Page 177 - War Conflict
One of 7 kidnapped Indians returns home from Afghanistan
Ten months after being kidnapped in Afghanistan's Baghlan province, one of the seven Indian nationals has safely returned to India, the External Affairs Ministry said Monday. It said India continued to work closely with the Afghan government for the safe and early return of the remaining six Indian nationals. "We are grateful to Government of Afghanistan for their support in securing the release and repatriation of the Indian national," the MEA said. The seven Indian engineers were kidnapped by Taliban militants in the restive northern Baghlan province on May 6 last year. The Indian engineers of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for the construction of a power sub-station in the country. India has been carrying reconstruction activities in the war-torn country. It has already provided at least USD 2 billion aid to Afghanistan.
Paris police chief sacked after Champs-Elysees rioting
The French government sacked the top police official in Paris on Monday following another weekend of rioting in the capital during "yellow vest" protests which have put President Emmanuel Macron on the defensive. The police's failure to keep the Paris protests from spiralling out of control over the weekend again cast a harsh spotlight on their tactics. About 5,000 police were deployed in the capital on Saturday, far outnumbering the several hundred black-clad rioters who caused havoc in front of groups of often passive policemen for more than seven hours on the famed Champs-Elysees. Business owners were left fuming Monday, as Macron cut short his skiing holiday to meet top ministers to discuss the 18th consecutive Saturday of "yellow vest" demonstrations. "The events of last Saturday, in particular on the Champs-Elysees, were unacceptable and the president asked the government to provide a response that was up to the needs of the situation," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said in a .
Myanmar military fights rebels among ancient Rakhine temples
Fighting between Myanmar's military and ethnic Rakhine insurgents has now reached the ancient temples of Mrauk U, the former capital of the Rakhine kingdom and a popular tourist site, local residents said Monday. Rakhine state in Myanmar's west is riven with ethnic and religious divisions. It came under the global spotlight after the bloody 2017 army crackdown that forced some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims over the border into Bangladesh. But now the army is waging war against the Arakan Army (AA), an insurgent group fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, a population that also stands accused of aiding the military in their expulsion of the Rohingya. Several thousand people have been displaced by the spreading violence which has neared the state capital Sittwe and has now engulfed the town of Mrauk U. "We've been hearing gunshots and heavy artillery fire since about 7:30pm," local historian Khin Than told AFP by phone on Monday evening, adding that she saw soldiers ...
Taliban capture 58 Afghan security forces: defence ministry
The Taliban have captured 58 Afghan border soldiers, the defence ministry said Monday, after days of fighting which saw dozens of troops briefly chased into neighbouring Turkmenistan in the latest blow to beleaguered security forces. The ministry statement came after reports of days of fighting in Bala Marghab district of Badghis province, in northwestern Afghanistan near the border with Turkmenistan. "Unfortunately, 58 BSS (border security soldiers) are captured by the enemies," a defence ministry tweet said Monday, adding "Search Ops will continue until we release them". The ministry also said that 58 BSS had "returned home from Turkmenistan". A spokesman speaking in a video posted with the tweet said they were "back on duty", however. Earlier this week Jamshid Shahabi, the Badghis provincial governor spokesman, said that some security forces had "tactically retreated" across the border into Turkmenistan. He said the fighting had been going on for 10 days, with 13 security forces ...
1 CRPF jawan killed, 6 injured in Chhattisgarh Naxal attack
A CRPF jawan was killed and six others were injured in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district Monday evening, police said. The attack took place at around 5 pm when a team of CRPF's 231st battalion was on an area domination operation from its Kamal post towards Kondapara village under the Aranapur police station area, Deputy Inspector General (anti- naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI. When the patrolling team was advancing through the forest just 200 meters away from the post, a group of armed rebels triggered an IED blast and opened indiscriminate firing on them, setting off a gun-battle, he said. However, the Naxals fled when CRPF jawans launched a fierce retaliatory action, the IPS officer said. "Head constable Shashikant Tiwari was killed, while six others - head constable Praveen Kumar Singh, constables Sumit Kumar, M Harikirhsnan, Jitendra Singh Tomar, Muthu Krishnan and Pandav Kumar, sustained injuries in the attack," Sundarraj added. On being alerted about the
Utrecht tram shooting: Police confirm 3 killed, several injured
Three people were killed, while several others were injured during a shooting inside a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday, the police confirmed.The Utrecht police took to Twitter saying, "The picture at present is that there are 3 dead and 5 injured. # 24oktoberplein #utrecht"The police are looking for a 37-year-old Turkish man named as Gokmen Tanis and have warned people not to approach him but immediately call the tracking number 0800-6070 once anybody sights him."National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) is monitoring the situation in #Utrecht. In close contact with local authorities. We cannot rule out the terrorist motive. The crisis team is activated," co-ordinator Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg tweeted.Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who dubbed the incident as "deeply disturbing," said in a statement, "Our country was startled today by an attack in Utrecht. The police and the Public Prosecution Service are investigating what exactly happened.""What is now ...
