Page 43 - War Conflict

Mortal remains of two World War II soldiers from Haryana brought home

The mortal remains of two British Indian Army sepoys from here, who laid down their lives fighting the German forces in the World War II, were brought to their native villages in Hisar and Jhajjar districts nearly 75 years after their death, officials said Tuesday. Sepoys Palu Ram and Hari Singh were part of 4th Battalion of the 13th Frontier Force Rifles under the British Indian Army. Their mortal remains were brought to their native villages from Italy on Monday, officials said. The mortal remains of Palu Ram of Hisar's Nangthala village were handed over to his nephew in the presence of a large number of villagers on Monday. Capt Pradeep Bali (retd) from the Zila Sainik Board said Palu Ram sacrificed his life at the age of 19 during the war in Italy's Poggio Alto in 1944 while fighting the German forces. Singh was said to be of 18 years of age when he fought the war. The identity process of the people who died in action went on till about 2010 after their remains were found in Italy

Nigeria: 20 terrorists killed, 4 personnel wounded in joint operation

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) killed 20 terrorists in a joint operation around the Arege, Malkonory and Tumbum Rego general areas in the Lake Chad region, according to a statement issued by a Nigerian military spokesperson on Monday.However, four MNJTF personnel were wounded during the operation, confirmed the spokesperson, Timothy Antigha."Unfortunately, four personnel of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) were wounded during the fighting and have been evacuated for urgent medical attention," Antigha told Xinhua.The spokesperson added that the latest efforts are a part of the ongoing offensive to clear the Islamic State (ISIS) from the region.The MNJTF remains committed to delivering the mandate of the force, the official added, calling for the "continuous support and solidarity" of the people living in the Lake Chad region.The multinational forces include troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.

35 dead as Sudan troops move against democracy protesters

Sudan's ruling military moved to crush the protest movement opposing its grip on power as security forces overran the main sit-in site in the capital Monday, unleashing furious volleys of gunfire, burning down tents and killing at least 35 people, witnesses and protest leaders said. With the assault, the generals signaled an end of their tolerance of the pro-democracy demonstrators, who for months have been camped outside the military's headquarters as the two sides negotiated over who would run the country after the April ouster of longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir. The head of the military council said early Tuesday that protest leaders shared blame for the violence, accusing them of dragging out negotiations and seeking to keep other sectors of Sudanese society out of an interim government. Gen. Abedel-Fattah Burhan also said that the council was cancelling all its agreement with protest groups and would call elections within seven months. After their protests succeeded in forcing .

Tiananmen Square massacre: US urges China to reveal fatalities, release prisoners

The United States on Monday called on China to make public a full account of those killed or missing in the 1989 student-led pro-democracy demonstration in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.It also urged the communist country to release all political prisoners jailed for fighting human rights abuses in the country.In a statement released a day before the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo said, "We urge the Chinese government to make a full, public accounting of those killed or missing to give comfort to the many victims of this dark chapter of history. Such a step would begin to demonstrate the Communist Party's willingness to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.""We call on China to release all those held for seeking to exercise these rights and freedoms, halt the use of arbitrary detention, and reverse counterproductive policies that conflate terrorism with religious and political expression," the statement read.In the ..

At least 30 dead as Sudan military rulers break up sit-in

Sudan's military rulers forcefully broke up a weeks-long sit-in outside Khartoum's army headquarters on Monday leaving at least 30 dead and hundreds wounded, doctors close to the protesters said, as gunfire rang out and black smoke shrouded the city. Heavily armed members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces were deployed in large numbers along the capital's main roads. Manning pick-up trucks mounted with machineguns, they guarded entrances to the bridges that cross the Nile and moved in convoys around the city ahead of evening prayers. The United States called it a "brutal" crackdown on protesters, who want the generals behind the overthrow of veteran president Omar al-Bashir to hand over to civilian rule. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the use of excessive force by the security forces against protesters and called for an independent investigation. The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, which is close to the protesters, said the toll "massacre" had "risen to .

Over 600 killed in Tripoli warfare, says UN

Tripoli, June 3 (IANS/AKI) At least 607 people have been killed and at least 3,261 have been injured since deadly fighting between rival militias erupted in the Libyan capital two months ago, the United Nations said on Monday.

