Page 253 - War Conflict
Ambedkar statue damaged in Azamgarh; locals stage angry protests
Protesters hurled stones and blocked traffic after a Bhimrao Ambedkar statue was found damaged in Mahul town here Thursday morning, officials said. The locals also attacked a police outpost nearby, they added. The Ambedkar statue near the trisection under the Mahraula police station limits was suspected to have been damaged on Wednesday night, officials said. Upon being alerted, the police rushed to the spot to control the situation, they said. Senior officials calmed the situation and assured the locals of stern action against the culprits. A new statue will be installed, SP Bablu Kumar said. Two companies of the provincial armed constabulary have been deployed as a precautionary measure. The SP said the situation was under control and stern action will be taken against all those found responsible.
Five civilians, two CRPF troopers injured in grenade attack
Five civilians and two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were injured in a grenade attack by militants on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag town.
Protests in Jind during vote count
The Haryana Police and paramilitary forces used canes to disperse protesters during a demonstration in Jind town during the counting of votes for the Jind Assembly seat by-election on Thursday.
Naxals set ablaze six vehicles in Maharashtra
Naxals allegedly torched six vehicles, including tractors brought for construction work, in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Thursday, a police official said. The incident took place in the morning in Korchi tehsil near Dongargaon police outpost, he said. A group of around 12 Maoists set on fire four tractors and two JCB machines which were brought for construction work in the area, the official said. The rebels also blocked the Kurkheda-Kochi-Chichgad road by cutting trees and placing branches on the way, he said. Police suspect a group of ultra's divisional committee from North Gadchiroli to be behind the incident as some Maoist banners were found on the spot, he said. A probe was underway into the incident, he said. The rebels have been observing the 'Naxal Week' from January 25 to 31, the official added. According to police, Naxals hold meetings and gatherings during this period and engage in propaganda, recruit new members, review operations, besides resorting to
Militants hurl grenade of security forces in J-K
Militants hurled a grenade on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday, injuring seven people, including three women and two CRPF jawans, police said. Militants lobbed the grenade at the security forces at Sherbagh in the Anantnag area, a police official said. He said seven persons -- two CRPF jawans and five civilians including three women -- were injured in the grenade blast. Police has registered a case and started investigating the incident, he added. This is the second grenade attack on security forces in south Kashmir in the past two days. Ultras hurled a grenade on a police station in Kulgam district on Wednesday, injuring three civilians.
Muse: Myanmar's militia-run, billion-dollar gateway to China
With tinted windows and their militia name emblazoned on the side of their Ford truck, "Pan Say" fighters cruise the sleazy streets of Muse, Myanmar's main gateway to China and awash with weapons and cash from casinos, drugs and sex. Ten armed groups run the Shan State border town of Muse, which is separated by a shallow river from the gleaming towers of its Chinese counterpart, Ruili. All are under the tutelage of the same patron: Myanmar's army. China and Myanmar have an agreement not to station troops along their border. Instead, Myanmar's army uses the militias as proxies in a long-running conflict between the central state and ethnic rebel groups who operate in the area, including the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Taaung National Liberation Army (TNLA). A fiendishly complicated, decades-old struggle for money, trade, resources and ethnic identity is playing out in Muse. The Pan Say militia gave AFP a rare snapshot of the shifting alliances and rivalries which have defined ...
Kabul control slips in Afghanistan amid US talks with Taliban
The Kabul government is steadily losing its grip over parts of Afghanistan even as American forces intensify their air campaign against insurgent groups, a US government watchdog said Thursday. The latest grim assessment of Afghanistan's security situation comes as the US pursues talks with the Taliban and urgently seeks a way out of the 17-year war. Numbers provided by Resolute Support, the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan, show that as of October 31, only 63.5 per cent of Afghans are living in areas controlled or influenced by the Kabul government -- down from 65.2 per cent the previous quarter. According to the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which compiled the data, the decrease came as Kabul's control or influence over Afghan districts dropped. SIGAR said just 53.8 per cent of Afghanistan's 407 districts are in government hands, and experts on Afghanistan say the number is lower still. Instead of looking at population metrics, the Pentagon ..
