New Delhi, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Massive gatherings have been reported at the India-Bangladesh border following an aggressive campaign launched by the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal to drive out illegal immigrants. The government has directed the administration to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants.

Many who entered the country illegally have been self-deporting themselves as they do not want to be put in detention centres. However, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has explicitly ordered officials to expedite the repatriation process.

He instructed the state police to bypass traditional judicial court proceedings when dealing with illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. An official said that the drive is much needed as illegal immigrants have stressed the Indian systems.

Indian agencies are keeping a very close watch on the developments as the ISI would look to activate its radicalisation wings along the border areas to tap those persons who have been deported. An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISI would look to capitalise on the situation, and with the Jamaat-e-Islami winning handsomely in the bordering areas, it would be an added advantage for Pakistan to go ahead with its plan, the official added.

Usanas Foundation CEO, Dr Abhinav Pandya, says that the agencies have long neglected issues of demographic change and the Islamisation of India. The ISI had a malicious ambition of enforcing demographic change in India, and they had hoped that there would be complete Islamisation of India.

Another official said that there are scores of touts across the border who are in charge of sending in illegal immigrants. They are being contacted by ISI elements to hold as many persons who come into Bangladesh and then send them to radicalisation camps, the official added.

Dr Pandya says that Pakistan has realised that it cannot beat India in a conventional war. They had hoped that demographic change would be the ultimate solution. They want to do in the rest of India what they did in Kashmir, he added.

He further states that all these persons being sent out will have grievances. The ISI would tap as many people as possible and recruit them into terror groups. After all, they have lived in India for a long time and have good knowledge of the country. This would make them perfect for recruitment, Dr Pandya added.

Lt Col Ujjual Abhishek Jha (Retd, an Intelligence veteran and analyst, says that Pakistan would use this to build up a strong narrative about India being the oppressor. The ISI would collude with the Jamaat-e-Islami and indulge in radicalisation activities. The Jamaat has a strong support base along the West Bengal-Bangladesh border, he added.

Speaking about the long-term plans of the ISI, he said that those radicalised would be connected with terror modules. Further, Pakistan would look to use this issue to strain India-Bangladesh relations. The ties between the two countries are currently delicate, and as attempts are being made to improve relations, Pakistan would use this issue to derail the process.

An official said that they are closely watching the developments. The borders are on very high alert. All ISI-backed activity is being closely monitored, and the agencies will ensure that those radicalised elements are blocked from re-entering the country, the official also added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The battle in Balochistan has been anything but easy for the Pakistani security forces. Recently, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out a coordinated train bombing targeting security personnel aboard the Zaffar Express.

For Field Marshal Asim Munir, Balochistan is a ticking time bomb. China has in recent months stepped up the pressure immensely, and the Pakistan establishment is finding it hard to provide answers. For China, the safety of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC) is at stake. Chinese investments and their personnel have frequently been targeted in Balochistan.

At the time of signing up for the project, Pakistan had made tall claims about the security of the CPEC. China had made it clear that it would invest in the project, but it would be up to the Pakistanis to ensure its safety. An official said that Asim Munir is under immense pressure, and he is looking for a way out of this mess. He has used all the tools at his disposal, but in Balochistan, each one of them failed badly.

Another official said that Munir now needs a major diversion, and hence he has been indulging in a narrative campaign. He was at the western frontier, where he delivered a powerful address that was entirely focused on India-bashing. Instead of boosting the morale of his forces and finding solutions, he just stuck to one point, and that is blaming New Delhi for everything wrong that is taking place in Balochistan.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the troops are demoralised and there is every chance of massive desertions taking place. This has put the administration in panic mode, and Munir has no idea how to handle this. Munir has put more troops on the ground to fight BLA, but there has hardly been any success. He has not been able to provide security to the CPEC, and this has led to mounting pressure from China.

In another desperate move, he roped in the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) to fight alongside the Pakistani troops against the BLA. However, this tactic too has failed. The Pakistani army chief even told Lashkar-e-Taiba founder, Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, to negotiate with the BLA. For this, he had even met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s close aide.

An official said that this gambit too is bound to fail as the BLA has zero trust in the Pakistan administration or even its terror proxies. With no cards left, Munir felt it would be best if diverts attention from the real issue. During his visit on Eid-ul-Azha, with frontline troops in Zhob and Quetta, he went on Delhi-bashing. Officials say that Munir has no choice but to divert attention from complete administrative failure.

Officials say that those part of the administration are panicking, and many in Pakistan feel let down by what is happening in Balochistan. Officials say that the visit ideally should have focused on security gaps, Intelligence failures, and administrative lapses. Had he stuck to this and admitted to the gaps and found solutions, his troops would have gotten their morale booster. Instead, he sought to shift blame, while not addressing the real problem.

Another official said there are enough inputs to suggest that many would be deserting the army and other security forces. They have no answers against outfits such as the BLA and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Their repeated requests to make the desired changes have fallen on deaf ears. The official said that currently they are demoralised, but over a period of time, the desertions would take place in large numbers.

Officials say Munir is frantic. Beijing has stepped up the pressure immensely and is demanding security guarantees. The increasing number of losses that the Chinese are incurring due to the failure of Pakistan has left Beijing fuming. One can imagine the pressure that Munir must be under. But instead of addressing issues, he has decided to indulge in a fake narrative drive against India to divert attention from the real problem, an official said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has never revolted against the Pakistan establishment, is a changed outfit today. Indian Intelligence agencies have been stating that all is not well within the outfit, and the Pakistan establishment’s push to indulge the outfit in activities contrary to its ideology has only widened the rift further, the agencies have noted.

Now, the Pakistan army finds itself in a spot of bother with US President Donald Trump asking the country to be part of the Abraham Accords framework. While Pakistan has firmly rejected the call to normalise relations with Israel under the accord, it said that it would not recognise the country until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

An official said that Pakistan has a big problem to deal with after it was dragged in by the United States. Not only will it have to deal with its own people who have always stood against Israel, but handling its terror proxies is going to be a nightmare.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the Lashkar-e-Taiba has never in the past gone against the army or the ISI. Outfits such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed have on many occasions spoken a different language and gone against the system, but that has not been the case with the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Differences began setting in post-Operation Sindoor. The leadership felt let down by the establishment for failing to protect its people and facilities. The war in Afghanistan made matters worse as the outfit did not agree with Islamabad’s policy of battling the Afghan Taliban. Further, the Lashkar-e-Taiba reluctantly agreed to be part of a coalition with the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) in the battle against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

Another official said that the newfound bonhomie with the US has not gone down too well with the hardliners and terror groups in Pakistan. Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has bitten off more than he can chew, and this has come back to hit him hard now.

The official added that Pakistan may have firmly said no to the Abraham Accord, but it will have to continuously deal with pressure from the US President, who is unlikely to take Islamabad’s stance kindly.

Officials say that in the days to come, relations with the Lashkar-e-Taiba are only going to worsen. The terror group’s leadership will demand answers from the establishment on its relations with the US. The terror group would expect the Pakistan leadership to be more vocal about its stance against Israel, and this would irritate the Americans further, officials say.

An official said that the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership does not care about Pakistan’s geopolitical positioning. It only believes in radical Jihad, the official added. A top leader of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Saifullah Qasoori, also the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack, has openly threatened to destroy whoever accepts Israel. In an open message to the Pakistan establishment, he said that the Muslim world would never recognise Israel and whoever does so will be destroyed.

He even said that Pakistan is the defence leader of the Muslim world, while Saudi Arabia is the spiritual and ideological leader.

An official said that Asim Munir clearly did not sign up for this, and neither did he expect this. The official added that handling the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership is not easy. It has acted on everything that the Pakistan establishment has told them to. However, things are fast changing, and the ISI and army have a lot of answering to do. Looking closely at the developments, the rift is only going to increase in the days to come.

Officials also say that the rift is quite visible. On one hand, the outfit’s de facto chief, Talha Saeed, is hobnobbing with the political class. He recently met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s close aide and discussed further plans relating to Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, Qasoori has openly challenged the system and is trying to dictate what geopolitical stand Islamabad should take. These are signs of a clear rift, and in the days to come, it is only going to get worse, the official added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) The ISI has been using every trick up its sleeve to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. While security forces continue to hunt down terrorists in the Valley, the ISI has been trying to set up local groups.

In recent months, the agencies have learnt that there is a lot of emphasis that is being given to the rise of separatism in the Valley, which had died down post the abrogation of Article 370. To push this agenda, the ISI has been utilising the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Valley, an official said.

The Government of India had extended the ban on the Jamaat by five years in 2024. At the time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Pursuing PM Modi’s policy on zero tolerance against terrorism and separatism, the government has extended the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, for five years. The organisation is found continuing its activities against the security, integrity, and sovereignty of the nation. The outfit was first declared an 'Unlawful Association' on 28 February 2019. Anyone threatening the security of the nation will face ruthless measures.”

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISI has now been pushing the Jamaat cadre not only to ensure the rise of separatism, but also to raise funds for terror activities. There are many cadres of the Jamaat in the Valley, and Pakistan expects them to ramp up operations that include not just separatism and raising funds, but also help in setting up a brand new network of overground workers (OWG), the official added.

The official added that many of the members of the Jamaat are in touch with their counterparts in Pakistan and are actively plotting the revival of terrorism in a full-blown manner in the Valley. The recent NIA raids were focused largely on the financial operations of the Jamaat.

Another official said that the ISI is planning to create a massive ecosystem within Jammu and Kashmir, which could operate locally. It has already brought Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen together. It wants to rope in the Jamaat to take care of funding and logistics.

The official added that of late, there has been plenty of activity around reviving local groups. Al-Badr, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Jamaat-e-Islami, Kashmir operate with a large number of locals. While their main leadership is based in Pakistan, they can communicate with the youth and attempt to radicalise them.

Officials say the ISI feels that the people are likely to resonate with the Jamaat more when compared to the other groups. The Jamaat has focused more on ideology and religious radicalisation, rather than carrying out attacks on groups. It has the experience of running schools that have focused largely on radicalisation.

The ISI expects the Jamaat to set up such schools that would be run by proxies. Such educational institutions are dangerous as they aim at radicalising the children at a very young age. If such schools are not acted upon, then outfits such as the Jamaat will manage to create a bunch of radicalised children who would eventually be the future of Kashmir.

This is a long-term, dangerous strategy of the ISI that the Jamaat has been asked to execute. In the past, the government has acted against such schools. The administration of Jammu and Kashmir officially ordered the takeover of 200 schools affiliated with the Jamaat and its associated wing, Falah-e-Aam Trust. These schools were placed under government administrators to check radical educational networks.

Officials say when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir, the battle ahead is going to be hard. Post Operation Sindoor and the embarrassment it caused Pakistan, the ISI and the army have been in overdrive mode using every tactic at their disposal to ensure the complete revival of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Given the situation, the agencies are keeping a close watch on the activities that are being jointly carried out by the Jamaat, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Al-Badr, officials say.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) As the Indian agencies continue to crack down on drug cartels and narcotic smuggling, an increasing trend of pharmaceutical drug diversions has come to light. There has been an increase in the number of such cases in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, the agencies have learnt.

In addition to identifying and cracking down on drug smugglers, their modus operandi and the routes they use, the agencies are closely monitoring chemical and pharmaceutical diversion. The highest number of cases relating to pharmaceutical diversion has been reported from West Bengal.

Between 2020 and 2024, the state recorded the highest number of codeine-based cough syrup bottles being seized. The Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) said that during this period, the agencies seized 27.50 lakh codeine based caught syrup bottles. During the five years, the agencies in Assam seized 1.72 crore tablets. This is the highest number of seizures relating to tablets in the country, the NCB found.

The case was similar in Tripura, where a large number of tablets and codeine-based syrup bottles were seized. An official said that newer trends are being noticed when it comes to narcotics smuggling. There are concerns all over the country, and these issues are not limited to just a particular region.

The Narendra Modi government understands the risks attached if action is not taken. This led to the Union Government declaring a war on drugs and a ‘drug-free India,’ the official explained. An Intelligence Bureau official said that another trend that is being witnessed is the use of the highway infrastructure to smuggle drugs.

Recent seizures have indicated that Haryana has become a major transit corridor for drug smuggling -- a major narcotics trafficking corridor -- which links Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Haryana is well connected both through road and rail, and smugglers tend to exploit this. They have used this corridor to smuggle marijuana, poppy husk and opium.

