Internal Security Watch

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 23 Nov 2009 15:13

Babri demolition: Liberhan panel indicts Atal, Advani : http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news ... ni/545121/

Actually one interesting aspect of the Babri demolition is that we still don't know who arranged for the pick-axes, crowbars etc. The "Kar-Sevaks" had their faces covered. Even then, only the domes were damaged on Dec 6 itself. The main work of demolishing the walls apparently happened after Governor's rule was imposed.

Lost in this whole tamasha is the Archeological Survey report that shows that a temple pre-existed the Masjid on that site.

sunnyP · Post by **sunnyP** » 23 Nov 2009 17:02

Chidambaram claimed the Government only had one copy of this report and it was securly kept. Justice Liberhan claims he is disgusted at claims he leaked it. So who is telling the truth?

Pranav wrote:Babri demolition: Liberhan panel indicts Atal, Advani : http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news ... ni/545121/

Actually one interesting aspect of the Babri demolition is that we still don't know who arranged for the pick-axes, crowbars etc. The "Kar-Sevaks" had their faces covered. Even then, only the domes were damaged on Dec 6 itself. The main work of demolishing the walls apparently happened after Governor's rule was imposed.

Lost in this whole tamasha is the Archeological Survey report that shows that a temple pre-existed the Masjid on that site.

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 23 Nov 2009 21:03

ULFA trying to shift base to China, says CM Gogoi

And

China,not a threat to India:Tharoor

There cant be more disconnect in policy than this, a country which is becoming a base for groups killing Indians is not a threat to India.

Rangudu · Post by **Rangudu** » 23 Nov 2009 22:40

It's official now, Nazir/Nasir has been handed over to India by BD authorities...

Just like the ULFA goons, they have been "caught" on the Indian side of the border...

2 Lashkar men held inside Indian border

They slipped into Bangladesh to lead 15-member commando squad; plan was to attack US, Indian embassies on Nov 26

Shariful Islam

Indian authorities have arrested two top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) men who sneaked into Bangladesh to lead a 15-member commando squad in an attempt to attack the US and Indian missions in Dhaka, sources in the law-enforcement agencies say.

The LeT men -- T Nasir and Sharfaraz from Indian state of Kerala -- were held by the Indian intelligence officials soon after they crossed the Bibir Bazar border in Comilla on November 6, the sources add.

The two LeT leaders, believed to be members of the LeT suicide squad, were earlier hiding in the hilly areas in Chittagong for around one and a half months and trying to collect explosives from the Rohingya rebels for the attack.

Funds for launching the attacks on the US Embassy and Indian High Commission were being provided by LeT leaders in Pakistan, says an official of Detective Branch on the understanding of anonymity.

The sources say T Nasir, wanted in India for a number of terror attacks, is a suicide squad commando. He was supposed to lead the 15-member team formed with five LeT men from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan each.

They had planned to launch the attack on November 26, the same day the terrorists carried out the Mumbai attack in 2008.

Detectives investigating the plot say T Nasir and Sharfaraz managed to evade arrest during a drive on a hilltop madrasa in Chittagong in early November.

The law enforcers however arrested Mufti Harun Izahar, son of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) faction chief Mufti Izaharul Islam, and his associates Shahidul Islam and Al Amin alias Saiful during the raid.

High on the hills during the massive manhunt, the two Lashkar men entered India at dead of night and were held by the Indian intelligence officials, says a competent source.

The sources add T Nasir was involved in a number of terror attacks including the attack on Bangaluru Computer City, Sramajibi Express in Bihar, India in 2003-04.

India-born US citizen David Coleman Headley alias Gilani Daud and Pakistan-born Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana were arrested in Chicago in October and Pakistani Abdur Rahman Sayeed in Pakistan in the first week of November.

The three had ordered the LeT men in Bangladesh to attack the local US embassy.

Following the tips, detectives in Bangladesh started an investigation and foiled the plot. During their efforts they arrested Mufti Harun and his two associates at a hilltop madrasa in Chittagong.

The detectives later said Harun had regular contact with the two LeT leaders detained in the United States and the one held in Pakistan.

Moreover, tracking Harun's cellphone call list, DB has already arrested three Pakistani nationals -- Mohammad Monwar, Mohammad Ashraf Ali Zahid and Syed Abdul Kaiyum alias Sufian -- having suspected links with LeT.

The sources however say only Sufian was involved in coordinating the attack plot and the two other LeT suspects were not involved.

The sources also say they have found the three during the hunt for Pakistani national Azmol, who has been leading Pakistani LeT men in Bangladesh.

The sources add Azmol and two other Pakistani militants are believed to have already fled from Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, another Bangladeshi national Abu Motaleb alias Matu alias Majnu was also arrested recently in the capital.

Motaleb, now on a four-day remand, is an Afghan war veteran and was in charge of coordinating the attack on the US and Indian missions.

Speaking anonymously, another DB official says Motaleb had close contact with both Harkatul Jihad al Islami and LeT.

He took part in a meeting held in Rajshahi for the final decision of launching a suicide attack or blasting a bomb in Hyderabad's The Special Task Force (STF), Hi-tech City, and Bangaluru Computer City, the official adds.

negi · Post by **negi** » 23 Nov 2009 22:45

India-born US citizen David Coleman Headley alias Gilani Daud.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 24 Nov 2009 06:28

The daily star report is now the lead report, no Injun newspaper/report on this seen. I checked BD newspapers too, could nt find any other report similar to this. But the daily star has updated with the following:

Our court correspondent adds: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) members were sent to Dhaka Central Jail with a proposal for 30 days detention order in connection with the US embassy and Indian high commission attack plot. The members are Mufti Harun Izahar, son of IOJ faction chief Mufti Izaharul Islam Chowdhury, and his associates Shahidul Islam and Al Amin alias Saiful. Meantime, Metropolitan Magistrate Munshi Abdul Majid on Sunday granted the three bail even though the prosecution appealed to it saying that the government had earlier on November 18 submitted a petition for giving them detention under the Special Powers Act 1974.

