Page 510 - War Conflict
Thousands evacuate pro-regime Syria towns
Several thousand residents evacuated two pro-regime towns in northern Syria today, putting an end to one of the longest sieges of the country's seven-year civil war. Fuaa and Kafraya in Idlib province were the last remaining areas under blockade in Syria and a rare example of pro-government towns surrounded by rebel forces. The Shiite-majority towns were besieged for three years by rebels and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. Surrounded and bombed by hostile factions, the towns had become a rallying cry for the government and its ally Iran. A deal was reached Tuesday between regime-backer Russia and rebel-ally Turkey to see the residents taken to government-held territory in exchange for the release of prisoners from regime jails. Yesterday morning, barricades on the road leading into the towns were removed to let dozens of buses in, AFP's correspondent there said. Just after midnight, the buses drove out of Fuaa and Kafraya and .
Afghan forces kill 17 Taliban militants
At least 17 insurgents were killed and over a dozen others injured after Afghan security forces repulsed Taliban attacks on security checkpoints in Kunduz province on Thursday, police said.
Ambedkar statue damaged in UP
A statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar was damaged in Rampur Asli village in Ballia today, a police official said, the second such incident in about a month in the district. Anti-social elements damaged the statue this morning, Superintendent of Police S P Ganguly said. The face and a finger of the statue were reportedly damaged. The statue is being restored, Ganguly said. A team of villagers, led by the gram pradhan, has been set up to ensure the security of the statue, the SP said. On June 14, a statue of the Dalit icon was damaged in Kothiya village of the district.
Militants fire upon police team in J-K
Militants fired upon a police team in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district today, police said. No causality was reported in the incident, they said. The ultras fired at the police deployment from a distance on Sopore bypass in the north Kashmir district, the police said. The area has been cordoned off and a hunt launched to nab the attackers, they said.
Jawan injured in IED blast in Imphal
A jawan of the Assam Rifles was injured in an IED blast in Manipur's Chandel district today, police said. The incident occurred around 6 am under Molcham police station area, about three kilometer inside Manipur territory of the Indo-Myanmar border. According to Superintendent of Police Angam Kamei, one rifleman of the 29 Assam Rifles suffered splinter injuries when a powerful improvised explosive device (IED), suspected to have been planted by militants, exploded while a foot patrol party was moving in the thick forest area. The jawans retaliated with firing, but the militants managed to escape. The injured jawan, Appu Barma, was air-lifted from the spot in a military chopper, the police said, adding a combing operation was launched in the area to nab the militants.
Infiltration bid foiled at India-Pakistan border
The Border Security Force (BSF) 73 Battalion gunned down a Pakistani infiltrator, who was trying to cross over into the Indian side of the border in Punjab.The incident took place last night in Amritsar's Ajnala.The security forces are further investigating the matter.In March, another Pakistani national was shot dead by the BSF near the India-Pakistan border in Gurdaspur sector of Punjab.The man had crossed the border fence to enter into the Indian territory.
7 naxals killed in encounter in with security forces in Chhattigsarh
At least seven naxals, including three women, were today gunned down in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattigsarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said. The skirmish took place at around 6 am in the forest near Timinar and Pusnar villages along the border of Bijapur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was out on an anti-Maoist operation, state's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI. Acting on a tip-off, security forces had launched the operation from Dantewada district in the forest along the border of the two districts, he said. While they were cordoning off jungles of Timinar and Pusnar villages, located around 450 km away from the state capital Raipur, in Bijapur, the exchange of fire broke out between the two sides, he said. "After guns fell silent, bodies of seven naxals, including three women, were recovered from the spot," the DIG ...