Muslim ministers decide to resign as wave of communal violence grips Sri Lanka

All Muslim ministers -- Cabinet, State, and Deputy -- on Monday decided to resign from their respective positions after accusing the government of failing to guarantee the security of the nation's minority Muslim community amid fears of attacks following the Easter terror bombings.Quoting Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Rauff Hakeem, who addressed a news briefing at Temple Trees here, Daily Mirror reported that they would continue to support the government for its survival."We will assist the government to survive but their survival will depend on their conduct on conducting investigations thoroughly and properly and do justice to everyone equally," the minister said."If our ministerial portfolios are in the way, we are willing to give it up for the safety of our community," he said.According to him, Cabinet Ministers Kabir Hashim, MHA Haleem, and Rishad Bathiudeen, State Ministers Faizal Cassim, HMM Harees, Ameer Ali Shihabdeen, and Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana and Deputy Minister .

Civilian killed by gunmen in Srinagar outskirts

A civilian was killed on Monday by unidentified gunmen in the outskirts of Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar city.

ITBP busts Naxal hideout, huge cache of incriminating material seized

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Monday busted a Naxal hideout in the forests of Kondagaon district here.Huge cache of incriminating material including 1 pistol, 1 magazine, 2 Kg of gunpowder used for making Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Naxal literature, ammunition pouch, batteries, wire etc was recovered in the search operation conducted by the 41st battalion of ITBP.The Naxals had hidden weapon and other items in a plastic water tank and covered it with tarpaulins to prevent damage.

Baghdad Green Zone set to open around the clock

Baghdad's high-security Green Zone, home to the Iraqi parliament and US embassy, will be opened to traffic around the clock from Tuesday, the government said. "From the first day of Eid al-Fitr" marking the end of the Muslim month of fasting for Ramadan, "the Green Zone will be completely open", Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi's office said in a statement. "By doing this, we are showing that we are convinced the security situation is better" in Baghdad, Abdel Mahdi told a news conference on Monday evening. The Green Zone has been heavily fortified since the US-led invasion that overthrew dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, with nearly all Iraqis denied access to its 10 square kilometres. It is where US forces set up their barracks before withdrawing in 2011. The US embassy is still located in the zone, but a large number of staff considered "non-essential" were withdrawn in mid-May over alleged threats from Iran. In recent months, the Baghdad municipality and special forces have removed .

Myanmar Army carrying out operations against Indian terror groups on its soil: Eastern Army Commander

Myanmar Army is continuing its operations on its soil against the Indian insurgent groups active in the North-Eastern states, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen M M Naravane said here on Monday."As we speak, Myanmar Army's operations are on. They are operating against Indian insurgents sheltering in their country," the Army Commander said while talking to reporters here.The Army Commander further said continuous talks between India and Myanmar have resulted in a lot of progress."Continuous talks between India and Myanmar have resulted in much progress with the Myanmar government being on the Indian side," he said.The Army Commander was speaking after inaugurating the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) at Fort William Military station here.It was reported that Myanmarese Army in February this year had launched an operation against the Indian insurgent groups who have taken shelter in the neighbouring country.The Indian Army assisted in carrying out these operations by

13 dead as Sudan military rulers break up sit-in

Sudan's military rulers forcefully broke up a weeks-long sit-in outside Khartoum's army headquarters on Monday leaving at least 13 dead and dozens wounded, protesters said, as gunfire rang out and black smoke shrouded the city. Heavily armed members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces were deployed in large numbers along the capital's main roads. Manning pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns, they guarded the entrances to the bridges that cross the Nile and moved in convoys around the city ahead of evening prayers. The United States and Britain called for an end to the crackdown on protesters, who want the generals behind the overthrow of veteran president Omar al-Bashir to hand over to civilian rule. "According to initial estimates, we lost 13 martyrs to the bullets" of the military council, the Alliance of Freedom and Change umbrella protest group said, adding that "hundreds" were wounded. An eight-year-old child was among those killed, according to the Central Committee of .

