Latest news with #AK47s
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Forces raze memorials in Maoist citadels
On February 9, security forces gunned down 31 Maoists in the jungles of Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, inflicting the highest single-day toll on the insurgency at the time. After an eight-hour gunbattle involving at least a thousandparamilitary and police personnel, the forces recovered the bodies of 31 uniformed Maoists, along with a large cache of weapons, including AK47s, SLRs, INSAS rifles, .303 rifles, BGL launchers, and explosives. But that's not all the forces found. 'After the encounter, the forces also came across a tall stone memorial built in the memory of the Maoists' senior comrade, Katakam Sudarshan, aka Anand,' said a Central Reserve Police Force officer in Bijapur, who asked not to be named. Katakam Sudarshan, a politburo member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) died of natural causes on May 31, 2023. 'We had information about the memorial but we had never entered the area until a few months ago as it was a Naxal stronghold. The area was not under our control so we had left it untouched all these years,' added the officer. 'The stone structure has now been destroyed.' That's not the only one. Over the last year, as security forces pushed deeper into the Maoist heartland and made inroads into territories considered too hostile even five years ago, they started smashing scores of what they claim are makeshift memorials to various Maoist leaders. This symbolic purge – to remove traces of Maoist influence across the once-infamous red corridor – has now become a part of the government's aggressive move to wipe out the decades-old insurgency by next spring. 'Such structures help Naxals keep the locals under their control by wielding a fake narrative that the area is under their control ,' the officer quoted above said. Security officials said that after entering Maoist strongholds in left-wing extremism (LWE) affected districts of Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Dantewada, the forces repeatedly found red sandstone structures, some with several storeys in the shape of a tower as high as 60 feet. At least 147 such structures have either been bombed or brought down, said the officials. 'The memorials, all built using cement and painted red, range from 6- 60 feet in height. There is a common pattern too. A tall red memorial with the name of their slain leader or the date of the incident, when they have died. These were leaders who have masterminded and killed thousands of security forces personnel,' said a Central Reserve Police Force officer in Bijapur, who asked not to be named. Since the memorials were built in Naxal strongholds, the rebels had access to cement from nearby villages and were even able to use heavy machinery to construct the structures, the officer added. The memorials, resembling red pagodas, have the names of slain Maoist leaders, the date they died on, and messages in Hindi or Telegu paying tribute to the 'fallen comrade' inscribed on them. Some also have the flag of CPI (Maoist). But there are never any photographs. 'There will always be an erected podium in front of the memorial. The podium is where the Naxal cadres take oath every morning. Surrendered Naxals confirmed that recruitments and later training were held in front of such memorials inside the jungle. Over the last year, as the number of such memorials in Naxal areas became common and more frequent, an order was issued to destroy every symbol,' said the CRPF officer quoted above. The forces started discovering more of these memorials as they made inroads in Naxal strongholds. In December 2024, they came across a 60- feet tall concrete structure (shaped like a tower) built in the memory of Akkiraju Haragopal, a Maoist central committee member. Haragopal, aka Ramakrishna, died of natural causes in the forests sometime in October 2021, said a police officer. It had the date October 14, 2021 — the day the Maoist leader likely died — inscribed along with a message in Telugu paying homage to him and the Maoist movement. The structure was destroyed after the forces entered the Komatpalli village in Bijapur and set up the Vatevagu camp. 'It must have been the tallest such memorial. It took nearly 3-4 hours to get rid of the structure. When the forces took control of that area in Bijapur and found the structure, we all knew it was the first thing that needed to go. In all these years, these Naxals were emboldened to build such memorials and remind the innocent villagers of their influence. We ordered a JCB earthmover and toppled the structure,' said a police officer involved in the operation. Security personnel said they are mindful of not damaging structures that are aligned with tribal culture and customs. The police say these memorials served as nodes of the Maoist operation inside the forest – around where training would happen, events glorifying the killing of security forces and civilians would be held. 'Building memorials is part of the Naxal propaganda…Naxals did this to keep people under their influence. Outside these memorials Naxals held their Shaheed Diwas, glorified violence, and symbolised their leaders as heroes,' said inspector general (IG) of Bastar range, Sundarraj P. The forces believe smashing these memorials is key to dispelling the notion that the rebels still hold control of large swathes of forestland from where they've been recently wiped out – especially in weaning local villagers away from what the government believes is now a demoralised insurgency. 'There are less than 350 armed cadres who are refusing to surrender and putting up a fight with security forces. Hundreds of them have already surrendered,' said another police officer. Sundarraj said in some cases, the requests for destroying the memorials came from local villagers themselves after forces set up camps in the areas. 'People also do not want to remember that legacy…At many places people themselves have requested us to get it removed because the future of their children, who could have gone to school, were destroyed by Naxals,' he said. 'Such memorials won't be allowed.'