Evacuations begin from besieged pro-regime Syria towns
Buses began evacuating fighters and civilians from two besieged pro-regime towns in Syria early this morning under a deal that will allow thousands to leave after three years of encirclement. Fuaa and Kafraya are the last remaining areas under siege in Syria, where government forces have also repeatedly used crippling blockades during the last seven years of war. The Shiite-majority towns have been besieged for years by rebels and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. Surrounded and bombed by hostile factions, the towns became a rallying cry for the government and its ally Iran, as well as a playing card in callous rebel hands. A deal reached on Tuesday between regime-backer Russia and rebel-ally Turkey would see all the residents taken to government-held territory in exchange for prisoner releases from regime jails. Starting on Wednesday morning, a series of barricades on the road leading into the towns were removed to let dozens of
Punjab CM urges greater security for Sikhs in Afghanistan
Singh further urged Swaraj to advise officials in her ministry and the Indian High Commission in connection with the same.He also asked Swaraj to pursue measures to ensure that Sikh families were offered security, relief and rehabilitation.In his letter, the Punjab Chief Minister voiced his dismay on the growing number of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.The letter came over two weeks after 19 people were killed in a suicide attack that targeted a convoy of Hindus and Sikhs who were on their way to Jalalabad to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Weapons used in Aurangabad violence were bought through Flipkart: Maha CM
Two months after the Aurangabad clashes, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that the weapons used in the violence were brought through e-retailer Flipkart.He further said that case has been registered against the concerned compnaies."The weapons used in the violence were bought through Flipkart. Cases have been registered against the companies from where these weapons were bought," Fadnavis said.Two people died and over 40 people were injured, including police personnel, when the clashes broke out in multiple areas of the city, two months ago following the removal of a water connection to a place of worship in Moti Karanja area.About 50 shops were gutted in the clashes, and hundreds of youths took to the streets to pelt stones when the issue took a communal colour.
Extremist guilty of plotting attack on British PM
A British man who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group was found guilty today of plotting to behead Prime Minister Theresa May in a suicide attack. Naa'imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, planned to bomb the gates of Downing Street, kill guards and then attack May. Rahman thought he was being helped by an IS group handler when in fact he was speaking to undercover officers. He had collected what he thought was an explosives-packed rucksack when he was arrested last November. "Before his arrest prevented it, he was, he believed, just days away from his objective, which was no less than a suicide attack, by blade and explosion, on Downing Street and, if he could, upon the Prime Minister Theresa May herself," said prosecutor Mark Heywood. In a chat with an undercover security service agent on the Telegram messaging app, Rahman said: "I want to do a suicide bomb on parliament. I want to attempt to kill Theresa May." Rahman continued: "My objective is to take out my target. Nothing less ...
Eight arrested over Boko Haram Chibok abduction: police
Eight men have been arrested in connection with Boko Haram's abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from the remote town of Chibok in northeast Nigeria, police said today. The eight were among 22 suspected members of the Islamist militant group detained in the remote region after an investigation over the last year. The 14 others were alleged to have been involved in logistics and planning suicide bomb attacks. All the suspects were paraded at a news conference in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri. Borno state police commissioner Damian Chukwu said the men -- aged 20 to 48 and all from the Bama area of Borno state -- were arrested in Borno and neighbouring Yobe earlier this month. All eight had confessed to their involvement, he added. "The suspects are helping... with useful information to arrest other fleeing Boko Haram commanders," he said in a statement. The mass abduction of 276 students from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on April 14, 2014 caused widespread ...
Royal family remembers Nelson Mandela on centenary anniversary
Marking the centenary anniversary of former South African President and Anti-Apartheid revolutionary, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the launch of Nelson Mandela Centenary exhibition.Prince Harry met Nelson Mandela's widow, Garca Machel.The official Twitter handle of Kensington Palace posted a picture with the caption, " HRH met Mandela's widow Graca Machel at the Centre and gave this speech saying; "These organisations, which include the Nelson Mandela Foundation, are empowering the next generation of engaged South African citizens,"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex later met Lord Peter Hain, Chair of The Nelson Mandela Centenary Committee and Elaine Bedell, Chief Executive of the Centre.Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aslo met Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela, the granddaughter of Neslon Mandela.Kensington Palace Twitter handle wrote,"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also meet Nelson Mandela's granddaughter Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela @southbankcentre before viewing the @Mandela100UK ...
