Page 49 - War Conflict
Brazil: Prison riot in Amazonas state leaves at least 8 dead
Fighting erupted among inmates at a prison in the northern state of Amazonas on Sunday, and at least 15 people died before the riot was brought under control, authorities said. The state prison secretary said in a statement that prisoners began fighting among themselves around noon, and security reinforcements were rushed to the Anisio Jobim Prison Complex in the state capital of Manaus. The secretary, Col. Marcus Vinicius Oliveira de Ameida, said the situation was now "under control," though police helicopters continued to fly over the complex as a precaution. There was no information about any escapes. The same prison was the scene of a severe riot in January 2017 that killed 56 people.
Five Nigerian soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush
Five Nigerian soldiers have been killed and a number are missing after an ambush by Boko Haram's Islamic State-backed faction, security sources said Sunday. Fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Friday opened fire on a column of civilian vehicles under military escort in the northeastern Borno State, according to the sources who requested anonymity. The troops were escorting residents from the village of Sabon Garin Kimba in dozens of trucks to a camp in the town of Damboa about 50 kilometres away, according to a militia fighting against the jihadists alongside the army. They were being evacuated from the village, which lies 130 kilometres from the state capital Maiduguri, ahead of a major military offensive against ISWAP, which has recently increased its activities in the area. "We lost five soldiers in the ambush, two were wounded and several are missing, their fate still unknown," said one military officer. He said the attackers seized two military trucks and .
Saudi downs attack drone from Yemen: coalition
Saudi Arabia on Sunday shot down a bomb-laden drone deployed by Iran-aligned Huthi rebels in Yemen to attack an airport in the kingdom, state media reported. The Saudi air force intercepted and destroyed the drone that targeted Jizan airport, close to the southern border with Yemen, the Riyadh-led coalition fighting the rebels was quoted as saying by the official Saudi Press Agency. The rebels' Al-Masirah TV said earlier that the drone targeted military hangars at Jizan airport. The airport is used by thousands of civilians every day, but the coalition reported no casualties and warned the rebels of a strong response. The strike comes after the Huthis on Thursday similarly targeted Najran airport also near the Yemeni border with an explosives-laden drone. That attack -- the third against Najran airport in 72 hours -- had targeted a Patriot air defence system, Al-Masirah said. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to push back an advance by the Huthi rebels, who ...
Expose elements bent upon creating disturbance in J-K: DGP
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh Sunday asked his force to remain alert and expose the elements who want to create disturbance in the state. He said the achievements of the security forces including the state police against militancy particularly in neutralising terrorists like Zakir Musa has been appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and state Governor Satya Pal Malik. Musa, the so-called head of the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Dadsara village of Tral in the south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday. "You need to expose the elements who will try to create any disturbance... the police being local has a greater responsibility in foiling any attempts of reviving the militancy in the areas (declared militancy free in Jammu region)," Singh told policemen during his visit to Gool in Ramban and Mahore and Reasi in Jammu region. The Ramban and Reasi districts were declared ...
Sri Lanka Navy puts its vessels on alert after reports of IS terrorists setting off to India
The Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday said coastal guard vessels and personnel have been alerted following reports of boats allegedly carrying 15 local Islamic State (IS) members had set off for India's Lakshdweep islands. A top official source of the Kerala Police Saturday said that the state's coastal police stations and the police chiefs of the coastal districts have been alerted following intelligence reports that boats allegedly carrying 15 IS terrorists had set off from Sri Lanka to the Lakshdweep islands. "The Navy has come to know through the reports in local and Indian media that some 15 local IS members were moving to India's Lakshadweep islands through the sea route," Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Isuru Suriyabandara said. "We have alerted all our coastal guard vessels and personnel," he added. The spokesperson also said the Navy had not received any official information in this regard. "The possibility of the local Jihadi group members moving to India, however, had not been ...
Iraqi court sentences 3 French members of IS to death
A Baghdad court Sunday sentenced to death three French citizens for being members of the Islamic State group, an Iraqi judicial official said. The verdict raised fresh questions about the legal treatment of thousands of foreign nationals formerly with the extremist group. The official said the three were among 12 French citizens whom the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces handed over to Iraq in January. They can appeal the sentences within a month, according to the official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to speak to the media. Iraqi President Barham Saleh had said during a February visit to Paris that the 12 will be prosecuted in accordance with Iraqi laws. The SDF has handed over to Iraq hundreds of suspected IS members in recent months. The trials of the French nationals in Baghdad raise the difficult question of whether foreign IS suspects should be tried and punished in the country of their alleged crimes, even when there are serious ...
