SWI SECURITY INTELLIGENCE REPORT

Volume 1 | Issue 13 May 19, 2011

 AQ Leadership Struggle
 Indo-Pak border: Rising tensions
 Indians targeted in Afghanistan
 Call for revenge attacks
Inside
 Maoist target infra firms
 Dropbox security: a sham?
 UP sees farmer agitation
 New regime in West Bengal
…and more

Why the post-Laden world has become more dangerous

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SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 13

Contents

Lead Analysis
Risks in a post bin Laden world: brief P5
summary
For a free four-month trial subscription please
Al Qaeda’s leadership struggle poses P5 contact: info@securitywatchindia.org.in or visit our
threats website: http://securitywatchindia.org.in. You can
avail these reports for a year by joining Security
bin Laden as a martyr raises risks of P7 Watch Indian Membership program or independent
revenge attacks annual subscription for just Rs. 4800 (US$ 110).

Risks for Indians in Afghanistan P8 The subscription will afford you latest and most
relevant information on Indian Homeland Security
Rising tensions on Indo-Pak border P9 situation that will help you make right decisions for
your business.

Industrial Risk
Business Opportunity
Maoists continue to target construction P10
India to provide every state with P15
companies causing Rs 100-120 crore
communication interception system
damage in 2011

Maoist Insurgency
Cyber Protection
Risks of getting caught in a crossfire P16
Dropbox alleged to have lied about its P13
exceptionally high in Jharkhand
security
Regular Features
Political Disturbance
Risk Assessment Map P3
Post-poll violence intensifies in West P12
Bengal Travel Advisory: Afghanistan, Yemen P18
and Bahrain
Farmer Agitation in UP sees at least four P14
dead; risks to disrupt Agra Short Briefs P4

Copyright © Security Watch India 2011

Security Watch India (SWI) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that addresses issues in the space of the relatively new homeland security
sector. SWI works towards a secure tomorrow by enhancing security awareness and consciousness in Indian industry and civil society. SWI also
guides and facilitates potential investors interested in the Indian homeland security business. Security Watch India is not responsible for the facts,
views or opinion expressed by the author(s) in this report. Republication or re-dissemination of the contents of this document are expressly prohibited
without the written consent of Security Watch India.
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SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 13

Risk Assessment Map

© Security Watch India

4 May – 19 May, 2011

GJM and GNLF engage in

CPI(M) kills five of clashes resulting in at least
Land agitation claims
rival Maoist faction one death
at least 4 lives; puts
Agra, Delhi at risk

Spate of post-poll violence

spreads across the state

Maoists attack NH 33
construction site; cause
Leaked intelligence damage Rs 40-50 crore
claims links between
Pune-based student
Maoists call for a nation-wide
organization and Al
strike on 21 & 22 May
Qaeda

SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 13
Short Briefs
Violence breaks out in Darjeeling
Members of the GNLF allegedly beat up and killed a
member of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)
spreading violence in the hills before the latter
called for a 24-hour strike. Transport and tea
plantations remain unaffected in the first strike of
this tourist season. Mobs have targeted GNLF
members and have torched two houses at Dilaram,
35 kms away from Darjeeling. The local police have
promised to keep the situation under control.
No new engines for Jaguar jets
The Indian Air Force’s Jaguar Jets might not get a
new engine after all. Honeywell, which offered its F-
125IN engine, and Rolls Royce, received a Request
for Proposal (RFP). However, Rolls Royce opted out
saying they had previously offered to re-engine the
Adour 811 and Adour 821 but heard nothing back.
Despite becoming the largest defence importer in
the world, India is still facing skepticism from many
defence manufacturers over its commitments.
Facebook insecure?
According to Symantec, the Social Media giant
Facebook may contain a flaw that has given access
of personal information of as many as 100,000
users to some advertisers. Apparently, certain
Facebook applications have been inadvertently
handing advertisers access tokens -- strings of
numbers and letters that can be used by a browser
to access Facebook accounts over the Web.
Facebook has not responded to this allegation.
Page 4 of 19
Saudi diplomat killed in Pakistan
In a targeted shooting, four gunmen on motorbikes
killed a Saudi Arabian diplomat in Karachi, near the
Bahrain consulate. Police officials confirmed that
gunmen intercepted the car and fired about a
dozen bullets killing the victim instantly. The
incident occurred five days after improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) were found lobbed in the
Saudi Consulate. No group has claimed
responsibility for the incidents.
Jury ready for Rana
A twelve member jury, with six alternates, has been
selected for Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana,
who is being tried in Chicago in connection with the
26/11 attacks. Rana is on trial over allegations that
he aided David Headley, the purported mastermind
of the deadly attack that killed over 160 people. He
was said to have allowed Headley to use his
immigration firm as a front for Headley's
surveillance activities in Mumbai.
Pune students linked to Al Qaeda
Reports suggest that according to intelligence
officials that a student organization based in Pune
named Islamic Students Congregation played host
to a Sudanese Al Qaida leader in 2007 and may
have deeper linkages with the international
terrorist organization. As per the disclosures of
Guantanamo Bay detainees, released by WikiLeaks,
at least three of the inmates at the prison had
stayed at the organisation’s facilities in New Delhi.
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Risks in a post bin Laden world

