In the third such major attack in three months which took the paramilitary force by surprise, suspected Maoists killed 26 jawans of a CRPF road opening team and injured 15 others in an ambush at Dhorai in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Tuesday, the police said.
Rescue teams reached the spot late in the evening and the toll may go up, police said. A 66-member CRPF team was returning to camp when at least 90 Maoist insurgents attacked them at Jhargahati, a thickly forested area, 32 km from the district headquarters town of Narayanpur. The ambush was laid on the basis of prior information, police sources said. The Bastar IGP, Mr T.J. Longkumar, said: “The spot is surrounded by difficult terrain and forests. Reinforcements have been rushed from nearby areas. An IAF helicopter was used to transport the injured jawans.
Showing posts with label Maoists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maoists. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Prez Rule forces Maoists shift base to W. Bengal
In what is giving the government considerable concern in the ongoing battle against the Maoists, it is learnt that following the recent imposition of President’s Rule in Jharkhand the ultra-left rebels have started shifting their operational base from that tribal-dominated state to parts of West Bengal.
The intensified heat from the security forces following President’s Rule is understood to have given sleepless nights to some senior Maoist leaders, sources said, following which the decision was taken to shift their operations base to areas around Lalgarh in southern Bengal.
Intelligence sources claim that inputs received from the field indicate that the Maoists have relocated their training camps from Ghatshila, Chatara, Palamau and Latehar in Jharkhand to areas around Lalgarh, Baita and Jhargram in West Midnapore district of West Bengal.
Moreover, they are also shifting their operational camps located in certain parts of Hazaribagh to villages around Lalgarh, particularly Salboni and Belpahari.
“Available inputs also reveal that top Maoist leader Koteswara Rao, alias Kishenji, is hiding in the dense forests of Lalgarh,” sources said. “He is in touch with other Maoist leaders of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa.”
The intensified heat from the security forces following President’s Rule is understood to have given sleepless nights to some senior Maoist leaders, sources said, following which the decision was taken to shift their operations base to areas around Lalgarh in southern Bengal.
Intelligence sources claim that inputs received from the field indicate that the Maoists have relocated their training camps from Ghatshila, Chatara, Palamau and Latehar in Jharkhand to areas around Lalgarh, Baita and Jhargram in West Midnapore district of West Bengal.
Moreover, they are also shifting their operational camps located in certain parts of Hazaribagh to villages around Lalgarh, particularly Salboni and Belpahari.
“Available inputs also reveal that top Maoist leader Koteswara Rao, alias Kishenji, is hiding in the dense forests of Lalgarh,” sources said. “He is in touch with other Maoist leaders of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa.”
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Unified Army command likely to battle Maoists
Hit by the rapid increase in Maoist violence against civilians, the government is considering to call in the Army and set up a Unified Command to launch concerted anti-Naxal operations. The Army is likely to use it’s Special Forces commandos for “precision strikes” to eliminate Maoists in case of credible intelligence. The Army may not be used for day-to-day operations. The Unified Command will comprise military, paramilitary and police personnel deployed in the anti-Naxal operations.
In case the go-ahead is given for a Unified Command, sources said it could be located near Nagpur.
The command could be headed by a top Army officer of the rank of lieutenant general. The option was discussed at a meeting between the defence minister, Mr A.K. Antony, and the three service chiefs on Tuesday.
Also in a first move towards use of air power against Maoists, the Centre has asked the NTRO to pull out six UAVs lying in cold storage for deployment in anti-Naxal operations. Some of the IAF personnel, who are on deputation in NTRO, will be flying the UAVs. They are undergoing training to fly the spy drones, sources revealed.
In case the go-ahead is given for a Unified Command, sources said it could be located near Nagpur.
The command could be headed by a top Army officer of the rank of lieutenant general. The option was discussed at a meeting between the defence minister, Mr A.K. Antony, and the three service chiefs on Tuesday.
Also in a first move towards use of air power against Maoists, the Centre has asked the NTRO to pull out six UAVs lying in cold storage for deployment in anti-Naxal operations. Some of the IAF personnel, who are on deputation in NTRO, will be flying the UAVs. They are undergoing training to fly the spy drones, sources revealed.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Rail track blast kills 65, injures 200 in West Bengal
Sixty-five passengers of a Maharashtra-bound express train were killed early Friday and 200 injured in a suspected Maoist attack which led to derailment of 13 coaches that were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction.
The bodies of the passengers were removed from the mangled remains of the ill-fated coaches of the Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express and the injured taken out with the help of gas cutters, a South Eastern Railway (SER) spokesman said.
“65 bodies have been recovered. The toll could go up,” West Bengal Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said.
The incident occurred at 1:30 am when the train was running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations, about 135 k.m. from here, South Eastern Railway officials said.
'Fishplates were found removed': IGP
In Kolkata, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Surojit Karpurokayastha said that according to preliminary investigation, fish plates were found removed at the derailment site.
Earlier, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said the derailment followed a blast apparently triggered by Maoists who are observing a ‘black week’
“We suspect Maoist hand behind the blast,” Member (Traffic) Railway Board Vivek Sahai said.
He said the driver of the train heard a loud explosion after which the train derailed. Railways are investigating if the tracks were tampered with, he said.
Five of the 13 derailed coaches fell on an adjacent track and were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, Mukesh Kumar, said.
IAF choppers airlift injured
Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service at the accident spot to airlift some of the injured to the hospitals.
Ms. Banerjee, who reached the accident spot, said a patrol engine had passed through the area half an hour earlier, but the timing of the blast proved disastrous with a portion of the line being blown away.
She announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each of the dead and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
This is the second Maoist attack on civilians this month. Naxals had blown up a civilian bus in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on May 17, killing at least 36 people, including 12 Special Police Officers.
Five coaches hit by goods train
SER PRO Soumitra Majumdar said the train that was hit on Friday had 24 coaches. After the explosion, 13 including 10 sleeper coaches, derailed of which five were hit by the goods train coming on the opposite track.
An unreserved coach, the pantry car and luggage van also derailed, he said.
Passengers belongings lay strewn scattered on the tracks.
Angry passengers said the first signs of relief came only around 5 am, three-and-a-half hours after the incident.
Nine of the coaches which were not damaged in the blast took the injured and the other passengers to Kharagpur where they were admitted to hospital.
Anti-Maoist forces were at the spot and assisting the police and rescue personnel in extricating the bodies from four badly damaged sleeper coaches: S-5, S-6, S-7 and S-8.
West Bengal Government to bear cost of treatment
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has asked State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta to immediately rush to Sardiha, the site of the accident.
“I have been asked by the Chief Minister to rush to the accident site with six special rescue teams and three mobile ambulances,” Mr. Dasgupta told PTI before leaving for the accident spot on Friday morning.
The State government would bear the treatment cost of the injured passengers, Chief Minister’s secretariat sources said.
“State government has already rushed preliminary rescue teams with doctors and ambulances and more will follow,” the sources said.
Senior railway officials including Railway Board Chairman S.S. Khurana and DG RPF rushed to the spot.
A relief train left Kharagpur with a team of 12 doctors and 20 paramedics as also two doctors from the Kalaikunda airbase, the officials said.
Helplines
Helplines have been set up at Kharagpur — (0322) 255751 and 255735 and Howrah — (033) 26382217, besides a toll free number 10722.
Helplines have also been set up at Tatanagar (0657) 2290324, 2290074, 2290382, at Rourkela (0661) 2511155, Chakradharpur (06587) 238072 and Jharsuguda (06445) 270977.
“The S-5 and S-6 coaches bore the maximum brunt of the impact,” Palash Ganti, a passenger, said.
