Page 412 - War Conflict
ACP among 7 cops injured during farmers' protest, Police claim they used 'minimum force'
Seven policemen, including an assistant commissioner of police, were injured as protesting farmers turned violent while trying to enter the city from Uttar Pradesh in defiance of prohibitory orders, Delhi Police claimed on Tuesday. As it drew flak for what the parties termed as "brutal" action against the protesters, the police said they used only "minimum required force" to control the situation. Police said a section of protesters, who were participating in the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) march, suddenly turned violent as the cops tried to persuade them not to break the barricades. Police said they used 20 tear gas shells and water cannons to manage the crowd, adding it was "minimum required force". As many as 3,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure that the farmers were not able to enter Delhi. Since morning, the farmers gathered at Ghazipur border between Delhi and Ghaziabad in several thousands. Senior officers including Special Commissioners of Police(Law andOrder), joint
NATO exercise to be biggest since Cold War
NATO's Trident Juncture 18 exercise will draw in 45,000 troops, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday, unveiling what officials confirmed would be the alliance's biggest manoeuvres since the Cold War. Stoltenberg said the exercise would simulate the defence of a member state from a "fictional" adversary, but the troops, tanks, ships and planes are headed for Norway, the North Atlantic and the Baltic -- opposite Russia. It will be the biggest such movement of NATO personnel and vehicles since at least the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, although still smaller than the Vostok-18 exercise staged by Russia and China last month. "The exercise is defensive, and it is transparent," the NATO leader told reporters on the first day of a two-day meeting of the 29-member alliance's defence ministers at its new Brussels headquarters. "All members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including Russia, have been invited to send observers," he said. The operation ..
At least 13 dead in suicide attack on Afghan election rally
A suicide attack on a political rally in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 13 people on Tuesday, officials said, as the country braces for an escalation in violence ahead of this month's parliamentary election. The attack is the first suicide assault since campaigning officially began last Friday for the long-delayed ballot, preparations for which have already been marred by dozens of bloody attacks. More than 40 people were wounded, some of them critically, when the militant blew himself up among supporters of candidate Abdul Nasir Mohmmand in Nangarhar province, provincial governor spokesman Ataullah Khogyani said. Mohmmand survived the attack, Khogyani confirmed, but he did not say if the candidate had been hurt. Provincial health director Najibullah Kamawal put the death toll slightly higher at 14. An AFP reporter saw numerous ambulances delivering bodies and wounded people to a hospital in the provincial capital of Jalalabad. Sayed Humayun, who had brought his injured cousin to
Jharkhand will be ODF by November 15: CM
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Tuesday said the state will be Open Defecation Free (ODF) by November 15.
PDP MLA likely to be quizzed over SPO looting weapons from his Srinagar residence
PDP MLA Aijaz Ahmad Mir is likely to be questioned soon in connection with the looting of eight weapons from his residence by a special police officer (SPO) last week, officials said on Tuesday. SPO Adil Bashir, a resident of Zainapora village of Shopian, had decamped with seven AK assault rifles of Mir's personal security officers and the licensed pistol of the legislator from his Jawahar Nagar residence on Friday. Immediately after the incident came to light, police registered a case and announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for any information leading to the arrest of the SPO. The officials said that the MLA was likely to be questioned soon, as this is the second time that his SPOs have been found involved in terror activities. Last year, a special investigation team, which was formed to probe the terror attack on Amarnath yatra pilgrims, zeroed in on a policeman posted in Mir's security detail. Touseef Ahmad, the police driver of the legislator, was arrested for his alleged role in
Afghanistan: 13 killed as suicide bomber strikes election rally
At least 13 people were killed and over 30 injured after a suicide bomber attacked an election rally here on Tuesday, the Provincial Public Health Director Najibullah Kamawal told TOLOnews.Provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said that a parliamentary candidate, Nasir Mohmand, had organised the rally to explain his plans to the people in Kama district when the suicide bomber struck.Sayed Humayoun, who was attending the meeting, told Al Jazeera, "Elders were speaking at the meeting when suddenly there was a huge blast. I was knocked unconscious but when I opened my eyes there were bodies scattered all around the blast area."Over 2,500 candidates will contest the parliamentary elections on October 20, which is being perceived as the "test-run" for Presidential election due next year.No party has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack so far.
