, Paul said. Police went on high alert and stepped up security across the city.

It was not known who was behind the explosions, which were caused by at least two bombs planted in different parts of the complex. The explosions went off just before hundreds of people were to gather for evening prayers.

The first bomb exploded near the washing area of the mosque, where people clean their hands before offering prayers, said Imam Bukhari, the mosque's chief cleric.

The 17th century Jama Masjid is located in one of the most congested neighborhoods of New Delhi and is surrounded by hundreds of shops and houses lining a maze of crowded alleyways.

Bukhari appealed to people to remain calm and said evening prayers would take place as usual.

"People were walking around and suddenly — boom! — there was a bomb," said Mohammed Salaudi, who was inside the mosque when the first explosion took place. Salaudi said he saw at least three injured people after the explosion in the main courtyard of the complex.

Police began letting people enter the main mosque for evening prayers and hundreds of worshippers were back in the mosque less than two hours afterward. Most of them stopped near the site of the blasts to stare at the red sandstone floor of the mosque, which had turned bluish black from the blast's impact. Half a dozen shoes and flip-flops, some charred from the explosion, lay scattered on the floor, left behind as people fled after the blasts.

"Who would do something like this? What sort of person is this?" asked Mustafa Iqbal, a trader who had come for evening prayers, as he looked at the shoes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/india_explosions;_ylt=AuZ8nnsbka4C3afHcGAe.Sis0NUE ;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[candypreet]

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Jaish behind Srinagar attacks: Indian ministry

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: India’s Home Ministry on Saturday took stock of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi following a series of blasts the previous day that rocked Srinagar and Delhi ‘s historic Jamia Masjid, holding Jaish-e-Mohammed responsible for the Srinagar grenade attacks.

Briefing reporters, VK Duggal, the union home secretary, said the situation in the national capital was “absolutely normal” after the blasts.

The home secretary is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir next week to carry out a complete review of the security situation with the Unified Command in the state. He said that Jaish-e-Mohammad was responsible for the seven grenade attacks in Srinagar. He said that nine people have so far had been taken into custody in connection with the explosions.

GS Rajgopal, the special secretary of the internal security, KK Paul, the Delhi police commissioner, Madan Gopal, the director general of military operations, and senior officials from the Home and Defence Ministries attended the meeting at North Block, the Home Ministry’s headquarters.

Meanwhile, a day after the twin explosions at the Jamia Masjid, Delhi Police were piecing together evidence from the blast site to trace the perpetrators of the attack. Forensic experts were examining samples collected from the site of the blasts, which left 15 people injured.

“The explosives used in the blast were of a very crude nature,” police sources said, adding that they were examining all angles in the investigation.

Security at the Jamia Masjid was tightened and metal detectors were in place at its three gates. Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel were deployed in large numbers at the mosque.

Preliminary investigations revealed that potassium chlorate and sulphuric acid were used to trigger the explosion. Nuts and bolts were added to the mixture to cause injury.

“The intention behind the explosions was to create panic in the city,” said police officials, adding that Delhi had been the target of terror attacks for quite some time now and as many as 51 terrorists had been arrested in the capital since January 2005.

A high alert has been sounded in the capital in the wake of the twin explosions, with police officials heightening security at places of worship and vital installations.


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C04%5C16%5Cstory_16-4-2006_pg7_2

[keith]

India held back by wall of instability
By Chietigj Bajpaee

While much of the world's attention is on the "rise" of China in the political, economic and military spheres, there remains a relative lack of attention on Asia's other rising power - India, as highlighted by the fact that India has attracted a tenth of the foreign direct investment of China.

Corruption, India's infrastructure bottlenecks, bureaucracy referred to as the infamous "License Raj" and India's unpredictable democracy, which creates precarious coalition governments and changes in policy every time there is a change of administration has led India to becoming subordinate to China among the emerging economies.

However, another factor that has the potential to deter India's rise is the plethora of conflicts and instabilities on its periphery. While China has resolved or shelved most such conflicts, India has active disputes along most of its borders. This "wall of instability" has prevented India from gaining access to vital resources and markets, deterred regional economic integration and security cooperation, and may even undermine investor confidence.

Limits to India's 'Look East' policy
India's poor relations with Bangladesh and instabilities in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and in India's northeast have limited direct land access to the markets of China and Southeast Asia. Progress on plans for Myanmar to supply India with natural gas from its Shwe field off the coast of Arakan state has been held up by tensions between India and Bangladesh and Myanmar's close relationship with China.

While a gas pipeline transiting Bangladesh would be the shortest route for an overland pipeline between India and Myanmar, frictions between Delhi and Dhaka have forced India to look into more expensive options such as constructing a deep-sea pipeline, transporting gas by tanker or through India's northeastern states.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated in recent years as the goodwill generated from India's support for Bangladesh in its war of independence in 1971 has given way to Bangladesh's emergence as a potential new source of Islamic extremism in South Asia.

Internally, confrontations between Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and Begum Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh National Party and its ally, the Jamaat-e-Islami, are turning increasingly violent. Meanwhile, groups such as the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami, Bangladesh (HuJI-B) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh continue to call for the implementation of sharia law in Bangladesh and have been held responsible for a series of bomb attacks in Bangladesh over the past few months.

Externally, Bangladesh has been accused of fueling the insurgencies in northeast India with arms, aid and training, providing a haven for al-Qaeda terrorists and emerging as a hub for arms trafficking. Bangladesh has emerged as a sanctuary for Islamic extremist groups in the region, including the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba and Myanmar-based insurgent groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Organization (ARNO) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO).

India's concern over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh was demonstrated in 2005 when the 13th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was postponed after the Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refused to attend following a series of bomb blasts in Bangladesh.

Tensions between India and Bangladesh have been further fueled by a series of disputes over illegal Bangladeshi immigration into India's northeast, disagreement over water-sharing across the 54 rivers that traverse the two states and India's decision to fence its 4,000 kilometer border with Bangladesh.

The plans for a Myanmar-Bangladesh-India gas pipeline have been further soured by Myanmar's signing of a memorandum with the Chinese energy company, PetroChina, in December for the sale of 6.5 trillion cubic feet of gas to China over the next 30 years from the Shwe field.

India has been playing catch-up with China in cultivating relations with Myanmar. In the past, relations between the two countries were marred as a result of India voicing its opposition to the military junta's crackdown on pro-democracy activists and the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy.

India's more pragmatic, non-interventionist policy with regard to Myanmar has been prompted by numerous factors, including its need to gain access to energy resources in the region; garner the support of Myanmar's government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), in tackling Indian insurgent groups that have claimed sanctuary in Myanmar; Delhi's desire to access the vast markets of Southeast Asia under its "Look East" policy; and balance the growing influence of China in the region.

Finally, India's own insurgencies in the seven states of the northeast commonly referred to as the "seven sisters" (Assam, Arunachel Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura) where over 100 militant groups operate, have delayed plans for direct energy, trade and transport links between India and Southeast Asia.

The geographic separation of the northeast states from the rest of India, with only a 20 kilometer pass known as the Siliguri corridor linking the states to the rest of the country has often led to fears that outside powers could fuel the northeast insurgencies in order to "cut the chicken's neck". The fact that China claims 90,000 square kilometers of India's northeastern state of Arunuchel Pradesh has also been a cause of concern in the region.

The Indian government itself has been preoccupied by its northern insurgency in Kashmir, even though the economic gains from resolving the northeast insurgencies are greater given the importance of the region as a potential trade route between South and Southeast Asia as well as plans for a pipeline transporting natural gas from Myanmar and Bangladesh to India.

The region's proximity to the Maoist insurgency in Nepal, increasingly Islamic extremist Bangladesh and separatist movements and authoritarian rule in Myanmar have made the northeast insurgencies the final piece in an "arc" of instability stretching from Myanmar to Nepal.

Nepal and the Naxalites
While Nepal's King Gyanendra ended his 14 months of direct rule in April, the security situation in Nepal remains precarious as almost half the country remains under the rule of the Maoist militants (Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) ( CPN-M). Although the Maoists have entered into a 12-point agreement with the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists and the SPA do not see eye-to-eye on Nepal's future. The SPA does not appear ready to give up on the monarchy altogether while the Maoists want to turn Nepal into a republic as well as calling for one-partyl authoritarian communist rule.

The Maoists are also unwilling to disarm as sporadic violence and abductions continue. This conflict has spilled over into India as the Maoists have often sought sanctuary in India and maintain links with India's militant Maoists, known as Naxalites. More than 13 states in India have experienced Naxalite attacks, which have grown increasingly bold in recent months.

The Indian Naxalites and Nepalese Maoists continue to grant each other moral and material support and sanctuary and have even espoused creating a "compact revolutionary zone" from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh. Any strengthening of the Maoist position in Nepal is likely to invigorate the Naxalites in India.

The prospect of Nepal emerging as a failed state would have negative repercussions for India in the form of refugees and Nepal's emergence as a hub for terrorism and illicit activities.

Sri Lanka - a 'ceasefire' only in name
The Norwegian-brokered ceasefire, which was implemented in 2002 between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Ealem (LTTE), appears to be a ceasefire only in name. The suicide attack on the army headquarters in Colombo at the end of April and a naval clash in May add to a long list of violations of the ceasefire, including the assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kardigamar in 2005 and hostilities between the Northern Prabakaran faction of the Tamil Tigers and the eastern Karuna faction in 2004.

While India doesn't crave the prospect of involvement in Sri Lanka, given its bitter experience from deploying peacekeepers to the country in 1987-90, which left it with a bloody nose, Delhi is also unlikely to sit on the sidelines as the Tigers and government become increasingly trigger-happy.

The resurgent violence is already increasing refugee flows into India and has the potential to enflame emotions among India's Tamil populous in the south. The LTTE has also been a catalyst for arms trafficking in the region, which has fueled conflicts in India's northeast and in Southeast Asia.

Pakistan: Denying India in the 'New Great Game'
Tensions have declined between India and Pakistan in recent years as a result of increasing people-to-people contacts brought on by direct road and rail links, military confidence-building measures, sport and growing trade.

Nevertheless, attacks by Pakistan-based terrorist groups, which have traditionally focused on Kashmir, have spilled over into the rest of India, as illustrated by bomb attacks this year in Varanasi and Jama Masjid in New Delhi, attacks in Ayodhya and the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore in 2005, and an attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001, which came close to sparking another war between India and Pakistan. These attacks have been aimed at igniting communal violence and undermining confidence in India's economy.

Furthermore, India's fluctuating relations with Pakistan have prevented access to energy resources and markets in Iran and the Central Asian republics. India has expressed interest in both the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) natural gas pipeline and the US-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan or Trans-Afghan gas pipeline.

India's plans to import Iranian gas, which have been in the works since 1993, have been delayed by tensions between India and Pakistan. This has led India to look to the option of transporting gas by LNG (liquefied natural gas) carriers and building a deep-sea pipeline that bypasses Pakistan.

In recent years, as India-Pakistan relations have thawed, other security considerations have delayed the project, such as the insurgency in Pakistan's Balochistan province through which the IPI pipeline would have to transit and ongoing frictions between Iran and the international community over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Meanwhile, the Trans-Afghan pipeline has been held hostage to instabilities in Afghanistan, from the Afghan civil war to Taliban rule and most recently the spring offensive by the Taliban and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hizb-i-Islami.

Questions over whether Turkmenistan has enough gas to meet India's appetite, given its commitments to Russia and China, have also dampened the Trans-Afghan pipeline project. While these deals continue to be discussed, on May 25 crude oil began flowing through the Kazakhstan-China pipeline from Atasu to Alataw Pass in Xinjiang province, with the potential of the pipeline being extended to the Caspian Sea.

The US-backed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is up and running with discussions on extending it to Kazakhstan, and Russia retains its pipeline network with the Central Asian republics from the Cold War. While India discusses its options in the "New Great Game" for energy resources, other states such as China, Russia and the United States are already full-fledged players.

China: Filling the void
While India continues to tackle insurgencies and active conflicts within its borders and on its periphery, China has either resolved or "shelved" all conflicts internally, with all 14 states along its border and with states in the region, with the possible exception of Japan.

Security and energy cooperation between China and Russia continues to deepen, while China engages in joint oil and gas exploration of disputed territory in the South China Sea with Vietnam and the Philippines. China's improving relationship with South Korea has even called into question Seoul's alliance with the United States.

Even on the Taiwan issue, which is the most likely source of conflict for China, Beijing has developed a more nuanced policy with its rapprochement with opposition "pan-Blue" parties in the face of separatist tendencies by the ruling "pan-Green" coalition led by President Chen Shui-bian.

China is also major player in numerous regional economic and security forums, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) +3, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the recently inaugurated East Asia Summit, as well as being a leader in numerous forums such as the Boao Forum, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the six-party talks to bring about a nuclear weapons-free Korean peninsula.

Finally, Beijing has successfully projected its principle of "peaceful rise" or "peaceful development" to reassure the international community of China's non-threatening intentions.

While numerous states on China's periphery remain suspicious of China and regard its "peaceful development" slogan as more rhetoric than reality, Beijing's achievements far outweigh those of India. While India's relations with Pakistan have gone from open hostility to limited cooperation and mutual suspicion, India's relations with its other neighbors have continued to deteriorate.

This has limited progress by regional bodies such as the SAARC and BIMSTEC (Bangladesh-India-Myanmar-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation) in forging a regional identity, creating a regional security structure and developing intra-regional trade and economic integration.

Intra-regional trade in South Asia accounts for a mere 4% of the region's total trade, even though the South Asia Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) has been in place since 1995. In contrast, in 2004, intra-regional trade in ASEAN amounted to 49%; in NAFTA this figure was 44% and in the European Union this was 67%. Progress on the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) has been slow, which has been fueled in part by political frictions between states in the region.

Furthermore, India's poor relations with its periphery have created a vacuum in power and influence, which has been filled by extra-regional powers, such as China. China has taken advantage of India's poor relations with its neighbors to expand its naval presence in the Indian ocean, as seen by the development of port facilities in Gwader in Pakistan and on the Coco islands in Myanmar and in Chittagong in Bangladesh.

These initiatives have been driven by China's desire to secure the Malacca Strait and the Strait of Hormuz through which as much as 80% of China's oil imports flow, as well as bypassing these chokepoints with overland "energy corridors" from Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh or Thailand.

Beijing's presence on the Coco islands has also allowed it to monitor India's naval presence in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. In 2005, China also conducted its first joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean with Pakistan, the first outside its territorial waters. India's transfer of the INS Tilanchang to the Maldives in April and desire to gain exclusive access to the naval base in the eastern town of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka has been regarded by some as a response to Beijing's increasing interests in the Indian Ocean.

China's observer status at the SAARC, much to the consternation of India, is also a sign of China's encroachment into its backyard. China continues to assist Pakistan in augmenting its military with the joint development of the F-22P frigate and JF-17 Thunder fighter. China is also assisting Pakistan with strategic infrastructure projects, such as widening the Karakorum Highway linking both countries and increasing cooperation in the energy sphere, including developing Pakistan's oil refining, storage and exploration capabilities.

China has also agreed to increase nuclear-power cooperation with Pakistan, which some regard as a reaction to the US-India nuclear deal that was reached during President George W Bush's visit to India in March. China has also made inroads in improving relations with other South Asian states, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as seen by the number of high-level visits between China and these states in recent years.

China's strengthening of direct road links with Nepal and support for King Gyanendra during his suspension of democracy, regarding it as an "internal matter", while India, Britain and the US criticized his actions and suspended military aid, led some to believe that China may attempt to fill the void left by India.

China has also emerged as Bangladesh's leading trade partner and arms supplier and agreed to assist Bangladesh with its civilian nuclear program as well as expressing interest in the country's natural gas reserves.

Troublesome neighbors
India possesses numerous advantages over China, such as a strong bottom-up entrepreneurial spirit and English-language skills, and strong managerial and information technology skills. India has also raised its profile on the world stage in recent months, as illustrated by its prominent role at the Davos World Economic Forum in January and the US-India nuclear deal.

Furthermore, much of the limelight on China is negative, such as China's violation of intellectual property rights, undervalued exchange rate, growing trade surplus with the US, poor human-rights record, perceived aggressive policy toward Taiwan and Tibet, support for pariah regimes, growing oil imports, and potential to challenge US global predominance.

Over the long run, China's authoritarian system has the potential to create more instability than India's democratic government. The record number of protests across China in 2005 demonstrated that in the absence of a safety value offered by a democratic system, frustrations can only be vented through increasingly violent clashes with the authorities.

