Apparently taking cue from the highly compartmentalised functioning of the intelligence agencies, the banned terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) operates on a strict need-to-know basis to avoid detection by the security agencies.
Analysing the modus operandi of the IM, a report of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) suggests each module is allotted a specific task taking care to avoid interaction between different modules. The bomb planter is not supposed to know about the bomb maker or who supplied the ingredients for making the bomb.
“Once a target is chosen by the mentors, the bombers carry out a reconnaissance of the area and chose places that would lead to maximum loss of life and property,” the report said.
According to the report, some IM cadres are trained in computer networking and have developed expertise in hacking vulnerable Wi-Fi networks for sending e-mails for claiming responsibility for the attacks. A new e-mail ID is used after every blast and sent to television news channels using unsecured Wi-Fi connections of different individuals/firms or from cyber cafés.
PCOs and cyber cafés in remote areas are preferred to mobile phones for contacting handlers based in Pakistan and Dubai in order to make detection of the caller difficult. The IM cadres are strictly forbidden to carry their mobile phones with them while going out for planting the bombs. The operatives are supposed to return to their base as early as possible after planting the bombs and should wait for the outcome.
On measures to counter Islamic fundamentalism and militancy, the report underscores the need to strengthen the intelligence network in vulnerable areas by raising well placed assets in the ranks of the terror outfits like IM. The report further highlights the importance of human sources in intelligence gathering as the IM cadres are particularly
careful about using mobile phones for communication among themselves as well as during operations.
The dossier further seeks strengthening of technical surveillance capabilities of security and intelligence agencies since terrorists consider mobile phones/telephone communication as vulnerable to easy interception and are increasingly relying on e-mail and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for communication.
“In keeping pace with this changing scenario, there is an urgent need to equip the
security and intelligence agencies with Internet and VoIP monitoring capabilities,” adds the report.