The same court yesterday sent the three to jail after detective branch (DB) of police produced them before it with a proposal for a 30-day detention order. DB police re-arrested them on Sunday when they came out of Dhaka Central Jail 18 days of their arrest from Chittagong in connection with the US embassy and Indian high commission attack plot. In his order on Sunday, the magistrate said that the arrestees had been in custody for over 15 days. They were arrested on November 4 and they were placed on a five-day remand in two phases, but police could not extract any information from them. So they were granted bail upon a bond of Tk 10,000 with two guarantors. During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that the government had on November 18 sent a letter with proposal for 30 days detention order. The prosecution appealed to the court not to grant them bail in the case.

I am worried that some of these humane lawyers in India will let these Nasir and Sarfaraz scum off with a 10 day remand and whine endlessly after the 10 days are over. Been there done that, keep the news off for a few days from ddm and kick em in the remand ward to extract more info.

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Nov 2009 11:48

Indian authorities have arrested two top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) men who sneaked into Bangladesh to lead a 15-member commando squad in an attempt to attack the US and Indian missions in Dhaka, sources in the law-enforcement agencies say.

The LeT men -- T Nasir and Sharfaraz from Indian state of Kerala -- were held by the Indian intelligence officials soon after they crossed the Bibir Bazar border in Comilla on November 6, the sources add.

WOW...Huge catch(es).

Both Nazir and Sarfaraz were most wanted. Hat tip to BD.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 24 Nov 2009 11:56

Rangudu wrote:They slipped into Bangladesh to lead 15-member commando squad; plan was to attack US, Indian embassies on Nov 26

I just cannot imagine this scene!!!. Thadiyantavida* Nazir having received a good treatment from the Bangladeshi Police, forced to lead a 15 member commando team (all shivering in their pants) fully knowing that the Indian folks are waiting for them with a "reception committee"

. Reminds of me the Roman patrols in Asterix comics who go shivering to the Gaulish village to do the patrolling

.

Good show Bangladeshi Police and other agencies, and all the best to Indian intelligence and security agencies...

.

*: Thadiyantavida, in Malayalam means "from the place of the fat man". But considering the activities of Nazir the family should go for better family names like traitor-indavida, rajyadrohindavida etc.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Nov 2009 15:51

It appears to me that there was either a huge cooperation by which the Indian & Bangladeshi intel agencies ensured that Thadiyantavide Nazir & his associate will be herded to the India border to enable India to capture them or they were caught and silently handed over.

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Nov 2009 16:20

SSridhar wrote:It appears to me that there was either a huge cooperation by which the Indian & Bangladeshi intel agencies ensured that Thadiyantavide Nazir & his associate will be herded to the India border to enable India to capture them or they were caught and silently handed over.

I would place my bets on the latter scenario..

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 24 Nov 2009 17:31

Good news about T Nazir arrest. That should tell us more about the IM plots and the chennai LeT sleeper cell. I guess we should expect more dirt on Madhani.

Terror check

Nagaraja Gadekal
Express News Service
First Published : 24 Nov 2009 04:08:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 24 Nov 2009 10:22:37 AM IST

No alert, but BIA won’t take chances

Security cover has been increased at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA). The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in charge of security at the airport, said that though no advisory had been issued by the Intelligence Bureau or the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the airport had been put on high alert.

“Being a hyper-sensitive airport, we are always on alert. Whenever an important event or date approaches we are on alert and this time it is no different,” a senior CISF commandant at the airport told Express.

He said that usually alerts were issued a day or two prior to an important event. But this time no alert was issued. However, barricades have been erected at the entrance of the airport and quick reaction teams (QRTs) had been posted at different locations in and around the airport. Additional security has been provided near the Haj lounge.

Last year, following the Mumbai attack, a red alert was sounded at the airport.

IT ZONE GUNS FOR COVER

A year after the Mumbai terror attacks, the IT capital, which has always been a soft terror target, remains to be as insecure as it was.

Intelligence sources had revealed earlier also that the city’s hotspots-- the multinational companies -- have been the under the terror radar.

Keeping this in mind on Saturday a mock exercise on dealing with a terrorist attack was carried out in Bangalore by the City Police with the assistance of the II Para Battalion (Special Force) stationed in Bangalore by the Ministry of Defence.

The mock-drill revealed a number of loophooes in the security in case of a attack on the city, especially the IT hubs including ITPL and the surrounding areas in Whitefield.

City police commissioner Shankar Bidari said that very soon a 30-member CAR commando team will be deployed at the unit that will be built up soon in Whitefield.

“On Saturday, it took about 45 mins for the Para military troup to reach the ITPL from Benson Town where a mock drill was being carried out, that too despite the signal clearance.” “The decision of placing a unit at Whitefield was made to ensure immediate response in the time of crisis,” he added. The team will be equipped with high- end weapons including AK-47s and hand grenades. About one-and-a-half acre of land has been identified for the purpose near the ITPL bus stand. “Talks are going on regarding this. The new unit will be equipped with sophisticated weapons, ambulance service and bulletproof jackets,” he said. The service of these commando team will be dedicated entirely for the security of these IT companies.

