Page 244 - War Conflict
Nepal extends tenure of commissions to complete investigations in country's civil war
Nepal on Friday extended the tenure of two justice commissions by a year investigating into the decade-long armed conflict in the country that claimed more than 17,000 lives. The extension came after President Bidya Devi Bhandari Friday certified the amendment Bill on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) after they were endorsed by both the Houses. The Nepalese civil war, known popularly as the Maoist Conflict or Maoist Insurgency, was a ten-year armed conflict between the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) and the government of Nepal, fought from 1996 to 2006. The rebellion was launched by the CPN-M on February 13, 1996 with the main aim of overthrowing the Nepali monarchy and establishing a People's Republic. It ended with the comprehensive peace accord signed on November 21, 2006. With the certification of the bill, the tenure of both the commissions have been extended by one year. "The ...
Suspected jihadists kill 7 in north Mozambique
Suspected jihadists have killed seven men and abducted four women in northern Mozambique in the latest violence to hit the Cabo Delgado region, local sources said Friday. The bodies, which were cut into pieces, were left in Piqueue village, a local traditional leader told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "People were surprised while sleeping in the forest," he said, indicating that the residents had fled the village for fear of being attacked. The attackers also kidnapped four women, he said. Mozambican police declined to comment, but a local army commander confirmed the attack. "We urge people to stay in villages where they have protection from the police and the military," he said. Since October 2017, nearly 200 civilians, troops and police have died in a wave of violence in Cabo Delgado, a gas-rich northern region which borders Tanzania, with President Filipe Nyusi sending in troops to "neutralise" the Islamist threat. This week, several hundred military personnel from 15 ..
Five killed in eastern DR Congo city: army
Armed men have killed five civilians and attacked a military position in the eastern DR Congo city of Beni, the army's regional spokesman told AFP Friday. The attackers raided the city's southern district of Rwangoma overnight, said spokesman Major Mak Hazukay. "We pushed them back, we are continuing to hunt them," he said, adding that the group had yet to be identified. Local resident Kizito Bin Hangi said that the assailants had wielded machetes and guns and that residents, outraged by the killings, demonstrated afterwards. More than a hundred armed groups, both local and foreign, are active in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Hundreds of civilians have died in the Beni area alone in the last five years. Newly-elected President Felix Tshisekedi promised while on the campaign trail to restore security to the troubled region.
Red Cross warns of 'growing' risk of nuclear weapons, urges ban
The Red Cross called Friday for a total ban on nuclear weapons, warning of the growing risk that such arms could again be used with devastating effect. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a global campaign to raise awareness about the rising nuclear threat facing the world. In a joint statement, they said some nuclear-armed states were straying from their "long-standing nuclear disarmament obligations" and were "upgrading their arsenals, developing new kinds of nuclear weapons and making them easier to use." The notonukes.org campaign comes after the United States and Russia ripped up a key arms control treaty, with US President Donald Trump announcing last week that Washington was beginning a process to withdraw from the Cold War-era agreement in six months. Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly followed suit, saying Moscow was leaving the treaty and would begin work on new ...
Mamata holding sit-in to protect scamsters from CBI probe: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of trying to save those who defrauded the poor in the chit fund scams, and claimed that none of the offenders will be spared.
Two German nationals held with satellite phone in Rajasthan
Two German nationals were arrested with a satellite phone in a joint operation by police and military intelligence here, officials said on Friday. Robert and Rainer were arrested from Khudi police station area Thursday night, Superintendent of Police, Jaisalmer, Kiran Kang said. She said that the two were staying in camps of a hotel. Military intelligence informed police after detecting signals of the satellite phone. The Germans are being interrogated by intelligence agencies, she added.
2013 Muzaffarnagar riots: Life imprisonment to all 7 convicts
A local court on Friday awarded life imprisonment to all the seven convicts, accused of killing two people in Kawal village in an attack which is believed to have triggered the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.The seven convicts - Muzammil, Mujassim, Furkan, Nadeem, Jahangir, Afzal and Iqbal - are accused of killing two people named Gaurav and Sachin, and rioting in Kawal village on August 27, 2013.Earlier on Wednesday, a local court in Muzaffarnagar had convicted the seven people in connection to the incident.The clashes that broke out in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of Uttar Pradesh between the Hindu and Muslim communities claimed 62 lives while injuring 93 others and rendering more than 50,000 homeless.The riots took place over a minor altercation between Hindu and Muslim youths at Kawal village in Muzaffarnagar district.Described as the "the worst violence in Uttar Pradesh in recent history," the 2013 riots saw the Indian Army deployed in the state for the first time in 20 years.
3 Assam Rifles jawans among 4 injured in twin blasts at Imphal
At least four persons, including three personnel of Assam Rifles, have sustained injuries when two powerful bombs exploded in a span of few minutes at a crowded place in the centre of capital town, a senior police officer said. The dual explosion is believed to the handiwork of a proscribed militant, he said. "The blasts occurred around 6.20pm near Imphal Pologround, triggering panic in the area. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital and are stated to be in stable condition," the officer said. Security forces have heightened frisking and verification process following the attack, he added. A statement issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) in the state said that Chief Minister N Biren Singh has met the injured persons in the hospital and sought immediate action against the culprits. Condemning the incident, the CM asked the police to work in coordination with the paramilitary force to check such attacks in future, it added.
