Page 298 - War Conflict
Encounter underway in J-K's Pulwama
An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said. Acting on specific information about the presence of militants in Hanjan area of Pulwama in south Kashmir, security forces launched a cordon and search operation, a police official said. He said as the forces were conducting searches, the hiding militants fired upon them. The forces retaliated, leading to the encounter, the official said. He said the gunfight is going on and further details were awaited.
Two militants killed in J&K
Two militants were killed on Saturday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said.
J-K: Gun battle underway between security forces and terrorists
An exchange of fire is underway between the security forces and terrorists in Rajpora, Pulwama.Security forces have cordoned off the area and search operation has been launched after receiving inputs that terrorists were hiding in the area.No reports of loss of life and property reported yet.More details awaited.
Egypt: 4 dead in tourist bus bombing near Giza
As many as four people including three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian tour guide lost their lives in a roadside bombing that targeted a tourist bus here on Friday, Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek has confirmed.CNN quoted Sadek as saying that the blasts which took place in the Haram district of Giza, famous for the Egyptian pyramids, injured 11others by an improvised explosive device (IED) that was hidden near a wall.Till now no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.However, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez declared it to be an act of terrorism."The bombing of the tourist bus in El-Maryoutiya, a despicable, cowardly terrorist act which targets what cannot be targeted: The determination of Egypt and the Egyptians," Hafez tweeted."We extend our sincere condolences to the victims' families in Vietnam and Egypt. We will continue to move towards a new year of determination to root out terrorism," he added.Meanwhile, Prosecutor-General Sadek has ordered for further
Bhim Army chief to hold rally in Chaitya Bhoomi tomorrow
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan, would be holding a rally in the Jambori Maidan here on Saturday, despite police orders that have denied from granting his request.Azad will be visiting the Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, a memorial dedicated to B.R. Ambedkar, the founder of the Indian Constitution, after which he was scheduled to hold a rally here ahead of the anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1.The Mumbai police have beefed up security in Chaitya Bhoomi ahead of the scheduled rally by the Bhim activists tomorrow.The Bhim Army chief, who was sent to jail, on June 8, last year in connection with 2017 Saharanpur caste violence case was released from the prison on September 14. He was booked under National Security Act (NSA) charges.Ravan was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie for inciting caste clashes in different areas of Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district.After coming outside the jail, Ravan had ...
Former Nigerian President Shagari dies at 93
Former Nigerian President Shehu Shagari died in the country's capital city of Abuja on Friday at the age of 93.
Security beefed up before Bangladesh polls on Sunday
As Bangladesh prepares to go for polling on December 30 to elect a new Parliament in the country, armed forces have been deployed in 389 'upazilas' or administrative region till January 2.Dhaka Tribune reported that the security and law enforcement agencies of the country have unveiled various measures, to ensure an environment free of violence, intimidation and coercion before and after the 11th Parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on Sunday.Security forces including Bangladesh Army troops, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are reportedly patrolling the streets and have set up security check-posts over different locations in Dhaka.Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has been given the responsibility of maintaining security and stability before and after the general elections.Dhaka Tribune quoted the DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia as saying, "The DMP has already established a well-coordinated and strong security system to ..
J-K: Gun battle underway between security forces, terrorists
A gun battle is underway between the security forces and terrorists in Wagoora area of Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar city.Considering the security of civilians, the area has been cordoned off and no loss of life or property has been reported yet.It is yet to be known how many terrorists are holed up.Further details are awaited.
Two Vietnamese tourists killed in bus blast near Egypt's pyramids
Two Vietnamese tourists were killed on Friday when a home-made bomb hit a bus carrying foreign tourists in Marioutiya area near the Giza Pyramids, Egyptian interior ministry said.