Aftermath of bin
Laden's death

bin Laden gains Tensions increase Growing Indo-

Al Qaeda witnesses
martyr status on the Indo-Pak Afghan relations
leadership strruggle
among some in Pak border concern Pak
extremists.

Likely to fizzle out

Risk of increased
barring few Indians may be
number of attacks Along with growing ceasefire violations targeted in
anti-US sentiments,
this may pressure Afghanistan
terror groups to carry
out revenge attacks

New Al Qaeda leadership increases risks for South Asia

and US

Al Qaeda seems to chosen a new transitional leader to head the infamous terror group after
the demise of Osama bin Laden. This week, the organization announced appointment of Saif
al-Adel, a former Egyptian colonel, as the new leader of Al Qaeda. The appointment has
surpassed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former number two to bin Laden and, until recently,
considered an obvious choice as the latter‟s successor.

As discussed in our previous issue (SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 12) this
outcome, with certain dissension over new leadership was the most likely outcome to bin
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Laden‟s death, as opposed to a seamless succession by al-Zawahiri or a complete collapse

of Al Qaeda. In fact, from all the signs the new leadership has emerged out of at least some
friction within the organization.

Some analysts have argued that the choice of al-Adel as the new leader may have been
unanimous with consent of al-Zawahiri who may not have wanted the throne. However, it
seems unlikely. First, the confirmation by Al Qaeda of bin Laden‟s death seems to have
serve no political or tactical purpose of Al Qaeda which would have benefited more from the
skepticism over American claim to have killed its leader. By issuing the statement, the
terror group put that skepticism and confusion to rest and in fact aided its sworn enemy the
United States.

More importantly, even barring al-Zawahiri, al-Adel does not seem to be the best choice,
either in skills or seniority, to lead the group. Leaders like Abu Yahya al-Libi, group‟s leading
theologian, Khalid al-Habib, one of Al Qaeda‟s top military commanders and Adnan el
Shukrijumah, chief of the group‟s “external operations council” responsible for attacks on
US and European soil, were all surpassed in favor of al-Adel. This strange hierarchical
disparity is indicative of the fact that the international terrorist group is undergoing
succession troubles and makes the possibility of a unanimous support of al-Saif highly
unlikely.

What seems more likely is that al-Saif may be attempting to usurp other hands in Al
Qaeda‟s leadership council for a bid to become the permanent chief. It may be also possible
that he may have been temporarily put as the nominal head of the group while the
leadership tries to sort out the succession issue amongst itself. In the second case, there
may be more than two contenders for the top spot.

Given these factors, future of the group holds two possibilities, all two increasing the risks
for US and South Asia. It may be that al-Saif takes over the reins and tries to establish
himself as the true leader, in which case he would need to prove himself by carrying out
some successful and spectacular attacks. Alternatively, internal dissent within the leadership
will result in a weakened core and greater autonomy to local commanders. That may lead to
more localized targeting by various groups and may even be the catalyst that jerks Al
Qaeda out of its inertia which the group seems to have gone into for the last few years.
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Either way, the world can expect a more active Al Qaeda and the risk for global terrorist
attacks remain high.