Nonetheless, India continues to be held back by instabilities on its periphery, which are preventing its access to markets and raw materials, deterring the emergence of regional economic and security structures and may even deter investors to the region.

Chietigj Bajpaee is a research associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC. He has been a researcher for the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies and a risk analyst for a New York-based risk management company. His areas of interest are energy security and macroeconomic, geopolitical and security developments in the Asia-Pacific region. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached at c.bajpaee-alumni@lse.ac.uk

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HF01Df01.html

[candypreet]

good post there

[keith]

Police turn bounty-hunters in insurgency-hit Indian state
(AFP)

3 June 2006

RAIPUR - An insurgency-hit Indian state is paying handsome rewards to policemen for slaying Maoist rebels in the jungles despite protests from rights groups about state-sponsored violence.


“We have given several awards this year to encourage the security personnel and boost up their moral,” Chhattisgarh state Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam on Thursday told AFP in the central state’s capital of Raipur.

The admission came less than a week after a police team shared a bounty of 60,000 rupees (1,333 dollars) for killing Ramesh Nageshiya, a Maoist military commander in Sarguja district.

Nagesh was wanted on 50 counts and state police chief O.P. Rathore, besides doling out cash, also offered promotion and presidential valour medals to the men who riddled the rebel leader with bullets.

“The president’s medals to the brave personnel will inspire confidence among other policemen,” said Rathore, Chhattisgarh’s director-general of police.

“Incentives send a message to policemen to be fearless in their duties,” Rathore said just days after Nageshiya was killed in the Maoist bastion of Sarguja.

However rights groups charge such incentives only encourage killing and have in the past seen police stage fake “encounters” to bag easy money.

Chhattisgarh has been in the grip of insurgency for almost three years and officers said bounties were also paid last year to policemen who succeeded in killing known rebels.

Sixty-six policemen received special trophies for killing 19 guerrillas in 110 separate gunbattles between January 2005 and May this year, according to an official tally.

At least 29 policemen also died in the hunt-for-reward scheme during the period in the worst-hit districts of Bastar and Sarguja, Chhattisgarh officials reported.

Some policemen say they would rather risk death chasing rebels than retire nearly penniless from the service.

“Some of us want to enroll in the special task forces which have been set up because the money is great -- and gets better when we put down some of their (Maoist) top bigwigs,” said a police control room officer.

“It is better than to die of boredom here,” he said, asking not to be named.

‘Violation of human rights’
Human rights activists take a dim view of the government’s anti-Maoist policies.

“This is nothing but state-sponsored violence and a violation of human rights,” the People’s Union of Civil Liberties rights group said in nearby Bhopal, which until 2002 administered Chhattisgarh when it was part of Madhya Pradesh state.

“The state is working on a strategy to create terror in the name of Maoists,” charged forum member Sanga Bhai.

More than 50,000 people have fled their villages and taken shelter in 27 emergency centres following Maoists attacks.

The Chhattisgarh-based rights group Forum for Fact-Finding, Documentation and Advocacy also urged the state government to halt the bounty scheme.

“Such violence is not a solution to the problem and the government should chalk out long-term strategies involving ordinary people,” forum director Subash Mahapatra told AFP.

Political supporters of the Maoists, who control 10 of Chhattisgarh’s 16 districts, have not been amused either by the bounty-hunting ordered by the state’s coalition administration run by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“The BJP-led government is only worsening the situation by treating the Maoist problem as only a law and order issue,” Dharmraaj Mahapatra, provincial leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, told AFP.

“The government should also take up land reforms, development work and give tribals rights in forests to solve the problems thrown up by the rebels,” he said.

The guerrillas claim they are fighting for the rights of neglected tribes and landless farmers in numerous Indian states including Chhattisgarh.

India’s most celebrated and controversial policeman Kanwar Pal Singh Gill, credited with ending a 13-year-long bloody Sikh rebellion in the 1990s, is leading the fight against the Chhattisgarh Maoists.

But his brutal methods saw New York-based Human Rights Watch brand Gill a “known human rights abuser”.

The group last month urged India to use lawful methods to tackle Maoist violence, fearing “serious abuses” in Chhattisgarh.

More than 150 people have died this year in violence by the rebels in Chhattisgarh, one of 15 of India’s 29 states where the left-wing rebels are active.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/todaysfeatures/2006/June/todaysfeatures_June3.xml&section=todaysfeatures

[keith]

India's test launch of new missile fails
By GAVIN RABINOWITZ, Associated Press Writer

India's first test-firing of a new missile designed to carry nuclear warheads across much of Asia and the Middle East was unsuccessful, the defense minister said. Although initially reported as a success by officials, the Agni III missile plunged into the Bay of Bengal short of its target, Defense Pranab Mukherjee told reporters late Sunday.

Following the failed missile launch, an Indian rocket carrying a satellite for TV broadcasts veered off course and exploded after takeoff Monday, Indian media reported.

The missile launch came as President Bush tries to push a civilian nuclear deal with India past a skeptical Congress. The deal permits India to keep making nuclear weapons, and critics say the pact could undermine the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Even though the deal does not cover missiles, the Hindu newspaper reported Monday that the top U.S. general, Peter Pace, gave Indian officials the green light to conduct the test when he visited India last month. The missile test reportedly had been delayed for two years by technical issues and fears of international condemnation.

Mukherjee, who witnessed Sunday's missile launch, said India would press ahead with the Agni III program. He termed the failure a snag, but offered no other details.

Indian media reported that the missile's second stage failed to separate after it was launched from Wheeler Island off the eastern state of Orissa.

India's current crop of missiles have been largely intended to confront archrival and neighbor Pakistan. The Agni III, by contrast, is to be India's longest-range missile, designed to reach 1,900 miles. That would putting China's major cities well into range, as well as targets deep in the Middle East.

It's also said to be capable of carrying a 200-300 kiloton nuclear warhead.

"This is going to help in establishing the credibility of India's deterrent profile," said Indian defense analyst C. Uday Bhaskar.

Still, he dismissed speculation the missile was designed with China in mind.

"Any strategic capability is not aimed at any particular nation. To say it is China-specific is misleading," Bhaskar said.

India and China have shared decades of mutual suspicion and fought a 1962 border war. But relations have warmed considerably in recent years as the two Asian giants have boosted trade and economic ties.

India's missile program, together with its nuclear program and drive for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, is part of its ongoing efforts to establish itself as a world power.

While past Indian missile test firings were seen attempts at saber-rattling with Pakistan, which would in turn test its own missiles, the Agni III test was seen as routine and intended to further India's missile program, which aims to eventually produce a long-range ICBM.

India's homegrown missile arsenal already includes the short-range Prithvi ballistic missile, the medium-range Akash, the anti-tank Nag and the supersonic Brahmos missile, developed jointly with Russia.

India notified Pakistan ahead of the launch, in accordance with an agreement between the two, said Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

After Monday's rocket veered off course, authorities alerted emergency crews around the launch site in southeastern India, presumably in case the debris crashed back to earth, NDTV news television station reported.

The nearly 4,800-pound satellite — named INSAT-4C — was to be India's 12th satellite in orbit.



Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.


Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060710/ap_on_re_as/india_missile_test_8

[keith]

Calm returns to Bombay as Hindu hard-liners demand arrests
(AP)

10 July 2006



BOMBAY, India - Calm returned to India’s financial capital on Monday a day after Hindu nationalists protested the desecration of a memorial by burning buses, blocking roads and forcing shops to shut.


Train and buses services resumed normal services as leaders of the hard-line Shiv Sena party called for restraint after mobs took to the streets on Sunday to protest the smearing of mud on a statue of party founder Bal Thackeray’s late wife Meenatai.

“We have told workers to stay calm. But we want the government to arrest those responsible and we want the arrests to be made quickly,” said Uddhav Thackeray, the party’s chief and Bal Thackeray’s son.

The violence Sunday spread to towns and cities across the western state of Maharashtra. Bombay, where the statue is located, is the state’s capital.

Police fired tear gas to disperse rioters, who in many places hurled stones at shops that refused to shut down. Sena workers also held demonstrations that stopped buses and trains. No injuries were reported.

Bombay’s top police officer made a televised appeal late Sunday urging Sena supporters to refrain from violence.

“Strict action will be taken against anyone who takes law into their own hands,” he said. “We are investigating the incident and will take action against those responsible.”

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2006/July/subcontinent_July314.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

[keith]

At least 8 dead in Kashmir grenade attacks By MUJTABA ALI AHMAD, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 57 minutes ago



A series of grenade attacks killed eight people and wounded more than two dozen in the main city of Indian Kashmir on Tuesday as Islamic militants pressed their fight against New Delhi's rule over the Himalayan region, police said.

Two of the five attacks targeted the region's vital tourism industry and killed at least seven visitors from other parts of India.

The attacks came as violence surges in Kashmir despite peace efforts between India and Pakistan, which both claim all of the predominantly Muslim region that is divided between them.

The deadliest single attack Tuesday took place when suspected militants tossed a grenade into a minibus carrying Indian tourists through Srinagar, the summer capital of India's part of Kashmir, said police officer Farooq Ahmed.

Five of the tourists, including four women, were killed in the blast and two later succumbed to their wounds while being treated at a hospital, he said. Another 12 people were wounded.

Blood stained the streets at the scene of the attack, which took place around noon, and shards of shattered glass and the debris of small, colorful souvenirs shattered by the explosion were scattered throughout the area.

About an hour later, three more grenade attacks hit the city in quick succession.

One targeted police patrolling a crowded shopping area, wounding four passengers in a car nearby, Farooq said.

Another grenade hit a four-wheel drive taxi, killing one passenger and wounding six people, including bystanders, he said.

Tuesday's fourth blast took place in a small residential neighborhood and injured five people, including two Americans of Kashmiri descent who were visiting family in Srinagar, said police officer Javed Koul. The mother and daughter, both from the San Francisco area, were not seriously injured, he said.

The fifth attack took place later in the afternoon when an assailant threw a grenade at a pavilion where tourists find taxies and book hotel rooms, injuring six people, he said.

But unlike the other attacks, security forces managed to apprehend the alleged assailant before he could flee, Farooq said.

More than a dozen rebel groups have been fighting since 1989 to wrest Kashmir from India, a largely Hindu country. The conflict has killed more than 67,000 people.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday's violence, the militants often use grenades to attack crowds — insurgents killed five people Saturday, including a well-known local politician, when they threw a grenade into the courtyard of a Muslim shrine.

Militants also have on five previous occasions this year targeted tourists from other parts of India, a pattern that a top tourism official in India's Jammu-Kashmir state, Naeem Akhtar, called "a dangerous development."

Militant attacks are usually most frequent in the summer — when Kashmir's high mountain passes are clear of snow — and a drop in violence last year was hailed as a dividend of the India-Pakistan peace process.

But attacks are up more than 20 percent in the first five months of the year compared to same period in 2005, authorities say.

Attacks in recent days have also challenged a claim made by officials last week that the capture in June of two top militant leaders would quell the violence. The arrests of Manzoor Wani and Yasin Itoo, both of the Hezb-ul Mujahedeen group, had "solved" the spike in violence, Kashmir's Director General of Police Gopal Sharma told reporters on July 4.

Kashmir was divided between India and Pakistan in war after they gained independence from Britain in 1947, and they fought another full-scale conflict over the region in 1965.

But even as the two nuclear rivals have talked peace in the past two years, New Delhi has continued to accuse Pakistan of training, arming and funding the militants. Islamabad insists it only offers the rebels diplomatic and moral support.



Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.


Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060711/ap_on_re_as/kashmir_tourists_killed_1

[Casey]

Centre asks JK govt to verify al Qaeda claims
[ 14 Jul, 2006 1929hrs ISTPTI ]


NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to check the veracity of reports that international terror network al Qaeda's has set up its unit in the state.

The state police have been asked to do the voice test of the recorded phone message to a local news agency from a man who had identified himself as the head of the Indian network of al Qaeda, Home Ministry sources said.

Police have also taken into custody the owner of the STD booth from where the call was made and was interrogating him, they added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1753992.cms

[Casey]

MUMBAI, Monday, July 17, 2006

India Gate was sanitised again on Sunday after a hoax call saying a bomb had been planted

Delhi on the edge; hoax calls abound
Bomb scare at India Gate again, youth held for rumour-mongering

PTI

New Delhi: Police conducted a massive search at the India Gate here on Sunday after receiving an alert about a bomb planted at the monument while a youth was arrested for allegedly triggering hoax bomb scares.

The search at India Gate began at around 10 am, minutes after Delhi Police were informed about the possibility of explosives being planted at the war memorial by their Mumbai counterparts on the basis of a phone call received by them. At the time, a large number of Sunday revellers were present at the monument.

Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs were rushed to the spot as police evacuated the India Gate premises and cordoned off the area. Fire fighters and ambulances were kept on stand-by and traffic on the busy stretch was regulated during the search, which turned out to be futile.

"We have not found any explosives. But a strict vigil in the area will continue," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Anand Mohan said.

He said police in Mumbai and Delhi were working to trace the origin of the call and whereabouts of the caller who claimed there would be an explosion at the landmark at around noon.

Police had searched India Gate on Saturday too after they received a hoax call about a bomb being placed at the monument.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Shadaab was arrested in Delhi for allegedly making phone calls about explosives being planted at various places in the capital.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=4&articleid=71620062159609716200621454671#

[Casey]

SIMI saga: From fundamentalism to terrorism
HAIDAR Naqvi
Kanpur, July 16

NOW THAT the role of the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has come into focus after the Mumbai blasts, investigators are beginning to learn about its metamorphosis from a right-wing group to an organisation supporting terrorism.

Around two years ago, when nothing was going well for SIMI, it evolved a new strategy to survive. The think-tank allowed the Ansars to act independently and create terror modules. So as to remain in touch and shield their identities, around 400 Ansars were given specific numeric codes on the pattern of top terrorist organisations.

The instructions: Join all like-minded terror groups and assist to the best of capacity. The change, intelligence sources say suited the LeT looking for Indian boys to give itself more indigenous look.

“The Ansars are mainly using several groups with a fundamentalist approach to cover their tracks. SIMI leaders grilled have divulged some vital clues about these outfits,” said a source. As a result three major outfits, two of them well known and another, a youth wing, are under the scanner.

In the course of grilling, even jailed state SIMI chief Mohammad Aamir shed light on the new strategy of the outfit. Sources say after the ban was imposed in October 2001 for five years, SIMI’s network was in tatters for want of leadership. All top leaders were either underground or had been arrested and funding had dried up. The revival started in 2003 and leaders marshalled troops, who by then had infiltrated other Muslim outfits for cover.

First a defunct Tehreek-e-Shai’re Islam was revived to reactivate funding channels. Then the Ansars were split and asked to work independently. They were given codes and even correspondence was made mandatory in numeric codes.

“This really helped SIMI bounce back with deadly effect. The agencies always had a serious problem in identifying the Ansar cadre and the change made it near impossible,” said a source. On the other hand, terror groups like LeT absorbed these cadres who even fought for them in Kashmir operations and beyond. This fact sprung up after the recent arrest of ex-SIMI Ansar and LeT operative, Imran Ansari, in Sultanpur recently. Ansari was undergoing treatment for wounds he suffered in a gun battle with security forces in Kupawara.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/onlineCDA/PFVersion.jsp?article=http://10.81.141.122/news/5922_1745676,0015002500030000.htm

[keith]

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE CLAIMS OF AL-QAEDA IN KASHMIR

On July 11, explosives ripped through commuter trains in Mumbai, India, killing approximately 200 people. One day after the explosions, a man claiming to speak on behalf of al-Qaeda said that the organization had created a wing in Kashmir called al-Qaeda in Jammu and Kashmir. The man, who gave his name as Abu al-Hadeed, appealed to "Muslims in India to fight for freedom and Islam and choose jihad as their way to achieve freedom and establishing Islamic ways," according to various Indian media agencies. Al-Hadeed said that the leader of the new al-Qaeda wing was Abu Abdul Rehman al-Ansari. After investigating the claim, authorities announced on Monday that the call was "a hoax" and that there is "no concrete evidence that suggests al-Qaeda has set its base in Kashmir" (Express India, July 17). The largest indigenous militant group in Jammu and Kashmir, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, also called the claim a hoax, stating that the call was a "ploy of the Indian intelligence agencies" and argued that "al-Qaeda had never operated from Kashmir" (Express India, July 17). Meanwhile, the little-known group that declared responsibility for the Mumbai blasts—Lashkar-e-Qahhar—threatened to launch additional operations against India.

