Pak based Islamic terrorist organisations targeting major South Indian cities

30 August 2009
South India on terrorist radar

Pramod Kumar, New Delhi

Aug. 29: The latest inputs with the Central intelligence agencies reveal that big cities in South India are the next targets of Pakistan-based militant organisations.

According to the new intelligence, the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have been assigned the job of setting up the maximum number of sleeper cells in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

Talking to this newspaper, a high-ranking official of a Central intelligence agency said, “The inputs reveal that sensitive installations and big cities of South India are the next targets. Pakistani agencies, including the ISI, have assigned this job to the LeT and JeM. There are confirmed reports that they have asked for a large number of sleeper cells in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Thiruvan-anthapuram and other important places in South India.” “There are several sensitive installations located in South India. The state police forces have been alerted in this regard. Besides, Central security agencies guarding sensitive installations have been alerted. They are already on high alert after the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008,” said the official.

The official added, “Some people from Kerala have been spotted near Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir. These two districts are close to the international border. The state police is keeping a close vigil on their activities. Despite repeated efforts by state security forces, the people from Kerala failed to provide satisfactory reasons for their presence in these two border districts of J&K.” Further, the interrogation of some militants in J&K has revealed that their next targets are big cities in South India, said the official.

There are reports that LeT and JeM have started recruiting agents for sleeper cells in South India. While in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh they have already started the process, in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu they are looking for trained hands, said the official.

Terror threat sparks high alert in Hyderabad

 

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Terror threat sparks high alert in Hyderabad 

4 Jun 2009, 2134 hrs IST, IANS

HYDERABAD: A high alert was sounded on Thursday across Andhra Pradesh after the Intelligence Bureau warned the state authorities about a terror 

threat. 

Hyderabad police commissioner B. Prasada Rao told reporters that there were intelligence reports of three terrorists planning to carry out attacks in south India. “Since Hyderabad is the target of terrorists, we are taking all security measures,” he said. 

Security was heightened in this state capital and other major towns as police rounded up 15 suspects at different places and launched checking of vehicles and frisking of people. 

Security was beefed up at information technology companies, bus and railway stations, shopping malls, theatres and defence establishments here, in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam and at the famous Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. 

State Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy said police were ready to deal with any situation. She said police were on high alert and had taken all necessary precautionary measures. 

She said the intelligence reports have warned of possible attacks in southern cities. “They have not specifically pointed out Hyderabad but we are taking all precautions.” 

The home minister asked people not to panic but be alert about their surroundings and report to police about any suspicious person or activity. 

Meanwhile, police picked up 13 suspects travelling in the Hyderabad-New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express at the Kazipet railway station in Warangal district. The youth are in the age group of 20-30 years. The suspects were being questioned. 

Police also picked up four suspects in Hyderabad during massive checking operations. Special police teams were checking hotels and lodges. 

Security has also been tightened around the famous Hindu temple at Tirupati. Police set up barricades at several places in the town and were checking all vehicles going towards hill shrine.

Terror threat sparks high alert in Hyderabad 

4 Jun 2009, 2134 hrs IST, IANS

HYDERABAD: A high alert was sounded on Thursday across Andhra Pradesh after the Intelligence Bureau warned the state authorities about a terror threat. 

Hyderabad police commissioner B. Prasada Rao told reporters that there were intelligence reports of three terrorists planning to carry out attacks in south India. “Since Hyderabad is the target of terrorists, we are taking all security measures,” he said. 

Security was heightened in this state capital and other major towns as police rounded up 15 suspects at different places and launched checking of vehicles and frisking of people. 

Security was beefed up at information technology companies, bus and railway stations, shopping malls, theatres and defence establishments here, in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam and at the famous Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. 

State Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy said police were ready to deal with any situation. She said police were on high alert and had taken all necessary precautionary measures. 

She said the intelligence reports have warned of possible attacks in southern cities. “They have not specifically pointed out Hyderabad but we are taking all precautions.” 

The home minister asked people not to panic but be alert about their surroundings and report to police about any suspicious person or activity. 

Meanwhile, police picked up 13 suspects travelling in the Hyderabad-New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express at the Kazipet railway station in Warangal district. The youth are in the age group of 20-30 years. The suspects were being questioned. 

Police also picked up four suspects in Hyderabad during massive checking operations. Special police teams were checking hotels and lodges. 

Security has also been tightened around the famous Hindu temple at Tirupati. Police set up barricades at several places in the town and were checking all vehicles going towards hill shrine.

Muslim politics takes an extremist turn in Kerala

Muslim politics takes a turn in Kerala
Arun Lakshman in Thiruvananthapuram

March 02, 2009

The Muslim politics in Kerala has taken a turn with the advent of the Popular Front, a political party floated with the support of four Islamic organisations of southern India.