“On an average, we have nearly four lakh employees working at these software industries. Though we have many police stations in these vicinity, it is time to dedicate a skilled police team to safeguard the vicinity,” he added.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 24 Nov 2009 19:41

Bangalore: In the wake of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, the Karnataka Government announced the formation of an Internal Security Division with much fanfare.

A year later, this elite setup appears nowhere near combat readiness. In fact, the division is headless and comprises more office and administrative staff than security personnel.

Of the sanctioned strength of 757, there are 702 vacancies. Even among the 55 assigned to this much-hyped division, 33 are “ministerial staff” while the remaining 22 constitute security officials.

“Other than the building, nothing has been provided to the ISD,” said an official who did not want to be named.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/24/stories ... 110100.htm

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 25 Nov 2009 04:47

Sumdorung Chu revisited

UK scribe an IB suspect thanks to village informers'

Richard Orange, a journalist working on a book on dhows' in Salaya town of Jamnagar district, was in for a shock when intelligence bureau sleuths visited his house recently. Orange was even more shocked when he came to know what they had come snooping for. The sleuths, on a tip-off from a local, were checking whether he was Richard Headley, David Headley's brother.

Salaya was once known as "smugglers' village". Today it's full of informers'. As one enters the village, one can find men sitting in market corners reading newspapers and discussing latest happenings.

News of David Headley alias Dawood Gilani, a suspect plotter of 26/11 Mumbai attacks caught their eye. Reports of his Gujarat connection are being splashed in newspapers daily.

When these villagers saw a European chatting with locals, asking questions about ships, dhows (a country craft), sailing techniques, and most importantly how it is constructed, they became more curious.

The villagers had also heard about famous cricketer Sir Richard Hadlee. The surnames sounding familiar and with a foreigner named Richard amid them, they became suspicious. For them, Richard Orange became David Headley's brother. They called up cops, who visited promptly.

Orange, who has been living in Mumbai for past three years, has rented a room in Salaya to work on his book on construction of country crafts. When he returned from a short trip to Mumbai, his neighbour in Salaya, customs officer Vinod Kumar, told him that IB sleuths were looking for him. They left after Kumar told them the truth.

Although given a clean chit, the experience has left Orange jittery. "I don't like my name in police records even though I got a clean chit. I love the spirit of sailors here and want to stay on, provided informers' don't weave any more stories about me," he says.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 25 Nov 2009 08:28

Bangladesh foils 26/11 anniversary plot
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/article54428.ece

SATP has this update:

Two LeT militants arrested inside Indian border, says law-enforcement agencies

Indian authorities have arrested two top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, who infiltrated into Bangladesh to lead a 15-member squad in an attempt to attack the US and Indian missions in Dhaka, sources in the law-enforcement agencies said on November 23, reports Daily Star. The LeT militants, identified as T. Nasir and Sharfaraz from Indian State of Kerala, were arrested by the Indian intelligence officials soon after they crossed the Bibir Bazaar border in Comilla District on November 6, the sources added. They were reportedly members of the LeT suicide squad and were earlier hiding in the hilly areas of Chittagong District for around one and a half months and trying to collect explosives from the Rohingya rebels for the attack. Funds for launching the attacks on the US Embassy and Indian High Commission were being provided by LeT leaders in Pakistan, said an unnamed official of the Detective Branch. Sources said that T. Nasir, wanted in India for a number of terrorist attacks, was supposed to lead the 15-member team formed with five LeT militants from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan each. They had planned to launch the attack on November 26, the same day the LeT terrorists carried out the Mumbai attack in 2008.

Kati · Post by **Kati** » 25 Nov 2009 08:36

^^^^^^
Didn't i tell you that giving SHW the IG peace prize was a good move?

sum · Post by **sum** » 25 Nov 2009 09:06

Two LeT militants arrested inside Indian border, says law-enforcement agencies

Now if only Riyaz Bhatkal mysteriously meets his 72 like Shahid Bilal met his in Karachi....

Nihat · Post by **Nihat** » 25 Nov 2009 12:37

Govt was warned about ULFA attack, admits Chidambaram

New Delhi: The Central Government had prior inputs about the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) planning new strikes in Assam, but was still unable to avert Sunday's bombing in Nalbari district, Home Minister P Chidambaram told Parliament.

"In the past few weeks, we had received intelligence reports about the plans of ULFA to engineer bomb blasts in Nalbari and Guwahati districts. These reports were promptly shared with the Assam government and the state police," Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha in his statement on the November 22 terror blasts in Nalbari in which seven people were killed and 35 injured.

The Home Minister, citing reports from the state government, said one person, suspected to be involved in the bomb blast, has been arrested.

He said the state government had issued alerts and put a look out notice for nine ULFA militants who were suspected to have infiltrated into the state before the bombing.

"While strict vigilance was maintained in the two districts and elsewhere, unfortunately, the incident in Nalbari could not be averted," Chidambaram said.

The Minister said the ULFA "is in disarray" owing to intense counter-insurgency pressure by security forces on the militant group.

"Key ULFA leaders are in prison. Recently, two ULFA leaders surrendered to the security forces. Three ULFA leaders are believed to be abroad and there are reports of serious differences among them," he said.

"It is our assessment that the recent incidents manifest the desperation of the banned organisation ULFA."

Giving details of the Assam violence in the current year up to November 15, he said 1,196 insurgents have been neutralised "by way of arrests or surrender or being killed in action".

