Page 326 - War Conflict
16 bodies found after attack in Indonesia's Papua
Indonesian security forces have retrieved the bodies of 16 people in the aftermath of a massacre by suspected separatist rebels in restive Papua province, the military said Thursday. The confirmed deaths, believed to be of construction workers, mark the deadliest bout of violence in years to hit a region wracked by a low-level independence insurgency. The bodies will be evacuated to the town of Timika from the remote district of Nduga, a mountainous region where the attack happened Sunday, local military commander Binsar Panjaitan said. "The latest information is that 16 bodies have been found," Panjaitan told reporters in Papua. The dead had not been identified and the military did not supply details about how they were killed. An earlier eyewitness account supplied by the military detailed the killing of at least 19 people, including in execution style shootings or having their throat slit. Previous local media reports put the number of dead between 24 and 31. On Thursday, the ...
UNIFIL to send team to Israel to probe cross-border tunnel claims
Ras Al-Naqoura, Dec 6 (IANS/AKI) The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon will on Thursday send a fact-finding mission to Israel after its military launched an operation to destroy alleged cross-border tunnels built by Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah, UNIFIL said on Wednesday.
Palghar arms haul case: ATS chargesheet reveals role of Hindu groups in terror plot
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATSS) on Wednesday made shocking revelations of the alleged role of various Hindu organisations in the Palghar arms haul case of August this year and the subsequent unveiling of a terror plot targeting several cities and rationalists in the state.
Two minors arrested for cow slaughter dubbed innocent
Two young Muslims named in the FIR for allegedly slaughtering cows were actually attending an Islamic congregation when the incident allegedly took place, villagers say.
Remembrance ceremony held for 'Battle of Chamb' heroes
The heroes of Indo-Pak Chamb battle of 1971 were remembered in a simple yet befitting ceremony at Pannu war memorial in Akhnoor sector here, a defence spokesman said. A contingent of the 5th Sikh regiment comprising Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks were present to pay homage to the heroes of their unit and the nation, he said. Narrating the events of the 1971 war, the spokesman said, a company of 5 Sikh, under the leadership of Maj D S Pannu, was entrusted with the vital role of defending important routes to Chamb sector. Despite all odds, over a period of four days, the company successfully repulsed as many as 14 attacks launched by the Pakistan army, he said, adding that many brave soldiers, including Maj D S Pannu, sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. On this occasion General Officer Commanding, Crossed Swords Division, Maj Gen Rajinder Dewan, Col (retd) N J S Pannu, brother of Maj D S Pannu and other serving and retired soldiers laid wreath at the Pannu War ...
At least 29 booked for pelting stones at vote counting hall in J-K
At least 29 people have been booked for allegedly pelting stones at a counting hall, hours after the peaceful conclusion of seventh phase of panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, police said Wednesday. The stone pelting was reported from near a counting hall in Khawas near Budhal on Tuesday night, senior superintendent of police, Rajouri, Yougal Manhas said. Some people got into a confrontation over counting of votes and resorted to violence, creating a law and order problem despite repeated attempts by the officials to pacify them, he said. Police fired teargas shells and initiated baton charge to restore law and order, he said. No one was injured in the incident. Police and paramilitary personnel exercised maximum restrain, he added. The police team, led by additional superintendent of police, Nowshera, G L Sharma, brought the situation under control with the help of some senior citizens of the area, Manhas said. The polling staff carrying ballot boxes were ...
HC notice to Centre, TN on rehab of fishermen's kin
The Madras High Court Tuesday issued notice to the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government on a PIL seeking sanction of funds to rehabilitate families of fishermen in the state affected due to attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy. A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam, before which the public interest litigation petition from "Fishermen Care" came up, issued the notice to the governments and asked them to file affidavits with supporting documents before January 10, 2019. The petitioner alleged that human right violations were being committed against the fishermen by the Lankan Navy personnel while they go fishing in the Palk Strait. He claimed that 111 Tamil Nadu fishermen had been killed between 1983 to 2013 by the Lankan Navy and that 16 fishermen were either missing or feared shot dead. Besides, a total of 439 fisherman had been injured in the attacks, he submitted. The petitioner submitted that the human rights violations were the offshoot of ...