Ganti, who was travelling in the B1 coach, said when he looked out of the window he found that half of the coaches had derailed and a goods train on the opposite tracks hitting them.
“At first, we thought Maoists have attacked to loot the train. When the accident happened no RPF personnel were present on the train,” said another passenger.
The bodies of the passengers were removed from the mangled remains of the ill-fated coaches of the Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express and the injured taken out with the help of gas cutters, a South Eastern Railway (SER) spokesman said.
“65 bodies have been recovered. The toll could go up,” West Bengal Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said.
The incident occurred at 1:30 am when the train was running between Khemasoli and Sardiya stations, about 135 k.m. from here, South Eastern Railway officials said.
'Fishplates were found removed': IGP
In Kolkata, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Surojit Karpurokayastha said that according to preliminary investigation, fish plates were found removed at the derailment site.
Earlier, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said the derailment followed a blast apparently triggered by Maoists who are observing a ‘black week’
“We suspect Maoist hand behind the blast,” Member (Traffic) Railway Board Vivek Sahai said.
He said the driver of the train heard a loud explosion after which the train derailed. Railways are investigating if the tracks were tampered with, he said.
Five of the 13 derailed coaches fell on an adjacent track and were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, Mukesh Kumar, said.
IAF choppers airlift injured
Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service at the accident spot to airlift some of the injured to the hospitals.
Ms. Banerjee, who reached the accident spot, said a patrol engine had passed through the area half an hour earlier, but the timing of the blast proved disastrous with a portion of the line being blown away.
She announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the next of kin of each of the dead and Rs 1 lakh for the injured.
This is the second Maoist attack on civilians this month. Naxals had blown up a civilian bus in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on May 17, killing at least 36 people, including 12 Special Police Officers.
Five coaches hit by goods train
SER PRO Soumitra Majumdar said the train that was hit on Friday had 24 coaches. After the explosion, 13 including 10 sleeper coaches, derailed of which five were hit by the goods train coming on the opposite track.
An unreserved coach, the pantry car and luggage van also derailed, he said.
Passengers belongings lay strewn scattered on the tracks.
Angry passengers said the first signs of relief came only around 5 am, three-and-a-half hours after the incident.
Nine of the coaches which were not damaged in the blast took the injured and the other passengers to Kharagpur where they were admitted to hospital.
Anti-Maoist forces were at the spot and assisting the police and rescue personnel in extricating the bodies from four badly damaged sleeper coaches: S-5, S-6, S-7 and S-8.
West Bengal Government to bear cost of treatment
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has asked State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta to immediately rush to Sardiha, the site of the accident.
“I have been asked by the Chief Minister to rush to the accident site with six special rescue teams and three mobile ambulances,” Mr. Dasgupta told PTI before leaving for the accident spot on Friday morning.
The State government would bear the treatment cost of the injured passengers, Chief Minister’s secretariat sources said.
“State government has already rushed preliminary rescue teams with doctors and ambulances and more will follow,” the sources said.
Senior railway officials including Railway Board Chairman S.S. Khurana and DG RPF rushed to the spot.
A relief train left Kharagpur with a team of 12 doctors and 20 paramedics as also two doctors from the Kalaikunda airbase, the officials said.
Helplines
Helplines have been set up at Kharagpur — (0322) 255751 and 255735 and Howrah — (033) 26382217, besides a toll free number 10722.
Helplines have also been set up at Tatanagar (0657) 2290324, 2290074, 2290382, at Rourkela (0661) 2511155, Chakradharpur (06587) 238072 and Jharsuguda (06445) 270977.
“The S-5 and S-6 coaches bore the maximum brunt of the impact,” Palash Ganti, a passenger, said.
Ganti, who was travelling in the B1 coach, said when he looked out of the window he found that half of the coaches had derailed and a goods train on the opposite tracks hitting them.
“At first, we thought Maoists have attacked to loot the train. When the accident happened no RPF personnel were present on the train,” said another passenger.
Manmohan announces Rs 2 lakh solatium
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed grief over the death of Gyaneswari Express passengers and announces Rs 2 lakh to the relatives of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each of those seriously injured.
At least 20 passengers were killed and 150 injured when suspected Maoists blasted rail tracks in West Midnapore district early Friday derailing 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound express train which rammed into three bogies of a goods train.
At least 20 passengers were killed and 150 injured when suspected Maoists blasted rail tracks in West Midnapore district early Friday derailing 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound express train which rammed into three bogies of a goods train.
65 die as train derails after suspected Maoists sabotage
At least 65 people were killed and over 150 injured early on Friday when the engine and 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound
passenger train derailed and were hit by a speeding goods train in West Bengal, officials said.
They said 20 bodies had been recovered from the derailed and badly damaged coaches of the Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express.
As soon as the engine and 13 coaches fell on the adjoining track, rudely shaking the sleeping passengers, at least five derailed bogies were hit by the speeding goods train
coming from the opposite direction.
Shrieks of injured passengers tore through the night as they feverishly tried to escape from the mangled coaches. Shocked train passengers stumbled out of the bogies and
they frantically looked for their near ones.
In Delhi, a railway official didn't rule out sabotage by Maoist guerrillas, but he said deaths were mainly caused by the goods train hitting five coaches of the passenger train. "We suspect it is a case of sabotage. The driver (of the passenger train) has reported to have heard a large sound. There was definite tinkering with the tracks," the member railway board, Mr Vivek Sahai told reporters.
Sahai said 20 passengers were dead and 104 injured. He said a light engine and three trains had passed on the track earlier. "It is unfortunate that Gyaneshwar Express got
hit." He said the railways had sounded a red alert in five states — Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal — in the wake of Maoists observing black week since the past midnight.
In Kolkata, the Director General of Police, Mr Bhupinder Singh told IANS that the train ran off the track at 1.30 a.m. as a portion of the tracks as well as fish plates were found to have been removed near Jhargram, about 155 km from the West Bengal capital. Initial reports indicated that a huge blast was to blame for the derailment, but it was not
officially confirmed. "There could have been a blast. But the train derailed primarily because of the missing
fishplates and rail tracks," Mr Singh said. Villagers and railway officials frantically tried to rescue passengers still trapped in the fallen bogies. "We heard a loud, screeching noise of the train braking and the coaches derailing," said a shocked passenger who survived the accident. A man who rushed to help the injured said: "Initially, no security staff in the train helped.
Only public came to the help of the passengers. We rushed to try and save people."
No one has claimed responsibility for the sabotage, but it is suspected to be the handiwork of Maoist guerrillas active in the region.
Officials say they have recovered posters of Maoists and the Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), a group of tribal agitators having close links with Leftist
rebels in West Midnapore.
The Indian Air Force and other security agencies have launched a massive rescue operation for hundreds of people believed to be trapped in the damaged and tilted coaches of the train.
A Chetak and one Mi-17 helicopter has been sent to help in the rescue effort at the site,
Wing Commander Mahesh Upasni, an IAF spokesperson told IANS. "CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel have rushed to the area," an official at
the accident site said. The injured passengers were taken to the nearest major town Kharagpur and elsewhere in West Midnapore district. Many of those wounded are believed to be in a serious condition.
Four second class sleepers - S3, S4, S5 and S6 - were badly mutilated, with rescuers fearing that most of the passengers trapped inside could be gravely injured. The condition of the crew of the goods train was not immediately known.
passenger train derailed and were hit by a speeding goods train in West Bengal, officials said.
They said 20 bodies had been recovered from the derailed and badly damaged coaches of the Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express.