At least 282 kg of explosives and 630 weapons have been seized from insurgents till November 22.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-was-war ... ml?from=tn

AjayKK · Post by **AjayKK** » 25 Nov 2009 12:57

Target India

The new terror route: A BSF jawan patrolling the border at the Rann of Kutch

Lashkar-e-Toiba’s military commander Zaki-ur Rahman Lakhwi is an impatient man. It has been nearly a year since he successfully orchestrated an audacious attack on India’s financial capital, Mumbai, and he is ready for an encore. Recent intelligence reports accessed by THE WEEK show that Lakhwi is planning another strike at his favourite target, India. As many as eight new launch pads have come up inside Pakistan, half of them close to the international border on India’s west coast and the rest around Karachi, say the reports.

LeT is at war with India

INTERVIEW/ABDULLAH MUNTAZIR, FORMER SPOKESPERSON OF JUD

Abdullah Muntazir was chief spokesperson for the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the Lashkar-e-Toiba’s political and charity front, till early March this year. As one who understands the LeT as good as any mujahideen or jihadist ideologue does, he says it is going from strength to strength and is poised to engage India long-term in a bloody war.
What is the JuD? What is its relation with the LeT? And what are the nuances of subcontinental jihad to the world post 26/11? THE WEEK spoke to Muntazir in Lahore for an hour over phone. Excerpts:

How do you view the LeT’s organisational might post 26/11?

There is no denying that the LeT is squarely at war with India. It’s a long-term war which might have unforeseen consequences. Post 26/11, Lashkar has emerged stronger and a more potent organisation. A ‘mission stickiness’ is central to Lashkar’s continued war [jihad] with India.

Also, Abdullah has the usual propaganda with the details.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 25 Nov 2009 18:24

Xpost from BD thread, sorry no link...

Nine more check posts on Indo-Bangladesh border

Agartala, 24 November : To tighten security along the Indo-Bangla border, the Border Security Force would set up nine more Border Outposts (BOPs). The locations of 17 BOPs would also be changed along the 856 km long border in Tripura to prevent insurgents from sneaking into the Indian Territory. Talking to reporters here, Director General of BSF Raman Srivastava said, "We are looking for new lands near International border for setting up of 26 BOPs so that insurgents cannot sneak into Indian Territory." Srivastava who arrived here on Monday held a series of meetings with top BSF officials of the state. The visit of Srivastava is significant in view of the Bangladeshi security forces' mounting pressure on the Indian terrorists taking shelter and training in that country.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 26 Nov 2009 11:24

Dhaka’s action against NE militants welcomed

The DGAR said such gestures would “cement Indo-Bangla ties” further, while hoping Myanmar would act similarly. New Delhi has been insisting that about 3000 odd militants live and train in the jungles of Kabaw valley in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division. India wants Myanmar to neutralize these militants. “We hope Myanmar would also conduct such operations against militants hiding on its soil,’ Lt. Gen Yadava said. When asked, he added: “we don’t have plans to carry out joint military operations with Myanmar.”

Meanwhile, Assam Rifles, engaged in a prolonged counter insurgency operation in Manipur, would raise two elite commando forces to battle insurgency, Lt. Gen Yadava informed today.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... ov2609/ne1

He confirmed that the Hasina government had built up pressure on these militant groups operating from her country. Asked if there was any crackdown in Myanmar where many of the groups, including the ULFA and NSCN, are known to have established bases, the DG commented, "Myanmar and India are on extremely friendly terms and Myanmar continuously keeps supporting our actions." "They are ensuring that anti-national elements do not operate from their territory. At times they have carried out operations against the militants and it has been of great help to us," he said. Asked to comment on reports of a crackdown on ULFA camps by Myanmarese security forces a fortnight back, Yadava said any recent crackdown could not specifically be confirmed, but pressure had been on the militants holed up there.

http://www.morungexpress.com/regional/38371.html
Meanwhile, PC snubs Arabinda Rajkhowa's demand for talks via the PCG representative Mukul Mahanta. Earlier Assam CM Tarun Gogoi had virtually snubbed ulfa's demand for talks. Wonderful, there are three major oiseaules left behind: poresh borua, arabinda rajkhowa, anup chetia.

Meanwhile, security force sources informed that already hardcore cadres of ULFA have entered Sonitpur district just ahead of the protest day on November 28 of the outfit organisation for carrying out subversive activities in the district, following which security has been intensified.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... 609/State8

Stating that the outfit was planning the disturbances ahead of its 'Martyrs' Day on November 27, the official pointed to the seizure of a powerful IED weighing over six kgs from Khoirabari railway station in Udalguri district today.

http://www.morungexpress.com/regional/38370.html
SATP:

NSCN-K granted two more designated camps in Nagaland

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) was granted by the Union Government two more designated camps in Kiphire and Tuensang, apart from the five designated camps already occupied by the Naga outfit, according to Nagaland Page.

NE ultras procuring Chinese arms: Centre
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... v2609/at09

The Centre today confirmed reports of insurgents in North-east procuring Chinese weapons through smugglers located in South East Asia and in Yunnan province of China. Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran’s statement in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question by Prakash Javadekar is confirmation of reports that top ULFA leadership, besides the NSCN, being involved in gunrunning racket.

HPC(D) calls for tripartite talks
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... ov2609/ne4

gandharva · Post by **gandharva** » 27 Nov 2009 00:06

Love Jihad - IBN7 Exclusive Report

http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.a ... 584&SKIN=C

Sudip · Post by **Sudip** » 27 Nov 2009 04:51

Article on 26/11 by Time magazine. I apologize if it has already been posted or the facts already shared.