[NYer]

Group claiming Mumbai bombs issues new threat. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,,1823872,00.html)

The little known Islamist group Lashkar-e-Qahhar said it would provide audio and visual proof that it carried out the Mumbai train bombings, which killed 207 people. In an email to an Indian TV station yesterday, the group also warned that it was planning attacks against government sites in India.

Lashkar-e-Qahhar said 16 people took part in the attacks and one of them was killed. Indian police were trying to establish the credibility of the email. Investigators believe the group may be a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist group based in Pakistan that has fought Indian rule in Kashmir.

[NYer]

This seems an unwelcome development. (http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2006/07/big-brother-flexes-his-muscles-in.html)

The government of India is using 7/11 as an excuse to block all blogs specifically nationalist blogs. Note that you can still access all jihadi and communist web sites from India.

[sidthereal]

for some reason..I cant access the page. LOL!

[sidthereal]

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/19blogs.htm

The blocking of blogs hosted by sites such as Blogspot, Typepad and Yahoo! Geocities by Internet Service Providers is likely to be lifted within 48 hours.

At least that is what Amitabh Singhal, a spokesperson of the Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) told this correspondent on Wednesday.

[NYer]

The Jawa report is apparently still blocked. (http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/184007.php) Interestingly, LGF (http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=21689_India_Bans_Blogs_Critical_of_Islam&only) is not.

[Casey]

Al Qaeda is present in Kashmir: Govt
Rajesh Sinha
Friday, July 28, 2006 23:44 IST

A Home Ministry report also mentions two incidents this year establishing the Mumbai-J&K link.

NEW DELHI: In a recent report sent to the Maharashtra government, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given details of the nexus between terrorists operating in Mumbai and Kashmir and the presence of the Al Qaeda in Kashmir.

The report mentions two incidents this year establishing the Mumbai-J&K link. The first is the arrest of Imam Maulana Ghulam Yahya Ilahi from Haj House in January 2006, which led to arrests of four Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists with detonators and timers. The Imam was harbouring Kashmiri terrorists and was suspected of channelling hawala money to them.

On May 30, a man from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, identified as Hafiz Mohd Irfan alias Janbaz Hizbee was killed in encounter in Tral, Kashmir. The Pakistan connection is also reported, stating the patronage of ISI and a section of the army establishment to the terrorist groups based there. The aim of LeT, which has its headquarters in Muridke, Pakistan, is 'liberation' of Kashmir, disintegration of India through jehad and Islamisation of its people.

In May this year, Col Farooq, an ISI official, held a meeting with members of United Jehadi Council (UJC) led by Syed Salauddin in Haweli Lakha in Pakistan, directing them to boost jehad in Kashmir. LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chiefs were specially directed to despatch terrorist groups to different states of India and carry out attacks till India quit J&K.

The report also makes special mention of the likelihood of Al Qaeda's presence in J&K. It cites two specific instances when it was noticed. The first was an intercepted conversation between commanders of Hizbul Mujahidin Pir Panjal Regiment (HM PPR) in the first fortnight of June. The conversation revealed that a group of Al Qaeda terrorists along with a JeM commander was active in Kandi Budhai area of Rajouri.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1044303

[keith]

Grenade blast in Kashmir wounds 12 people


Suspected militants threw a grenade near a bus stand in Indian Kashmir on Wednesday, wounding over a dozen people, police said, the latest in a spate of similar attacks in recent weeks blamed on Islamist guerrillas.

The grenade was aimed at a federal police patrol but missed and exploded among people standing close to a crowded bus stand in Surankote town, 230 km (140 miles) north of Jammu, the winter capital of the restive Himalayan region.

Five of the wounded were in serious condition, a police officer said.

More than a dozen people have died in grenade attacks in the region in the past few weeks, including at least nine Indian tourists, and scores have been wounded.

On Monday, 10 people, including seven Hindu pilgrims, were wounded in Srinagar, Indian Kashmir's summer capital, when militants threw a grenade at a bus.

More than 45,000 people have been killed since the Muslim separatist revolt against Indian rule in Kashmir started in 1989.




Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060802/wl_nm/kashmir_explosion_dc_1

[Petronas]

INDIA: STATE POLICE ORDERED TO PROBE MUSLIMS WHO TRAVEL ABROAD
Aug-08-06 09:55

The government of the Indian state of Maharashtra has issued a directive to the state police to thoroughly investigate every Muslim who travels abroad. Senior executives in multinationals are being visited at their residences by police inspectors asking questions, demanding to see copies of their passports and insisting on letters from the executives' employers certifying the travel. The move comes after the 11 July serial train blasts in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, killed over 180 people. ...

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.328478656&par=

[Petronas]

Indian Muslims sue blasphemous book
2006/08/05

Police have seized and banned school textbooks carrying fake portraits of the noblest messenger of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and arrested the publisher in Uttar Pradesh state after religious authorities demanded the death penalty for him and the book's writer, an official said on Friday. According to the daily Times, copies of the fifth-grade Hindi book were seized from the Vivekananda school in Mahoba town, said Home Secretary RM Srivastava. The administration has banned and seized the book carrying the picture of Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

The publisher of the book has been arrested, Srivastava said. Education Minister Kiran Singh has ordered an inquiry into how the book was approved by a government panel that clears textbooks before circulation.

http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=218825&n=25

[Petronas]

India Fears Terrorism May Attract Its Muslims
August 9, 2006

The bomb attacks last month on seven Mumbai commuter trains did more than raise Indian hackles against Pakistan for failing to rein in terrorist groups operating on its soil. They also underscored a gathering threat for India: a small but increasingly deadly cadre of young and often educated Indian Muslims who are being drawn directly into terrorist operations.

The scale and coordination of the July 11 attacks, a senior Indian government official said, suggest that at least one terrorist cell, made up of fewer than a dozen local people and probably directed and financed by militants based in Pakistan, carried out the bombings, which killed 183 people.

In the past, the official said, Indian operatives have aided foreign militants in what he called a benign fashion, sometimes providing little more than shelter or food. “The change is that some of them really know what they are up to,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was in progress.

The emergence of more sophisticated homegrown terror cells carries grave repercussions not only for national security, but also for domestic politics, Hindu-Muslim relations and diplomacy with Pakistan. Perhaps most important, it touches on India’s idea of itself as the world’s largest secular democracy, capable of including a multitude of peoples and faiths.

“A small section of the Indian Muslim community has been radicalized,” said C. Raja Mohan, a columnist for the daily Indian Express and a member of the National Security Advisory Board. “That’s what makes it that much more challenging for the country as a whole to deal with.”

The police have arrested eight men from Mumbai, formerly Bombay, in connection with the attacks, though no specifics have been disclosed about their possible links to the bombings. Among them are a doctor of traditional Islamic medicine and a largely self-taught software worker who the police said had landed a job with the American database and software company Oracle. Six of those arrested are said by the Indian authorities to have trained at terrorist camps in Pakistan run by the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Several have been linked to a radical homegrown outfit, now banned, called the Students Islamic Movement of India.

For all the finger-pointing across the border, the attacks have forced India to confront a worrying disquiet among Muslims at home, who have overwhelmingly resisted calls to join in Islamic radicalism. “That is still true to a very, very large extent,” India’s national security adviser, M. K. Narayanan, maintained. “But what has happened is that a very, very manifest attempt to recruit Indian Muslims is now being done.” Those efforts, he said in an interview on CNN-IBN television, are increasingly directed at educated Indian Muslims and, more troubling, at elements within the military.

Senior Lashkar officials interviewed in Rawalpindi, Pakistani, said no more than 50 Indians attended military and religious training camps in Pakistan and the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir on average each year. But they confirmed that an active recruitment drive was under way in India.

It is impossible to pinpoint to what extent the still apparently small number of recruits are motivated by essentially Indian grievances — especially the pogroms in 2002 against Muslims in the state of Gujarat, which left 1,100 dead — or by the ideology of global political Islam. But increasingly, many here fear, the two are at risk of merging. In fact, Mr. Narayanan said, a reminder of anti-Muslim violence in India is a powerful recruitment tool. “Quite often,” he said, “the motivation is ‘You know what happened in Gujarat.’ ”

The Business Standard, an English-language daily, urged India in an editorial last week to start looking inward at what it called a “homegrown jihad,” suggesting that blaming Pakistan alone for attacks on Indian soil was no longer sufficient. “The national effort should make sure that even if Pakistan does its damnedest to plant evil seeds in this country, it must not find hospitable soil,” the editorial concluded.

Just how hospitable India, home to roughly 140 million Muslims, may be as a breeding ground for extremism remains a matter of debate. Some analysts in India maintain that were it not for the efforts of Pakistan-based militants, Indian Muslims would lack the resources to carry out large-scale terror attacks.

“The entire leadership that is creating violence in India is in Pakistan,” insisted Ajai Sahni, an intelligence analyst in New Delhi who runs a Web site called the South Asia Terrorism Portal. “If you extract Pakistan from the problem and the flow of funds, the subversive cadres, there would not be this problem in India.”

But visiting the Muslim neighborhoods of Mumbai in the aftermath of the July 11 bombings, what can plainly be felt is fear and resentment, fueled more than anything by police suspicion. In the last two weeks the police have combed these neighborhoods in search of clues and suspects. They have knocked on doors demanding that parents produce their sons for questioning, unleashing even more bitterness. “It has become now very difficult to live as a Muslim in this country,” Aslam Ansari, 58, grumbled in the hallway of a dilapidated largely Muslim apartment block in a central city neighborhood called Mominpura. “We have to bear. We cannot go anywhere.”

Among those arrested was one of Mr. Ansari’s neighbors, a doctor named Tanvir Ansari, 32, who according to the police traveled to Pakistan for arms and explosives training. The two are not related, and Aslam Ansari insists that his neighbor is innocent. Also taken into custody were two brothers from Mira Road, a largely Muslim northern suburb of Mumbai. Faisal Shaikh, 30, the elder brother, is described by investigators as a crucial Indian liaison to Lashkar-e-Taiba. It was his younger brother, Muzamil, 23, who was hired by Oracle in Bangalore. The police say he followed his brother into the arms of Lashkar, and to Pakistan, via Iran, for training.

Sleeper cells connected to Pakistani-based organizations came on the Indian intelligence radar at least 10 years ago. Since then, bombings, arrests and weapons seizures have offered tiny peepholes into their suspected scope and strength. In 2003, a Mumbai couple with suspected links to Jaish-e-Muhammad, a banned Pakistani-based group, was charged in connection with a pair of powerful car bomb attacks, including one in front of the iconic Gateway of India monument in Mumbai that killed more than 50 people. The police said at the time that the couple was accused of planting the bombs in the trunks of two taxis as part of a local outfit calling itself the Gujarat Revenge Force.

Last year, the Delhi police arrested a mechanical engineer on charges of conspiring to attack military and financial centers on behalf of Lashkar. And in May a large haul of guns and military explosives exposed what the police called a sleeper cell of roughly a dozen people operating out of Aurangabad, a provincial town about 200 miles northeast of here.

As in the past, the arrests in the last three weeks have largely homed in on the Students Islamic Movement of India. The police say several of those arrested in connection with the July 11 blasts were once members. Its leaders deny any involvement with the attacks. “Some such modules have been unearthed here,” said Mumbai’s commissioner of police, A. N. Roy. He said former members of the organization “form a fertile ground for providing local foot soldiers.” Founded 30 years ago to promote Islamic teaching among Indian youth, the group began to espouse armed resistance more than a decade ago after a band of Hindu radicals tore down the 400-year-old Babri Mosque in the north Indian city of Ayodhya in 1992, unleashing an orgy of Hindu-Muslim riots across the country.

The lingering tensions in this city are deeply worrying. Since the July attacks even career-minded young Indian Muslims complain that they are under constant glare. The ones who sport beards and skullcaps worry about how many times they will be frisked at the train station. Those who live in Muslim enclaves see the police knocking on doors. One young man recalled a banner that went up in his neighborhood, exhorting enemies of India to leave the country. “Our identity is the main problem,” said Abdul Hannan Khan, 21, a college student who plans a career in advertising.

It is the same routine after every act of terror, said Sheik Abdul Qayyum, 20, recalling the Gujarat riots, which broke out after fire engulfed a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing 59. Whether the fire was deliberate or accidental is still disputed, and embroiled in political feuds. In Mr. Qayyum’s mind there is no disputing the lesson of Gujarat, where he lived at the time. He says the violence there was the most important event in his life. “I learned that as minority Muslims we are unprotected,” he said, and then quickly added, “According to the current situation, Muslims in the whole world are not protected.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/09/world/asia/09india.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[NYer]

US Embassy warns of possible terror attacks. (http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9664678/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=nationalnews)

The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi warned Friday that foreign militants, possibly al-Qaida members, may be planning to carry out bombings in India's two major cities in the coming days.

In an e-mail sent to American citizens living in India, the embassy said New Delhi, the capital, and Bombay, the country's financial and entertainment hub, were the likely targets, and the attacks were believed to be planned for either before or on India's Independence Day, Aug. 15.

The embassy confirmed that it had sent the e-mail, although Indian officials refused to comment on the warning.

[candypreet]

WASHINGTON: The US alert on the possibility of terror strikes in India, possibly including by al-Qaida members in the run-up to its Independence Day on August 15, was a general warning rather than one based on 'definitive information'.

The 'Warden Message' of warning put out by the US embassy in New Delhi spoke in "somewhat more hypothetical terms in saying 'possibly including' members of al-Qaeda.

So it's not definitive information that is there and we certainly weren't trying to convey that," State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey told reporters on Friday.

But the US is certainly concerned in general about activities not only of indigenous terrorist groups but of the possibility of those linked, or in any way associated, with al-Qaeda, any time there are such possibilities, he added.

"Certainly, again we had information that came to our attention and it came to the attention of the Indian Government that led us to be concerned about this possibility occurring again and that's why we were alerting Americans to it," Casey said.

US missions abroad put out a 'Warden Message' to the American community whenever they have any kind of information about a potential threat, whether that's a terrorist action or of other kinds of violence or potential concerns to American citizens, he noted

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1887922.cms

[Petronas]

Fears of a missile attack on BARC in Mumbai
August 12, 2006

It's a terror alert that's sent the defence of the realm on to a war footing: the intelligence agencies believe missiles have been smuggled into Mumbai to attack the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

After the Thursday warning to the Mumbai police, the Army, Navy and Coast Guard were pressed into action to virtually seal BARC from both land and sea. A combing operation of the BARC campus and scrapyards in Trombay, northeast Mumbai, for hidden explosives took place on Saturday.

Only research is conducted at BARC, where the country's top nuclear brains are at work. It has four reactors — Apsara, Cyrus, Zarlina and Dhruv. “Though three are ageing, they are safe and there is no internal or external threat to them,” said a Maharashtra home department official. “But we won’t take any chances.”

Home ministry officials said the "specific threat" to BARC differed from the heightened security arrangements made for the nuclear plants at Kalpakkam and Kaiga, as well as other vital installations in the wake of the Independence Day terror alert.

The Centre, Maharashtra chief secretary DK Sankaran and state DGP PS Pasricha were reviewing BARC security on a daily basis. "A joint meeting of the Mumbai police, the Army and Navy was held for a foolproof security cover for BARC," said a top official. "All precautions are being taken to protect the structure," Sankaran said. "We are coordinating with the agencies concerned," Pasricha said.

As BARC is close to Mumbai's eastern waterfront, the threat from sea is higher, intelligence officials said. So high-speed Coast Guard ships and choppers have been deployed for patrolling and air cover, respectively. They've been specifically tasked to neutralize any missile attack, sources said. High-intensity cameras have also been installed along the coast.

The Territorial Army has been rushed to BARC as part of a five-layer security cordon with the police, the NSG and the CISF. "The entire plant has been declared a sterile zone and sealed," a top official said. Security has also been tightened at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station in neighbouring Thane.

Sources claimed three non-BARC persons managed to enter the high-security compound last week. As a result, a combing operation to flush out all outsiders was in progress.

The anti-terrorist squad (ATS) and the crime branch are trying to trace the missiles. Areas adjoining Mumbai are also under their scanner. Intelligence officials said the missiles could be shoulder-mounted rocket launchers (with an eight-km range), as is used by the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in the Kashmir Valley.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1767708,001302420000.htm

[candypreet]

Killers of security
personnel arrested

Srinagar, August 30
The Jammu and Kashmir police today claimed to have unearthed an Al-Badr module responsible for killing security and police personnel by arresting three militants of the outfit.

