Page 451 - War Conflict
Philippines hunts bombers in deadly festival blast
Philippine authorities were hunting on today two men believed to have planted the explosives that killed two people, including a young girl, at a festival in the nation's south. The blast yesterday in the town of Isulan, which wounded 35 others, is the second deadly bombing in less than in a month in the region where Islamist militants have waged a decades-long insurgency. A man left the improvised bomb in a bag near a grocery store as crowds gathered to celebrate the town's founding anniversary but he and an accomplice escaped, the military said. "One (man) did the emplacement while the other one (drove) the getaway motorcycle," Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana told AFP, adding a manhunt was underway. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, is the latest violence in the south of the mainly Catholic archipelago where a long-running Islamist insurgency has left more than 100,000 people dead by government count. Sobejana said it was "highly likely" that the pro-IS Bangsamoro
Britain to open embassies in Chad, Niger
Britain said today it would open new embassies in Chad and Niger to boost its diplomatic presence in Africa's troubled Sahel region. The announcement came as Prime Minister Theresa May wrapped up a trip to South Africa and headed to Nigeria and Kenya on her first trip to the continent as premier. "In one of Africa's most fragile regions, we are increasing our support for African countries' efforts to tackle the underlying drivers of instability and conflict," the Foreign Office in London said in a statement. "The expansion will see the UK step up diplomatic, defence and development engagement in the region, creating new partnerships and opportunities and reducing potential threats to UK and European security." The Boko Haram jihadist group's Islamist insurgency has devastated the region since 2009, leaving at least 20,000 people dead, displacing more than two million others and triggering a humanitarian crisis. Britain has offices in Chad and Niger but no embassies. Chad is covered by
China not setting up military base in Afghanistan close to Xinjiang: Official
China today dismissed reports that it is setting up a military base in Afghanistan in a narrow corridor connecting the two countries near Xinjiang to prevent infiltration of Uygur militants into the volatile province. According to a report in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, China has started building a training camp for Afghan troops in Wakhan corridor a project Beijing is fully funding. Once the camp is completed, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is likely to send hundreds of military personnel at least one battalion strong to Afghanistan's isolated Wakhan, the Post report said. When asked about the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "After checking with relevant departments, it has been found that this report is not true." Asked whether China is funding Afghanistan to setup the base, Hua said "if setting up military base is not true what comes next is also not true". The Chinese military had denied a similar report in January this ...
2 Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists killed in J-K's Anantnag
Two terrorists have been gunned down in an ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.Both the terrorists were from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and have been identified as Altaf Ahmad Dar (top HM commander) and Umar Rashid Wani. Police has registered a case and investigation has been initiated.The encounter broke out between the terrorists and the security forces in Munward village of the district during early hours of Wednesday morning.The Police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out the operation and also recovered arms and ammunition from the possession of terrorists.Meanwhile, a cordon and search operation has been launched in the area and mobile internet services have been suspended in the entire district.More details are awaited.
5 soldiers killed, 10 injured in Kenya blast
At least five Kenyan soldiers were killed and 10 seriously injured in a blast in Kenya's Lamu region early on Wednesday, officials said.
China denies it is building military base in Afghanistan
China on Wednesday denied a media report that it is helping Afghanistan build a military base and eventually plans to deploy its military in the strife-torn country.
Pilgrim dies en route Shiv Khori cave shrine in J K's Reasi
An elderly man today died of heart attack while on a pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, police said. Kishen Diwedi, 70, of Uttar Pradesh suddenly fell unconscious when he was on his way to the Shiv Khori cave shrine, they said, adding that he was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. He reportedly died of heart attack, police added. The body was handed over to his legal heirs after post-mortem, they said.
Philippines blast: Police on high alert
Police in the Philippines island of Mindanao were on high alert on Wednesday after a bomb blast in a market in Isulan area killed two people and injured 36 others.
Cop commits suicide in Maharashtra
A 32-year-old police naik allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself today in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, a police official said. Anis Patel, in-charge of the riot control police, allegedly shot himself in the head with his service pistol in the Pusad police station complex in Yavatmal, located around 600 km from here, he said. A police staffer spotted Patel lying in a pool of blood near a police hall in the complex and informed the authorities, the official said. Patel was rushed to a state-run hospital where he was declared dead before admission, he said. The reason behind his extreme step was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that a probe was on into the incident. Patel was posted at the police headquarters in Yavatmal and used to be on reserve duty with the riot control police for 15 days in a month, the official said. The body will be handed over to his family after the postmortem, he added.
Indonesia detains Polish man in conflict-prone Papua region
Indonesian security forces have detained a Polish man in the troubled Papua region on suspicion of links to separatists. A police report seen today by The Associated Press describes 39-year-old Jakub Fabian Skrzypski as a journalist who was in contact with Papuan separatists. A military report also seen by AP said he was detained Monday in Papua province following the arrests of five Papuans who had a quantity of ammunition. Indonesia restricts foreign journalists from entering its two easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua, where a pro-independence insurgency has simmered for decades. The Polish Embassy's head of mission Igor Kaczmarczyk said he's aware of the arrest but referred questions to Poland's Foreign Ministry. The police report said Skrzypski, who usually lives in Switzerland, had visited a separatist headquarters. It said he had a travel permit for Papua and a tourist visa but had violated immigration law by misusing them. Amnesty International said in July that ...