NDTV
25-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
NDTV Ground Report: Extortion Part Of China's Unconventional War On India
Extortion, armed violence and drugs - this is the deadly trio used by China to wage its unconventional war against India, using armed insurgent groups that it has funded for decades. In some states in the northeast region, families live in debilitating fear - their children are at constant risk of either getting recruited into an armed insurgent group or of becoming drug addicts. Up to 22 per cent of the salaries of state government employees is deducted at the disbursal offices - this is an unofficial "sovereignty tax" imposed by armed insurgent groups like the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA). The administration has bent over to keep the peace as these groups, armed with sophisticated Chinese-made weapons like AK 47s and rocket launchers, wield sway over most of the northeastern part of the country. "Even the state government has been paying taxes to some of the bigger groups," said KK Sema, a retired IAS officer who spearheaded a movement against Nagaland's "sovereignty tax". "Development funds come to the department. That department is told to pay 5-6 per cent to the groups from the headquarters itself. The money is then disbursed to the field, the field officers and contractors are also taxed. The state government will deny this. The state government employees are paying 22 per cent of their salary. This is being deducted at the disbursement office before it is paid to them. The disbursement officer would negotiate with the armed groups to reduce the 22 per cent to 10-12 per cent and the remaining amount would be paid to the government employee," he said. Everyone and everything is "taxed" by these armed groups. From vegetables and small businesses, to trucks and farm produce, groups like the NSCN-IM and the ZRA get a cut from all trades and commodities. The NSCN-IM's "Budget" NDTV got exclusive access to the NSCN-IM's "Budget" for fiscal year 2025-26. The amounts are staggering as they are a record of extortion of the people of Nagaland. This armed insurgent group plans to raise over Rs 158 crore in what they call "sovereignty tax", a fancy term for extortion. Everything from food items to fuel to construction materials is "taxed". Small shop owners too have to pay the NSCN-IM cadre. They cough up, staring at the barrel of a gun. Smuggling of cheap betelnut from Myanmar into India is also rife and provides a hefty sum for funding these armed insurgent groups. In this fiscal year, the NSCN-IM plans to raise Rs 2 crore from betelnut alone. Most of this betelnut from Myanmar heads to the factories of gutkha makers, according to highly placed sources. This fuels yet another illegal economy. As a result of this wanton extortion, the prices of goods and food in Nagaland can rise sharply without warning. "Because of the insurgency, there were many factions which were going out and taxing people. There is absolutely no reason for prices to rise. In the morning, a kilogram of tomatoes would cost Rs 30 and in the evening, it would cost Rs 60 without any real reason," Mr Sema explained. "Civil society started questioning why this price rise was happening. A few of us got together and sent out a group of youngsters to find out what was happening in the markets. They found that each commodity was being taxed in the market. They call it the 'sovereignty tax. It is called tax. But it is nothing but extortion," he added. Top sources told NDTV in confidence that a section of the local police and administration too actively aid these armed insurgent groups. Take for instance, the current Chairman of the Zomi Council, the mother organisation of the ZRA - Vumsuan Naulak. A retired Intelligence Bureau officer, he can be seen in this photograph awarding a child soldier at an undisclosed location in the Chin State of Myanmar. The Assam Rifles and a section of the state police are attempting to control the influence of these violent groups. On May 16, the Assam Rifles neutralised 10 cadres of an unnamed group and recovered seven AK-47 rifles, one RPG launcher, one M4 rifle and four single-barrel breech-loading rifles. They also found ammunition and war-like stores in Chandel district of Manipur, along the India-Myanmar Border. The Dimapur Police have stepped up efforts to file cases of extortion - 58 cases were filed between January 2024 and April 2025. 81 arrests were made and 78 weapons - from Chinese made AK 47s to Israeli Uzis - were seized. Special Operation Teams have also been set up to provide rapid action in cases of extortion. Police sources also told NDTV that Ikato Chishi Swu, son of one of the late founders of NSCN-IM Isak Chishi Swu, is currently in China. He had released a letter in April stating that he was quitting the NSCN-IM and would head to Myanmar to "continue the struggle" as the NSCN-IM had become a "corrupt" organisation. But flush with Chinese funding and sophisticated arms, these groups recruit more youth and the deadly cycle of violence continues unabated. Share