The National Development Front, a hardline Islamic resistance movement, has taked lead to float a political party in the state.

The former NDF state general secretary Nasaruddin Elamaram is named as the state president of the Popular Front.

The Indian Union Muslim League was the only popular political party in the state taking the cause of the Muslim community and has been a part of the United Democratic Front for decades. IUML leader C H Mohammed Koya also served as the chief mnister of Kerala.

The Muslim League which is considered soft and moderate and a public face of the Muslim community is now losing its grip with the emergence of the fire-brand Islamic scholar and fundamentalist politician Abdul Nasser Madani, who was arrested as an accused in the Coimbatore blasts case. There were cries from the human rights activists on the detention of Madani in Coimbatore central prison without trial for nine years.

The NDF, which has its roots in the Jamaat Islami, was formed in the year 1993 after the Babri Masjid demolition with the aim of defending the Muslim community against the Sangh Parivar, according to its organisers.

The organisation has since been trying to rope in disgruntled Muslim youths who felt the Indian Union Muslim League had not done anything concrete for the Muslim cause.

The NDF has been systematically working among the Muslim community giving armed training to its cadres and has been trying to project itself as the only saviour of the Muslim community.

The advent of the NDF in the social sphere of Kerala has resulted in tensions in all the corners of the state.

There are already reports that the Popular Front with its support base from the NDF will not be ignored by the politicians of the state and political parties would be making a beeline towards the NDF and the Popular Front leadership during the general elections.

This could turn into a problem for the Indian Union Muslim League, so far the only moderate face of the Muslim community in the state.

Extremist Kerala Muslim organization starting pan india party

Fundamentalist Muslim outfit in Kerala plans a pan-Indian political avatar
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Rating:   Posted: Sep 27, 2008 at 2230 hrs IST
Shaju Philip
Thiruvananthapuram, September 26 The Popular Front of India (PFI), a right wing Muslim organisation in south India, is planning a pan-Indian outfit to plunge into electoral politics. The PFI is an umbrella body of Kerala’s National Development Front (NDF), Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and Tamil Nadu’s Manitha Neethi Pasaria (MNP).

The PFI’s move to form a political party — if it materialises — would have serious implications in Muslim-dominated areas, especially in southern India. At present, the Muslim voters are attracted towards parties like the CPI(M), Congress and Indian Union Muslim League.

The PFI was formed in November 2006 as a common platform of the NDF, KFD and MNP, which have made inroads into Muslim belts in three southern states.

In Kerala, the NDF — a key constituent of the PFI — has been involved in political clashes with the CPI(M) and RSS. Two NDF men had lost their lives in recent violence. Many NDF activists were allegedly involved in the recent political murders in Thalassery and Thrissur.

Simi has 50 front outfits

Simi has 50 front outfits

By Namrata Biji Ahuja
New Delhi, asianage.com

Sept. 8: Over two dozen “cover” organisations of the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India are now operating in South India, and government documents reveal there are 50 such front outfits across the country.

Simi activist Shibli’s confession statement, a copy of which is available with this newspaper, said the jihadi outfit was “looking for ways to establish links with the Taliban.” It is using these “cover” organisations to recruit educated young people to carry out tasks such as acquiring arms and ammunition, collection of funds, training Simi cadres and circulating literature, particularly in the southern states.

Intelligence inputs show that some of these outfits are state-specific, while others operate on a national or regional level. At the national level, Simi is using Tahrik Tahaffuj-e-sha’aire Islam (TTSI), Wahadat-e-Islami, Tahrik-e-Ehyaa-e-Ummat and Tehrik-Talaba-eArabia as front organisations.

In Delhi, it is trying to carry out its subversive agenda through the innocuous-sounding Students Welfare Trust (SWI). A few weeks back, national security adviser M.K. Narayanan had said there were several Simi sleeper cells across the country.

In his confession, Shibli claimed the “responsibility (of) establishing links with the Taliban has been given to (Mumbai-based) Abdul Subhan.” He claimed that he, along with the hardline faction led by Safdar Nagori and Amil Parvaz, were pursuing “jihad”, and preparing for terrorist strikes across India. Intelligence reports indicated that the Nagori faction had called a meeting in Ujjain July 5-7, where they decided to send cadres to Pakistan for weapons training. A camp to prepare for terror strikes within India had been held at Castle Rock, Hubli (Karnataka).

Some of the known names of Simi front outfits include Muslim Youth Cultural Forum, Muslim Youth Front, All-Bengal Islamic Students Conference, Khidmat-e-Khalaq, Ameer-ul-Muslimeen, Darul-Khuda, Juhapura Youth Federation, Students Islamic Federation, Sauhridaya Library, Quran Foundation, Minority Rights Watch, Ittehadul Musalmeen and Naujawan-e-Islam.

