Page 355 - War Conflict
3 civilians abducted in J&K
Unidentified gunmen on Saturday abducted three civilians from Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.
An 'epic' on Indian soldiers in WWI (Book Review)
Book: The Indian Empire At War; Author: George Morton-Jack; Publisher: Little, Brown; Pages: 582; Price Rs 699
Migrants won't see armed US soldiers on border
As thousands of migrants in a caravan of Central American asylum-seekers converge on the doorstep of the United States, what they won't find are armed American soldiers standing guard. Instead they will see cranes installing towering panels of metal bars and troops wrapping concertina wire around barriers while military helicopters fly overhead, carrying border patrol agents to and from locations along the US-Mexico border. That's because US military troops are prohibited from carrying out law enforcement duties. What's more, the bulk of the troops are in Texas hundreds of miles away from the caravan that started arriving this week in Tijuana on Mexico's border with California after walking and hitching rides for the past month. Still, for many migrants the barriers and barbed wire were an imposing show of force. Angel Ulloa stood on Tijuana's beach where a wall of metal bars more than 20 feet high cut across the sand and plunged into the Pacific. He watched as crews on the US side ..
Voting begins in first phase of J&K panchayat polls
Polling began on Saturday for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat elections under tight security arrangements.
Almost 30,000 Afghan troops killed since 2015: Ghani
The death toll among Afghanistan's security forces is nearing 30,000 since the start of 2015, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said, a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged. Ghani appeared via video link this week at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, part of a university he once taught at as a professor of anthropology. Since the start of 2015, when local police and army units succeeded NATO as bearing responsibility for Afghanistan's security, "28,529 of our security forces have lost their lives and become martyrs for our freedom," Ghani said. In the same timeframe, 58 Americans have been killed, he said. "I would like to salute the patriotism of the Afghan security forces, every single one of whom is a volunteer," Ghani said. "We have no conscription, nobody is forced, and if there was not a patriotic impulse I don't think that people would sacrifice their lives for a pay of $200." The rate at which Afghan forces are dying ..
Bomb kills two, injures eight in Karachi
A bomb killed at least two people and wounded eight others in Pakistan's port city of Karachi Friday, police and hospital officials said. The blast reportedly damaged buildings and triggered panic in the densely populated Malir district. "A timed device planted underneath a pushcart exploded with a big bang, killing two people and wounding eight others," senior police official Irfan Ali Bahadur told AFP. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility but Karachi, the country's economic and commercial hub, has long been in the grip of militant, sectarian and ethic violence. Police cordoned off the area after the explosion and bomb disposal officials were called to the scene. Seemi Jamali, a senior doctor at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre where the dead and wounded were brought, confirmed the toll and said two of the injured were in a critical condition. Violence in Pakistan has declined dramatically in recent years following a series of military operations along the northwestern border .
Police team attacked in Delhi
A vigilance team of outer district Delhi police was attacked with stones following a raid in Ranhola area during which it seized illicit liquor, police said Friday. The police team seized around six cartons of illicit liquor and relatives of those whose premises were raided pelted stoned at it, they said. Two police personnel sustained grievous injuries as they were hit with bricks, they added. A case has been registered in the matter and efforts are being made to nab the accused, the police said.
Jailed war criminal Mladic 'sends kisses' live on Serb TV
Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic, sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide, spoke live by telephone to a Serbian television channel from a Dutch jail Friday saying he was sending kisses, sparking outrage and increased monitoring from authorities. It was the first time Serbs have heard the voice of the man once dubbed the Butcher of Bosnia since he was convicted in November 2017 for war crimes and genocide. "Grandpa Ratko sends you kisses," the 75-year-old told the Happy commercial station. Mladic was found guilty notably over the 1995 Srebrenica genocide -- Europe's worst slaughter since World War II. Serb forces led by Mladic killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys. Mladic's son Darko Mladic phoned him in jail Friday during a TV show and put the call on speaker. Serbian ultra-nationalist leader Vojislav Seselj, also condemned for war crimes, was present in the studio amid a cheerful atmosphere. "Tell Voja (Seselj) to come and see me to play chess, the last time I beat him ..
