Page 295 - War Conflict
19 Maoists killed in Odisha in 2018: DGP
At least 19 Maoists were killed, 39 arrested and 27 others surrendered during the year 2018, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Odisha, R P Sharma, said on Monday. The DGP said the overall Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation remained under control even as there was need to flush out Maoists from parts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Nuapada districts. Sharma said the number of LWE-affected districts has come down to 15 from 19 this year. The security personnel have been able to seize 40 weapons, including two AK-47 rifles, eight SLRs, five INSAS rifles and five 303 guns from the Maoists during combing operations, the DGP said. While 16 battalions of central para military forces are deployed in the Maoist-hit areas, the state's elite Special Operations Group (SOG) teams have also been fighting against the Maoists in different districts, the DGP added. The DGP also said that a sum of Rs 68.91 crore has been provided in the budget, for ...
Speaking for militants political compulsion for Mehbooba: Governor
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Monday that speaking for militants was a political compulsion for PDP leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
US troop withdrawal will jeopardize peace efforts: Former Afghanistan commander
Former top US commander in Afghanistan Retired General Stanley McChrystal has said that the withdrawal of half of 14,000 American troops stationed in the war-torn country would jeopardize the peace efforts as it would reduce the incentive for the Taliban to negotiate a deal to end the 17-year war.
Srinagar: 4 policemen dismissed after AK-47 rifles looted from former Cong MLC's residence
Four police personnel were dismissed from service, a day after suspected terrorists looted four AK-47 rifles from the residence of former Congress MLC Muzaffar Parray from Jawahar Nagar area in Srinagar.The four cops, who were deployed as Personal Security Officers at former Congress legislator's residence, have been dismissed from service for dereliction of duty and unauthorised absence.A case has been registered by the Jammu and Kashmir police and investigation is underway. An alert has also been sounded in the area.Sharing details of the incident, police had informed that reportedly four AK-47 rifles went missing from the guard room of the former legislator's official residence.Further details are awaited.
AFSPA extended in 'disturbed' Nagaland for 6 months
The Centre on Sunday extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland for a period of six months, declaring the northeastern state a 'disturbed area.'Union Ministry of Home Affair (MHA), in a notification, said that the area comprising the whole state of Nagaland is in such a "disturbed and dangerous" condition that the use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary."In exercise of the power conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 the central government hereby declares the whole of the said state to be a 'disturbed area' for a period of six months with effect from December 30 for the purpose of that Act," reads the MHA notification.The AFSPA grants special powers to the Indian armed forces in 'disturbed areas.' According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976, once declared 'disturbed', the area has to maintain the status quo for a minimum of three months.
2 dead, nearly 30 wounded in bomb blast at Philippine mall
Suspected Muslim militants remotely detonated a bomb near the entrance of a mall in the southern Philippines on Monday as people did last-minute shopping ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations, killing at least two and wounding nearly 30, officials said. The bomb went off near the baggage counter at the entrance of the South Seas mall in Cotabato city, wounding shoppers, vendors and commuters. Authorities recovered another unexploded bomb nearby as government forces imposed a security lockdown in the city, military and police officials said. Maj Gen Cirilito Sobejana said by phone that an initial investigation showed the design of the bomb was similar to those used in the past by local Muslim militants who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Government forces launched an offensive against the militants belonging to a group called Daulah Islamiyah last week and at least seven of the militants died in the fighting, Sobejana said. "This is a part of the retaliation, but the
HC refuses to direct Pune Police to allow Bhim Army's rallies
The Bombay High Court Monday refused to pass any orders to the Pune Police to permit the Bhim Army to conduct public meetings in the city. A vacation bench of Justice C V Bhadang directed the Pune Police to file its affidavit in response to a petition filed by activist Datta Pol, chief of the Bhim Army's Pune unit. Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad was to address a rally at the SSPMS College ground in Pune on Sunday evening, however, it was cancelled as the organisers failed to get required permissions. On Saturday, his supporters alleged that he was "detained" at his Mumbai hotel, a charge denied by the police. The firebrand Dalit leader was also scheduled to have an interaction with students at Savitribai Phule Pune University Monday, but varsity officials said no permission had been granted for the programme. In the petition, Pol sought a direction to the Pune Police to grant them permission to hold public meetings. According to the petition, the Bhim Army had filed several ...
