Page 283 - War Conflict
Armed robbers loot passengers on train in Bihar
A group of armed criminals looted cash and valuables worth 30 lakh from passengers on a train in Bihar's Lakhisarai district and assaulted some passengers, including women, who tried to resist, police said on Thursday.
Army Chief Gen Rawat favours talks with Taliban if needed
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday said that India would talk with the Taliban if New Delhi feels the dialogue will serve the country's interests in Afghanistan."If a number of countries are talking to the Taliban, and if India has an interest in Afghanistan, then we should also join the bandwagon. We should not be left out," General Rawat said at the Army's annual press conference here on Thursday.In November last year, India had participated in talks on Afghanistan in Moscow, of which the Taliban were also a part. New Delhi had participated at a non-official level, sending two former diplomats to the meeting.It is to be noted that India has a policy on not engaging with the group.General Rawat further said, "If somebody has started the talks, let us listen to what is being talked. I have only said what has already been said as someone had already been sent there. Unless you are not sitting on a high table and see how it suits you, you won't know what is happening there in ...
EU urges Army, Buddhist rebels to halt clashes in Myanmar
The European Union on Thursday condemned an escalation in violence in Myanmar's restive Rakhine state that has led to the displacement of around 4,500 people.
17 Journalists killed in Afghanistan in 2018
At least 17 journalists were killed and over 100 cases of violence against media workers reported in Afghanistan in 2018, one of the bloodiest years for the press in the war-torn country, a media watchdog said on Thursday.
Rights group demands trial of new Sri Lanka army chief for alleged war crimes
A global rights group has demanded the international prosecution of Sri Lanka's new Army Chief Major General Shavendra Silva over allegations of war crimes during the final military battle with the LTTE militant group in 2009. The Johannesburg-based International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) said Silva was named by a UN investigation for his part in commanding the 58 Division of the army "which was the unit responsible for repeated and deliberate attacks on hospitals, food distribution queues and displacement camps resulting in tens of thousands of civilian deaths" towards the end of the three-decade civil war when the LTTE was finally crushed. "Sri Lanka now has a chief of army staff who risks arrest every time he travels abroad, if any country is foolish enough to give him a visa," an ITJP release said. The ITJP said that in 2011, a war crimes lawsuit was filed against Silva in New York but had failed because he enjoyed diplomatic immunity at the time. Silva was appointed as ...
Dacoits loot train passengers in Bihar
Armed dacoits looted valuables worth over Rs 5 lakh from passengers of a weekly train from Delhi while it was passing through Lakhisarai district, police said Thursday. The dacoits stopped the train by pulling the chain and robbed passengers of two sleeper coaches and one each of AC2 and AC3 coaches of the Anand Vihar-Bhagalpur weekly superfast train. It appeared that the gang had around 20 members who forced the passengers to part with their mobile phones, jewellery, cash and other valuables, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Railway), Jamalpur, Shivendra Anubhavi said. The incident occurred Wednesday night in between Pavail Halt and Daita Dam stretch in Lakhisarai district that falls under Kiul-Jamalpur section, he said. Anubhavi said the process of working out the total value of the looted articles, including cash, is still on. "It is in excess of Rs 5 lakh. We are also exploring the naxal angle as the area is Maoist-infested and the modus operandi of the dacoits bears
Four civil defence volunteers gunned down at school in southern Thailand
Four Thai civil defence volunteers were gunned down Thursday at a school in the kingdom's south with students just metres away, as bloodshed greets the 15th year of an insurgency in the Malay-Muslim border zone. The culturally distinct region that borders Malaysia has seen rebels fight against the rule of Buddhist-majority Thailand, which annexed the area over a hundred years ago. Since 2004, armed insurgents have clashed with Thailand's powerful military, killing nearly 7,000 people -- mostly civilians -- both Muslims and Buddhists. The death toll dropped to a record low last year as Thailand's junta tightened its security web in the south. But recent weeks have seen an uptick in violence, as rebels show they remain able to carry out operations after 15 years of conflict. The men killed on Thursday were all Muslim and were guarding a school in Yarang district of Pattani province when the gunmen struck. An AFP photographer at the scene saw uniformed bodies on a blood-splattered floor .
