Page 257 - War Conflict
Two terrorists gunned down, ammunition recovered in J-K
Security forces gunned down two terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition from them following an encounter on Saturday in Khonmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar.The encounter on Republic Day ensued while terrorists fired at security personnel who were conducting a search operation in the area, based on a credible tip-off, police said. "A cordon and search operation was launched today morning jointly by police and security forces in the Khonmoh area. As the searches were going on, the search party was fired upon by the terrorists and the firing was retaliated leading to a gunfight."In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and the bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. Their identities and affiliations are being ascertained.The Police has registered a case and initiated an investigation in the matter.Police have also requested citizens to not to venture inside the encounter zone citing the possibility of stray explosive materials.On January 23, three ...
4 killed in blast during Afghan volleyball match
At least four people were killed and 20 others injured in a blast that targeted a volleyball match in Afghanistan's Baghlan province, an official said on Saturday.
Mobile internet services suspended in Kashmir in view of R-Day celebrations
Mobile internet services were suspended across Kashmir on Saturday as a precautionary measure on the occasion of Republic Day, but mobile phone services functioned as usual. Mobile internet services were snapped in the early hours as stringent security arrangements were put in place for Republic Day celebrations across Kashmir Valley, a police official said. He said the services were snapped as a precautionary measure. However, the mobile phone services, which used to be suspended for the duration of the Republic Day ceremony here, were functioning as usual. Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday in Khunmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir, police said. While suspension of mobile phone and internet services have become a routine since 2005, there have been a few occasions when the authorities did not resort to this step as part of the security drill in Kashmir. The security agencies added this step to the security drill ...
Republic Day Parade begins amid tight security
Celebrations of India's 70th Republic Day began amidst tight security in the national capital area, with the traditional grand military parade on Rajpath. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial at India Gate and along with the three chiefs of the armed forces paid homage to Indian security forces who lost their lives in combat.President Ram Nath Kovind, the first lady and the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who is the chief guest this year, arrived in a carcade escorted by 46 President's Bodyguards on magnificent bay and dark Bay coloured mounts. The open buggy traditionally used to escort the chief guest was done away this year owing to security concerns.The President unfurled the National Flag unfurled followed by a 21-gun salute, after which he presented the Ashok Chakra conferred posthumously to Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani to his wife Mehajabeen.Fifty-eight tribal guests from various parts of the country, 22 tableaux of states and ...
Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani's widow receives Ashoka Chakra
The widow of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, who shot dead two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir before getting killed, on Friday received the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, awarded to her husband at the Republic Day celebrations here.
J-K encounter: 2 terrorist neutralised
Two terrorists have been killed in an encounter with security forces on the outskirts of Srinagar on Saturday morning.The joint operation currently underway is being carried out by 50 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Srinagar Police at the encounter site in Konmoh area here .The encounter comes on the day when India is celebrating its 70th Republic Day.
Tamil Nadu celebrates Republic Day
Tamil Nadu on Saturday celebrated the 70th Republic Day with patriotic fervour as Governor Banwarilal Purohit unfurled the tricolour at the Marina Beach here.
Ashoka for Lance Naik Nazir, Kirti Chakra for 4 others
On the occasion of the 70th Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind has approved an Ashoka Chakra, four Kirti Chakras and 11 Shaurya Chakras for armed forces personnel for showing exemplary courage and devotion to duty.
Officials: Land mines kill 6, including a child in Yemen
Yemeni security officials say a pair of land mines killed six people in central Bayda province. The officials say a passenger vehicle on Friday triggered the first mine, which killed a child and wounded five adults. The second mine went off shortly afterward, killing five Yemeni soldiers who had rushed to try help the wounded. The officials say Houthi rebels have planted thousands of mines throughout Yemen that have killed hundreds of civilians, including children. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorised to talk to reporters. Earlier this week, a mine killed five members of an international de-mining team in central Marib province. In Yemen's war, a Saudi-led coalition backing the country's internationally recognized government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.
Terrorists lob grenade at CRPF camp in J-K's Pulwama
Terrorists on Friday lobbed a grenade at a CRPF camp in Tahab village of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir.The grenade exploded outside the camp. No causalities have been reported yet.Earlier in the day, terrorists attacked a police post near a bus stand in Anantnag town of the state. One police personnel suffered minor injuries in the attack.
R-Day:Kashmiri BSF jawan killed at home awarded gallantry medal
BSF jawan Mohammad Ramzan Parray, killed by militants in 2017 while he was on leave at his home in north Kashmir, has been decorated with the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) on the eve of the Republic Day. The killing of Parray, who joined the Border Security Force in 2011, had made headlines and the incident underlined the threat faced by Kashmiri police, paramilitary and defence personnel when they were on leave or went back to their homes for festivals. Parray, his citation said, bravely thwarted a bid by the militants to abduct him but they later barged into his home in Hajin village of Bandipora district and shot him from a point blank range. He later succumbed to injuries. The border guarding force has been awarded a total of eight gallantry medals for thwarting infiltration bids from across Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border and for effectively retaliating to unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir from the other ...