Letter threatens bomb blast in Varanasi, police say handiwork of anti-socials
A letter threatening a bomb blast in Varanasi's Sankat Mochan temple was was sent to its head priest Wednesday, following which security in and around the shrine was beefed up, police said. The letter threatened that the blast would be much bigger than the one happened in 2006, Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, the head of the temple, said. Following the incident, Mishra filed a complaint at the Lanka police station. However, Varanasi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anand Kulkarni said it was a handiwork of some anti-social elements or of those having personal enmity with the priest. The security in and around the temple has been beefed up, the police officer said, adding that strict action would be taken against the culprits.
Taliban key commander among 8 killed in Afghanistan
Eight militants including a Taliban key commander were killed in an operation by Afghan security forces in the country's Faryab province on Wednesday, officials said.
French team arrives in Kerala to interrogate IS suspect in 2015 Paris blasts case
A five-member team from a French investigation agency Wednesday reached here to interrogate an alleged Islamic State terror operative in connection with the 2015 Paris blasts, and held discussions with the NIA, which will facilitate the three-day questioning session at a jail in Kerala. The team from the French anti-terror agency will be in Kerala till Friday to interrogate Subahani Haja Moideen, a resident of Thodupuzha, at the Central jail in Thrissur district. "The five-member team from a French anti-terror investigation agency met us at Kochi today," a top National Investigation Agency (NIA) official told PTI here. He said the team arrived in the country after an NIA court in Kochi granted them permission to interrogate Subahani, currently lodged in Viyyur Central jail. "They (the French team) will visit Thrissur and meet the accused Subahani at Viyyur Central Prison, as permitted by the court, from December 5 to 7," the official said. The NIA probe revealed that Subahani knew
Hong Kong cardinal defends Occupy protest leaders in court
An outspoken Hong Kong cardinal Wednesday defended leading democracy campaigners on trial over massive 2014 rallies which paralysed parts of the city, praising their commitment to peaceful protest. Joseph Zen, the former Bishop of Hong Kong, is well-known for his vocal opposition to political oppression in China and his support for democratic reform. Testifying as a witness of character, he said he believed civil disobedience was a "reasonable approach" and felt "ashamed" that he did not endure the pepper spray and tear gas that many demonstrators faced. The rallies lasted 79 days and made international headlines but ultimately failed to win political reform. Sociology professor Chan Kin-man, 59, law professor Benny Tai, 54, and baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming, 74, are on trial on public nuisance charges over their role in the Umbrella Movement protests. They founded the "Occupy Central" movement in 2013, calling for the occupation of Hong Kong's business district if the public was not .
Former Bosnian general arrested for 'war crimes'
A former general who fought with Bosnian Muslim forces during the country's 1990s conflict was arrested in Sarajevo on Wednesday on charges of committing war crimes against Serb civilians, a prosecutor said. Ramiz Drekovic, 62, is the third general from Bosnian Muslims (Bosniak) troops to be accused of war crimes in the past three years by local authorities. Originally from Serbia, Drekovic was a captain in the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) before Yugoslavia unravelled in 1991 through a series of conflicts that left 130,000 people dead, mostly in the Bosnian war. He later became one of the most senior generals in the Bosnian army. According to Bosnia's war crimes prosecutor, Drekovic ordered an artillery bombardment on the mostly Serb town of Kalinovik in the southeast on several occasions in 1995. During these bombings "a 15-year-old child was killed and several children and adults were injured, in addition to extensive destruction of property," the prosecutor's office said in a ...
Paris attacks: French police to interrogate suspected ISIS terrorist in Viyyur prison
A French investigation team on Wednesday reached Viyyur prison in Kerala's Thrissur city to interrogate Subahani Haja Moideen, a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist, in connection with the 2015 terror attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead and hundreds injured.Moideen was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2016. The agency suspects that Moideen may have detailed knowledge about the attacks.The French investigation team will be interrogating the suspected terrorist with the support of NIA.According to the NIA, Moideen was arrested for allegedly supporting activities of the ISIS group. He had reportedly undergone training in Syria.