JK: Northern Army Commander reviews security situation, counter-terrorism operations
During the visit, the Army Commander was briefed by the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen AK Bhatt, at Badami Bagh Cantonment on the major operational, informational, logistical and administrative aspects pertaining to the Corps and about the current situation including recent counter-terrorist operations.The Army Commander lauded the exemplary synergy amongst all security forces and complimented the troops for their relentless efforts and selfless service in bringing peace and tranquillity in the Valley.Last year, the 15 Corps carried out intensive and most successful counter-terrorist operations in the valley as more than 310 terrorists were neutralised including over 250 kills.The LoC operations were also successful as infiltration levels were controlled extensively.
Negotiations are 'proceeding well' in Afghanistan: Trump
Giving his stamp of approval to the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban, President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that negotiations are "proceeding well" with the militant group to end over 17-year old war in Afghanistan. Trump made the comment after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad held fourth round of talks with the Taliban in Qatar last week, following which he said significant progress was made. "Negotiating are proceeding well in Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting...," Trump said in a series of foreign policy tweets Wednesday. ...Fighting continues but the people of Afghanistan want peace in this never-ending war. We will soon see if talks will be successful? Trump said. Khalilzad held six days of intense negotiations with the Taliban representatives in Doha last week. After the talks, Khalilzad said that the US and the Taliban have drafted the framework of a deal which could pave the way for peace talks with Kabul. Since being ...
Those on bail, will go to jail: PM Modi attacks Gandhi family
Mounting attack on the Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that they those who are on "bail will have to go to jail."The Prime Minister in a veiled reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "You know that he (Rahul Gandhi) is out on bail and his associates too are facing charges. I know that they will be convicted one day and they will have to go to jail. Those who have looted the nation will have to return everything, " said Prime Minister Modi while answering a question about his fight against corruption.The Prime Minister was addressing the India Youth Conclave programme here.Taking potshots at the Gandhi family, the Prime Minister said that the corrupt did not fathom that a tea seller would ever muster the courage to challenge a family which governed the nation for four generations."Nobody had ever thought that a tea seller would challenge a family which has been governing the nation for the past four generations. The corrupt will face ...
R-Day Parade: Gorkha Brigade wins best marching contingent award
Gorkha Brigade was Wednesday awarded the best marching contingent trophy of the Republic Day parade, officials said. The CRPF won the best marching contingent prize among the para-military and other auxiliary forces, they said. In the category of tableaux representing Union ministries and departments, the best tableau award went jointly to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). The CISF tableau was themed around securing national assets while ICAR reflected Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts on farmers of the country. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) was given a special award for its tableau showcasing the non-violent struggle by Mahatma Gandhi. The tableau was crafted with natural flowers. A total of 22 tableaux, 16 from states and union territories and six from central government ministries and departments, were part of the cultural parade, the overall theme of which was "life and ideals" of Mahatma Gandhi. Among the ...
Hindon Air Force station to host civilian flights by March
The government on Wednesday said that the Hindon Air Force base in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district will be ready to host scheduled civilian flight operations by March.
Taliban say they are not looking to rule Afghanistan alone
The Taliban said Wednesday they are not seeking a monopoly on power in a future administration in Afghanistan but are looking for ways to co-exist with Afghan institutions the most conciliatory statement to date from the militants. The statement came amid intensified US-led efforts to resolve the long-running Afghanistan war. US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad reported this week that there had been "agreements in principle" toward a framework for peace with the Taliban, who now control almost half of the country and carry out near-daily attacks, mainly targeting Afghan security forces and government officials. Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman based in the Gulf Arab country of Qatar where the Taliban have a political office, said that once US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban want to live with other Afghans, "tolerate one another and start life like brothers." Shaheen's statement was provided in an exclusive audio message to The Associated Press. "After the end of the occupation, ...
Miscreants loot Rs 20 lakh gold ornaments from shop
Unidentified miscreants Wednesday looted gold ornaments worth around Rs 20 lakh from a jewellery shop in Rajnagar town in Kendrapara district, police said. Police said the miscreants looted the gold ornament posing themselves as customers. After reaching the shop, they looted gold at gun point. The youths fled away on a motor bike, police said adding that a special squad has been constituted to nab the criminals.
Awami Ittehad Party to show black flags to Modi during J&K visit: Ex-MLA
Former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed on Wednesday said his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) will show black flags to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his February 3 visit here to protest the Centre's "colonial mindset" and "looting" of Jammu and Kashmir's resources. He also expressed concern over a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed between the Centre, state government and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for starting work on the 850MW Ratle Power Project. "We will receive Narendra Modi with black flags in Srinagar on his upcoming visit to protest against the colonial mindset of New Delhi and against looting resources of the state," Rasheed said in a statement here. "While the (Jammu and Kashmir) State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) is competent enough to construct Ratle or any other power project, New Delhi seems to be adamant to loot our resources and is always utilising services of NHPC like East India Company," the former MLA said. Rasheed alleged that ...
