Page 226 - War Conflict

Tear gas, hate speech marks 14th yellow vest protest

Police fired tear gas and brought in water cannons and a horse brigade to disperse several thousand yellow vest protesters Saturday massed near a Paris landmark at the end of a march through the French capital, the 14th straight weekend of demonstrations. Anti-Semitic remarks hurled by a few at a noted philosopher on the protesters' route were the bitter finale to a day of tension. Acrid clouds of tear gas filled the esplanade of Les Invalides monument, obscuring the gold dome that crowns the monument housing Napoleon's tomb. Tension also marked demonstrations in other cities. In Rouen, in Normandy, a car blocked by demonstrators pushed through the crowd, slightly injuring four people, the all-news channel BFMTV reported. Police used tear gas and water cannon in Bordeaux, a stronghold of the yellow vest movement, and other cities on the 14th straight Saturday of protests. Another demonstration in the capital was planned for Sunday to mark three months since the movement held its first

Trade body calls for bandh on February 18

Commercial markets will remain closed and there will be no business activity during the bandh, the trade body said.All wholesale and retail markets in Delhi will observe a bandh on 18 February, it said.Acting on the call by CAIT some states- Karnataka, Gujarat, some districts of Maharashtra, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Eastern UP observed a bandh on Saturday.CAIT national president BC Bhartia and secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said that during the bandh, traders will keep a day-long fast and will take out tribute march and candlelight march in their respective states.The CAIT said it is also planning to organise financial assistance to be sent by the traders to the families of the killed soldiers.The trade leaders said that 18 states, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and others are set to participate in the bandh.In Delhi, prominent markets including Chandni ...

Regime shelling kills 18 civilians in northwest Syria: Monitor

Regime bombardment has killed 18 civilians in the last major region outside government control in northwest Syria over the past 48 hours, a war monitor said Saturday. Artillery and rocket fire launched by regime forces took the lives of eight children, seven women and three men in the Idlib region, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The deadly bombardment hit the towns of Maaret al-Noman and Khan Sheikhun, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on sources inside Syria for its information. Idlib region is mainly controlled by the jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a Syrian group led by former Al-Qaeda fighters, after they last month pushed back smaller, Turkey-backed rebel outfits. Since September, the region has been protected from a massive regime offensive by a ceasefire deal brokered by regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey. But sporadic regime bombardment has continued to hit the region, and hundreds of missiles rained down on Maaret al-Noman, Khan Sheikhun, .

CCI covers Imran's portrait following Pulwama attack

The Cricket Club of India (CCI) has covered a portrait of former cricketer and current Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at its premises following the terrorist attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday.

Trinamool, Left, BJP take out rallies in Kolkata to protest Pulwama attack

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Saturday organised a candle march led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here to protest against the terror attack on a paramilitary convoy in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 49 troopers while the opposition Left Front and the BJP also hit the streets.

Country stands by its jawans: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday led a candlelight march to protest the Pulwama attack and said the country stands by its brave jawans. The march was held from Hazra crossing in south Kolkata to Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Mayo Road area. In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and many injured on Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief condemned the attack and said terrorists "have no religion or caste". "The country stands united. We are one and we unitedly stand by our brave jawans. Terrorists are terrorists. They have no religion, no caste," Banerjee said after the march in which she and various other TMC leaders were seen carrying candles. People walked silently along with TMC activists who carried national flags and posters with the names .

Pulwama attack: Clash during candlelight protest march in Guj

A clash broke out between members of two communities on Saturday when a candlelight protest march against the Pulwama terror attack was underway in Shahpur locality in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Panna Momaya said tear gas shells had to be fired to bring the situation under control. "A candlelight march was passing through a communally sensitive locality in Shahpur area when a clash broke out between members of two communities," the official said. "Primarily, it appears some misunderstanding about stones being pelted by members of a procession passing from the same locality led to the clash. We are still investigating what started the clash," she said. The DCP said there was no clear picture at the moment of people injured or property damaged though she added that the situation had been brought under control.

Lt Gen Joshi visits forward posts in Siachen, reviews operational preparedness

Lieutenant General YK Joshi, GOC Fire and Fury Corps, on Saturday visited the forward posts in Siachen glacier and reviewed the operational preparedness in the sector.The Corps Commander conveyed his appreciation to the troops for their perseverance and fighting spirit even in extreme altitudes of 20,000 feet plus and harsh temperatures up to minus 50-degree Celsius, read a statement on Saturday.Lieutenant General Joshi also paid homage to the martyrs of Operation Meghdoot at the Siachen War Memorial.