As soon as the engine and 13 coaches fell on the adjoining track, rudely shaking the sleeping passengers, at least five derailed bogies were hit by the speeding goods train
coming from the opposite direction.
Shrieks of injured passengers tore through the night as they feverishly tried to escape from the mangled coaches. Shocked train passengers stumbled out of the bogies and
they frantically looked for their near ones.
In Delhi, a railway official didn't rule out sabotage by Maoist guerrillas, but he said deaths were mainly caused by the goods train hitting five coaches of the passenger train. "We suspect it is a case of sabotage. The driver (of the passenger train) has reported to have heard a large sound. There was definite tinkering with the tracks," the member railway board, Mr Vivek Sahai told reporters.
Sahai said 20 passengers were dead and 104 injured. He said a light engine and three trains had passed on the track earlier. "It is unfortunate that Gyaneshwar Express got
hit." He said the railways had sounded a red alert in five states — Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal — in the wake of Maoists observing black week since the past midnight.
In Kolkata, the Director General of Police, Mr Bhupinder Singh told IANS that the train ran off the track at 1.30 a.m. as a portion of the tracks as well as fish plates were found to have been removed near Jhargram, about 155 km from the West Bengal capital. Initial reports indicated that a huge blast was to blame for the derailment, but it was not
officially confirmed. "There could have been a blast. But the train derailed primarily because of the missing
fishplates and rail tracks," Mr Singh said. Villagers and railway officials frantically tried to rescue passengers still trapped in the fallen bogies. "We heard a loud, screeching noise of the train braking and the coaches derailing," said a shocked passenger who survived the accident. A man who rushed to help the injured said: "Initially, no security staff in the train helped.
Only public came to the help of the passengers. We rushed to try and save people."
No one has claimed responsibility for the sabotage, but it is suspected to be the handiwork of Maoist guerrillas active in the region.
Officials say they have recovered posters of Maoists and the Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), a group of tribal agitators having close links with Leftist
rebels in West Midnapore.
The Indian Air Force and other security agencies have launched a massive rescue operation for hundreds of people believed to be trapped in the damaged and tilted coaches of the train.
A Chetak and one Mi-17 helicopter has been sent to help in the rescue effort at the site,
Wing Commander Mahesh Upasni, an IAF spokesperson told IANS. "CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel have rushed to the area," an official at
the accident site said. The injured passengers were taken to the nearest major town Kharagpur and elsewhere in West Midnapore district. Many of those wounded are believed to be in a serious condition.
Four second class sleepers - S3, S4, S5 and S6 - were badly mutilated, with rescuers fearing that most of the passengers trapped inside could be gravely injured. The condition of the crew of the goods train was not immediately known.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Goods train catches fire as Maoists blast rail line
At least 15 diesel tankers caught fire when suspected Maoists derailed a goods train by blasting the railway track and then set afire one of the tankers in Bihar's Motihari district, a railway official said on Thursday.
The Maoists targeted the diesel tankers on the goods train between Jeevdhara and Pipra railway stations in Motihari, about 200 km from here. "The goods train driver and guard informed us that suspected Maoists set afire an oil tanker. After that fire spread to other tankers," the east central railway chief public relation officer, Mr Dilip Kumar told IANS over telephone. A local police official said that the fire was still raging. "The fire is massive and we will have to wait for the fuel to burn out," he said. Meanwhile, train services have been disrupted in north Bihar as the main track has been blocked, sources in the railways said.
The Maoists targeted the diesel tankers on the goods train between Jeevdhara and Pipra railway stations in Motihari, about 200 km from here. "The goods train driver and guard informed us that suspected Maoists set afire an oil tanker. After that fire spread to other tankers," the east central railway chief public relation officer, Mr Dilip Kumar told IANS over telephone. A local police official said that the fire was still raging. "The fire is massive and we will have to wait for the fuel to burn out," he said. Meanwhile, train services have been disrupted in north Bihar as the main track has been blocked, sources in the railways said.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
PC invites Maoists for talks, offers ceasefire
Confusion prevails in the Union home ministry on how to deal with the terror unleashed by Maoists. Intelligence outfits operating in Maoist-dominated areas appear clueless about the insurgents’ movements while they continue to strike with impunity.
The home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and some senior Congress leaders have different views on what the government should do. While Mr Chidambaram said on Monday that he was trying to “convince” the Union Cabinet to authorise the use of the Air Force in anti-Naxal operations, the senior Congress leader, Mr Digvijay Singh articulated the opposite viewpoint: that the armed forces should not be brought in. The Army and the Air Force are not in favour of getting involved. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is expected to review the strategy against Maoists at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Chidambaram, a day after referring to the possible use of air power in a television interview, on Tuesday reiterated the government’s offer of talks if the Maoists “suspend” violence while speaking on another TV channel. “The Maoists should say — ‘We’ll abjure violence’. Then we (the government) will actually suspend violence for 72 hours.”
The home minister added: “We’ll get the Chief Ministers on board. We will respond. We’ll fix a date, time and place for talks, and let the Maoists ... talk on anything they wish.”
“All CMs have an unlimited mandate to tackle Maoist violence. The Centre can only assist,” he said.
The home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and some senior Congress leaders have different views on what the government should do. While Mr Chidambaram said on Monday that he was trying to “convince” the Union Cabinet to authorise the use of the Air Force in anti-Naxal operations, the senior Congress leader, Mr Digvijay Singh articulated the opposite viewpoint: that the armed forces should not be brought in. The Army and the Air Force are not in favour of getting involved. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is expected to review the strategy against Maoists at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Chidambaram, a day after referring to the possible use of air power in a television interview, on Tuesday reiterated the government’s offer of talks if the Maoists “suspend” violence while speaking on another TV channel. “The Maoists should say — ‘We’ll abjure violence’. Then we (the government) will actually suspend violence for 72 hours.”
The home minister added: “We’ll get the Chief Ministers on board. We will respond. We’ll fix a date, time and place for talks, and let the Maoists ... talk on anything they wish.”
“All CMs have an unlimited mandate to tackle Maoist violence. The Centre can only assist,” he said.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Govt bans 100 global terror outfits
The government has banned more than a hundred terrorist outfits linked to al-Qaeda from across the globe.
Terror outfits like Jemaah Islamiyah (involved in Bali bombing) of Indonesia, Islamic Jihad Group of Libya, the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad were declared as terrorist organisations by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The government has now declared these more than 100 entities as outlawed in India by putting their names along with 33 other outfits in the list of banned organisations of Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Ministry has put these entities together (at entry number 33) in its ‘revised’ list of banned outfits as “Organisations listed in the Schedule to the UN Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism (Implementation of Security Council Resolutions) Order, 2007.”
The action under amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is seen as a move “to avoid any legal ambiguity” in case Indian security agencies want to lay their hands on anyone associated with these bodies, an official said.
Though India had been keeping tabs on these outfits in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions, no such action has been taken in the past.
Other prominent names in the list include International Islamic Relief Organisation of Philippines and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan among others.
The number of these outfits will increase or decrease as amended from time to time. The Ministry has put them together under one head so that it does not have to revise the list whenever it is amended at the UNSC level, the official said.
The Home Ministry’s revised list of banned outfits — which is to be made public on its official website soon — also for the first time includes the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) as one of the terrorist organisations under the UAP Act.
Though names of three pro-Khalistan terror outfits — Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Comando Force (KCF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) — have been on the list for long, the move to include KZF in the revised list is seen in the light of increased activities of the outfit in India in the past couple of years.
Officials believe that the revised list will help the security agencies in pursuing cases against the terrorists belonging to these outfits in courts more effectively.