J-K DGP asks cops to get well prepared for LS polls
DGP Dilbagh Singh Monday asked policemen to be prepared for the Lok Sabha elections as the responsibilities of all the forces have increased. To assess police preparedness for the upcoming polls, Singh visited Bandipora and interacted with police personnel and the Central Para Military Forces. Singh, while interacting with police and other CAPFs personnel deployed in the district, emphasised upon them to remain vigilant for the upcoming general elections. He said with the announcement of schedule for the elections, responsibilities of all the forces have increased and we have to focus on the security measures, besides maintaining the law and order. "Policemen should get well prepared for the elections," he said. The director general of police said J-K Police, along with other forces, had put in efforts to conduct local bodies and panchayat polls in the state smoothly and now we have to remain vigilant and prepared for the Lok Sabha elections. Emphasising for better police public ...
Gunman kills 3 in attack on tram in Dutch city (3rd Lead)
A gunman killed three people and injured nine when he opened fire aboard a tram in a square to the west of the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday in what authorities described as a possible terror attack, officials said.
6 killed in poll violence in Bangladesh
Six people, including a presiding officer, were shot dead on Monday by unidentified gunmen in Bangladesh's southeastern hills on the second phase of a nationwide sub-district polls, police said. Eight others, including some policemen, were injured in the shootings at Baghaichhari sub-district headquarters in Rangamati district. "The presiding officer and five others were killed as they were returning to (Baghaichhari) sub-district with ballot boxes after the voting concluded at a remote polling centre there," a police official said. Rangamati's police chief Alamgir Kabir said the group came under attack in Noymile area. He added police were yet to track down the miscreants. The southeastern hill tracts in recent years witnessed re-emergence of violence attributed to factional feuds among the local tribal outfits after a landmark 1997 peace agreement drew an end to a two-decade long insurgency demanding autonomy of ethnic minority groups.
China terms Mumbai attacks as one of the "most notorious" terrorist attacks
In a rare acknowledgment, China Monday described the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by Pakistan-based LeT terror outfit as one of "the most notorious terrorist attacks". In a white paper on its massive crackdown against militants in the restive Xianjiang province, China said the global spread of terrorism and extremism over the years had inflicted agony on humanity. The paper described the Mumbai terror attacks as one of "the most notorious terrorist attacks", adding that the "global spread of terrorism and extremism over the years has inflicted agony on humanity". The release of the paper titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang", interestingly coincided with Pakistan Foreign Minister's Shah Mehmood Qureshi's visit to China. Throughout the world, terrorism and extremism gravely threaten peace and development, and endanger the life and property of individuals, said the white paper released by China's State Council Information ...
Man shot dead by militants in J-K's Pulwama
A 25-year-old man was shot dead by militants Monday in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said. They fired upon Mohsin Wani near his residence in Reshipora area of Tral in the south Kashmir district, he said. Wani succumbed to injuries while he was being taken to a hospital, the official said. Police have cordoned off the area and a hunt has been launched to nab the assailants, he said.
Chhattisgarh: 1 CRPF jawan killed, 4 others injured in IED blast in Dantewada
One CRPF jawan died and four others were injured in an IED blast in an exchange of fire with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Monday.Troops of 231 Battalion of CRPF along with the state police were carrying out the road security duty during which a blast hit them, which was followed by firing from Naxals between Kondapara and Kamal posts in which the jawans got injured, said P Sundarraj, DIG, Anti-Naxal Operations.The injured are being evacuated by the chopper to Raipur. Further details are awaited.