Calgary Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Hidden tunnels and historic landmarks shine a light on Vietnam's painful past
Article content When American troops moved into the Ben Dinh area, they unknowingly built a base on top of some of the tunnels. Van Chia said the Viet Cong would strike at night and disappear into the tunnels, leaving the U.S. troops to fight what seemed like ghosts. Article content 'We placed land mines, bamboo traps, booby traps, everywhere, outside and also inside tunnels, to stop our enemy. We also built very low, narrow tunnels, just only us at a time could go through. Very low, just about this (he said, gesturing to his knees). So we had to crawl through the tunnel. It was all very well connected.' Article content Article content But those tunnels were also targeted by American bombers and frequently destroyed. Van Chia was outside one in a trench when an enemy machine gun tore into his right arm and eye in 1967. He was 21 years old. Article content At the complex, there are displays of those booby traps, of a field hospital and bunkers where they built bombs. If that's not real enough, the constant blasting of M16s, AK47s, RPKs and RPD machine guns reverberates from the National Defence Sport Range, lending a chilling air of authenticity. Article content Article content Despite the horrors he and others endured, Van Chia has hope for the future. Article content 'My wishes for now to the future, when young people meet, no matter where they are from – the United States or other countries – the Vietnamese people, when they meet, they will meet at the table having tea and discussing business, not about war,' said Van Chia. Article content This year, on April 30, Vietnam marked the end of the hostilities with the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and reunification of North and South. During an early April trip, workers were constructing massive bleachers on the grounds of the Reunification Palace in preparation for official ceremonies. Events are planned across the country this year, with perhaps some of the most prestigious in Hanoi, the former seat of power for Ho Chi Minh and his Communist Party. Article content A visit to the presidential palace area in Hanoi is the best place to start to get an understanding of the very complicated history of Vietnam. The Americans were just one foe and the fight against them just one war fought here. Over the centuries, it was invaded by other nations like China and Japan. France ruled the south until the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, revolted against colonial rule. Following eight years of war, an accord divided the country into the French-backed south and the communist north. Article content Revered as a leader, Ho Chi Minh's body is displayed in a mausoleum in the presidential palace area. A long line of thousands winds across the grounds before a brief walk past the glass box raised on a stone pedestal bathed in dim light and silence. You can also tour two of the houses where he lived from 1954 onward, and see a display of the Bentley and other official cars he used when meeting leaders and dignitaries. Article content In Saigon, many of the wartime landmarks remain but have new, more peaceful uses. Article content Article content The Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, is considered to have occurred when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through the gates of Independence Palace, ending the war. Today, the palace is a museum, and the beautifully manicured grounds are a popular tourist attraction. Article content Another former landmark is now impossible to distinguish from other buildings unless it's pointed out. A famous photo taken on April 29, 1975, shows U.S. government officials evacuating by climbing a ladder to a helicopter on a roof. Today, it is an apartment building. Article content Article content Visits to both cities help explain the story of Vietnam. Article content As Saigon, Hanoi and all other parts of the country mark the 50th anniversary of reunification, Van Chia reflected on that long-ago war. Article content 'We never forget what happened 50 years ago. That's when the war ended and the country was reunified. We remember what Ho Chi Minh said: 'Nothing is more precious than freedom and independence.' '