Prominent in the list of banned outfits in India include: Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Tahrik-e-Furqan, Al Badr, Jamiat-ul-Mujahidden, al-Qaeda, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Ansar, Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Umar-Mujahideen, Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front, ULFA, NDFB, LTTE, SIMI, Deendar Anjuman, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist-People’s War), Maoist Communist Centre and CPI (Maoist).
Terror outfits like Jemaah Islamiyah (involved in Bali bombing) of Indonesia, Islamic Jihad Group of Libya, the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad were declared as terrorist organisations by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The government has now declared these more than 100 entities as outlawed in India by putting their names along with 33 other outfits in the list of banned organisations of Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Ministry has put these entities together (at entry number 33) in its ‘revised’ list of banned outfits as “Organisations listed in the Schedule to the UN Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism (Implementation of Security Council Resolutions) Order, 2007.”
The action under amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is seen as a move “to avoid any legal ambiguity” in case Indian security agencies want to lay their hands on anyone associated with these bodies, an official said.
Though India had been keeping tabs on these outfits in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions, no such action has been taken in the past.
Other prominent names in the list include International Islamic Relief Organisation of Philippines and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan among others.
The number of these outfits will increase or decrease as amended from time to time. The Ministry has put them together under one head so that it does not have to revise the list whenever it is amended at the UNSC level, the official said.
The Home Ministry’s revised list of banned outfits — which is to be made public on its official website soon — also for the first time includes the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) as one of the terrorist organisations under the UAP Act.
Though names of three pro-Khalistan terror outfits — Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Comando Force (KCF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) — have been on the list for long, the move to include KZF in the revised list is seen in the light of increased activities of the outfit in India in the past couple of years.
Officials believe that the revised list will help the security agencies in pursuing cases against the terrorists belonging to these outfits in courts more effectively.
Prominent in the list of banned outfits in India include: Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Tahrik-e-Furqan, Al Badr, Jamiat-ul-Mujahidden, al-Qaeda, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Ansar, Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Umar-Mujahideen, Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front, ULFA, NDFB, LTTE, SIMI, Deendar Anjuman, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist-People’s War), Maoist Communist Centre and CPI (Maoist).
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Prevent Maoist attack: CM
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has asked the police to ramp up security for public representatives and be on the alert to thwart attacks by Maoists.
He gave these directions while reviewing the security situation in the wake of the Maoist attack in Visakhapatnam on Monday. Maoists had gunned down the vice-chairperson of the Zilla Parishad, Mr U. Somalingam, at his house in Choudupalle.
The security of MLAs and ministers in North Andhra has already been stepped up. The ministers, Mr Botsa Satynarayana, Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao and Mr Balaraju were asked to be on alert. Public representatives have also been asked not to go to remote areas.
The intelligence IG, Mr Mahender Reddy, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr A.K. Khan, took part in the review meeting. The police officers explained to the Chief Minister how the Maoist attacks took place in Vishakapatnam in the past two days. The state government has also decided to ask the Union home ministry to provide a helicopter to the state for shifting injured persons in emergency situations. “We will be talking to the Union home minister on this,” said the state home minister Ms P. Sabita Indra Reddy.
He gave these directions while reviewing the security situation in the wake of the Maoist attack in Visakhapatnam on Monday. Maoists had gunned down the vice-chairperson of the Zilla Parishad, Mr U. Somalingam, at his house in Choudupalle.
The security of MLAs and ministers in North Andhra has already been stepped up. The ministers, Mr Botsa Satynarayana, Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao and Mr Balaraju were asked to be on alert. Public representatives have also been asked not to go to remote areas.
The intelligence IG, Mr Mahender Reddy, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr A.K. Khan, took part in the review meeting. The police officers explained to the Chief Minister how the Maoist attacks took place in Vishakapatnam in the past two days. The state government has also decided to ask the Union home ministry to provide a helicopter to the state for shifting injured persons in emergency situations. “We will be talking to the Union home minister on this,” said the state home minister Ms P. Sabita Indra Reddy.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Maoists kill ZP vice-chief
Maoists struck in Visakhapatnam district after a gap of three years on Monday, firing at a private jeep and injuring six tribals and gunning down the vice chairperson of the Zilla Parishad.
U. Somalingam was shot dead at his house in Choudupalle, about 120 km from here, late on Monday evening. Reports said three Maoists came to his house and shot him from close range. His relatives rushed him to Chintapalle hospital, about 3 km from the village, but he died on the way.
Somalingam was elected in the place of Kimudu Ravi Shankar who was also shot dead by Maoists on May 28, 2007. Shankar was shot dead in the presence of hundreds of people during the Modakondamma jatara, a local festival.
The Maoists had alleged that both Somalingam and Shankar were supporting the mining of bauxite in the Agency area. Recently, the Maoists had issued a threat to all Congress leaders supporting mining activities.
Earlier in the day, Maoists opened fire at a jeep carrying tribals while they were returning from a weekly shandy (market) at RV Nagar of Chintapalle mandal on Monday, about 80 km from here. The Maoists had laid at least three landmines on the road.
Six persons, including three women, sustained bullet injuries in the attack and the condition of two of them is stated to be critical.
U. Somalingam was shot dead at his house in Choudupalle, about 120 km from here, late on Monday evening. Reports said three Maoists came to his house and shot him from close range. His relatives rushed him to Chintapalle hospital, about 3 km from the village, but he died on the way.
Somalingam was elected in the place of Kimudu Ravi Shankar who was also shot dead by Maoists on May 28, 2007. Shankar was shot dead in the presence of hundreds of people during the Modakondamma jatara, a local festival.
The Maoists had alleged that both Somalingam and Shankar were supporting the mining of bauxite in the Agency area. Recently, the Maoists had issued a threat to all Congress leaders supporting mining activities.
Earlier in the day, Maoists opened fire at a jeep carrying tribals while they were returning from a weekly shandy (market) at RV Nagar of Chintapalle mandal on Monday, about 80 km from here. The Maoists had laid at least three landmines on the road.
Six persons, including three women, sustained bullet injuries in the attack and the condition of two of them is stated to be critical.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Buck stops with me: PC
Under increasing fire after the Maoists massacred 76 CRPF jawans at Dantewada earlier this week, the Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, offered to resign in an effort to salvage his position in the government and the party.
Within hours of Mr Chidambaram made public his offer to resign, the Prime Minister’s Office made it known that Dr Manmohan Singh had rejected it.
Mr Chidambaram’s decision to make his resignation offer known a day before the Prime Minister’s departure on a week-long foreign trip could be significant in the expectation of securing Dr Singh’s full backing ahead of the Parliament session when the massacre is likely to come up. Mr Chidambaram, who had told the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, in Lalgarh last Sunday that the “buck stopped with the CM” in the context of political violence in that state, was forced to admit on Friday that the “buck stops at my desk.”
Chronicle had asked Mr Chidambaram on Friday in the Op-Ed article Talk less, do more, Mr Chidambaram, “who does that buck (the Dantewada massacre stop with.”
Later in the day, the home minister, speaking at the CRPF’s Valour Day function, said: “I have been asked directly or indirectly where the buck stops for what happened in Dantewada. I have no hesitation saying the buck stops at my desk. I accept full responsibility for what happened in Dantewada”.
The home minister has been landing the government and the party in a series of controversies, including the December 9 announcement on Telangana — “the process for the formation of Telangana has been initiated — that set off a firestorm in Andhra Pradesh.
This is not the first time that Mr Chidambaram has offered to step down from a high position — he had resigned from the Cabinet in 1992 accepting moral responsibility for having invested in Fairgrowth, a company allegedly involved in the securities scam, and then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao accepted his resignation.
