Page 109 - War Conflict
Sri Lanka revises Easter Sunday toll to 'about 253'
Sri Lanka on Thursday revised down the death toll in Easter Sunday carnage by over 100, from 359 to "about 253", reports said.
Sri Lanka Muslims, refugees fear backlash from Easter attack
After fleeing their homes in Pakistan over militant attacks and government persecution, hundreds of Ahmadi Muslims felt they finally found peace in Sri Lanka as they sought resettlement across the world. Then came the Easter bombings that killed over 250 people, many Christians praying at church, and suddenly they were targeted again. They say Sri Lankans suspicious of their beards, their little-known faith and nationalities shouted at some, throwing stones and hitting them with sticks. Others saw their homes attacked. Now nearly 200 huddle inside their mosque in Negombo and more than 500 sought shelter in the small town of Pasyala, 30 kilometers (20 miles) away just one sign of the fear pervading the Muslim community across this multiethnic island off the southern tip of India. Activists say some Muslim youths have disappeared, perhaps arrested by tightlipped security forces, while others stay at home, fearful the bombings will spark retaliation from either the government or angry ..
Sri Lanka reduces Easter blasts toll to 253
Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando resigned over his failure to prevent the Easter blasts even as the health ministry Thursday night revised the death toll down to 253, from 359, saying the previous figure was due to a calculation error. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said authorities were targeting the "sleepers" who could trigger another round of bombings as police released photos of six suspects, including three women, wanted for their involvement in the attacks and sought information regarding them from the public. Authorities earlier said that nine bombers, believed to be members of local Islamist extremist group called National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), carried out the blasts that killed 359 people and wounded more than 500 others. However, Dr Anil Jasinghe, the Director General of the Health Services, said the larger death toll was released as a result of a calculation error. "The approximate total of the dead would be 253 and not 359 as reported in media," he ...
Sri Lanka Defence Secretary resigns
Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando on Thursday stepped down from his post amid allegations of mishandling intelligence reports that came before the Easter Sunday attack.Fernando's decision comes a day after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena asked him to resign.The office of Sirisena has said that Fernando would serve in the post until a replacement is appointed, reported Al Jazeera.The call for resignations came amid reports of mounting criticism against the Sri Lankan government over its failure to curtail the massacre, despite detailed warnings.CNN reported that warnings were shared with Sri Lankan security services, including one memo addressed to the IG, prior to the attacks. However, no measures were taken to thwart the deadly terror attacks which killed more than 350 people, including 10 Indians.Shortly after the attacks, Sirisena, as well as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, claimed that they had no clue about the warnings.Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Sri
Sri Lanka's defence sec resigns over Easter massacre; PM says police targeting sleeper cells
Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando resigned Thursday over his failure to prevent the Easter blasts that killed 359 people even as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said authorities were targeting the "sleepers" who could trigger another round of bombings. Authorities also released photographs of six suspects, including three women, wanted for their involvement in the attacks and sought information regarding them from the public. Nine suicide bombers, believed to be members of local Islamist extremist group called National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), carried out the devastating blasts that killed 359 people and wounded more than 500 others. Defence Secretary Fernando handed over his resignation letter to President Maithripala Sirisena Thursday. President Sirisena had asked Fernando and Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara to quit after their failure to prevent the blasts despite having prior intelligence. Facing public criticism for not acting against Islamist ...
Britain warns against 'all but essential travel' to Sri Lanka
Britain on Thursday warned against "all but essential travel" to Sri Lanka following the terror attacks on Sunday that claimed at least 359 lives. "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, due to the current evolving security situation following attacks on 21 April 2019," the ministry said on its website. It added that terrorists "are very likely" to try to carry out further attacks, which "could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners." "The extent of any continued threat following the 21 April attacks remains unclear," it said. Eight British nationals were among those killed in the deadly Easter bombings that targeted tourists and Christian worshippers. Over 250,000 Britons visited Sri Lanka in 2018, making it the third highest source of tourism behind India and China, with the two countries retaining strong links since Sri Lanka became independent of colonial rule in 1948. The British government told ...
