Page 157 - War Conflict
AFSPA withdrawn from 3 districts of Arunachal: Sources
Armed Force (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from three districts of Arunachal Pradesh, sources from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Tuesday.According to sources, the law and order situation in six districts of Arunachal Pradesh was reviewed before March 31 for the validity of the 'disturbed area' designation under AFSPA.Arunachal Pradesh has nine districts where AFSPA was in action before the withdrawal of the same from three of them.The AFSPA grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in 'disturbed areas'. According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976, once declared 'disturbed', the area has to maintain the status quo for a minimum of three months.Earlier in the day, the Congress party released its manifesto ahead of the impending polls in which included a promise to amend the AFSPA.
Congress manifesto promises to bring revamp in laws, plans to quash sedition, amend AFSPA
The Congress manifesto released on Tuesday promised significant changes in the laws, like quashing of the Sedition law and amendment to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).The manifesto proposed to decriminalise laws that are essentially directed against civil violations and can be subjected to civil penalties. The laws include the sedition law and defamation."Omit Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code and make 'defamation' a civil offence. Omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (that defines the offence of 'sedition') that has been misused and, in any event, has become redundant because of subsequent laws," the manifesto proposed."Sedition is a colonial-era law. Many eminent people have said that sedition must go. Sedition is no safeguard at all. It must go because it has become redundant due to subsequent laws," Chidambaram said while announcing the manifesto.The manifesto further proposed, "Amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in order to strike a balance .
Congress manifesto promises to revamp laws, plans to quash sedition, amend AFSPA
The Congress manifesto released on Tuesday promised significant changes in the laws, like quashing of the Sedition law and amendment to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).The manifesto proposed to decriminalise laws that are essentially directed against civil violations and can be subjected to civil penalties. The laws include the sedition law and defamation."Omit Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code and make 'defamation' a civil offence. Omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (that defines the offence of 'sedition') that has been misused and, in any event, has become redundant because of subsequent laws," the manifesto proposed."Sedition is a colonial-era law. Many eminent people have said that sedition must go. Sedition is no safeguard at all. It must go because it has become redundant due to subsequent laws," Chidambaram said while announcing the manifesto.The manifesto further proposed, "Amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in order to strike a balance .
Pandemonium at PM rally venue; chairs hurled, police
Pandemonium broke out at the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally here Tuesday where police lathi charged to quell two groups of people who came to blows and hurled chairs at each other. Police said, nobody was arrested in connection with the incident that took place before Modi arrived at the venue, though Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan were on the dais. The people on both sides appeared to be NDA supporters as they were raising slogans in support of the prime minister, the sources said. While a majority of the troublemakers fell silent after the police used force, the more unruly ones were whisked away out of the venue, the sources added.
Will boost border security, says Congress in manifesto
To boost border security, the Congress on Tuesday promised to increase the strength of border guarding forces, construct integrated border outposts and accelerate the construction of roads along India-China and India-Myanmar borders.
Cong's manifesto pack of lies: Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Tuesday dubbed the Congress's election manifesto a "pack of lies" and said it was an insult to the country's people and its brave soldiers. In a statement, he hit out at the opposition party over its promise to repeal Section 124A (sedition law) and review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, saying it is bringing a smile to terrorists and separatists while lowering the morale of the armed forces. Repealing the sedition law will lead to chanting of slogans like "Bharat tere tukde honge" (India will break into pieces) by anti-national gang instead of "Bharat mata ki jai" (Hail Mother India) under the Congress rule, he claimed. "Removing AFSPA will snath armed forces' weapon to attack terrorists," Shah added.
BSF DG condoles death of personnel in ceasefire violation, assures support to troops
Paying tribute to Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector T Alex Lalminlun who lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Poonch, Director General (DG) BSF RK Mishra on Thursday extended support to the troops.Mishra, who lent a shoulder to the mortal remains of the BSF jawan, told reporters here, "It's an unfortunate incident. The message to the troops is that don't get demoralised, we are solidly behind you.""It is unfortunate that Pakistan is targeting the civilians. However, we are retaliating very strongly and efficiently," he added.Lalminlun and a five-year-old girl were killed in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Mankote and Krishna Ghati sectors of Poonch. Moreover, a total of five security personnel were injured in the attack.According to the officials, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by firing mortar shells and small arms along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch.