India Still a Soft Terror Target a Year Later

The trial of Sabahuddin Ahmed for his work in facilitating last year's Mumbai massacre reveals an uncomfortable truth about India. Unlike his fellow accused, the Pakistani gunman Mohammad Amir Ajmal Qasab, Sabahuddin is Indian and for five years he was an alleged one-man sleeper cell hiding in plain sight. Even though he was arrested almost 10 months before the Mumbai attack, Sabahuddin had allegedly managed to provide enough information in terms of directions and diagrams to allow the terrorists to launch their assault with "absolute precision."
Ahmed easily exploited the gaping holes in the fabric of India's public safety — flaws that still exist a year after the attacks. According to his statement to police, Ahmed paid an acquaintance Rs. 50,000 (about $1,000) to buy admission to a college in Bangalore, and used his student ID to allay police suspicions while he was crossing from Kashmir to Bangalore — even as he was bringing a cache of weapons in by train. When he ran out of money, his handlers arranged to have funds sent to him through India's unregulated network of cash-transfer, or hawala, traders. For the equivalent of $2, an Indian, who had bought the right to smuggle jackfruit across the Bangladesh border, arranged for him to cross without documents to that country's capital Dhaka, where he met with agents of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group believed to have planned the Mumbai attacks.
............................ Until those margins are narrowed, security experts say, India continues to be the world's biggest soft target. "We remain as vulnerable today as we were on 26/11," says Ajai Sahni, Executive Director, Institute for Conflict Management, using the shorthand for the Nov. 26, 2008, attacks. "Corruption undermines and negates everything."
In India, corruption is taken as an unfortunate fact of life even for otherwise law-abiding citizens. For example, ration cards are a lifeline for India's poor, giving them access to subsidized rice, lentils and kerosene. But to get them, you need a birth certificate or proof of residence —something many Indians lack. So, they often pay clerks to issue ration cards without a supporting document. A tea-shop worker in Mumbai told me he bought one for Rs. 5,000 ($111). Meanwhile, the ration card is a step toward a passport. In theory, passports are difficult to get; police officers are supposed to visit you in person to verify your identity and address. However, according to an entrepreneur who helps set these things up, as long as you don't have an arrest record, the police will skip that formality —for a few hundred rupees. There is no need for counterfeit documents; for a fee, authentic ones are readily available.
Given the size of the Indian bureaucracy, with 18 million public employees serving more than a billion people, "you can never create a foolproof system," says Ajay Behera, an assistant professor at Jamia Millia Islamia who has written extensively about regional security. But in such a porous system, he says, a small group of relatively uneducated people can organize a major operation. "Almost anyone can do anything here," Behera says. "It doesn't require that high a level of sophistication."
Making India harder for would-be terrorists to penetrate would require reform not just of the bureaucracy but also the police. Local and international human-rights groups have exhaustively documented the crisis in Indian policing, criticizing the Indian police for everything from taking bribes to engaging in torture and extrajudicial killing. Eight national commissions have also recommended wide-ranging police reforms, few of which have been implemented.
Lower-level Indian police officers and border guards remain underpaid and undertrained, while being given almost unchallenged authority over the people they are meant to serve. A 26-year veteran of the Mumbai police told TIME that his monthly salary is Rs. 10,360 (about $230). ........................ By late 2006, after the July 2006 Mumbai train blasts and an October 2006 attack in Kashmir, security on the Indian border had become very strict. But Sabahuddin, in his statement, says that Rs. 10,000 ($222) was enough to get past the Central Reserve Police Force. "They asked me to give my address and I gave them a fake address in Kolkata," he says. "To verify me, they called my friend... [and] they got confirmed that I am an Indian and allowed me to travel."
The Mumbai attackers are believed to have come by sea from Karachi, and over the past year, the Indian government has added new vessels to tighten up security along its long maritime border with Pakistan. But Behera estimates that getting through a checkpoint costs only about Rs. 5,000 ($111). Despite the necessary investment in new boats and training, corruption is still a vulnerability, says Pushpita Das, who is researching coastal security at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. "The liability still remains.".................

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 27 Nov 2009 06:37

Raja re-arrested in Dubai, extradition process on

M Raghuram / DNA
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:14 IST

Mangalore: Notorious criminal Bannanje Raja, who is on a red corner notice from the union home ministry, has been re-arrested by the Dubai police. This time he will be put behind bars for a long time, paving the way for the arrest of many other criminals from the Dawood company, including Koraga Shetty and Jayaprakash Shetty.

Police stations in many areas across the country, including Mangalore, Udupi, Mumbai and Bangalore, will benefit from his arrest.

Raja is wanted in at least 33 crimes across Karnataka, including the murder of builder Subba Rao. He also acted as a hawala conduit for the D-company from Mangalore and Udupi. A former associate of Raja, on condition of anonymity, told DNA that "even the underworld was in favour of Raja's extradition to India as he was crossing all limits and had become an enemy of the country."

Raja has a large network of money laundering agents, who function from Mangalore, Udupi, Panaji, Kasargod and Bangalore.

NB Kamal, former chief of the now-defunct district Anti Rowdy Squad, had prepared an elaborate dossier on Raja, which spoke of him being very active in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district. He was also accused of unleashing a reign of terror among businessmen in the city, particularly people owning hotels, restaurants and jewellery shops.

It is now more or less established that the Bannanje Raja gang, especially two or more prominent members, is very active in the Dakshina Kannada district.

Inspector general of police (western range) Gopal B Hosur said, "All the requisite papers to secure the custody of Raja are in place, and all procedures are running."

Sources in the union home ministry confirmed that steps have been taken to bring Raja back to India, where he would be made to answer for his crimes.

The world’s most dangerous man

uesday 24 Nov, 2009

When Forbes magazine publis-hed its list of the world’s most powerful people this week, there were some predictable faces.

President Obama, of course, came in at number one.

