Page 393 - War Conflict
3 top Afghan provincial officials killed, US general unhurt
Three top Afghan officials and a local journalist were killed in a shooting at a meeting attended by Afghan and US officials in this southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Thursday.
Guj CM performs 'Shastra Puja' at his residence
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Thursday worshipped weapons as part of a ritual marking the Dussehra festival, at his official residence in Gandhinagar. The chief minister and his wife Anjaliben worshipped weapons such as swords and firearms in the presence of police personnel deputed for the CM's security, stated an official release. "Weapons are the embodiments of our virtues! Performed Shastra Puja this evening to worship virtues to fight vices on (the) occasion of Dussehra," the CM said in a tweet. Such ritual was also performed at various police headquarters across Gujarat.
Pro-Khalistan militant group 'leader' plotting to attack Badal held in Bikaner
The alleged mastermind behind a plot to kill former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was arrested Thursday in Bikaner in a joint operation by Punjab and Rajasthan police, an official said. The arrested man, German Singh, is the leader of a pro-Khalistani module which had attacked and looted police rifles in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district on October 2, he said. Three men were arrested earlier on Sunday for allegedly looting two rifles and ammunition from a police check post in UP's Shamli district after attacking the policemen and injuring two of them. The trio - Amrat Singh, Gurjan and Karan Singh - had later revealed that they were linked to militant group Khalistan Liberation Front and were planning to attack former Chief Minister Badal during his political rallies. On Thursday, the Rajasthan Police arrested pro-Khalistani member Garman Singh from a Gurdwara in Bikaner's Kolayat, the official said. "We received some inputs from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Punjab
Report: South Sudan armed opposition seized girls as 'wives'
A new UN report says South Sudan's armed opposition abducted women and girls as young as 12 and lined them up so commanders could choose "wives." The report gives new details on the surge in violence and abuses that occurred even as South Sudan's rivals negotiated the latest agreement to end a five-year civil war. The report released Thursday says the women and girls who were not chosen as "wives" were left to other opposition fighters who raped them repeatedly. The report is based on accounts from victims and witnesses. New UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says "most of the abducted civilians are, as far as we know, still being held captive." The report focuses on the Western Equatoria region between April and August, saying 900 people were abducted.
Arms transferred from Russia to rebel-held east Ukraine: Watchdog
An independent watchdog on Thursday told AFP it had seen weapons being transported from Russia to rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine over the last week, contradicting Moscow's claim it is not arming separatists. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said it had observed convoys of cargo trucks moving across the border under the cover of night. A drone captured footage of "vehicles, including a truck carrying an armoured personnel carrier, entering and exiting Ukraine" using an unpaved route with no border crossing facilities, it said. The OSCE has previously complained of its drones being jammed. On two other occasions it had seen weapons convoys moving near, but not crossing, the border. In response to the new reports, the United States urged the Kremlin to "stop providing deadly weapons under cover of night to its proxies in eastern Ukraine." "Only Russia can bring an end to bloodshed in Ukraine," the US embassy in Ukraine said last week, after the OSCE announced .
Taliban says deadly attack targeted top US commander in Afghanistan
A powerful Afghan police chief was among at least three people killed in a shooting Thursday the Taliban said had targeted top US commander General Scott Miller. Miller was not hurt in the assault claimed by the militant group that also wounded at least 12 people, including three Americans and a provincial governor, NATO and Afghan officials said. Security forces swarmed the southern city of Kandahar after the shooting that shuttered shops and sent terrified civilians -- already on high alert for attacks -- into their homes. In a Twitter post, the Taliban said Miller and Kandahar provincial police chief General Abdul Raziq, who was killed, were the targets of the shooting. "General Raziq and the provincial NDS (intelligence agency) chief have been killed, and the governor himself is in a critical condition," a senior government official told AFP on the condition of anonymity. An Afghan journalist working for state media also died, media support group NAI said in a statement. Six of ..
Choudhary clears air on attending ICC meet
The BCCI on Thursday cleared the air on whether acting-secretary Amitabh Choudhary was attending the ICC Chief Executives meeting as a substitute to under-fire CEO Rahul Johri, stating that the former is a director of the board and was anyway scheduled to attend the conference.
