Page 192 - War Conflict
Security of all J-K based units stepped up: CISF
The CISF has beefed up security cover of all its units in Jammu and Kashmir and has provided additional bullet-proof armours to its troops in view of the enhanced alert in the state, a senior officer said Thursday. In Jammu and Kashmir, the CISF has "beefed up security cover of all the units" and troops have been provided with additional bullet proof jackets and vehicles, the force's Director General (DG) Rajesh Ranjan said. The CISF guards vital power installations in Bandipora and Uri near the Line of Control and the Power Grid Corporation station in Wagoora in Baramulla district. The force has also decided to procure 1,000 body-worn cameras and modern bullet-resistant jackets for its personnel deployed for airport security, operationalise a new system for fast and accurate scanning of passenger luggage and other smart intelligence tools for making air travel easy and smooth, Ranjan said. Body cameras are aimed to enhance CISF personnel and passenger interaction at airports. "We ...
Three TPC ultras killed in encounter with security forces
Three ultras of the banned Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Hazaribagh district on Thursday, police said. Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police Mayur Patel Kanhaiyalal said the encounter took place in a dense forest near Bundu under Keredari police station of Hazaribagh district, bordering Chatra district. Superintendent of Police (Operation) Nigam Prasad said that the 190th battalion of the CRPF and district police on a tip-off about the presence of TPC ultras rushed to the Tara forest. The ultras opened fire on the security personnel who returned the fire and in the encounter that followed three ultras were gunned down, Prasad said, The bodies of the three ultras recovered and the process of their identification was underway, he said, adding that two INSAS rifles, one AK-47 rifle and bullets were recovered from the encounter spot.
NDFB woman cadre held in Arunachal
Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh apprehended a woman cadre of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) on early Thursday. The cadre is a self-styled lance corporal of the outfit, Kohima-based Defence spokesman Colonel Chiranjit Konwer said in a statement here. The rebel was apprehended from Changlang district of the state when she tried to infiltrate into the Indian territory from Myanmar. The insurgent is the wife of Rebgan, self-styled home secretary of the NDFB, the spokesman said. She was handed over to police after interrogation.
Stop use of armed forces operations by parties to influence voters: Former Navy Chief to ECI
Former navy chief Admiral L Ramdas (Retd) has urged immediate intervention of the Election Commission in stopping political parties from using incidents like the Pulwama attack, Balakot strike and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's operations to influence the electorate. In an open letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, Admiral L Ramdas (Retd) expressed concerns on "recent instances" of parties using armed forces' heroics for political gains. "With elections due in a few weeks from now, it is particularly important that there should not be any misuse of these recent events by any political party to send triumphalist or jingoistic messages which can influence the electorate," he said. In his two-page letter, the former navy chief said the armed forces have always prided themselves on belonging to a structure, an ethos and an environment which have been both apolitical and secular. "And it is in this context that as a responsible citizen and a proud veteran of the ...
Mortar attack on major political gathering in Kabul kills three
A mortar attack on a large ceremony attended by Afghanistan's chief executive and other leading government figures in Kabul Thursday killed three people and injured 22 others, officials said. The attack claimed by the Islamic State group represents a major security breach and marks a resumption of violence in the capital after weeks of calm amid ongoing peace talks between the US and Taliban in Doha. "Stay calm, the area of the blast is far from us," said former lower house speaker Mohammad Younus Qanooni from the stage during a live broadcast of the outdoor event. But moments after the announcement, another explosion and gunfire could be heard that sent people running. A second unidentified voice then addressed the screaming crowd, saying: "I request my countrymen to stay calm. The mortar attack is far from the gathering." The blasts took place during a ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of the death of Shiite Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari that was attended by many of the ...
1 killed, 30 injured in Jammu blast, attacker arrested (Fourth Lead)
At least one person was killed and 30 others were injured on Thursday when a grenade flung under a parked bus by a militant exploded at Jammu's main bus stand. The attacker was arrested within hours.
5 killed in Somalia car bombing
At least five people were killed and three injured in a car bomb attack claimed by Al-Shabaab militant group in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday, the police said.
Indian Army contingent leaving for Oman for joint military exercise
A 60-member Indian Army contingent from the Udhampur-based Northern Command will leave for Oman next week for a joint military exercise, a defence official said Thursday. Northern Command General-Officer-Commanding-In-Chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh interacted with the contingent Thursday. The team is participating in the fortnight-long 'Al-Nagah III', the third in a series of bilateral army exercises between the two countries, the spokesman said. Lt Gen Singh said the exercise is scheduled to be held from March 12-March 25 at Jabel Al Akhdar mountains and it will see the two armies exchange expertise and experience in tactics, weapon-handling and firing. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability in antiterrorist operations in semiurban mountainous terrain, the spokesman said. The bilateral security ties have continued to develop since the beginning of India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation meetings in 2006, underscoring the strategic partnership between two important nations of Indian ..
3 dead in attack on Shia gathering in Kabul
At least three people were killed and another 22 were injured on Thursday after several rockets were fired at a gathering, reportedly attended by thousands of members of the Shia Muslim Hazara minority community, in the Afghan capital.