Bill Clinton was at 31, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at 43, Oprah Winfrey at 45. And then, wedged in between the chief justice of the US Supreme Court and the editor of the New York Times, at number 50 comes former Dubai resident, Ibrahim Dawood Kaskar.

For a gangster of his inflated ego, placement among the very top of global society must be an enor-mous pleasure.

As the head of the sprawling ‘D-Company’ empire, Dawood is simply the world’s biggest criminal, a man capable of running a colossal global crime network from his Al Wasl Road mansion before a coordinated effort by international law enforcement forced him to flee.

He and his deputies lived a luxur-ious life in Dubai for decades, with Dawood seen smoking cigars from the back of his white Rolls Royce while driving to entertain Bolly-wood stars at his Jumeirah mansion, according to Indian reporter Baljeet Parmar, who has followed Dawood’s career for decades.

The Al Wasl Road house, known as ‘The White House’ is listed on US Treasury Department documents that list sanctions against Dawood for offences that include terrorism on behalf of Islamic extremists, kidnapping and just about every type of crime imaginable, from plutonium selling to global heroin networks and extortion rackets.

A book by author Gilbert King, dubbed Ibrahim as ‘The Most Dangerous Man In The World’.

In 2006, Dubai police launched a major assault against his operations, arresting 15 members of D-Company and extraditing ten of them to Dawood’s native India.

Dawood, who carries a UAE passport (thats a new one), eventually left the Emirates but leaves behind many family members and business partners.

The son of an Indian policeman, his ruthlessness brought him and some of his family to the very top of the Indian criminal world.

When the ferocious criminal infighting he unleashed became too dangerous, he moved his giant global operations to Dubai in 1985.

Known for his love of cricket, he was frequently seen at games in Sharjah and entertained some of the biggest players in the game.

In 2005, major celebrities from Bolly-wood, Indian politics and inter-national cricket turned up at a Dubai hotel for the wedding of his daughter Mahrukh Dawood to Junaid Miandad, the son of Javed Miandad, the Pakistani cricketer.

One 7DAYS photographer who was positioned outside had previously seen Dawood at cricket games.

“It was a huge wedding, very, very expensive,” he recalls. “But the guests weren’t exactly posing outside to have their picture taken.”

The wedding provided valuable information for the Dubai and Indian police. It was the first time that they noted the connection between Dawood and Dubai-based money laundering kingpin, Naresh Jain Kumar, who fled the Emirates four months ago amid a major crackdown on his operations.

Deira-based Jain was washing $4 million a day in drug proceeds, according to Italian police, much of it through Dubai import companies.

In the last month, the Dubai police criminal investigation unit swung another blow at Dawood with the arrest of crime figure Bannanje Raja, caught last month as he tried to leave the UAE on a false passport.

Police confirmed this week that prosecutors were organising his extradition to India, where he is wanted for running Bangalore blackmail and prostitution rackets.

Several other former Dubai-based Dawood associates have been arrested in India in recent weeks, including Arif Mirza Beg, a former resident of Dubai and Sharjah. Beg is now facing 16 charges that range from extradition and murder.

Much of Dawood’s own family are still based in Dubai, but all plead that they have never been involved in crime. One Dubai-based brother, 45-year-old Iqbal Kaskar, has found solace in religion.

While Ibrahim was quick to use the gun to solve disputes, Iqbal was in a Mumbai court yesterday, urging passport authorities to allow him to go on the Hajj to Mecca. His request was refused. Indian authorities had taken the unusual step of limiting his travel to between the UAE and India because of his family’s record.

In 2003, Iqbal was extradited from Dubai to India but was acquitted in 2007 of construction bribery and returned to the Emirates. He is, to date, the only Dawood sibling ever to face trial.

Dawood’s Legacy
1993 Mumbai Bombings: A terrorism court found that Dawood’s gang detonated13 bombs in Mumbai in March 1993, killing 250 people.

Dawood personally organised and financed the killing of innocent civilians, according to prosecutors, in revenge for sectarian attacks on Muslims.

Mumbai 2008 Attacks: Indian and Russian intelligence said he helped to coordinate the attacks with Pakistan militants. India accuses Pakistan of harbouring Dawood in Karachi.

Al Qaeda Coordinator: The US Treasury Department has imposed global sanctions on Dawood for his Al Qaeda links and role in coordinating global terrorist networks and lists his Al Wasl home as his main residence.

Heroin: Intelligence Agencies around the world say Dawood has a massive role in the heroin trade. Under Taliban supervision, Afghan opium makes its way to Karachi for processing and distribution around the world.

Prostitution: Major Dawood associate Bannanje Raja is to be extradited from Dubai to face prostitution and racketeering charges in Bangalore. Dawood’s well-established links with the Russian underworld has opened up new prostitution rackets in the Middle East.

Extortion: There is barely any segment of the Indian economy that Dawood’s men haven’t tried to siphon. He started in the textile industry and made a fortune from “taxes” on Mumbai construction companies.

sum · Post by **sum** » 27 Nov 2009 09:09

Raja is wanted in at least 33 crimes across Karnataka, including the murder of builder Subba Rao. He also acted as a hawala conduit for the D-company from Mangalore and Udupi. A former associate of Raja, on condition of anonymity, told DNA that "even the underworld was in favour of Raja's extradition to India as he was crossing all limits and had become an enemy of the country."

Does the bolded part mean that atleast the non-D company underworld is still in RAW control and is used for "patriotic" activities?

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 27 Nov 2009 09:46

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indopak-war- ... ml?from=tn

P. Chidambaram with Rajdeep Sardesai. I admire the man's composure and calmness while Rajdeep was trying to get emotional and fan knee-jerk reponses. Very controlled and very informative.

