Intelligence & National Security Discussion

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 25 Feb 2010 10:19

I wonder if we can send our own Headleys to scout out the neighbour for any future action.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 26 Feb 2010 03:27

CHENNAI: Another case of a scientific officers from a nuclear power plant in the country disappearing mysteriously has come to light. Anantha Narayanan (37), a scientific officer working in the computer department of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, has been reported missing for the last ten days.

In June last year, L Mahalingam, a scientist employed at the Kaiga atomic power station in Karnataka had gone missing and was later found dead in a river. According to police, Anantha Narayanan, who joined IGCAR in 1997, left home for work on February 15 around 8.30am as usual but didn't return. Preliminary investigation by local police and the IGCAR authorities suggest that he was disturbed by the serious illness of his elder daughter and some family disputes and that could have prompted him to leave his house. Police have formed several special teams and have been searching for him in places like Puducherry, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Chennai and also in Andhra Pradesh.

"He left home around 8.30am as usual on February 15 and I thought he was going to office. Since there is a ban on mobile phones inside the IGCAR premises, he left his mobile phone at home. When he failed to return at the usual time, I called him at his office and was told that he had not come to office that day. Then I checked at all the possible places where he could have gone but have not been able to trace him. Till date we have no information," Anantha Narayanan's wife Rukmini told TOI on Thursday.

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 26 Feb 2010 04:33

^^^ Any perspective on what is happening.
It is obvious that someone is finishing off selected nuke scientists. Were these the ones that spoke against the nuke deal.
This is worrisome

Nalla Baalu · Post by **Nalla Baalu** » 26 Feb 2010 05:25

IIRC, late Mr. Mahalingam was working as a trainer of Reactor Operators.

Marten wrote:
Jarita wrote:^^^ Any perspective on what is happening.
It is obvious that someone is finishing off selected nuke scientists. Were these the ones that spoke against the nuke deal.
This is worrisome
Were they working in related departments or in any way related to testing of devices? Is there a clear pattern that can be established? ...

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 26 Feb 2010 11:04

^^^^ Can someone summarize the strange happenings at nuclear plants including deaths of scientists in the last 2 years. Maybe we will find a pattern

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 26 Feb 2010 12:26

from what I know these incidents are not related in any way. India's nuclear infrastructure is biggish and employs a lot of people, only a handful of whom actually work on weapons. I hate to sound insensitive but an accidental death or a two per year would be at par with the national average. nothing more than coincidence.
of more concern IMHO would be the water contamination incident at IGCAR which hasn't been solved yet AFAIK. or even the BARC chemistry lab fire in which 2 research students died. but that's OT for this thread.

dinakar · Post by **dinakar** » 26 Feb 2010 18:54

Craig Alpert wrote:Another nuclear scientist missing
CHENNAI: Another case of a scientific officers from a nuclear power plant in the country disappearing mysteriously has come to light. Anantha Narayanan (37), a scientific officer working in the computer department of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, has been reported missing for the last ten days.

Craig this case seems suicide. This is reported in today's evening tamil newspapers. click

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 27 Feb 2010 03:11

Marginal hike in defence outlay

In what may reflect the fluid border situation, the allocation for “special projects” has been more than doubled from Rs 138.84 crore in 2009-10 to Rs 297.04 crore in 2010-11.
Though there have never been any official word on the nature of “special projects”, it is believed that they are indicative of the intensification of spying and reconnaissance activities.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 27 Feb 2010 20:51

Why India wants Al-Qaida man Ilyas Kashmiri

India has sought access from Pakistan to Ilyas Kashmiri, a top Pakistan based terrorist, who was recently named by terror suspect David Headley. Kashmiri also has a 26/11 connection. A group he heads finds mention in the audio conversations between a handler in Pakistan and a terrorist inside Nariman House.

What is the connection between 26/11 and the man who is one of Pakistan's and now India's most wanted?

Three new dossiers have been handed over to Pakistan. One of them on 26/11 accused, another on Ilyas Kashmiri, one of the Al-Qaida's top men in Pakistan.

Now here's the link between the two.

Abu Jundal, the alleged Indian 26/11 handler, briefed Imran Babar, a terrorist inside Nariman house on what he should tell the Indian media as the 26/11 attack unfolded.

The 26/11 connection to Ilyas Kashmiri is found in the words "313 Brigade".

The 313 Brigade is said to be an umbrella organisation of terror groups like the Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammed headed by Kashmiri. He was once closely associated with the Pakistan's ISI.

The statement meant to be a warning to India that Kashmiri's group would attack India.

