Page 278 - War Conflict
Hizbul disputes police claim of top militant's arrest
The Hizbul Mujahideen outfit on Monday disputed a police claim about the arrest of a top group leader in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district.
Army's cycling expedition aimed at cementing bonds with civilians ends in Nagrota
A two-day, 170-km-long cycling expedition organised by Army with participants from all walks of life ended Monday at Nagrota military station here, strengthening the bond between civilians and security forces, besides their efforts to restore peace in the state. Be it Sonali Sharma, the sole women participant of 51-member expedition team or civilian participant Sukreet Gupta, they all lauded the Army for its efforts to deepen the bond between civilians and forces, besides giving them a chance to be part of the adventure. The expedition with the theme cycling for peace and prosperity and organised by the Army's counter-insurgency force 'Romeo', was received at Nagrota military station here by General Officer Commanding of 16 corps Lt Gen Paramjit Singh on the eve of Army day this morning. The two-day expedition with 51 participants including officers from Army, civil administration, police, Central Armed Police Forces covered the 170-km distance over a period of two days. An 11-member .
Palestinian dies after Israel border clashes: Gaza ministry
A Palestinian teenager succumbed to his wounds on Monday three days after being shot by Israeli forces during clashes on the Gaza border, the health ministry in the coastal enclave said. In a statement, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said Abdul Raouf Salha, 14, "died as a result of his injuries from (Israeli) occupation fire last Friday east of Jabalia" in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinians have been taking part in often violent protests at least weekly since March along the Gaza-Israel border. The demonstrators are calling to be allowed to return to the homes their families fled or were expelled from in territory that is now inside Israel. Israel accuses the strip's Islamist rulers Hamas of orchestrating the protests and using them as cover for violence. The Israeli army said Friday around 13,000 Palestinians had taken part in violent "riots" in multiple sites along the border. It had not responded to a request for comment on the teenager's death on Monday. At least 243
Diplomats from 27 nations participate in fellowship programme on disarmament
Young diplomats from 27 countries are participating in a fellowship programme here that aims at equipping them with the knowledge and perspectives on various contemporary disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control and international security affairs. United Nations Under Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament Izumi Nakamitsu and Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale on Monday inaugurated the First Annual Disarmament and International Security Affairs Fellowship Programme organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The programme is being held at the Foreign Services Institute from January 14-February 1. It covers a range of issues relevant to disarmament and international security such as global security environment, weapons of mass destruction, certain conventional weapons, space security, maritime cooperation, security of cyberspace, export controls, emerging technologies etc., the MEA said. The programme aims at equipping participants with knowledge and
US demand for long-term military bases in Afghanistan sticking point in peace talks: Report
The US' demand for maintaining long-term military bases in Afghanistan has emerged as a sticking point in talks with the Taliban to end the 17-year-long war in the country, according to a media report here. The report came as the US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, stepped up efforts to bring the Taliban to negotiations, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Russia and Iran involved in discussions with the Taliban over the past few months. The Express Tribune reported quoting officials that the US in return of its demand would provide substantial financial assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan in the post-peace deal. Although the Taliban have repeatedly demanded complete withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan, they showed an inclination to discuss the suggestion of the US maintaining certain bases in the recent negotiations held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US also wants guarantee from the Taliban that .
Sri Lankan Navy recovers dead body of Rameswaram fisherman
The body of a 55-year-old Rameswaram fisherman was recovered by the Sri Lanka Navy during a dedicated rescue mission to locate a group of distressed Indian fishermen near the Delft Island on Sunday, an official statement from the Sri Lankan Navy confirmed.The deceased has been identified as Karuppaiah Munnasami from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.Munnasami was one of the nine fishermen reportedly apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy near the shore of the Delft Island on Sunday morning. After providing prompt first aid to these fishermen, they were first interrogated at Karainagar Naval camp and later handed over to Kankesanthurai Police.As of now, the Sri Lankan Navy is in the process of handing over the body to the Jaffna Police for further probe."The Navy spotted over 500 Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters, close to the Delft Island on Saturday and seized two trawlers and arrested nine Indian fishers who trespassed on Sri Lankan territorial waters. Other 11 fishermen .