3 'Khalistani militants' remanded in police custody for ten days by Kiarana court
Three suspected Khalistani militants arrested for allegedly looting rifles from a police post in Shamli district early this month were remanded in police custody Thursday for ten days by a court at Kairana near here. Judicial Magistrate Mukta Tyagi entrusted the custody of the three alleged Khalistan Liberation Front militants - Amrat Singh, Gurjan and Karan Singh to the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad on a plea by the investigating agency that they have to be taken to various places in Punjab for a deeper probe into their terror links and activities. The counsel for UPATS also submitted to the court that the trio confessed during their interrogation that they were planning to attack former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and it needed to probed thoroughly. Additionally, they also have to be interrogated about the whereabouts of the two of their absconding accomplices involved in looting the rifles and ammunition from a police check post from Jhinjhana police station area
Taliban says attack targeted top US commander in Afghanistan
The Taliban said an attack on a high-level security meeting in Afghanistan on Thursday had targeted top US commander General Scott Miller, who NATO said survived the shooting. "The target was General Miller and General Raziq," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter. Abdul Raziq, the police chief in the southern province of Kandahar, was killed in the attack, Afghan officials said.
Sri Lankan PM arrives in India
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday arrived in India for a three-day official visit.On Friday, Wickremesinghe will be attending a programme in the national capital.He is then scheduled to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh on October 20 before holding a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.Wickremesinghe will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in the afternoon. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister will emplane the same day.The Sri Lankan Prime Minister's visit comes amidst media reports claiming that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has accused India of hatching a plot to assassin him. However, Sirisena categorically rejected the reports. He had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Modi.The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also dubbed these reports "baseless and false" while highlighting the strong relationship between India and Sri Lanka.
Powerful Afghan police chief killed in shooting on US security meeting
A powerful Afghan police chief and a journalist were among at least three people killed on Thursday when a gunman opened fire on a high-level security meeting attended by top US commander General Scott Miller, officials said. At least 12 people were wounded, including three Americans and a provincial governor, in the Taliban-claimed attack that comes two days before Afghanistan's long-delayed parliamentary elections. Miller was not hurt. Security forces swarmed the southern city of Kandahar after the shooting that shuttered shops and sent terrified civilians -- already on high alert for attacks -- into their homes. The Taliban said Miller and General Abdul Raziq -- the police chief of Kandahar province who had a fierce reputation for brutality -- were the targets of the shooting. "General Raziq and the provincial NDS (intelligence agency) chief have been killed, and the governor himself is in a critical condition," a senior government official told AFP on the condition of ...
Rajnath to celebrate Dussehra with BSF jawans at INdo-Pak border
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is slated to celebrate Dussehra with BSF jawans at the Indo-Pak border near here Friday, the spokesperson of the border guarding force said Thursday. Earlier during the day, he will participate in the 'Shastra Puja' (worshipping of weapons) function of the paramilitary force, the spokesperson said. The home minister arrived Nal airport this evening. He is also scheduled to attend a "big feast" with the Border Security Force jawans tonight.
2 Americans, 1 Afghan injured in Kandahar shooting
At least two Americans and an Afghan were injured in a shooting at the Governor's complex in the country's Kandahar province on Thursday, but the commander of Nato's Resolute Support Mission, Austin 'Scott' Miller, escaped unhurt.
Gunman opens fire on Afghan-US security meeting, casualties: Officials
An Afghan security chief and a journalist were killed and three Americans wounded Thursday when a gunman opened fire on a high-level security meeting attended by top US commander General Scott Miller, officials said. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack in the southern city of Kandahar that comes two days before Afghanistan's parliamentary elections that the militant group has vowed to disrupt. Security forces swarmed the city after the attack at the provincial governor's office where the senior Afghan and foreign officials had gathered, witnesses told AFP. The Taliban said General Abdul Raziq, the powerful police chief of Kandahar province with a fierce reputation for brutality, was the target of the shooting. Raziq was killed and six of his bodyguards wounded, a provincial security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "The shooting happened as they were leaving the meeting," the official said, adding two members of Afghanistan's spy agency also were ...