Thousands of Haitians protest corruption, rising living costs
Thousands of people took to the streets across Haiti, protesting against rampant inflation and demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise on the two-year anniversary of his inauguration. "For two years, Jovenel has promised to fill our plates. But I can't eat lies," protester Josue Louis-Jeune said in the capital Port-au-Prince, banging a metal plate with a spoon. "This president is nothing more than a liar," he said. "He's got to go." As Haitians reel from 15 percent inflation over the past two years, a sharp drop in the value of the gourde -- the national currency -- against the US dollar has only intensified price increases on mostly imported everyday essentials. "We can't handle this economic slump any more: we have no electricity, no security, and now flour and bread sellers have decided to close their doors due to inflation. So we've started new hunger riots," said Ulrich Louima, leading the way at the protest. In Port-au-Prince, several vehicles were burned by ...
Guantanamo prison looms as option as IS fight ends
The Guantanamo Bay detention center would receive new prisoners for the first time in more than a decade under one option being considered as the US withdraws its forces from Syria and works to resolve the fate of hundreds of captured suspected Islamic State fighters, officials say. US-backed Syrian fighters have custody of nearly 1,000 suspected IS fighters who the State Department said should be sent back to their home countries and prosecuted. The Syrian fighters have warned they may not be able to continue to hold the IS fighters after the withdrawal of American forces from Syria ordered by President Donald Trump in December. If they can't be repatriated, though, the detention centre on the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could be used to hold them "where lawful and appropriate," the State Department said Thursday. "The Administration's National Strategy for Counterterrorism makes very clear that Law of Armed Conflict detention, including at Guantanamo, remains an important and ..
Army commences induction of new sniper rifles along LoC
The Indian Army has started the induction of new sniper rifles along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, a top army officer said. Under the General Officer Commander-in-Chief ofNorthern Command's special financial power, the Army floatedtenders for procurement of 5,719 sniper rifles from global vendors in January. "We have been able to commence the induction of thenew sniper rifles (along LoC with Pakistan) and some more are still in the pipeline", General Officer Commanding in Chief(GoC-in-C), Lt Gen Ranbir Singh told PTI in reply to a question. He was asked when the Army will be inducting 5,719 sniper rifles fromglobal vendors to replace Soviet-era Dragonov SVD as global tenders have already been floated. The Army commander said some of these equipments have been received and some are likely to come in next some time. Lt Gen Singh said that upgradation of weaponry is an ongoing exercise. "Other equipments which enhances our counter terrorism capability is also being inducted.
Gangster Ankit Bhadu killed in encounter near Zirakpur: Punjab police
A notorious gangster Ankit Bhadu, wanted in several cases, died after being critically injured in an encounter with Punjab police in a residential locality near Zirakpur on Thursday evening, a senior police official said. "Gangster Ankit Bhadu was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries in a hospital, AIG of the Punjab Police's Organised Crime Control Unit (OCCU), Gurmeet Singh Chauhan told PTI over phone. Mohali SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal said that OCCU team, which led the operation, had information about the gangster and his associates after which operation was launched to nab them. Some arms and ammunition have been recovered from the encounter site and two associates of Bhadu were also arrested, the SSP said. The operation to arrest the gangster was carried out at crowded Peer Muchalla near Zirakpur in Mohali district. The gangster, said to be around 25 years of age, carried a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh which was announced by Rajasthan Police. Police said Bhadu was wanted in .
Keeping Punjab safe & secure top priority, says Dinkar Gupta after taking over as state DGP
Senior IPS officer Dinkar Gupta Thursday took over as new director general of Punjab police, succeeding Suresh Arora, who was on an extension after his retirement on September 30 last year. Gupta's appointment was cleared by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Thursday morning, an official spokesman said here. Soon after taking over as the state's new police chief, Gupta said keeping the border state, facing multiple challenges, safe and secure would continue to be the priority of Punjab police under him. Pointing out that Punjab shares over 550 km of international border with Pakistan, he said the state police has to counter terrorism, tackle gangsters and drug menace, besides curtailing other crimes. "A safe and secure Punjab has always been the priority of the force and this will continue to be our priority," he said. A 1987-batch IPS officer, Gupta is the senior-most of three officers, all of the same batch, empanelled for appointment to the top post by the Union Public Service ...
