Page 135 - War Conflict
Poll, security staff reach polling stations in J&K
Heavy deployment of security forces has been made in Udhampur and Srinagar Lok Sabha constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir to secure polling stations and ensure free and fair polling on Thursday.
Militants fire grenade at CRPF camp in Pulwama; one jawan injured
Militants fired a grenade at a CRPF camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Wednesday injuring a personnel of the force, officials said. They said an under-barrel grenade launcher bullet was fired at the Tral-based camp of the 180th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force. A CRPF jawan guarding the camp has been injured, they added. Further details are awaited.
Home guard killed by Naxals in Bijapur district of C'garh
A home guard was killed by suspected Naxals in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said. Raju Ram Gode (35) was attacked with sharp-edged weapons when he had gone to collect Mahua flowers from the forest near his village Wednesday morning, an official said. The area falls under Nelasnar police station limits, around 450 km from Raipur. A native of Bodli village, Gode, posted in Bijpaur, had been suspended for remaining absent from duty for the last four-five months, the police official said. It was not clear why he was killed as no Maoist pamphlet or note was recovered from the spot, the official said, adding that efforts were on to track down the assailants.
Reuters reporters not among 9,500 prisoners granted amnesty in Myanmar
Myanmar started releasing more than 9,500 prisoners on Wednesday as part of its annual amnesty marking the country's traditional new year, but Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo will not be included, said an NGO advocating for political prisoners. President Win Myint announced in a statement Wednesday the pardons were granted on humanitarian grounds during the Buddhist new year festival known as Thingyan. A total of 16 foreign prisoners are expected to be pardoned and deported, while 9,535 local prisoners are expected to be freed, Win Myint said. But an NGO that helps political prisoners said the release will not include Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The duo were sentenced to seven years under the Official Secrets Act after reporting on the military's atrocities committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority in strive-torn Rakhine state -- work which they received a Pulitzer prize for on Monday. "They will not be included. We got this information from an Insein
Polls: 41,000 central forces personnel to be deployed in WB over multiple phases
A massive contingent of 41,000 paramilitary personnel will be deployed in politically crucial West Bengal during the remaining six phases of Lok Sabha polls in the state which has often seen violence during elections, officials said. This is the maximum number of central security forces ever deployed in the state for the general elections, they said. Officials in the central security establishment said a "massive mobilisation" of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) is being made. The state sends 42 Lok Sabha MPs. Elections to two constituencies was held in phase one on April 11, while three seats will go to polls on Thursday in the second phase. The state will have seven-phase polls. About 41,000 personnel drawn from the central pool, as part of 400 companies, will be deployed gradually in West Bengal till the last and seventh phase of voting on May 19, they said. Officials said the build up in the numbers of the central forces is evident from the first phase of polls in the state
Why were demonetisation 'scams' not probed: Congress
The Congress on Wednesday described demonetisation as the "biggest scam" of the country and alleged that it "may have helped criminals to monetise by looting the treasury and the poor".
Cong releases fresh 'post-note ban videos', accuses govt of 'protecting' those who 'looted' treasury
The Congress Wednesday accused the Modi government of "protecting" those involved in illegal exchange of money post-demonetisation by not ordering a probe on video tapes released by the party, even as it put forth another set of clips showing people involved in the "loot" claiming proximity to the powers-that-be. Senior party leader Kapil Sibal asked why the "chowkidar" (the watchman) was "asleep" when all this happened. He alleged the absence of any investigation into the videos given as "proof" indicated that "those involved in this loot are being protected". Prime Minister often refers to himself as "chowkidar" (the watchman) emphasising his tough stand on corruption. "It now appears that the decision to demonetise may have helped criminals to monetise by looting the treasury and the poor," Sibal claimed. Those who have collaborated with corruption cannot pretend to be clean, he told a press conference, where he played the fresh videos purportedly showing how huge amount of money ..
UN finds torture, ill-treatment in Afghan prisons
A UN report says around a third of all conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan report being subjected to torture or ill-treatment. UN officials interviewed a total of 618 detainees held in 77 facilities across the country between January 2017 and December 2018. The alleged torture included suffocation, electric shocks, pulling of genitals and suspension from ceilings. The UN mission to Afghanistan and the U.N. Human Rights Office released the joint report on Wednesday. The US-backed Afghan government is holding thousands of detainees, many of them captured as part of the ongoing war with the Taliban. The Taliban have made major gains in recent years and now effectively control half the country. Widespread corruption and distrust of the government has undermined efforts to combat the insurgency.
