Page 351 - War Conflict
Militants kill senior police officer in Pak
A senior police officer was gunned down by unidentified militants in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said. Muhammad Naeem Kakar, who served as a deputy inspector general of police, was going home after offering prayers when the militants struck. DIG Quetta, Abdul Razzaq Cheema, said the attackers fled unhurt from the site. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Cheema said it was difficult to say whether it was a targeted killing or a result of personal enmity. Police officers in the troubled Balochistan province have frequently been targeted by militants. Kakar was a senior officer having served as DIG special branch and on other important positions in the province. In recent years, most targeted attacks against policemen have been claimed by the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Female carries out suicide bombing in Russia's Grozny
Acting head of the Chechen Interior Ministry Apti Alaudinov on Saturday said that a female suicide bomber blew herself near a police station checkpoint in Grozny, Russia.According to the officials, no police officers or civilians had sustained injuries following the incident.Alaudinov further added that the woman staged the blast at about 4:00 p.m. local time. The officers fired warning shots and demanded her to stop after the woman came to the federal police post, reported Sputnik.The investigators are now trying to find the identity of the attacker and her possible associates. According to a source cited by the news agency Interfax, the suicide bomber was not a Chechen national.The last suicide bombing at Grozny checkpoint took place in May 2016. According to the Chechen police, six police officers were injured during the incident.
Regime forces seize IS holdout in southern Syria: monitor
Syrian regime forces Saturday took back control of the Islamic State group's last holdout in southern Syria after months of fighting, a war monitor said. Regime forces retook Tulul al-Safa, between the provinces of Damascus and Sweida, "after IS fighters withdrew from it and headed east into the Badia desert", the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Regime forces have been fighting the jihadists in the area since a deadly July attack on the Druze minority in Sweida province. In recent weeks, air strikes on the Tulul al-Safa pocket had increased and hundreds of regime fighters were sent as reinforcements, the Observatory said. The jihadists' withdrawal was likely "under a deal with the regime forces" after weeks of encirclement and air raids, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. State news agency SANA reported regime forces had made "a great advance in Tulul al-Safa" and said they were combing the area for any remaining jihadists. In the July 25 attack, IS ...
Peacekeeper, priest killed in restive Central Africa: UN, Church
A peacekeeper died after an attack on a UN base in the volatile Central African Republic (CAR) and a priest was burnt to death, the UN and Catholic Church said Saturday after sectarian clashes claimed nearly 40 lives. The soldier died in hospital late Friday of injuries sustained in the raid on a military base in Gbambia in the country's west, the UN mission MINUSCA said. The attack, which started at about 2000 GMT, lasted for some 45 minutes and sent residents fleeing into the bush, the UN said. An armed group called Siriri, created this year by Fulani cattle herders, operates in the area. Led by a man named Ardo Abba, its purported aim is to thwart attacks by cattle rustlers. The UN said the group had attacked Gbambia in mid-June. A Tanzanian UN peacekeeper died the same month after Siriri staged an ambush in the region. Meanwhile, the charred body of a priest has been recovered in the central town of Alindao, where sectarian clashes have claimed at least 37 lives this week, the ...
BJP leader taken into preventive custody from Nilackal
BJP general secretary K Surendran was allegedly taken into preventive custody Saturday night and removed by police from Nilackal, the base camp, as he tried to leave for the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala. Surendran, who was carrying the "Irrumudikettu" (bundle containing offerings for the Lord), was told by a police team led by Yatish Chandra, Superintendent of Police, not to proceed to the shrine as it would create law and order problems. Surendran told the police he had come as a "Ayyappa Bhaktha" (devotee) and should be allowed to pray at the temple. Chanting "Swamiyae Ayyappa", Surendran and others with him jostled with police and tried to move forward saying there was no question of going back. Three of his supporters were also with Surendran when he tried to leave for the shrine. They were removed by police and taken in a jeep. Surendran later told PTI that he was being taken to the Chittar police station and said he did not know if he was being arrested or ...