Addressing a news conference here, Director-General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma said there had been killings of security and police personnel recently.

Several personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Jammu and Kashmir police were targeted by the militants in a coordinated manner, he added.

“We lost two CRPF, as many BSF personnel and three policemen, while two others survived the attack and are still in the hospital,” Mr Sharma said.

The DGP said the police conducted intensive investigations into the matter. “We are happy to announce that an Al-Badr module responsible for four such killings had been unearthed and arrested three militants of the outfit,” he added.

Mr Sharma said Bashir Ahmad Teli, Showkat Ahmad Teli and Feroz Ahmad Najar carried out the killings of one sub-inspector, one head constable and two constables.

“Besides confessing to the killing of the security and police personnel, the ultras also revealed the names of their accomplices out of whom five have been apprehended so far,” he added. — UNI
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060831/j&k.htm

[candypreet]

Heroin worth Rs one crore seized in J&K

Press Trust of India

Jammu, August 31, 2006
One kilogram of heroin worth around Rs one crore in the international market was recovered in Akhnoor tehsil of the district, police said on Thursday.
On specific information about two persons carrying heroin in Jurian area, police approached them in plainclothes on Wednesday, they said adding that the two managed to escape leaving behind the contraband. A hunt has been launched to nab them, they said.

In another incident, police seized a fruit-laden truck, which was on its way from Srinagar to Jammu at Tringla on Wednesday night after a search on it, yielded 11 quintals and 50 kg poppy.

The driver has been taken into custody, they said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

[candypreet]

SRINAGAR: Four militants, including a top Pakistani commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, and an Army jawan were among six persons killed in separate militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since Wednesday night, official sources said on Thursday.

Bilal Ahmed, the top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, who hails from Pakistan, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Gagangir, 80 kms from here on Srinagar-Kargil road on Thursday morning, the sources said.

They said two militants and an Army jawan were killed in another encounter that broke out at Bonibagh village in Kangan, 40 kms from Srinagar on the same road on Wednesday night.

Two AK rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the slain militants whose identity is being ascertained, the sources said.

In another gun battle, an unidentified militant was shot dead by security forces in Kund village of Qazigund, 80 kms from Srinagar in Anantnang district, the sources said.

Militants on Wednesday night barged into the house of one Hasina Akhtar in Dangiwacha area of Baramullah district and shot her dead, police said adding that the incident was being investigated.

Meanwhile, security forces averted a major tragedy on Thursday as they detected an improvised explosive device on Bijbehara area along Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

The explosive was detected by a foot patrol party of security forces and later defused by the bomb disposal squad of police. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1943791.cms

[candypreet]

Blasts Kill 22 People in Maharashtra in Western India (Update1)

By Archana Chaudhary and Gautam Chakravorthy

Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- At least 22 people were killed in two explosions outside a burial ground in Malegaon, a town in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, said P.S. Pasricha, the state's director general of police.

``We have tightened security and declared a high alert across the state,'' he said in a phone interview in Mumbai today, without giving more details or elaborating on the cause of the blasts in India's most industrialized state.

Maharashtra, home to the headquarters of companies such as Reliance Industries Ltd. and Bajaj Auto Ltd., has been on a security alert since suffering its worst terror attack in 13 years on July 11. Bomb explosions in the suburban trains of the country's financial hub of Mumbai, Maharashtra's capital, killed at least 182 people and injured more than 800.

Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil strongly condemned the blasts in Malegaon, which he described as an attempt to disturb peace and communal harmony, the government said in a statement. Patil expressed the government's resolve to firmly deal with those involved and appealed to people to maintain peace and communal harmony.

The blasts took place between 1:45 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. local time, the Nasik police control room said.

Security agencies have remained on the watch for any possible terrorist incidents during the Aug. 15 Independence Day period and the Hindu religious festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, which ended yesterday.

The police, who have made several arrests in the train blasts case, say Muslim groups such as Students Islamic Movement of India and Lashkar-e-Toiba may have been involved.

Local Festival

Today's explosions in Malegaon came as Muslims in the town prepared to celebrate a local festival, the NDTV 24x7 television channel reported. A curfew was imposed at Malegaon to keep the situation under control, Pasricha said. Police fired in the air to disperse crowds seeking to attack police stations, he said.

The blasts come two weeks before Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting, begins. Both Id, which marks the end of the fasting month, and the Hindu festival of Diwali, will be observed at the end of October. Bomb blasts shook the capital New Delhi last year in the days leading up to both festivals.

A verdict in the Mumbai 1993 bomb blasts case is expected to be announced on Sept. 12. In March 1993, 13 blasts, including one in the basement of the Bombay Stock Exchange building, killed more than 250 people. Police blamed the attack on members of the Mumbai underworld and the alleged ringleader, Dawood Ibrahim. India has asked neighboring Pakistan to hand over Ibrahim. Pakistan has denied he's in the country.

India has said Pakistan hasn't done enough to curb cross- border terrorism. The two countries, which have fought three wars, control parts of Kashmir and claim the Himalayan territory in full.

To contact the reporter on this story: Archana Chaudhary in Mumbai at achaudhary2@bloomberg.net .

Last Updated: September 8, 2006 08:28 EDT

[Petronas]

Blasts in India kill at least 31
Sep 8, 2006

At least 31 people, mostly worshippers at weekly Islamic prayers, were killed and up to 75 injured in a series of explosions in a Muslim-majority town in western India on Friday, police said. The blasts came days after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that intelligence agencies had warned of more terrorist attacks across the country, possibly on economic and religious targets as well as on nuclear installations.

The blasts hit Malegaon town in the western state of Maharashtra as thousands of Muslims gathered at a burial ground for special Friday prayers, police said. There were two explosions at the burial ground and a third in a town square around 1:50 p.m. (0820 GMT), according to reports from the town, 260 km (160 miles) northeast of Mumbai, India's financial hub.

Television showed pandemonium on the packed streets of Malegaon minutes after the blast. Hundreds of people in white skull caps ran in panic, leaping over bodies prostrate on the ground. Other carried or dragged away the wounded. Many of the wounded were taken away on handcarts. A fire engine was shown inching its way toward the blast site as hundreds of people ran in the opposite direction.

Maharashtra's police chief P.S. Pasricha said 31 people were killed and 75 injured. The mayor of the town, however, put the death toll at 35.

Police said thousands of worshippers had gathered at the burial ground for Friday prayers.

Friday marked "Shab-e-Barat" or the "night of forgiveness or atonement," when Muslims pray for the dead. They also believe that prayers on the day, which comes just before the holy month of Ramadan, absolve them of sins.

"I've seen seven dead bodies being carried inside the hospital," Malegaon resident Suresh Nikam told NDTV from outside a local hospital. "People have shut their shops and are going back home. People were disturbed when the incident took place but now they are coming out to help each other. People have also reached the hospital to donate blood," he said.

Police said Malegaon, which has a history of religious violence, was tense as groups of people had gathered around the town and were shouting slogans against authorities. A curfew had been imposed to prevent trouble in the town, a local textile manufacturing center. Nearly three-fourths of Malegaon's 700,000 people belong to India's minority Muslim community.

A Home Ministry official in New Delhi said federal forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF) used for riot control, were being rushed to Malegaon. Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the blasts were an attempt to disturb peace and communal harmony and appealed to people to stay calm.

India has been on a heightened security alert after a series of bombs on commuter trains in Mumbai killed 186 people in July. The attack was blamed on Islamist militant groups with links across the border in Pakistan. Additional police were also being deployed across Mumbai and the capital New Delhi to prevent any trouble, police said.

Malegaon has suffered religious violence in the past. In May, police recovered a cache of explosives and automatic rifles from the town based on information they said was provided by arrested Islamist militants.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2410186

[candypreet]

Blasts in India kill at least 31
Sep 8, 2006

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2410186

the figure has gone upto 38 dead, 150 injured, many many children amongst them

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): On 13 September 2006, Indian security forces removed a live bomb from a madrassa in Malegaon, the city where several bombing incidents targeting Muslims occurred less than a week ago. Police forces evacuated the building and the immediate area where the Hamadiya Madrassa was located and removed the bomb, which was concealed in a red box. On 8 September, 32 people were killed in a series of four explosions outside of a mosque in Malegaon, raising tensions within the city. Police officials are investigating whether the explosives used in this most recent attempted bombing are similar to the explosives used in the previous bombings.

http://www.airsecurity.com/hotspots/HotSpots.asp

[Petronas]

TRANSNATIONAL THREATS UPDATE
Volume 4 • Number 7 • July 2006

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba Quickly Becoming Pre-eminent Terrorist Group

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), a South Asian Islamist ter-rorist group based in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), has become more centralized and has demonstrated efficiency by contracting out attacks to unskilled operatives that are not members of the organization. The attackers are usually hired by LeT personnel to throw hand grenades and are paid $22 per grenade, if they survive. This allows the skilled demolition experts to remain safe within their J&K hideouts, perpetuating the organization while also accomplishing its goals of violence.

Most LeT attacks are directed against Hindu Indian targets, with a propensity to focus on Indian troops in Kashmir. The group is also known to have sent fighters to Bosnia in the 1990s. The Indian government suspects LeT in the December 13, 2001, attack against the Indian parliament, which killed 6 Indian security personnel and 6 militants, leaving 25 wounded. Included in the attack was a Lashkar sui-cide bomber. As a result of the attacks, the group has been banned in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States since 2002 as a terrorist organization.

Also, the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which has been banned since 2001, is known to still exist. Even under the Indian government ban, high-level meetings of the group occur, as does the recruiting and indoctrination of college-age Indian Muslims. The group is said to be the radical student arm of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and its members are sus-pected in several terrorist attacks in India and for training and supplying new LeT members. It is a commonly held belief in the Indian government that both groups are connected either directly or indirectly to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Although both LeT and SIMI have been suspected of the July 11, 2006, train bombings in Mumbai, the LeT has decried the attacks saying, “These dastardly acts were perpetrated by the enemies of humanity.” SIMI has also denied any responsibility, yet the first three people arrested in the case were all SIMI members.

http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/tnt_0607.pdf

[candypreet]

TRANSNATIONAL THREATS UPDATE
Volume 4 • Number 7 • July 2006

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba Quickly Becoming Pre-eminent Terrorist Group

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), a South Asian Islamist ter-rorist group based in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), has become more centralized and has demonstrated efficiency by contracting out attacks to unskilled operatives that are not members of the organization. The attackers are usually hired by LeT personnel to throw hand grenades and are paid $22 per grenade, if they survive. This allows the skilled demolition experts to remain safe within their J&K hideouts, perpetuating the organization while also accomplishing its goals of violence.

Most LeT attacks are directed against Hindu Indian targets, with a propensity to focus on Indian troops in Kashmir. The group is also known to have sent fighters to Bosnia in the 1990s. The Indian government suspects LeT in the December 13, 2001, attack against the Indian parliament, which killed 6 Indian security personnel and 6 militants, leaving 25 wounded. Included in the attack was a Lashkar sui-cide bomber. As a result of the attacks, the group has been banned in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States since 2002 as a terrorist organization.

Also, the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which has been banned since 2001, is known to still exist. Even under the Indian government ban, high-level meetings of the group occur, as does the recruiting and indoctrination of college-age Indian Muslims. The group is said to be the radical student arm of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and its members are sus-pected in several terrorist attacks in India and for training and supplying new LeT members. It is a commonly held belief in the Indian government that both groups are connected either directly or indirectly to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Although both LeT and SIMI have been suspected of the July 11, 2006, train bombings in Mumbai, the LeT has decried the attacks saying, “These dastardly acts were perpetrated by the enemies of humanity.” SIMI has also denied any responsibility, yet the first three people arrested in the case were all SIMI members.

http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/tnt_0607.pdf

good post:happy_01: :happy_01:

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): Indian law enforcement officials claimed on 16 October 2006 that they had arrested two suspected Muslim militants allegedly plotting to attack New Delhi, the capital, during Diwali, a large Hindu festival that will take place during the 21-22 October weekend. The arrests were made after 3.3 lb/1.5 kg of RDX explosives were found in the men's possession as they arrived in New Delhi from Jammu in Indian Kashmir via train. Reports indicate that the suspects are Bangladeshi nationals who had entered India through the Bangladeshi border. Officials have stated that the suspects are connected to Lashkar, a separatist group in Indian Kashmir.

http://www.asigroup.com/HOTSPOTS.asp

[Petronas]

Mysore: Two Pakistan militants nabbed
28 October 2006

The militants who are suspected to be the key functionaries of Al-Badr, a Pakistan-based militant outfit, were on a ‘specific mission’ to create terror in Karnataka, especially in Bangalore. In a significant breakthrough against terrorism, a special team of Mysore City Police nabbed two Pakistani extremists after a shoot-out on the Outer Ring Road in Vijayanagar Police Station limits at around 12:10 am here on Friday. The militants who are suspected to be the key functionaries of Al-Badr, a Pakistan-based militant outfit, were on a ‘specific mission’ to create terror in Karnataka, especially in Bangalore.

The militants have been identified as 24-year-old Fahaad (Pakistani identity) alias Nedu Thanni alias Mohammada Koya (Indian identity) and 22-year-old Mohammad Ali (Pakistan identity) alias Hussain alias Jehangir alias Asif Khan (Indian identity).

Acting on a definite information, the 12-member team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police K T Balakrishna intercepted the unsuspecting militant duo who were riding a moped at 12 am at the ring road. Sensing trouble, the militants opened fire at the police party from an AK-47 rifle. The DCP countered firing two rounds from his revolver before the police team overpowered the duo in a 10-minute-long gun-fire. A police constable was injured on his forehead when a militant assaulted him with his rifle. The militants also suffered minor bruises during a scuffle with the police. The window panes of a police jeep were damaged in the crossfire.

According to the police, Fahaad, a native of Karachi, is a post-graduate in Analytical Chemistry while Mohammad Ali is 9th standard pass from Manshera in Pakistan. Two mobile phones, and a hi-tech satellite-based telephone (duo were speaking directly to militants in Pakistan via satellite) had been seized from them.

Mysore Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said Fahaad is an expert in chemicals that are used for preparing explosives. Though he entered India on a valid Pakistani passport after securing Indian visa, he was overstaying, making Mysore as his base for carrying out militant activities, he told a press conference at 6 am, after preliminary interrogation of the militants. Mr Sood said Mohammad Ali had infiltrated to India through Lepa valley four years ago. “Ali is a militant recruited by Pakistan,” he disclosed.

The operation is described as the first ever operation against Pakistan ultras in South India. The operation saw expected results as it was meticulously planned and executed under Mr Praveen Sood after months-long surveillance and investigation.

The operation has unearthed the plans of the terrorist outfit to create terror in Karnataka. According to Mr Sood, the militants had been specifically tasked to survey Vikasa Soudha, the seat of power, adjacent to Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore and the Mysore-based Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) which is frequented by language experts from foreign countries.

The police commissioner said the militants had taken refuge in Mysore with the purpose of surveying the above said targets. Based on preliminary investigation, it is learnt that the task of surveying Vikasa Soudha was given to ‘some persons’ which was eventually done, and the details had been sent to the Al-Badr headquarters in Pakistan, he disclosed.

The militants were in the process of surveying the CIIL when they were nabbed. Incidentally, top language experts, including those from abroad, are camping at the premier institute since last couple days for a seminar which is concluding on Friday. Mr Sood said Fahaad was operating from Mysore since last eight months while Ali came here four months ago. They were running a fancy stores at Rajivnagar, a locality on the city outskrits.

Sood said the police team searched the house of the militants at Rajivnagar second stage and seized chemicals, detonators, and electronic and mechanical devices used for bombs. It also seized a laptop which has information about the militant activities and financial transactions carried between the militants and their leaders in Pakistan. The CDs on the methods of preparing bombs, a letter head of Al-Badr, and a desk-top computer were also recovered from the house.

“We have completed the operation against Pakistan ultras and are launched investigation based on the information extracted from the militants. We are investigating whether they have accomplices here and local support for carrying out their activities. The phone calls made from their mobiles are being traced out. The data is ready with us. We may get further details in the next couple of days after cross-checking the information,” the police commissioner said.