Lankan Prez Sirisena visits Tirumala
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is currently on a private visit to Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh to offer prayers at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara Swamy.The Sri Lankan President, accompanied by wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari, other family members and some of the Sri Lankan government officials, landed at Renigunta Airport, 20 kilometres from Tirumala, on Tuesday noon, The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) reported.Sirisena is scheduled to visit and offer prayers to the Lord Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala on Wednesday, an official told the Sri Lankan daily.He had visited the temple in August 2016 and February 2015, and this would be his third visit. The President would also take part in the 'Suprabhatha' ritual at the Tirumala temple, the official added.The President will fly to Bangalore after offering prayers.
New Zealand disarms police as terror threat level lowered
New Zealand police on Wednesday ended the routine arming of frontline officers as the terrorism threat level was lowered a month after the Christchurch mosques massacre. Police and security agencies reduced the threat level from high to medium, meaning authorities judge that another attack, violent criminal behaviour, or violent protest remains "feasible" rather than "very likely". The level is still higher than it was before the March 15 attacks, when the threat was deemed to be "low". Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said "there is no current specific threat", but the security agencies believed the medium level "accurately reflects our current status". Frontline New Zealand police have historically not carried firearms and many people were shocked to see them heavily armed after 50 Muslims were gunned down while at Friday prayers. Police commissioner Mike Bush said with the easing of the security threat level, the police had reassessed their position on arming frontline staff and the ..
At least 6 injured in clash over property dispute in Kairana
A clash broke out between people of the same community in the Kairana town of Shamli district here over some property dispute, leaving at least six injured, police said Wednesday. Police said the they have registered a case against 17 people including two members of the Nagar Panchayat -- Mursalin, Furkan -- and an ex-member named Gayyur Hassan. The trouble started when Mohsin and Mursalin entered into an argument over dispute about a shop. The argument turned into a violent clash between the people there, police said. They said at least six people were injured in the clash. The case is being investigated, police said.
150 Indian peacekeepers in S Sudan awarded medal of honour for dedicated service
A total of 150 Indian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have received medals of honour for their dedicated service and sacrifice. A glimpse beyond the dedicated Service and Sacrifice of the @UN blue beret - Indian peacekeepers receive medals of honour in Malakal -@India Be Proud, the UN mission tweeted Monday, along with pictures of the Indian peacekeepers participating in a parade and receiving the medals for their exemplary service. The medals were given to the 150 Indian peacekeepers serving in UNMISS in Malakal during a ceremony filled with parades and performances by a piped band. Colonel Amit Gupta, deployed with UNMISS in Malakal, was among the recipients of the medal of honour. A UNMISS news article said Gupta commands a battalion of 850 soldiers in the Upper Nile region of South Sudan. Under his command, his men have conducted highly sought-after veterinary camps and run a veterinary hospital in Malakal, with a second expected to be completed in
Libya: Death toll climbs, 4 more people killed in latest strikes
The death toll mounted, as the latest round of shelling by forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar, killed four more people and injured 23 people here on Tuesday. The death toll now stands at 125 people deceased.Quoting local media, Sputnik reported that three homes were destroyed by surface to surface missiles launched from southern Tripoli.The World Health Organization had previously said that at least 121 people were killed while scores of others were injured ever since clashes broke out between Haftar's Libyan National Army and the Libyan armed forces.Libya has been largely divided into two factions ever since the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The LNA-backed parliament controlled the east of Libya, while the UN-backed interim Government of National Accord (GNA) governs Libya's western region from Tripoli.Haftar announced an attack against Tripoli on April 4 to capture the capital and the entire west of Libya from the GNA, headed by United Nations-backed Prime Minister Fayez ...