Thirty-seven killed in C.Africa clashes: UN
Thirty-seven bodies were found Friday in the central town of Alindao after clashes between armed groups, the UN mission in the perennially restive Central African Republic said. "Thirty-seven deaths confirmed in Alindo," said a report seen by AFP. An earlier report spoke of seven deaths in clashes on Thursday when Christian militiamen known as anti-balaka killed Muslims, prompting revenge attacks in which a priest was killed and a church torched.
Six jailed for life over deadly Istanbul airport attack: report
A Turkish court on Friday sentenced six suspected Islamic State militants to life in jail over the 2016 triple suicide bombing of Istanbul's main airport that killed 45 people, local media reported. The six were convicted of murder, violating the constitution and damaging property, according to the official Anadolu news agency. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at Ataturk Airport on June 28, 2016 but Turkey said the Islamic State group was behind the airport blasts. The court indictment said IS had "targeted the Turkish republic" with the attack. Turkish media had previously identified the man who organised the assault as Akhmed Chatayev, the Chechen leader of an IS cell in Istanbul who reportedly found accommodation for the bombers. Nineteen foreigners were among those killed in the suicide bombings. Forty-six suspects -- one third of them Russian nationals -- were on trial in connection with the attack. There were no immediate details on the remaining suspects.
Chaos, brawls in Sri Lankan parliament over divisive no-confidence vote
Brewing tensions in Sri Lanka's Parliament over a no-confidence motion against the country's newly appointed prime minister boiled over to an all-out brawl between lawmakers on Friday.
Post-tigress killing fracas, BJP minister keeps off alliance efforts with Sena
Peeved over the massive fallout of the killing of tigress Avni (T1), Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Friday said he has decided to withdraw from the reconciliation efforts for an alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena.
Sitharaman addresses 58th NDC course participants
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed Friday the participants of the National Defence College's 58th course, taken by senior officers of the armed forces. The Union minister spoke on 'India's National Security Imperatives amidst a transitional world order' on the occasion. "Smt @nsitharaman spoke extensively on 'India's National Security Imperatives admist a transitional world order' while addressing the 58th NDC Course participants at the National Defence College, New Delhi," the twitter handle of the defence minister said. Following the address, she had a question and answer session with the course participants at the National Defence College, it said.
We expect Youth of Kashmir to represent country in Sports: GOC Army's 15 Corps
AK Bhatt, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army's 15 Corps on Friday asserted that youth of Kashmir must not follow the path of violence and should strive to represent the nation in sports."We expect that youth of Kashmir can represent India in different sports and bring glory for the state and nation. This is what I see as the future of our youth," he said.Encouraging the youth to throw away guns and get into sports for a glorious future, Bhatt said, "Those who have guns in their hand, I want to say them to throw away the gun and get into sports. The path of violence is full of darkness. Holding weapon will only bring sadness for them and their families. We will surely give a chance to those holding gun but if they won't relent we will have to neutralise them."Condemning the killing of a youth in Shopian, Bhatt said, "These terrorists have no religion, no values. They have killed a young boy. The reason for the terrorist attack is still unknown. But definitely, it's a terrorist ...
Chhattisgarh: CRPF jawan ends life
A jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) allegedly committedsuicide in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district Friday. Constable Sujit Chandra Roy of 168th battalion hanged himself from a ceiling fan in the battalion's headquarters in Bijapur town, 450 km from here, a local police official said. Roy hailed from Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, the official said, adding that the cause of suicide was yet to be ascertained.