Questions are now being asked in political circles on what prompted the home minister to take this step: was it to silence critics in the party or to project an image of indispensability?
Guessing games are also on in the Congress on possible successors in case the PM had been inclined to
Within hours of Mr Chidambaram made public his offer to resign, the Prime Minister’s Office made it known that Dr Manmohan Singh had rejected it.
Mr Chidambaram’s decision to make his resignation offer known a day before the Prime Minister’s departure on a week-long foreign trip could be significant in the expectation of securing Dr Singh’s full backing ahead of the Parliament session when the massacre is likely to come up. Mr Chidambaram, who had told the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, in Lalgarh last Sunday that the “buck stopped with the CM” in the context of political violence in that state, was forced to admit on Friday that the “buck stops at my desk.”
Chronicle had asked Mr Chidambaram on Friday in the Op-Ed article Talk less, do more, Mr Chidambaram, “who does that buck (the Dantewada massacre stop with.”
Later in the day, the home minister, speaking at the CRPF’s Valour Day function, said: “I have been asked directly or indirectly where the buck stops for what happened in Dantewada. I have no hesitation saying the buck stops at my desk. I accept full responsibility for what happened in Dantewada”.
The home minister has been landing the government and the party in a series of controversies, including the December 9 announcement on Telangana — “the process for the formation of Telangana has been initiated — that set off a firestorm in Andhra Pradesh.
This is not the first time that Mr Chidambaram has offered to step down from a high position — he had resigned from the Cabinet in 1992 accepting moral responsibility for having invested in Fairgrowth, a company allegedly involved in the securities scam, and then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao accepted his resignation.
Questions are now being asked in political circles on what prompted the home minister to take this step: was it to silence critics in the party or to project an image of indispensability?
Guessing games are also on in the Congress on possible successors in case the PM had been inclined to
Thursday, April 8, 2010
PC hints at use of air fire on Maoists
Policemen stood in grief and anger at a special ceremony held on Wednesday at Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, to pay homage to the 76 CRPF men killed by Maoists even as the Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, told reporters there that the government may have to reconsider its policy of not using the Air Force in the fight against Naxalites.
[Naxals fired at a CRPF camp in Dantewada district late on Wednesday night, defying stepped-up security after Tuesday’s bloodiest-ever attack against the security forces, PTI reports. The Naxals fired four rounds at the CRPF camp in Palampalli village and security personnel promptly retaliated, the Chhattisgarh DGP, Mr Viswa Ranjan, said.]
In New Delhi, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said all options, like using air power in the fight against Maoists, are “reviewed” from time to time. “I think the policy has to be reviewed practically from time to time, learning from experience. We are too close to the event to take a view that the existing policy needs to be modified,” he stated.
In Gandhinagar, the IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, said he was not in favour of the use of air power in anti-Naxal operations but added that the IAF would be ready to join operations against the Naxals if a decision is taken.
[Naxals fired at a CRPF camp in Dantewada district late on Wednesday night, defying stepped-up security after Tuesday’s bloodiest-ever attack against the security forces, PTI reports. The Naxals fired four rounds at the CRPF camp in Palampalli village and security personnel promptly retaliated, the Chhattisgarh DGP, Mr Viswa Ranjan, said.]
In New Delhi, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said all options, like using air power in the fight against Maoists, are “reviewed” from time to time. “I think the policy has to be reviewed practically from time to time, learning from experience. We are too close to the event to take a view that the existing policy needs to be modified,” he stated.
In Gandhinagar, the IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, said he was not in favour of the use of air power in anti-Naxal operations but added that the IAF would be ready to join operations against the Naxals if a decision is taken.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Maoists kill 76 in savage attack
Bhopal/New Delhi, April 6: At least 76 security force personnel were killed on Tuesday when Naxalite guerrillas used guns and explosives against a surrounded Central Reserve Police Force contingent in the Mukarna forest near the village of Chintalnar-Tarmetla in Dantewada district, which lies in Naxalite-affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. It was one of the most savage ambushes mounted by the Naxals.
The attack came 48 hours after Union home minister P. Chidambaram visited West Bengal and told state chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that as far as Maoist violence was concerned, "the buck stops with the chief minister".
It was early on Tuesday morning that the Maoists launched the attack on the CRPF personnel, who were returning from a search operation following "information" that they had received on the Naxalites. However, it was a "well-laid trap" that the security forces appeared to have walked into as the Maoists fired at them from atop a hillock.
Nearly 1,000 Maoists are believed to have been involved in the massacre, outnumbering the approximately 100 security personnel. The area where the combing operation was being carried is known to be a Maoist stronghold.
Chhattisgarh additional director-general of police (anti-Naxal operations) Ram Nivas told this newspaper that the Naxalites, who were heavily armed, ambushed a CRPF contingent in a forested area in Dantewada district on Tuesday morning. He said it would not be possible to give a full account of what happened as they were still in the process of assessing the situation.
The Naxalites detonated a landmine, triggered blasts and opened fire at the trapped CRPF men. The Maoist guerrillas outnumbered the security personnel and were able to inflict heavy casualties by surrounding the CRPF contingent. An injured jawan later said there were about 1,000 Maoist guerrillas firing at the patrol party.
An official source in Raipur said a helicopter was sent from Jagdalpur, the Bastar district headquarters, to rush those injured in the attack to hospital. Requesting anonymity, he said the CRPF contingent had gone on an "Operation Green Hunt" mission into the jungle and while returning "walked into the Naxalites’ trap and were massacred".
He said there is something drastically wrong with the anti-Naxal operations. It will have to be investigated, the source said, including how well motivated were the CRPF men and whether or not they were given proper jungle and guerrilla warfare training before being posted in the Naxalite-affected area. Even the performance levels of their supervisors comes under the scanner, he added.
While state police officials said the security personnel were on a mission that is part of the on-going "Operation Green Hunt" targeting the Maoists, the Centre maintained it wasn’t part of this exercise.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Mr Chidambaram and also chaired a meeting of the National Security Council to take stock of the situation. Mr Chidambaram admitted that "something has gone drastically wrong" and added that the killings "show the savage nature of the CPI (Maoist)".
The bodies of the slain security personnel are expected in the national capital on Wednesday with the Centre having dispatched an AN-32 aircraft to transport the bodies. According to the home ministry, all security personnel involved in the search operation have been accounted for though the Maoists took away all their weapons.
In Chhattisgarh, a joint team of the BSF and state police swung into action after the bloody attack and arrested 12 suspected Maoists besides seizing their weapons from the Koilibeda area in Kanker district. Belonging to the Panidobir "dalam (unit)" allegedly led by Ram Singh, the joint team caught him along with his assistant Darsu.
The security personnel were returning after their early morning operation when they were ambushed. Literally surrounded by the Maoists, the personnel found themselves taking heavy fire and also stepping on pressure bombs. Among those who fell was a deputy commandant and an assistant commandant of the CRPF.
Dantewada SP Amresh Mishra said the Naxals first blew up a vehicle carrying CRPF personnel near Chintalnar-Tarmetla village in the district. Immediately after the blast, the CRPF personnel and a few policemen tried to take cover but then came the heavy firing from hundreds of Naxals, all well-entrenched atop a hillock.
In New Delhi, Union home secretary Gopal Pillai admitted an element of failure in the anti-Naxal operation had led to the incident. He said the massacre has strengthened the government’s resolve to give a "firmer and fitting reply to the murderers".
The home secretary, however, ruled out the use of air power in the fight against Naxalites. "I don’t think we need to use air power at the moment. We can manage with what we have. Our strategy is unfolding and we should be able to manage without air power," he stated.