Kashmiri is the operational head of the 313 Brigade, who made a statement warning India. At a rally in one of Pakistan's tribal held areas, Kashmiri is said to have threatened attacks on the Commonwealth Games, the Indian Premier League and the Hockey World Cup.

Kashmiri is already wanted in Pakistan for several attacks, including the one on the Marriot Hotel that killed over 50 people. He also made an attempt to assassinate former Pakistan president Parvez Musharraf.

India's interest also piqued after terror accused David Headley named Kashmiri as his guru.

Officially at least, Pakistan says they are helpless. They claim ignorance about Kashmiri's whereabouts since he operates from the remote tribal areas of Waziristan. Add to that Kashmiri is a wanted accused in Pakistan and carries a 600,000 dollar reward on his head.

In this scenario, will India's request for access to Kashmiri bear fruit? Now that's a million dollar question.

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 28 Feb 2010 04:52

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 625409.cms

Very disturbing its amazing the government watches all these without any actions to perpetrators

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 02 Mar 2010 03:11

Pune: ATS chief appeals for information

"I request all autorickshaw drivers who may have ferried the passengers that day to German Bakery to contact me on my personal numbers and I assure you that your identity would not be disclosed," a desperate appeal by K P Raghuvanshi, the Chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Fifteen days after a blast ripped through German Bakery in Pune killing 17 people, the police are still looking for leads. The ATS chief is now appealing to people through FM radio to call him directly if they have any information.

The ATS chief wants information from all those who had visited the German bakery after 4 pm on February 13, the day of the blast.

An appeal has also been made to autorickshaw drivers who took passengers anywhere near the German bakery after 3 pm, till the time of the blast.

The ATS Chief has given his personal numbers: 9527039991 and 8806266626 and has assured that the identity of the informer will not be disclosed.

Close to 40 representatives of various auto unions as well as individual drivers, were also summoned to the police commissioner's office to gather information on terror suspects, but the police failed to get anything substantial from them.
The fact that the police have still not managed to even make a sketch of the suspect till now indicates that the probe is still in the dark.

But Pune's Police Commissioner says the probe is on track.

"It's not that we have reached 100 per cent but I would say 99 per cent and it's not that we are totally in the dark, or groping in the dark as some newspapers are writing," said Satyapal Singh, Commissioner of Police, Pune.

Despite those claims, the investigating agencies are now banking on the general public for clues that may give a concrete direction to the probe.

Wonder what NIA is upto??? Also why is there no national / local help line or tip line?? Young India has a long way into setting up proper channels towards public leniency!

ankit-s · Post by **ankit-s** » 02 Mar 2010 03:34

krishna_krishna wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 625409.cms

Very disturbing its amazing the government watches all these without any actions to perpetrators

And we R going 4 dialogue with perfidious Pakistan!

ankit-s · Post by **ankit-s** » 02 Mar 2010 03:36

Craig Alpert wrote:Pune: ATS chief appeals for information
Wonder what NIA is upto??? Also why is there no national / local help line or tip line?? Young India has a long way into setting up proper channels towards public leniency!

Lack of national interest!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 02 Mar 2010 03:41

The case has not been referred to the NIA. So no question of their doing something. It wont be referred until ATS gives up. And they wont give it up for they think they can pull a link to Hindutva. The senior maha policeman speculating about all links to be pursued shows the game plan. While thid goes on the all the links will become cold. In US, when a crime is across two states its automatic FBI case.

In India the local police and their political handlers can prevent a case from being investigated by national agencies.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 02 Mar 2010 04:06

ramana wrote:The case has not been referred to the NIA. So no question of their doing something. It wont be referred until ATS gives up. And they wont give it up for they think they can pull a link to Hindutva. The senior maha policeman speculating about all links to be pursued shows the game plan. While thid goes on the all the links will become cold. In US, when a crime is across two states its automatic FBI case.

In India the local police and their political handlers can prevent a case from being investigated by national agencies.

aahh your correct. Too little too late.. It's surprising that there is no government pressure mounting on hell even from the opposition "hindutva party" regarding any outcome on the breakthrough of this case! At times I wonder how cases get solved when no one expresses the political will to do things. Narendra Modi stands out as the only exception when it comes to holding those responsible, bar of course Indira Gandhi!!!

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 02 Mar 2010 04:18

Its double edged sword for the opposition. If they ask for quick resolution then they will get accused of being communal. And if their urging is considered then they might get linked willy nilly. So best course is to let the law take its own course determined by the ruling dispensation. And hope public votes you in if they are fed up.