The police commissioner categorically ruled out that the militants were targetting Infosys campus in Mysore as rumoured after their arrest. “They had no such plans. Their task was to survey Vikasa Soudha and CIIL,” he replied. Meanwhile, the two militants are likely to produced before a city court on Friday evening.

http://www.bellevision.com/newshead.asp?nhid=3743

[Petronas]

Indian police foil militant bid to blow up state assembly
Fri Oct 27, 8:18 AM ET

Indian police said they foiled a plot by suspected Pakistani Islamic militants to blow up the state legislature in the high-tech southern city of Bangalore. Two militants carrying sketches of the legislature were arrested after a gunfight with police in Mysore, southwest of Bangalore, late on Thursday, a police chief said. "They were planning to carry out this devastating strike. The satellite phone numbers had calls tracing back to Kashmir and Pakistan," said B.S. Sial, police director general of Karnataka state of which Bangalore is the capital. "We've averted a major disaster," he told reporters.

The 300-room legislature, containing nearly two dozen government departments, is in the center of Bangalore, home to more than 1,500 domestic and foreign companies including Cisco, Dell, IBM and Microsoft that accounts for 35 percent of India's software exports. "A satellite phone, a laptop and an AK-47 rifle were (also) seized" from the suspects, Sial said. "Documents seized reveal they are from Pakistan." Mysore police commissioner Pravin Sood said police believed the Al-Badr guerrilla group, fighting Indian rule in Muslim-majority Kashmir, was behind the plan.

The discovery of the alleged plot followed agreement by the nuclear-armed neighbours last week to resume peace talks in mid-November to resolve their dispute over Kashmir and other outstanding issues. India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two over Kashmir that each hold in part but claim in full. The peace talks were put on hold after commuter train blasts in India's financial capital Mumbai in July that killed 186 people.

New Delhi blamed the explosions on Pakistan's elite spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, a charge Islamabad denied. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said progress in the peace talks hinges on Pakistan cracking down on terrorist activities aimed at India.

The alleged plot to attack the Karnataka legislature came 10 months after gunmen attacked Bangalore's Indian Institute of Science, killing one scientist. India blamed that attack on the pro-Pakistan Lashar-e-Taiba guerrilla group which is battling Indian rule in disputed Kashmir. In 2001, Islamic militants whom New Delhi charged were backed by Pakistan staged a suicide attack on India's parliament that nearly brought the two nations to war. Pakistan denied involvement.

Two policemen were injured in the gunfight following the capture of the suspects, Mohammed Ali Hussian and Mohammed Fahad, Mysore commissioner Sood told AFP. The militants, who were travelling on a motorcycle when they were caught, were part of a team sent to survey how to blow up the legislature, Sood said. "The evidence is conclusive," he said adding that police were "on the lookout for more militants in Mysore."

New Delhi often accuses rival Pakistan of responsibility for guerrilla attacks in Indian Kashmir where Indian soldiers are fighting Islamic separatist rebels, as well as for militant assaults elsewhere in India. Islamabad denies the charges.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061027/wl_asia_afp/indiacrimeattackpakistan

[keith]

Indian army turns on itself

Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent
November 06, 2006

THE 1.1-million strong Indian army's capacity to cope with the war on terror - particularly its fierce battle against the jihadi insurgents in disputed Kashmir - was dramatically brought into focus yesterday with reports that in yet another act of fratricide, a captain and junior commissioned officer were gunned down by a sergeant who then turned his service weapon on himself.
The latest incident of fragging - a term that comes from the Vietnam war, when disaffected US soldiers rolled fragmentation grenades into the tents of officers they did not like - brings to almost 20 the number of Indian soldiers killed in this way in little more than a fortnight.

Dozens are reported to have died in similar incidents over the past few months.

Indian army commanders are embarrassed and concerned about the spate of fragging. The army chief, General J.J.Singh, on a visit to Kashmir - where Indian forces are under attack by al-Qa'ida-linked terrorists based in Pakistan - has ordered an urgent investigation.

The army's top brass is reportedly worried that the incidents of fratricidal killing that are now occurring with such alarming regularity are seriously damaging the image of what has long been regarded as one of the world's proudest and most powerful armies.

India's army is the second-largest standing force in the world, after China's.

Adding to discomfort of the the volunteer and highly accomplished army over the reports of fragging in its ranks are two other major concerns: a high rate of suicides, again especially among soldiers deployed in Kashmir, and indications that the military is having difficulty attracting recruits.

As well, there have been instances of spying involving Indian soldiers selling secrets about troops deployments in Kashmir to Pakistani agents, including an Indian driver employed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

According to General Singh, at least 100 soldiers a year are taking their own lives, and it is those fighting the Islamic insurgents in Kashmir who are doing so more than those based anywhere else.

More than 45,000 people including civilians, soldiers and jihadi militants have been killed since fighting started in Kashmir in 1989, according to official figures. The region's political separatists claim the toll to be at least twice as high.

On the recruitment front, with India's economy booming and jobs opening up in the country's computer and call centre industries, as well as in banking and industry, the army is believed to be short of at least 11,000 officers, while the navy is short of 5000 and the air force 500.

All three branches of the armed forces have now embarked on a major recruitment drive that involves a widespread television and billboard advertising campaign.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20706991-2703,00.html

[NYer]

India Airports on high alert (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228897,00.html) after hijack threat.

CNN-IBN television station reported that a U.S. Internet center received an e-mail saying there were plans to hijack a U.S. or Europe-bound flight from India. The center handed the e-mail to the FBI which informed Indian intelligence, the report said.

[Petronas]

Explosion on passenger train in eastern India kills 5
Nov. 20, 2006, 9:05AM

An explosion ripped through two cars of a passenger train in eastern India today, killing five people and injuring at least 50, police said. The explosion occurred near the Belacoba train station, about 345 miles north of Calcutta, said Inspector General of Police Raj Kanojia. The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/4348195.html

[Petronas]

LeT raises women jehadis in its terror network
20 Nov, 2006 0025hrs

The presence of women of Kashmiri origin in the ranks of Lashkare-Taiba has set alarm bells ringing. Many of them, in fact, travelled to Pakistan on valid visas along with male accomplices and returned to the Valley after arms training.

The women in the LeT ranks came to light after the recent arrest of a 20-yearold woman Khalida Akhtar in Srinagar. Her interrogation revealed that LeT has been raising a band of women terrorists of Kashmiri origin and providing them ideological and arms training in camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Khalida’s interrogation also revealed that these women were also being used to trap Army officers and jawans [infantrymen, or privates] to monitor troop movement and operations so that LeT gains vantage positions during encounters. Khalida herself was arrested when she had come to meet an Army officer at Iqbal Park in Srinagar a month-and-ahalf ago.

Resident of a small village in Baramullah district, 20-year-old Khalida was accorded VIP treatment all through her stay in the PoK camp. Khalida’s passport and visa was arranged in April 2006 by LeT terrorist Jamal Khan, a resident of Kupwara, and the two had flown together to Pakistan from Delhi. She underwent training in PoK in April-May this year.

Khalida is seen here by the security agencies as a significant catch given her sound ideological bent of mind and conviction which gained her the confidence of the leadership of her outfit in Pakistan and the authorities there.

Sources said Khalida was acquainted with the Army officer and had been meeting him for some time. She had actually plotted his killing by LeT’s area commanders in Srinagar — Anas Bhai alias Zahir Mansoor and Rizwan — the day she called the Army officer at Iqbal Park. But since the security forces were keeping a tab on the movements of the officer and Khalida, they managed to arrest her before the terrorists could strike, sources said. Khalida’s associates, however, escaped.

Though the presence of women jehadis in the Valley has never been discounted, this is the first time that a woman terrorist who has undergone arms training in PoK, has been arrested. In November 2005, a 22-year-old woman had blown herself up at Awantipora. The Jaish-e-Mohammad had claimed that the woman, Yaasmeena, was their fidayeen.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/LeT_raises_women_jehadis_in_its_terror_network/articleshow/481998.cms

[keith]

New al-Qaeda Threats Issued Against Indian Infrastructure

By Animesh Roul

Reports of suspected al-Qaeda terrorists infiltrating southern India to perpetrate major attacks on airports in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in early November propelled India's security and intelligence establishments into a state of high alert. Security was further stepped up at airports across India following a possible hijack alert issued by the FBI on November 11. The FBI told Indian intelligence agencies about an intercepted e-mail that detailed plans to hijack a plane flying to the United States or to Europe from India. As a result, flights out of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore have been put under extra security checks for an indefinite period of time (Times of India, November 12).

Separately, a written letter received by the Trichy airport authority prior to the FBI alert indicates that 10 members of al-Qaeda's suicide squad are planning to bomb the Chennai airport. The anonymous letter also added that operatives have penetrated airports in Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore and Kerala. According to the letter, which was written in the Tamil language, the operatives are plotting to break the security cordon at the airports and carry out attacks using sophisticated explosive devices such as suicide car bombs (Business Standard, November 10). The most intriguing aspect of the letter, however, was that it threatened that the purported attack would be similar to the one launched against an airport in Thailand, although it is not known to which attack the letter referred. Also, it is not clear why the letter was written in the Tamil language if it indeed was produced by al-Qaeda operatives. This could mean either that the group is actually composed of Tamil separatists or that al-Qaeda is trying to convey that it has local operatives in South Asia.

It is not surprising that Islamist terrorists are trying to Indianize their agenda and are not restricting themselves to attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Until now, al-Qaeda's presence in India has been shrouded in mystery. Certainly, its influence is evident in such outfits as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad and al-Badr. Dhiren Barot, a Hindu immigrant to the United Kingdom who converted to Islam and followed al-Qaeda's footprints, is the best example of al-Qaeda's influence in India. Mohammed Fahad, one of two suspected al-Badr militants arrested in Mysore city, recently revealed his intention to undergo training to fly jetliners at a Bangalore flight school. One could imagine the situation if a domestic militant learns these formulated al-Qaeda tactics. India, however, has always been on the radar screen of al-Qaeda because it is a Hindu state and is criticized for its involvement in Kashmir. Immediately after the Mumbai train blasts, a self-proclaimed al-Qaeda militant, Abu al-Hadeed, said over a telephone call to a Srinagar-based news agency that al-Qaeda had created a wing in Kashmir and that "Abu Abdur Rehman Ansari" is the chief commander in the state. In his call, al-Hadeed appealed to all Muslims in India to fight for freedom and for Islam (The Tribune, July 15). Although the intelligence agencies have reportedly found the claim to be false, they could not confirm whether al-Qaeda was offering moral or material support to Kashmiri militants.

A recent disclosure by the Indian security forces revealed that al-Qaeda affiliated militant groups are devising novel, radical and spectacular plots against India's critical infrastructure. The synchronized July 11 Mumbai train bombings carry the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda-style operation. Again, in late August, reports of two armed militants breaching security at the Kakarapar nuclear power complex in Gujarat prompted India's nuclear facilities to be placed under heightened security measures (Terrorism Focus, September 12). While the threat of al-Qaeda's presence in India looms large with every passing day, India's security agencies are grappling with the new dangers posed by local Islamist terrorists emboldened by al-Qaeda's tactics and ideology.

http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370212

[Petronas]

New al-Qaeda Threats Issued Against Indian
Infrastructure
TerrorismFocus Volume III  Issue 45  November 21, 2006

Reports of suspected al-Qaeda terrorists infiltrating
southern India to perpetrate major attacks on airports
in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in early November propelled
India's security and intelligence establishments into a
state of high alert. Security was further stepped up at
airports across India following a possible hijack alert
issued by the FBI on November 11. The FBI told Indian
intelligence agencies about an intercepted e-mail that
detailed plans to hijack a plane flying to the United States
or to Europe from India. As a result, flights out of New
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore have
been put under extra security checks for an indefinite
period of time (Times of India, November 12).
Separately, a written letter received by the Trichy airport
authority prior to the FBI alert indicates that 10 members
of al-Qaeda's suicide squad are planning to bomb the
Chennai airport. The anonymous letter also added that
operatives have penetrated airports in Chennai, Trichy,
Madurai, Coimbatore and Kerala. According to the letter,
which was written in the Tamil language, the operatives
are plotting to break the security cordon at the airports
and carry out attacks using sophisticated explosive
devices such as suicide car bombs (Business Standard,
November 10). The most intriguing aspect of the letter,
however, was that it threatened that the purported attack
would be similar to the one launched against an airport
in Thailand, although it is not known to which attack the
letter referred. Also, it is not clear why the letter was
written in the Tamil language if it indeed was produced
by al-Qaeda operatives. This could mean either that the
group is actually composed of Tamil separatists or that
al-Qaeda is trying to convey that it has local operatives in
South Asia.
It is not surprising that Islamist terrorists are trying to
Indianize their agenda and are not restricting themselves
to attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Until now, al-Qaeda's
presence in India has been shrouded in mystery. Certainly,
its influence is evident in such outfits as Lashkar-e-
Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad and al-
Badr. Dhiren Barot, a Hindu immigrant to the United
Kingdom who converted to Islam and followed al-Qaeda's
footprints, is the best example of al-Qaeda's influence
in India. Mohammed Fahad, one of two suspected al-
Badr militants arrested in Mysore city, recently revealed
his intention to undergo training to fly jetliners at a
Bangalore flight school. One could imagine the situation
if a domestic militant learns these formulated al-Qaeda
tactics. India, however, has always been on the radar
screen of al-Qaeda because it is a Hindu state and is
criticized for its involvement in Kashmir. Immediately
after the Mumbai train blasts, a self-proclaimed al-Qaeda
militant, Abu al-Hadeed, said over a telephone call to a
Srinagar-based news agency that al-Qaeda had created a
wing in Kashmir and that "Abu Abdur Rehman Ansari" is
the chief commander in the state. In his call, al-Hadeed
appealed to all Muslims in India to fight for freedom and
for Islam (The Tribune, July 15). Although the intelligence
agencies have reportedly found the claim to be false, they
could not confirm whether al-Qaeda was offering moral or
material support to Kashmiri militants.
A recent disclosure by the Indian security forces revealed
that al-Qaeda affiliated militant groups are devising
novel, radical and spectacular plots against India's
critical infrastructure. The synchronized July 11 Mumbai
train bombings carry the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda-style
operation. Again, in late August, reports of two armed
militants breaching security at the Kakarapar nuclear
power complex in Gujarat prompted India's nuclear
facilities to be placed under heightened security measures
(Terrorism Focus, September 12). While the threat of al-
Qaeda's presence in India looms large with every passing
day, India's security agencies are grappling with the new
dangers posed by local Islamist terrorists emboldened by
al-Qaeda's tactics and ideology.
Animesh Roul is the Executive Director of Research
at the New Delhi-based Society for the Study of Peace
and Conflict (SSPC).

http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/uploads/tf_003_045.pdf

[Petronas]

Two Lashkar militants held with explosives
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 : 2115 Hrs

Police today claimed to have foiled a major terrorist plot to carry out attacks in the city with the arrest of two suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba militants with a huge quantity of explosives in Northwest Delhi. Ghulam Rasool Bafanda and Imran Ahmad Kirmani, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, were arrested from a shopping complex in Rohini locality by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police last week. Imran, a resident of Kupwara district, is an aircraft engineer.

"Around 1.5 kg of RDX, Rs 4.5 lakhs and two automatic timers were recovered from them. They were planning a major terrorist activity in the capital," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Alok Kumar told PTI here.

Imran has been residing in the capital for the last one year and providing logistic support to an LeT module in the capital. His brother Furkan is a Pakistani national and a self-styled divisional commander of the outfit in Jammu and and Kashmir, he said. Kumar said police had received "specific information" that an LeT militant codenamed "Khalid" had set up a base in the capital for procuring and diverting funds collected through hawala channels. They also came to know that the suspected militant was staying in Dwarka after which they increased surveillance in the locality. He said police got a tip off on October 16 that the ultra would come to a shopping complex in Dwarka with a consignment of cash for delivering to someone, following which they laid a trap and arrested the duo.

During interrogation, Ghulam Rasool told police that he had collected the explosive from one Shabbir from Azadpur fruit market and was to deliver it to one Tariq. He was also tasked with collecting the money for terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Police, however, did not disclose the whereabouts of Shabbir and Tariq and said a hunt was on to nab both of them. Teams have been sent to Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas of the capital and nab the other accused, Kumar said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200611222174.htm

[Petronas]

All the accused of 7/11 confess
Saturday, December 16, 2006 7:52:22 IST

It took more than five months for the police to show their efforts in the investigation of the case. The accused of the blasts, which killed around 200 people as seven bombs exploded in Western Railway local trains on July 11, 2006, finally spoke.