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Jeep Grand Cherokee puts on SVI's AK47 protective suit
Approved by Jeep parent company Stellantis, the 'flagship" B4+ package can only be had on the "normal" Grand Cherokee. Jeep Grand Cherokee has now been furnished with the SVI armour. Picture: SVI SVI Engineering, South Africa's specialist armoured vehicle firm, has partnered with Stellantis South Africa to create a discreetly armoured version of the five-seat Jeep Grand Cherokee that boasts AK47 protection. 'As our global flagship model and the most technologically advanced, luxurious and 4×4-capable Grand Cherokee yet, the fifth generation version of this celebrated SUV now stands apart for yet another reason: the local availability of expertly engineered ballistic protection,' said Jeep brand head, Janus Janse van Rensburg. B4+ protection The bespoke armouring package offers B4+ protection, meaning it is rated to withstand attacks from handguns as well as AK47s. The package is completely concealed and therefore imperceptible to the untrained eye. Comprising custom-fabricated armoured steel plates, lightweight composite materials and special 32 mm ballistic glass, the B4+ solution for the Grand Cherokee was developed by SVI's team of highly experienced engineers. ALSO READ: Five-seats the charm for new Jeep Grand Cherokee 'While standard B4 packages are relatively popular in South Africa as anti-hijack solutions, our collaboration with Jeep goes a step further, culminating in a bespoke B4+ package for the Grand Cherokee that offers protection against higher ballistic threats,' said Jaco de Kock, Chief Executive Officer of the SVI Group of Companies. In addition to the concealed body armour and ballistic glass, the B4+ conversion incorporates partial firewall protection and an armoured rear bulkhead – the latter complete with an integrated escape hatch – behind the second row of seats. No power change In total, the armouring materials add 400 kg to the Grand Cherokee's weight, though up front, the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine remains unchanged with outputs of 210kW/344nm. The same also applies to the eight-speed automatic transmission. Interior hasn't changed from the standard Grand Cherokee on first glance, until the windows are lowered. Picture: SVI In addition, the Grand Cherokee's various driver assistance safety systems remain fully operational. The driver's window, meanwhile, can be lowered approximately one third of the way down. How much? SVI's B4+ armouring solution for the Grand Cherokee is priced from R1 236 814. The more discreet B4 package, which protects against weapons up to a .44 Magnum, is also available from R833 684 and can additionally be fitted to the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L. B4+ package cab only be had on the five-seat Grand Cherokee. Picture: SVI The list of options for each solution includes roof and floor armour, a PA system and heavy-duty run-flat tyres. The project build time is set at approximately three months in each case. Interest buyers can contact, Nicol Louw at nicol@ or on 072 664 3539. Further information can be obtained at NOW READ: Jeep Grand Cherokee facing the axe as RHD production ends
ABC News
29-04-2025
- General
- ABC News
In the final weeks of the Vietnam War, these Australians from the RAAF returned to Saigon
There were not meant to be any Australians in Vietnam in 1975. Public outrage — and a tenuous peace treaty — paved the way for the withdrawal of troops in 1973. But the two-decade fight over the future of Vietnam wasn't over and without its international allies, the capitalist south rapidly fell to the communist north. City after city was captured and by the end of April, the capital Saigon was surrounded. In these desperate times, more than 200 people from the Royal Australian Air Force returned to the region for humanitarian missions. They were nurses, pilots, ground crew, administrators. Noel Darr of the 37th Squadron was one of them. Chaos on the tarmac South Vietnamese troops and western TV crews run for cover as a North Vietnamese mortar round explodes on Newport Bridge on the outskirts of Saigon. ( AP ) This month marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, the dramatic moment when Northern forces stormed the capital, reunited the country and ended the war. Mr Darr had been flying into Vietnam since 1968, transporting vital cargo, from injured personnel to food supplies. But on April 2, 1975, his mission as loadmaster was to help evacuate 200 refugees from Phan Rang Bay. "We were only supposed to take out women and children," he