During the investigations into these cases, the NCB found the need for extensive highway interdiction and better logistics monitoring operations. In the period between 2020 and 2024, the agencies from this corridor have seized 1,465.99 kg of opium. In the case of marijuana and poppy husk, the numbers stood at 51,074 kg and 74,828 kg, respectively, during the same period.

Officials say that while these routes are being monitored, Manipur remains a high-value trafficking risk. This is an area of concern as the number of foreign players is higher. The Manipur trafficking route is directly linked to the Golden Triangle, which has deadly cartels dealing in very high-value drugs.

Another official said that the International players operate and the drugs that they deal with are synthetic in nature. The highest seizures are those of heroin, the NCB noted. Drugs are produced in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos and then make it into India through the Manipur route, officials say.

The agencies say that while the corridors in Northwest and Haryana remain a concern, the problem is still the highest in Punjab. The ISI has been pushing drugs into Punjab heavily and has managed to set up a well-oiled network in the state.

In Punjab, 62,245 persons were arrested during the last five years. During the same period, 5,942.29 kg of heroin were seized. Officials note that each region has a different style of consumption. If heroin is preferred in the northeastern states, in the case of Delhi, the demand is high for cocaine, mephedrone and ephedrine. In Jammu and Kashmir, it was noted during the seizures that the highest preference is for heroin and hashish. In Bihar and Jharkhand, the preference is for opium and poppy, while in Odisha, it is marijuana, the NCB has learnt.

An official said that efforts to tackle this menace would need to be immense. Not only is India dealing with its local operatives, but it is also dealing with players on the international level. The coordination between the Central and state agencies and the Intelligence Bureau is crucial to tackle this problem.

The official added that the pharmaceutical drug diversion, the extensive use of the highway and railway network and of course, the newer trends being witnessed in Punjab and northeastern states are key focus areas in this battle.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership has been meeting several persons, part of the political class, recently. These meetings have come under immense scrutiny by the Indian agencies.

An official said that the Lashkar-e-Taiba is planning a two-pronged strategy to revive its Kashmir narrative. These strategies include increasing the number of terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and also driving the propaganda war.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba alone has over 500 terrorists waiting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir. Almost all attempts at infiltration have failed, and this has left the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership desperate.

At a recent meeting that was held in PoK, the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership decided to increase the number of launchpads. This is aimed at stressing the Indian security forces.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the more launchpads there are, the more terrorists they would be waiting to infiltrate. An estimate by the Indian agencies suggests that the Lashkar-e-Taiba wants to position over a thousand terrorists at these launchpads.

The sheer number is bound to stress the security forces in India. The other part of the plan is to increase the number of infiltration attempts multi-fold. For instance, if five attempts are being made per day, the idea is to increase to at least 20. The leadership hopes that the Indian forces would fail at least once.

An official said that on the one hand, Pakistan wants to have a strong homegrown outfit in Jammu and Kashmir. However, it also wants Pakistani terrorists in the Valley to carry out big hits. It was the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy, The Resistence Front, that carried out the big-ticket Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent lives were lost.

Post Pahalgam, the Lashkar-e-Taiba was badly hit during Operation Sindoor. Its primary training facility in Muridke was destroyed during the operation that was carried out by the Indian armed forces.

Last week, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, met Rana Sanaullah, a close aide of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, Talha Saeed apprised him about leadership issues in the Lashkar-e-Taiba. An official said that the meeting was held to convey the new plans by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Talha Saeed is also being told by the Pakistan establishment to make an official announcement about him taking over the outfit. The Lashkar-e-Taiba cadres have been demanding that a young leader head the outfit, while Hafiz Saeed can remain an ideological mentor.

Another meeting that caught the attention of many was the one between Talha Saeed and former Prime Minister of PoK and President of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan. The meeting coincided with the Lashkar-e-Taiba's latest plan for Kashmir. Saeed spoke about the need for infrastructure support. Khan was told about the plans to increase the number of launchpads in PoK. The strategy to increase the number of terrorists at these launchpads with the intention of stressing the Indian security forces was also discussed at this meeting.

While the Kashmir issue and the new strategy were the main points of discussion, Saeed also spoke about the upcoming elections in PoK. Currently, there is an undercurrent in PoK, and recent months have witnessed protests relating to the lack of development. An official said that the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership thinks that all these issues could be diverted if the campaign focuses largely on the Kashmir issue. This, according to them, would make the people of PoK speak about the Kashmir issue rather than the more important point of development, the official also added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Al-Badr, which was formed to operate in Jammu and Kashmir, has, over the years, faded away. Its revival plans in recent months, too, hit a roadblock when its top commander in Pakistan, Hamza Burhan, was killed.

The Indian agencies, however, warn that it would be wrong to write off the outfit, and recent intercepts suggest that Al-Badr, along with the Hizbul Mujahideen, are planning a joint comeback in Jammu and Kashmir.

The coming together of these two outfits suits Pakistan’s narrative as both are homegrown, and their cadres largely comprise operatives from Jammu and Kashmir. Many years back, several people from Jammu and Kashmir left India for Pakistan. They would visit Pakistan under the pretext of pursuing their education. However, in reality, it was a plan by the ISI to get them into Pakistan, train them and then place them back in the Valley to carry out terror attacks.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the killing of Burhan is no doubt a setback. Al-Badr realises that it cannot operate on its own as it has no required strength and traction. However, with the Hizbul Mujahideen by its side, it can make a comeback in the Valley.

While a large number of people in these outfits would be those from Kashmir who had crossed over several years back, both these outfits are also not averse to recruiting from Pakistan.

Another official said that both the Hizbul Mujahideen and Al-Badr realise that they need more operatives on their side. In recent months, it has been noticed that both these groups have been reaching out to disgruntled cadres from Jaish-e-Mohammed. There are also inputs that unhappy cadres of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, too, have been in touch with the Hizbul leadership.

Both terror groups are trying to exploit the faultiness within the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which were the hardest hit during Operation Sindoor. Recruiting from these two groups could eventually lead to a turf war, but that is a risk the ISI is willing to take for now.

For the ISI, the top priority is resuming operations in Jammu and Kashmir. For this, it has been focusing more on having a homegrown terror group so that it can have a deniability factor every time there is a strike in the Valley, the official added. In the scheme of things, a combination of the Hizbul Mujahideen and Al-Badr works perfectly for the ISI, the official added. Both are well-versed with the Valley, and the fact that they would operate with local operatives also makes operations homegrown.

The agencies point out that resumption of terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir by a homegrown group is far more dangerous when compared to operations that are undertaken by either the Jaish-e-Mohammed or Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Hizbul Mujahideen, in particular, can still draw traction in the Valley. Although it may not be on the scale that it used to draw traction when the likes of Burhan Wani were alive and operating, the outfit still has a draw in certain parts of the Valley.

In fact, both these groups were readying to relaunch in Jammu and Kashmir. Hamza Burhan was in fact recruiting youth for Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen’s Kashmir operations. He was a specialist in the poster war and was planning a major propaganda drive. The poster war is part of a major strategy by both Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen, as it is aimed at radicalising and also mobilising the youth. The posters that these persons were planning to put up were more around the abrogation of Article 370 and the so-called injustice meted out to youth as a result of this decision that was taken in 2019.

The bonhomie between Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen was seen as recently as last week. The leaders and cadres, apart from ISI officials, stood in solidarity together at the funeral of Hamza Burhan. The funeral was also attended by Zameen Bakht and Syed Salahuddin, the respective chiefs of Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen, respectively, an official added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) It was largely coincidental, but ironic, that soon after the reclusive Taliban supreme leader Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada sought to expand Afghanistan’s political and economic relations with other nations, a documentary beamed by a global public broadcaster highlighted the plight of women in the country.

The documentary is neither the first nor the only of its kind from the platform or other international media outlets, yet the regime’s reported treatment of women is widely viewed as the central barrier to international recognition.

In his Eid al-Adha message, according to Tolo News late Sunday, the Afghan cleric said that Kabul “seeks to expand political and economic relations with all countries of the world, especially Islamic countries, within the framework of Islamic Sharia principles, and has fulfilled its responsibility in this regard.”

The Taliban’s treatment of women remains a major bane of the Kabul government against official recognition been accorded by any country except Russia. Most governments and international organisations also cite the lack of an inclusive government, concerns about ties to militant groups, and broader human-rights abuses as reasons for withholding recognition.

A UN report last month highlighted the plight of women refugees returning home, pointing out, “Only 17 per cent of Afghan women returnees from Iran and Pakistan are earning an income”. It found that “Despite many women having worked and gained skills while in other countries, they face a near-total collapse in job opportunities once in Afghanistan.

Nearly 40 per cent report having skills they are unable to use, including vocational, technical and digital skills. Among “other countries” are Iran and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Monday report of a prominent international media outlet highlighted how Afghan women remain trapped with bans on education and employment, deepening economic collapse and erasing their role in public life.

Human-rights groups and media platforms, among others, also describe a systematic rollback of women’s rights in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Apart from restrictions limiting girls’ education, women’s employment, freedom of movement, access is also denied to services and participation in public life without a male guardian.

According to reports, Russia was the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government, doing so in July 2025. No country has yet officially recognised the regime, though some governments maintain diplomatic and trade relations unofficially.

Russia’s reported reasons for recognition were mainly strategic rather than ideological. These included strengthening trade and economic ties, especially in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and regional connectivity.

Analysts also said Moscow may have wanted to position itself as a trendsetter among authoritarian states and expand its influence in Central and South Asia. Without global official recognition, the Taliban lacks legitimacy abroad in diplomacy, asset access, and trade, among others.

Additionally, an asset freeze abroad and derecognition of the Afghani as a valid currency also act as impediments. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, including limits on education, employment, movement, public visibility, and access to services without a male relative.

Women’s rights issues stand out because it is both visible and measurable. Girls barred from high school, women blocked from work, and public enforcement of dress and mobility rules provide immediate evidence of the regime’s ideology.

The UN report last month suggested actionable recommendations to enhance women returnees’ economic absorption within the Afghan economy, which could have had a broader impact on the overall conditions. It also recommended steps for reinforcing social cohesion with host communities. But without active indulgence and direct talks with the Taliban regime on the part of the global community, words will not translate into reality.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) The name Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH) has come up on several occasions. The Intelligence agencies have learnt that the TTH is a propaganda-driven group, and its main aim is to try to create a homegrown outfit so that Pakistan has the deniability factor during any terror attack.

An official explained that the TTH is not just some run-of-the-mill terror group. There is a larger agenda behind the creation of the group. While it is aimed at driving propaganda in India, it is also an attempt being made to link it to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the official added.

The TTP has wreaked havoc on the Pakistani security forces. The mushrooming of the TTP has been carefully timed. The Pakistanis are attempting to link the TTH and TTP, and the larger game plan is aimed at both India and Afghanistan.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that Pakistan has on numerous occasions falsely claimed that it is the Afghan Taliban who nurtures TTP. It even used this as an excuse to go to war with Afghanistan, the official added. The creation of the TTH and projecting that it is an offshoot of the TTP is a meticulously planned strategy. The ISI seeks to show that apart from Afghanistan, India too has a hand in nurturing the TTP, the official added.

Another official said that linking the TTP and TTH and suggesting that these are Indian creations also comes at a time when India and Afghanistan have reset ties. The Afghan Taliban, which shared a close relationship with Pakistan, has now fallen out, much to the disgruntlement of Islamabad. The Afghan Taliban, since its return, has refused to play puppet, and this has hurt Pakistan no end. The Taliban made it clear that it will not allow Pakistan to interfere with the affairs of Afghanistan.

In the meantime, India reset ties with the Afghan Taliban, and the diplomacy between the two countries is currently a smooth affair. The Pakistanis want to show the world that both India and Afghanistan are behind the nurturing of the TTP, which has become a nightmare for the Pakistani security forces. To push the agenda and fake narrative further, the ISI has created the TTH and wants to suggest that this is an Indian homegrown module, another official said.

Officials, however, point out that in addition to spreading a false narrative, the TTH has a task on hand. It is headed by Shahzad Bhatti, the man in charge of the ISI’s propaganda wing for Indian affairs. Bhatti’s role in the TTH came to light following the arrest of one Sohail, who has had a criminal history. He told the Delhi police that he had been tasked by Bhatti to paint ‘TTH’ on walls in several places in Delhi and Faridabad. He was also instructed to paint a small ’S’ below ‘TTH’ to signal that this is the handiwork of Shahzad, the police learnt.