I mean Brajesh Misra writes nice advice in Pioneer, about what current GOI should and should not do, while, when he was total czar with unlimited powers he did diddly sqat.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 02 Mar 2010 07:12

Inside Abdul Khwaja’s failed war against India

http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/02/stories ... 291000.htm

Early in January, a swarthy young man handed over a spanking new Pakistani passport identifying him as Karachi resident Mohammad Farhan to an immigration officer at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike airport.

Just a few taps on the keyboard later, though, the immigration officer knew the man Sri Lankan authorities had been watching out for had arrived. Hours later, Sheikh Abdul Khwaja was put on a special aircraft to Hyderabad.

Khwaja has long been identified in media accounts as among India’s most wanted: a key figure in the jihadist cells which have carried out a succession of urban bombings since 2005, and possibly linked to the Mumbai carnage of November 2008.

...

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 02 Mar 2010 11:28

ramana wrote:The case has not been referred to the NIA.

ramana saar. I dont think the state government have to request the NIA to take charge. The central govt. can ask the NIA to parallely begin its investigations. When dear old thadiyan/fat man Nazir was picked up and his interrogations began, the Kerala Govt. was crying foul that it was kept out of the loop. Also the Central Govt. handed over investigations of all major blasts in Kerala (one in Kozhikode, one in Kochi Collectorate) and some cases related to SIMI. Again the Kerala Govt. started whining that the centre is rough-shodding the state's rights (policing is a state subject). The central govt. clarified that Kerala Govt. can whine and do nothing, or continue its investigations. NIA would do a parallel job. And as of now, the Central Govt. have formally asked K.P to hand over all the cases (and documents etc.) to NIA and just keep out.

In India the local police and their political handlers can prevent a case from being investigated by national agencies.

That is only regarding CBI, if I am not mistaken. For CBI to intervene, the orders should come from the state government or from the courts.

sum · Post by **sum** » 02 Mar 2010 13:03

In July 2007, Khwaja is claimed to have told police, Shahid was asked to lie low by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate — perhaps in response to Indian and international pressure. Heated arguments followed. Samad arrived in Karachi at the end of August to discuss the issue. Both men were killed on their way back from fugitive Gujarat jihadist cleric Mufti Sufiyan Patangia’s Karachi home — an assassination widely attributed to India’s Research and Analysis Wing.

If Swami says it, it has to be nearest to the truth.

AoA, this one sentence made my day!!! Well done, RAW. Shows that that we are not all so helpless and asset-less even in Karachi.

skaranam · Post by **skaranam** » 02 Mar 2010 17:22

Indian-origin media baron shot dead in Nepal

Is this retribution?

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 02 Mar 2010 19:42

Could these cases be related by a long shot? Australian nuclear scientist goes missing in Canada.

BTW, is there any hotline in desh to report any suspicious activity, such as Crimestoppers in Aus or US? This could be used to report abandoned travel bags and other seedy activity.

Sudip · Post by **Sudip** » 04 Mar 2010 03:41

I was wondering why dont we still have a separate thread to discuss cyber-security issues? Arent the latest google happenings in China a warning? Or is it that our ministries and assets are technologically obsolete and not much networked to be bothered much?

....Meanwhile US releases a flyer on its Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative

CNCI Initiative Details
Initiative #1. Manage the Federal Enterprise Network as a single network enterprise with Trusted Internet Connections.
Initiative #2. Deploy an intrusion detection system of sensors across the Federal enterprise.
Initiative #3. Pursue deployment of intrusion prevention systems across the Federal enterprise.
Initiative #4: Coordinate and redirect research and development (R&D) efforts.
Initiative #5. Connect current cyber ops centers to enhance situational awareness.
Initiative #6. Develop and implement a government-wide cyber counterintelligence (CI) plan.
Initiative #7. Increase the security of our classified networks.
Initiative #8. Expand cyber education.
Initiative #9. Define and develop enduring “leap-ahead” technology, strategies, and programs.
Initiative #10. Define and develop enduring deterrence strategies and programs.
Initiative #11. Develop a multi-pronged approach for global supply chain risk management.
Initiative #12. Define the Federal role for extending cybersecurity into critical infrastructure domains.

Craig Alpert · Post by **Craig Alpert** » 04 Mar 2010 05:23

New threats against Indians in Afghanistan

Intelligence agencies have warned that there are fresh alerts of possible terror strikes against Indians in Afghanistan.