The seal on confessional statements of eleven arrested accused recorded under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999 was removed in the designated MCOCA court. The confessions revealed many facts like the links that the accused had with Lashkar-e-Tohiba, the training that they acquired in Pakistan, how the accused were aided and abetted by others who later escaped across the border, how and where the bombs were made, how the conspiracy was hatched and finally, who planted the bombs and why the blasts were done. All the accused are arrested by ATS under sections 3(1) (i), 3 (2), 3(4) of MCOCA read with Section 10 and 13 of U.A. (P) Act read with Section 302, 307,326,325,324,427,436,121-A, 123,124-A, 120-B IPC read with sections 6,9 (b) of Indian Explosives Act read with Section 3,4,5 of Explosive Substances Act.

The prime accused amongst the eleven before the court were Faisal Ataur Rahaman Shaikh alias Mustafa alias Amin alias Samir. The 32 old from Perry Road Bandra confessed that he had links with Lashkar-e-Tohiba and his only occupation was to work for Pakistan based militant outfit. He also met SIMI activists Firoz Pathan and others. Talks with these militants enticed him to do something against those who committed atrocities against Muslims world over. He thought of committing some terror act and then escaping to some Islamic country and settle down there. He undertook weapon training and along with his friends hatched conspiracy of doing blasts at World Trade Centre, BSE, Siddhivinayak temple, malls, railway stations and other crowded places. Other perpetrators who had crossed over the Pakistan border at Gujrat joined him. He said the day of July 11 was chosen for the blasts. Bombs were prepared in co-accused Mohamamd Ali’s house at Govandi. Ehtesham, Tanvir, Juned, Mohammad Ali, Sajid and few others including those who had come from Pakistan, accompanied him. They used to stay together. Every one had a role to play. Seven bags having bombs were prepared a day before the blast and were brought to his house in Bandra. Azim Chima explained them how to plant the bombs. Faisal further stated that one Pakistani ‘banda’ Abu Bakar along with Javed from Hydrabad, Kamal from Bihar, Sajid from Mira Road, accompanied him. They all came to Churchgate in different taxis at around 3-4 pm. They acted according to plan, boarded seven trains, two in each train got down after planting the bombs. Many of them got down at Mumbai Central station. However, there was little confusion as Abu Bakar, Faisal’s partner found that there was luggage already kept on the upper rack of the first class compartment where the bomb was to be planted. Hence, Faisal had to keep the bomb below the seat. He and Abu Bakar travelled in the same compartment until Dadar where they got down with great difficulty due to rush. From the pair of Salim and Junaid Salim could not get down in time and hence died in the blast. After the blasts, they remained holed up at their respective places. They spread out gradually to other cities, some even fled to Pakistan.

Confessions of remaining ten are almost substantiating to the one given by Faisal. Majid Mohamamd Majid Ansari (28) confessed that he helped accused to come to India from Bangladesh and helped them cross the border after the blasts.

Accused Naed Rashid Khan (26), Ehtesham Kutubuddin Siddiqui (25) and Akmal Ahmed Mohammad Vakil stated that they were bomb planters. Shaikh Sohail Mohamamd (38) said that he had taken training in Pakistan and was the convenor of meetings that was held to plan the terror attack and did reconnaissance at various places where bombs could be placed to cause maximum damage. Accused Jamir Ahmed Latif (32) and accused Tanvir Ahmed Mohamamd Ibrahim Ansari (33) also had role similar to Shaikh. Sajid Ansari has been in electronic business and hence provided the technical expertise. He created the bombs. Mohamamd Ali ahmed Sahikh alias Aziz (37) asked his parents to temporarily leave their house so that he can allow other accused to finalise the conspiracy, collect material, create bombs and disperse the same. Accused Muzzamil Shaikh who is an engineer, is an expert of making detonators. His knowledge was used in the destructive attack.

According to legal experts, though the confessions it can be retracted that could go a long way in establishing the role of each of the accused- if ATS could produce substantial evidence.

http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=December2006_inbombay_standard11648

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): Reports emerged on 22 December 2006 that Indian authorities have increased security measures around Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress Party, due to a potential terror threat against her. The potential threat reportedly involves a suicide bombing attack to be carried out by Pakistani-based Islamic militant groups. Although the Indian government did not confirm the report, the Home Ministry issued an advisory stating that security arrangements were to be strengthened "to avoid any untoward incident."

http://www.asigroup.com/HOTSPOTS.asp

[candypreet]

All the accused of 7/11 confess
Saturday, December 16, 2006 7:52:22 IST

It took more than five months for the police to show their efforts in the investigation of the case. The accused of the blasts, which killed around 200 people as seven bombs exploded in Western Railway local trains on July 11, 2006, finally spoke.

The seal on confessional statements of eleven arrested accused recorded under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999 was removed in the designated MCOCA court. The confessions revealed many facts like the links that the accused had with Lashkar-e-Tohiba, the training that they acquired in Pakistan, how the accused were aided and abetted by others who later escaped across the border, how and where the bombs were made, how the conspiracy was hatched and finally, who planted the bombs and why the blasts were done. All the accused are arrested by ATS under sections 3(1) (i), 3 (2), 3(4) of MCOCA read with Section 10 and 13 of U.A. (P) Act read with Section 302, 307,326,325,324,427,436,121-A, 123,124-A, 120-B IPC read with sections 6,9 (b) of Indian Explosives Act read with Section 3,4,5 of Explosive Substances Act.

The prime accused amongst the eleven before the court were Faisal Ataur Rahaman Shaikh alias Mustafa alias Amin alias Samir. The 32 old from Perry Road Bandra confessed that he had links with Lashkar-e-Tohiba and his only occupation was to work for Pakistan based militant outfit. He also met SIMI activists Firoz Pathan and others. Talks with these militants enticed him to do something against those who committed atrocities against Muslims world over. He thought of committing some terror act and then escaping to some Islamic country and settle down there. He undertook weapon training and along with his friends hatched conspiracy of doing blasts at World Trade Centre, BSE, Siddhivinayak temple, malls, railway stations and other crowded places. Other perpetrators who had crossed over the Pakistan border at Gujrat joined him. He said the day of July 11 was chosen for the blasts. Bombs were prepared in co-accused Mohamamd Ali’s house at Govandi. Ehtesham, Tanvir, Juned, Mohammad Ali, Sajid and few others including those who had come from Pakistan, accompanied him. They used to stay together. Every one had a role to play. Seven bags having bombs were prepared a day before the blast and were brought to his house in Bandra. Azim Chima explained them how to plant the bombs. Faisal further stated that one Pakistani ‘banda’ Abu Bakar along with Javed from Hydrabad, Kamal from Bihar, Sajid from Mira Road, accompanied him. They all came to Churchgate in different taxis at around 3-4 pm. They acted according to plan, boarded seven trains, two in each train got down after planting the bombs. Many of them got down at Mumbai Central station. However, there was little confusion as Abu Bakar, Faisal’s partner found that there was luggage already kept on the upper rack of the first class compartment where the bomb was to be planted. Hence, Faisal had to keep the bomb below the seat. He and Abu Bakar travelled in the same compartment until Dadar where they got down with great difficulty due to rush. From the pair of Salim and Junaid Salim could not get down in time and hence died in the blast. After the blasts, they remained holed up at their respective places. They spread out gradually to other cities, some even fled to Pakistan.

Confessions of remaining ten are almost substantiating to the one given by Faisal. Majid Mohamamd Majid Ansari (28) confessed that he helped accused to come to India from Bangladesh and helped them cross the border after the blasts.

Accused Naed Rashid Khan (26), Ehtesham Kutubuddin Siddiqui (25) and Akmal Ahmed Mohammad Vakil stated that they were bomb planters. Shaikh Sohail Mohamamd (38) said that he had taken training in Pakistan and was the convenor of meetings that was held to plan the terror attack and did reconnaissance at various places where bombs could be placed to cause maximum damage. Accused Jamir Ahmed Latif (32) and accused Tanvir Ahmed Mohamamd Ibrahim Ansari (33) also had role similar to Shaikh. Sajid Ansari has been in electronic business and hence provided the technical expertise. He created the bombs. Mohamamd Ali ahmed Sahikh alias Aziz (37) asked his parents to temporarily leave their house so that he can allow other accused to finalise the conspiracy, collect material, create bombs and disperse the same. Accused Muzzamil Shaikh who is an engineer, is an expert of making detonators. His knowledge was used in the destructive attack.

According to legal experts, though the confessions it can be retracted that could go a long way in establishing the role of each of the accused- if ATS could produce substantial evidence.

http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=December2006_inbombay_standard11648


good post

[Casey]

Friday, February 09, 2007 8:34:06 PM (IST)
Guwahati: Bomb Blast ahead of National Games on Feb 9

UNI

Guwahati, Feb 9: A few hours before the inauguration of the 33rd National Games, a powerful bomb ripped apart a railway platform at Kamakhya Station on the outskirts of the city on Friday morning.

According to the railway authorities, the bomb had damaged the railway platform, however, no case of casualty had been reported.

The railway and intelligence authorities were alerted by some unidentified sources about the planting of the bomb between the Guwahati and Rangia railway station.

The intelligence sources had the information that there would a blast before the beginning of the National Games.

The bomb squad had been surfing for the bomb since yesterday but it went off this morning, railway sources said.

This is to be noted that the ULFA had withdrawn the boycott call against the National Games on Tuesday.

According to the intelligence sources the bomb was planted before Tuesday and the ULFA cadres had indirectly informed the police about the location of the bomb.

Meanwhile, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil would be arriving at Guwahati within a couple of hours from now.

Mrs Gandhi would inaugurate the Games and Mr Patil would review the law and order situation in this regard.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=30397&n_tit=Guwahati%3A+Bomb+Blast+ahead+of+National+Gam es+on+Feb+9

[Petronas]

India: Blasts caused by 'sabotage'
3:29 a.m. EST, February 19, 2007

Explosions that killed at least 65 people on board an Indian passenger train bound for Pakistan were the work of subversives aimed at hurting the peace process between the two countries, India's home secretary said. "This is an act of sabotage," Indian Home Secretary V.K. Dugal said, adding that explosive devices that were found near the train tracks appeared to be "petrol-based." At least 12 people were wounded in the incident, which occurred early Monday when many people were sleeping. Dugal blamed the high death toll on the early hour of the blasts.

The Samjhauta Express, with 610 passengers onboard, was passing through Panipat, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of New Delhi, when two explosions tore through two passenger coaches, said Northern Rail spokesman Rakesh Saxena. Three unexploded bombs were found near the train tracks, Saxena said. Most of the people who died were burnt to death.

The identity of the bombers and their motives remained unknown, but they came on the eve of Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri's arrival in New Delhi. During the talks with Indian leaders, he is scheduled to sign confidence-building measures between the two countries. "This was done to create a type of wedge," Dugal said, adding, "We won't allow this to come into the way of the peace process." Pakistan has condemned the blasts and said Monday that Kasuri's visit to India will go on. The name of the train, which originated in New Delhi, translates to "Friendship Express," and was established as a symbol of the new friendship between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan.

Residents living near the tracks rushed to the scene of the blast with buckets of water, and the blaze was eventually extinguished when fire trucks arrived, The Associated Press reported. nHours later, authorities detached the burned cars, and the rest of the train continued on to the India-Pakistan border, according to AP.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/02/18/india.train/index.html

[NYer]

India releases Suspects' Sketches. (http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/02/indian-officials-release-sketches-of.html)

http://bp2.blogger.com/_L6pDyjqqsvY/RdrlE-yjyAI/AAAAAAAABxk/qZHcG1DM-Tk/s320/india+sketches.jpg

The two men, whose identities are not known, boarded the train when it left New Delhi on Sunday but quickly began arguing with the conductor, insisting they were on the wrong train. They were allowed to jump from the train as it slowed down about 15 minutes to 20 minutes before the crude bombs detonated, said Sharad Kumar, a senior police official.


Kashmir groups are also being investigated. (http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1933304,000900010002.htm)

[Petronas]

Mumbai link to train terror traced
Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 18:19

The investigations into the Samjhauta Express blasts have thrown up several very important leads. The Delhi police team – probing the case – has based their investigations on three crucial points. Their primary line of investigation is a seven-minute call made on the night of the blast. The call, was made from somewhere in Old Delhi at 0040 hrs (IST) on Sunday night and was traced to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. This has strengthened security agencies’ belief that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba could be behind the attacks, timed with the visit of Pak foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri.

The second important lead that the investigators are following is the source of the explosives that were made to trigger the deadly blast. According to sources, the ammunition – that comprised 72 bottles containing liquid explosives and suitcases with IEDs – was sourced from Delhi. Police on Tuesday night carried out raids in parts of Old Delhi. The two suspects who carried out the blasts are believed to have purchased four locally made suitcases from the Old Delhi Railway station. They also purchased a Hindi daily from the station before boarding the train.

Sources also claim there could be similarities between the bombs used in the Samjhauta blasts and those recovered from Rajkot in 2003 and Mumbai's Dongri Chawl in 2004.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/mumbai-link-to-samjhauta-blasts/34089-3.html

[Petronas]

Chronology of major terrorist attacks in India
Thursday, February 22, 2007

Following are some of the major attacks in India, many blamed on Islamic militants opposed to Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir:

July 2006:Coordinated bombings on Mumbai commuter trains kill more than 300 people and injure hundreds more. Police blame a Pakistan-based militant group, as well as the Students` Islamic Movement of India, a banned Indian group.

March 2006: Twin bombings at a train station and a temple in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi kill 20 people. Kashmiri militants are blamed.

October 2005: Three bombs placed in busy New Delhi markets a day before Diwali celebrations kill 62 people and wound hundreds.

August 2003: Two taxis packed with explosives blow up outside a Mumbai tourist attraction and a busy market, killing 52 and wounding more than 100.

March 2003: A bomb explodes on a passenger train in Mumbai, killing 10 people. The attack is blamed on Islamic militants.

September 2002: Militants attack Akshardham Temple in Gujarat. Thirty-three people, including two attackers, killed.

December 2001: Militants attack Parliament in New Delhi, leaving 14 people, including several gunmen, dead. India blames Pakistan, which denies involvement.

October 2001: A car bomb explodes outside the Jammu-Kashmir state legislature building in Srinagar, killing 40 people. Pakistan-based militant group Jaish e Mohammed claims responsibility for the attack.

1993: Muslim underworld figures tied to Pakistani militants allegedly carry out a series of bombings that strike Mumbai`s stock exchange along with trains, hotels and gas stations in the city, killing 257 people and wounding more than 1,100.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=355151&sid=NAT

[candypreet]

Chronology of major terrorist attacks in India
Thursday, February 22, 2007

Following are some of the major attacks in India, many blamed on Islamic militants opposed to Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir:

July 2006:Coordinated bombings on Mumbai commuter trains kill more than 300 people and injure hundreds more. Police blame a Pakistan-based militant group, as well as the Students` Islamic Movement of India, a banned Indian group.

March 2006: Twin bombings at a train station and a temple in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi kill 20 people. Kashmiri militants are blamed.

October 2005: Three bombs placed in busy New Delhi markets a day before Diwali celebrations kill 62 people and wound hundreds.

August 2003: Two taxis packed with explosives blow up outside a Mumbai tourist attraction and a busy market, killing 52 and wounding more than 100.

March 2003: A bomb explodes on a passenger train in Mumbai, killing 10 people. The attack is blamed on Islamic militants.

September 2002: Militants attack Akshardham Temple in Gujarat. Thirty-three people, including two attackers, killed.

December 2001: Militants attack Parliament in New Delhi, leaving 14 people, including several gunmen, dead. India blames Pakistan, which denies involvement.

October 2001: A car bomb explodes outside the Jammu-Kashmir state legislature building in Srinagar, killing 40 people. Pakistan-based militant group Jaish e Mohammed claims responsibility for the attack.

1993: Muslim underworld figures tied to Pakistani militants allegedly carry out a series of bombings that strike Mumbai`s stock exchange along with trains, hotels and gas stations in the city, killing 257 people and wounding more than 1,100.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=355151&sid=NAT

and lets not forget the 4 or 5 people killed EVERYDAY, for the past 15 years

[Petronas]

Bombs found in abandoned suitcases in train
22 Feb, 2007 2103hrs

Fifteen bombs were on Thursday found in suitcases abandoned in a coach of the Sealdah- Varanasi Express train near Dhanauri station during intensified searches of trains in the aftermath of the Samjhauta Express blasts.