PM dedicates Salt Satyagraha Memorial and Museum to nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial and Museum at Dandi in Gujarat's Navsari district on Mahatma Gandhi's 71st death anniversary Wednesday. The memorial has statues of Mahatma Gandhi and 80 'satyagrahis' who had marched with him during the historic Dandi Salt March (also called Dandi March) in 1930. It also has 24-narrative murals depicting various events and stories from the historic march. In simpler words, 'satyagraha' means adherence to or insistence on truth. As part of the civil disobedience movement against the British rule, 80 satyagrahis led by Gandhi marched 241 miles from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to the coastal village of Dandi and made salt from sea water, breaking the Salt Law imposed by the British. The prime minister is scheduled to interact with participants of the New India Youth conclave later in the evening.
Maduro accuses US of resorting to 'psychological warfare'
Embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of resorting to "psychological warfare" after US National Security Advisor John Bolton was seen holding a notepad with "5,000 troops to Colombia" written on it."This is a childish way to direct foreign policy from the White House," Xinhua quoted Maduro as saying."That's why I say nerves of steel, calm and level-headedness, confidence in our strength and maximum military mobilization," he remarked at a military exercise in Aragua, in north-central Venezuela, here on Tuesday. He has also accused US President Donald Trump of interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs to steal their oil.Bolton was seen holding the notepad during the same conference where sanctions against Venezuela's state-controlled oil agency PDVSA had been announced."All options are on the table," Bolton said while referring to the crisis in Venezuela on Monday, in a reported reference to the deployment of military troops in Venezuela's ...
MHA tribunal to visit Tripura to record evidence against
An "Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal", formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, would visit Tripura from February 2 to record evidence against two outlawed insurgent outfits. The Home Ministry had imposed a fresh ban of five years on the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) on October 3, 2018 for their violent and subversive activities. The government had set up the tribunal, headed by Delhi High Court Judge Suresh Kait, on November 15 last year for adjudicating whether or not the two Tripura-based militant outfits should be declared banned organisations under the law. The tribunal had issued show cause notice to the two outfits on November 27, 2018 for submitting their objections or reply within 30 days. "The NLFT and ATTF, if they wish, may represent themselves on February 2 and February 3 at 10:30 AM before the tribunal at Agartala by making a communication to the Registrar of the Tribunal well in advance," a press
Pak says main facilitator of attack on Chinese consulate arrested in Sharjah
The main facilitator of the terror attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November last year has been arrested from the UAE, Pakistan police has announced here. On November 23, three heavily armed militants attempted to enter the Chinese consulate in the high security zone' of Karachi's Clifton area but were shot dead in an encounter with law enforcers. The gun-and-grenade assault also claimed the lives of two police officials and two visa applicants, as well as injuring a private guard of the foreign mission. A senior official of the Counterterrorism Department (CTD) of Sindh on Tuesday province said that the suspect named Rashid Baloch was arrested by the UAE's law-enforcement agency in Sharjah a few days ago. He was marked out as the key man behind the attack on the Chinese consulate, that was foiled by security forces but left at least seven people dead. "Rashid Baloch alias Abdullah is not only the facilitator of the attack but also a key man of the Baloch Liberation Army .
Growth of Pak, India's nuke programmes increases risk of security incident in South Asia: Coats
The continued growth of the atomic weapon programmes of Pakistan and India increases the risk of a "nuclear security incident" in South Asia, America's top spymaster has warned. The remarks of National Intelligence Director Daniel Coats is part of US intelligence community's assessment of worldwide threats in the year 2019. While Pakistan continues to develop new types of nuclear weapons, including short-range tactical weapons, sea-based cruise missiles, air-launched cruise missiles, and longer range ballistic missiles, India this year has conducted its first deployment of a nuclear-powered submarine armed with nuclear missiles, he told lawmakers on Tuesday. "The continued growth and development of Pakistan and India's nuclear weapons programmes increase the risk of a nuclear security incident in South Asia, and the new types of nuclear weapons will introduce new risks for escalation dynamics and security in the region," Coats said in his opening statement running into over 40 ...