Suicide car bomber kills 11 in western Iraq
A suicide bomber blew up a vehicle in the town of Al-Qaim in western Iraq today, killing at least 11 people, five of them security personnel, police said. The town, on the Syrian border some 340 kilometres (215 miles) from Baghdad, was one of the last in Iraq to be recaptured from the Islamic State group in November last year. The 9 am (0600 GMT) bombing also wounded 16 people -- 11 civilians and five security personnel, police Captain Mahmud Jassem told AFP.
Conditions still not suitable for safe return of Rohingya: Un chief
Conditions are still not suitable for the safe, voluntary and sustainable return of over 700,000 Rohingya refugees to their homes in Myanmar, UN chief Antonio Guterres has said as he called for accountability for the "horrendous persecution" of the minority community in the country. The Secretary General was briefing the Security Council on the situation in Myanmar, where 12 months ago a military operation in northern Rakhine state sparked an exodus of desperate Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh that quickly became one of the world's worst humanitarian and human rights crises. Guterres' remarks also follow the release of an independent UN investigation into alleged human rights abuses carried out against the mainly Muslim Rohingya and which called for the country's military leaders to be investigated and prosecuted for genocide and war crimes. "Following my direct engagement with the Myanmar authorities and several initiatives on the ground by the UN system, I expressed my concerns ...
Constable arrested with heroin in Jammu
A police constable was arrested here with 20 gram heroin, a police said today. He was identified as Special Grade Constable of 7th battalion of JK Armed Police Nisar Ahmed, a resident of south Kashmir's Pulwama, they said. The arrest was made yesterday by a police team during a routine security check. He tried to escape but the team chased and caught hold of him, they said, adding 20 grams of heroin was recovered from his possession. A case has been registered at Gandhi Nagar Police Station and further investigation is on, they said.
BSF foils exfiltrtation bid along IB in Jammu, 3 Bangladeshi nationals held
The Border Security Force (BSF) troops foiled an exfiltration bid and arrested three Bangladeshi nationals, including two teenagers, along International Border (IB) in Jammu district, police said today. BSF troops guarding IB in R S Pura sector observed some movement of the people yesterday and later arrested 3 persons, who turned out to be Bangaldeshi nationals, police officials said here. They were trying to exfiltrate to Pakistan side. BSF handed them over to the police, which registered a case and grilled the foreigners, the officials said. One mobile phone, 2 sim cards and over Rs 600 in Bangladeshi currency were recovered from their possession. They have been identified as Abdul Kareem (20), Mohmmad Ali (18) and Mohmmad Jahangir (18). As per reports they had taken a train to reach the Jammu and from there they headed to border to cross over to Pakistan under the guidance of a guide. The trio have been sent to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) to carry out the thorough ...
Top Hizbul commander killed in J&K gunfight
A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander and his associate were killed on Wednesday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said.
3 killed in clashes over panchayat board formation
Three persons were killed and 10 others injured in group clashes over formation of a panchayat board in North 24 Parganas district, the police said today. The two groups hurled bombs and fired bullets at each other at Amdanga block last night, they said. The situation was now stated to be under control, police said. The president of the district Trinamool Congress Jyoti Priya Mallick claimed that two of the deceased belonged to the Trinamool Congress and one was a CPI(M) supporter. He further claimed that 15 Trinamool Congress workers were injured in the clash. CPI(M) leaders could not be contacted for their version. The violence followed similar clashes in North Dinajpur, Malda and Purulia districts since Monday in which four persons were killed and several injured. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace following the incidents.
2 terrorists killed in J-K's Anantnag
Two terrorists have been gunned down in an ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.The encounter broke out between the terrorists and the security forces in Munward village of the district during early hours of Wednesday morning.The Police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out the operation and also recovered arms and ammunition from the possession of terrorists.Meanwhile, a cordon and search operation has been launched in the area and mobile internet services have been suspended in the entire district.More details are awaited.
Two Hizbul militants killed in encounter in Anantnag
A top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was among two ultras killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said. Altaf Kachru, one of the oldest Hizbul Mujahideen militants operating in the Kashmir Valley was killed in the operation. He was involved in many cases including killing of policemen. The second militant was yet to be identified "It was a specific operation and in a swift action both the terrorists involved in several cases of civilian atrocities and attacks on policemen were eliminated," Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, S P Pani said. Giving details of the encounter, police said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Muniward village in Khanabal area of the district early this morning following specific information about the presence of militants there. An encounter ensued when the militants opened fire on the forces, an official said.
Gurdwara in UK burnt in suspected arson attack
A Gurdwara in the British city of Leith has been severely damaged in a suspected arson attack with the police treating the "suspicious" act as a hate crime, according to a media report. The Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Leith city, Scotland was set on fire in what was believed to be a "deliberate" act at around 5am yesterday, BBC reported. No-one was injured in the incident but the building was severely damaged. Police in Edinburgh are investigating the suspected arson attack as a hate crime. It is believed that whoever was responsible deliberately targeted the temple and police said they were treating the incident at the temple in Leith as "suspicious", the report said. A post on the temple's official Facebook page said: "We regret to inform you that Guru Nanak Gurdwara suffered an arson attack this morning at 5am." "Someone tried to burn down the front door. There's a lot of internal smoke damage, and access to Gurdwara Sahib has been denied by police until smoke clears and it is ...
Two Hizbul militants killed in Anantnag encounter
Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Muniward village in Khanabal area of the district early this morning following specific information about the presence of militants there. An encounter ensued when the militants opened fire on the forces, an official said. Police said two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in the operation.