Rising pro bin Laden sentiments may pressure terror

groups to carry out revenge attacks; American targets in
South Asia at risk

While the reaction to Osama bin Laden‟s death in many countries like United States and
India has been the one of relief and jubilation, it has been rather mixed in many countries
especially Pakistan. Since the death of Al Qaeda‟s leader on 2 May in a covert American
Special Forces operation, Pakistan has witnessed an emotional outburst in parts of the
country supporting bin Laden and mourning over his death. Combined with the large
number of civilian deaths in recent weeks by US drone attacks within Pakistan borders
which have fuelled anti-US sentiments to a peak, this trend has created increased risks of
terror attacks in coming months.

In Pakistan, many semi-political and religious groups have openly protested against bin
Laden‟s killing. On 14 May, Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and its charitable
front organization, Jamaat-ud-Dawa carried out an anti-US demonstration attended by close
to 4000 protesters. Hafiz Saeed, the leader of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, called bin Laden a martyr
and demanded that the Pakistani government break ties with the US following its raid on 2
May that killed the al-Qaida chief. A report records that since 2 May, more than 100,000
Osama bin Laden posters have been sold in Pakistan.

As discussed in the previous report (SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 12) an
immediate revenge attack from Jihadist groups over bin Laden‟s death was unlikely since it
was doubtful that these groups kept a secret plan to put into effect in case of bin Laden‟s
death. In fact, other than an attack by Tehrik-e-Taliban in Pakistan, which killed 80, none of
the other terrorist activities around the globe has been even partly attributed to bin Laden‟s
death.

However, given the rising pro bin Laden sentiment among their core constituents, coupled
with anger over US actions, the pressure on Pakistani militant groups is expected to
increase. Accordingly, risk of terror attacks against American targets has increased
significantly in South Asia. While such attacks are most likely to be carried out in Pakistan
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itself, given the political outlook and capabilities of many organizations like LeT, India also
faces the risk of bin Laden revenge.

Singh‟s visit to Kabul after the death of Osama bin Laden

has increased the chances of Indians being identified as
targets in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Intelligence Agency recently nabbed two assassins in Jalalabad who were hired
to kill the Indian Consul General. The assassins alleged that the Pakistani Inter Service
Intelligence (ISI) had hired them for an amount of Rs 1.2 lakhs to target the top Indian
diplomats in Afghanistan. Previously, Afghan officials had confirmed involvement of
Pakistan-based, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in
Previous attacks on Indians in Afghanistan
an attack against the Indian medical
mission that killed seven Indians in  Oct 2009: A Taliban suicide bomber detonated
his explosive laden car outside the Indian
anassault in Kabul in 2010.
Embassy in Kabul, killing 17 and injuring 80.
 February 2009: Insurgents killed Simon
Further, the Indian Prime Minister, Paramanathan, who was employed in an Italian
Manmohan Singh‟s visit to Afghanistan food chain, four months after he was kidnapped
soon after the death of Osama bin Laden as negotiations failed.
is symbolic of the budding relations
 July 2008: A suicide attack outside the Indian
Embassy in Kabul killed 41 people, including two
between the two nations. In an attempt
senior diplomats, and injured 140 others.
to strengthen Indo-Afghanistan ties,  April 2008: A suicide attack in Nimroz province
Singh pushed for stronger economic ties claimed the lives of two Indian Army’s Border
and promised to support an “Afghan-led” Road Organisation officials.
peace initiative involving the Taliban.  December 2007: Two bombs were hurled into
the Indian consulate in Jalalabad. There were no
casualties.
This, coupled with the on-going peace
initiative dialogues with Pakistan, has increased the levels of discomfort amidst anti-India
terrorist groups in Af-Pak region. Afghanistan has always been vulnerable to insurgent
activity but remains strategic ground for the business interests in both Pakistan and India.
However, from past experiences, any sign of improving relations between Afghanistan and
India has taken its toll on Indian citizens living and working in Afghanistan.