7 cops injured during farmers' protest on Delhi UP border: Police
Seven policemen, including an assistant commissioner of police, were injured on Tuesday during the protest by farmers on Delhi-UP border, Delhi Police said here. Police said a section of crowd suddenly turned violent as police tried to persuade the protesters, who were participating in the Bharatiya Kisan Union march, not to break the barricades. Police said they used 20 tear gas shells and water cannons to manage the crowd, adding it was "minimum required force". As many as 3,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure that the farmers are not able to enter Delhi. The main demands of the agitating farmers include implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report, removing ban on the use of tractors which are more than 10 years old, clearing out pending payments of sugarcane purchase, increased price of sugar supplied and minimum support prices.
Farmers swarm Delhi-UP border; police use water cannons, tear gas
Chaos prevailed at the Delhi-UP border Tuesday as thousands of protesting farmers attempted to enter the national capital, prompting the police to resort to water cannons and tear-gas shells to disperse them, evoking a sharp criticism from opposition parties. Seeking to convince the farmers to move back from their protest, the government announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, but the protesters stayed put saying they were not "satisfied" with the assurance. Home Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and a few others to discuss the farmers' issue, after which Union minister of state for agriculture Rajendra Singh Shekhawat met the protesters to assure them that their demands will be looked into. Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharat Kisan Union (BKU), which has given the protest call, however, said the farmers are "not satisfied" with the government's assurance. "We will discuss this and then decide ..
Ethnic clashes kill 44 in restive western Ethiopia
Weekend fighting between rival ethnic groups in western Ethiopia killed at least 44 people, state affiliated media reported Tuesday. The clashes occurred on the border between the central Oromia and western Benishangul-Gumuz regions. Violence began when officials from Benishangul-Gumuz were killed by unidentified gunmen, said the Walta Media and Communication Corporate, citing the region's communications chief Zelalem Jaleta. The clashes between rival ethnic youths armed with rocks and knives reportedly forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes with security forces deployed to pacify the area. Benishangul-Gumuz is one of Ethiopia's nine regional states, stretching to the border with Sudan.
US airstrike in Somalia kills 9 al-Shabab extremists
The US military says it has conducted an airstrike that killed nine al-Shabab extremists after its fighters attacked Somali government forces. The US Africa Command statement says the airstrike on Monday was carried out about 40 kilometers northeast of the port city of Kismayo. The statement says another extremist was wounded. It adds that according to its assessment, no civilians were injured or killed in the airstrike that was carried out in coordination with the Somali federal government. The US military has carried out 24 airstrikes, including drone strikes, this year against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, the deadliest Islamic extremist group in sub-Saharan Africa. Somalia this month marks the first anniversary of al-Shabab's deadliest attack, a truck bombing in the capital, Mogadishu, that killed 512 people.
At least seven dead in suicide attack on Afghan election rally: official
At least seven people were killed in a suicide attack on an Afghan election campaign rally on Tuesday, an official said, in the latest violence to strike the country. Another 25 people were wounded when the militant blew himself up at the rally of parliamentary candidate Abdul Nasir Mohmmand in the eastern province of Nangarhar, provincial governor spokesman Ataullah Khogyani said.
Farmers' protest politically motivated: Minister
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday said the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)-led farmers' protest was politically motivated.
Indonesia arrests dozens for looting in quake-tsunami zone
Indonesian police on Tuesday said they have arrested dozens of people for looting on the quake and tsunami-struck island of Sulawesi, where survivors have raided shops for water, food and other goods. "On the first and second day clearly no shops were open. People were hungry. There were people in dire need. That's not a problem," said deputy national police chief Ari Dono Sukmanto. "But after day two, the food supply started to come in, it only needed to be distributed." However Sukmanto said that people grabbing food would still be tolerated. Police in Palu have largely stood by, unable or unwilling to stop the looting. AFP reporters on the ground have witnessed locals also looting clothes shops. "If they take laptops, if they take money etc, we are going to act," Sukmanto said. "We have detained 35 people." "There are ATMs. They are open," he added. "If people steal, we catch and investigate.
Farmers' protest turns violent; police use water canons, tear gas
The protest by thousands of farmers at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border turned violent on Tuesday as they tried to break barricades and run them over with tractors to enter the national capital, forcing police to use water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse them.