Pro-Khalistan group member planning to attack Badal held in Bikaner
A wanted criminal and alleged pro-Khalistani group member, who was planning to assassinate former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, was arrested Thursday in Rajasthan's Bikaner district, police said. The accused, Jarman Singh, is the leader of a pro-Khalistani module that had allegedly attacked and looted police rifles in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district on October 2. Three men were arrested in Shamli on Sunday in connection with the October 2 incident. They later revealed that they were linked to militant group Khalistan Liberation Front and planned to attack former chief minister Badal during his political rallies. On Thursday, The Rajasthan Police arrested pro-Khalistani member Jarman Singh from a Gurudwara in Bikaner's Kolayat, police said. "We received some inputs from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Punjab police about Jarman Singh who was hiding in Bikaner. On the basis of that, the accused was traced and nabbed in a Gurudwara in Kolayat area," Bikaner IG Dinesh M
Amarinder to embark on 5-day visit to Israel on Oct 21, will meet Prez Rivlin
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will hold extensive discussions with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on a wide range of subjects of mutual interest during his five-day visit to Jerusalem beginning October 21, an official spokesman said. Singh, who will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, will also meet several Israeli ministers and top-ranking officials during the visit, he said. Among those the chief minister is scheduled to meet include Minister for Agriculture Uri Ariel and Minister of Energy and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz, the spokesman said. He said it is expected that two important MoUs in the field of water management will be signed between Punjab and Israel. Singh, who is scheduled to reach Israel on Sunday, will leave the country on October 25. He is slated to visit several historic and culturally important sites, as well as some major centres of hi-tech irrigation, agriculture, horticulture and dairy farming. He will also visit the Commonwealth Cemetery for .
New GOC of XVI Corps reviews security situation in Jammu region
Lt General Paramjit Singh, the general officer commanding (GOC) of the Army's Nagrota-based XVI Corps, Thursday reviewed security situation of hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, a defence spokesperson said. Lt Gen Singh visited Surankote sector in Poonch district and Counter Insurgency Force (Romeo) at Palma in Rajouri district, he said. During the visit to the Counter Insurgency Force headquarters, the Corps commander was briefed about the prevailing security situation and the conduct of recently held urban local body elections in the region and forthcoming Panchayat elections, the spokesperson said. He was also briefed on the actions being taken to ensure a robust counter-terrorist grid to enable continued peace and stability in the region, the spokesperson added. The Commander of the XVI Corps, which is popularly known as White Knight Corps, complimented the troops for ensuring the situation remains stable and lauded the local population, especially the
Taliban target NATO convoy, killing 2 Afghan civilians
A Taliban suicide bomber slammed into a NATO convoy near the Afghan capital, killing two civilians and injuring five Czech troops, Afghan officials and the Czech military said Thursday. The attack, which took place late Wednesday in the district of Bagram in Parwan province, also wounded three Afghan civilians, said Wahida Shakar, spokeswoman for the provincial governor. Bagram is about 40 kilometers (24 miles) from Kabul and is also the home of a sprawling US military base. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Of the five Czech soldiers, one was seriously injured when their vehicle overturned following the explosion. The soldier underwent surgery and the Czech military said he was not in life-threatening condition. Earlier, NATO spokeswoman Sgt 1st Class Debra Richardson had said three alliance service members were hurt in the bombing but didn't provide more details. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said an insurgent suicide bomber rammed his car into the NATO ...
PM to unveil national police memorial, museum on Oct 21
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the refurbished national police memorial, including a newly built museum of these forces in khaki, in Delhi this Sunday, officials said Thursday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, his two Ministers of State Kiren Rijiju and Hansraj G Ahir and the top brass of central armed police forces (CAPFs), central security agencies and state police units will be in attendance during the event on October 21 at the memorial based in central Delhi's Chanakyapuri area. "The day is observed to pay homage to 10 policemen killed in an ambush by Chinese troops in 1959 in Ladakh's Hot Spring area. Numerous other personnel who laid down their lives protecting India's unity and integrity are also remembered on the occasion," CRPF Director General R R Bhatnagar said. This supreme sacrifice made by the personnel of the CRPF, during the valiant combat with the Chinese PLA, is the source of inspiration for policemen and officers across the country, the Central Reserve ...
Border security paramount for development: Bhagwat
Secured borders are of paramount importance to ensure prosperity and development of India given the current complex international scenario, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said here on Thursday.