In October 2010, Taliban militants attacked an Indian NGO is Kunar province with a rocket
killing two Indian nationals. In February that year, the Taliban carried out coordinated
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suicide attacks on two hotels in Kabul killing nine Indians including two Major rank Army
officers. The suicide attacks were aimed at targeting the guest house rented out by the
Indian Embassy for its staffers and those involved in developmental work in Afghanistan.
In a move to disrupt any growth in India-Afghanistan relations, the insurgents are likely to
up their ante targeting Indian organisations and nationals. Singh‟s visit to Afghanistan has
done two things: it has helped maintain the friendly relation India shares with Afghanistan
and it has also recognised Pakistan‟s proximity to the Taliban. The latter has increased the
chances of Indians becoming terror targets in Afghanistan.

The remote possibility of India launching a US-style attack

on Pakistan has heightened security concerns in the
border region increasing the likelihood of minor
skirmishes and ceasefire violations.

Since the death of Osama bin Laden, tensions between Indian and Pakistani miltary have
heightened. There is a growing fear in Pakistan that India will not hesitate to conduct a US-
like operation in Pakistan in a bid to arrest or eliminate wanted terrorists. Even as the
Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh has rubbished any such claims, Pakistani Inter
Service Intelligence (ISI) has issued warning against an Indian „invasion‟. The ISI chief,
Ahmed Shuja Pasha, has warned India of a retaliatory attack. Pasha has claimed to have
identified certain Indian targets to cause maximum damage and has carried out „rehearsals‟
in case of need.

Adding to the tension on the border, India had held war games, codenamed Vijayee Bhava
(Be victorious) involving over 50,000 of troops on the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan. The
exercise involved mechanised maneuvers and latest weaponry in accord with its military
modernisation programme for the review and training of the Kharga Corps. The six-day-long
war games were enough to heighten tension and security concerns on the Pakistani border.
On May 14 and 15, Pakistani Army has violated ceasefire at the Indo-Pak border at least
twice, killing one Indian Paramilitary soldier in an indiscriminate spate of firing. All these
factors combined have put military on both sides on highest alert.

There are four possible outcomes in this scenario. There is a high possibility that the tension
between the two nuclear-armed nations will fizzle out with time. The added security at the
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border regions will reduce and the ceasefire will stay. In a second scenario, one can expect
minor skirmishes as seen on May 15, when the Pakistani side violated ceasefire and there
was an exchange of gunfire for 45 minutes.

The possibility of a full blown war with or without the use of nuclear arms is highly unlikely.

Maoists torched 47 construction vehicles amounting to a

loss of INR 40-50 crore; Infrastructure companies remain
favorite targets of the insurgents; Estimated INR 100-120
crore loss in first four months of 2011

On On 14 May, around 250 Maoists attacked a construction site on National Highway 33,
burning down 47 construction vehicles including trucks and dumpers and engaged the local
police in a firefight injuring one constable. This attack in Hazaribag, Jharkhand district
follows three coordinated attacks on 4 May, one of which had killed 11 security force
personnel in a 150-simultaneous-IEDs attack in Lohadarga. According to the officials of GR
Infraprojects, the company executing NH 33 construction project, the losses sustained were
between Rs 40-50 crore may have thrown the project off track for more than a year.

The attack is believed to be result of miscommunication between the insurgents and the
construction company over an extortion demand.

Over the years, Maoist insurgents have continued to target infrastructure companies more
often than any other business. In the first four months of 2011 alone, infrastructure
companies have suffered an estimated 100-120 crore loss through at least 14 incidents (see
Table 1) of attacks and violence by the Maoists in various parts of the country.

Infrastructure companies have always been one of the favorite targets of Maoist groups.
They are a common victim of extortion from the Maoists, who have been known to demand
anywhere up to 10% of the project revenues from these firms. Often being an outsider to a
particular locality, extorting construction businesses may require insurgents to use violence
more frequently as opposed to local businesses which they have already intimidated into
regular payments.
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Maoist attacks on construction firms in 2011 (1 January – 15 May)

May 8: CPI (Maoist)

F Bihar A
cadres set ablaze two
hydraulic excavators and a
D C E tipper lorry engaged in
G
construction of roads in the
M Jharkhand remote areas adjoining the
H L
I West Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh
Bengal border.
J K
Chhattisgarh
Feb 5: A group of cadres
B
of the CPI-Maoist
Maharashtra B Orissa numbering about 30 to 40
came to the site of under-
N construction Piperkhari
Gauritola Road in Gondia
A
District and set ablaze a road
roller.