The home ministry has sought details of the intelligence received by CRPF personnel which prompted such a large number of them to enter an area which did not fall within the parameters of the planned anti-Naxal offensive by the Centre. "Some information was planted on the security personnel which was so attractive that a large team went inside the jungle," home ministry sources said.
The Maoists laid the trap over days of planning, government sources said. A court of inquiry has been ordered into the incident to establish whether it was an intelligence failure on the part of the security forces, who probably did not verify the intelligence inputs they received nor reconnoitre the area, thus falling into the trap. It will also establish the sequence of events that led to the attack, a home ministry official said.
CRPF special director-general Vijay Raman rushed to the spot along with senior Chhattisgarh police officers to take stock of the ground situation. Speaking from the spot, he said on Tuesday evening it would not be possible to discuss anything at this stage.
A high alert has been declared in Mandla, Dhindori, Balaghat, Sidhi, Shahdol, Singrauli, and Umaria districts of Madhya Pradesh. These districts are known for Naxalite activity. One CRPF battalion has been deployed for Naxal-infested areas in the state.
The attack came 48 hours after Union home minister P. Chidambaram visited West Bengal and told state chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that as far as Maoist violence was concerned, "the buck stops with the chief minister".
It was early on Tuesday morning that the Maoists launched the attack on the CRPF personnel, who were returning from a search operation following "information" that they had received on the Naxalites. However, it was a "well-laid trap" that the security forces appeared to have walked into as the Maoists fired at them from atop a hillock.
Nearly 1,000 Maoists are believed to have been involved in the massacre, outnumbering the approximately 100 security personnel. The area where the combing operation was being carried is known to be a Maoist stronghold.
Chhattisgarh additional director-general of police (anti-Naxal operations) Ram Nivas told this newspaper that the Naxalites, who were heavily armed, ambushed a CRPF contingent in a forested area in Dantewada district on Tuesday morning. He said it would not be possible to give a full account of what happened as they were still in the process of assessing the situation.
The Naxalites detonated a landmine, triggered blasts and opened fire at the trapped CRPF men. The Maoist guerrillas outnumbered the security personnel and were able to inflict heavy casualties by surrounding the CRPF contingent. An injured jawan later said there were about 1,000 Maoist guerrillas firing at the patrol party.
An official source in Raipur said a helicopter was sent from Jagdalpur, the Bastar district headquarters, to rush those injured in the attack to hospital. Requesting anonymity, he said the CRPF contingent had gone on an "Operation Green Hunt" mission into the jungle and while returning "walked into the Naxalites’ trap and were massacred".
He said there is something drastically wrong with the anti-Naxal operations. It will have to be investigated, the source said, including how well motivated were the CRPF men and whether or not they were given proper jungle and guerrilla warfare training before being posted in the Naxalite-affected area. Even the performance levels of their supervisors comes under the scanner, he added.
While state police officials said the security personnel were on a mission that is part of the on-going "Operation Green Hunt" targeting the Maoists, the Centre maintained it wasn’t part of this exercise.
Following the attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Mr Chidambaram and also chaired a meeting of the National Security Council to take stock of the situation. Mr Chidambaram admitted that "something has gone drastically wrong" and added that the killings "show the savage nature of the CPI (Maoist)".
The bodies of the slain security personnel are expected in the national capital on Wednesday with the Centre having dispatched an AN-32 aircraft to transport the bodies. According to the home ministry, all security personnel involved in the search operation have been accounted for though the Maoists took away all their weapons.
In Chhattisgarh, a joint team of the BSF and state police swung into action after the bloody attack and arrested 12 suspected Maoists besides seizing their weapons from the Koilibeda area in Kanker district. Belonging to the Panidobir "dalam (unit)" allegedly led by Ram Singh, the joint team caught him along with his assistant Darsu.
The security personnel were returning after their early morning operation when they were ambushed. Literally surrounded by the Maoists, the personnel found themselves taking heavy fire and also stepping on pressure bombs. Among those who fell was a deputy commandant and an assistant commandant of the CRPF.
Dantewada SP Amresh Mishra said the Naxals first blew up a vehicle carrying CRPF personnel near Chintalnar-Tarmetla village in the district. Immediately after the blast, the CRPF personnel and a few policemen tried to take cover but then came the heavy firing from hundreds of Naxals, all well-entrenched atop a hillock.
In New Delhi, Union home secretary Gopal Pillai admitted an element of failure in the anti-Naxal operation had led to the incident. He said the massacre has strengthened the government’s resolve to give a "firmer and fitting reply to the murderers".
The home secretary, however, ruled out the use of air power in the fight against Naxalites. "I don’t think we need to use air power at the moment. We can manage with what we have. Our strategy is unfolding and we should be able to manage without air power," he stated.
The home ministry has sought details of the intelligence received by CRPF personnel which prompted such a large number of them to enter an area which did not fall within the parameters of the planned anti-Naxal offensive by the Centre. "Some information was planted on the security personnel which was so attractive that a large team went inside the jungle," home ministry sources said.
The Maoists laid the trap over days of planning, government sources said. A court of inquiry has been ordered into the incident to establish whether it was an intelligence failure on the part of the security forces, who probably did not verify the intelligence inputs they received nor reconnoitre the area, thus falling into the trap. It will also establish the sequence of events that led to the attack, a home ministry official said.
CRPF special director-general Vijay Raman rushed to the spot along with senior Chhattisgarh police officers to take stock of the ground situation. Speaking from the spot, he said on Tuesday evening it would not be possible to discuss anything at this stage.
A high alert has been declared in Mandla, Dhindori, Balaghat, Sidhi, Shahdol, Singrauli, and Umaria districts of Madhya Pradesh. These districts are known for Naxalite activity. One CRPF battalion has been deployed for Naxal-infested areas in the state.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Maoists kill 9 SOG jawans in Orissa landmine blast
Nine jawans of the anti-Maoist Special Operation Group (SOG) were killed and eight others seriously injured in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Koraput district of Orissa on Sunday morning.
The attack occurred at Tanginiguda on the Govindpalli ghat road around 10 a.m. The first of three mini buses carrying the SOG jawans took the impact of the massive blast, believed to have been triggered by remote control. The vehicle rose 40 feet in the air and its wreckage was thrown over 100 metres away. A 15-feet deep hole could be seen at the place of the blast.
Sources said a brief exchange of fire took place between the security personnel and the rebels near the blast site.
The injured were taken to Baipariguda and later to Jeypore in Koraput district. From there they were flown to Visakhapatnam.
Koraput Superintendent of Police Anup Sahu confirmed the death of nine personnel and injuries to eight. However, the sources said one SOG jawan was still missing till evening.
Reports said there were 19 persons in the vehicle.
Combing operations under way
The Malkangiri SP and the Koraput SP rushed to the spot. Intense combing operations have been launched in the area.
Traffic between Malkangiri and Jeypore was held up for several hours following the blast.
The SOG jawans were on their way from Koraput to Govindpalli in Malkangiri district. They were on a mission to sanitise the Maoist prone Govindpalli ghat road so that CRPF personnel camping at Govindpalli in Malkangiri district could move from there to Koraput.
This incident occurred while preparations are in full swing for a massive offensive against the naxals in undivided Koraput district that adjoins the strongholds of the militants in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Two battalions of the Border Security Force have reached Malkangiri district and one more battalion is expected. Two BSF battalions are camping in Koraput district. With the deployment of the BSF, the CRPF personnel deployed in these areas are being relocated to other naxal affected districts.