Australia 'concerned' about US plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan: FM
Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Monday the nation has a "great concern" about the US plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
Sudan police fire tear gas as protesters press on with demos
Sudanese police fired tear gas Sunday at crowds of anti-government protesters in Khartoum and war-torn Darfur as organisers called for more nationwide rallies against President Omar al-Bashir this week. The demonstrations in Darfur were the first of their kind since unrest erupted on December 19 over a government decision to triple the price of bread. The protests have since swiftly escalated into nationwide rallies widely seen as the biggest threat to Bashir's rule in his three decades in power. Protesters who took to the streets in the capital's Bahari district chanting "peace, peace" and "revolution is the people's choice" were quickly confronted by riot police, witnesses told AFP. Authorities say the protests have left 24 people dead so far, while Human Rights Watch has put the death toll at 40, including children and medical staff. The European Union said on Friday that security forces have used "live ammunition" against protesters causing casualties, although Sudanese officials .
Maoist carrying Rs 10 lakh bounty killed in Jharkhand
Top Maoist commander Sahdev Rai was on Sunday killed in a shootout with Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Chhatupara forest area in Dumka district of Jharkhand, the paramilitary force said.
2 militants held from Shopian in joint operation by Delhi, J&K police
In a joint operation by Delhi and J&K police, two militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, including a juvenile, were nabbed from Shopian, police said here Sunday. The arrested militant was identified as Kifayatullah Bukhari, a resident of Now Pora Bara, Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir and a juvenile was apprehended. They were nabbed at special blockade setup in Shopian on Friday, they added. The special cell officials were identifying the various modules inspired by the ISIS group and terrorists of HM who are procuring weapons from north India, police said. It was revealed that militant organisations were planning to extend their activities in Delhi and nearby areas, they said. In September, police nabbed two militant of ISIS-JK from Red Fort, New Delhi, along with arms and ammunition, and in November, three militants were arrested from Srinagar with hand grenades and weapons. DCP (special cell) P S Kushwah said, "This year, a specific input was received regarding movement of HM militants ..
Bengali poet claims freedom of expression under growing threat
Bengali poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay, whose presence at a literary event in Assam's Silchar created a controversy, on Sunday alleged that freedom of expression in the country is under "increasing threat". Bandyopadhyay, who was at Silchar in Barak Valley, to attend a literary discussion on Saturday evening, faced protests from a group for his 2017 poem titled 'Abhishaap' (Curse), officials said. "I am shocked. I had not anticipated there will be such an incident in a place like Silchar. There was no inkling beforehand... There is an increasing effort to curb freedom of expression in the country," he told reporters here. Bandyopadhyay said during the function, a group of people, sitting among the audience, stood up, started shouting slogans against the poem and even tried to vandalise hotel property. "The protesters, who did not carry any party flag or banner, then laid the hotel under siege for two-and-half-hours demanding I leave the place immediately. They were finally .
Illegal arms, fake notes racket busted in Kolkata; 8 arrested
The Special Task Force of Kolkata Police seized fake Indian currency notes (FICN) with a total face value of Rs 60,000, three improvised semi-automatic pistols, 14 firearms and several rounds of ammunition and arrested eight persons from the eastern metropolis, a senior officer said on Sunday.
8 arms, FICN dealers arrested in city
The city police on Sunday arrested eight improvised firearms and fake Indian currency dealers from Narkeldanga Police Statio area. The Special Task Force (STF) officials said the arrests were made following a tip-off while the dealers were trading Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) and improvised firearms among themselves. The arrested were identified as Md Nizam, Md Nausad and Rohit Sahil of Munger in Bihar; Rafikul Sk, Rahul Sk, Md Zeaul Sk and Tahir Sk of Malda district and Jiauddin Mallik of Birbhum district. Counterfeit notes of face value of Rs 60,000 along with three pieces of improvised 7 mm semi-automatic pistols with dual magazines and 21 rounds of live cartidges and 14 semi-finished firearms were seized from their possession. The arrests were made under Arms Act and sections of IPC on conspiracy and waging war against the state, the sources added. The arrested were later produced before the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate here, which remanded them to ...