Andhra Pradesh

Feb 17: Over 30 heavily armed CPI-Maoist cadres raided a construction site of Gammon India, and set
C
ablaze one dumper truck and one road construction machine belonging to the company in Gaya District.

Feb 26: The CPI-Maoist attacked two construction companies after the firms failed to pay levy demanded
D
by the insurgents Kaimur District. The 60-member squad attacked the construction of a siphon-bridge of
Durgawati Reservoir Project on Hundari hills, assaulted workers and forced them to stop work until the
contractor paid them 10 percent of the cost of the work.

Mar 1: The CPI-Maoist demolished government and school buildings in Jamui District, using stolen
E
construction vehicles.

Mar 4: Over 50 armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked a private construction firm engaged in
F
construction of a bridge over river Gandak and set ablaze a tractor, two JCB machines, a pump set besides
a generator at Raghuvi village under Shivaipatti Police Station in Muzaffarpur District.

Apr 4: The cadres of the CPI-Maoist assaulted and injured five labourers and set ablaze two road
G construction machines of a private firm at Kanaudha village in Aurangabad District.

Apr 16: Maoist cadres set ablaze a JCB machine, two generators, two mixture machines, two tractors,
H one operating machine, along with more than half a dozen other machinery parts and motor spare parts
of a road construction firm and assaulted the labourers employed in Surguja District.

I Jan 15: The cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked road construction workers in Lohardaga District.
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J Apr 1: Suspected cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist set ablaze two excavators and
a motorcycle of a construction company constructing a bridge over the Koel river at Jologhat, causing a
loss of about INR 10 million to the builder in Gumla District.

K Apr 7: The cadres of the CPI-Maoist set ablaze a porcelain machine and five water pumps and looted two
mobile sets from workers at a bridge construction site in Gumla District.

L Apr 24: A Maoists squad assaulted the employees of Patil Construction Company of Maharashtra, and
threatened them with dire consequences, if work continued at the extension of National Highway 75
from Padwa More in Palamu District to Murisemar in Garhwa District.

May 14: Maoists attacked a construction site on National Highway 33, burning down 47 construction
M
vehicles like trucks and dumpers and engaged police in a firefight injuring one constable.

Jan 21: The cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked a camp of a construction firm involved in construction of
N
remote rural road under PMGSY and set ablaze a porcelain machine in Ganjam District.

Another factor at play is the tactical consideration of the Maoists to deny road access to the
government and security forces. Accordingly, disruption of transportation routes and their
construction is one of the more significant Maoist objectives.

With regime change in West Bengal post-poll political

violence on the rise; Maoist activities may also escalate

On 13 May, Trinamool Congress (TC) successfully ended the 34-years-long rule of the
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] in West Bengal in a landslide victory. Result of a
combination of failed economic policies, rising Maoist violence and anti-incumbency factor,
the victory has larger political ramifications, in no small parts due to TC‟s alliance with the
current Congress-led Central Government. However, the victory may result in sharp
increase in violence in West Bengal at least in the short term.

Political violence has been a part and parcel of West Bengal‟s daily life for long. In fact, the
state has witnessed many bloody clashes between political supporters of opposing parties.
And post-poll violence is expected to be exceptionally high this time around. Many political
actors in the state are likely to interpret this change of guard in Kolkata as a license to
avenge old grievances against the CPM cadres who had dominated the political sphere in the
state for long. Since the announcement of election results, violent skirmishes have broken
out in several towns resulting in at least six deaths. Moreover, this trend is likely to worsen
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after 23 May when the unprecedented deployment of more than 800 central paramilitary
companies for election duty is likely to be withdrawn.

Given the change of government, Maoist insurgency is also expected to worsen in the state.
In the last two years, West Bengal has become on the worst-insurgency-affected states in
the country. In 2010, the state saw 425 Maoist-related deaths; highest in the country. The
worst Maoist-affected districts in the western parts of the state have been increasingly
coming under the Maoist control. At this juncture a shift in political leadership can spell
trouble for security forces‟ efforts to contain the spread of insurgency.