CRPF gets max gallantry medals--2 Kirti Chakras, Shaurya Chakra, PPMGs
The Central Reserve Police Force, in the thick of anti-Naxal and counter-terrorism operations, has been decorated with a maximum of 47 gallantry medals, including two Kirti Chakras and a Shaurya Chakra, on the eve of the Republic Day. Two slain CRPF jawans were decorated with the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry medal of the country, and their company commander was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for displaying daredevilry in taking on heavily armed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora in Pulwama district in 2017. Three men of the country's largest paramilitary force also became the only recipients of the top category Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) medal. Constables Mohd Yaseen Tali, Borase Dinesh Deepak and Jaswant Singh were decorated posthumously. The three made the supreme sacrifice while placing an improvised explosive device (IED) to flush out terrorists holed up in a building. The militants had attacked the district police line in Pulwama in
Two UN peacekeepers killed by mine in central Mali: sources
Two UN peacekeepers from Sri Lanka died and several were wounded on Friday in central Mali when their vehicle hit a mine, UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) sources announced. "This morning at around 0600, a vehicle in a MINUSMA logistics convoy hit a mine near Douentza, Mopti region," a UN statement said. It added that some of the wounded were badly injured. The men who died were Sri Lankan members of the 14,000-strong UN military and police mission, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that the injured had been evacuated. The UN force deployed in Mali since 2013 to help counter jihadist activity "sent reinforcements to the scene not far from Douentza to secure it" after the attack, the source said. The casualties come after jihadist gunmen killed 10 Chadian peacekeepers and injured at least 25 others in an attack on a UN camp in Aguelhok, northern Mali on Sunday. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack -- one of the deadliest ...
Taliban name co-founder as head of political office in Qatar
The Taliban have named the co-founder of the group as the head of their political office in Qatar with an aim to strengthen ongoing negotiations with the US to put an end to the Afghan conflict.
Army Chief Rawat among 19 awarded PVSM, 2 army men conferred with Kirti Chakra
Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat is among 19 senior army officials who have conferred the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the highest military medal awarded in recognition of peace-time services not relating to gallantry. Almost all commanders who became Army chief in the past four decades had been decorated with the award before their appointment to the top post, according to defence experts. Fifteen lieutenant generals and three major generals have also been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM). The defence ministry also announced Kirti Chakra -- India's second highest peacetime gallantry award -- for Major Tushar Gauba from the Jat Regiment and Sowar Vijay Kumar ((posthumously)) from 22 Rashtriya Rifles. Nine army men have been awarded with Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry award after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. Major Gauba has been given the award for displaying "unparallel bravery" while dealing with a group of terrorists along the Line of Control ..
On eve of R-Day, three grenade attacks hit Kashmir Valley
Militants carried out four grenade attacks in the Kashmir Valley on Friday on the eve of India's Republic Day, injuring a policeman in one of the attacks.
Gandhi and Mandela wanted to see a world with tolerance: SA president
Mahatma Gandhi and anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela wanted to see a world where there was tolerance for each other's religion, race, caste and regional affiliation, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday. Speaking at the first IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Gandhi-Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture, Ramaphosa recalled Gandhi's famous words, "Be the change you want to see in the world". "But what was the change Gandhi and Mandela wanted to see. They wanted to see elimination of poverty and a world where nations respect one another and multilateralism was upheld and respected and there was tolerance for each other's religion, race, caste and regional affiliation," he said. Ramaphosa gave the lecture in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said South Africa is looking forward to build its relations with India. "We are two countries separated by ocean but bound together by the collective energies of our people. The legacies of Gandhi and Mandela have ...
Two Sri Lankan peacekeepers killed in Mali
Two Sri Lankan soldiers who were deployed for peacekeeping in Mali were killed on Friday when their armoured vehicle came under attack, the Sri Lankan Army said.
Security in top gear in Delhi ahead of Republic Day
A day after Delhi Police said they have arrested two Jaish-e Mohammad terrorists who were planning to carry out attacks in the national capital, they said on Friday that security has been beefed up ahead of the Republic Day, with thousands of policemen and anti-aircraft guns deployed at strategic points in the city.
Muslim self-rule backed in Philippines' troubled south
Voters have decisively approved a new Muslim-led region in the Philippines' south, which is hoped will bring a measure of peace after decades of fighting killed thousands and mired the area in poverty. The results, announced Friday, will begin the process of the Catholic-majority nation's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, laying down its weapons and assuming political power. About 150,000 people were killed in the rebellion that began in 1970s and aimed to push the government to grant independence to a Muslim minority concentrated on the island of Mindanao. "We are very happy about the overwhelming support of the people," MILF leader Murad Ebrahim told AFP. "It was a landslide. There's been nothing like this." Voters, who were expected to back the so-called Bangsamoro region, delivered a convincing result of about 1.7 million in favour and some 254,600 against, according to official results from the Philippines elections commission. A handful of smaller areas, ...