Worth reading; and if you can, you should see the video(s). My respect for our politicians has gone up a notch, after seeing MMS and Chidambaram in recent days.

"Rajdeep Sardesai: One year from now, will we all forget our lessons from 26/11?

P Chidambaram: You may forget but I won’t forget. I live with it everyday and therefore I will never forget it. Neither will I forget my responsibility to deal with the intelligence reports that come everyday....there is no place for panicked reactions.. "

As this thread is documenting, things seem to be moving in the right direction.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 27 Nov 2009 10:27

There is no doubt that P.Chidambaram is one of the best ministers we have. He is meticulous, very articulate and well read. A far, far cry from Shivraj Patil.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 27 Nov 2009 11:31

I was eyeing for a PC loss in the general elections and conspiracy theory or not, he won after recounting, and god bless good fortune for that. Apart from his rudeness which has made him a bete noire in and around Sivagangai, he is a honest man. Apparently, his son is very similar in behavior, and is hogging the bcci pipeline to name and fame. But then PC comes from a rich Chettinad family and some of the no-nonsense/rude behavior can be understood in that context. In that sense, PC resembles the Kumaramangalam brand of politics, that many may be able to connect to as the Kumaramangalam family has been around in the limelight for far longer than PC.

Meanwhile, PM Manmohan Singh is to meet SHW on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and exchange pre-notes before SHW's arrival in India. As usual dont expect any news from ddm.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 27 Nov 2009 13:41

Stan, your assessment of PC above is accurate.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 27 Nov 2009 14:08

PC took on a barrage of questions for NDTV town hall type program, hosted by Barkha Dutt on 25th Nov

I am very very impressed by how he handled things.

He took lot of pot shots against Advani's work as home minister, without even remotely naming him once -- but in a very parliamentary manner.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 27 Nov 2009 16:05

The important thing was the PC silenced the Rahul Bhatt supporters and Bharka Dutt by stating that his Father's version of him coming to NIA as inaccurate

Ananya · Post by **Ananya** » 27 Nov 2009 21:21

Unfortunately PC has home there is one Mr 'acrymony' english teacher in FO who is mr patil to the power of 2

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 27 Nov 2009 21:51

Not sure if it was posted......
Mumbai attacks: One year on

The Mumbai (Bombay) attacks exposed gaping holes in India's security preparedness. Analyst Praveen Swami examines whether India has learnt its lessons.

Flawed modernisation
Mumbai police commandos drew spanking new automatic weapons to eye-level, aiming at imaginary enemies in the distance - a visual metaphor evidently intended to signal to Indians that the government is working to make them safe.

But experts who watched the same programme saw in it a graphic illustration of all that is wrong in the ambitious police modernisation programmes underway across India.

The laser sights fitted to the police's new weapons are designed to eliminate the need to raise the weapon to eye-level before taking aim - a lesson the Mumbai police instructors had evidently neglected to tell their students.

India's security modernisation programme appears based on the false premise that counter-terrorism responses can be built around technology acquisition alone.

Funds have been made available for new weapons and mobility platforms, but there has been no parallel push towards enhancing police skill sets and institutional capabilities.

But the larger problem underpinning the modernisation process is this: the infrastructure does not exist to make the technology acquisitions meaningful.

Shortage of instructors

The Mumbai police, like most Indian forces, do not even have an adequately-equipped modern firing range where they can rehearse complex urban combat scenarios.

Like other police forces in the country, the Mumbai police are crippled by a desperate shortage of qualified special weapons and tactics instructors, making do instead with personnel trained by the Indian army - who possess skills quite different from those needed for urban counter-terrorism.

Learning to use the new weapons is another area of concern.

Police officers across the world must regularly obtain re-qualification in marksmanship; nowhere in India is there a certification authority.

NSG officers say their own expansion programme is also less than perfect. The force draws much of its cutting-edge officer component from the Indian army.

Many independent experts believe the NSG's military culture, which is relatively tolerant of collateral damage, also militates against the special mindset needed for counter-terrorism operations in urban environments.

Worryingly, police forces across India have proved reluctant to learn from their own experiences, let alone those of others.

Barring two states, none have sent officers to study the Mumbai crisis.

There has been no systematic national study of the tactical errors at the higher-command levels of the Mumbai police, which led to chaos in the force's ground-level response to the crisis.

Not one city has conducted a rehearsal involving major government institutions - like the fire and ambulance services - to test its preparedness for an attack.

Even Delhi, which will host the Commonwealth Games next year, has proved remarkably sanguine in its attitudes.

Not one state has a special weapons and tactics training institute which meets international standards. A national academy will also help generate protocols and standard operating procedures which can then be implemented across the country.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 27 Nov 2009 21:54

Stan_Savljevic wrote:Meanwhile, PM Manmohan Singh is to meet SHW on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and exchange pre-notes before SHW's arrival in India. As usual dont expect any news from ddm.

who is SHW ? the number of acronyms gets me down sometimes.

sum · Post by **sum** » 27 Nov 2009 21:55

Sheikh Hasina Wajid?

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 27 Nov 2009 22:03

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 27 Nov 2009 22:17

oh, thanks.

Muns · Post by **Muns** » 27 Nov 2009 22:45

Just watching the IBN links above with PC. At the end of video 4 he announces that we've been able to stop various Islam inspired Jihadi attacks across various cities..

but then he goes on to say just like we've been able stop various attacks by Hindu militants.

The game of equal - equal goes on...