However, Bhatti’s agenda through the TTH is not only propaganda. He has been building up a network in Delhi and the surrounding areas, only to target police personnel. This is a module in the making with this specific agenda, an official said.

With Bhatti and the TTH, the ISI has very big plans. It hopes to achieve multiple results through this newly created group. The top agenda is to link the TTP and TTH to India and Afghanistan. Secondly, the agenda is to spread a fake narrative in India suggesting that India is actively backing groups such as the TTP to target the Pakistani security forces.

Lastly, the agenda is also to target the Indian police and carry out terror attacks across the country. More importantly, with the TTH, the ISI plans to achieve its longstanding goal of having a strong homegrown terror outfit in India, officials also say.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav appears to be recalibrating the expanded form of an acronym he coined earlier, with an eye on the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh next year.

“PDA” – a term he is said to have had formulated to represent “Pichda” (backward), Dalit (oppressed), and Alpsankhyak (minority) – widening the earlier “MY” (Muslim-Yadav) formula that was largely seen as representing the SP vote bank.

It was assumed that the new acronym would project SP as a champion for the oppressed without alienating its MY base. However, as several reports suggest, a section of Yadavs have since shifted allegiance owing largely to what is being seen as the party’s apparent pivot more towards minorities.

Meanwhile, recent elections, especially in Bihar and West Bengal, have shown women voters playing a decisive role in the outcome. This large “other half” of electors has stood firmly with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or its principal component, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) itself.

There now appears to be a conscious effort at rewriting PDA with an “A for ‘aadhi aabadi’ (half of the population)” narrative.

Following last year’s Bihar poll results, the SP chief posted a message on ‘X’ that redefined his PDA. “The victim is the PDA,” he wrote, adding, “In today's BJP regime, we stand with full commitment in support of the demands of our neglected and oppressed ASHA worker sisters in every way. Why is the BJP government backing away from their economic security and social security? When the government has money to squander on BJP's false propaganda and lifeless statues, is the basis for discrimination against ASHA workers simply that they come from exploited, deprived, impoverished backgrounds, or that they are half of the population included in the PDA -- meaning women -- don't they have the right to live with dignity?”

The post is now “pinned” on Yadav’s X handle. This month, soon after a West Bengal mandate overwhelmingly favoured a BJP government for the first time, Yadav urged the Union government to implement the Women Reservation Act, 2023, that provides a one-third quota for women in Parliament and Assemblies.

He reportedly added that his party would continue to raise the issue till the Act is implemented. The SP has played a complex role in women’s empowerment; while it has launched notable welfare schemes in Uttar Pradesh during its rule, the party’s stance in Parliament on the Women’s Reservation Bill has often been questioned.

The SP demanded a separate reservation for Muslim women, arguing that they are socially and economically backward and underrepresented. If OBC and SC women receive quotas, Muslim women should also have a distinct share, its leaders stressed.

Though the NDA pointed out that religion-based reservation is unconstitutional, and that many Muslim sub-castes already fall under OBC categories, the SP remains unconvinced. This stance has been perceived by some analysts as not just legislative but also an electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 UP Assembly elections, aimed at consolidating Muslim votes.

Another attempt by the NDA was defeated in Parliament this year since the government does not enjoy the support of two-thirds of Lok Sabha members. The BJP has been highlighting the issue of the Opposition’s reluctance to support women’s empowerment.

Incidentally, SP, along with Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and other regional allies, opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill even during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. It had then demanded “quota within quota” for OBC and minority women. This opposition delayed the Bill’s passage for decades.

It successively stalled multiple attempts at legislation – in 1996 by the H.D. Deve Gowda government, in 2008 and 2010 during the UPA regime, again in 2013–2014, always insisting on separate quotas for OBC and Muslim women. However, in 2023, when the NDA government reintroduced the Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), Yadav supported reservation in principle but demanded clarity on the backward, Dalit, minority, and tribal women’s share.

And, in 2026, the SP, aligning with the Opposition, voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, citing it as being linked to delimitation.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Islamic State, in recent years, has proven to be one of the leading terror outfits when it comes to the use of technology. When it commenced operations in Syria and Iraq in late 2013, the focus was heavy on creating fear. For this, it had set up Hollywood-style studios where it shot beheading videos.

While some of them were real, many were fake, and these videos were shot and circulated to create a perception of how lethal the outfit is. This worked well for the outfit, and many even ended up joining the group. Later, the Islamic State relied heavily on propaganda and radicalisation through its encrypted communication channels. It even has magazines today and sends out regular newsletters to its subscribers.

The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has also been a boon for the Islamic State. It has used the technology extensively to generate content in the form of videos. The videos are currently available in many languages thanks to the technology available.

While the Islamic State has used such technology to further its agenda, it has now been advising its followers to also use AI carefully. The outfit has realised that using technology extensively also has its drawbacks. Currently, it is engaged in lessons on how to use the technology and not end up getting tracked by the security agencies.

Indian intelligence officials say that the Islamic State uses its Voice of Khorasan to send out messages to its followers. For the last couple of months, the message has been largely around how to avoid getting tracked by the security agencies. There are lessons on how AI can be used for anonymous private research.

In an article published in the Voice of Khorasan, it says that chatbots should not be used to share sensitive information, as this could be used by the agencies to track them. The Islamic State suggests that its followers should use tools such as Brave Leo to share sensitive information, and this protects privacy. "AI is like fire and can be used to light a home and also burn it down.”

The emphasis is largely on being a responsible fighter and the need to take precautions while operating. The Islamic State advises that its mujahideen should be aware of all the available technology. The article says that AI can end up learning too much about you, and all measures should be taken to be cyber-conscious.

While advising the mujahideen to learn technology, it also urges them to prepare their children from a very young age for the use of technology. An Intelligence Bureau official says that the advice comes in the wake of security agencies closing in on Islamic State operations across the world, where the use of technology is concerned. The outfit realises that many of its operatives are being careless while using technology, and hence, such frequent tutorials are being imparted, the official said.

This marks a complete shift in the operations of the Islamic State, which had, until last year, maintained that using technology such as AI could be un-Islamic. Today, it tells its followers that using AI is a religious obligation, and it even goes on to equate it to a prayer or pilgrimage.

Officials say that the outfit has been constantly evolving, and this is what makes it a very lethal terror group. They are constantly evolving and realise that while technology is important, it could be equally dangerous as the same tools could be used to track them down.

Even for its India operations, the Islamic State has taken a very different approach. It would not spend its resources on planning terror attacks through the conventional modules which groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed have. The focus is propaganda and radicalisation. The outfit has been pushing such content heavily into the Indian market with the intention of radicalising a large number of youth.

The outfit expects that once these persons are radicalised, they would use technology extensively to strike in the country, officials say. While doing so, the outfit is also ensuring that the same technology should not end up causing their downfall, officials also point out.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Lashkar-e-Taiba has been in regroup mode ever since the Indian armed forces undertook Operation Sindoor. The outfit faced immense losses in the operation, and the most visible one was the destruction of its primary training facility in Muridke.

Since then, there have been multiple meetings between the leaders of the terror outfit and ISI, where regrouping strategies have been discussed. While most of these meetings have failed to yield results, as the Lashkar-e-Taiba currently has trust issues with the ISI and Pakistan army, attempts are now being made to drag in the political class.

There were two meetings in recent weeks that have caught the attention of the Indian agencies. The first was the meeting at Faisalabad between Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed and Rana Sanaullah, a key aide to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Close on the heels of this development came a meeting between Sanaullah and Shehbaz Sharif at Islamabad. An official explained that these are not mere optics. Something big is brewing within the Lashkar-e-Taiba, and this is why the political class has stepped in, the official added.

Another official explained that these were not just courtesy calls. Following the meeting with Talha Saeed, the Prime Minister was briefed by Sanaullah, who is his advisor on political affairs.

The meetings focused on two key aspects. The political class feels that it is better for Lashkar-e-Taiba to announce a new leader officially. Hafiz Saeed is old and also disgruntled, and this has led to a major leadership crisis. The establishment thinks that Hafiz Saeed should remain an ideological mentor, while his son Talha Saeed should officially be the chief of operations. While Talha remains the de facto head, the Pakistan establishment is of the opinion that this should be made official.

Many within the ranks of the terror groups feel that Hafiz Saeed, 75, is too old to lead the terror outfit. His son, Talha, 50, is in a better position to lead. He understands the new age technologies that should be implemented to make the outfit stronger. In recent times, he has interacted more with the cadre and has managed to build trust. These factors work in Talha’s favour, and hence he should be officially declared as the head of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan establishment feels.

Officials say that another pressing issue for the Pakistani establishment is the Balochistan issue. The security mechanism in Pakistan has failed miserably on two counts -- Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The official said that the establishment wants to first fix the Balochistan issue, and in order to do so, it has to make peace with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

The BLA and the Baloch people have lost trust in the establishment and have been inflicting severe losses on the Pakistani security forces. The political class wants Talha Saeed to lead a delegation to negotiate with the BLA. Keeping the BLA quiet and having them on the same page is advantageous to Pakistan.

Islamabad wants to ensure the safety of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project (CPEC). With phase-2 round the corner, it becomes even more important to be on the same page with the people of Balochistan, an official added.

Further, the United States committed $1.3 billion to Pakistan’s Reno Diq copper and gold mining project in Balochistan. The people of Balochistan have opposed this project. The people of Balochistan have complained that their resources are being used without their benefit.

Pakistan is also under immense pressure from the US and China about the safety of their investments.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the BLA would never speak to someone from the establishment. This explains why the establishment wants leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba to talk to the BLA and make a deal, the official added.

One could expect more such meetings between the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership and the political class in the days to come. The protection of these projects by the US and China is crucial for the Pakistan economy, and for this to happen, the Pakistani establishment needs to have the BLA and the Baloch people on its side, the official explained.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) A student’s complaint over the absence of benches in a university smoking area in China, saying it was “exhausting” to smoke while standing, has reignited debate over the country’s broader tobacco control challenge.

The report received global coverage, where a student at the Xian International Studies University in China’s northwestern Shaanxi province was said to have filed a complaint in the school’s internal feedback channel. It cited the absence of benches in designated areas, making smoking too “exhausting”. The student further asked the administration to provide an adequate seating facility.

In response, a “university teacher responded with a lengthy letter saying that making smokers feel tired was exactly why the area was designed in the way it was,” reported the South China Morning Post on Wednesday.

“The smoking area is not for resting. We set them up to provide a transition space for those who temporarily cannot quit smoking, to smoke away from the crowd and reduce the influence of second-hand smoke on other people,” quoted the report.

It added that the letter slammed the student’s request by saying: “When you complain about feeling ‘tired’ smoking while standing, have you thought of how tired other people are withstanding your second-hand smoke?”

Studies show that smoking among young people in China remains alarmingly high, despite government campaigns to curb tobacco use. Beijing, emphasises China’s media, prohibits smoking in public places, indoor workplaces and in lines of people outdoors. Some cities ban smoking in indoor workplaces, indoor public places, public vehicles and outdoor areas in schools, parks and medical institutions, according to an earlier report in China Daily.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report put China as the largest producer and consumer of tobacco in the world. There are more than 300 million smokers in China, which the WHO described as nearly one-third of the world's total.

“More than half of adult men are current tobacco smokers. About one in every three cigarettes smoked in the world is smoked in China. In addition, over 700 million non-smokers in China, including about 180 million children, are exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS) at least once a day in a typical week. Exposure to SHS causes 100,000 deaths annually,” it added.

The study found that 26.6 per cent of adults aged 15 years and above in China are current smokers. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes a “current smoker” as an adult who has smoked 100 cigarettes in his or her lifetime and who currently smokes cigarettes.

Beginning in 1991, this group was divided into “everyday” smokers or “somedays” smokers. China itself has been actively involved in monitoring and addressing smoking rates in the country.

“Chinese men consume around 40 per cent of the world's cigarettes, causing a substantial and growing burden of tobacco-attributed death and disease. In 2005, the Chinese Government ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and tobacco control measures have since increased nationwide,” observed science journal The Lancet.

“Traditionally, tobacco in China was regarded as a delightful gift akin to tea and wine, with ancient medical literature suggesting tobacco to refresh the chest and ward off impurities, although tobacco dependence was associated with premature death,” it observed.