1 dead, dozens injured in French fuel taxes protests
One protester was killed and 47 others were injured during roadblocks set up around France to demonstrate against rising fuel taxes, a new challenge to embattled President Emmanuel Macron. The protester was killed when a driver caught in traffic accelerated in a panic at Pont-de-Beauvoisin, near Chambery, said Louis Laugier, the prefect, or top state official, in the eastern Savoie region. According to various French media reports, the protesters reportedly knocked on her car as she tried to take her daughter to a hospital. An investigation was opened. Police said that three of the 47 injured in separate incidents at the protests are in serious condition, according to the ministry. Officials said that 24 people have been detained and 17 held for questioning. The Interior Ministry said that around 125,000 protesters were involved in about 2,000 demonstrations around France. The Interior Ministry said security forces used tear gas in several places to unblock major routes, notably at ...
Afghan official: Taliban target police checkpoint, killing 5
An Afghan official says that at least five police officers have been killed when their checkpoint came under attack by insurgents in the northwestern Badghis province. Abdul Aziz Beg, head of the provincial council, says three other police were wounded and another detained by the Taliban early Saturday morning in the Qadis district. Beg said the gun battle lasted about an hour with casualties among Taliban too, but did not provide an exact figure. Taliban insurgents claimed the attack in Qadis, saying they seized ammunition from the checkpoint. The Taliban in recent years has taken over almost half of the country and have stepped up their attacks on security forces.
Hizbul Mujahideen releases video showing militants killing youth
Hizbul Mujahideen has released a video purportedly showing militants killing a youth, who was alleged to be an Army informer. The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows militants pumping a volley of bullets into Nadeem Manzoor, whose body was recovered Friday morning. A resident of Safanagri village of south Kashmir's Shopian district, Manzoor was kidnapped by militants on Thursday night. The militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the killing. In another video shot before his killing, Manzoor, in militants' custody, is seen telling them that he informed the Army about the presence of militants in his native village. "I saw the militants in the village and when I reached home, I gave a missed call to an Army officer. The officer called me back and I told him that there were militants in our village near my home," Manzoor is heard telling the militants. HM commander Riyaz Naikoo, in an audio message released along with the video, defended Manzoor's killing, saying he
Another civilian abducted, killed by militants in J&K
A day after killing a civilian in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on charges of being an Army informer, militants Saturday abducted and killed a 19-year-old in Shopian, police said. "Terrorists Saturday killed a civilian in a brutal act of terror in Shopian district after he was kidnapped earlier in the day from Saidpora area," a police official said. He said a throat-slit body was found from an orchard area in Hermain village of the south Kashmir district. The deceased has been identified as Huzaif Ashraf (19), a resident of Manzgam area of the neighbouring Kulgam district. "Huzaif's body was handed over to his family after completion of the medico-legal formalities," the official said. He said a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated in the matter. Militants had abducted and later killed Nadeem Manzoor, a resident of Safanagri area, on Thursday night, police had said.
Peacekeeper killed in restive Central Africa's west: UN
A peacekeeper died after a UN military base was attacked by unidentified gunmen in the west of the volatile Central African Republic, the UN mission in the country said Saturday. The soldier died late Friday of injuries after the raid on the base in Gbambia at about 2000 GMT, MINUSCA said. He died in hospital.
Militant killed in exchange of fire with security forces
A militant was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday, Defence sources said. Acting on specific intelligence about NSCN cadres carrying out extortion from villagers, Assam Rifles personnel swiftly launched an operation, Kohima-based Defence Spokesman Col Chiranjeet Konwar said. But the spokesman did not specify which faction of the NSCN was carrying out extortion. During search of the area, the security personnel noticed a few suspected cadres trying to flee. "They challenged the militants and asked them to surrender. However, the fleeing militants opened fire on them and they retaliated and brought down controlled effective fire on the fleeing militant and eliminated one cadre," the spokesman said in a release. The other cadres, however, managed to escape using cover of dense foliage. During search operation, the security forces found the hardcore cadre who had succumbed to bullet injuries. A HK33 automatic ..
One abducted civilian killed, two released in Shopian
One of the three abducted civilians by gunmen in Shopian district was killed on Saturday while the other two were released, sources said.
Anti-IS coalition raids kill 36 civilians in east Syria: Monitor
Coalition air strikes Saturday killed at least 36 civilians related to the Islamic State group in a jihadist holdout in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border, a Britain-based monitor said. Seventeen children were among the family members killed in Abu Hassan village of Deir Ezzor province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
'Battle of Longewala' hero, Brigadier Chandpuri, passes away
Decorated war veteran and famous hero of the 'Battle of Longewala', Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, died in a private hospital in Mohali near here on Saturday, family sources said.