Sri Lanka initiates action against violations of local language laws at Chinese project sites
Sri Lanka has initiated action against Chinese projects that are flouting local language laws in the country.Several Chinese project sites in the South-Asian island nation were found to be using Mandarin and English language for the sign boards and ignoring the official languages -- Sinhala and Tamil.The Minister of National Integration, Official Languages, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs tweeted that action has been initiated against such sites."We can't tolerate violations of local language laws at Chinese sites in Sri Lanka. We wish to provide assistance, if any required & plan to engage with all including the #Chinese embassy," Mano Ganesan tweeted.Mano initiated action against the use of Mandarin language after receiving complaints."Chinese in Sri Lanka should respect local laws. We are receiving complains on sign boards at Chinese projects using Mandarin & English scripts only ignoring both or one of the official languages, IE., Sinhala & Tamil," he ...
China's new-generation battle tank for Tibet in service now
The new-generation much swifter lightweight battle tank, which could easily be deployed in Tibet in the event of a conflict with India, has been handed over to the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Student foils loot attempt, snatches gun from miscreant
A student foiled loot attempt after he was attacked and threatened by a miscreant at gunpoint on Sunday near a petrol pump here in Shahdara.Karan Chowdhary, who has been praised for his brave attempts, told ANI that he left for his institute at around 6 am on Sunday morning and stopped his bike midway to fill petrol. When he moved a few steps ahead from the petrol pump, he was attacked by a miscreant who asked for his motorcycle's keys at gunpoint.The CCTV footage showed that the incident took place around 6.30 am on December 30 and Karan did his best to thwart the loot attempts of made by the miscreant.Elaborating about the incident, Karan stated to ANI: "He asked me to give him my bike keys but I refused to do so. I stepped down from my bike and rushed away from the spot to seek help from people presented at the petrol pump, they all refused to help me and went away from there and locked themselves in a room.""However, I fought with a miscreant all alone and snatched a pistol from ..
Israel protests after Jordan minister pictured stepping on flag
Israel's foreign ministry protested to Jordan on Sunday after a minister was pictured stepping on an image of the Israeli flag while entering a meeting. Jordanian minister of state for information Jumana Ghneimat was pictured last week stepping on the flag design when entering a meeting at a trade union complex. The image of the flag has been affixed to the floor just inside the entrance to the complex for several years to protest Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories and Jordan's normalised ties with the Jewish state, union officials say. Israel called Jordan's ambassador in for clarifications on Sunday, the foreign ministry said. "The foreign affairs ministry considers the incident in which a Jordanian minister insulted the Israeli flag in Amman as serious," a statement said. Jordan's foreign ministry later responded, reaffirming "the (Jordanian) government's respect for the peace treaty with Israel". Jordan had told Israeli officials "that the building was private ...
Clashes in Chad gold-rush region 'leave 30 dead'
More than 30 people have died in northern Chad after Arab fighters, crossing from neighbouring Libya, attacked miners in a region in the grip of a gold rush, rights activists said Sunday. The clashes broke out on Thursday in the Kouri Bougoudi area of the Tibesti border region, the Chadian Convention for the Defence of Human Rights (CTDDH) said in a statement. At least 30 gold miners were killed and more than 200 wounded, it said. Abdul Aziz Youssouf Mustapha, a Chadian with the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), said the fighters attacked all "non-Arabs" who had come to Kouri Bougoudi in search of gold. All miners were forced off the gold-mining area on Saturday, he said. A military source confirmed that there had been fighting but did not give further details. Many of the miners hailed from the Ouaddai region in central-eastern Chad. Sources among the Ouaddai community also confirmed there had been clashes in Kouri Bougoudi. Kouri Bougoudi has been a theatre of ...
Chandrashekhar Azad reaches Pune, no permission for rally
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad reached Pune amid heavy police security Sunday, after being allegedly detained in Mumbai Saturday. Azad was to address a rally at the SSPMS College ground here Sunday evening, however, it was cancelled as the organisers failed to get required permissions. His supporters had alleged Saturday that he was "detained" at his Mumbai hotel, a charge police denied. The firebrand Dalit leader was also scheduled to have an interaction with students at Savitribai Phule Pune University Monday, butvarsity officials said that no permission had been granted for the program. Azad is slated to visit Koregaon Bhima in Pune district on January 1 on the occasion of 201st anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima of 1818 which Dalits in Maharashtra commemorate. Speaking to the media, Azad said he will visit Koregaon Bhima even if the government uses force to stop him. After the permission for Sunday's rally was denied members of the Bhim Army have ...
Four Andhra policemen injured in attack by gamblers
Four policemen, including a Circle Inspector, were injured in an attack by gamblers in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district on Sunday, police said.