5 NDFB cadres, 2 NSCN (R) workers held ahead of ULFA (I) Nov
Ahead of the ULFA (I) protest day on November 27, security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have apprehended five cadres of outlawed NDFB and two over ground workers of NSCN (R) in separate operations in the state. The Jairampur Battalion of Assam Rifles in an operation, apprehended five rebels of the NDFB from Old Khamdo village in Changlang district on Thursday night, Kohima-based Defence Spokesman Col Chiranjit Konwer said in a communiqu on Friday. They were identified as Biswajit Basumatray alias B Birsha, Birkhang Basumatray alias B Bwsrang, Divika Muchhary alias M Daobaisuli, Sampa Basumatray alias Sarfao and Dwimu Brahma alias B Dwijiri. Large number of arms and ammunitions, including four pistols and one carbine along with other incriminating documents, were recovered from their possession, the spokesman said. In an another drive, the Changlang Battalion of Assam Rifles nabbed two linkmen of NSCN(R) from Ledo and Margherita areas under Tinsukia district of Assam on ...
Seven cadres of two banned outfits held in Arunachal
Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have apprehended five cadres of outlawed NDFB and two overground workers of NSCN(R) in separate operations, as a precautionary measure ahead of the Protest Day observation on November 28 by ULFA (Independent), a defence official saod. The United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) has been observing Protest Day on November 28 since 1990, when the outfit was banned by the government, in memory of its cadres who died in army operations. In a late-night raid on Thursday, the Jairampur Battalion of Assam Rifles apprehended five rebels of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) from Old Khamdo village in Changlang district, Kohima-based defence spokesman Col Chiranjit Konwer said on Friday. A cache of arms and ammunitions, including four pistols and one carbine, along with incriminationg documents, were recovered from their possession, he said. In another operation, the Changlang Battalion of Assam Rifles apprehended two ...
Protests erupt against ISI, Pak Army for killing Pashtun police officer
Protests erupted against Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pak Army for brutal killing of Pashtun police officer, Tahir Dawar. Pashtuns in Pakistan chanted slogans against the Pakistan Army and ISI for brutally killing Dawar.A large number of people came out on the streets at various cities and towns, including capital Peshawar, to condemn kidnapping and target killing of a Pashtun.Tahir was gone missing in Islamabad about two weeks ago and his dead body was found in Afghanistan at the international border. Taliban denied any role in the killing. Pashtoons believe that ISI kidnapped Tahir and killed him because he eliminated Taliban operatives during operations against terrorism and was sympathetic to the demands for return of thousands of missing Pashtuns.Superintendent Tahir Dawar was head of Peshawar Police's rural area circle. He survived two suicide attacks by terrorists. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pansteen met the brother of the slain police officer in ...
Upset Mungantiwar unwilling to hold alliance talks with Uddhav
Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar has said he is upset at Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's criticism of him on tigress Avni's killing, and therefore is not willing to participate in alliance talks with the latter. Mungantiwar, the state's Forest minister, has been at the centre of attacks from politicians like Thackeray and Union minister Maneka Gandhi as well as animal rights groups for the killing of tigress Avni, allegedly a man-eater, on November 2 in Yavatmal. Speaking to select mediapersons recently, Mungantiwar claimed when he called up Thackeray to convey his disappointment over the latter's remarks, the Sena chief told him that Union minister Maneka Gandhi had asked him to do so. "I told Uddhav ji I was deeply hurt by his remarks over the Avni episode. I did not expect this from him, especially when I considered him a good friend. During the course of the conversation, he told me Maneka ji had called him and asked him to oppose the killing of the tigress,"
Govt sets up tribunal to decide on ban on 2 Tripura militant groups
The Centre has set up a tribunal, headed by Delhi High Court Judge Justice Suresh Kait, for adjudicating whether or not two Tripura-based militant outfits should be declared banned organisations under the law. The decision has been taken by the Home Ministry exercising the powers conferred under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, an official notification said. "...the central government hereby constitutes 'The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal' consisting of Hon'ble Shri Justice Suresh Kait, Judge of Delhi High Court, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) as unlawful associations," it said. A fresh ban of five years were imposed on the two insurgent groups of Tripura by the central government last month for their "violent and subversive activities", which aim at establishment of an independent nation by secession of Tripura from India ...