Police said passengers travelling in coach number 95411 noticed two abandoned suitcases near the toilet and immediately informed Government Railway Police and railway officials. After breaking open the suitcases, five powerful and 10 small crude bombs and materials used for making them were found in one suitcase.

The other suitcases contained some admit cards for a test for a government job and bills of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board, officials said. The bombs were being defused. No arrests had been made in this connection, they said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bombs_found_in_abandoned_suitcases_in_train/articleshow/1662227.cms

[Petronas]

From the 2007 Intelligence Summit:
I heard very good things about the quality of India’s intelligence apparatus. Clearly, India, squarely in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism, is an ally the US should cultivate.

[candypreet]

From the 2007 Intelligence Summit:
I heard very good things about the quality of India’s intelligence apparatus. Clearly, India, squarely in the crosshairs of Islamic terrorism, is an ally the US should cultivate.

good point

[Petronas]

Terror 'outsourced' in India
Mar 8, 2007

Investigations into recent terror attacks in India point to a new strategy being used by terror groups: the last leg of the attacks is being "outsourced" to local hands who use crudely assembled bombs - improvised explosive devices - that are difficult to trace and aimed at soft targets that inflict maximum shrapnel damage to victims packed in a small space. Whether it is the recent attack on the Samjhauta Express (killing close to 70 people) or the serial Mumbai train blasts last July (killing almost 200), temple attacks in Benaras last March (killing more than 30), or the Diwali attacks in New Delhi (in October 2005, killing more than 70), police officials say that the modus operandi has been the same.

This makes the task of investigators difficult, as the moment terror is inflicted, the "masterminds" snap all connections and are very hard to trace. "There are several indications of local hands being employed," said a senior official in the Indian Intelligence Bureau, who did not want to be identified. "I use the word 'employed' as it is so. The attackers are paid a handsome sum of money as well as ensured that he/she need not die in the process of the attack. It is a win-win situation. "In the past, diehard Afghan mercenaries or trained Pakistani nationals orchestrated the attacks by infiltrating from across the border. Now there has been a shift in the strategy," the official said.

From the point of view of terror cells, they can follow a "hands off" approach as there is no need to invest in personnel who are driven to die for the jihadist cause. There is also the tricky matter of infiltration, including of weapons, into India given the implementation of border fencing and a strict vigil. Now, only the money has to be arranged, while the bombs can be easily assembled locally.

These are not the tactics used in earlier attacks such as the attempt to storm the Indian Parliament Building (December 2001), in which fidayeen (suicide) bombers were involved. Such was also the case in the Akshardham Temple storming in Gujarat in September 2002, killing close to 40 people and injuring more than 80 Hindus, widely seen as a reaction to the Gujarat riots in which thousands of Muslims were killed. Assault rifles, sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers, and RDX explosive were used in these attacks.

Then there was the bold attempt to storm the Ram Temple at Ayodya that was thwarted by alert security personnel. Innumerable strikes continue in Indian Kashmir, while terrorists have also struck at the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore. One can also look back at the extremely well-coordinated bomb blasts in commercial centers of Mumbai in 1993 in which more than 260 people were killed.

After these attacks, the evidence linking them to the dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba (based in Pakistan) was handed to Washington as well as Islamabad and is considered to be one of the vital factors that drove the US to take a tough stance against Pakistan. In these instances the Indian investigators were able to draw a clear link with the "sources'', as the attackers formed part of a well-oiled machine and left vital clues such as mobile-telephone records, computers and e-mails. The vicious links of LeT, known to be violently anti-Shi'ite, were exposed. Indian security forces continue to bust several LeT operatives in the country. The "terrorist as freedom fighter" argument used even by Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf in several international forums was thus completely debunked.

However, in the later attacks such as in Mumbai, Delhi, Benaras and now Samjhauta, investigators admit that a "dead end" has been reached, despite several witness accounts of the perpetrators. Security agencies say that local Indian Muslims or even the involvement of Hindus cannot be ruled out, since in a poor country such as India, money can be a big incentive. The only solace that officials can draw is that such a model is not very conducive to high-profile attacks in security zones or important people who are well protected as the perpetrators of attacks are relative "novices". Plotting an assassination is not possible without recruiting fidayeen.

"In this context, airports with their enhanced envelope of security screenings [after the September 11, 2001] attacks can be considered safe. But trains, marketplaces, temples and mosques and shopping malls where it is very difficult to check every person become very vulnerable," said the official, though basic security instruments such as installation of video cameras have yet to be widely implemented.

While the police have so far been tracking illegal transfers of money (eg through the hawala system), it has come to light that terror groups may be actually using very "legitimate" means to implement financial transactions, by using several fronts including dubious software companies or fake foreign institutional investors siphoning money and making profits by speculating in stock exchanges.

Recently, investigators have been trying to track the large amounts of international remittances that have been unearthed in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which are considered breeding grounds for "attackers" because of widespread poverty and a ground situation charged by volatile Hindu-Muslim communal politics. Police are baffled by the money coming in, as the two states do not boast a large emigrant population like that of a state such as Kerala.

Sections of the security forces and bureaucracy have been looking to link terror with economic activity and calling for stricter norms for foreign investments. A 19-member committee of secretaries, headed by the cabinet secretary, the most senior civil servant, recently asked the National Security Council (NSC), which is headed by M K Narayanan, to draft guidelines for specific areas, nations and firms for which investment needs to be watched or monitored with greater attention.

The NSC has been keen to formulate an overall framework to ensure security concerns. In a startling disclosure recently, Narayanan, who reports directly to the prime minister, has said terror groups are meticulously manipulating the Indian stock exchanges through fictitious companies to raise millions of dollars to orchestrate attacks against India.

While terrorist groups in India and elsewhere are known to use technology (code words on the Internet, e-mails and prepaid mobile phones) effectively, this is the first time such well-established and intelligent machinery that takes care of financial aspects has been talked about. Security agencies, however, maintain that the key remains diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging Pakistan to act against terror. The hope is that the attack on the Samjhauta Express, in which many Pakistani nationals died, will result in a strengthening of a common India-Pakistan front against terror, as the "source'' of such terror continues to be global, with vested interests in Pakistan continuing to play a devious role.

Writing in the Hindustan Times, Brahma Chellany asks: "Can New Delhi make peace with the Pakistan military whose power and prerogative flow from the absence of peace with India? This institution still values terrorist proxies to wage an unconventional war against India. Make no mistake: the fight against international terrorism is very much tied to the future of Pakistan and the central challenge that country faces - to move away from militarism, extremism and fundamentalism toward a stable, moderate state.''

The first Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism meeting between India and Pakistan that began this week in Islamabad assumes critical importance. Though there have been mutual suspicion and mishandling of the Samjhauta Express investigations, observers continue to be optimistic. Reports suggest that the meeting has progressed better than expected with information about the Samjhauta attack handed to Pakistan officials.

http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IC08Df02.html

[candypreet]

Terror 'outsourced' in India
Mar 8, 2007

Investigations into recent terror attacks in India point to a new strategy being used by terror groups: the last leg of the attacks is being "outsourced" to local hands who use crudely assembled bombs - improvised explosive devices - that are difficult to trace and aimed at soft targets that inflict maximum shrapnel damage to victims packed in a small space. Whether it is the recent attack on the Samjhauta Express (killing close to 70 people) or the serial Mumbai train blasts last July (killing almost 200), temple attacks in Benaras last March (killing more than 30), or the Diwali attacks in New Delhi (in October 2005, killing more than 70), police officials say that the modus operandi has been the same.

After these attacks, the evidence linking them to the dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba (based in Pakistan) was handed to Washington as well as Islamabad and is considered to be one of the vital factors that drove the US to take a tough stance against Pakistan. In these instances the Indian investigators were able to draw a clear link with the "sources'', as the attackers formed part of a well-oiled machine and left vital clues such as mobile-telephone records, computers and e-mails. The vicious links of LeT, known to be violently anti-Shi'ite, were exposed. Indian security forces continue to bust several LeT operatives in the country. The "terrorist as freedom fighter" argument used even by Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf in several international forums was thus completely debunked.

However, in the later attacks such as in Mumbai, Delhi, Benaras and now Samjhauta, investigators admit that a "dead end" has been reached, despite several witness accounts of the perpetrators. Security agencies say that local Indian Muslims or even the involvement of Hindus cannot be ruled out, since in a poor country such as India, money can be a big incentive. The only solace that officials can draw is that such a model is not very conducive to high-profile attacks in security zones or important people who are well protected as the perpetrators of attacks are relative "novices". Plotting an assassination is not possible without recruiting fidayeen.

"In this context, airports with their enhanced envelope of security screenings [after the September 11, 2001] attacks can be considered safe. But trains, marketplaces, temples and mosques and shopping malls where it is very difficult to check every person become very vulnerable," said the official, though basic security instruments such as installation of video cameras have yet to be widely implemented.

While the police have so far been tracking illegal transfers of money (eg through the hawala system), it has come to light that terror groups may be actually using very "legitimate" means to implement financial transactions, by using several fronts including dubious software companies or fake foreign institutional investors
http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IC08Df02.html


very very good post

[Petronas]

Indian Muslim group calls for beheading of writer
17 March 2007

An Indian Muslim group has offered a 500,000 rupee (11,319 dollar) bounty for the beheading of controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen. The president of the All India Ibtehad Council said on Friday he had declared the reward for anyone who carried out the “quatal” or ”extermination” of the “notorious woman.”

“Taslima has put Muslims to shame in her writing. She should be killed and beheaded and anyone who does this will get a reward from the council,” Taqi Raza Khan said in a statement received in the northern city of Lucknow.

The council, based in Bareilly town also in Uttar Pradesh state, is a splinter group of the influential All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Khan said the only way the bounty would be lifted was if Nasreen ”apologises, burns her books and leaves.”

Nasreen has incensed conservative Muslims for writing a novel ”Lajja” or “Shame” depicting the life of a Hindu family facing the ire of Muslims in Bangladesh. The book is banned in Muslim-majority Bangladesh along with her autobiographical works on grounds of being anti-Islamic.

The author was forced to flee her homeland in 1994 after radical Muslims decried her writings as blasphemous and demanded her execution. She is seeking permanent residence or citizenship in India.

Khan’s bounty was not a fatwa, as he was not a senior enough cleric to issue Islamic decrees. But it drew swift condemnation from one of South Asia’s most powerful Muslim seminaries. Clergy of the Sunni seminary Dar-ul Uloom in Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, a state with a large Muslim population, said the call to behead Nasreen was “un-Islamic” and that clergy should not issue such “fatwas.” “Unnecessary edicts increase friction in society and people of other religions start treating Islam as a barbaric religion,” Mufti Arif, who sits on the board of the fatwa committee of Dar-ul Uloom, told AFP by telephone. But Arif backed Khan’s call for 45-year-old Nasreen’s expulsion from India.

There was no immediate comment from Nasreen who has lived in self-exile in Europe and the United States, but has lately been living in India. Nasreen has been spending most of her time in Kolkata, state capital of the eastern state of West Bengal which shares the same language and much of the culture of Bangladesh.

But she has also faced problems in India. In 2004, an Indian Muslim cleric offered a reward of 20,000 rupees to anyone who ”blackened” her face, an action considered a grave insult. Following the threat, Indian police have given her security.

Earlier this week, the writer made an impassioned plea to her ”second home” India to grant her citizenship. “I have been banished from my country. India is my second home. I have been granted a six-month visa but citizenship is being repeatedly refused to me,” the author said.

“If I can’t live in my own country, and if I have to stay close to home where I can speak my mother tongue, write in my own language, India is the second option. Where else will I go?” she asked. The writer said she will soon make a fresh application for citizenship. The Indian government has not commented on her request for citizenship.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/March/subcontinent_March677.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

[Petronas]

Strange way to show how peaceful a religion Islam is...

Imam puts 'unlimited reward' on Taslima's head
August 17, 2007 19:10 IST

Charging her with defaming Islam and the Prophet, an Imam in Kolkata on Friday declared "unlimited reward" on the head of Taslima Nasreen, the controversial Bangladeshi writer. Taslima was attacked in Hyderabad last week.

Speaking at a rally after the Friday prayers, Syed Mohammed Noorur Rahman Barkati, imam of the Tipu Sultan Shahi Masjid, also demanded that the writer be deported from the country in a month. "If our demand is not met, there will be an unlimited cash reward for whosoever kills her. ..."

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/aug/17taslima.htm

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): On 25 August 2007, two bombs detonated within a few minutes of each other at an outdoor restaurant and an open-air auditorium in Hyderabad. The blasts killed at least 42 people and injured more than 70 others. The first bomb detonated at an open-air laser show in Lumbini Park at 1940 local time (1410 UTC); approximately 10 minutes later, a second blast occurred at the popular Gokul Chat Bhandar eatery. On 26 August authorities discovered additional suspicious devices at locations across the city, including at a bus stop, cinemas and a public water tap; several of the devices were harmless. Security measures in Hyderabad have been increased, with additional police officers deployed in the city. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, authorities suspect that Islamist extremists based in Pakistan or Bangladesh may have carried out the attack in an effort to raise sectarian tensions between Hindus and Muslims. Government reports stated that Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups were responsible for the attacks.

http://www.asigroup.com/HOTSPOTS.asp

[Petronas]

Pakistan’s Islamist press calls for jihad
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007

Pakistan’s Islamist media published a series of explicit calls for violence against India in the six weeks before the Hyderabad bombings — a development that analysts believe reflects the weakening of General Pervez Musharraf’s regime, and raises fears of a renewed wave of terror strikes.

In an editorial published in the Jamaat-e-Islami-affiliated Daily Jasarat’s August 19 Friday supplement, the newspaper demanded that the “slogan of jihad should reverberate in every nook and corner of Pakistan. If Pakistan allows jihadis to infiltrate into India then Kashmir could be liberated in six months.”

“Within a couple of years,” the newspaper asserted, “the rest of the territories of India could be conquered as well, and we can regain our lost glory. We can bring back the era of Mughal rule. We can once again subjugate the Hindus like our forefathers.” ...

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/28/stories/2007082855781200.htm

[candypreet]

:sad_01: :sad_01:

[Petronas]

Not part of India, but close enough...

Bomb blast wounds 12 tourists in Maldives capital
Sep 29, 2007

A homemade bomb exploded near a mosque in the Maldives' capital, Male, on Saturday, wounding 12 foreign tourists in the remote Indian Ocean island chain best known for luxury honeymoons and Hollywood star visitors. Police arrested two people in connection with the blast which occurred at the entrance to the capital's Sultan Park, a popular stop-off for tour groups. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rare attack on tourists, who are the linchpin of the archipelago's $1 billion economy.

Shaugee said 12 people were injured -- two British nationals, two Japanese and eight Chinese." "The Japanese nationals and Chinese have been treated for minor injuries and discharged from the hospital." The two Britons, named by the British Foreign Office as Christian and Jennifer Donelan, were still receiving treatment, he said. The couple, aged 36 and 31 respectively, live in Qatar and were believed to be on their honeymoon when hit by the blast. "The female has got first degree and second degree burns covering up to 40 percent of her body. And the male has got 27 percent burns," the BBC reported the head of the ADK Hospital in Male, Ahmed Afaal, as saying.

Government spokesman Mohammad Shareef said the blast occurred inside the main gate of the park, adding: "The police told me it was some sort of homemade device." The government said it was too early to pin blame. "The Maldivian authorities will pursue the culprits and attempt to bring them to justice and give them the harshest punishment within the law," it said in a statement.

Local media said the explosion was caused by a device using a mobile phone and washing machine motor attached to a gas cylinder. A witness said he saw nails scattered in the park before the area was cleared by security personnel. The park is in the shadow of the Maldives army headquarters, and surveillance cameras are trained on the area. ...

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3669718

[makeshiftpatriot]

India warns of terror attacks at temples, mosques

India sounded an alert Wednesday against possible terror attacks at religious sites and warned that militants could fund their attacks with counterfeit money.

The warning kicked off a national meeting of Indian security chiefs who were slated to also discuss ways to stop extremist groups using the country's fast-rising domestic stock market to fund terrorist attacks, officials said.

Heads of federal intelligence agencies, state police chiefs and special agents from government units attended the brain-storming session where Home Minister Shivraj Patil warned of extremist violence.

"They (extremists) are likely to create mischief and violence at places where innocent people congregate in large numbers," Patil said at the start of the three-day meeting.

"Religious places can be attacked, police may become their targets, politicians may also be targeted and fake currency notes may be used to fund terrorism," said Patil, in charge of India's internal security.