UN chief warns of 'high risk' of atrocities in Mali

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning of a "high risk" of atrocities in Mali in a report that calls for beefing up the UN peacekeeping presence in the strife-torn centre of the country. In the report to the Security Council obtained by AFP, Guterres said he was "appalled" by the upsurge in violence and called on the government to strengthen its response to extremist groups. "If these concerns are not addressed, there is a high risk of further escalation that could lead to the commission of atrocity crimes," Guterres wrote in the report sent to the council on Friday. At least 157 people, including 46 children, were massacred in the central village of Ogossagou on March 23, in raids blamed on extremists stoking communal tensions. With security worsening, Guterres recommended that there be no drawdown of the UN peacekeeping force, known as MINUSMA, despite calls by the United States for cuts to blue helmet missions worldwide. The MINUSMA mission should be extended for a year ..

9 ministers, 2 governors from Muslim community in Lanka resign over allegations

Nine Muslim ministers and two provincial governors from the minority community resigned Monday to allow the Sri Lankan government to investigate allegations against some of them on links to an Islamist extremist group blamed for the deadly Easter suicide bombings. The Muslim politicians also protested what they term the government's inability to ensure the safety of their community which constitute 9 per cent of the island's 21 million population. There are 19 Muslims lawmakers in the 225-member Parliament and nine of them held Cabinet, state and deputy ministerial positions. "Until security of the people is ensured and until investigations are done by the police's Crime Investigations Department (CID) is finalised we will stay as government back benchers," Rauff Hakeem, a lawmaker for Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, told reporters. Their resignations came four days after thousands of people, including majority Buddhist community monks, launched a protest in the pilgrim city of Kandy, ...

Boko Haram attacks military bases in Nigeria, steal arms: Sources

Boko Haram jihadists have carried out multiple attacks on military bases in northeast Nigeria's Borno state, overrunning three of them and stealing weapons, security sources said Monday. Fighters believed to be from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the IS-linked faction of Boko Haram, stormed four bases from Friday through Sunday in the latest spate of attacks targeting the army, sources from the military and militia said. There were no immediate details on casualties. In the latest incident, on Sunday, the insurgents made a failed attempt to seize a base in the town of Dikwa following a predawn attack. "The terrorists attacked troops in Dikwa around 4:00 am (0300 GMT) but the attack was repelled without casualty on our side," a military officer, who did not want to be identified, told AFP. The fighters came in 13 trucks fitted with heavy machine guns, said a second officer, who gave a similar account. Dikwa which lies 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the state capital ...

Afghan officials: Bus bombing in capital kills 5

A bomb attached into a bus carrying Afghan government workers has killed at least five people and wounded 10 others in the capital, Kabul, Afghan officials said Monday. Wahidullah Mayar, spokesman for the public health ministry, said the numbers could still rise. Nasrat Rahimi, spokesman for the interior ministry, said the employees belong to the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission. Ahmad Shah, an eyewitness at the scene of the attack, said: "Five to seven bodies were on the street, a few of them were martyred and others were wounded." He said some of the victims were "burning inside the bus no one was able to enter." No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but both Taliban and Islamic State militants are active in Kabul and have staged attacks there. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack in a statement sent by the presidential palace. A wave of attacks has rocked the Afghan capital over the last week. Four bombings

Rajnath visits Siachen, salutes soldiers for courage

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield, on Monday and praised the "tenacious resolve and unstinting commitment" of the "Siachen Warriors".

Policeman in Kashmir injured in accidental gunfire

A Jammu and Kashmir policeman working with the anti-militancy Special Operations Group (SOG) was injured on Monday when his service rifle went off accidentally in Pulwama district.

Last known survivor of Sobibor Nazi death camp dies

Semion Rosenfeld, the "last known survivor" of the Nazi death camp Sobibor, has died aged 96, the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency said Monday. The head of the Jewish Agency, Isaac Herzog, said he was "very sad" about the death of Rosenfeld. "Semion fought the Nazis as part of the Red Army and was then sent to the Sobibor death camp as a prisoner of war, where he encountered death every day until the famous rebellion," Herzog said in a statement. Rosenfeld had been a resident of Jewish Agency-supported assisted living for the past 20 years, Herzog said. Born in Ukraine, the Jewish soldier was one of over 50 camp prisoners who survived World War II according to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial centre. Some 250,000 European Jews perished in Sobibor camp, which was in Nazi-occupied Poland, between May 1942 and the summer of 1943. In the most famous revolt from a Nazi camp, nearly 300 Sobibor captives including Rosenfeld escaped through the camp's barbed war in October 1943. Nearly .

Security forces will soon end militancy in Kishtwar: Police

Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said on Monday that security forces will soon end militancy in Kishtwar district.