Lt Gen PJS Pannu to take over as Dy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) on June 1
Lt Gen PJS Pannu will take over as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) from Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva on June 1.Lt Gen Pannu will look after the raising of Defence Cyber and Space agencies along with the Special Forces Division. He is currently posted as Deputy Chief Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine Organisation and Training).The General Officer is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy and was commissioned into 22nd Battalion, The Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) on December 13, 1980, and commanded the battalion from May 1999 to February 2001 in Uri Sector (Jammu and Kashmir) during Operation VIJAY.Lt Gen Pannu has held a string of important command and staff appointments and took active part in many operations. He has also attended major prestigious courses like the Defence Services Staff College, Senior Command, Higher Command and National Defence College course in his career.The General Officer has been an instructor in the prestigious Indian Military Academy.
Militant arrested in Moreh town
A militant belonging to the proscribed outfit the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was arrested by security forces from Manipur's Moreh town on Sunday, police said. The militant identified as N Sanjay, 39, a self styled captain of the outfit was arrested by a joint team of the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police. He had joined the militant group in 2002, they said. The militant was handed over to the Moreh police station for further investigation, the added.
Assam Rifles battalion to be placed in J&K as NDRF
The Assam Rifles, a central paramilitary force that guards India's border with Myanmar, will soon have presence in Jammu and Kashmir as the government has approved conversion and placement of one of its battalion into the NDRF. A recent government order issued by the Union Home Ministry said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will have four new battalions that will be based in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the national capital region. The order, accessed by PTI, said the new battalions of the NDRF will he drawn from the Assam Rifles (location in J-K), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) and the Border Security Force (Delhi-NCR region). The Assam Rifles draws its strength of officers from the Army and functions under the command of the Union Home Ministry. Established in 1835 as a militia called the 'Cachar Levy', the paramilitary force today has a strength of about 47,000 personnel. "The process of acquiring land and ...
Hemkunt Sahib Gurudwara to reopen on June 1
Sri Hemkunt Sahib Gurudwara situated in the hilly district of Chamoli here is scheduled to reopen for pilgrims on June 1.Indian Army teams have been deployed in the area to facilitate a hassle-free pilgrimage to those visiting the holy shrine.The team, comprising Surya Bengal Sappers, have been engaged in clearing the 6-kilometre-long track to the shrine since May 1.It is believed that the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had meditated at Hemkund in his previous birth.
WWII ammunition of Japanese forces found in China
Around 1,500 rifle bullets used by Japanese forces during World War II were found in southwest China's Yunnan province, according to local authorities.
Navy, Coast Guard,Coastal police on vigil off Ker, Lakshadweep
The Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal police are maintaining a high level of survillance off Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts following intelligence reportsthat a boat carrying 15 Islamic State Terrorists had set off from Sri Lanka to Lakshadweep islands. "The Navy and Coast Guard are maintaining vigil. Ships and aircraft have been engaged to ensure high level of coastal survillance", Naval sources told PTI Sunday. Coastal police are also continuing their vigil. Kerala Police sources had Saturday said coastal police stations and coastal district police chiefs have been alerted. Though such alerts are a usual practice, as there is specific information, coastal police stations and police chiefs of coastal districts have been asked to be alert in case suspecious vessels are sighted. The coastal police department said it was on alert since May 23, the day the alert came from Sri Lanka. After the serial bombings in Sri Lanka, Kerala wason alert, especially after NIA investigations ...
Varanasi: Security beefed up ahead of PM Modi's roadshow
The security has been tightened in Varanasi ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to his constituency on Monday after his massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections.PM Modi is scheduled to hold a five-kilometre-long roadshow in the constituency after his arrival here.The preparations for his welcome have been completed and the area has been decked up with saffron party flags, ribbons and wall paintings of Buddha and other spiritual idols. Cleaning and maintenance work have also been completed.Speaking to ANI, Anand Kulkarni, SSP Varanasi said: "We have done all the arrangements, state police along with paramilitary will be deployed for the security. More force in civil dress will also be deployed to beef up the security. We are alert."According to sources, as many as 12 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure foolproof security to the PM.10 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, 25 additional Superintendents of Police (SP), 60 deputy SP (DySP) and ...