2015 Paris attack: French team in Kochi
A team of French police officers has arrived here possibly to question an Indian prisoner who has been linked to the 2015 Paris terror attack that left 130 people dead, a Kerala intelligence official said on Wednesday.
Varanasi: Explosion threat for Sankat Mochan Temple
Authorities of the renowned Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi have received a letter threatening a bomb blast in its premises, following which security has been heightened in the area.Vishambhar Nath Mishra, chief priest of the temple, said the letter claimed that a bigger blast will hit the temple again.The Sankat Mochan Temple, along with Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station, were the sites of serial bombings that rocked the city on March 7, 2006. The explosion killed 21 people and injured over a hundred others."We received a letter threatening a bomb blast in Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi. The letter said that bombings were carried out earlier in the temple and a bigger blast will happen again. We informed the police and handed over the letter to them. We are taking precautions and police is investigating the matter," Mishra told ANI on Wednesday.The chief priest further said that this was the handiwork of some anti-social elements and added that the security level at the temple ..
Indonesia hunts suspects in alleged Papua mass killing
Indonesian soldiers hunted Wednesday for rebels suspected of killing a group of construction workers in restive Papua province, as an eyewitness account supplied by the military described a grisly mass execution. The survivor's account detailed the killing of at least 19 people, which if confirmed would mark the deadliest bout of violence in years to hit a region wracked for decades by a low-level independence insurgency. Some 150 military personnel were focusing their operation at Nduga, where employees of state-owned contractor Istaka Karya were building bridges and roads as part of efforts to boost infrastructure in the impoverished region. Some Papuans resent Indonesia's building efforts, saying it is a way to exert more control over a region that shares a border with Papua New Guinea, an independent island nation. Four workers -- including three suffering gunshot wounds -- were among a dozen civilians who have been evacuated from the area so far. "Today we are going to continue ..
Insurgents kill 4 in attack on Afghan checkpoint
Afghan officials say the Taliban have attacked a police checkpoint in the western Herat province, setting off a battle in which a policeman and three civilians were killed. Police spokesman Abdul Ahad Walizada says six of the attackers were killed in the battle late Tuesday. The Taliban effectively control nearly half the country and carry out daily attacks that mainly target security forces. In the eastern Nangarhar province, meanwhile, the director of a local TV station was kidnapped. Attahullah Khogyani, the governor's spokesman, says the TV director, known as Engineer Zelmia, was kidnapped late Tuesday. Zelmia's driver was shot and killed. No one immediately claimed the abduction, but the Taliban and the Islamic State group are both active in Nangarhar.
2015 Paris attack: French team in Kochi to probe NIA undertrial
A team of French police officers along with one of their envoy has arrived here possibly to question a National Investigation Agency (NIA) undertrial, a Kerala intelligence official said on Wednesday.
iNaxals kill two ex-colleagues who turned police informers
Naxals killed two former colleagues who were working as police informers after surrendering in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, police said Wednesday. The deceased, identified as Jallu and Bhima, had surrendered before police about two years ago. After quitting the Naxal movement, they were working as "secret informers" for police in the Bastar area, a senior police official told PTI. The two had gone on Tuesday evening to a weekly market in Pakhnar village, located around 350 km from Raipur, where a group of Naxals attacked them with sharp-edged weapons, the official said. After hacking them to death, the rebels dumped the bodies near Pakhnar police outpost and fled, he said. A police team later reached the spot and sent the bodies for postmortem, he said, adding that a combing operation was underway in the area to nab the assailants.
Armed gang loot Rs 35 lakh from bank
A gang of six men on Tuesday looted Rs 35 lakh from a branch of a nationalised bank situated on Dukka-Bhagalpur road under Dumka town police station in Dumka district, a senior police officer said. The armed dacoits, with their faces hidden with mufflers, reached the bank after the banking hours. DIG (Dumka) Raj Kumar Lakra said they fled in motorcycles after looting the money. Raids are being conducted to arrest the culprits, Lakra said. He said the bank lacked alarm facility and has no security guard. Meanwhile, police were verifying footage from the CCTV cameras to get a clue about the criminals.