Two Hizb-ul militants arrested in Delhi-J&K police joint operation
The sleuths of Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested two Hizb-ul Mujahideen militants, including a minor, in a joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir police here on Sunday.One pistol along with 14 live cartridges was recovered from their possession.The duo has been identified as Kifayatullah Bukhari, a resident of Now Pora Bara, Shopian and a juvenile in conflict with the law. According to police, the duo was in contact with the ex-constable of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who joined militant ranks in 2017 and acted as a district commander of the terrorist outfit.Acting on specific inputs that a Hizb-ul Mujahideen militant has procured a sophisticated weapon and is about to join the ranks of the terrorist outfit as an active militant, Delhi police sent two of its officials to Shopian. Subsequently, a joint operation was conducted with the help of Shopian police and a trap was laid to nab the duo.According to the Delhi Police, militants prefer procuring sophisticated small firearms ...
7 injured in protests; Mehbooba, Mirwaiz condemn use of force
Protesters and security forces clashed on Sunday during the funeral procession of a militant commander in Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving seven civilians injured and drawing condemnation from former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer.
Sitharaman on two-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Sunday reached Portblair on a two-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands where she will witness a joint military drill involving the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Coast Guard, officials said. Sitharaman will witness three exercises -- general survival exercise, amphibious drill and a joint drill, an official said. Andaman and Nicobar is also the armed forces' tri-service command. At least two drills will see participation of the three armed forces, the official added. "Smt @nsitharaman arrives in Port Blair to oversee a major joint excercise involving the @adgpi , @indiannavy , @IAF_MCC and @IndiaCoastGuard during her 2 day visit," the defence minister's official handle tweeted. Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is straddled strategically near the mouth of the Malacca Straits. The Malacca Straits is also an important Sea Lane of Communication and used by the navies of several countries, including China which has been stepping up its military
Intelligence failure led to Kargil war: Mohinder Puri
The 1999 Kargil intrusion was the fallout of the failure of the military intelligence as well as other intelligence agencies, Lieutenant General (retd) Mohinder Puri said Sunday while speaking at the Bhopal Litfest here. Recalling the intrusion, Lt. General Puri said Pakistan's aim was to internationalise the Kashmir issue and change the alignment of the Line of Control in the Kargil sector by opening the conflict against India. He had headed the 8 Mountain Division during "Operation Vijay". "The Kargil War happened due to the failure of intelligence agencies, including military intelligence," the decorated officer said during an interaction on the second day of the Bhopal literature and art festival at Bharat Bhavan here. The 8 Mountain Battalion headed by him was tasked to evict the enemy from the Drass-Mushkoh Sector during "Operation Vijay". "It was in the first week of May (1999) when 3 Infantry Division received information of an intrusion in the Batalik sector. .
70 killed in Afghanistan clashes
Increasing militancy and counter-militancy have claimed the lives of more than 70 people in Afghanistan since Saturday, officials said on Sunday.
Yemen rebels boycott meeting with UN-led truce monitors
Yemeni rebels on Sunday boycotted a meeting chaired by the head of a UN-led ceasefire monitoring team in the flashpoint city of Hodeida, accusing him of pursuing "other agendas". Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert is leading a joint committee, which includes both government and rebel representatives, tasked with overseeing a truce in the Red Sea port city and the withdrawal of both parties. Huthi rebel negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam said Cammaert "steered from the course of the agreement by implementing other agendas". "If (UN envoy to Yemen Martin) Griffiths does not address the issue, it is going to be difficult to discuss any other matter," he said on Twitter without elaborating. An AFP photographer said that the Huthi representatives did not take part in the committee meeting in Hodeida on Sunday. The UN declined to comment. Clashes erupted between Huthi rebels and government forces in Hodeida on Saturday, dealing a new blow to the fragile truce. The rebel-held port city, ...
Kolkata police arrest 8 fake currency dealers, seizes Rs.60,000
Kolkata's anti-fake Indian currency note (FICN) team of Special Task Force (STF) have arrested eight FICN dealers in Narkeldanga Police Station area of West Bengal and seized counterfeit notes worth Rs. 60,000.The Munger and Malda-based improvised firearms cum FICN dealers were intercepted while they were trading counterfeit Indian currency notes and improvising firearms on Saturday night.The STF nabbed them with 20 fake notes in denominations of Rs.2000 and 40 fake notes in denominations of Rs. 500 amounting to Rs. 60, 000 along with 3 pieces of improvised 7mm semi-automatic pistols having dual magazines and 21 rounds of live cartridges and 14 pieces of Semi-finished firearms.