Sarbananda Sonowal lends shoulders to mortal remains of Maneswar Basumatari

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday lend shoulders to the mortal remains of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Head Constable Maneswar Basumatari, who was killed in Pulwama attack on Thursday. Air Force personnel raised slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Veer Jawan, Amar Rahe" at Guwahati International Airport, as the mortal remains of CRPF Head Constable Maneswar Basumatari were being taken to his native village in Baksa.On Friday, Sonowal announced ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family of Basumatary.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday directed the ministers in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states and party MPs to attend the last rites of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, who were martyred in Pulwama terror attack, in their respective states and constituencies.Most of the soldiers, who fell victim to the dastardly terror attack in Pulwama that shook the nation, hailed from Uttar Pradesh.Ten of the 40

AMU sends condolences, expresses solidarity to soldiers killed in Pulwama terror attack

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), on Saturday, expressed deep sympathies with the families of 40 CRPF personnel who were killed in the ghastly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14."AMU condemns this abhorrent and dastardly attack and we are deeply saddened for the loss of lives. Our heartfelt sympathies are for the families of the soldiers who lost their lives" said AMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Tariq Mansoor.The teachers of the University strongly condemned the attack and a resolution was passed in the Executive Committee of AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA) which stated, "EC-AMUTA on behalf of the teaching community and AMU fraternity vehemently condemns the shameful, painful, cowardly and heinous act carried out against security personnel (CRPF) in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir."The resolution further stated, "AMU fraternity salutes all the martyrs and sends condolences to the families as well as expresses full solidarity with their families in this tough

Himachal student held for comments on social media on Pulwama attack

Himachal Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested an engineering undergraduate student of a private university for positing comments in favour of the Pulwama terror attack that left 49 CRPF troopers dead, police said.

Thousands bid emotional farewell to CRPF jawan in Kerala

Thousands of people bid a tearful adieu to CRPF jawan V V Vasanth Kumar, who was killed in the Pulwama terror attack, as his mortal remains were laid to rest with full state honours at his native village in Kerala on Saturday. The funeral was held at the family cemetery at Thrikkaipatta nere here. Union Minister K Alphons, state ministers E P Jayarajan, A K Saseendran and MLAs paid tribute to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan. The mortal remains were brought to Karipur International airport in a special aircraft and taken to Lakidi in Wayanad district where the Kumar did his schooling. Thousands including natives, friends, relatives, paid tribute to to Kumar at the Lakidi school. Later, the mortal remains taken to his home village accompanied by hundreds of vehicles. Friends, family and natives thronged the house of Kumar to pay their last respects. At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed and five others injured Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and ..

Bihar cadre IAS stands by families of CRPF martyrs

Moved by the tragedy that has befallen the family members of the two martyred CRPF personnel hailing from Bihar, an IAS officer here Saturday came up with the offer of adopting a girl child of either jawan besides raising funds for both bereaved families. Inayat Khan, District Magistrate Sheikhpura, made an announcement to this effect at the collectorate here after all government officials observed a two-minute silence for Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Ratan Thakur, who were cremated in their respective home districts of Patna and Bhagalpur, respectively. "We are going to open a bank account in the name of welfare of the two CRPF martyrs. All officials of the collectorate have been requested to voluntarily contribute at least a day's salary into the same. The money so realized will be distributed among the two families as a small token of respect," Khan told reporters here. The Agra-born 2012 batch IAS officer also said I have asked my staff to get details of the two CRPF ...

Outpouring of grief marks final farewell to slain CRPF jawans

Hundreds of people joined the families of CRPF personnel Bablu Santra and Sudip Biswas, who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack, for their funeral amid cries of retribution in the jawans' villages in West Bengal on Saturday. The tricolour draped coffin of Santra was laid on a stage constructed on a ground near his house at Chakkashi Rajbangshipara village in Howrah district for the people to pay their last respects. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) gave a 21 gun salute as his coffin was kept on the stage. Even as people called for retribution, the distraught wife of Santra said war was not a solution and will only lead to more deaths. Santra's mother cried inconsolably and his four-year old daughter looked around bewildered as a people gathered to pay their tributes . The CRPF jawan always wanted to spend time with his family and start a business after his retirement. Similar scenes were witnessed at Hanspukuria village in Nadia district when the national flag-covered coffin ..