China ramped up efforts to control smoking, with 254 cities altogether till 2024 introducing or revising measures to curb it, some reports said, quoting health authorities. At the provincial level, 24 regions in China have rolled out regulations on smoking, with the proportion of the population protected by comprehensive smoke-free regulations continuing to increase, according to experts from the National Health Commission, said an earlier China Daily report.

The country’s “Healthy China 2030” plan ambitiously aims to reduce smoking prevalence to 20 per cent by 2030, but progress is reportedly slow. The Xi’an University incident reflects a broader shift in China’s public health strategy, where institutions are refusing to normalise smoking behaviour among youth.

While the refusal to provide benches may seem symbolic, it implies a recognition that comforting smokers perpetuates addiction. By refusing benches to reduce “exhaustion” while puffing, the institution signals that smoking should remain inconvenient, aligning with national health goals.

However, the persistence of high smoking rates among young adults means that without stronger interventions, China risks a new generation burdened by tobacco-related disease. Many other universities are now increasingly restricting smoking areas to discourage tobacco use, and also offering cessation programmes.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Operation Sindoor dealt a mighty blow to the terror infrastructure in Pakistan. Since the operation that was carried out to avenge the Pahalgam attack, the ISI has focused heavily on its espionage network within India.

The agencies have busted several networks, including a CCTV spying operation and a network of influencers. While these are the big fries, the agencies are worried about a larger network of youth who are ready to fish out information for as little as Rs 500.

These low-cost operatives, charging in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, are a worry because they are present in larger numbers and are the ones who hardly ever come under the radar. The information that the ISI is seeking from them may be small, but it is very significant. A youth is asked to sit outside a railway station and monitor the movement of Indian troops.

The Indian army relies on the railways for the movement of its troops. It also relies on the railways for the movement of tanks, artillery and heavy logistics across the country. It routinely operates dedicated Military Special Trains and uses the railway network to rapidly mobilise forces both during peacetime and conflict.

To monitor such movement, not much training is needed. The ISI recruits just have to provide the timings of the train, details about its movement and destination.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that for such operations, the ISI looks out for youth who roam around aimlessly at the railway stations. These are the low-cost operatives that have become the strategic assets of the ISI. More importantly, there is hardly any investment for the ISI as hiring such persons is cheap, and the training required to gather information is almost nil.

Another official explained that even the recruitment strategy is relatively easier in such cases. The handlers in India are told to identify just a handful of youth for such an espionage operation. These boys are, in turn, told to identify more such persons from their friends’ circles. For these youth, it is just the lure of money that brings them into the network. The low payments are sufficient for these persons to get the job done, the official explained.

This low-cost network also relies on cheap phones with no GPS or recording capabilities. This means that the phones are extremely hard to track. All these people have to do is collect the information and then pass it on to their handlers. Once the job is done, the SIM cards are disposed of, and they are provided with new ones, another official explained.

Another official said that the ISI wants to create espionage networks in multiple layers. It also has other networks that install solar-powered CCTV cameras at sensitive locations. These operatives are paid in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15000 per installation.

There is also the white-collar network who are paid in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. These operatives are hired to gather high-level information. This is the same network that is also used to set honey traps and gather very sensitive information about India’s defence and science and technology sectors.

Officials say that the ISI wants as much information as possible on the country. It is desperate for an image makeover after the Operation Sindoor embarrassment. The spy agency is attempting to gather as much information so that it can plan strikes on the Indian military and strategic locations, officials also say.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) It is more than four decades now that India’s noted pop-singer Usha Uthup first rendered the celebrated lines in her ode to Kolkata (then spelt Calcutta), calling the city “beautiful” despite the several challenges and obstacles that its residents have been facing through the times.

The song mentions the city then hosting incessant political rallies and marches, hawkers blocking footpaths, frequent power cuts, environmental and traffic problems, handcarts and rickshaws blocking roads… And, “…yet you are so beautiful, Kolkata,” she crooned.

Her song opened with a tribute that contrasts Kolkata’s enduring charm with a growing urban flashpoint: the city’s sprawling roadside hawker economy, now the focus of recent eviction drives in central commercial corridors.

“Ekhane pothe-ghate michhile sari-sari, Hawker footpath-e bendhechhe ghorbari, Tobi tumi sundari koto Kolkata,” which can loosely be translated into “Here on the streets are processions and rallies in rows, Hawkers have set up houses on the sidewalks, Yet, how beautiful you are, Kolkata.”

Several pedestrians continue to complain of the impediment they face with the vendors having taken over the sidewalks at busy marketplaces and public places at Esplanade, Gariahaat, near railway stations, among others. And for many, hawkers provided cheaper alternatives to the branded goods in adjacent high-profile shops.

There have been some symbolic “hawker uchhed abhijan” or “remove hawker operation” by the administration, but these were temporary “removals” as the makeshift structures returned at the exact spot within a few days. Uthup’s song, incidentally, was released in the early days of the Communist rule in West Bengal. They had positioned the government as a worker-friendly, supporter of the impoverished masses; and thus, the administration would think twice before going for any sustained “hawker uchhed abhijan”.

There was a lack of political will and thus was without an iron hand. The vendors' wares include clothing to stationery, from household items to artwork and foodstuffs. For example, a large part of the commercial area of Camac Street in central Kolkata has them selling food for all palates. Though they encroach upon the sidewalk, commuters to the several office buildings and shops along the road know these were their cheaper alternative to the restaurants alongside.

Similarly, from the congested Burrabazar to Lalbazar and New Market areas, dense wholesale and retail trade drew large numbers of stall-based sellers. College Street, with high pedestrian traffic, also boasts bookshops selling new and old, sometimes out-of-print or sought-after collections at lower prices. These corridors are among the most visible concentrations of pavement vending, where stalls often spill onto carriageways and obstruct emergency access.

The hawkers are mostly migrants from neighbouring districts and also states who rely on street vending as their primary income. Street vending in Kolkata is a mix of survival livelihoods and small-scale commerce, often operating without formal licences or fixed premises.

The overpowering presence at times has been causing traffic congestion, blocked footpaths – increasing commute times and pedestrian risk; sanitation and waste management issues, with limited access to disposal and drainage leading to localised flooding and health risks.

Many areas in Kolkata, a city with occasional dilapidated and hazardous buildings, face access problems during an emergency.

After well over half a century, local authorities have begun systematic eviction and decongestion operations in central commercial zones, focusing on high-visibility stretches to restore pedestrian space and traffic flow. Such operations have been reported from central Kolkata market belts and major thoroughfares, with municipal teams removing unauthorised stalls and relocating some vendors to designated vending zones. However, the drives have also prompted protests from hawker associations and calls for negotiated, humane relocation plans.

Yet, Kolkata needs a facelift to be really “beautiful”, bereft of the chokeholds that Uthup’s ode mentions.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on the resurgence of an Al-Qaeda affiliate, the Ansar al-Islam (AAI). This outfit was founded in 2021 in Iraq, and it primarily fought against the secular Kurdish factions and the US-led coalition.

The original Iraqi faction has now dispersed, but its wing in Bangladesh, known as the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), is showing signs of resurgence. An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ABT remains largely non-functional on the ground for the time being. This is a deliberate strategy to keep the heat away. However, what is being noticed is that this group has been very active online and is largely targeting the Indian audience for recruitment, the official also added.

The ABT has been in close coordination with its Pakistani counterpart, known as the AAI Pakistan. The official said that both have been coordinating and are aiming to ramp up recruitment activity with the specific focus being on India. Both the AAI Pakistan and the ABT have had a violent and radical history.

Another official said that the activities of the ABT are more dangerous when compared to the AAI Pakistan. The ABT has faced severe crackdowns in Bangladesh. The group had gone on a rampage when it targeted secular individuals, including bloggers. Owing to the crackdown, the ABT has restricted on ground activity to a large extent. This is why it has largely been focusing on online activity, where recruitment in India remains the primary focus.

Officials say that it wants to replicate in India what it did in Bangladesh. It seeks to set up a group of individuals in India so that they can target anti-Islamic persons, which includes secular writers as well as intellectuals. Following this, it would try to target the political class as well.

When asked about the functioning of the ABT in India, another official said that the plan is not to set up modules and carry out blasts or attacks. It does not want the run-of-the-mill module in India. Instead, it wants to radicalise and recruit youth who would go on to carry out murders of important people. The group would want these people to function individually and not as a group, the official also added.

The ABT still owes allegiance to Al-Qaeda. During its online radicalisation and recruitment campaigns, it has been using Al-Qaeda literature heavily. The emphasis is heavy on the ideology of Al-Qaeda’s founder, Osama Bin Laden, who continues to remain a heavy draw during radicalisation and recruitment activity.

In addition to recruitment, the ABT also plans to run a massive disinformation campaign in India. It would want the campaign to be focused largely on West Bengal. The ABT would use fake images and post false stories relating to immigration. It would try to project the Indian state and the West Bengal government as aggressors. It would use such issues to spread fake propaganda and also incite violence in the state, an official said.

The BJP government in West Bengal has assured that it will act on the issue of illegal immigration. Groups such as the ABT want to capitalise on this and push a false agenda so that the state remains on the boil. While the ABT has been successful in Bangladesh, it has not managed to crack the Indian market. Currently, it is on a very slow drive and is testing the waters. The focus is heavy on recruitment, and it is looking for persons from West Bengal and the neighbouring states, the official added.

The official said that while the ABT has not been a direct threat to India all these years, this time around, it is testing the Indian waters. The agencies continue to keep a close watch on its operations, and a large part of the focus is on the online activity of this group, the official also said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The National Investigation Agency’s 7,500-page charge sheet in the Faridabad module case states that the group had set up an operational hub in Lucknow to oversee the procurement of chemicals for making explosives.

The members of the module led by Umar Un Nabi had identified locals in Lucknow to help with the procurement of chemicals and other materials to prepare explosives. The NIA said that the idea was to carry out a series of attacks, and the main targets were crowded locations and Hindu Temples.

Further, the NIA learnt during the probe that in Lucknow, the module members had identified targets to attack. The key targets included the Uttar Pradesh State Assembly, Secretariat and Raj Bhawan. These persons had even conducted a reconnaissance of these targets.

The probe suggested that the first round of blasts was to be carried out in Delhi and the neighbouring areas. Following this, they had planned to focus heavily on Uttar Pradesh, investigators had found.

The NIA said, “the group established a functional hub in Uttar Pradesh, not just to source bomb making material, but also to understand logistics and then carry out the attacks."

The NIA learnt that this module, which mainly comprised medical professionals, used their skill test to study and understand the entire bomb making process. Using their scientific background, they acquired immense knowledge of chemical compositions, high-intensity detonations, and rocket propulsion, the NIA found.

The module wanted rapid execution, and they had identified every major chemical shop and dealer to procure the materials. The members of this module used YouTube extensively to learn how to process and refine the agricultural chemicals into military-grade explosive compositions. The group had managed to procure 2.5 tonnes of fertiliser for this purpose, the NIA found.

What has alarmed agencies is how the group managed to produce triacetone triperoxide (TATP), known as the ‘Mother of Satan’. An official said the choice of TATP was driven by its high destructive potential. Moreover, as a non‑nitrate explosive, TATP is extremely difficult to detect with standard nitrate scanners used at many security checkpoints.

Further, the module members, owing to their scientific background, had also learned how to manage the volatility of TATP. This component is extremely unstable and is very sensitive to heat and friction. These persons had made several visits to the safe house where these components were stocked. They decided to take such a high risk despite being aware of the volatility of these chemicals.

The module members, during the various visits, monitored the temperature and stability of the stockpile. They had even manufactured specialised cooling pitchers and added stabilising substances to manage the integrity of the chemicals, the NIA probe found.

The NIA also documented the various arsenal that this group had prepared. The doctors had tested launch heads which could be fired upwards during coordinated rocket strikes. They tried to manufacture Erythritol PETN and had procured used electrolysis and industrial nodes. This they had done to produce pipe bombs, the NIA learnt.

There were also plans to use domestic gas cylinders as heavy bombs. The idea was to drill holes and fill them with explosive slurry, the NIA probe found. An official said that this only suggests at what scale the Faridabad module had planned to operate at.

Looking at the kind of preparations and the amount of material they had sourced, it becomes clear that they had planned on striking far beyond Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the official added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Balochistan Liberation Army has upped the ante against Pakistani security agencies, with intelligence assessments indicating that the attacks are likely to increase further in the coming months.