It has been repeatedly alleged that some of the ground-level cadres of TC in Maoist-affected
districts have formed a loose alliance with the Maoists. If such allegations hold true, TC
arrival to power can mean that the Maoist can expect loosening of police pressure for some
time to come. Moreover, the insurgents have been involved in a year-long violent campaign
against CPI (M) where targeted assassinations and clashes have killed more than 150 CPI
(M) cadres. Since the CPM is no longer in power, one can expect the Maoists to increase
violence against CPM cadres to further their (Maoists) political vendetta.

Given all these factors at play, general violence in the state may increase in the coming
months with wide-spread skirmishes that may risk bystanders among other risks.

Dropbox lied about its security: new complaint

Dropbox, one of the world‟s most popular online storage services, has come under
investigation by the United States Federal Trade Commission for deceiving it‟s users about
its security. Pending the result of the investigation, much of sensitive data uploaded on
Dropbox by its 25 million users may be at risk of being accessed by governments, or
disgruntled Dropbox employees, or may even be at the risk of copyright infringement suit.

A security researcher has recently released a study to prove that cloud storage service‟s
claim that it encrypts all the data before storing it is false. The researcher, who spent a year
working at the FTC, alleges that Dropbox “has and continues to make deceptive statements
to consumers regarding the extent to which it protects and encrypts their data.” Dropbox
dismissed the allegations. “We believe this complaint is without merit,” company
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spokeswoman Julie Supan said. “Millions of people depend on our service every day and we
work hard to keep their data safe, secure, and private.”

Dropbox is a cloud computing service which
works as a web-based file hosting service. It
enables a user to drop a file in a designated
folder on his or her computer which is synced
with the service‟s internet service.
Accordingly, the user can share the file with
other users or access it from any other
device from another terminal. Due to its ease
of use, Dropbox rose to popularity in the last
two years.
How to protect your data from file hosting
services
 Use online encryption services like
truecrypt or Crypo before uploading data
on the service
 Use online storage services which do not
hold key to data encryption like SpiderOak
or Wuala

The concern for its safety rose from suspicion on Dropbox‟s claim that it encrypts all files
that are uploaded, which allows anyone to access or view the personal data of the user.
Considering that Dropbox service is used by many companies for business purposes, this
privacy is critical for the service‟s success. However, the new complaint claims that
Dropbox, in fact, has the capability to read user data. It uses to capability to identify same
files uploaded by different users so that it can “de-duplicate” those files, that is, keep only
one copy of the redundant files.

Farmer agitation in UP claim at least four lives;

politicization of the issue may suppress violence, increase
lawful disruption of services; Yamuna Expressway project
may be delayed

On 8 May, clashes broke out between residents of the villages of Bhatta and Parsaul and the
police, resulting in at least four deaths – two of policemen and two of the protesters.
Agitation broke over land acquisition from these villages for the construction of ambitious
Yamuna Expressway that would connect Delhi suburbs of Greater Noida to Agra. It
escalated to skirmishes between police and protesters and quickly spread to Agra where
protesters burnt many government vehicles and blocked the roads. As of the now the
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situation remains tense, with most protesters having gone underground and threatening to
renew the agitation.

However, since the protests temporarily subsided, the issue has become politicized with
political parties like Congress and BJP getting involved. Congress General Secretary Rahul
Gandhi made a highly-publicized trip to the conflict area and later claimed that the UP Police
had committed atrocities against the villagers to avenge the death of their colleagues. Since
then, many other politicians have joined the fray making it a head-on political battle
between Bahujan Samaj Party government of the UP state and Congress with an eye
towards the 2012 state Assembly Elections in UP.

The involvement of political parties in the conflict is likely to suppress the violence as the
leadership of protests is taken over by national-level politicians instead of local farmer
leaders. Moreover, the increased media focus is also likely to deter all parties involved from
falling back to outright violence. However, the issue still remains under contest. The
subsequent protests are therefore likely to involve mass rallies, picketing and general
disruption of services like transport routes in Western UP.

Unfortunately, the politicization of the issue is also likely to discourage UP Government from
finding a compromise with the villagers as it had done in 2008 when similar protests had
flared up in Ghori Bachera village. As long as all political parties remain committed to the
opposite sides of the issue, the tensions are likely to continue.