Army officer killed, soldier injured in mine explosion along LoC in J-K

An Army major was killed and a soldier injured in a mine explosion along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. Another trooper was injured in a ceasefire violation along the LoC in the district, they said. Major Chitresh Singh Bisht was leading a bomb disposal squad team for sanitisation when mines were detected on the track in Naushera sector around 3 pm, a defence spokesman said. He said the team defused one of the mines successfully but while neutralizing another mine, the device got activated and the officer suffered grievous injuries and attained martyrdom. Another solider was injured in the blast and was admitted to a hospital, the officials said. Major Bisht (31) belonged to Dehradun in Uttarakhand and is survived by his parents. "The officer was a brave and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the spokesman said. Earlier, the officials said the ..

Andhra announces Rs 5 lakh each to kin of Pulwama martyrs

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of CRPF jawans martyred in Thursday's terrorist attack at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir.

JITO members collect over Rs 1 Crore in 30 minutes for kin of

Members of Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) have collected over Rs one crore for the kin of the CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The members of JITO were able to collect the money in a bid to give a minimum of Rs five lakh each to the bereaved families, within 30 minutes of the call being given. "We are happy to share that within 30 minutes of this idea, we could collect an amount of Rs one crore as donation of Rs five lakh from each of the esteemed JITO members," said the chairman Pradeep G Rathod, president Ganpatraj Chowdhary and secretary general Amit Jain in a statement. Sharing the details, joint secretary of JITO Bengaluru chapter Sajjanraj Mehta said, "Funds are pouring in from across the globe. Five more traders from Bengaluru have decided to donate Rs 1 lakh each." The Mumbai-headquartered JITO with its presence across the globe expressed its deep sorrow over the dastardly terrorist attack on Thursday killing .

Arunachal Pradesh pays tribute to Pulwama martyrs

People of Arunachal Pradesh Saturday paid tributes to the 40 CRPF personnel who were killed in a suicide attack in Kashmir's Pulwama by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. People from various walks of life took out processions and held candlelight marches across the state to pay homage to the martyrs, officials said. They also demanded befitting action against Pakistan for sponsoring Thursday's attack on the CRPF convoy, the officials said. Thousands of people across the state, including leaders of various political parties, prayed to the almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed souls. The markets of centurion town Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district, remained closed during the day. Around 10,000 people along with traders took out a procession also, the officials said.

Pulwama: Shopkeepers in Gujarat observe bandh; protests held

Shopkeepers downed shutters Saturday as a mark of tribute to the 40 CRPF men killed in the Pulwama terrorist attack even as people held protests and took out silent rallies in different parts of Gujarat to express solidarity with the families of the martyrs. Shopping centres wore a deserted look in cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar. Shopkeepers downed shutters to pay tribute to the martyrs. People protested the Thursday's attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir by burning Pakistan's national flag and effigies of terrorists. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the carnage. The protesters also raised anti-Pakistan slogans and demanded revenge. At many places in the state, people offered silent tribute and also held candle marches. Devotees wrapped the idol of Lord Somnath at the famous Somnath Temple with the tricolour as a way to pay tribute to the departed souls. "As an Indian, I would say ..

Iranians cry 'revenge' at funeral of suicide bomb victims

Tens of thousands of Iranians called for "revenge" Saturday at the funeral of 27 Revolutionary Guards killed in a suicide attack perpetrated by jihadists that Tehran accuses Pakistan of supporting. "The government of Pakistan must pay the price of harbouring these terrorist groups and this price will undoubtedly be very high," said Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, referring to jihadist outfit Jaish al-Adl ("Army of Justice"). "The Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer observe the previous reservations and will directly act to counter such acts," Jafari told mourners gathered at the city of Isfahan's Bozorgmehr Square. The comments by Jafari, commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, came a day ahead of a planned two-day visit to Pakistan by Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Iran's regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia. Jafari blamed Pakistan's army and Inter-Services Intelligence agency, saying that "sheltering and silence" amounts to supporting the perpetrators. As he ...