CISF camp attacked in J&K
Suspected militants attacked a paramilitary camp on the outskirts of Srinagar on Friday night, but there was no loss of life, police said. The camp that was attacked is located in a power station at Wagoora area of Nowgam in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel retaliated and there was a brief exchange of fire before the militants fled, the police said. No loss of life or injury was reported, a police officer said, adding that the area had been cordoned off. In October, a CISF officer was killed in a sniper attack by militants at the same camp.
Police bar Ekbote, KKM members from visiting Koregaon Bhima
Ahead of the 201st anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima, the Pune rural police have prohibited several persons including Hindu right-wing leader Milind Ekbote, members of the cultural organisation Kabir Kala Manch and others from visiting the war memorial and the surrounding area. The memorial of the 1818 victory of the East India Company's forces which included Dalit Mahar soldiers over the Brahmin Peshwa's army is visited by Dalits every year on January 1. However, the place, 40 km from Pune city, witnessed violence during the bicentennial commemoration of the battle on New Year's day in 2018. "So far we have issued notices under section 144 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to several people and barred them from visiting Koregaon Bhima area," said Superintendent of Police Sandip Patil. Notices were issued to all those against whom cases of serious nature were registered with regard to the violence of January 1, he said. Right-wing leaders Sambhaji Bhide ...
N S Jamwal takes over as IG BSF of Jammu Frontier
Inspector General (IG) N S Jamwal on Friday took over the command of Border Security Forces (BSF) for Jammu Frontier. He has succeeded Ram Awtar, IG who has now been posted to BSF Academy Tekanpur.While taking over the command he said, "I will take forward BSF's commitment of maintaining the sanctity of the borders and will not leave any stone unturned towards maintaining a secure environment to ensure safety and security of border population."Prior to this appointment, Jamwal had commanded Mizoram and Cachar frontier of the BSF for two years, in the North-East region of India. There he coordinated the operational and logistic support to BSF troops.He is a 1984 batch Direct Entry BSF cadre officer belonging to Jammu and Kashmir. He has earlier served as an instructor at the Commando Training Centre of BSF in Takenpur. He has also served as Chief Nodal Officer (Intelligence) and Staff Officer to Director General BSF for four years and has also served as a member of International Task ..
Ten booked for ransacking shops over 'cow slaughter'
The police have booked 10 men over the ransacking of shops at a market in the district after the discovery of a severed cattle head. Protesters from some Hindu groups Thursday damaged shops belonging to Muslims in Rohru tehsil's meat market after a chopped head, allegedly of a calf, was found in a building near Arhal Road, police said. The men have been booked under different sections of the Indian Penal Code for instigating and taking part in the ransacking of shops. The FIR was registered on the basis of a statement by the Rohru station house officer, police added. It names 10 people. The police said the situation remained under control on Friday. Earlier, after the discovery of the cattle head, the police had registered an FIR which included sections related to attempts to outrage religious feelings and promote enmity between different groups. The police had also recorded the statement of a local resident who said a friend had informed him about someone throwing a calf's head at ...
Pak army chief confirms death penalty for 22 'hardcore terrorists'
Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed death sentences handed down to 22 "hardcore terrorists" by military courts, a report said on Friday. The terrorists were convicted by military courts which were set up after the 2014 Peshawar school attack that killed 150 people, mostly schoolchildren, Radio Pakistan reported. Their terrorist acts resulted in the deaths of 176 people, including 19 armed forces personnel, 41 police and levies officials and 116 civilians and injured 217 others, it said. Besides those given death sentences, 15 convicts were imprisoned while two were acquitted.
Army reviews security situation in Kashmir
Army commander, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Friday reviewed the prevailing security situation and the operational preparedness of the forces in Kashmir, a defence spokesman said. Lt Gen Singh arrived in the Kashmir valley to review the prevailing security situation, he said. The army commander, accompanied by Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen A K Bhatt, visited the forward areas in the frontier districts of Kupwara and Baramulla, where he was briefed by the commanders on ground as regards to the operational preparedness. During his interaction with the troops, Lt Gen Singh lauded their professionalism, high morale, sharp vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) and exhorted them to remain alert for any eventuality, the spokesman said. Later in the day, the spokesman said, the Army commander visited the hinterland formations and was briefed about the current situation and recent counter-militancy operations. The Army commander complimented the troops for their remarkable successes ..