Pakistani security forces have suffered significant setbacks in recent months, while the ongoing tensions involving Iran are understood to have added to Islamabad’s security challenges, Indian security officials said.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is also believed to have increased its recruitment, with many young people joining the outfit amid concerns linked to security conditions, economic distress, and regional instability. Officials added that border areas in Balochistan remain under considerable strain because of the situation along the Iran frontier.

For years in Balochistan, the smuggling of Iranian oil has remained a key source of livelihood for many residents. Locals say the activity grew largely because of limited economic opportunities and what they describe as prolonged neglect by the Pakistani establishment.

Many among the Baloch population have long alleged that the region’s resources have been exploited without adequate benefits reaching local communities. They argue that while foreign investments and development projects have expanded in Balochistan, the primary gains have largely gone to influential sections of Pakistan’s political and economic establishment and to residents of major urban centres.

This had led many in Balochistan to indulge in the smuggling of Iranian oil. However, the conflict in Iran has brought such operations to a standstill. This has led to soaring prices and hardships among the people in the region. Locals and observers say the Pakistani establishment has largely responded through intensified security measures rather than economic relief or outreach.

Analysts and officials believe the prevailing discontent has contributed to increased recruitment by the BLA among sections of the youth. Pakistani security forces have suffered repeated setbacks in recent weeks, while intelligence operations in several parts of Balochistan are said to be facing difficulties amid growing local hostility towards the establishment. Officials say this has complicated counterinsurgency efforts for the Pakistani forces operating in the region.

The challenges faced by Pakistani intelligence agencies were reflected in the recent attack in the Chamalang area, where 11 security personnel, including a Major, were killed. According to reports, the BLA carried out the strike while security forces were engaged in an intelligence-gathering operation. Major Tausif of the Pakistan Army, who was leading the operation, was among those killed.

An official said the BLA’s ability to target security forces while they were engaged in intelligence-gathering pointed to a serious lapse in the intelligence network. The official said, “Public support for the group was one factor behind the failure, while another was Pakistan’s attempt to handle multiple security challenges at the same time.”

The divided focus has stretched the forces thin and contributed to the losses they are suffering, the official added.

While the BLA has invested heavily in recruitment and the modernisation of its weaponry, it has also focused on training its cadres in local terrain and ground conditions. Officials say this has given the group a tactical advantage, as many personnel in the Pakistani security forces are unfamiliar with the difficult terrain in the region.

Another official said the BLA is likely to build on the Chamalang attack and carry out more such operations in the coming months. The group is expected to rely on coordinated assaults backed by improvised explosive devices deployed across the battlefield.

“Future attacks could be more ambitious in scale, posing a tougher challenge for the Pakistani security forces,” the official said.

Indian intelligence agencies have also gathered that the BLA may increasingly focus on targeting senior security officials in greater numbers rather than limiting its attacks to soldiers alone.

The aim is to send a stronger message to the Pakistani establishment, an Intelligence Bureau official said. According to the official, Pakistan has attempted to bring together groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Islamic State Khorasan Province to support the security forces in their fight against the BLA. However, the official claimed that these groups have so far been unable to match the operational strength of the BLA or the backing it receives from sections of the Baloch population.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) It was relatively a low-key oath-taking ceremony for the new regime in Puducherry on Wednesday compared with the recent high-profile events in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, even as the Congress continues to struggle to name the Kerala Chief Minister.

Significantly, All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder N Rangasamy took the oath of office and secrecy as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for a record fifth time. Assembly elections to the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry were held last month, and the results were announced on May 4.

Puducherry witnessed a simple transition — led by a familiar regional figure — reflecting the territory’s compact political landscape, the personal standing of its leader, and strategic coalition choices that favoured stability.

Rangasamy led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to an 18-seat victory in the Puducherry Assembly’s total strength of 30. The AINRC won 12, while allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got four, and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) cornered one each.

Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan administered the oath at Lok Niwas in the presence of central leaders like Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Nabin and Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Puducherry’s modern political shape grew from its French colonial past and the small, regionally concentrated electorate. It was formally integrated into India in 1962. Though its politics is sometimes linked to Chennai, the Union Territory has been preserving a distinct administrative and cultural identity.

An example has been the 2026 Assembly results. It has alternated between national parties and strong regional formations, with politics often shaped by local personalities, party splits, and alliances – rather than purely ideological battles. With Puducherry being a Union Territory, interactions between local governments and the central administration — especially when different parties control each — have been frequent, influencing both policy outcomes and political narratives.

The continuance of a “double engine government” may result in more understanding and coordination, providing better results for the region. Local development, administrative efficiency and welfare delivery have often mattered more to Puducherry’s electorate than the identity politics or national ideological battles that dominate larger states, producing elections that favour pragmatic, locally rooted leaders.

The political journey of 75-year-old Rangaswamy, a lawyer-turned-politician, has been marked by a strong grassroots presence and an image centred on governance and administration. He entered politics through the Congress and first assumed office as the Chief Minister of Puducherry in 2001, with his initial tenure helping cement his position as one of the Union Territory’s most influential political leaders.

Following his differences with the Congress, Rangaswamy founded the AINRC in 2011 and led it to a victory, serving as Chief Minister from 2011 to 2016. Since then, he has returned to power subsequently, including a more recent term – 2021-2026 – following a hiatus when he served as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

His tenure is commonly described as pragmatic, centred on local development, and marked by coalition-savvy politics that privilege administrative delivery over grandstanding. Rangaswamy’s return as Chief Minister removed uncertainty and the need for elaborate celebrations.

When a widely known leader re-assumes office, ceremonies are often more administrative than confrontational, say observers. Rangaswamy’s track record appears to have made his leadership expected rather than surprising.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Migration remains a sensitive issue between India and Bangladesh, which have recently sought to reset ties on several fronts following Tarique Rahman’s victory. Bilateral relations had strained after the fall of the Awami League government.

Ties, which deteriorated under the interim government, improved significantly after Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won the elections. Officials said migration is a sensitive issue and would be handled maturely by the two countries.

The worry is that many ISI-backed elements are trying to exploit this and spread a false narrative. The ISI, which has several of its stooges in Bangladesh, has been instructed to drum up a narrative about migration and spread false news about it.

This is not only to create communal discord, but also to ruin bilateral ties between the two countries. The ISI, since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, has managed to expand its footprint across Bangladesh. It has managed to set up several networks aimed at working against the interests of India and Bangladesh, another official said.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that currently, Pakistan’s ISI is operating covertly. It is trying to tap into ideologically driven groups in Bangladesh. The digital campaigns against India are being increased, and the primary focus would be on migration, the official added.

While this would be the first phase of the plan, the second would be to activate modules in the bordering states. Outfits such as the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) are all active currently. Most of their cadres have made several visits to Pakistan and have undergone training. They have managed to set up several of their modules in the areas that border India and Bangladesh.

Post the disinformation campaign that the ISI plans to run, the next step would be to get these modules to act. For India and Bangladesh, sharing good ties is of utmost importance. The relations are a pillar of stability in eastern South Asia. Relations between the two countries are also important as it helps reduce cross-border terror, battle insurgents, all of which are crucial to peace in the northeastern states.

Bangladesh watchers say that there will be repeated attempts to drum up false narratives by these ISI-backed groups. The Pakistanis have been attempting to make a strong imprint in Bangladesh, and for this to happen, derailing ties with India is something that they would try to do.

Experts say that the ISI’s Bangladesh project is nothing new. It has been in place since the Liberation War. This time around, it wants to enhance its operational reach, and hence, there is a sudden surge in activity, the experts also point out.

Officials say the thaw in relations between the two countries has not gone down too well for the Pakistanis. Since the BNP came to power, both India and Bangladesh have been closely working on border management, consular service, and Joint River Commission meetings. Both countries are looking to sort out the problem of illegal immigration amicably.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamiduallah flew to Dhaka on Tuesday to consult with the political leadership on how to engage with the Indian government on this issue. The Intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on the ISI-related activities that are taking place in Bangladesh. On the radar are the hardliners, some influencers who are pro-Pakistan, and also the two terror groups -- HuJI and JMB, which could prove detrimental to India’s national security if not kept under check.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The name of Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti has surfaced repeatedly in multiple investigations linked to terror recruitment, radicalisation, and espionage activities in India over the past several months. More than a dozen cases have reportedly been registered against him by various agencies.

Bhatti, a Lahore-based gangster, has allegedly been operating out of Dubai for several years while frequently travelling between Pakistan, the UAE and other countries in the Middle East, according to investigating agencies. With multiple cases linked to terror recruitment and radicalisation being registered against him, Indian agencies are now prioritising efforts to secure his extradition and bring him to trial.

An Indian security agency official said Bhatti had managed to exploit certain legal and jurisdictional gaps to stay beyond the reach of Indian investigators.

“He is not an Indian national and belongs to Pakistan. Moreover, he has never travelled to India, which has made the extradition process more complicated,” the official said.

Another official said that although the extradition process would be complicated, it was still achievable. Agencies are expected to coordinate with countries where Bhatti is believed to be operating in an effort to bring him to India for trial, the official added.

Officials pointed to previous terror investigations to underline that such extraditions, though difficult, are possible. One of the key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks was extradited to India after exhausting all legal appeals in courts in the US.

In the case of David Headley, extradition could not proceed because of a plea bargain agreement with US authorities. Under the pact, Headley was allowed to remain in the US and could not be extradited to India. Indian investigators, however, were permitted to question him, and later appeared through video conferencing during the trial proceedings.

Officials describe Bhatti as a high-value operative who is likely to receive protection from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). According to security agencies, there are concerns that he may return to Pakistan if Indian efforts to secure his extradition begin to gain traction.

An Intelligence Bureau official said the immediate priority was to dismantle Bhatti’s recruitment network, which investigators believe has been functioning largely through social media platforms. Bhatti and several of his Pakistan-based associates are alleged to have used online channels extensively to identify and recruit operatives.

Investigators said youngsters from various states were allegedly targeted with promises of money, influence and recognition. They are made to believe they will become heroes. “Financial incentives and the lure of power have also been used during recruitment,” the official said.

Investigators believe Bhatti’s recruitment network was intended to facilitate attacks in different parts of the country. Initially, agencies suspected that the recruitment drive was largely focused on carrying out strikes in Punjab.

Bhatti’s name first surfaced prominently in March 2024 after a grenade attack near the residence of Punjabi YouTuber Rozer Sandhu in Jalandhar, Punjab. Investigators had also linked his network to the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai in October 2024.

Several arrests made this year are also believed to be connected to Bhatti’s network. Recently, the Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested nine persons from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Gujarat.

According to investigators, all the accused had allegedly been recruited by Bhatti and were instructed to target a major temple in Delhi, a military camp in Haryana and a popular eatery along the Delhi-Sonipat highway.

In April, two people were arrested in Madhya Pradesh after investigators found that they were allegedly planning grenade attacks outside crowded restaurants in Delhi. Agencies are also probing possible links between Bhatti’s network and the low-intensity blasts reported near the Border Security Force headquarters and Amritsar Cantonment on May 5.

According to investigators, Bhatti has claimed to have established networks in 16 countries and to command nearly 200 operatives. His recruitment activities are not confined to any single region in India, with youths from several states allegedly being drawn into the network. This has prompted closer coordination among police forces across different states.

Investigators further said the recruitment pattern suggests that operatives are often used for a single assignment and then discarded. “It functions like a disposable module. Once a recruit completes a task, he is usually not used again for another operation,” an official said.

The recruitment operations need to be stopped at the earliest, otherwise the situation could spiral out of control, the official said, adding that agencies were simultaneously pursuing efforts to secure Bhatti’s extradition.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid the gloom and recriminations within West Bengal’s defeated Trinamool Congress, the nomination of veteran leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition has stood out as a rare positive development.

Widely regarded in political circles as “the right man in the wrong party”, the octogenarian’s elevation has revived discussions about integrity and experience in a party grappling with electoral setback and internal criticism.

According to a mid-level Trinamool leader, Chattopadhyay may not have received the responsibility had former Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee retained her home constituency of Bhabanipur.

The Assembly election defeat has intensified scrutiny of the party leadership in the state, with Mamata Banerjee reassuming direct control while her nephew and party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee faces criticism over the “unexpected” mandate, a former MLA said.