It doesn't matter if i accuse terrorists and Islam...to be fair to the electorate....i have to equate it to militant hindu's. Can anyone tell me the last attack on India caused by militant Hindu's? Aren't we playing to the defense of the Paki's by morally equating islamic terrorism with yarn spinning Hindu militants? How long are we going to keep shooting ourselves in the foot like this.

He had my vote until this....

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 27 Nov 2009 22:57

Aditya_V wrote:The important thing was the PC silenced the Rahul Bhatt supporters and Bharka Dutt by stating that his Father's version of him coming to NIA as inaccurate

No..I guess he said, Bhatt family was the first who approached the media and made news and he doesnt want to give a clean chit as purported by Bhatt.

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 27 Nov 2009 23:45

---self-deleted--

O/T and potential flame-bait. Sorry

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 28 Nov 2009 00:07

A request: Guys, please take the Hindu-Muslim pissing contests to nukkad please. TIA.

Here we go, confirmation if it was not crystal-clear already...

Sources in the Indian foreign ministry said that the Bangladeshi security forces' recent crackdown on northeastern Indian militants based in the was perceived to be a goodwill gesture by Dhaka ahead of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Delhi.

http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=147832&hb=3

Sources said that the militants are under tremendous pressure in Bangladesh and the possibility of the ultras trying to sneak into India from Bangladesh cannot be ruled out.
...
According to intelligence inputs, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and chairman of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), Ranjan Daimary are still in Bangladesh but they are no longer receiving support from any government organization of the neighbouring country. Sources said that with the improvement of relations between India and Bangladesh, the militants are finding it tough to stay in the neighbouring country and the possibility of more apprehensions of militants before the proposed visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister to India next month cannot be ruled out.
...
Sources revealed that according to reports, the militants have started establishing transit bases in Bhutan and they sneak into the neighbouring country quite often. Though SSB personnel have been posted along the border with Bhutan, it is not possible to completely seal the border because of the terrain and a decision has been taken to intensify operations in the areas bordering Bhutan to prevent trans border movement of the militants.

The police and security forces will also intensify operations along the border with Arunachal Pradesh as the militants have taken advantage of the lack of adequate security to establish their bases in the jungles along Arunachal Pradesh border and there have been instances of militants crossing over. In a few occasions, the militants also shifted kidnapped persons to the neighbouring state by taking advantage of the terrain, sources admitted. The operational group of the Unified Command shared the inputs available with the police and the security forces and decided that Guwahati city is still most vulnerable to militant attacks as any attack in the city attracts maximum publicity. The inputs available also indicated possible joint operations by the ULFA and anti-talk faction of the NDFB, sources added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... v2709/at07
9 more BOPs to be set up along Bangla border
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... ov2709/ne6
Forces foil Ulfa attack plan --- Arrested woman cadre spills Sivasagar blast plot, rebel reveals cycle bombs ready to be detonated
http://telegraphindia.com/1091127/jsp/n ... 790160.jsp
http://www.morungexpress.com/regional/38435.html

Meanwhile, Mina Gogoi alias Akoni Gogoi alias Binita Bora, a woman ‘seargent’ of 28th battalion of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), was arrested while four of her associates managed to escape in a joint operation by SFs at Lahdoigarh in Namtola under Sonari Police Station in Sivasagar District near Assam-Nagaland border, reports Telegraph. She is the wife of Ramen Dadhumiya, ‘area commander’ of the 28th battalion. She later confessed that the outfit had planned to carry out blasts in the Charaideo subdivision of Sivasagar District. A five kilogrammes of Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a pistol, some photographs and a register containing details of funds collected by the outfit in Charaideo subdivision were recovered from her.

Mina, wife of the outfit’s Sonari area commander, Romen Dhadomia, had joined Ulfa in 1994. She was arrested earlier in 2005 but fled to Myanmar after jumping bail.

GOC backs army act
http://telegraphindia.com/1091127/jsp/n ... 789792.jsp

The army is not prepared to dilute the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act which empowers the security forces during counter-insurgency operations despite Delhi’s willingness to look into the anomalies of the act.

DHD-J challenges ban notice
http://telegraphindia.com/1091127/jsp/n ... 790556.jsp

Replying to a showcause notice issued by the Unlawful Activities Prevention Tribunal, the incarcerated chairman of the DHD (J), Jewel Gorlosa, through his counsels, pleaded before the tribunal not to confirm the ban imposed on the outfit under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967. Gorlosa contended that the outfit couldn’t be declared a banned organisation since it had returned to the mainstream with the ceremonial surrender of its cadres on October 2.

I need a smiley for "my arse", can I have it?
Red Alert: Naxals collude with north-east insurgents
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/red-alert-na ... rom=search

CNN-IBN has now learnt that at least 7000 armed Maoists have spread out across the West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura district in West Bengal along with East Singhbhum in Jharkhand. In Bengal, they are being assisted by 50 hard-core rebels from Manipur's insurgent group, People Liberation Army, who are training tribal villagers living inside these forests.

SATP:

The All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) ‘commander’ Francis Tirky alias Aakash was shot dead by the Security Forces (SFs) at Kabaram Ingti Gaon (village) under Bokajan Police Station in Karbi Anglong District in the night of November 26, according to Sentinel. The sources said that the militant was hiding at Kabaram Ingti Gaon when SFs raided the place. The militant had joined the AANLA in 2003 and underwent training in Singhsan Pahar in the same District. He had surrendered to the Army in 2008 but soon thereafter absconded and recommenced extortion and illegal activities. He was one of the most wanted militant in the area of Bokajan and was deeply involved in sabotage and coercion activities. One 7.65-mm pistol along with four live rounds and four fired cases were recovered from the encounter site.