Cambodia genocide verdict a signal to other perpetrators: US PHNOM
The US has welcomed Cambodia's landmark genocide verdict and said it served as a warning that perpetrators of mass atrocities, "even those at the highest levels", will eventually face justice for their crimes. A war crimes tribunal in Cambodia found the Khmer Rouge's former head of state Khieu Samphan, 87, and "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, 92, guilty of genocide on Friday and sentenced them to life in prison. The historic verdict comes nearly 40 years after the Khmer Rouge were expelled from Cambodia following a four-year reign of terror that left about a quarter of the population dead from starvation, mass executions, and overwork. "Their crimes were numerous, calculated, and grave," US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, commending the courage of the victims and witnesses who testified during the trial. "Let this be a message to other perpetrators of mass atrocities, even those at the highest levels, including former heads of state, that such actions will not be ...
Brig. Kuldip Singh Chandpuri: the valiant 'Border' hero who defied Pakistani tanks (Obituary) (Lead, Incorporating additional information)
Famously known for the heroics and volour that he and his men displayed on the night of December 5, 1971 during the battle of Longewala (Laungewala) to stop the onslaught by tanks of a determined Pakistani Army, Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was always a fighter - be it for Chandigarh's civic issues or his last battle against cancer.
Class XI student's murder deeply disturbing: Omar
National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday described the killing of a youth by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district as deeply disturbing, saying there can be no justification for such an act. "The cold blooded murder of an 11th standard student by the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for this act & should force those who sympathise with these outfits to question how these murders make Kashmir a better, freer place," Omar posted on Twitter. The former J&K chief minister was reacting to the abduction and killing of Nadeem Manzoor -- reportedly a Class XI student -- by the militants on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday at Niklora in Pulwama, police had said.
J-K Police deputes cops for IED disposal training at TNC school
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has deputed its 14 member team to Tamil Nadu Commando school to get training for disposal of IEDs, senior police officer said Saturday. The four months training will conclude on December 8, he said. The team of policemen, which have been sent for training, includes 2 head constables, 5 special grade constables and 7 constables, he said. "Now IEDs are back in J-K. IEDs are the new threat. Last year there were very few IED incidents, but now they have reappeared," Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar had said earlier. This year, there have already been 14 improvised explosive device (IED) incidents in Kashmir, besides seven instances wherein the devices were detected. On January 6 this year, four policemen on patrol duty were killed in an IED blast by militants in a market in Sopore township, the first major IED attack in Kashmir since 2015.
Hero of battle of Longewala dies
Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri (retd), who is known as the hero of the historic 1971 battle of Longewala, died Saturday in a private hospital in Mohali, his family said. He was 78. Brig Chandpuri was suffering from cancer, his family said. He is survived by his wife and three sons. Hindi film 'Border', in which actor Sunny Deol played the role of Brig Chandpuri, was also made in 1997 depicting the Indo-Pak war in Rajasthan. Brig Chandpuri was a Maha Vir Chakra awardee. The battle of Longewala(1971) was one of the first major engagements in the western sector during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, fought between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defenders at the Indian border post of Longewala in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. A company of the Indian Army's23rd battalion, Punjab Regiment, commanded by Maj Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, was left with the choice of either attempting to hold out until reinforced, or fleeing on foot from Pakistani force. Choosing the former, Chandpuri ensured ...
'Moscow summit first step towards peace in Afghanistan'
The meeting in Moscow last week, which saw the participation of a Taliban delegation and officials from nearly a dozen countries, was the first and positive step towards ensuring a long-lasting peace in Afghanistan, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said.Karzai told Kazakhstan State TV on Friday that no representative from the Afghan government had participated in direct negotiations between the Taliban and US officials in Qatar. He also expressed hope that such meetings would break the ice in ending the decades-long war in the country, TOLOnews reported."In the peace talks in Moscow, which was the first time such a talk was taking place in a major regional capital of the world with the neighbours of Afghanistan all present there including from Kazakhstan and where delegations of the Taliban and delegations of the Afghan Peace Council sat together, the Afghan ambassador was there in that meeting, so, we see it as a positive step, a first step, that will definitely give us results ..