www.rsis.edu.sg 2527 – July 31 August-02 August 2014 2015

Country Weekly Report of International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research

INDIA

Terrorism

On 27 July, in an early morning attack in the Indian Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, terrorists opened fire at a police station leaving two people dead and ten others injured. The injured included seven civilians and three police personnel, including a station house officer. Five bombs were discovered on railway track; a passenger bus was also targeted in this attack. The attack was brought under control within twelve hours. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is believed to be conducted by the Pakistan based anti- militant group, Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT, Army of the Pure), although there is no indication of border infiltration. Investigations are still continuing.1.

A statement made by Northern Army Command chief Lieutenant General D.S. Hooda, expresses concern over the threat of the Middle Eastern extremist group, the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL), “moving over to this side (from Afghanistan-Pakistan to India).” He highlighted the several incidents relating to youth and their activities leaning toward the ISIL ideology and expressed his concern. Furthermore he added that the education system and economic situation in the region has an important part to play. He said the government is taking several measures to ensure that ISIL does not get a stronghold in the region2. Additionally, he mentioned that Kashmiri youth are gravitating towards militancy, but he did not elaborate which jihadi groups are attracting the Kashmir youth3.

On 28 July, an investigative story published by an American newspaper, the USA Today, and reported by American Media Institute, refers to a 32-page Urdu language document obtained from a Pakistani national with connections inside the Pakistani

1 Gurdaspur terror attack Live: Families of several policemen held hostage by terrorists; 2 dead, 10 injured, IBN Live, 27/07/2015, http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/punjab-7-civilians-3-policemen-injured-in-attack-at- gurdaspur-police-station-2-terrorists-holed-up-1026003.html 2 ISIS creeping towards this side but troops ready to meet threat: Hooda, The Daily Excelsior, 27/07/2015, http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/isis-creeping-towards-this-side-but-troops-ready-to-meet-threat-hooda/ 3 Militancy spreads to new areas in Kashmir, The Daily Excelsior, 28/07/2015, http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/militancy-spreads-to-new-areas-in-kashmir/ Taliban. According to the report, “The document warns that 'preparations' for an attack in India are underway and predicts that an attack will provoke an apocalyptic confrontation with America.”4

Yakub Memon, the brother of Ibrahim Mushtaq 'Tiger' Memon, one of the prime accused of the 1993 bomb blasts, was hanged to death on 30 July 2015 in the Central Jail in . The blasts left 257 people dead. Yakub was sentenced to death on 27 July 2007 under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). He was convicted in the 12 March 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. The court charged him with criminal conspiracy, arranging terrorist financing and managing its disbursement5.

4 ISIS preparing to attack India: Report, , 29/07/2015, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ISIS-preparing-to-attack-India- Report/articleshow/48264942.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOIIndia News 5 LIVE: 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon hanged; Maharashtra CM to make statement at 11 am, Zee News, 30/07/2015, http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/live-yakub-memon-hanged-in-nagpur- jail_1638751.html