Patil, however, gave no warning of any specific threat.

His statements came a month after India's spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing or RAW, told the nation's markets watchdog that extremists linked to the al-Qaeda terror network might be putting money into India's bull market.

Officials attending the conference said the issue will figure in discussions behind closed doors at the fortified venue, guarded by heavily-armed commandos.

"It is not only RAW but various agencies chasing 'ghost' investors in stocks have given us similar warnings," a top intelligence official said.

Patil warned that terror attacks, such as two separate bombings in India's emerging software hub of Hyderabad city since August that left a total of 53 people dead, could affect foreign investment.

"Large volumes of funds are invested in development activities in India but without a sense of security prevailing in the states, investment is not going to be done in any part of our country," Patil said.

India's economy is growing at an annual rate of nine percent, the fastest after China, enticing investors into all sectors -- from finance and retail to telecoms and technology.

"Development needs security and security needs development and hence the police cannot lag behind," Patil added.

A bull run in the Indian stock markets has led to an unprecedented fund inflow of 11.63 billion dollars so far this year, way above the 4.86 billion dollars notched up during the same period a year earlier.

In July 2006, a series of blasts planted on rush-hour trains killed 186 commuters and injured nearly 800 in India's financial hub Mumbai.

Source: AFP

[Petronas]

India (Country threat level - 3): A powerful bomb exploded in a crowded movie theater in the northern Indian city of Ludhiana at approximately 2040 local time (1510 UTC) on 14 October 2007, killing six people and injuring at least 30 others. Police authorities placed the Punjab region on high alert following the blast. The theater was filled to capacity due to the Muslim weekend celebration of Eid al-Fitr. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

http://www.asigroup.com/HOTSPOTS.asp

[Petronas]

India police see Islamic militants in cinema bomb
15 Oct 2007 11:14:27 GMT

Indian police say they suspect Muslim militants allied with Punjab separatists were behind a blast that killed six people and injured 32 at a crowded cinema hall in northern India. The multiplex Shingar Cinema in the industrial city of Ludhiana in Punjab state was packed with about 600 people at the time of the blast on Sunday. Police say plastic explosives were used in the bomb.

"The leads into the blast indicated Muslim fundamentalists could have collaborated with Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Commando Force (both Punjabi militant groups) to plant the bomb," senior police intelligence officer Jagdish Mittal told reporters in Ludhiana.

Security forces have increased vigil in areas like multiplexes, and railway and bus stations since the attack. The Indian province of Punjab saw over a decade of violence in the 1980s when Sikh militants demanded a separate Sikh homeland they called Khalistan.

Indian intelligence agencies also say Islamist militant groups, backed by Pakistani spy agency ISI, increasingly target Muslim and Hindu religious places to trigger communal clashes between the two communities.

Sunday's blast followed a bomb explosion last week after evening prayers at the Muslim Ajmer Sharif shrine in northwestern India, in which at least two people were killed. Newspaper reports say police suspect Bangaldeshi militants were involved in that blast, again backed by Pakistani militants and the ISI.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL92795.htm

[Petronas]

Blasts shake 3 north Indian courthouses, official says; at least 4 dead
November 23, 2007 3:52 AM EST

LUCKNOW, India - A series of near-simultaneous explosions shook courthouses Friday in three north Indian cities, with blasts going off in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad, killing at least four people, officials said.

At least two bombs went off in Faizabad, killing four lawyers and injuring 10 to 12 more, said R.N. Singh, a local police officer. One of the bombs was rigged to a motorcycle, he said. Faizabad is near the town of Ayodhya, where Hindu extremists destroyed the 16th century Babri Mosque in 1992, sparking widespread Hindu-Muslim riots.

At least 12 lawyers were injured in the explosion in Varanasi, one of India's holiest cities, said Vipin Mishra, spokesman for the Home Ministry of Uttar Pradesh state, where all three cities are located.

The blasts went off less than 15 minutes apart inside court complexes, but not in courtrooms, Mishra said.

"This is the handiwork of some group that wants to disturb communal harmony in the state," the junior federal home minister, Sriprakash Jaiswal, told reporters. "They may have targeted the courts because large crowds gather in courthouses here."

A series of terrorist bombings have ripped across India in the past two years. In August, a pair of explosions killed 43 people in the southern city of Hyderabad. In July 2006, bombs in seven Mumbai commuter trains killed more than 200 people.

Police named no immediate suspects in the Friday explosions, but bombings are commonly blamed on Pakistan-based Muslim militants hoping to create tensions between India's Hindu majority and Muslim minority.

http://my.earthlink.net/article/int?guid=20071123/47465e50_3ce2_1558620071123-130848999

[Petronas]

Feminist author rewrites novel after death threats from Muslim extremists
November 30, 2007

A feminist author is to rewrite her autobiography after she was forced to flee from Muslim extremists who placed a bounty on her head. Taslima Nasreen, 45, a former doctor, said today that she hoped that the move would appease fundamentalist groups and end a controversy that forced her to leave Calcutta last week. Ms Nasreen had claimed that the religious references in Dwikhandito, which means Divided, are sourced from “universally accepted” books on Islamic history.

Today she relented under pressure and said that “controversial lines” relating to Islam from the autobiographical novel would be removed. “The book was written in 2002, based on my memories of Bangladesh in the 1980s, during which time secularism was removed from the Bangladesh constitution. I wrote the book in support of the people who defended secular values. I had no intention to hurt anybody’s sentiment,” she said today from a secret location.

“I have done what I have never done in my life. I have compromised even in a secular India.” She added that she hoped she would now be able to “live peacefully” in India.

Prashant Mukherjee, her publisher in Calcutta, refused to divulge the exact text or the nature of the sentences that were deemed particularly offensive by Islamic clerics, but said two paragraphs would be deleted.

Mr Mukherjee said that the Muslim-born author, who was whisked to a safe house near Delhi by federal security officers, had instructed him not to reveal the content for fear of stoking communal tensions further. “I can tell you that we thought it to be historical and true and that it would not give rise to any controversy,” he said. “It’s nothing extraordinarily poisonous against Islam but these people are hypersensitive.”

The publisher is not releasing any more copies of the unedited book, which has sold more than 30,000 copies in the original language since it was published in 2003. It has also been translated into Hindi.

Ms Nasreen was hounded out of Calcutta after widespread violence during a strike by a collection of minority groups demanding the cancellation of her visa. She had been living in the city since 2004 after returning from Europe. The Indian Government has pointed out that the author is a guest in the country, which is home to 140 million Muslims, and should behave like one. However, it has promised to host her at least until her visa expires in March.

Ms Nasreen, who describes herself as a “secular humanist”, fled her homeland of Bangladesh in 1994. Her other works, including the 1994 novel Lajja (Shame), have provoked extremists to call for her execution for blasphemy.

Some of the Muslim clerics, who issued a fatwa against her and put a 100,000 rupee (£1,200) bounty on her head, said that if she had expressed regret at what she had written by withdrawing the offensive sections, then the “matter should be closed”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2978120.ece

[Petronas]

LeT plot to blow up BSE foiled, six held
11 Feb 2008, 0000 hrs IST,TNN

LUCKNOW/MUMBAI/BANGALORE: In a dramatic breakthrough in the investigations into the terror attack on the CRPF camp in Rampur on January 1, the UP special task force on Sunday arrested six alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists.

Three of them were bound for Mumbai on Sunday morning to carry out strikes on key installations in India’s financial capital, police said. Two of the arrested terrorists have confessed that they carried out attacks on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore in 2006, police added. A Pakistani national was among those held, and 2 AK series rifles, hand grenades, a pistol and cartridges were recovered from them.
UP DGP Vikram Singh told reporters that STF acted on a tip-off that two of the four LeT terrorists involved in the Rampur attack were planning a series of fresh strikes - this time on the Bombay Stock Exchange, Churchgate station, and a temple in south Mumbai - and were hiding somewhere in the Bareilly-Rampur area.

Cops also came to know that one Jung Bahadur, alias Baba of Milkamaru locality in Rampur, was coordinating their movements. STF picked him up on February 9. He revealed the whereabouts of two terrorists who were to meet him at the Rampur bus stand. These two were picked up as well and on Saturday night, they identified themselves as Faheem and Mohammed Shareef.

Their interrogation revealed that three of their associates were to board a train from Lucknow to Mumbai on Sunday morning. The three were subsequently rounded up from Lucknow’s Charbagh railway station. They identified themselves as Sabauddin Ahmad of Madhubani in Bihar, Amar Singh of Gujranwala in Pakistan, and Abu Sama of Kashmir in Pakistan.

Of those arrested, Faheem is frequently based in Mumbai and was to play a key role in the attacks on the selected targets in Mumbai. Officials in Mumbai said he holds a Pakistani passport, apart from a "high security" citizen card issued to Pakistani citizens. The passport gives his name as Hammad Hassan, son of Bashir Hassan from Rawalpindi. This appears to be fake, cops said.

"BSE was going to be their first target. These terrorists have multiple targets. In case, they fail in one, they quickly move on to the next," said STF SSP Amitabh Yash.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/LeT_plot_to_blow_up_BSE_%20foiled_six_held/articleshow/2771826.cms

[Petronas]

Writer flees Islamic death threats
March 20, 2008 12:05am

BANGLADESHI writer Taslima Nasreen has left India after being hounded into hiding by death threats from Islamic extremists, her publisher and friends say. "Taslima Nasreen flew out of New Delhi this afternoon to Europe for medical treatment,'' her publisher Sibani Mukherjee said. She said Nasreen had asked her not to reveal the author's exact destination. Close friends also told said she had left India, and some Indian television stations reported that Nasreen was headed for Canada.

Nasreen was forced to flee Bangladesh in 1994 after radical Muslims accused her of blasphemy over her novel Lajja (Shame') - which depicts the life of a Hindu family persecuted by Muslims in Bangladesh.

The 45-year-old gynaecologist-turned-author - whose predicament is similar to that of Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie - had been seeking permanent residence in India, where she moved after spending time in Europe and the United States. But New Delhi had stalled the request, fearful of a backlash from the country's 140 million-plus Muslims, and has given the openly atheistic author only six-month visas.

The writer was forced to flee the West Bengal state capital of Kolkata, which she adopted as home in 2004, in November after receiving death threats from radical Indian Muslims and had since been living in hiding in New Delhi under Indian government security protection. The Indian Government said it had no immediate comment on Nasreen, who also holds a Swedish passport.

The writer said on Tuesday that she hoped to leave for France or Denmark for medical treatment, saying the months in isolation had sent her blood pressure soaring and affected her heart and eyesight. "I am living like a caged bird,'' she said. "I've become very weak. My eyesight is on the wane. I fear I will become blind unless I move out of here and get my eyes treated.'' Nasreen said she was shadowed at all times by intelligence personnel, was not allowed to see friends, denied timely medical treatment and was living under "virtual house arrest".

She had sought to go back to Kolkata but the West Bengal State Government said it did not want her back, fearful her return would stir more trouble. In a statement on Tuesday, Nasreen said Indian authorities had "constantly pressured me mentally to leave the country".

"I was determined I would not leave this country. When they saw it was pointless trying to destroy my mind, they attempted to destroy my body. In this they succeeded by ruining my health, which leaves me with no other alternative but to leave this country,'' she said.

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition, has accused the Congress-led Government of forcing Nasreen to leave India because it is worried about losing Muslim voter support with just over a year to go before national elections.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23406485-23109,00.html

[American_Jihad]

Qaeda imprints on Bangalore, Surat bombs
7/31/2008

Even as investigations continue in Surat, yet another bomb was discovered from the city's Hirabazar area on Wednesday (July 30), taking the number of bombs found and defused in Surat to 21 in the last three days.

One of the bombs was recovered in the Varacha area, shortly after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's visit, who termed this sort of terrorism as a 'proxy war' against the nation.

Meanwhile, investigating teams claim that integrated circuit chips have been used to assemble the bombs, a technique perfected by an Indonesian terror group that has links with the Al-Qaida.

The chips mean that a timer can be set for upto a period of 4 months. Chief Minister Narendra Modi who also visited the city, said his govt would deal with terrorism with utmost severity and that this sort of terrorism is a proxy war that the centre & state should fight together.

The bombs found on Wednesday were similar to the 18 found yesterday from in and around Varacha where several diamond processing units are located, police said.

An explosive was detected at Baroda Prestige Market in Varacha area, about 500 metres from Labeshwar Chowk where Modi had gone for a first-hand assessment.

Another bomb was found in Nana Varacha area hanging from a tree close to the Surat Municipal Corporation swimming pool.

The third bomb was located inside a bag filled with clothes at Hirabazar area of Mahidharpura locality, police said. Once again it was a local resident who informed police about the bomb.

With this, the total number of live bombs recovered in the city in the last three days rose to 21.

The Bomb Disposal Squad has been on its toes the whole day with many hoax calls from different parts of the city, they said.

The diamond city has been on the terror target ever since the serial blasts in Ahmedabad on July 26 which has claimed 53 lives and injured over 150 people. (Read more)

Schools, colleges, parks and shopping malls remained closed in the city following the recovery of bombs and people preferred to remain indoors.

On Monday, the bomb disposal squad successfully defused a live bomb in a residential area of Varacha and on Sunday the police defused a bomb near a hospital in New Citylight area. Police also recovered two explosive-laden cars from two different parts of the city on Sunday. (Read more)

What is the motive behind planting bombs?

Meanwhile, the investigating agencies are working on several premises to ascertain the reason for planting the bombs.

According to one line of investigation, the discovery of bombs from various parts of the diamond city indicates that terror modules may still be active in Surat, preparing for a future strike.

It could also mean that the terrorist outfits are unfazed by the heightened security in the state and could succeed in striking again.

Yet, others believe that the bombs could have also been placed in an attempt to mock Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, as they were discovered from Varacha - the same place the CM visited an hour before the bombs were discovered.

And lastly, one cannot rule out the possibility of these bombs only serving as a smoke screen to divert attention from the investigations in the Ahmedabad blasts.

Threatening e-mails continue to trouble agencies

While the police and other investigating agencies as busy collecting clues on the recent blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, threatening e-mails continue to keep the administration on the edge.

An email threatening to cause bomb blasts in the national capital was on Wednesday, received by the Japanese Embassy, which alerted the Delhi Police.

As a result of the email threat, the Japanese Embassy and its cultural centre has been closed temporarily. In the mail, Sarojini Nagar area was identified as one of the targets. Sarojini Nagar market was targeted by terrorists in October 2005. The email was immediately passed on to Delhi Police for further investigations.

Security has been stepped up at the Embassy; sources said adding that the capital is already on a high alert following the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad last week.

A senior police official said they were investigating the origin of the email.

A local Gujarati television channel also received a hand-written letter on Wednesday by an organisation claiming to be 'Harkat-ul-Jihad' saying that 'mission Gujarat' was 'successful'.

Police is yet to verify the credentials of the letter.

The letter was sent to the office of TV 9 (Gujarati) channel in Hyderabad through ordinary post inside an envelope with a five rupee stamp affixed on it.

The letter said that they will continue to take revenge for the Godhra carnage adding that the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal are their main target.

It further said that they will target Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition LK Advani and VHP leader Pravin Togadia.

It was a hand-written two page letter which said that "those who consider our talks a senseless are fools and will have to pay heavily".

It further said that "we had warned a local police station about the serial blasts right after the Jaipur blasts. How are we to blame if no one paid attention to our warning?"

It also warned the media organisation of dire consequences if it did not air their message saying more blasts will take place and it will be executed by some one who is trusted by all.

Meanwhile, hoax calls have been clogging control room phone lines with people calling in from different parts of the city informing about abandoned and stray lying objects.

Gujarat Crime branch team in Navi Mumbai

A team of Gujarat Police has reached Navi Mumbai for investigations, after cars used in Ahmedabad serial blasts and a e-mail were traced to that area even as 10 people, who were earlier associated with SIMI, were detained in Bharuch.

"We have sent a team of our officials to Navi Mumbai. The team, in cooperation with Maharashtra Police, will find out details of the cars and e-mail," said Crime Branch (City) chief and JCP Ashish Bhatia, who is heading the probe.

Bhatia said teams of Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan police are also in Ahmedabad to assist the investigating agencies. Police carried out combing operations in various areas of city, he said.

Meanwhile, the Bharuch district police detained for questioning 10 people who were earlier associated with SIMI.

http://www.timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=12405

[candypreet]

I wonder how many more Indians will be killed...... before the world notices