Chemicals, Arms Seized from Militants’ Hideouts 

          Mumbai – The Mumbai police have seized chemicals and some arms from two militant-training centers near here, following the arrest of six SIMI (Student Islamic movement of India) activists in the Mulund blast case.  Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal told media persons on Friday that  militants – having links with the Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) – were planning to carry out blasts and attacks at Mantralaya, Chowpatty, Gateway of India and other crowded places in Mumbai and some areas in south India.  SIMI had also planned suicide attacks at the Mantralaya.   Police said SIMI had sent several youths to Pakistan for arms training.  The police alleged that SIMI activists were providing shelter to Pakistani nationals in Maharashtra, most of whom were members of JeM or LeT.

  The Times of India – May 4, 2003

21 Killed in Tripura Violence

            Jogeswar Nagar (West Tripura) – May 7, 2003 – Suspected militants of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) killed 19 people and critically wounded eight along the Bangladesh border, late on Tuesday night.  In a separate incident, suspected members of the National Liberation Front of Tripura shot dead a couple at Radhanagar village in North Tripura district, police said.

Hindustan Times – May 8, 2003

  Hawala is passe, fake currency trade is the trend

            New Delhi – May 15, 2003 – Many of the hawala traders in the city are now branching into currency smuggling and circulation of fake currency as they find it much more profitable, said senior officers of the Delhi Police.  One of the reasons is that militant groups now rely on these traders for continuous flow of money, as hawala channels in Jammu and Kashmir have dried up.  Officers in the Special Cell also claim that fake currency follows two routes.  First, currency notes get printed in Pakistan, then shipped to Dubai and from there, associates of D-company try to smuggle them into India. However, it is the other route which has been under the scanner of investigating agencies lately. Fake currency are sent to Nepal from Pakistan and from there, smuggled into bordering towns of Bihar like Katihar and Kishangarh.  A relatively new form of militant funding is currency smuggling:  foreign exchange smuggled like gold.  “Though risk of being caught is big, but small operators find it much more profitable than hawala trade.  Since they already know how to dispose of foreign exchange, many of them are now entering currency smuggling,” he said.

  The Statesman – May 16, 2003

  Women inducted into country’s elite forces

              New Delhi – For the first time, women are being inducted into the country’s elite commando force.  The National Security Guards (NSG) sent out the word to its feeder agencies about two months ago.    Names of willing and suitable police officers have already started coming in.

  Times of India – May 18, 2003

  Advani calls for federal agency against terror

              Thiruvananthapuram -  Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani on Sunday said the proposal to set up a federal investigation agency will, in no way, encroach upon the powers of the states.  Speaking to media-persons on his arrival at the airport here, Advani said such an agency, however, can come up only when all states agree to it.  “Until now, no such thing has happened at the chief ministers’ level, though there is a broad consensus at the DGPs’ level,” he said.   The new system will only supplement powers of the state, he said.   

The Times of India – May 19, 2003

UK plans secret sky marshals

            London – May 18, 2003 – In the wake of renewed fears of terror attacks in the air, Britain’s transport secretary Alistair Darling announced plans to secretly install US-style armed sky marshals on flights into and out of the U.K. The initiative has met with fierce opposition from airlines.  Mr. Darling is adamant the scheme will go ahead.  

The Asian Age – May 19, 2003.

  Uncle Sam will take snaps, keep fingerprints of visitors  

            Washington – May 20, 2003 – Visitors to the US will be electronically photographed and fingerprinted on arrival from January 1, 2004.  A hi-tech tracking system will alert officials if a visitor has a record of terrorist connections, convictions or visa violations.  The US receives 23 million tourists, students and business travelers annually.  The new tracking system is called “US VISIT” (US visitor and immigrant status indication technology). 

Hindustan Times – May 21, 2003

  Anti-bomb blocks erected at UK House

                      London:  A ring of concrete sprang up around the British Parliament late on Thursday as police stepped up security  measures after recent suicide bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco and warnings of more to come.  The blocks were placed strategically around the ancient Palace of Westminster and other government buildings in central London in a bid to prevent vehicles loaded with explosives being driven inside and set off.

  The Indian Express – May 24, 2003

  Militants had ‘toxic’ manuals

Surankote – May 24, 2003 – The seizure of documents from militants in Surankote reveal ingenious ways of making cyanide – using frogs and chemicals – and “touching poison.”   The militants had  plans to poison water sources and supplies to Army installations and posts.  “They speak of various formulas to  make poisonous substances, including cyanide.  Besides this, the militants also have formulas for touching poison and other toxic substances.   This is the first time we have laid our hands on such a detailed manual for making poisonous and toxic substances,” said an officer.

The Asian Age – May 25, 2003

Shoot-to-kill to prevent suicide bombing in U.K.

              London – May 24, 2003 – For the first time, specially trained officers have been given shoot-to-kill powers to prevent suicide bombings amid signs of growing nervousness over a possible terrorist attack.  Fears of a terrorist ‘backlash’ have grown after the release of a taped message, purported to be from Osama bis Laden’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, calling for September 11-type attacks on western countries – naming Britain as among the targets.

  The Hindu – May 25, 2003.

UK missing passports pose threat to security

            London – May 25, 2003 – The UK government’s figures released recently reveal that 11,500 passports were lost in the post between 1999 and 2002.  Liberal Democratic spokesman Pal Burstow called for an immediate enquiry as there is growing concern of the possibility of these missing passports falling into the hands of terrorists or criminals.  

The Asian Age – May 26, 2003

Food for Thoughts

  "Your day is as good as you make it."

  ***

  A life without love, no matter how many other things we have, is an empty, meaningless one.

Leo Buscaglia
(Expert on Love, Author)