Radioactive material possibly moved at N Korean facility: US think tank
Satellite imagery from last week may indicate the movement of radioactive material at North Korea's main nuclear facility Yongbyon nuclear site, according to a US think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies."In the past, these specialized railcars appear to have been associated with the movement of radioactive material or reprocessing campaigns," the think tank said, according to Yonhap News Agency."The current activity, along with their configurations, does not rule out their possible involvement in such activity, either before or after a reprocessing campaign," they added.Taken on April 12, the imagery shows five specialized railcars near the facility and the radiochemistry laboratory at the Yongbyon nuclear site, the US-based group stated.Yongbyon is the very same nuclear site North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had offered to dismantle in exchange of sanctions waivers during the second US-North Korea summit in Vietnam with US President Donald Trump. The US rejected the .
At least two dead after rockets hit Tripoli: emergency services
At least two civilians were killed late Tuesday as a number of rockets struck parts of Tripoli, emergency services said in the Libyan capital. Another four people were injured, said a spokesman for the emergency services, Osama Ali, who described the toll as still only "preliminary." The explosions followed an offensive launched earlier this month by strongman Khalifa Haftar to take Tripoli. At least seven powerful explosions rocked the city centre. Shortly afterward, witnesses said, columns of smoke were seen above the district of Abu Salim in the south of the city, which was hit by a number of rockets. It is the first time that the centre of Tripoli has been hit in the clashes which tend to calm down during night time. No groups had yet claimed responsibility for the rocket strikes. At least 174 people have been killed and 758 injured, including civilians, since Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) launched its offensive on April 4, according to figures from the World ...
Jihadists could enter Italy as refugees from Libya: PM
Rome, April 16 (IANS/AKI) The risk of foreign fighters arriving in Italy among an influx of refugees from Libya is alarming the populist government, which is seeking to halt the escalating warfare in the chaos-hit North African country, Premier Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday.
UN says fighting over Libya's capital has displaced 18,000
Recent clashes between rival Libyan militias for control of the capital Tripoli have displaced more than 18,000 people, the UN said, and prompted the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to warn Tuesday that she could investigate and possibly prosecute new offenses. The self-styled Libyan National Army, aligned with a rival government in the east, launched a major military offensive on April 5 to take Tripoli, igniting clashes with rival militias allied with the UN-backed government. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, who was already investigating crimes in Libya, said in a statement that she is "deeply concerned" about the escalation of violence and called on military commanders to prevent war crimes. She said she "will not hesitate to expand my investigations and potential prosecutions to cover any new instances of crimes falling within the Court's jurisdiction". UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York on Monday that the International Organisation for Migration ...
SDM 'manhandled' by soldiers in J-K; Mehbooba, Shah Faesal demand action
A sub-divisional magistrate was allegedly manhandled by some soldiers in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, following which PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal demanded action against the erring army personnel. SDM Dooru Ghulam Rasool Wani was on his way to Qazigund when his official vehicle was stopped by army soldiers, officials said. They said Wani entered into an argument with the soldiers, insisting that his vehicle be allowed to pass as he was on duty. However, the soldiers allegedly assaulted the officer. A defence spokesman here said details of the incident are being ascertained. Meanwhile, Faesal took to Twitter demanding action against the "erring" soldiers. "News of physical assault on SDM Duroo by army is very shocking. If tru, DC/SSP Anantnag should immediately register an FIR and arrest the erring personnel," Faesal said. He hoped that "AFSPA won't come in the way of IPC/RPC and the action will be taken". Mufti lashed out at the .
DGP reviews security in JK's Kishtwar ahead of LS polls
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh Tuesday reviewed the security situation in Kishtwar district, where a prominent RSS leader was shot dead last week, and ordered strengthening of arrangements ahead of the April 18 polls. Kishtwar is part of the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency. "The DGP called for establishment of new Special Operation Group (SOG) camps, checking points and bunkers (pickets) in the district and advised all the security forces deployed in the district to work in coordination in order to neutralise militants," a police spokesperson said. Senior RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO were killed by a terrorist in Kishtwar district hospital on April 9, prompting imposition of curfew in the communally sensitive town and adjoining areas. Earlier on Tuesday, day curfew was lifted in Kishtwar. "Noose must be tightened around the militants and their over ground workers," Singh said. The DGP held meetings with officers to take stock of the preparedness
Omar appreciates Mehbooba's concern over Tral attack
National Conference (NC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday thanked Mehbooba Mufti, his political rival and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, for her concern about a grenade attack on NC's poll meeting in Tral town earlier in the day.