Afghan presidential election delayed until July 20
Afghanistan's presidential election will be postponed until July 20, an official said Sunday, as US-led efforts to end the 17-year war with the Taliban gather steam. The three-month delay, announced by the Independent Election Commission (IEC), comes after weeks of speculation that the vote would be put off to create more space for peace talks with Afghanistan's largest militant group. The presidential ballot was originally scheduled for April 20, which many observers had considered unrealistic given the IEC was still finalising results of October's shambolic and bloody parliamentary elections. Provincial and district council elections, as well as a previously postponed parliamentary vote in Ghazni province, will be held on the same day, IEC chief Abdul Badi Sayyad told reporters. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, who plans to seek re-election, welcomed the new timeline. "The Afghan government respects the decision by the IEC and is prepared to cooperate with the commission in ..
Mehbooba Mufti warns against harassment of militants' families in J&K
After meeting a suspected militant's sister, who was allegedly beaten up by Jammu and Kashmir police, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday warned of "dangerous consequences" if harassment of militants' families is not stopped. She met the woman, Rubina, at her residence in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. "Visited Patipora Pulwama where Rubina (whose brother happens to be a militant)was, along with her husband & brother, beaten mercilessly in police custody. The severe nature of her injuries has left her bedridden," Mufti wrote on Twitter. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik to take action against police officials involved in the incident. "Urge the jandkgovernor to initiate action and prevent such incidents in the future. If harassment of families of militants isn't stopped, it will have consequences leading to further alienation in the valley," Mufti said. Later, talking to reporters, she said such ...
Fishermen from TN attacked by SL counterparts
Sri Lankan fishermen allegedly hurled petrol bombs at the boats of fishermen from here in Tamil Nadu and threatened them for using banned fishing nets and snapping their nets. According to Lucas, one of the fishermen who returned here Sunday, the petrol bombs hurled by the Sri Lankan fishermen missed the target and fell into the sea. He said the Sri Lankan fishermen threatened them saying their boats would be set on fire if they returned to the island nation's waters for fishing. Twenty-four Sri Lankan fishermen, who came in six boats, had allegedly attacked them, Lucas said, adding that over 40 fishing nets were also snapped by them.
Lt Gen Manoj Pande takes charge of Gajraj Corps
The command of Indian Army's Frontier Gajraj Corps Sunday changed hands from Lt Gen Gurpal Singh Sangha to Lt Gen Manoj Pande, a defence spokesperson said. Pande who has served in important command and staff appointments, both in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, brings with him immense operational experience. He comes to Gajraj Corps from Pune, where he was the Chief of Staff in Headquarters Southern Command. "The General Officer has served in the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea as the Chief Engineer. For his illustrative service, he has been awarded Ati Vishisht Sewa Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal," the spokesperson said. Sangha, who was replaced by Pande, had an eventful tenure of over an year at Tezpur during which the formation carried out its duties in the Kameng Sector as well as in the counter insurgency operations in Lower and Central Assam, he said.
Adequate security arrangements in place in Jammu, no need to panic: DGP
Following a low-intensity blast at main bus stand and a brief exchange of fire outside an army camp here with suspected militants, state police chief Dilbag Singh Sunday said adequate security arrangements are in place across the Jammu region and there is no need to panic. We are alert to the situation and adequate security arrangements are in place. There is no need to panic. The mischievous elements are trying to create fear but we are well prepared to take care of the mischief mongers, track them down and bring them to book, Singh told reporters on sidelines of a function here. Dismissing the blast at the bus stand Friday night as a mischief, J&K Director General of Police Singh said the police are looking into the incidents and those behind it cannot escape it. Asked if there was any specific input about terrorists planning an attack in Jammu, he replied in negative and said, "We have registered major successes in anti-militancy operations this year They (militants) always ...
Maoists kill BJP MLC's uncle in Bihar, torch 10 vehicles
Maoists shot dead the uncle of a BJP MLC, set a house and 10 vehicles on fire in Bihar's Aurangabad district, a senior police officer said Sunday. Superintendent of Police Satya Prakash said the Maoists attacked Sudi Bigaha village under the jurisdiction of Deo Police Station late on Saturday night, during which a man identified as Narendra Singh (55) was shot dead. Singh is the uncle of Rajan Kumar Singh, a BJP member of Bihar Legislative Council, he said. According to the SP, the Maoists fired several rounds and set 10 vehicles on fire, including three tractors parked at Narendra Singh's house. The Maoists also set a house belonging to one Dhananjay Singh, a dafadar with Deo police station, on fire located near Sudi Bigaha village, SP said. After getting information about the Maoist attack, security forces reached the village and exchanged fire with the Naxals, who then fled from the spot, Prakash said. Senior police officers, including the SP and CRPF Commandant Saurav Choudhary, ..