Taliban commander among 12 killed in Afghanistan
A dozen militants including Taliban key commander Mawlawi Hussain were killed in Qaisar district of Afghanistan's Faryab province on Tuesday, Army officials said.
Millions of pilgrims travel to Shiite shrine in Iraqi capital
Several million Muslims have travelled to the shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim in Baghdad in recent days to commemorate the revered Shiite figure's death, an Iraqi official said Tuesday. "More than five million pilgrims" have flocked to the glittering shrine from other parts of Iraq as well as the Gulf, Iran, India and Pakistan since Friday, according to Adi al-Kazmi, an official at the site. Many had travelled hundreds of kilometres on foot, by horse or even on camels over several days, caught outside in heavy thunderstorms that hit Iraq at the weekend. Authorities had sealed off many of Baghdad's thoroughfares in recent days to allow pilgrims to reach the shrine, which is located in the city's northern Kadhimiyah neighbourhood. The site features an intricately-designed mosque and includes Imam Kadhim's double-domed mausoleum. Musa al-Kadhim, the seventh of 12 imams venerated by Shiite Muslims, died in 799 while in detention by Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid. His death is commemorated ..
Sri Lankan Court extends remand of 8 Indian fishermen till April 7
Kayts Court in Sri Lanka has extended the remand of 8 fishermen from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu till April 7.The fishermen were arrested and imprisoned by the Sri Lankan Navy after their boat met with an accident on January 13.Straying of Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen into each others' waters is a recurrent problem as territories on the sea are not clearly demarcated.In January this year, Sri Lankan Navy reportedly apprehended nine fishermen near the shore of the Delft Island. The body of a 55-year-old Rameswaram fisherman was recovered by the Sri Lanka Navy during a dedicated rescue mission to locate a group of distressed Indian fishermen near the Delft Island.Last year in October, at least five Indian fishermen belonging to Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy from Neduntheevu in northern Sri Lanka, following which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to secure the release of fishermen ...
Blast wounds three at Russian military academy: defence ministry
A blast caused by an unidentified explosive device wounded three Tuesday at a military academy in Russia's northwestern city of Saint Petersburg, the RIA Novosti state news agency reported, citing the defence ministry. "An explosion of an unidentified explosive device took place around 1:30 pm (1030 GMT), in Saint Petersburg in staff premises of an administrative building at the Mozhaisky academy," the ministry said in a statement. It described the device as lacking casing, meaning that it was not a military device such as a mortar shell. Three people received non-life-threatening injuries and were receiving medical treatment, it added. Initial reports said that four cadets were injured in the blast. Police had sealed off the area around the academy, an AFP journalist saw, and cadets and staff were leaving the grounds. Fire engines were also driving out of the gates. A cadet who gave her name only as Natalya said "We are being evacuated." An emergency services official told RIA ...
Miscreants loot Rs 3 lakh from man in Bihar
Three motorcycle-borne miscreants looted Rs 3 lakh from a man in Bihar's East Champaran district on Tuesday, police said. The man runs a bank's customer service point (CSP) at Dilawarpur village, the police said. The incident occurred near Dilawarpur High School under the jurisdiction of Kesariya police station when the man was on his way to the CSP at the village, the officer-in-charge of Kesariya police station, Kanchan Bhaskar, said. Three bike-borne miscreants stopped the man's motorbike and snatched a bag containing Rs 3 lakh from him, Bhaskar said, adding, Kumar was on his way to the village after withdrawing money from an ATM at Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur district. They also took his laptop and mobile phone, the police officer said. An investigation has been initiated, he said.
US special envoy for Afghan peace visits Kabul
US special envoy for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad visited the Afghan capital and exchanged views with the country's leadership, the media reported on Tuesday.