ISI planning super terrorism in India – must read

ISI expands network from J&K to South; talks ‘super terrorism’

NEW DELHI, AUG 29 (PTI)
Terror groups backed by Pakistan’s ISI could use chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological weapons against India initiating a form of “super terrorism”, warns a Union Home Ministry report.

With ISI spreading its tentacles in the country from Jammu and Kashmir to down South, the report spoke of active terror modules mushrooming in Bihar, Assam and West Bengal where the sleeper cells have been assigned with specific targets.

In its section on terror groups and weapons of mass destruction, the report said “super terrorism in this perspective can be defined as projected future use of chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological weapons by terrorist groups.”

The report said Indo-Nepal border in Bihar is being used for smuggling of arms, explosives, fake currency into the country, while the agency was focusing on Uttar Pradesh to fund Madrasas and recruit youngsters for subversive activities.

South India too is an important part of the overall ISI game-plan since it is being targeted to recruit unemployed youths.

The report also mentions that ISI is trying to revive Punjab militancy and form new anti-India groups in the state.

While Maharashtra has been a victim of underworld gangs which have strong links with ISI, the report mentions that the Pakistan agency was also trying to liaison with the underworld in Gujarat and are using the coastal line for transporting arms and drug running operations.

Over 30 Islamic terror operatives at large in South India: police

Over 30 terror operatives at large in South India: police
Sunday August 3 2008 00:03 IST
IANS

TIRUNELVELI: Over 30 terror operatives could be at large in south India, Tamil Nadu police officials said Saturday on the basis of their interrogation of three suspected terrorists.

“Suspects P Ali Abdullah, Sheikh Abdul Ghaffoor and N Hira admitted under questioning that they have spread a wide web of terror and 32 saboteurs trained by them are operating all over south India,” a police official said here.

“We are trying to get more information about another suspect at large – Taufeek. Teams have been sent to Kerala and Mumbai to trace him,” he added.

The suspects were being questioned in three separate cells here.

The recovery of SIM cards from Abdullah in the high-security Puzhal prison in Tamil Nadu capital Chennai, 600 km north of here, had revealed a plot to set off explosions on Independence Day Aug 15 all over south India and elsewhere in India.

A huge cache of bombs, triggers, detonators were recovered from Ghaffoor last Saturday.

Since then, police obtained custody of Abdullah to question him further and transferred him to this southern Tamil Nadu city.

Is Karnataka training ground for future Muslim terrorists?

Karnataka training ground for future jihadis?
26 Jul 2008
BANGALORE: Terror attacks in recent times point at a pattern that the terrorists follow in order to intensify the impact.

There has been a rise in number of Islamic radicalization pockets that have emerged in southern India, including in cosmopolitan hubs such as Bangalore.

It may be recalled that the Glasgow airport bomber, Kafeel Ahmed, a PhD in aeronautical engineering, underwent his jihadi transformation in a Bangalore mosque.

This year, police have unearthed sleeper cells in Karnataka and even an arms training camp in a forest. Local police said a little-known group called Karnataka Forum for Dignity could also be behind the blast.

On Friday, when the first bomb was triggered at 1.20pm in the crowded Raja Ram Mohan Roy junction, people mistook it for a transformer explosion.

But within minutes it dawned on them that it was a bomb. Soon followed other blasts — at four places on Hosur Road along the IT corridor – Koramangala-Sarjapur junction, Madivala check post, Adugodi traffic junction – and at Langford Road junction in the heart of the city, three places on Mysore Road – Nayandahalli, Kengeri RTO office and opposite Gopalan Mall.

At Nayandahalli and near Kengeri RTO, bombs were placed in a vacant plot and inside a shoulder drain. Incidentally, nobody noticed the blast opposite Gopalan Mall on Mysore Road as they thought it was a cracker.

Only after the serial blasts made headlines did locals realize it could be a bomb blast and alerted police. After a thorough check, police found pieces of a crude bomb.

At Adugodi traffic junction, the bomb was placed just below a shoulder drain. The spot was critical as it was in front of an upcoming shopping complex and opposite to the traffic police station.

Muniraju, who was passing by the building, was injured. Two were injured at Madivala check post, opposite to National Dairy Development Board. The bomb was planted under a tree, amid some cables. Though not much damage was done, Muniyappa and Anbu, who were chatting at the time, sustained injuries.

Two others injured were a motorcyclist and the pillion in the Raja Ram Mohan Roy junction blast. Ravindra and Ramesh sustained minor injuries when the bomb planted in a traffic island went off.

Police said that given that weak explosives were used, the blasts could be aimed at creating panic and triggering chaos, rather than killing people.

“Looking at the places where the bombs were planted, the motive may be to spread fear,” said a police officer.

The state government has announced Rs 1 lakh to the family of the woman who died in the blast. The injured will get a compensation of Rs 25,000 and more depending on the severity of their injuries.