More terrorists have allegedly arrived in Kabul and Jalalabad to target the Indian embassy in the former and the Indian Consulate in the latter.
................
Meanwhile in Washington, Richard Holbrooke, the US Special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has said he does not believe that Indians were the target of those attacks. "I don't accept the fact that this was an attack on an Indian facility like the (Indian) embassy. They were foreigners, non-Indian foreigners hurt. It was a soft target. Let's not jump to conclusions," he said. (Read: Indians not the target in Kabul, says Holbrooke)

Indian officials are surprised and annoyed with Holbrooke's statement, especially because they don't believe his assessment is based on specific information. India points to a statement made on Tuesday by a senior Afghan intelligence official who said he has proof that the Laskar-e-Toiba (LeT) was involved with last week's attacks. While the Taliban have claimed responsibility for the suicide attacks, Indians say that an LeT angle makes it clear that Indians were very much the focus of the terror strikes. ..................

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 04 Mar 2010 07:17

LeT in Perspective

http://www.newamerica.net/sites/newamer ... tankel.pdf

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 04 Mar 2010 07:17

Al-Qaeda central: the definitive guide

http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/20 ... tive_guide

somnath · Post by **somnath** » 04 Mar 2010 11:17

Greatest spy capers - good compendium..

http://photo.newsweek.com/2010/the-worl ... intro.html

anirban_aim · Post by **anirban_aim** » 04 Mar 2010 18:08

Gurus Need Gyaan,

<Speculative Cap On>

1. Sharm - El - Sheikh

2. MMS espouses fresh approach in Indo - TSPA relations

2. Shiv Shankar Menon as NSA

3. India agrees for talks

4. TSPA Foreign Sec in India for talks

5. PM goes to Saudi

6. Shashi Tharoor mouths BS about Saudi mediation, no rebuke from Krishna this time

Whats going on??? Whats cooking???

Sure does smell funny...

1. Is this Amir Khan pressure on Yindoos to give some quarter to Porkis for cooperation in Afganisthan??

2. Or is it another case of geriatric Porki born Indian leader showing their love for the place of their birth remembering "Lahore ki galiyan...." in old age and common and shared heritage and destiny bull crap...

Sudip · Post by **Sudip** » 04 Mar 2010 23:18

Another BARC scientist dead

The article also says the previous one who was found dead was actually a murder. This is really scary.

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 05 Mar 2010 00:35

Couple of interesting theories going around since this has truly gone beyond mere conincidence

These folks were whistleblowers of sorts
- Nuke black market and we might have got embroiled
- Related to holes in Nuke deal

What is happening is bad stuff

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Mar 2010 07:31

London arrest highlights India's communal war

http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/05/stories ... 511200.htm

NEW DELHI: For 17 years, police in half a dozen countries had hunted for Mohammad Hanif Umerji Patel, wanted in India for a 1993 bombing in Surat, which left 12 people injured and an eight-year-old girl dead.

Last month, authorities in the United Kingdom caught up with him in a neighbourhood grocer's shop in Bolton, 16 km from Manchester. Known to his friends as “Tiger Patel,” the fugitive will now face extradition proceedings. Seventeen men have so far been handed down sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for their role in the bombing.

...

Masaru · Post by **Masaru** » 05 Mar 2010 21:43

x - post
Maoists want to overthrow Indian state by 2050: Pillai

Maoists have plans to overthrow the Indian democracy through their armed struggle and want to control the government by 2050, Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai today said.

"They are very highly motivated, highly trained. I am quite certain that there are some, may be some ex-army or some people who have been with them," he said.

"After every attack, they do a post-mortem and analysis. The analysis is as good as armed forces of any country does."

The Home Secretary said 908 people have lost their lives last year, the highest since 1971, in Naxal violence and it may go up in this year and next year become coming down.

He also said, "the operations have not hit even five per cent of hardcore militants. The real armed cadres are yet to come out."

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 05 Mar 2010 21:56

Do we have intel on where the supply lines from outside that bring in weapons and cash to the Maoists are?

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 05 Mar 2010 22:24

most weapons are home made, the top leaders use INSAS/AK/SLR stolen from security forces. funding comes from two sources, the day to day needs are met by a certain tax on local populace (for example a village may be asked to host a group of maoists for the duration of a meeting/training camp) and extortion of petty traders. the higher level funding (buying comm eqpt, laptops, travel abroad) comes from foreign NGO's and their local counterparts.

derkonig · Post by **derkonig** » 05 Mar 2010 22:35

Rahul M wrote:most weapons are home made, the top leaders use INSAS/AK/SLR stolen from security forces. funding comes from two sources, the day to day needs are met by a certain tax on local populace (for example a village may be asked to host a group of maoists for the duration of a meeting/training camp) and extortion of petty traders. the higher level funding (buying comm eqpt, laptops, travel abroad) comes from foreign NGO's and their local counterparts.