Maoists kill CRPF trooper, injured five
A CRPF Head Constable was killed and five other troopers were injured on Monday when Maoists exploded an IED (improvised explosive device) and opened fire in Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh, officials said.
Utrecht tram shooting: 1 feared dead, PM Rutte calls situation "very worrying"
At least one person was feared dead and several others injured after a terrorist fired gunshots inside a tram in Utrecht city of the Netherlands on Monday, police said.Authorities raised the terrorist threat to its highest level in Utrecht. Schools were told to shut their doors and paramilitary police increased security at airports and other vital infrastructure.Security was also stepped up at mosques. Police launched an anti-terror squad to investigate the incident considering "a possible motif of terrorism."Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who had to interrupt a weekly cabinet meeting to monitor the shooting situation, dubbed the incident as "very worrying."Local media said air medical services were sent to the accident site immediately after the shooting was reported around 10:45 am.Tram operations in the city came to a halt and people were asked to stay away from the site at October 24 Square.The suspected gunman escaped in a car."A shooting occurred on the 24 Oktoberplein in ...
Six CRPF troops injured in Naxal ambush in Chhattisgarh
Six CRPF jawans were injured in an ambush by naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Monday, officials said. A team of the 231st battalion of the CRPF, along with a state police unit, was out on road security duty in the district's Aranpur area when an IED exploded and they were fired upon by Maoists, they said. Six personnel of the CRPF were injured in the blast and firing that took place around 4:30 pm near the Kamal post of the paramilitary force in Dantewada district, a senior official said. He said the injured troops are being taken for treatment by helicopter.
Six CRPF personnel injured in Maoist attack
Six CRPF troopers were injured on Monday when Maoists exploded an IED (improvised explosive device) and opened fire in Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh, officials said.
China says 13,000 "terrorists" held in restive Xinjiang
China said Monday it had arrested about 13,000 "terrorists" in a massive crackdown against militants in the volatile Uygur Muslim-majority Xinjiang region since 2014, denying criticism that Beijing is "buying" silence of the Muslim world with heavy investments in Pakistan and other Islamic countries. China has faced mounting criticism for the detention of thousands of Uygur Muslims in massive "education camps". "Since 2014, Xinjiang has destroyed 1,588 violent and terrorist gangs, arrested 12,995 terrorists, seized 2,052 explosive devices, punished 30,645 people for 4,858 illegal religious activities, and confiscated 345,229 copies of illegal religious materials," a white paper released Monday said. It said that some areas in Xinjiang were severely disturbed by terrorism and the infiltration of religious extremism. "For this reason, some people cannot speak, read or write in standard Chinese, have a weak understanding of rule of law, and have difficulty finding employment through a ...
One dead in possible terror attack on Dutch tram
A gunman opened fire on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday, killing at least one person and wounding several in what officials said was a possible terrorist incident. A body covered in a sheet was reportedly seen on the tracks as armed police and emergency services swarmed around the scene in one of the largest cities in the Netherlands. Police said the attacker was still on the run after the incident. "A shooting occurred on the 24 Oktoberplein in Utrecht... Multiple people have been injured. The surrounding area has been cordoned off and we are investigating the matter," Utrecht police said on Twitter. "It is a shooting incident in a tram. Several trauma helicopters have been deployed to provide help." Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte cancelled a meeting with his ruling coalition and was being briefed on the situation, officials said. Police later said that "a possible terrorist motive is part of the investigation". The head of the Dutch national counter-terrorism service,
Filing of nominations begins in Uttarakhand
The filing of nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections began in Uttarakhand on Monday.
Central forces conduct route march in the city
Central forces conducted route march in various parts of the city on Monday as part of area domination and confidence building measure among the people ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. A contingent of central forces along with officials of Kolkata police conducted route march in various parts of north Kolkata. Ten companies of central paramilitary forces had arrived in the state since Friday and are conducting flag marches in different parts of Kolkata and elsewhere before the seven-phase polls in the state beginning on April 11. On Saturday during their route march the central forces personnel knocked at the doors of the people and assuring them not to be afraid of hooligans. The ruling Trinamool Congress Sunday said the central paramilitary personnel should not "terrorise" the people in the "name of making them feel safe and secure". The BJP has alleged that TMC is afraid that due to presence of central forces their plans to rig the polls might fall flat.