Private security industry employees protest at India gate, demand 'streamlining of GST rules'
Owners and employees of private security industry today staged a silent protest at India Gate here, demanding "streamlining of GST rules" for the sector. The Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) demanded immediate implementation of 'reverse charge mechanism' for GST payment so that payment of GST is done directly by service receiver to the government and those running private security agencies should not be burdened by it. In a statement issued by the CAPSI, owners and employees of private security industry, majority of whom are retired Armed forces officers and personnel, first laid wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in respect of martyrs and then staged the protest in support of their demands. Similar protests were organised in all state capitals across the country by CAPSI members, it said. "We have made several representations to the Finance Ministry and to the GST Commissioner demanding streamlining of the GST mechanism for our industry. The major ...
CPI(Maoist) member surrenders before police
A member of the banned CPI (Maoist) M Anil alias Ganesh surrendered before police in Warangal district today, police said. Anil was not involved in any violent incidents nor any exchange of fire during his stint as dalam member, police said. He surrendered before Warangal Police Commissioner V Ravinder, disillusioned with Maoist ideology, police added.
Armed dacoity in Palghar district
A gang of seven armed men burgled a house at Wadavli in neighbouring Palghar district and looted valuables and cash worth over Rs 8 lakh today, police said. The burglars entered the house through the kitchen door at around 3:30 AM, an official said. They pointed a revolver at the family including a couple and his mother threatening them to face dire consequences if they raised an alarm, he said. The dacoits, armed with knives, took away cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 8.50 lakh, according to police. Police have launched a search to trace the dacoits, the Palghar district police spokesperson said, adding that no arrest has been made so far. A case has been registered against unidentified dacoits under various sections of the IPC and provisions of the Arms Act.
Police seizes 26 kg of opium, arrests smuggler
The police today arrested a smuggler and seized 26 kg of opium from his possession in Churachandpur district, a police officer said. Superintendent of Police, K Kabib said acting on a tip-off police caught hold of the smuggler at Thingkangphai area of the district and seized 26 kg of raw opium from his possession. The seized contraband is valued around Rs 36 lakh in the international market, police said.
11 Afghan journalists killed in six months
Eleven Afghan journalists and media workers have been killed in the first half of the year amid deteriorating security, an independent media safety group said on Wednesday.
No SSP can be called to Jammu, Srinagar without nod from Home dept: J-K govt
The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued a circular directing that no district senior superintendent of police can be summoned to Jammu or Srinagar without permission from the state's Home department, officials said. The circular, which was issued on July 16, amounted to clipping their wings, senior police officials said on condition of anonymity. According to the circular by Principal Secretary (Home) R K Goyal, a request has to be made to his office if a district SSP is required for a meeting in the civil secretariat. "In case a district senior superintendent of police is required for a meeting in the civil secretariat, a request to that extant shall be made to Principal Secretary (Home)," the circular said. It had come to the notice of authorities that some SSPs are called by senior officers for meetings at Srinagar and Jammu, the circular stated. "The practice disrupts the functioning of district offices....as the presence of these officers is imperative at district ...
Preparations start to evacuate pro-regime Syria towns
Preparations were underway today to evacuate thousands of people from two pro-regime Syrian towns, an AFP reporter and state media said, after three years of encirclement by hardline rebels. No date has been set for the start of evacuations from Fuaa and Kafraya in the northwestern province of Idlib, but they could begin in the coming days. The Shiite-majority towns are the last remaining areas under siege in Syria, where government forces have also repeatedly used crippling blockades during the country's seven-year war. Today, barricades were lifted on the road leading into Fuaa and Kafraya, allowing 84 buses to enter, an AFP correspondent said. Official SANA news agency also said buses had arrived to evacuate people. "Dozens of buses and ambulances have entered the area of Fuaa and Kafraya to bring out the residents besieged by terrorists," SANA said. The towns are besieged by rebels and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. The Syrian ..