Page 20 - War Conflict
Defence Minister meets top Army brass; reviews situation along Pak, China borders
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held a meeting with top brass of the Army and reviewed the overall security challenges facing the country including situation along borders with Pakistan and China, official sources said. The meeting was attended by Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu and all the General Officer Commanding-in-Chiefs (GOC-in-C). The security challenges along borders with Pakistan and China were discussed at the meeting, sources said. According to a defence ministry statement, Singh said, "It is matter of great pride that Indian Army is ready for full spectrum of challenges and it will be ensured that their capabilities keep getting continuously enhanced." "Jointmanship of the Indian armed forces will be a key area and due endeavours towards the same will be ensured," he added. Singh said defence ministry will remain fully committed to speedily enhance the capabilities of the armed forces, adding ensuring high .
Mahatma Gandhi 'real source of inspiration' for Palestinians: Senior leader
Mahatma Gandhi is a "real source of inspiration" for the Palestinians whose message "will continue to inspire millions" of people across the world, a senior Palestinian leader said here on Friday. At a cycling event organised as part of the celebrations to mark the 150th birth anniversary of India's Father of the Nation, Jehad Abu Al-Asal, Governor of the historic city of Jericho, underlined the deep-rooted relations between India and Palestine and expressed "deep appreciation" for the Indian government and people for their "unwavering support" in various fields. Emphasising on Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent approach in India's freedom struggle, Abu Al-Asal said, "Gandhi was and will be the real source of inspiration for Palestinians and all peace lovers of the world." "Gandhi called for equality, liberty, freedom and dignity of all mankind. His legacy is the eternal message that will continue to inspire millions of people across the world," he said. The Representative Office of India ..
Army shifting two new formations to Shimla in replacement of Training Command
Amid protests from the Congress and locals over shifting of the Army Training Command from Shimla, senior sources in the force said two new formations would be deployed there and the number of troops posted there may be higher than ever before.The Army, as part of its reorganisation plans, is shifting the Training Command to Meerut because of its proximity to the national capital and better coordination."By December this year, the Army Training Command is planned to be shifted to Meerut. The Training Command in Shimla would be replaced by an Infantry Division Headquarters and the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Area Headquarters," Army sources told ANI.The sources said the number of troops in these formations is likely to be higher than before and combat oriented troops would be present in the city," they said.Maintaining that Shimla would continue to maintain its military outlook, the sources said the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Area Headquarters being shifted from Ambala to Shimla would
UN envoy meets Hamas leaders in Gaza
UN Envoy to the Middle East Nicolai Mladinov met Islamic Hamas movement's leaders in Gaza on Friday to help defuse growing tension with Israel, the media reported.
10 arrested for illegal trade in liquor in Bihar
Ten persons were arrested Friday by Bihar police in connection with alleged illicit liquor trade in that state observing prohibition, police said. According to sources in the Nagar police station, a police team from Muzzafarpur came to Deoghar and with the help of town police raided a hotel and arrested the 10 persons. All of them were taken to Muzzafarpur, they said. There was no other recovery, barring some money, they said. Sale and consumptiomn of Liquor is banned in the neighbouring state of Bihar.
Key jihadist among five Easter Sunday bombing suspects repatriated from Saudi Arabia
A prominent member of a banned Sri Lankan terror outfit involved in the Easter Sunday bombings was among the five suspects repatriated from Saudi Arabia, police said on Friday as they questioned them for their alleged links to the carnage. Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekera said that Mohamed Milhan was a key associate of Zahran Hashim, a leader of the banned National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ) who killed himself in the blast at the posh Shangri La Hotel here. Milhan, who was also listed as a terror suspect in the Intelligence warnings issued before the Easter Sunday terror attacks, is also wanted since November for the killing of two police constables in the eastern Kathankudy area where Hashim had his base. Four others also wanted in connection with the Easter bombings that killed 258 people and injured 500 others were arrested in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "A team of Criminal Investigations Department officers brought the suspects back to Sri Lanka this morning," Gunasekera said. The ...
Rajnath instructs DRDO to focus on projects of national importance
Upon arriving at the DRDO Bhawan, the Defence Minister paid floral tributes to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's statue here. Thereafter, he was given detailed a presentation by DRDO Chief G Satheesh Reddy and senior scientists."The presentation covered recent achievements, details of major ongoing projects and the roadmap of DRDO. The Raksha Mantri was apprised about the DRDO developed cutting-edge, state of the art technologies and systems accepted by the armed forces and those under development," Defence Ministry officials said.Singh appreciated the commitment and dedication of scientists and directed the research agency to focus its energies on flagship programmes of national importance. He appreciated the DRDO's initiatives to promote academia and industry and desired for such interaction to be enhanced further to create a greater scientific temper and production base, which would be a driving force for accelerated research and defence manufacturing.The Defence Minister also released the ...
Piyush Goyal, Arjun Ram Meghwal visit Tirupati Balaji temple
Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Ram Meghwal offered prayers at the Lord Balaji temple here on Friday.Goyal was accompanied by Andhra Pradesh's Minister of Industries, Commerce and IT M Gautam Reddy.This is the first time Goyal is visiting the age-old shrine after assuming charge in the new Narendra Modi government.Meanwhile, Meghwal visited the temple along with his family members at VIP break darshan time. After darshan, TTD officials offered 'prasadam' to the minister.Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the temple after returning from his first foreign visit from the Maldives and Sri Lanka in his second term at the helm.