What about funding from christian groups and chruches?

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 05 Mar 2010 23:26

Rahul M wrote:most weapons are home made, the top leaders use INSAS/AK/SLR stolen from security forces. funding comes from two sources, the day to day needs are met by a certain tax on local populace (for example a village may be asked to host a group of maoists for the duration of a meeting/training camp) and extortion of petty traders. the higher level funding (buying comm eqpt, laptops, travel abroad) comes from foreign NGO's and their local counterparts.

If I recall when India got independence , we had a large poor population and was a fertile ground for communism to take over just like former USSR and china. Luckily for us it never got off except in some parts( zamindar system prevalent areas).
It always used to surprise me about the funding despite that the maoists are poor illiterates and tribals fighting injustice and exploitation against the local/national govt. they are communist parivar with radical views including violence.
To wage war it is simlar to fire-
Just like in fire-http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae31 ... iangle.gif
FUEL- The tribals/maoists are foot soldiers waging war due to various reasons --one of them govt apathy/exploitation.
AIR- money from various sources like NGOs
HEAT- catalyst could be intellectuals and other personalities.

Stopping any one of them has an adverse impact on sustaining the fire(war).
1) It is difficult to stop fuel unless the other 2- AIR and HEAT are targetted. Fuel is after all our own people.
2) AIR & HEAT-If the higher level funding come from foreign NGOs and their local counterparts--- what prevents them from being identified and their supply lines shut down---
They should be systematically targetted individually like tax evasions enquiries and other areas where there are bound to be in trouble.Plant some news items to bring bad name to them among tribals.
Particular concern is the intellectuals- many are from IITs and various good universities. Have a look into the way youngsters are groomed to these radical views.
Target media outlets giving a voice to these scums. Make them fall in line with the nation.
All states are not battling these with same sincerity and purpose.
Many have media and national and state political connections to ward off any disruptions to the supply chain/catalysts.
Improve the local govt functioning- this will take some time because of trust deficit between the fuel and govt.

There is greater awareness now about the threat of communist extremists now than before and hope in the next few years we have a relatively better place for all the poor tribals exploited by communist extremists.
It will also boost the national economy significantly.

I do hope current efforts of the govt bears fruit in the long run and stamp out the menace once and for all times to come.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 05 Mar 2010 23:55

derkonig wrote:What about funding from christian groups and chruches?

What about funding from Muslim,Jews,Jains,Buddhist and other sects , will you shut this type of crap

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 06 Mar 2010 00:05

derkonig wrote:
Rahul M wrote:most weapons are home made, the top leaders use INSAS/AK/SLR stolen from security forces. funding comes from two sources, the day to day needs are met by a certain tax on local populace (for example a village may be asked to host a group of maoists for the duration of a meeting/training camp) and extortion of petty traders. the higher level funding (buying comm eqpt, laptops, travel abroad) comes from foreign NGO's and their local counterparts.
What about funding from christian groups and chruches?

some of the radical christian supremacist groups from abroad do have links with maoists and fund them. why is grouping them under the category "foreign NGO's" not enough for you ?

even though they are apparently religious groups, the objective of these groups are primarily political in nature.

derkonig · Post by **derkonig** » 06 Mar 2010 00:06

Austin wrote: What about funding from Muslim,Jews,Jains,Buddhist and other sects , will you shut this type of crap

This is not crap, its the cold harsh reality that Christian groups are actively supporting and funding Maoist terrorism in India. So stop trying to shift the blame to other religious groups or do some ==

derkonig · Post by **derkonig** » 06 Mar 2010 00:10

Rahul M wrote: some of the radical christian supremacist groups from abroad do have links with maoists and fund them. why is grouping them under the category "foreign NGO's" not enough for you ?

even though they are apparently religious groups, the objective of these groups are primarily political in nature.

Most definitely not! Terming them as 'Foreign NGOs' or for that matter just misguided 'NGOs' is nothing but failure to acknowledge the problem. One must be very specific about the composition & workforce of these NGOs(predominantly christian) as well as the backers/fund sources of these NGOs (which happen to be fundamentalist christian cults).

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Mar 2010 00:11

^^ Any evidence like GOI/MOD/MHA report to prove it ?