Rebel drone bombs Yemen military parade, kills at least 6
A bomb-laden drone flown by Yemen's Houthi rebels flew into a military parade on Thursday outside of the southern port city of Aden, killing at least six troops from a Saudi-led coalition and their allies in a brazen attack threatening UN-brokered peace efforts to end the years-long war tearing at the Arab world's poorest nation. The attack at the Al-Anad Air Base, where American special forces once led their fight against Yemen's al-Qaida branch, targeted high-ranking military officials in Yemen's internationally recognised government. The attack also raised new questions about Iran's alleged role in arming the Houthis with drone and ballistic missile technology, something long denied by Tehran despite researchers and UN experts linking the weapons to the Islamic Republic. "Once again this proves that the Houthi criminal militias are not ready for peace and that they are exploiting truces in order for deployment and reinforcements," said Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani, who ...
Delhi-Bhagalpur Express passengers robbed of Rs 2.7 lakh worth cash, jewellery
A gang of robbers attacked the Delhi-Bhagalpur Express in West Bengal's Malda division and looted valuables worth Rs 2.7 lakh, the Indian Railways said on Thursday.The armed robbers used the alarm chain to stop the train near Bihar's Dhanauri station in between Kiul and Jamalpur sections and looted the passengers on Wednesday night.As many as 10 passengers have lodged complaints with GRP Jamalpur on the basis of which a case under Section 395 IPC has been registered at GRP Jamalpur against the criminals.Efforts are being made to sketch face profiles of the criminals witnessed by the victims."The criminals had country-made pistols, however, no firing incident was reported. Also, no passenger reported any major injury/stabbing, etc when the train was attended at Jamalpur by a doctor, Police and RPF," it stated."The RPF is increasing vigil in inter-zonal areas where these incidents have happened. A special squad, formed to apprehend the gang, may include plain-clothes policemen," it
Mozambican journalist arrested in jihadist-hit region
Mozambique has arrested a respected journalist working in the northern region wracked by a jihadist insurgency, in a second such arrest in weeks, according to global media and rights watchdogs. Amade Abubacar, a community radio journalist for the state-owned Radio e Televisao Comunit?ria Nacedje de Macomia in northern Cabo Delgado province, was seized by police at a bus stop at the weekend while conducting interviews and taking photographs of people fleeing from militant attacks. He was being held at a military prison with no access to lawyers, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Amnesty International. Macomia is one of the areas worst hit by the Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique. Jihadist fighters have terrorised remote communities in the gas-rich and Muslim-majority Cabo Delgado region for more than a year, staging brazen gun and knife attacks on civilians leaving over 100 dead and thousands fleeing their homes. Angela Quintal, CPJ's Africa programme
Iraqi journalist's body found in Baghdad
Iraqi security forces on Thursday found the body of a journalist in the capital Baghdad, the Interior Ministry said.
Afghan officials: Taliban attacks kill 21 policemen
Officials say a wave of Taliban attacks in western and northern Afghanistan the previous day has killed 21 members of the country's security forces. Jamshed Shahabi, spokesman for the governor in western Badghis province, says the insurgents overran outposts there, killing six policemen. Council member Shamsul Haq Baeakzai in northern Baghlan province says seven members of the local police force were killed there, also on Wednesday. And in northern Takhar province, council member Ruhollah Raufi says eight policemen were gunned down. The attacks left another 23 members of the security forces wounded. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for all the attacks. The insurgents carry out near-daily attacks on Afghan troops, inflicting heavy loses. In response, the government in Kabul no longer releases official casualty figures.
Yemen officials: Deadly rebels strike hits base near Aden Yemen
Yemeni officials say a rebel airstrike has hit a military parade outside the southern port city of Aden, killing several troops from the Saudi-led coalition. The pro-rebel news website al-Masirah said Thursday's strike was carried out by a drone that targeted "invaders and mercenaries" at Al-Anad Air Base in the southern province of Lahj, leaving "dozens of dead and wounded." Military officials say the dead and wounded include "officers and senior leaders," which in southern Yemen contain a strong contingent from the United Arab Emirates. Saudi satellite broadcaster Al-Hadath put the death toll at five. The officials spoke anonymously as they weren't authorized to talk to reporters. The strike is a blow to Yemen peace efforts after a cease-fire was signed for the key port city of Hodeida last month.