Chhattisgarh: 4 Naxals surrender in Sukma
Four dreaded Naxals, including three with Rs 1 lakh bounty on their heads, surrendered in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, the police said on Thursday.The three Naxals who carry bounties on their heads have been identified as Vetti Malla, Sodi Lachchha, and Mudam Hurrah. The fourth Naxal, Rawa Hanga, is a member of 'Jan Militia' (public militia), a part-time fighting force.They were wanted by the police in several cases of kidnapping, roping in Improvised Explosive Device (IED), and carrying out attacks at camps of security forces.Sukma SSP Shalabh Singh said that all benefits will be extended to the four men as per government policies."All benefits under government's rehabilitation and surrender policies will be provided to the former Naxals," Singh told media here.Earlier on Sunday, 15 Naxals, including six women, had surrendered before the police in Bijapur.
Sri Lanka: PM warns of 'sleeper cells'
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been dealing with the aftermath of Easter Sunday attack, warned on Thursday of "sleeper cells" that might launch more attacks in the island nation."The danger has come down drastically, (but) we do have to pick up some more sleepers, which we will do in the next few days," Wickremesinghe told CNN."Police and security forces are rounding up those involved, but they're also rounding up the sleepers, those used on second and third rounds (of attacks)," he added.Amid intense criticism over Sri Lankan government's inaction in curbing the massacre, President Maithripala Sirisena has asked Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara to resign following reports of mishandling of intelligence reports.On April 21, eight explosions rattled Sri Lankan cities of Colombo, Negombo, Kochchikede and Batticaloa as the Christian community celebrated Easter Sunday. At least 359 people were killed and over ..
Defence Secretary quits, Sri Lanka bans drones
Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando on Thursday resigned accepting responsibility for the Easter Sunday bloodbath in Sri Lanka even as security forces continued a search for accomplices of the suicide bombers who killed and injured hundreds.
US calls for unity in Sri Lanka
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz has called for unity in the wake of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks that killed at least 359 people, including four American citizens.
Lanka releases pics of 6 suspects, including 3 women, as police intensifies search ops
Sri Lanka Thursday released photographs of six suspects, including three women, wanted for their involvement in the deadly Easter attacks that killed nearly 360 people as police intensified search and arrested 16 people, taking the number of those under custody to 76. Nine suicide bombers, believed to be the members of local Islamist extremist group called National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels on Easter Sunday. Police Thursday night released the names and pictures of three men and three women and sought information regarding them from the public. Earlier, officials said that with the arrest of 16 more people on Wednesday, the total number of suspects under police custody has risen to 76. The arrested people were being interrogated at length by the investigation sleuths in connection with the bombings. Many of the arrested people have suspected links to the NTJ, the group blamed for the ...
Union minister Manoj Sinha files nomination from Ghazipur LS seat
Union minister Manoj Sinha Thursday said developmental works, which the BJP has been doing, was necessary to end dynastic politics and casteism. Sinha was speaking to reporters after filing his nomination papers for the Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat. "Dynastic politics, casteism and the tendency to loot public resources (lootwaad) are the three evils in the country," he said here. "To end these, it's necessary that developmental works continue, and the BJP is doing this," the Union minister of state for communications (independent charge) said. Union minister Gen (retired) V K Singh was also present on the occasion.
Army opens doors for women in military police
In a historic development, the Indian Army on Thursday started the process of recruiting women, three months after the government announced its decision to open the entry of women as Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR).
Sister of Sri Lanka mastermind deplores bloodbath
The sister of a man believed to the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday carnage in Sri Lanka is furious with her brother for causing so much pain and suffering to others.