The attack occurred at Tanginiguda on the Govindpalli ghat road around 10 a.m. The first of three mini buses carrying the SOG jawans took the impact of the massive blast, believed to have been triggered by remote control. The vehicle rose 40 feet in the air and its wreckage was thrown over 100 metres away. A 15-feet deep hole could be seen at the place of the blast.
Sources said a brief exchange of fire took place between the security personnel and the rebels near the blast site.
The injured were taken to Baipariguda and later to Jeypore in Koraput district. From there they were flown to Visakhapatnam.
Koraput Superintendent of Police Anup Sahu confirmed the death of nine personnel and injuries to eight. However, the sources said one SOG jawan was still missing till evening.
Reports said there were 19 persons in the vehicle.
Combing operations under way
The Malkangiri SP and the Koraput SP rushed to the spot. Intense combing operations have been launched in the area.
Traffic between Malkangiri and Jeypore was held up for several hours following the blast.
The SOG jawans were on their way from Koraput to Govindpalli in Malkangiri district. They were on a mission to sanitise the Maoist prone Govindpalli ghat road so that CRPF personnel camping at Govindpalli in Malkangiri district could move from there to Koraput.
This incident occurred while preparations are in full swing for a massive offensive against the naxals in undivided Koraput district that adjoins the strongholds of the militants in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Two battalions of the Border Security Force have reached Malkangiri district and one more battalion is expected. Two BSF battalions are camping in Koraput district. With the deployment of the BSF, the CRPF personnel deployed in these areas are being relocated to other naxal affected districts.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Maoists threaten to blow up Orissa CM’s house
An e-mail by suspected Maoists, received at the Orissa Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) here threatened to blow up the residence of Naveen Patnaik and other important establishments in the state, officials said on Sunday.
The mail suggests bullet injuries to top Maoist leaders Kishenji and Bikram.
“We will reply to each bullet those hit Kishanji and comrade Bikram,” said the e-mail received on Saturday purportedly sent by the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Peoples’ Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), a Maoist outfit.
“As soon as you launch joint special operation or ‘Green Hunt’, we will start attacks at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri simultaneously,” the e—mail has said.
Asking the chief minister not to rejoice over the deployment of central para—military force (CPMF) in the state, it said, “Your happiness over getting additional force is temporary“.
Describing the police personnel as a “helpless lot” in the administrative set up, the e—mail has threatened to target corrupt bureaucrats by the use of ultra—modern weapons available under cyber technology.
The state secretariat, office of the commissioner of police, police headquarters in Cuttack, armoury of 6th Battalion of OSAP (Orissa special armed police), Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC), Grid Corporation of Orissa (Gridco), Nalco and Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) are identified in its target.
Claiming PLGA had successfully hacked the state government portal on March 11, the e—mail said the rebel’s acts would be more devastating this time as they were aware of the loopholes in the government set—up.
A senior official of the home department said that they are probing the incident.
The mail suggests bullet injuries to top Maoist leaders Kishenji and Bikram.
“We will reply to each bullet those hit Kishanji and comrade Bikram,” said the e-mail received on Saturday purportedly sent by the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Peoples’ Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), a Maoist outfit.
“As soon as you launch joint special operation or ‘Green Hunt’, we will start attacks at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri simultaneously,” the e—mail has said.
Asking the chief minister not to rejoice over the deployment of central para—military force (CPMF) in the state, it said, “Your happiness over getting additional force is temporary“.
Describing the police personnel as a “helpless lot” in the administrative set up, the e—mail has threatened to target corrupt bureaucrats by the use of ultra—modern weapons available under cyber technology.
The state secretariat, office of the commissioner of police, police headquarters in Cuttack, armoury of 6th Battalion of OSAP (Orissa special armed police), Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC), Grid Corporation of Orissa (Gridco), Nalco and Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) are identified in its target.
Claiming PLGA had successfully hacked the state government portal on March 11, the e—mail said the rebel’s acts would be more devastating this time as they were aware of the loopholes in the government set—up.
A senior official of the home department said that they are probing the incident.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Maoists blast under-construction police building in Bihar
Heavily-armed Maoists blasted an under-construction police building at Bhelbi in Bihar’s Saran district, police said on Thursday.
Over 50 ultras surrounded the building at around 11.45 pm last night and fired indiscriminately besides triggering dynamite blast that razed the building to the ground, they said.
Bhelbi police station, which was to shift in the under-construction building, is around 2.5 kms away.
No casualty was reported in the incident, the police said.
The Naxals left behind a handbill demanding the state government to immediately halt ‘Operation Green Hunt’ and release its top leaders lodged in jails.
Raids were on in the area to apprehend the ultras.
Over 50 ultras surrounded the building at around 11.45 pm last night and fired indiscriminately besides triggering dynamite blast that razed the building to the ground, they said.
Bhelbi police station, which was to shift in the under-construction building, is around 2.5 kms away.
No casualty was reported in the incident, the police said.
The Naxals left behind a handbill demanding the state government to immediately halt ‘Operation Green Hunt’ and release its top leaders lodged in jails.
Raids were on in the area to apprehend the ultras.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Blast derails Rajdhani coaches, passengers safe
Passengers on board the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express had a miraculous escape when ten of its coaches and the engine derailed near Gaya station following an explosion triggered by Maoists, police said.
The accident took place late last night between Kasta and Paraiya stations under Gaya-Mughalsarai section of the East Central Railway, the police said.
Rail traffic was disrupted in the section since midnight last night as cranes were engaged to remove the affected bogies, railway sources said.
Passengers were taken to Mughalsarai by a rescue train from where a special train was arranged to send them to New Delhi, they said.
The explosive planted in the tracks between Kasta and Paraiya stations went off shortly after the train left Gaya station, district Superintendent of Police Sushil Khopde said, adding a medical team with rescue train was sent to the spot.
There was no casualty or serious injury, Khopde said, adding none of the derailed bogies fell on its side which possibly was the reason why no casualty took place.
Ten coaches and the engine of the 2445 up Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express jumped the tracks due to the impact of the blast, a handiwork of the Maoists who have called a 48-hour bandh in seven states, including Bihar, starting yesterday.
Routes of several important trains including New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express were diverted from Mughalsarai to Patna in lieu of Gaya for onward journey, the sources said.
Over 42 trains were affected, they said.
Important affected trains include New Delhi-Sealdah Rajdhani Express, Kalka Express and Shaktipunj Express.
Besides, some of the local trains were cancelled due to the ongoing operation in the section.
Meanwhile, police recovered a hand bill left by Maoists at the spot claiming the responsibility for the blast.
The 48-hour bandh has been called by the CPI (Maoist) in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra to protest against the ‘Operation Green Hunt’ launched against them.
According to the sources, railway engineers were pressed into service for repairing the tracks damaged in the blast.
Sanjay Saraogi, a passenger of the D-3 coach, one of the ten derailed bogies, told PTI that none of the passengers were harmed in the incident.
“We heard the sound of a blast, but to my knowledge no harm has been caused to the passengers in the affected bogies,” he said from the spot, about 15 km from Gaya station.
The accident took place late last night between Kasta and Paraiya stations under Gaya-Mughalsarai section of the East Central Railway, the police said.
Rail traffic was disrupted in the section since midnight last night as cranes were engaged to remove the affected bogies, railway sources said.
Passengers were taken to Mughalsarai by a rescue train from where a special train was arranged to send them to New Delhi, they said.
The explosive planted in the tracks between Kasta and Paraiya stations went off shortly after the train left Gaya station, district Superintendent of Police Sushil Khopde said, adding a medical team with rescue train was sent to the spot.
There was no casualty or serious injury, Khopde said, adding none of the derailed bogies fell on its side which possibly was the reason why no casualty took place.