Chinese destroyer extremely close to US warship: US
A Chinese warship sailed within yards of an American destroyer -- forcing it to change course -- in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter as the US vessel was in contested waters in the South China Sea, an official said Monday. The USS Decatur guided-missile destroyer was conducting what the military calls a "freedom of navigation operation" Sunday, when it passed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the remote Spratly Islands. The 12-mile distance is commonly accepted as constituting the territorial waters of a landmass. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing claims all of the Spratlys and has built a number of military installations on the islands. During the operation, a Chinese Luyang destroyer approached the USS Decatur in "an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver in the vicinity of Gaven Reef in the South China Sea," US Pacific Fleet spokesman Commander Nate ...
Walking on Gandhiji's path is real tribute to him: Fadnavis
Taking inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts and vision and walking on the path shown by him is a real tribute to him, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Tuesday. On the 149th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Fadnavis called upon people to make the Clean India Mission a success as the issue of cleanliness was very close to Mahatma Gandhi's heart. The chief minister paid tributes to him on the occasion and also took part in a padyatra here in Maharashtra. "Shat shat namanto Mahatma Gandhiji on his birth anniversary today as we are entering Bapu's 150th birth anniversary, let us strive to work hard to dedicate a Swachh Bharat to himthis year," Fadnavis said in a tweet. "From clean mind to clean nation...taking inspiration from Bapu's thoughts and vision and walking on the path shown by him is a real tribute to him," he said in another tweet. The padyatra led by Fadnavis passed through many city roads decorated with colourful ...
Firearms recovered in Jharkhand jungle
Security personnel have recovered 16 firearms, including two that were looted from the police, in Jharkhand's Latehar district, police said. A search operation was launched on Sunday and the firearms were found hidden in the bushes of the Budi Sakhua jungle in Balumath, a senior police officer said here at a press conference. The firearms belonged to ultra outfit Trutiya Prastuti Committee leaders Akraman and Gulshan, who planned to transport it to somewhere else. Of the recovered arms, two were 303 regular rifles, looted from police in the past, one was of 315 bore, while 13 were 9-mm rifles, said Palamu district Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vipul Shukla. The DIG said Latehar Superintendent of Police Prasant Anand had constituted a team to recover the arms after a tip-off. In fact, one complete squad of the ultra outfit suffered a major setback following the recovery, the DIG claimed, adding that the police intensified its operations against rebel groups active in the district. The
Military Nursing Service celebrates its raising day
The Military Nursing Service (MNS), the only all women corps in the armed forces, Monday celebrated its 93rd raising day. Senior Additional Director General MNS Maj Gen Annakutty Babu and PM AH (R&R) Maj Gen Kajal Chakraborty paid homage to martyrs at on Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. The MNS also organised a social get together celebrate the occasion at the Army Hospital here. Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Devraj Anbu was the chief guest. The function was attended by senior officers from the tri-services and veteran MNS officers. Enrolment into the MNS is based on an all-India level selection process. The candidates are enrolled at six colleges for Basic BSc (Nursing). On successful completion of the course they are granted permanent or short service commission in the MNS in the rank of lieutenant.
Tension grips Gujarat town after graveyard is vandalised
Tension gripped Palanpur in Banaskantha district of Gujarat Monday after a man was arrested for alleged vandalism of a graveyard, police said. The arrest triggered a protest by a group of people and led to tension, they said. The man, identified as Ashok Purohit, was arrested late Sunday night for allegedly vandalising the graveyard. Four others, including two unidentified persons, were booked after the trustee of the Navrang Ali-pir cemetery lodged an FIR, Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Pradip Sejul said. According to the complainant, five persons - Ashok Purohit, Vijay Joshi, Dhaval Joshi and two unidentified - smashed the gate of the graveyard, looted a DVR security system and damaged the CCTV cameras installed there, he said. They also thrashed the persons present at the site, he said. As Purohit was brought to the Palanpur East police station, a large crowd gathered there seeking his release, Sejul said. The situation has been brought under control, but police
Lt Gen Saini takes charge as head of Southern Command
Lieutenant General S K Saini, a decorated Army officer, Monday assumed charge as the head of the city-based Southern Command. According to an official release, on his first day in office, the General Officer laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to pay homage to the martyrs and later reviewed an impressive guard of honour at the headquarters. "The current assignment of the General Officer is a testimony of his continued dedication to service which began with his commissioning in June 1981. "Prior to the current assignment, he was Director General (Manpower and Personnel Services) at Army Headquarters, New Delhi," said the release. An alumnus of Sainik School Kapurthala, the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy Dehradun, he was commissioned into 7 Jat Regiment in June 1981, it said. He has commanded a battalion, a mountain brigade, a counter insurgency force in J&K and a corps in the Western Theatre. His staff experience includes .