Chattopadhyay’s association with Mamata Banerjee dates back to her early years as a rising Congress leader. Even today, he is seen as a rare example of a principled politician whose personal integrity and grassroots connect stand in contrast to the scandals and electoral setbacks that have recently troubled his party. At 82, his appointment as Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly has once again sparked debate over whether he embodies the right values in the wrong political party.

Initially a Congressman, Chattopadhyay later became one of the founding members of the Trinamool Congress. Over the years, he has served in several important roles, including Minister for Power and Non-Conventional Energy, Deputy Leader of the House and Chief Whip.

His appointment follows Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in Bhabanipur to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, which triggered a reshuffle in the party’s legislative leadership.

The new Opposition line-up in the Assembly also reflects the return of Mamata loyalists. With 80 MLAs in the 294-member House, the Trinamool Congress is now the principal Opposition party.

Nayna Bandyopadhyay, considered close to Mamata Banerjee, was appointed Deputy Leader of the Opposition after winning from Chowringhee. She is the wife of senior party leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Asima Patra, who won from Dhanekhali, has been named the other Deputy Leader.

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, reports had suggested that Abhishek Banerjee, seen as advocating a younger leadership, had opposed the renomination of Sudip Bandyopadhyay due to the age factor. Mamata Banerjee, however, overruled the move. Abhishek had also proposed a “retirement age” of 75 for leaders, though his aunt was exempted from the suggestion.

Chattopadhyay himself remained active despite the informal diktat. A former college boxer, he is still known for maintaining an active lifestyle and close ties with labour unions.

In the 2021 Assembly election, he vacated the Bhabanipur seat for Mamata Banerjee after her defeat in Nandigram. He later won the Khardaha bypoll and, this time, secured victory from Ballygunge.

“Had the Trinamool supremo gracefully accepted her defeat and focused on rebuilding the organisation instead of returning through a by-election, the results might have been different today,” the former MLA opined.

“Instead, she surrendered all power to Abhishek,” the leader added, requesting anonymity.

Chattopadhyay’s loyalty to Mamata Banerjee has remained unwavering since she floated the Trinamool Congress in 1998. He resigned mid-term from Baruipur to join her new political venture after first winning the seat in 1991 and retaining it in 1996. Since then, he has strategically shifted constituencies, contesting from Rashbehari, Bhabanipur, Khardaha and Ballygunge, while largely staying away from the limelight.

He focused extensively on organisational work and labour rights, founding the party’s labour wing and leading the Kolkata Auto Rickshaw Operators’ Union in support of informal sector workers.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Colour has long mirrored political change in West Bengal, vividly reflecting shifts in power over the last half-century. From the Left Front’s iconic red to the Trinamool Congress’s blue-and-white, political transitions in the state have often found expression through colour.

Just as Left leaders favoured red, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee turned Kolkata blue -- a shade she said symbolised the idea that “the sky is the limit”. Her personal attire, a white saree with a blue border, became an extension of this political imagery. Over time, blue-and-white came to represent the Mamata-led Trinamool Congress across the state, particularly in the capital.

From government buildings, sundry facades, makeshift tents for meetings and rallies, to roadside curbs: political transitions over the last 50 years have been vividly reflected in colours. Most parts of the state literally changed colour, with the Left Front government’s era marked by “revolutionary red”, and the Trinamool Congress flipping it to blue-and-white.

The red facade of the earlier state secretariat, Writers’ Building, suited the communists, though it was painted much before, around the beginning of the twentieth century. Mamata, soon after assuming power in West Bengal, shifted the seat of governance to adjacent Howrah, to a building named “Nabanna” (new crop, or harvest). The facade, indeed, was painted in blue-and-white.

It was said during the shift out of the Writers’ Building that the building was in need of urgent repair and restoration. Hazards related to overcrowding and overuse, like electricity connections, unplanned eateries, and improper waste management, were also highlighted.

The building originally housed clerks when it was built in the eighteenth century by the British East India Company, and thus, the name. Built in 1777, the Writers’ Building has been a colonial icon and later the nerve centre of the state’s governance. However, during the 15 years of the Trinamool Congress regime, the restoration exercise could not be completed. And thus, the operational secretariat never returned to Kolkata’s centre at BBD Bagh.

This Kolkata nerve-centre of Dalhousie Square was renamed after the three brave freedom fighters -- Binoy Basu, Badal Gupta, and Dinesh Gupta. The sprawling building stood empty and desolate throughout this time. With reports citing restoration work picking up in the iconic building, suggesting that the new secretariat under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government may return to the Writers’ Building, speculations are rife on a fresh coat of paint.

Meanwhile, not far away from the building stands the historic monument, renamed “Shaheed Minar” in 1969. Originally constructed by the British to honour their war heroes around 1828, the later state governments in Independent India rededicated the structure after over a century to the memory of the martyrs of the freedom movement.

The saturation of red, reflecting the Left’s dominance and its ideological branding across public spaces, went so deep that it once even decided to repaint the monument’s top. Mamata ended the Left’s 34-year uninterrupted rule in 2011 and shifted the state’s administrative headquarters from the Writers’ Building to Nabanna within two years. Thus, blue-and-white is on Bengal’s new political palette, reinforcing a new symbolism.

Even as speculations gain ground over reported changes, members of the new cabinet are scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy on Saturday, at Kolkata’s green lung “maidan”, making a first such exercise.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian intelligence agencies have flagged attempts by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to exploit the prevailing political volatility in West Bengal by running coordinated disinformation campaigns, officials said.

The alert comes amid heightened tensions in the state following the killing of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The situation remains sensitive in the aftermath of a bitterly contested Assembly election between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress, which the BJP won decisively.

Intelligence agencies continue to monitor the situation closely. The chatter they picked up suggests that ISI-backed elements within the state and across the border would seek to exploit the situation. These elements thrive in such situations and seek to add fire so that the entire state remains volatile.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that West Bengal and the northeastern states have always been on the ISI playbook. While illegal immigration is one weapon that the ISI uses to create demographic changes and incite communal disharmony, it has also got a brigade that seeks to take advantage of a politically volatile situation.

The official added that while some of the incidents of violence are politically motivated, many are fuelled by external elements. The ISI is looking to run a disinformation campaign in West Bengal so that the state remains on the boil. Political violence that even includes bomb hurling is nothing new in West Bengal. This is something that the ISI-backed elements would look to cash in on.

Another official said that the disinformation campaign would largely focus on fake news relating to the decisions that the new government would take. The BJP has promised that it would tackle the menace of illegal immigration with an iron fist. Disinformation about the state’s tackling of illegal immigration is also something that these elements would try to spread.

Officials say that the next couple of months will be crucial to the state. Some parties have falsely accused the BJP of stealing the elections, and this is also something that these elements would capitalise on, the official added. Pakistan-based actors would be busiest at this time and would look to take full advantage of the volatility that prevails in the state.

While ISI is planning operations on the ground, the worry for the agencies is the fake news campaigns that would be run on social media. Multiple accounts are being closely monitored to check what they are speaking about West Bengal. The social media and chat groups are where these pro-Pakistan elements would look to ignite the fire.

An official said that the old plan of the ISI was to send in illegal immigrants into West Bengal. This was planned with the clear intention of effecting demographic changes so that the majority becomes the minority. However, going forward, illegal immigration is something that would be hard to effect since the BJP has promised to tackle the menace. With such a scenario, the ISI would use its assets within India to create a false narrative, incite communal tensions, and also carry out attacks.

In addition to monitoring the West Bengal situation, the agencies are also looking at the larger game. For the ISI, this is not only a West Bengal project. It also includes the northeastern states, where the Pakistani spy agency has long been trying to incite large-scale violence.

In terms of national security, the northeastern states and West Bengal are very important. These are bordering states, and trouble in such places affects the nation's security, an official said. The agencies would remain on a state of very high alert and ensure that nothing untoward takes place and the ISI-backed elements do not succeed in taking advantage of the political volatility, the official also added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The deportation of Salim Dola marks a significant breakthrough for Indian law enforcement agencies, reinforcing an ongoing crackdown on organised crime and narcotics syndicates.

Dola, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested in Turkey and deported to India on Tuesday. He was brought to New Delhi in a special aircraft and handed over to the Central Intelligence officials. Following the initial interrogation, the Mumbai Police, which has registered multiple cases against him, is expected to seek custody.

An official said that the quick deportation is a result of coordination between the Indian and international Intelligence agencies. The official said that the deportation of Dola, who ran a Rs 5,000 crore drug business, is a blow to the underworld and ISI-backed narcotics cartels.

The official added that the Central Intelligence agencies would subject Dola to an intense round of questioning. He would be asked about his India operations and also links with international players. An Intelligence Bureau official said that Dola would also be questioned about the Dawood Syndicate and his links to it. This is important to break Dawood’s supply chains in India, the official added.

The extradition of Dola is a major victory for the Indian agencies. The series of decorations and legal victories began with the extradition of Dola’s son, Taher Dola, who was also a major player in the business. Earlier, Salim Mohamed Sheikh, a close aide of Dola, was deported from Dubai to India. He is in the custody of Mumbai’s anti-narcotics cell. Apart from the Mumbai police, the Enforcement Directorate will also question Dola and all his associates.

The Dola network has been under intense scrutiny by the agency in several money laundering cases. These decorations and developments clearly signal India’s resolve in its battle against drugs. The Narendra Modi government has aggressively pursued its vision for a drug-free India. In the last couple of months, several successful operations have been carried out against drug cartels. The operations targeted the Dawood network heavily in various parts of the country. Further operations have been carried out in the Andamans, where massive quantities of drugs have been seized.

It was learned that Mexican cartels were handling these consignments. They were trying to send in the consignment to India and then transport it to Thailand. Further, the Indian agencies are also closely following the cartels that are operating out of Myanmar. These cartels are pushing drugs in large numbers into the northeastern states.

An official said that the money raised is being routed to fund insurgent groups in the northeast. Another official said that drug cartels have a direct bearing on Pakistan’s terrorist groups. The likes of Dawood have long been funding outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The ISI ensures that 40 per cent of the earnings from the drug trade is used to fund terror groups.

The questioning of Dola would be crucial. He could provide information on the drug labs that he has set up. Further, his questioning would also focus on his links with Dawood and the ISI. The ISI’s role in shaping the drug industry in India would also be part of the questioning of Dola and his close associates.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) The arrest of Salim Dola, who ran a Rs 5,000 crore drug empire, is a major blow to the Dawood Ibrahim Syndicate. Dola was arrested in Turkey in a joint operation by the National Intelligence Organisation and police units.

India would seek his extradition, as his interrogation would be crucial to further break up the Dawood Syndicate. Indian agencies would coordinate with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seek his extradition, as India does not have an extradition treaty with Turkey.

An official said that the first move would be to have him extradited to the United Arab Emirates, since Dola holds a UAE passport. Following this, the Indian agencies would coordinate with their counterparts in the UAE and then have him extradited to India.

Dola was detained based on an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN), issued following a request by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He was wanted by the Mumbai police, which sought to question him in multiple cases relating to narcotics smuggling.

An official said that they are confident about the extradition. Last year, Dola’s son, Taher Dola, was detained in the UAE following an operation conducted by the local authorities and Interpol. Taher was extradited to India from the UAE in June 2025. A few months later, Salim Mohammed Sohail Shaikh, a key player in this cartel and a close aide of Dola, was arrested in Dubai and extradited to India.

The arrest comes at a time when the agencies from across the country have launched a massive operation against drug cartels. Officials are operating at multiple levels as they deal with threats from cartels from Pakistan, Myanmar and also Mexico.

An official said that dismantling the Dawood Syndicate is a high priority, since it is the money that this cartel earns from narcotics smuggling which funds terror groups in Pakistan. The ISI, as part of its deal with the Dawood network, gets 40 per cent of the money that the syndicate earns for each transaction.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the arrest of Dola will significantly weaken the Dawood syndicate operations in Mumbai, Gujarat and Delhi. The official said that Dola’s arrest hurts the Dawood Syndicate in a major way, especially when it comes to transnational operations and funds.

Dola was a big contributor to the syndicate, and his arrest not just hurts the syndicate, but also the ISI’s funds, which it routes into terror groups that hurt India’s interests. Another official explained that going after the narco syndicates is also key in the fight against terror.

While the Pakistan-based cartel funds terror groups in the country, those operating in Myanmar fund insurgent groups in the northeast. The drug cartels and terror groups are directly linked, and the war on narcotics will directly impact the operations of terrorist groups, the official added.