Royal Mail sorry for D-Day stamp of US troops in Indonesia
Britain's Royal Mail apologised on Friday over a commemorative stamp design for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France next year that instead showed US troops landing in what is now Indonesia. The design was part of a series of special issues showcasing the "Best of British" and was to be released in time for the anniversary of the Allied landings on June 6, 1944. The image, which was previewed on Thursday, was labelled "D-Day Allied soldiers and medics wade ashore". "We would like to offer our sincere apologies that our preview release for our 2019 Special Stamp programme included a stamp design which had been incorrectly associated with the D-Day landings," a Royal Mail spokesman said. The image selected instead showed US troops disembarking in what was then Dutch New Guinea in May 1944. Twitter users were quick to point out the mistake. "Please correct this or you will look like idiots," Paul Woodadge, a D-Day historian, wrote to Royal Mail.
Militia chief in DR Congo blamed for multiple rapes arrested
A notorious DR Congo militia chief whose men have been accused of systematic rapes has been arrested, the army said on Friday. Isaac Chirambiza was seized on Tuesday with three of his men in a military operation in South Kivu province, regional spokesman Captain Dieudonne Kasereka told AFP. One soldier died in the operation, which unfolded in a forest, he said. Chirambiza's militia is a sub-group of Raia Mutomboki, an organisation that portrays itself as defenders of the Congolese against the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu force that became established in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2000. In March, AFP visited a clinic for rape victims run by Dr Denis Mukwege, who this year was co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work. Several victims said they had been raped by Raia Mutomboki men, including a girl aged 10.
Suspected militant killed in an exchange of fire with police
A suspected militant was killed in an exchange of fire with police at Maibang area in Assam's Dima Hasao district Friday, a police officer said. A police team and members of a suspected militant group exchanged fire in the early hours of Friday. After the firing stopped, police recovered the body of a suspected militant, the officer said. The police team also recovered ammunition from the spot, the officer said, adding that search is on the apprehend the other members of the group.
N S Jamwal takes over as IG BSF of Jammu frontier
Inspector General N S Jamwal Friday took over the command of the Border Security Force for Jammu frontier, officials said. He succeeds IG Ram Awtar who has been posted to BSF Academy Tekanpur. Prior to this appointment, Jamwal commanded the most versatile Mizoram and Cachar Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) in the North-East for two years wherein he coordinated the operational and logistic support to BSF troops deployed in one of the most difficult terrains in the country, they said. Jamwal, a 1984 batch direct entry BSF cadre officer, also served as instructor at the prestigious Commando Training Centre of BSF in Tekanpur, which trains commandos for various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police organisations. He had served as chief nodal officer (Intelligence) and staff officer to DG BSF for four years. The officer also served as member of the International Task Force dealing with issues pertaining to human trafficking, drugs and narcotics, border management .
Trump brags US troops on military pay raise
US President Donald Trump, who was on his maiden visit to Iraq, met military troops stationed in Baghdad and claimed that he gave them a 10 per cent pay raise and called it the first hike in more than a decade. However, the soldiers will actually receive a 2.6 per cent raise in 2019, and not 10 per cent as claimed by Trump."You protect us. We are always going to protect you. And you just saw that, because you just got one of the biggest pay raises you've ever received. You haven't gotten one in more than 10 years. More than 10 years. And we got you a big one. I got you a big one. I got you a big one," Trump was quoted by CNN as saying.The Pentagon has hiked the pay at around 1 per cent every year for the past decade, The Hill reported citing figures from the US Defense Department.However, according to CNN, the military pay has been hiked every year for more than three decades. It was first raised 2.4 per cent in 2018 and then 2.6 per cent in the 2019 National Defense Authorisation ...