US says to avoid Sri Lanka places of worship, fearing attack
The US Embassy in Sri Lanka warned Thursday that places of worship could be targeted for militant attacks over the coming weekend, as police searched for more suspects in the Islamic State-claimed Easter suicide bombings that killed over 350 people. The stark warning came as Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told The Associated Press that he believed militants, likely with access to explosives, remained on the loose in the island nation off the southern tip of India. "We have rounded up a lot of suspects but there are still active people on the run," Wickremesinghe said in an interview. "They may be having explosives with them, so we have to find them." Police meanwhile issued a public appeal for information about three women and one man suspected of involvement in the Easter bombings. Across Colombo and in Negombo, the seaside city north of the capital where a bombing killed 110 people, residents and office workers stayed indoors and closed up shops Thursday, leaving ...
Dreaded Maoist couple surrenders in Maharashtra
A dreaded Maoist couple who carried a combined reward on Rs 18.50 lakh on their heads have surrendered, an official said on Thursday.
US regrets Afghan civilian deaths, says answer is peace
The US envoy negotiating with the Taliban voiced regret Thursday over findings that US-backed forces were killing more civilians than the militants, and said the solution was a peace deal. A UN report released Wednesday found that international and pro-government forces were responsible for the deaths of 305 civilians in the first three months of the year -- the first time they were behind more killings than the Taliban since the US-led coalition toppled the extremists' regime in 2001. "We deeply regret any loss of innocent life during military operations. We never target innocents," said Zalmay Khalilzad, the US negotiator who is set shortly to resume talks with the Taliban in Qatar on ending the war. "War is treacherous, and unintended consequences are devastating. While we strive to prevent casualties, real solution is a ceasefire or reduced violence as we pursue lasting peace," he tweeted. Khalilzad appealed to the Taliban and other Afghans to "work to make this the year of ...
Bengaluru under security blanket after blasts in Lanka
In the wake of the terror attacks in Sri Lanka, the police here Thursday stepped up security and initiated elaborate measures to prevent such an incident. In addition, the police have decided to set up ananti-terrorist cell in the city and have written to Karnataka government in this regard. As part of the measures, the police convened a meeting with head of variousinstitutions, religious places and commercial establishment with a footfall of more than 500. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, city police commissioner T Suneel Kumarsaid he has instructed deputy commissioners to gather information on religious places where lots of people congregate. The deputy commissioners, in turn, have been directed to instruct the managers of malls and hotels. Further, the commissioner decided to hold a meeting with the trustees, board members and managers of religious institutions and commercial places. Kumar said the Sri Lanka experience revealed that many people went ...
US-led 2017 blitz on Syria's Raqa killed 1,600 civilians: Report
Intensive US-led coalition bombardment on the Syrian city of Raqa killed more than 1,600 civilians over four months in 2017, according to a report released on Thursday. The findings were compiled after months of field research and extensive data analysis, including via a project that saw 3,000 digital activists scan satellite imagery online. In mid-2017, Raqa had been the de facto Syria capital of the Islamic State group's cross-border "caliphate" for three years and the US-led coalition launched a military campaign to crush the jihadists in their main remaining hub. The unprecedented investigation, carried out by Amnesty International and the Airwars monitoring group, urged top coalition members to show more transparency and accountability. "Many of the air bombardments were inaccurate and tens of thousands of artillery strikes were indiscriminate," said Donatella Rovera, crisis response advisor at Amnesty. The civilian death toll for the coalition campaign, which supported ...
Lanka still faced possible terror attacks; authorities now focussing on 'sleepers': PM
Sri Lanka still faced more attacks and authorities were now targeting "sleepers" -- terrorists who could activate to initiate another round of bombings, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned Thursday. Facing public criticism for not acting against Islamist extremist groups in the island nation, Wickremesinghe said some of the suspected attackers responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings were being monitored by the country's intelligence services. But authorities did not have "sufficient" evidence to place the suspected attackers in custody prior to the attacks, he said. Authorities have accused the little-known National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) of carrying out the devastating blasts that tore through three Catholic churches and three luxury hotels on the Easter Sunday, killing over 350 people, including 11 Indians and injuring nearly 500 others. After the country's worst terror attacks, the prime minister has acknowledged that he was not privy to prior intelligence inputs about ...