The arrest of Dola, his son and close aide suggests that the network is gradually crumbling. They were involved in running a transnational synthetic drug trafficking network which spanned several countries. They had set up laboratories and factories in many parts of India.

The interrogation of Dola and his aides would lead the police to the production points, which eventually would be eliminated. The police would also gather information on his lineages with Dawood and the ISI elements who have been backing this network for long, another official said.

Dola was born in Mumbai in 1966 and got close to the underworld at a very young age. He worked closely with Dawood’s right-hand man, Chhota Shakeel. His operations began by supplying ghutkha, following which he smuggled weed or marijuana. He was arrested in 2012 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after 80 grams of weed were found in his possession. He was acquitted after spending five years in jail.

After his release, he set up a drug manufacturing unit for a synthetic drug known as Button, which is made using fentanyl. In 2018, he was arrested once again in Santa Cruz, Mumbai, after 100 kg of fentanyl was seized from him. However, he was out on bail after four months, as the forensic report said that the tested samples of fentanyl came back negative. He fled to the UAE while he was out on bail.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Intelligence agencies have issued a fresh alert regarding plans by the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab, with a new strategy focused on rural radicalisation and low-intensity attacks in urban centres, officials familiar with the development have said.

Security and intelligence agencies have foiled several such attempts in recent years, prompting the radical group to rethink its approach. While Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) had earlier focused on recruiting and radicalising youth in urban areas, officials say those efforts largely failed due to greater public awareness and tighter security monitoring. Now it would look to target urban areas, including Chandigarh, with low-intensity attacks.

As part of its revised strategy, BKI is now shifting its recruitment drive to rural areas, where intelligence officials believe misinformation can spread more easily. The group is reportedly targeting unemployed and less-educated youth, whom it sees as more vulnerable to propaganda.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that BKI is expected to launch a sustained online misinformation campaign in rural belts, spreading anti-India narratives and portraying Punjab as suffering due to its association with the Indian State.

“If such messages are circulated repeatedly in the rural areas, people may begin to believe them and could be drawn towards the ideology of the BKI,” the official said.

As per the intelligence inputs received by officials, the BKI also plans to invest heavily in poster campaigns promoting the Khalistan movement and figures such as Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. These posters are likely to be put up in areas that were less affected by the Khalistan militancy of the 1980s and 1990s in Punjab, unlike regions that witnessed the violence firsthand and remain wary of such movements.

In fact, in areas that bore the brunt of Khalistan militancy, people are more aware today. Having witnessed its devastating impact firsthand, many have been cautioning the youth about the dangers of the movement and urging them not to get involved.

Such campaigns have become increasingly difficult for the BKI in urban areas and in regions that were directly affected by Khalistan militancy. As a result, the outfit now plans to shift its propaganda and recruitment drive to rural pockets that were either less affected or untouched by the violence.

Another official said that even as BKI focuses on recruitment and radicalisation in rural areas, it is unlikely to abandon its plans to carry out low-intensity attacks in urban centres.

Attacks in urban areas are seen as more impactful and are intended to send a stronger message to the establishment. Potential targets include courts, intelligence offices, police stations and other government buildings. The objective, officials said, is to target the establishment rather than civilians, as attacking common people could further erode whatever support the group hopes to gain.

Officials also said BKI is under immense pressure from its own cadres as well as Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence to step up operations in Punjab. The ISI’s strategy in shielding, funding and training BKI cadres is aimed at destabilising Punjab and simultaneously creating unrest in both Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dense forest cover in Kashmir has long been used by terrorists to evade security forces after carrying out attacks. The thick foliage and difficult terrain have made counter-operations extremely challenging for the security forces, often turning such missions into prolonged and complex exercises.

For years, infiltrators entering Jammu and Kashmir have taken refuge in forests, lying low until they receive instructions to strike. A similar pattern was observed in the Pahalgam attack in April last year, where terrorists reportedly used forest cover both before and after the incident.

In response, security forces launched Operation Mahadev to flush out those who were involved in the attack. An official said the operation demonstrated that terrorists can no longer rely on forests as safe havens.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament that the joint operation by the Army, the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police on July 28 was successful. He said three terrorists, identified as Suleman, Hamza Afghani, and Zibran, were killed in an encounter under Operation Mahadev. The operation was conducted in the dense forest area of Lidwas near Harwan, on the outskirts of Srinagar.

An official involved in the planning said the terrorists were attempting to return to Pakistan. “The national security planners were clear that these elements were not getting out, and they had to be brought to justice,” the official noted.

A high-level meeting was held a day after the April 22 attack, bringing together officials from the Army, CRPF, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

“It was tough tracking the terrorists. We had credible information that they were still in the country. They were either planning to carry out another attack and were awaiting instructions or were trying to slip out. Whatever the case, the intention was to stop them from whatever further they were planning,” the official said.

“It was human intelligence that gave us the first tip. The terrorists were hiding in the Dachigam area. This led to extensive tracking and, with the help of technology, signals were captured. It was on July 22 that one of the terrorists’ signals was picked up. This led to the security forces launching the assault, during which the terrorists were surrounded and killed,” the official added.

Another officer said the terrain posed the greatest challenge.

“Our intelligence agencies were working seamlessly, and once the signals were caught, information began pouring in. However, the toughest part of the operation was the encounter itself,” the officer said.

He added that the area was marked by thick vegetation and high altitude, which constrained the movement of security personnel.

“The terrorists, on the other hand, were trying to exploit these tough conditions to evade arrest or elimination. In the end, the security forces got the better of them,” the officer said.

Officials described Operation Mahadev as a decisive effort that also sends a strong message to terror groups. For long, such groups have relied on dense forests and rugged terrain to evade capture, often managing to regroup and strike again.

Operation Mahadev, they said, underlines that such tactics will no longer guarantee safety.

“The security forces displayed exemplary skill and patience. Terror groups will think twice before using such cover and assuming they can get away with it,” an official said.

The operation reflects the resolve of security agencies to track down those involved in terror activities anywhere, even in the most inaccessible forest regions, said the officer.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has sharpened its focus on Punjab with a calibrated three-pronged strategy built around targeted killings, drug trafficking, and the supply of arms and ammunition, according to intelligence inputs.

Punjab has seen a series of low-intensity blasts in recent months, involving crude bombs and grenades. An Intelligence Bureau official has said that these incidents are designed less for damage and more as a diversion. The intent, they say, is to draw security attention while operatives quietly push in weapons, expand narcotics networks, and execute selective killings.

“ISI-backed operatives are expected to continue pushing in arms, expanding drug networks and carrying out targeted killings,” officials said.

At the same time, the Punjab Police will need to keep close watch on attempts to trigger low-intensity blasts. These incidents are not intended to cause large-scale damage. Their purpose is to create fear and draw security attention away from other activities.

Investigations show that local recruits, mostly young men, are being paid substantial sums to execute such attacks. Officials say the payment can go up to Rs 4 lakh per operation, a level of funding that has raised concern within the security establishment.

An intelligence assessment prepared a few months ago had already indicated a surge in financial inflows. This shift is linked to the limited appeal of Khalistan-related messaging among the youth. Efforts to mobilise support on ideological grounds have not found much response.

Instead, handlers appear to be relying on monetary incentives. Officials note that aspirations for a more affluent lifestyle, along with the existing drug problem in parts of the state, have made some sections of youth more vulnerable to recruitment. The scale of funding reflects this change in approach.

Officials studying recent trends in Punjab say that the ISI is avoiding large and high-impact attacks. The pattern does not point to fidayeen strikes or coordinated serial blasts. Instead, the focus is on softer targets with limited strategic value. This, they believe, reflects a measured approach aimed at letting the situation develop gradually without drawing an overwhelming response.

Targeted killings appear to be preferred over mass-casualty attacks. Such operations are precise and intended to send a strong message, serving as a tool of intimidation. At the same time, arms and drug smuggling remain central to the network’s functioning. These activities not only generate funds but also help channel weapons towards Jammu and Kashmir.

Police officials say that while there is no shortage of operatives in Kashmir willing to carry out attacks, they face constraints in terms of infrastructure. Large quantities of arms and ammunition built up earlier have been seized by Indian security forces. In the present conditions, officials note, drones have made it easier to move weapons and narcotics across the Punjab border.

Smuggling along the Jammu and Kashmir border has become extremely difficult at present. Much like infiltration attempts, movement of contraband across the Line of Control has seen a sharp decline. After the Pahalgam attack, Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In the aftermath, border security has been tightened to an unprecedented level, resulting in a series of failed attempts by ISI-backed operatives.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian security agencies have flagged a recent spike in activity by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s media network, with a sharper focus on India.

While propaganda aimed at Europe and the United States has called for high-profile attacks during global events such as the FIFA World Cup, messaging directed at India is urging operatives to carry out large-scale strikes.

An Intelligence Bureau official said the group’s media channels have been urging large-scale attacks at crowded public places. At the same time, they are appealing for donations to strengthen the Afghanistan-based Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).

The official said there has been a surge in messages seeking donations. Officials noted a surge in fundraising messages in recent weeks, with the drive gathering pace this month. Contributions are being sought under the label of ‘sadaqat’, or charity, often through cryptocurrency. These funds, they said, are being routed to support ISKP operations in Afghanistan.

The ISKP is also seen to be exploiting tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Earlier, sustained pressure from the Taliban had curtailed its activities. However, the shifting situation in the region has provided the group with space to regroup and rebuild its network.

The ISKP has sought to exploit tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan to its advantage. Officials say the conflict created an opening for the group to regain lost ground. Earlier, sustained pressure from the Taliban had kept its activities in check. However, with attention diverted by the ongoing situation, the ISKP has used the window to reorganise and rebuild its network.

“This urgency explains the renewed push for funds,” another official said.

The group appears to recognise that conditions in Afghanistan may not remain favourable for long, and is trying to build capacity while the window exists. According to officials, its propaganda, misinformation campaigns and fundraising efforts are increasingly focused on India. A major attack, they assess, is seen as a way to draw attention and boost recruitment.

The idea of establishing a Caliphate in India, with Jammu and Kashmir projected as its centre, has been widely pushed through its propaganda. Officials say some individuals have been drawn in by this messaging and believe that the ISKP can achieve these aims. To deepen its outreach, the group has expanded its presence across multiple social media platforms.

While misleading narratives are circulated openly online, appeals for attacks and funding are routed through encrypted channels. Agencies are closely monitoring the Al-Azaim Foundation for Media Production, which is seen as a key hub in this network. Officials describe its operations as highly organised, with content disseminated in a wide range of languages. They deliver messages in Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, Uzbek, Tajik, Turkish, Russian, Hindi, Malayalam, and English. With the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), its messaging has expanded to more languages.

Officials say the group has been using AI to produce fabricated videos. In some cases, ordinary locations in India are depicted as sites of communal violence, with visuals suggesting attacks on minority communities. Agencies believe these clips are designed to provoke unrest. Recent content, they note, has become sharper in tone and is clearly aimed at audiences in India.

Apart from the Al-Azaim Foundation for Media Production, the ISKP is also using its Pashto-language publication, Khurasan Ghag, to advance its messaging. The magazine is tailored primarily for readers in South Asia.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) India has been facing the menace of illegal immigration for long. Migrants coming in illegally from Bangladesh and Myanmar have settled in various parts of the country, and the government, in its new policy, said that all states must detect and deport such persons.

The Intelligence agencies say that with such drives ongoing in the country, many illegal immigrants roped in by terror groups have been ordered to go underground. These persons were specifically sent to India to take part in terror activities. They have been instructed to remain underground and wait for further instructions.

These persons who have been told to stay off the radar were pushed into India to be part of terror cells. However, they operate differently. They blend into the migrant population and work as ordinary labour. Their brief is to explore places and gather information about sensitive locations they have been told about.

They have been asked to gather information not about the military or other sensitive departments. They are told to scan bus stands, railway stations and crowded markets. These persons who have now come under the scanner of the agencies are part of either the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) or the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Both terror groups report to the ISI and have been tasked with handling operations in West Bengal, the northeastern states and certain parts of South India.

An official said that what is interesting is that these persons who come in as illegal immigrants and are tasked with carrying out attacks are normally housed in Kerala or Tamil Nadu. There are many camps which house Bengali-speaking people. These migrants blend in easily and stay part of this group.