Pak troops shell LoC areas in Poonch, ceasefire violated for 3rd consecutive day
The Pakistan army violated ceasefire for a third consecutive day Thursday, shelling forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district inviting a strong retaliation from Indian forces, officials said. The year 2018 witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations -- 2,936 -- by Pakistan troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border. "The Pakistani army resorted to firing and shelling on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch sector Thursday morning," officials said, adding there were no casualties or injuries on the Indian side. Indian troops guarding the border retaliated strongly, he said. On Wednesday as well, Pakistani troops had fired on and shelled the Kalal forward area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district twice, they said. The continuous shelling and firing on villages has set in a fear psychosis among the border dwellers. With the latest incident, Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in ...
Mamata remembers brave soldiers, hails Tashkent Agreement
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday remembered the soldiers who laid down their lives during the India-Pakistan war in 1965, following which the Tashkent Agreement was signed on this day. "On this day in 1966, Tashkent Agreement was signed by Lal Bahadur Shastri and Ayub Khan, ending the war between Pakistan and India. Homage to all the soldiers who laid down their lives for the country. Jai Hind," Banerjee tweeted. The 1965 armed conflict between India and Pakistan was formally brought to an end by signing this agreement at Tashkent on January 10, 1966.
Three dead after Sudan protest as crowds cheer Bashir at rival rally
Three protesters died after police broke up an anti-government demonstration in Sudan, police said Thursday, as thousands chanted support for President Omar al-Bashir at a rival rally in Khartoum. Wednesday's competing rallies in the Sudanese capital followed a month of angry street protests over a government decision to triple the price of bread at a time when the country faces an acute shortage of foreign currency and soaring inflation. Protesters chanting "Freedom, Peace, Justice" and "Revolution is the people's choice" blocked a key road in Omdurman, the twin city to Khartoum, but were quickly confronted with tear gas by riot police, witnesses said. Videos posted on social media showed some demonstrators pelting police officers with rocks. The footage could not be verified independently. On Thursday, police confirmed that three protesters had died in the Omdurman anti-government protest but did not specify how they had died. "An illegal gathering was held in Omdurman and police ...
Armed robbers attack Delhi-Bhagalpur Express
Armed robbers attacked the Delhi-Bhagalpur Express in a Naxal-affected area in West Bengal's Malda division and looted valuables worth around Rs 3 lakh, the railways said Thursday. The robbers used an alarm chain to stop the train near Dhanauri station in between Kiul and Jamalpur section and looted the passengers late Wednesday night, it said. A case was registered in this connection after 10 passengers lodged their complaints with the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Jamalpur, the railways said. "The value of stolen valuables is approximate Rs 2.75 lakhs. The criminals had country-made pistols, however, no firing incident was reported," it said. The railways said that no passenger reported any major injury or stabbing. The incident occurred in a Naxal-affected area and the RPF is coordinating with local police and the GRP in this regard, it said. "RPF is increasing vigil in inter-zonal areas where these incidents have happened. Special squad formed to catch the gang may include ...
US military kills 6 Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia
The US military on Wednesday said its special forces conducted an airstrike against Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia on Tuesday, killing six militants.
UN chief names veteran diplomat to be Lebanon envoy
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Jan Kubis, who has led UN missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, to be the new UN special coordinator in Lebanon, the UN announced Wednesday. Kubis, a former foreign minister of Slovakia, will take over from Pernille Dahler Kardel of Denmark, who was acting coordinator since November 2017. The appointment comes amid tensions between Israel and Lebanon, where the United Nations has deployed a peacekeeping force to monitor the border. Israel's army last month launched an operation to destroy tunnels dug by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon to cross into Israel. Kubis served as UN envoy to Iraq from 2015 to December 2018 and led the UN mission to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2015.
More than 30,000 flee Boko Haram violence in NE Nigeria: UN
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in northeast Nigeria after an increase in violence in the Boko Haram conflict, the United Nations said on Wednesday. "More than 30,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have arrived in Maiduguri, mainly from Baga, in recent weeks," said the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon. Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad, has been repeatedly hit in the nine-year conflict, which has killed more than 27,000, left 1.8 million people homeless and triggered a humanitarian crisis. Fighters from the self-styled Islamic State West Africa Province faction of Boko Haram overran two military bases in and around the fishing town on late December. Kallon said fighting on December 26 triggered a "massive displacement" of civilians, with men, women and children flocking to already overcrowded camps in Monguno and Maiduguri. Monguno is a garrison town 65 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of Baga while the Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, is .