said. "But the males were coming on with civilian clothes over their uniforms and a lot of them were carrying AK47s. "We could hear this weapons fire and we didn't know whether it was friendly fire or North Vietnamese." Loadmaster Noel Darr remembers the chaos on the tarmac in those final weeks of the war. ( ABC News: Lachlan Bennett ) As panic spread across the tarmac, crowds charged towards the aircraft, trying to escape the Northern advance. "They were desperate to get out and babies were just being thrown over in the paratroop door," Mr Darr said. After the South Vietnamese regime had urgently requested humanitarian assistance, Australia sent eight Hercules aircraft from the RAAF base in Richmond, NSW, and two Dakotas from their base in Butterworth, Malaysia. And as Communist victory grew increasingly likely, US president Gerald Ford announced a bold plan: Operation Babylift. A last-minute plan to save orphans Flight Lieutenants Ian Frame and Hugh Howell and Flying Officer Ian Scott feeding children waiting to board. ( Supplied: Ian Frame ) The plan was to evacuate thousands of Vietnamese orphans from Saigon and place them with adoption families in the US, Canada and other western countries. Those too sick for the long journey were flown to Australia via Bangkok by pilots like John Stone, who evacuated 107 children on April 4 and 55 on April 17. "I remember walking between the boxes of babies. Some guys had bottles feeding them," he said. " We knew what would've happened to them if they had stayed behind. " Pilot Geoff Rose flew alongside Mr Stone but was "not sure the South Vietnamese really wanted their children taken away". "It was sort of showing the people that they'd given in by evacuating," he said. RAAF members John Handford, Geoff Rose and Eric Lundberg with babies set to be evacuated. ( Supplied: Geoff Rose ) Around 3,000 children were airlifted out and not without controversy. There were claims some had been forcibly taken from poor families. Others had their identification tags removed, severing any remaining link to their past. And some orphans never made it out of Saigon. Rescue mission ends in tragedy Aircrews often had to fly over the wreckage of a a US Galaxy aircraft on their return to Saigon. ( Aviation Safety Network ) Just minutes after take-off, a US Galaxy aircraft with 314 babies, crew and passengers suffered a catastrophic disaster. The back door ripped from its hinges, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in the mud flats. Mr Stone remembers seeing billowing clouds of smoke as he arrived at the airport for his own Babylift flight. "By the time we got there, the choppers were bringing in survivors," he said. "It sticks in my mind very vividly. I remember taking off over the wreckage." Nuns bring Vietanmese children set to be evacuated under Operation Babylift to an aircraft waiting at Tan Son Nhut. ( Supplied: Ian Frame ) Mr Darr also saw the wreckage when he flew into Saigon the following day. "[The pilot] put her down on the mud flats. It killed all the people on the bottom decks and then it skidded towards the Mekong River," he said. " It was awful. All those kids were going to be saved and they died in a plane crash. " The crash killed 138 people, including Australians Margaret Moses, a nun, and Lee Makk, a nurse. There were suspicions of sabotage, a theory ruled out by a subsequent investigation. But betrayal wasn't unheard of in these final, chaotic days. A traitor in the ranks A sign near the airport in Saigon thanks the South Vietnam allies, like the US and Australia, for their service. ( Picture: Supplied / Geoff Stone ) Mr Rose and Mr Stone were preparing for a supply run on April 8 when they heard a thunderous explosion. "A jet went flying over, I felt the blast and thought, 'I hope this is not an attack on the city,'" Mr Rose said. That aircraft had just bombed the presidential palace, but it wasn't a Northern invader, it was a South Vietnamese aircraft. Inside was Air Force Lieutenant Nguyen Thanh Trung, who had hoped to kill South Vietnam President Nguyen Van Thieu. In a 2000 interview, Nguyen said South Vietnamese forces had murdered his father in 1963 and tossed the corpse into the Mekong as a warning to others. "I promise with my father that some day … I will bring that bomb and drop it to the palace to stop the war as soon as possible," he told Reuters. While the attack ultimately failed, Mr Nguyen's actions made him a hero of the Northern regime. Geoff Rose (right) said he met the man who bombed the presidential palace, Nguyen Thanh Trung (left), while helping train pilots in Vietnam in the late 1990s. ( Supplied: Geoff Rose ) Decades later, Mr Rose was working