Another official said that they maintain a very low profile and go about their work daily. Their job to undertake reconnaissance is not a daily chore. To avoid detection, they carry out such tasks just once a week or once every 15 days. Such acts are very hard for the Intelligence agencies to detect. When the reconnaissance activity is being undertaken, these persons normally go in a group. The group would mostly comprise people who are legally living in India. This, in fact, eliminates the risk of detection.

Officials say that these persons, who are tasked with gathering information, will not be asked to carry out the attack. For this, the HuJI and JMB have a select set of trained operatives who are yet to cross over. Once all the information is gathered, the plan is made, following which the trained operatives are sent in, the official added.

The agencies are currently noticing a pattern whereby many have gone underground. This has been done on the instructions of their handlers. The JMB had hoped to strike during the West Bengal elections. However, the scrutiny is too high at the moment, and multiple drives are ongoing to identify illegal immigrants.

Officials say that they are just waiting for the heat to reduce before they can resume their activities. Counterterrorism experts say that this is not just a problem. It is a ticking time bomb and could go on to become India’s biggest security headache if left unchecked.

As part of its new deportation policy, the Ministry of Home Affairs has told all states to form a Special Task Force in every district to detect and deport illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. A nationwide verification drive targeted at the border states is also underway to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Over 4,000 have been identified and deported as part of this drive.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The busting of the ISI’s spy network that used CCTV cameras to gather live feed of sensitive locations in various parts of the country will now be probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The case was first cracked by the Ghaziabad police, and investigations revealed that the network was widespread, and hence the need for an NIA probe.

NIA officials say that the case details are being analysed. The agency would probe several angles of this case and also check whether any hostile Intelligence agency was involved. The identity of foreign handlers, too, would be examined, NIA officials say.

The police probe found that solar-powered CCTV cameras had been installed at railway stations. Investigations also revealed that plans were afoot to install such cameras in other sensitive locations as well. Officials say that the NIA would now probe if the surveillance activity was only restricted to sensitive and crowded locations, or if it was aimed at gathering data relating to the movement of troops as well.

The possibility of these cameras being used to collect information relating to railway logistics and defence-linked infrastructure will also be probed by the NIA. An Intelligence Bureau official said that this network was busted in the nick of time. The NIA taking over the case only signals that this racket could have spread to many other places as well. The matter is an extremely serious one when it comes to national security, and the agencies will leave no stone unturned to unearth all possible information.

Officials say Pakistan’s ISI has been on overdrive mode since the conduct of Operation Sindoor by the Indian armed forces when a significant number of terror infrastructure was hit. The ISI has since ramped up its espionage network to gather data, especially about the military.

The official said that while the ISI has been on overdrive mode, the Indian agencies have been one-up on most occasions. The arrest of numerous persons who had been honey-trapped by the ISI was a significant breakthrough. The busting of the influencer network, which was making pro-Pakistan videos while also gathering sensitive information, was also a major success story for the Indian security agencies.

The NIA probe, according to another official, will focus on the pan-India network of this module. The operations of this module go beyond Ghaziabad, Sonipat, Delhi and the surrounding areas. The targets of this module were multiple railway stations and defence installations of other states.

The NIA has jurisdiction to probe cases across the country, and hence, this probe is crucial to keep sensitive information relating to national security safe.

In addition to gathering information about the role of a hostile Intelligence agency and the role of the foreign handlers, the NIA would also check to see how much information has been leaked. This is important since the damage that has been done has to be rectified and the information about the sensitive locations that has gone out must be secured, officials say.

Further, the NIA would probe the funding trail, with investigators suspecting that money was routed from Pakistan to India to install CCTV cameras. It was also found that the ISI-backed handlers were paid Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 for installing each camera. The NIA has sought all details relating to the probe from the Ghaziabad police, and formal investigations will commence.

The Ghaziabad police initially cracked the case last month after Intelligence inputs suggested that videos and live footage of strategically sensitive locations were being recorded and transmitted to handlers in Pakistan. The breakthrough in this case came when the police arrested Suhail Malik alias Romeo, who originally hails from Bijnor. Following this, the police arrested Iram alias Mehak, Praveen, Raj Valmiki, Shiva Valmiki, and Ritik Gangwar.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Radicalisation has become one of the biggest threats facing India. The agencies warn that radicalisation camps can come up at unassuming locations as they largely remain off the radar. The TCS case is one such example where the police found that professional seniority was used as a leverage to allegedly radicalise and also convert vulnerable junior employees between 2021 and 2026.

While the probe is ongoing, the agencies are set to look into a larger pattern. More such modules may be in the works in various other places and firms, and the agencies will study the patterns and possible links to the Nashik case, an official said.

Another official said that it is becoming increasingly clear that the larger design is to set up more such radicalisation centres. The focus is more on radicalisation and changing the mindset of society rather than going in for conventional terror attacks.

Outfits such as the Popular Front of India (PFI), Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have long focused largely on radicalisation. The PFI, before its ban, had set up several radicalisation camps and centres with the intention of changing the way people think.

In the Nashik case, the modus operandi resembles the Popular Front of India’s Vision 2047 document titled, “India 2047: Towards Rule of Islam in India". This document speaks about increasing radicalisation drives. The focus is largely on radicalisation rather than attacks.

The vision of the PFI was to have a radicalised Islamic state by 2047. The outfit was, however, banned by the Narendra Modi government in 2022. The TCS radicalisation case busted by the Nashik Police will be probed by the central agencies, such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which would look into the wider ramifications of this case.

Officials say that the agencies would probe to find out if this is an isolated case or if there are many such white-collar modules in other parts of the country. The possible role of the PFI will also be probed in-depth, the official said.

The outfit has been accused by the NIA of promoting radicalisation by trapping Hindu women. In the Nashik case, the police have accused IT engineers and an HR manager of attempting to radicalise and forcibly convert Hindu women employees and gain ideological control over them. The accused are team leaders -- Tausif Attar, Danish Sheikh, Asif Ansari, Shafi Sheikh and HR’s Nida Khan. Nida Khan, who has been accused of allegedly facilitating and introducing the victims to the accused team leaders, is currently absconding.

Investigating officials say that she would be able to provide more details, which may eventually lead to other similar networks, the official also said. Another official said that the agencies would examine the similarities between the modus operandi in the Nashik case and what the PFI’s vision document states.

According to the document, the goal is to establish Islamic rule in India by 20247, which marks India’s 100th year of independence. The document outlines a four-stage programme involving recruitment, training in martial arts, and also creating communal tensions across the country.

Further, the PFI has also spoken about creating specialised radicalisation cells within the IT sector. Officials say that the plan was to target all sections of society. It wanted the educated class to be part of this programme so that the ideology could reach a wider audience. The uneducated or less educated were the ones to be used on the streets to incite and carry out violent acts.

The PFI kick-started operations in Kerala, but managed to spread far and wide to different parts of the country, including the northeastern states. Although the PFI has been banned, the agencies say that there are many out in the open and continue to spread its so-called vision.

Post the ban, the Intelligence agencies had warned that many who were part of the outfit and had not come under the radar of the investigating agencies could push the PFI’s agenda in a hush-hush manner.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Faridabad module case linked to the Delhi car bomb blast in November last year has served as a stark wake-up call for Indian security agencies. While several white-collar modules have been uncovered in the past, the Faridabad network operated on a far larger and more organised scale.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that emerging patterns point to a growing preference among terror groups for white-collar operatives, indicating a shift in recruitment and operational strategy.

The Tata Consultancy Services case in Maharashtra's Nashik also falls within the ambit of such modules. Unlike the Faridabad network, which was geared towards executing attacks across Delhi and other parts of North India, the Nashik module focused primarily on conversion and radicalisation.

In Faridabad, the network was led by medical professionals, whereas in Nashik it comprised IT professionals and an HR manager, reflecting the changing profile of those involved.

"While such modules are eventually detected, their professional backgrounds often delay suspicion, allowing them to function undetected for extended periods," the officials said.

Both the Nashik and Faridabad modules are believed to have remained active for three to four years. By the time they are uncovered, considerable damage has often been done, underlining the need for a reassessment of current strategies to counter this evolving threat.

Officials indicate that terror groups are likely to place greater emphasis on white-collar operatives for both terror activity and radicalisation efforts. Such individuals often require only minimal prompting, as they can access methods and instructions online and act independently.

Their familiarity with encrypted platforms and secure communication channels further enhances their ability to operate discreetly.

In the Faridabad case, members relied on ghost SIM cards and encrypted applications. In Nashik, the group used dedicated WhatsApp groups to circulate material and identify targets.

"Organisations such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda may limit their role to providing initial direction while encouraging these modules to sustain themselves over time. These networks may focus either on radicalisation or on carrying out attacks," an official said.

While recent crackdowns have brought these operations into sharper focus, officials note that Pakistan-based terror groups have long invested in developing networks involving white-collar operatives. The ISI has, in the past, targeted schools and colleges in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country as part of this effort.

Officials say the investment is aimed at encouraging radicalisation at the school and college level. By the time these individuals complete their education, they can form networks focused on both radicalisation and potential terror activity. While the involvement of medical professionals came into focus after the Faridabad module was exposed, officials note that such efforts have long been part of an ISI-backed approach.

Funding support has reportedly been extended to select individuals for their education. Instead of being sent to Pakistan, many were encouraged to pursue engineering or medical studies in Turkey and parts of Europe.

Officials believe such locations offer greater scope for targeted indoctrination while also keeping these individuals away from the scrutiny of Indian agencies. On returning, they are expected to influence others and draw more youth into similar networks. There are indications that both the ISI and groups such as the Islamic State may continue to place emphasis on this model.

Agencies are examining possible links between the modules that have been uncovered so far. However, one official pointed out that many of these networks may function independently, which allows them to operate longer with a lower risk of detection.

"For the ISI", officials say, "the priority appears to be the expansion in number rather than direct coordination between modules."

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, April 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its army have reactivated at least 70 terror launchpads across the Line of Control and International Border, planning a mass infiltration of nearly 800 terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, intelligence sources revealed on Wednesday.

The Pakistan establishment aims to exploit the current global focus on the Middle East conflict and the ongoing state elections in India to facilitate the infiltration, an official said.

Global attention has largely been centred on developments in the Middle East following the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. Even as Pakistan attempted to facilitate talks between the US and Iran, which failed, its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), along with the army, has directed the reactivation of terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Amid these global developments and the ongoing assembly elections in various states in India, the Pakistan establishment is believed to be seeking an opportunity to step up infiltration efforts, an official said.

The numbers have been rising steadily, with several terrorists being moved into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and kept ready on the launchpads for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.

Intelligence inputs indicate that at least 70 launchpads are active across the border, including around 10 along the International Border and the rest along the Line of Control (LoC). Estimates suggest that nearly 800 terrorists are currently waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate.

An official from the Intelligence Bureau said that the infiltration strategy has been revised after several attempts to enter Jammu and Kashmir in recent months were foiled due to heightened vigilance by security forces along the borders.

“The plan now is to attempt coordinated infiltrations from multiple entry points to stretch security forces. Groups of 10 to 15 terrorists may be pushed in simultaneously, with the expectation that at least a few will manage to get through,” the official said.

He added that Pakistan is seeking to take advantage of ongoing developments in India and abroad, in the hope that any operational gap could be used to facilitate infiltration.

A sense of urgency has reportedly set in after Operation Sindoor in May last year, in which Indian armed forces targeted and destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. The operation was carried out in response to the Pahalgam attack in April last year that left 26 Indian tourists dead.

Since then, Indian forces and security agencies have thwarted multiple infiltration attempts. Sources indicate that Pakistan’s ISI and the army are facing pressure from terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba over the lack of operational activity in Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said Jammu and Kashmir remains central to the functioning of these groups, making continued unrest a key objective for the Pakistan establishment, particularly in the context of local dynamics.

Officials said terrorist groups continue to use the Jammu and Kashmir issue as a key recruitment plank. Intelligence inputs suggest that the ISI is seeking to revive attacks in the region, which would require multiple successful infiltration attempts. However, local terror networks have been significantly weakened, and even over-ground worker (OWG) support systems have struggled to expand under sustained security pressure.

The agency is believed to be focusing on deploying trained, battle-hardened operatives from across the border, who are considered more capable of executing high-impact attacks than local recruits.

“The plan appears to involve pushing in 10 to 15 operatives initially, followed by attempts to stage a larger strike in the Valley,” an official said.

Source: IANS

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