MHA calls tenders for communication interception

technology

The Ministry of Home Affairs has called for a bid from global vendors to provide a Telephone
Call Interception System (TCIS). This deal, estimated to be around Rs 50 crore, will provide
sophisticated phone tapping technology to various police departments in the country for
counter-terrorism and law enforcement purposes.

TCIS is part of a greater Intelligence Bureau plan to modernise of Special Branches of the
State Police Departments. The system will be set up for each service provider who has been
licensed for the State to legally monitor the calls as and when required. The TCIS is needed
in 30 (thirty) locations all over India that is in each state/UT headquarter.
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The system will ensure the monitoring of voice calls, SMSes, MMSes, GPRS and fax
communications on landlines and CDMA and GSM networks. Real-time monitoring of the
tapping being done by service providers will help the states to ensure that no illegal tapping
is being done based on any fake permission. The states can feed the details of the
intercepted conversations into a central monitoring system in the state capitals. The states
are not required to share information with each other, but the Central government might
look at the data to see that no illegal tapping is being done by any state.

Maoists gun down five of rival faction; risk of getting

caught in cross-fire remains high in Jharkhand;
investment into the state affected

Last week the Communist Party of India (Maoists) [CPI (M)] carried out a raid in Daupani
village of Gumla district of Jharkhand killing five men. Apparently the clash was motivated
by inter-factional rivalry between CPI (M) and another Maoist outfit active in the region –
People‟s Liberation Front of India (PLFI). Last month, another Maoist faction, Tritaya Prastuti
Committee (TPC) had shot and killed a Reliance Power Executive, mistaking him for a
member of the rival faction.

Jharkhand continues to be hotbed for several Maoist factions involved in battle for control
amongst each other. While in states like Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, only one
Maoist group – CPI (M) - remains dominant, Jharkhand has more than ten different active
insurgent groups. This situation has created additional risks for businesses operating in the
state as they face the risk of getting caught in the cross-fire as well as subject to multiple
operational demands.

In states like Orissa, where the principal insurgent group continues to dominate, Maoist
violence is very precise targeting only political and security personnel more often than
others. However, in Jharkhand the trend is reversed with private citizens becoming a bigger
target for groups looking to gain control over their rivals.

Some sources within Jharkhand Government have been reported admitting that the rival
factions of Maoists were initially encouraged by some individual government officials as a
counter-balance to the CPI (M). However, recent events have shown that the rival factions
 Page 17 of 19
SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 13

have become a security threat within themselves, making it much harder for the security
forces to establish peace in the region.

TPC

JPC

PLFI

CPI-M

Map 1: Strongholds of major Maoist Groups in Jharkhand

Meanwhile, the killing of the Reliance executive along with the general level of violence in
state has affected the incoming investment in Jharkhand. While the government has signed
more than 70 Memorandums of Understanding with various companies to invest in projects
in the state, actual presence of these companies remains scarce, largely due to concerns of
law and order and safety. With rising violence by various Maoist factions, the investment
may steer clear for a long time to come.
 Page 18 of 19
SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 13

Travel Advisory: Afghanistan, Yemen & Bahrain

Afghanistan

If the „war on terror‟ in Afghan soil wasn‟t going to deter you from travelling to Afghanistan,
violent demonstrations might. At least 11 people were killed and 40 others were injured
when protests against the killing of four Afghans in a NATO raid broke out across cities in
Afghanistan. Moreover, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh‟s visit to Kabul to renew friendly
ties, might increase the targeted violence against Indians in Afghanistan.

Yemen

The death of Osama bin Laden has heightened tensions in an already tense Yemen. In
addition to this, the agitation against the current establishment has increased in the form of
violent protests. There are an estimated 14000 Indians in Yemen. It is advisable for the
Indians there to consider leaving the country until the situation stabilizes.

Bahrain

Even as King Hamad Khalifa called for a state of Emergency in Bahrain, set to end on June
1, the violent protests in Manama have only increased. Security around the capital city was
beefed and martial law was extended until the situation could be brought under control. The
King has requested for international intervention in the law and order situation in the
country. While, he has promised to keep foreign nationals safe, it is advisable not to travel
into the country if it can be avoided or delayed.
 Page 19 of 19
SWI Security Intelligence Report Vol 1 Issue 13

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