Ensuring a safe and secure state is Punjab police priority: new DGP
Senior IPS officer Dinkar Gupta, who took over as new Punjab police chief Thursday, said a safe and secure Punjab has always been the priority of the police force of the border state facing many challenges. Pointing out that Punjab shares over 550 km of international border with Pakistan, Gupta said the state police has to counter terrorism, tackle gangsters and drug menace, besides curtailing other crimes. "A safe and secure Punjab has always been the priority of the force and this will continue to be our priority," said the new director general of Punjab police. He made the remarks while interacting with reporters here at the Punjab police headquarters after taking over as the new police chief of the state. Replying to a question, Gupta lauded the work being done by the Special Task Force of the state police in tackling the drug menace. Be it the reduction of drug supply, enforcement of anti-drug laws or working for the de-addiction of drug addicts, both the STF and district police .
Russian official: Another nuclear pact with US in trouble
Another US-Russian nuclear pact is in danger following the US move to withdraw from a Cold War-era arms control treaty, a senior Russian diplomat said Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov charged that the US refusal to negotiate an extension to the New Start treaty signals Washington's intention to let it expire in 2021. He warned that time is running out to save the pact, which was signed in 2010 by U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Ryabkov said that the U.S. has shown "no readiness or desire" to engage in substantive talks on extending the pact, which limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. He noted that the U.S. said it has converted 56 Trident submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles and 41 B-52H strategic bombers that carried nuclear weapons for use with conventional weapons, but stonewalled Russia's repeated requests for a verifiable way to exclude their .
Central African peace deal still not fully signed: Minister
Several parties to the Central African Republic's peace accord have yet to sign the much-trumpeted deal, a minister said on Thursday. The accord was signed in the capital Bangui on Wednesday by militia leaders and President Faustin-Archange Touadera, but its contents have not been disclosed. "You cannot publish a document until everyone has signed," government spokesman and communications minister Ange Maxime Kazagui told AFP on Thursday. "There are still three signatures" needed, he said, without identifying the individuals or their affiliation. Those signatures could be made during the upcoming summit of the African Union (AU), taking place in Addis Ababa on February 10-11, he said. If so, the accord, named the Khartoum Agreement after the city where it was brokered, will be published afterwards, he said. The accord was reached in the Sudanese capital at the weekend by the CAR government and 14 armed groups. The deal is the eighth attempt in nearly six years to forge peace in the ...
By law or force: Iraq's Shiite armed groups vow to oust US troops
Ousting US troops from Iraq despite Donald Trump's vow to stay is now the top goal of pro-Iranian Shiite armed groups. And their leaders say there are only two ways -- by passing a new law, or by force. US-Iraq relations have grown tense once again, after a series of ups and downs over the years, from the 1990 Gulf war though crippling sanctions to the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and the fight against the Islamic State group. But a year after Iraq declared victory over IS following a three-year war against the jihadists in which it was also backed by Iran, the Americans are seen by some as an unwanted "occupying force". And if they do stay, "every Iraqi will have the legitimate right to confront them by any means," warned Mohammed Mohie, spokesman for the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, a force close to Iran that has also fought on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The powerful leader of the Asaib Ahel al-Haq (League of the Righteous) armed group, Qais ...
Bangladesh seals off border with Myanmar amid fresh influx of refugees
Bangladesh has sealed off its border with Myanmar to stop further influx of refugees fleeing the troubled Rakhine state, Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen has said and claimed that the country's military is now targeting the majority Buddhists and Hindus after cracking down on minority Rohingya Muslims. Over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have taken refuge in Bangladesh after fleeing from Rakhine state in neighbouring Myanmar to evade atrocities, which the UN called "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing", following the action by the military in August 2017. Momen said the earlier attacks were against Muslims, but now the Buddhists and other ethnic groups are also being targeted. "This is funny. Earlier, the attacks were against Muslims, but now the Buddhists and other ethnic groups are also being targeted. "Myanmar say violence between Rakhine Army and Myanmar Army [two insurgents groups] is forcing people from different ethnic religious groups Buddhist and Hindu to try come to ...
Journalist among eight charge-sheeted in terror case
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has filed a charge sheet against eight people, including journalist Aasif Sultan, for allegedly harbouring militants and conspiring with banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen, officials said on Thursday. Police had registered a case after militants had escaped from a residential area of Batmaloo in August last year after firing indiscriminately at a police searching party. Constable Parvaiz Ahmad had died in the attack. Besides the journalist, police also charge-sheeted Mohammed Shafeeq Bhat, Waseem Khan, Bilal Ahmed Bhat and Shazia under various sections, including those relating to murder, of the Ranbir Penal Code and the Arms Act. Three absconding, active militants of Hizbul Mujahideen -- Abbas Sheikh, Aqib Nazir and Tehseen Ahmed -- have been named in the charge sheet. The Jammu and Kashmir Police has secured prosecution sanctions under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against all the accused named in the charge sheet. During preliminary ...
Three of family drown in Rjasthan's Bikaner
Three members of a family drowned in a water tank in Kasturia village of Rajasthan's Bikaner district, police said. Laxmi (23) accidently fell into the tank while fetching water from it on Wednesday. Her husband Lekram (24) and her father-in-law Bhanwar Lal (50) jumped into the tank to rescue her, but they too drowned, police said. The bodies were handed over to family members after postmortem on Thursday, they added.