Three TPC ultras killed in encounter in Jharkhand
Three ultras of the banned Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) were killed in an encounter with security forces on the borders of Chatra and Hazaribagh districts Thursday, police said. Superintendent of Police (Operation) Nigam Prasad said that the 190th battalion of the CRPF and the Chatra district went to the Tara forest on a tip-off that that some ultras were present there. As the security forces entered the forest, the ultras fired at them. They security forces returned the fire and in the encounter that followed three ultras were killed, police said. All the bodies were recovered and the process of their identification was underway, he said, adding police were also ascertaining the exact district where the encounter took place. Two INSAS rifles, one AK-47 rifle and bullets were recovered from the encounter spot, he said.
Modi to attend CISF 50th Raising Day celebrations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 50th Raising Day celebrations of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Sunday, CISF Director General Rajesh Ranjan said on Thursday.
We are still seeking international ban on Pakistan despite ICC snub: COA chief Rai
Committee of Administrators (COA) chairman Vinod Rai Thursday said the BCCI is still seeking an ICC ban on countries that harbour terrorism despite a recent rejection but was non-committal on whether India will boycott Pakistan at the World Cup. At its board meeting in Dubai last week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) dismissed the BCCI's request to sever ties with countries from where terrorism emanates though the Indian Board did not make a specific reference to Pakistan. India and Pakistan are scheduled to play in the World Cup on June 16 and Rai said due process will be followed before the final decision is taken on boycotting the high-octane clash in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. "Let the time come. It is still four months away. We have expressed our concerns (over security) and they (ICC) said yes, 'security will be tightened' and everything else," said Rai after a COA meeting here. Rai insisted that the ICC has not shot down BCCI's request of banning Pakistan ...
Blasts in Kabul hit near ceremony attended by top officials
Several explosions struck Thursday outside a ceremony in Kabul attended by Afghanistan's chief executive and the former president, both of whom were unharmed, officials said. There was conflicting information as to the casualty figures in the immediate aftermath of the blasts. A short while later, Health Ministry official Mohaibullah Zaeer said an initial check of Kabul's hospitals revealed three people have been killed and 32 wounded in the attack but he said the figures were not final. Earlier, another official, who was at the ceremony, said seven people were killed and at least 10 were wounded. He spoke on condition of anonymity to talk to reporters. The different accounts on the casualties could not immediately be reconciled. There was also no claim of responsibility for the explosions. Nusrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the blasts were due to mortar shells being fired and that one person has been arrested. Rahimi declined to answer questions on ...
NIA team visits Jammu grenade blast site
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on Thursday reached Jammu's main bus stand where a grenade attack left one man dead and left 30 others injured.
JeM terrorist killed in encounter in J&K's Kupwara
A Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist from Pakistan was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kralgund area of Handwara in the north Kashmir district late Wednesday night following information about the presence of some terrorists in the area, a police official said. He said the cordon was maintained during the night and contact was established with them in the morning after the forces zeroed in on the location. There was an exchange of firing between the two sides, in which one terrorist was killed, the official said. He said the slain terrorist was identified as a Pakistani national, known as Anwar, who was affiliated to the JeM. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter, he added.
Militant killed in encounter in J&K's Kupwara
A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Kralgund area of Handwara in the north Kashmir district late Wednesday night following information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said. He said the cordon was maintained during the night and contact was established with the militants in the morning after the forces zeroed in on the location. There was an exchange of fire between the two sides in which one militant was killed, the official said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant was being ascertained. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of the encounter, he added.
Egypt says 7 militants killed in Cairo shootouts
Egypt's Interior Ministry says security forces have killed seven members of a militant group with suspected links to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo shootouts. The ministry says three militants were killed on a highway known as Ring Road in Cairo's district of Giza while the remaining four were killed in a firefight when police raided their hideout in the Egyptian capital's suburb of Sixth of October on Thursday morning. The ministry says weapons and ammunition were found among the militants' possession. A police officer was wounded. Egypt, which has been under a state of emergency since April 2017, has been battling Islamic militants for years. The insurgency gained strength after the 2013 overthrow of elected but divisive Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Militants mainly target security forces and minority Christians.
Landmines weighing 30 kgs recovered in Jharkhand
Police said it has recovered five landmines weighing 30 kg, planted by Maoists, in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Thursday.
Lanka PM Wickremesinghe, President Sirisena at loggerheads over war crime probes
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday appeared to be on collision course with President Maithripala Sirisena over Sri Lanka's commitment to the UNHRC on war-time atrocities against Tamils as he reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the UN resolution. The Prime Minister's Office in a joint statement with the Foreign Ministry on Thursday said Sri Lanka will continue to demonstrate its commitment and determination towards a steady and long-lasting reconciliation process through a co-sponsored resolution. It said the government will seek an extension of the timeline of the UHRC resolution 30/1 of October 01, 2015, through a co-sponsored roll-over resolution at the ongoing 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The statement stands in contrast with President Sirisena's comments on Wednesday that he would send his own team to the UNHRC session later this month to seek a reprieve. He said the UN must allow Sri Lanka to resolve its own issues without digging .
One killed, 30 injured in Jammu grenade attack (Third Lead)
One person was killed and 30 others were injured on Thursday when a grenade rolled under a packed parked bus in Jammu's main bus stand by a militant exploded with a thunderous explosion, police said.