11 go on trial for Saint Petersburg metro bombing
Eleven people accused of helping organise a 2017 attack on the Saint Petersburg metro that left 15 dead went on trial Tuesday in a military court in the northwestern Russian city. A bomb went off on a train in the metro injuring almost 70 more people. Alleged perpetrator Akbarjon Djalilov, a 22-year-old from the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, also died in the blast two years ago this month. Ten of the defendants are alleged to have acted as the bomber's accomplices, including by providing him with explosives and false documents. One more man, Abror Azimov, is accused of being "one of the organisers" of the attack. Investigators say that Azimov and his brother Akram, also on trial, were in contact with a Turkey-based terrorist group that financed the bombing. Sitting in the court's glass cage for defendants, the group was able to exchange a few words with the media before the start of the trial. "I am innocent," said Shokhista Karimova, a 47-year-old fruit seller from Uzbekistan .
Chinese ships surround disputed island, Philippines files diplomatic protest
The Philippines government has filed a strong protest against China as hundreds of Chinese vessels were seen near a Philippines-administered island in the South China Sea.CNN quoted Jason Ramon, chief of public affairs for the Philippine military's western command, as saying that at least 275 Chinese ships and boats have been spotted this year around Thitu Island, also known as Pag-asa Island in the Philippines.Stating that Chinese ships "come and go" from the area, armed forces spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said that it is difficult to know the number of ships around the island at any one time."The information that we got is, the more likely intention is to establish their presence in the area," he said.Zhao Jianhua, China's ambassador to the Philippines explained that Beijing was trying to verify and quantify the number of vessels around Thitu. He further stated that the said ships might be "unarmed" fishing vessels.Thitu Island is a disputed territory. Several countries including ...
EVM commissioning underway for phase-1 Bengal polls
Almost half of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) have been commissioned for the first phase polling in West Bengal on April 11, an official said on Tuesday.
Burkina local power struggle leaves eight dead: minister
Eight people have died in eastern Burkina Faso in what a minister described as a struggle between traditional chiefs, a statement said on Tuesday. "A group of gunmen from villages along the border with Burkina and Ghana attacked the home of the traditional chief of Zoaga," said a statement by Simeon Sawadogo, minister for territorial administration. The attack occurred early on Monday in Zoaga, an area which lies on Burkina's border with Ghana, about 250 kilometres (140 miles) southeast of the capital, Ouagadougou. "This attack unfortunately killed eight people and wounded four," he added, in the latest "twist in a crisis that has rocked the areas traditional chiefdom for some time." The attackers looted and burned shops in a local market before fleeing towards the border, as security forces fanned out to find them. In late January, a clash between rival local factions killed three people, including a former village mayor. Intercommunal violence in Burkina has made it harder for the ..
New Zealand's new gun law passes first hurdle
A new legislation on gun restrictions following the Christchurch shootings passed its first hurdle in New Zealand's Parliament on Tuesday.
HC declines to hear PILs for better weapons to police and fire engines at public places
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to entertain two PILs by an NGO which wanted deployment of fire engines at all major public places and providing "anti-terrorist vehicles" and better weapons to the police to ensure safety and security of the city's residents. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani dimissed the pleas saying the reliefs sought for are part of the administrative work of the authorities and the court was not going to interfere in that. "These are administrative matters. We are not interfering. Dismissed," the court said. The order came on two pleas moved by NGO Anti Corruption Council of India through its chairman Hussain Mueen Farooq. The NGO had contended that it was the need of the hour to deploy fire engines at all major public places and hospitals to ensure faster response to any incident of fire in the national capital. Delhi government additional standing counsel Anjum Javed opposed the plea saying it was not possible to grant the
Top Maoist commander, two others arrested in Telangana
The state police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested a top Maoist battalion commander along with two others.Talking to ANI over the phone, Sunil Dutt, Superintendent of Police (SP), said: "On Monday, we arrested three Maoists S Soma, M Hidma and Mohammed Qader."Dutt said: "S Soma was a very active member of the CPI Maoist and also a commander of military action battalion.""Soma has also participated in many operations against the security forces and was also recently involved in an encounter with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel," said Dutt."M Hidma was also an active member of the Maoist party and worked as a supplier to the party. Mohammed Qader has footwear and hardware shops in the border area of Telangana and Chhattisgarh," he said.According to SP, Qader has been supplying explosives, uniforms and other things to the Maoists for the past couple of years.Police said a case has been registered against them under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Court (IPC) ...