Five suspects of Easter Sunday attacks repatriated from Saudi Arabia
Five suspects linked to the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka have been repatriated from Saudi Arabia, police said Friday. The suspects also include Mohamed Milhan, a prominent member of the banned terror outfit National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ) that was responsible for the attacks. Milhan was also listed as a terror suspect in the Intelligence warnings issued before the Easter Sunday terror attacks, the Times Online reported. A team comprising officials of the Criminal Investigations Department took the suspects in its custody in Saudi Arabia and brought them back for further questioning. "Officers of the Criminal Investigations Department brought the suspects back to Sri Lanka this morning," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said in a statement. A series of coordinated blasts on April 21 targeted three churches and high-end hotels, killing 258 people and injuring over 500 others. Earlier, the Sri Lankan government banned the NTJ after the deadly attacks and arrested over 100 people ..
CRPF jawan killed in J-K cremated with state honours in MP
Central Reserve Police Force constable Sandeep Yadav, killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district this week, was Friday cremated with state honours in his native Kulala village in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas. Yadav's son lit the pyre amid shouting of patriotic slogans by the large crowd that had assembled there, including MP minister Jeetu Patwari and senior officials. The terror attack in the restive northern state took place on Wednesday, killing four CRPF troopers and injuring three others. Yadav's body arrived on Thursday night in Bhopal, where chief minister Kamal Nath paid tribute and said the state was proud of his supreme sacrifice. The state government also announced Rs 1 crore as financial assistance to Yadav's kin and a government job for one of them. Yadav was part of the 116 battalion of the CRPF stationed in J-K.
Nepal clears legal hurdles to acquire US rifles
The Nepal government has cleared legal hurdles to buy rifles from the US which has been pending for over a year due to differences over payment modality, according to a media report. The government would acquire 6,000 rifles, including M4, M-16, and A4 to equip its squads deployed as blue helmets in war-torn countries. The plan to buy the weapons was delayed after the supplier demanded the entire payment in a single sum, the Kathmandu Post reported. Despite clearance from the Ministry of Defence to procure the arms from the US Army, it had not materialised since the Nepali side couldn't pay the entire amount before the rifles were supplied. The Nepal Army was allowed to make the payment only in three transactions: an advance once the deal is signed, intermediate as delivery begins, and the final payment once all the consignment is delivered-before the Cabinet cleared the hurdles for the payment. However, officials on Thursday said the legal hurdles have been cleared by the Cabinet in .
Tribunal serves notice on LTTE on extending ban for 5 years
A Delhi High Court tribunal has served a notice on the LTTE, the terror group responsible for former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, to submit if it has any objection to it being continued as a banned organisation for five more years The notice was uploaded on the Home Ministry's website and published in two newspapers -- one English and one in a regional language. The tribunal, headed by Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, has also directed to affix the notice along with the gazette notification of May 14, 2019, extending the ban for five more years "at some conspicuous part of the offices of the LTTE, if any, in India and Sri Lanka". "...You are hereby called upon to show cause in writing within 30 days from the date of service of this notice as to why you Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) be not adjudicated for declaring as an unlawful association and why an order confirming such declaration be not made under section 4 (3) of the Act (Unlawful Activities Prevention ..
Ayodhya put on high alert
Ayodhya has been put on high alert after security agencies were given an intelligence input of a possible terror attack in the holy city.
4 arrested in Uri while trying to cross LoC
Four Kashmiri youths were arrested on Friday while trying to cross over the Line of Control (LoC) into the Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir to start arms training, sources said.
Two terrorists gunned down in Awantipora by security forces
Two terrorists were killed and arms and ammunition have been recovered from them in Braw Bandina area of Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday."On a credible input, a cordon & search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Braw Bandina area of Awantipora. During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, 02 terrorists were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The identities and affiliation of the killed terrorists is being ascertained," said a J & K police release."Incriminating material including arms & ammunition has been recovered from the site of encounter," it added.This comes after four terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in a village in Pulwama district last week.
Suspected LeT militants killed in J&K
Two suspected Lashkar militants were killed on Friday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.
5 terror suspects brought back to Sri Lanka
Five terror suspects who were arrested in Dubai in connection with the April 21 Easter Sunday suicide attacks, were brought back to Sri Lanka from Saudi Arabia on Friday, police said.
2 militants killed in encounter in J-K's Pulwama district
Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday, police said. According to a police official, security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Braw Bandina area of Awantipora in the district in south Kashmir after receiving intelligence input about presence of militants in the area. As the forces were conducting searches in the area, the militants fired upon them. The security forces retaliated, he said. "Two militants have been killed in the Awantipora operation," the official said, adding the bodies along with arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site. The identity and affiliation of the slain militants are being ascertained, the official said.
CRPF commando injured in Naxal blast dies at AIIMS
A CRPF commando, who was wounded in an IED blast by the Naxals in Jharkhand last month, succumbed to his injuries at the AIIMS here, an official said on Friday. Constable Sunil Kalita, 32, was injured on May 28 in the jungles of Seraikela Kharsawan district when his party encountered a number of improvised explosive device blasts during patrolling. Kalita was first admitted to a hospital in Ranchi, but he was airlifted to Delhi and brought to the AIIMS on June 4 as he required enhanced medical care. He succumbed to his injuries on Thursday evening, the official said. The jawan was posted with the 209th battalion of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), the elite jungle-warfare battalion of the CRPF. Fourteen other CoBRA and police personnel were injured in the incident that day. According to the official, the commando displayed bravery as he saved his colleagues during the blast despite being grievously injured. Kalita hailed from Assam's Kamrup district and had joined ..
Top HK advisor says extradition bill could be delayed
A contentious extradition bill at the centre of a political crisis in Hong Kong looks increasingly likely to be delayed, with a top adviser to the citys leader on Friday suggesting that it will be impossible to rush it through the legislature.