Balakot attack was to ensure terrorists don't carry out action against India: General Rawat
Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat has said the Balakot attack in February was to ensure that terrorists being trained across the border do not survive to carry out action against India. Coordinated efforts are being made by various government agencies to tackle cross-border terrorism, he said. "Through the coordinated efforts of various government agencies, now the NIA has stepped in, the Enforcement Directorate has stepped in and all are trying to ensure financing and funds available to terrorists are cut off," he said, responding to a question on insurgency in Kashmir at a media interaction here. He also said the situation there has been brought under control. Rawat said the country has been facing terrorism since Independence and that security forces and all agencies supporting them have met these challenges head on. "We have been able to ensure that the insurgency has been brought under control. Of course in the Kashmir Valley, we have been witnessing ups and downs of ...
Boy allegedly beaten by Army critical
A large number of people took to the streets on Sunday against the alleged detention and thrashing of two boys by the Army in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district.
UN says Afghan captives held by Taliban subjected to abuse
Afghan captives held by the Taliban have been subjected to abuse, ill-treatment and actions that may amount to torture, the UN said Sunday a statement that comes as the US is trying to find a negotiated solution to the country's protracted war. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said it interviewed 13 detainees from a group of 53 recently rescued from the Taliban, mainly members of Afghan forces but also civilians and government officials captured by the insurgents. The group was freed on April 25 when Afghan troops raided a Taliban-run detention facility in the Khas Uruzgan district in southern Uruzgan province. Most of the captives were held since 2018, with three since 2016, the UNAMA statement said, adding they were kept in poor conditions and subjected to forced labor. It cites the detainees as saying that the Taliban killed some of their captives. "I am gravely concerned about these serious allegations of ill-treatment, torture and unlawful killing of civilians and ...
25 killed in Afghanistan clashes
At least 22 militants, including two Taliban commanders, and three police officers were killed in separate clashes in Afghanistan, authorities said on Sunday.
Kerala coast on alert after intel on ISIS movement, Coast Guard deployed
Kerala Coastal Police have been placed on alert after intelligence inputs about ISIS affiliates setting off towards Lakshadweep and Minicoy Island from Sri Lanka, police sources said on Sunday.According to highly-placed sources aware of the matter, as many as 15 ISIS affiliates have set-off in a white boat from Sri Lanka towards Indian islands of Lakshadweep and Minicoy.Coastal patrolling has been intensified and information has been passed to all Station House Officers (SHO) in the area.The Indian Coast Guard has deployed its ships and maritime surveillance aircraft around the two islands and maritime borders with Sri Lanka in order to thwart any attempt by the ISIS to enter Indian waters.On April 21, bombings took place at various locations across Sri Lanka in which at least 250 people lost their lives while over 500 were injured in the terror attack.Local terror group NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama'ath), which is an ISIS-affiliate, claimed responsibility for the attack.Sri Lankan ...
UN says Taliban captives in Afghanistan subjected to abuse
The UN says Taliban captives in Afghanistan have been subjected to abuse, ill-treatment and actions that may amount to torture. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan says it interviewed 13 detainees from a group of 53 recently rescued from the Taliban. They were mainly members of the Afghan forces but also civilians and government officials captured by the Taliban. The group was freed on April 25 when Afghan troops raided a Taliban-run detention facility in the Khas Uruzgan district in southern Uruzgan province. The UNAMA statement, released on Sunday, says most of the captives were held since 2018, with three since 2016. It says they were kept in poor conditions and subjected to forced labor. The statement cites the detainees as saying that the Taliban killed some of their captives.
Taiwanese same-sex couples wed at vibrant banquet
More than 1,000 people have attended a mass wedding banquet in Taiwan's capital to celebrate the marriage of same-sex couples after a landmark decision legalising the unions. Taiwan became the first place in Asia to recognise same-sex marriage last week following a vote by the island's legislature. LGBT couples clad in flowing white gowns and matching suits gathered in Taipei on Saturday evening to walk down a red carpet flanked by cheering supporters. They were honoured in a gala that featured an emcee who wished them "100 years of happiness." A drag queen also performed with a group of scantily clad men. Taiwan split with mainland China amid a civil war in 1949. China's ruling Communist Party considers the island part of its territory.