Ten coaches and the engine of the 2445 up Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express jumped the tracks due to the impact of the blast, a handiwork of the Maoists who have called a 48-hour bandh in seven states, including Bihar, starting yesterday.
Routes of several important trains including New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express were diverted from Mughalsarai to Patna in lieu of Gaya for onward journey, the sources said.
Over 42 trains were affected, they said.
Important affected trains include New Delhi-Sealdah Rajdhani Express, Kalka Express and Shaktipunj Express.
Besides, some of the local trains were cancelled due to the ongoing operation in the section.
Meanwhile, police recovered a hand bill left by Maoists at the spot claiming the responsibility for the blast.
The 48-hour bandh has been called by the CPI (Maoist) in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra to protest against the ‘Operation Green Hunt’ launched against them.
According to the sources, railway engineers were pressed into service for repairing the tracks damaged in the blast.
Sanjay Saraogi, a passenger of the D-3 coach, one of the ten derailed bogies, told PTI that none of the passengers were harmed in the incident.
“We heard the sound of a blast, but to my knowledge no harm has been caused to the passengers in the affected bogies,” he said from the spot, about 15 km from Gaya station.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Maoist bandh begins with explosions
Maoists triggered an explosion along a railway track in West Bengal and blew up a road bridge in Jharkhand as the 48-hour bandh called by them in seven States commenced on Monday.
The ultras triggered the blast alongside the railway track at Bhalukhunia between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in Bengal’s West Midnapore district early Monday, officials said.
District Magistrate N.S. Nigam said train services were affected for three hours in the morning following the blast as checks were conducted on the track by railway officials.
In separate incidents, over 20 Maoists stormed Bagjhappa village in the district and set ablaze a CPI(M) office on Sunday night.
Two CPI(M) supporters were also beaten up by the group following which they were admitted to a hospital at Jhargram.
The houses of two party supporters were also set on fire in nearby Chakua village.
Maoist posters, asking the security forces to stop the operation against them and seeking development of the Jangalmahal area, were seized by police at Dumuria village bordering Jharkhand on Monday.
“Through such incidents, the Maoists are trying to divert the attention of the combined forces engaged in the combing operation to flush out the Maoists from the Jangalmahal area”, Mr. Nigam said.
The bandh call has been given by the Maoists in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra to protest Operation Green Hunt against the Maoists.
A report from Jamshedpur, quoting the police, said Maoists triggered a landmine blast blowing up a road bridge in Jharkhand just before the two-day bandh commenced.
The damaged bridge is located between Raipahari and Kurlisuta villages under Jharkhand’s Ghatsila sub-division.
The bandh did not affect normal life in the urban pockets of Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad though it evoked a mixed response in some areas.
Majority of shops and markets downed their shutters in Dumaria, Ghorabandha and Potka in East Singhbhum, Nimdih and Chowka in Saraikela-Kharswan and Manoharpur, Sonua and Bandgaon in West Singhbhum districts.
While long distance buses remained off the road, commercial vehicles were plying in depleted strength in the rural pockets of Maoist-affected areas.
Railway services between Garwah Road-Barkakhana route under Dhanbad division of East Central Railway were also affected as several trains were cancelled or diverted in view of the bandh, railway sources said.
No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state so far, police said, adding an elaborate security arrangement had been put in place to meet any eventuality during the bandh.
Apart from the State police force, para-military forces and Railway Protection Force have been deployed to protect vital installations, the sources said.
The ultras triggered the blast alongside the railway track at Bhalukhunia between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in Bengal’s West Midnapore district early Monday, officials said.
District Magistrate N.S. Nigam said train services were affected for three hours in the morning following the blast as checks were conducted on the track by railway officials.
In separate incidents, over 20 Maoists stormed Bagjhappa village in the district and set ablaze a CPI(M) office on Sunday night.
Two CPI(M) supporters were also beaten up by the group following which they were admitted to a hospital at Jhargram.
The houses of two party supporters were also set on fire in nearby Chakua village.
Maoist posters, asking the security forces to stop the operation against them and seeking development of the Jangalmahal area, were seized by police at Dumuria village bordering Jharkhand on Monday.
“Through such incidents, the Maoists are trying to divert the attention of the combined forces engaged in the combing operation to flush out the Maoists from the Jangalmahal area”, Mr. Nigam said.
The bandh call has been given by the Maoists in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra to protest Operation Green Hunt against the Maoists.
A report from Jamshedpur, quoting the police, said Maoists triggered a landmine blast blowing up a road bridge in Jharkhand just before the two-day bandh commenced.
The damaged bridge is located between Raipahari and Kurlisuta villages under Jharkhand’s Ghatsila sub-division.
The bandh did not affect normal life in the urban pockets of Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad though it evoked a mixed response in some areas.
Majority of shops and markets downed their shutters in Dumaria, Ghorabandha and Potka in East Singhbhum, Nimdih and Chowka in Saraikela-Kharswan and Manoharpur, Sonua and Bandgaon in West Singhbhum districts.
While long distance buses remained off the road, commercial vehicles were plying in depleted strength in the rural pockets of Maoist-affected areas.
Railway services between Garwah Road-Barkakhana route under Dhanbad division of East Central Railway were also affected as several trains were cancelled or diverted in view of the bandh, railway sources said.
No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state so far, police said, adding an elaborate security arrangement had been put in place to meet any eventuality during the bandh.
Apart from the State police force, para-military forces and Railway Protection Force have been deployed to protect vital installations, the sources said.
Friday, March 19, 2010
AP police gun down Maoist husband-wife duo
Police in Andhra Pradesh on Friday killed a Maoist husband-wife duo in a gun battle in a forested area in Khammam district.
Police said the Maoists, belonging to the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, were killed in a gun battle in the Venkatapuram forest area in Khammam, about 300 km from here.
The gunfight took place when policemen engaged in combing operations in the area came face-to-face with a group of Maoists. Police found two bodies after the exchange of fire, which lasted an hour.
The Maoists have been identified as K. Pullaiah and his wife Lakshmi, both members of an armed squad of the CPI-Maoist. Police also recovered two weapons, two kit bags and party literature.
Police were on alert in the area as several prominent politicians are scheduled to visit Bhadrachalam on the occasion of Ramanavmi on March 24. The combing operations were launched last Thursday after Maoists gunned down a trader on the suspicion he was acting as a police spy.
The gun battle took place a week after the killing of two top Maoist leaders in two different incidents on March 12.
Shakhamuri Appa Rao, a member of the CPI-Maoist, was killed in Prakasam district while Solipeta Kondal Reddy, another top leader, was shot dead in Warangal district.
Police said the Maoists, belonging to the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, were killed in a gun battle in the Venkatapuram forest area in Khammam, about 300 km from here.
The gunfight took place when policemen engaged in combing operations in the area came face-to-face with a group of Maoists. Police found two bodies after the exchange of fire, which lasted an hour.
The Maoists have been identified as K. Pullaiah and his wife Lakshmi, both members of an armed squad of the CPI-Maoist. Police also recovered two weapons, two kit bags and party literature.
Police were on alert in the area as several prominent politicians are scheduled to visit Bhadrachalam on the occasion of Ramanavmi on March 24. The combing operations were launched last Thursday after Maoists gunned down a trader on the suspicion he was acting as a police spy.
The gun battle took place a week after the killing of two top Maoist leaders in two different incidents on March 12.
Shakhamuri Appa Rao, a member of the CPI-Maoist, was killed in Prakasam district while Solipeta Kondal Reddy, another top leader, was shot dead in Warangal district.