for an aircraft leasing company that was training pilots at Vietnam Airlines. Among the crew was the same man who had bombed the palace. "I don't know whether it was a joke amongst the other blokes, but they allocated me to train him," Mr Rose said. " And all the other pilots we flew with were North Vietnamese. They had flown bombers and fighters and walked up the Ho Chi Minh Trail. " Over the next six months, the two men shared battle stories between training and "got fairly close". "Some people might think I'm a traitor, but you know, it was 18 years after the war," Mr Rose said. Last stand for the South When RAAF members had to stay overnight in Saigon, they would sometimes be put up at the Embassy Hotel, a few blocks away from the Presidential Palace. ( Supplied: Geoff Stone ) As the days passed, time was running out to escape Saigon. It had become too dangerous to fly at night, so pilots would sometimes stay at the Embassy Hotel. Aircraft captain David Nichols remembers sitting on the rooftop garden, drinking beers, staring into the sky. "It was very pleasant, very calm. The city was under curfew and very quiet," he said. " But in the distance, we could hear the gunfire and explosions. " That was South Vietnam's last stand — a desperate fight at Xuon Loc to stop the Northern advance. After 11 days, they fell back to Saigon, a city now surrounded by tens of thousands of troops. Facing imminent defeat, the South Vietnamese president resigned on April 21 and fled the city on April 25. Australia's final flights out of Saigon David Nichols remembers his flying days in the final days of the war, while sitting in the cockpit of an old Hercules aircraft. ( ABC News: Lachlan Bennett ) The same day, Australia was also preparing to leave Saigon for the last time. Mr Nichols recalls the cargo on his last flight: 12 Vietnamese nuns and two yellow Combi Vans. "To this day, I don't know who chose that load," he said. " Why did we go to a war zone to pick up the cargo and who made those decisions? I guess I'll never know. " Australian ambassador Geoffrey Price also left Saigon that day, along with 10 staff members, 15 refugees and nine journalists. Unloading supplies near a newly constructed refugee camp. ( Supplied: Geoff Rose ) With planes filled with personnel and possessions, four air defence guards were almost left behind. "The door closed and they said, 'Look after yourselves,'" Mr Nichols said. The guards had little else but their weapons and fears South Vietnamese soldiers, now abandoned by their allies, may turn violent. But before the sun set, a Hercules aircraft piloted by Jack Fanderlinden returned to pick them up. "And that was the last flight to leave," Mr Nichols said. TV captures the fall of Saigon North Vietnamese tanks crash through the gates of the presidential palace in the final moments of the war. ( AFP: Françoise Demulder/Succession Demulder/Roger-Viollet ) The panic of those remaining in Saigon played out on television, with cameras capturing crowds swarming the US embassy and helicopters flying from rooftops. Mr Darr said people were clinging onto aircraft "like you saw in Afghanistan with the fall of Kabul". "They were flying out to the ships and they were just pushing the choppers overboard because they didn't have enough room to land," he said. Around 30 former employees of the Australian embassy were left behind, along with many more who had worked for the US. At dawn on April 30, North Vietnamese tanks rolled into Saigon, crashed through the gates of the presidential palace and ended the war. 'A mission, a purpose' John Stone said he and other RAAF members would often have a beer on the back ramp after a long day. ( ABC News: Lachlan Bennett ) While the missions in these final weeks were sometimes tough and traumatic, there were often moments of great friendship. Mr Stone said they used to stash beers near the back door that would become "ice cold" after hours of flight. "I did a lot of flying with these guys, we did a lot of trips together and we drank a lot of beer on the ramp of these airplanes," he said. Mr Nichols was proud of what they did and said morale was generally quite high. "There was a mission, there was a purpose," he said. Loading the Hercules on April 4, the first day of Operation Babylift. And while he acknowledges the "enormous contribution" of those involved in fighting, including conscripts, he is glad the story of those final weeks has been told. "It's always been a soft spot and there hasn't been much documented," he said. "A lot of the war memorials, documentaries and histories have Australia's commitment finishing in '72. "But on the 50th anniversary it will be documented now."
