Page 536 - War Conflict
Key suspect in Bangladeshi writer's murder killed
A prime suspect in the murder of Bangladeshi writer Shahzahan Bachchu was killed in an alleged shootout between police and criminals here on Thursday.
Pak lifts ban on extremist group hours before being placed on 'grey list' by FATF
Pakistan has lifted a ban on a Sunni extremist outfit and unblocked assets of its chief, in a surprise decision hours before the country was placed on the 'grey list' by the Financial Action Task Force for failing to curb anti-terror financing. The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) yesterday issued a notification to lift the ban on Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) and unfreeze the assets of its chief Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi, the Express Tribune reported. The notification was issued on the recommendations of the Punjab province home department, the paper said. Ludhianvi is the chief of ASWJ, a banned sectarian extremist group, formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba. He became the group's chief after the killing of his predecessor Ali Sher Haidri in a 2009 ambush. In 1990s, the Sipah-e-Sahaba was actively involved in a number of high profile attacks on scholars, mosques and gatherings of the minority Shia community. The groups was banned by the military dictator General Pervez ...
Dalit shot dead over dance at wedding in Bihar
A Dalit youth was shot dead in a Bihar village during a clash over dancing at a wedding, following which half a dozen vehicles were damaged by protesting villagers, police said on Thursday.
Army announces arrests after central Nigeria violence
Nigeria's army said on today that they have arrested 17 people in connection with the killing of more than 200 people in the central state of Plateau. The recent clashes between cattle farmers and herders have put pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the violence, as he works to secure a second term in the 2019 presidential polls. Rising insecurity in the so-called "Middle Belt" is shaping up to be a key election issue, with predictions the extent of the violence could eclipse that of Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency. Army spokesman Major Adam Umar said three of the arrests were linked to killings in the Barikin Ladi area, while the other 14 were arrested in connection with the deaths of travellers in the south of the state capital, Jos. "We all know that some days back, some villages in Barikin Ladi were attacked and these three suspects were arrested in connection with that," Umar said. "As our men were repelling the attacks in those areas, we arrested these three suspects
News highlights from the western
News highlights from the western region at 1630 hrs. BOM 8 MH-2ND LD CRASH Mumbai: Five persons killed as a 12-seater aircraft crashes in a crowded Mumbai suburb, the second air mishap in Maharashtra in two days. BOM 5 GA-SURGICAL STRIKES-PARRIKAR Panaji: Hours after TV channels air footage of the September 2016 surgical strikes, the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar says the Congress should realise its "mistake" of casting aspersions on the action of Indian armed forces. LGB1 MH-COURT-I-T OFFICERS-BRIBE Mumbai: A special CBI court convicts an additional commissioner of Income Tax and an assistant I-T commissioner in a Rs 1.7 crore graft case of 2010 and sentences them to five years' imprisonment.
UK tolerated 'inexcusable' treatment of terror detainees: MPs
Britain tolerated the "inexcusable" mistreatment of detainees by US authorities during the war on terror and took part in planning extraordinary rendition operations, according to a British parliamentary report published today. "In our view the UK tolerated actions, and took others, that we regard as inexcusable," according to the report by lawmakers from parliament's intelligence and security committee. It said British officials became aware of mistreatment of US-held prisoners soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks. "There are at least 38 cases in 2002 alone of (British) officers witnessing or hearing about mistreatment," the report said. "That the US, and others, were mistreating detainees is beyond doubt, as is the fact that (British) agencies... were aware of this at an early point. "The same is true of rendition: there was no attempt to identify the risks involved and formulate the UK's response," it added. MPs also found three cases in which Britain's spy agencies MI6 and ...
Top J-K officials review security arrangements for Amarnath yatra
Top officials reviewed security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the annual Amarnath Yatra which commenced today. Director General of CRPF Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar and Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (DGP) S P Vaid and senior police and paramilitary officers, including special DG CRPF V S K Kaumudi, today visited south Kashmir to review the arrangements in place for smooth conduct of the two-month long pilgrimage to the 3,880 metre high cave shrine of Amarnath, a police spokesman said here. The field officers briefed the top officials regarding various measures taken for security and management of the yatra, the spokesman said. Vaid stressed upon the officers to ensure that the vehicles cross the identified locations as per the specified cut-off timings, he said. The DGP directed them to take all precautions in view of any weather conditions so as to ensure the smooth passage of the yatra through their respective areas. He also reviewed the preparedness for the ...
Taliban kill 16 Afghan police personnel
Sixteen Afghan Border Police personnel were killed after Taliban attacked their outpost in Takhar province on Thursday.
One killed, two policemen missing in fresh Papua violence
At least one person was killed and two police officers are missing after suspected Papuan rebels fired at boats carrying voters and police returning from a polling station, Indonesian authorities said today. The attack -- the third carried out in the restive region by an alleged separatist group over the past week -- happened yesterday as tens of millions voted in local elections across the Indonesian archipelago. The gunmen shot at two boats carrying nine police officers and local residents who had just finished voting in Torere district, Papua police spokesman Ahmad Musthofa Kamal said. The district chief of Torere was fatally shot in the attack while two officers disappeared after they fell in the water, he added. It was unclear if the missing police were shot before they dropped into the river. Seven other police officers swam to safety after jumping from the boat, Kamal said. Police are searching for the missing officers and shooters. Yesterday's attack is the latest violence to .
Amaranth Yatra begins from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes
The annual AmaranthYatra to 3,880-metre high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas started from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes today after delay of several hours due to heavy rain in the morning. "The yatra began from Baltal base camp as the first batch of pilgrims made their way towards the holy cave," a spokesperson of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB)told PTI. The yatra also commences from the traditional Pahalgam route as 59 pilgrims from Chandanwari were allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine, she said Heavy rainfall in the morning delayed commencement of annual Amaranth Yatra. Amid tight security, the first batch of nearly 3,000 Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu reached the twin base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam in Kashmir last evening. After getting road clearance, the second batch of 3,434 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar base camp from Jammu for Kashmir in the early hours today, officials said, adding they are expected to reach the base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal in
Banned Naga outfit behind the ambush on Assam rifles convoy in Nagaland
The centre has been constantly working on to bring peace in Nagaland by initiating the peace process.However, the militant outfits are using violent means to create insecurity. Recently, banned-Naga outfit NSCN (K) carried out an attack on the convoy of Assam Rifles in Nagaland, in which three jawans lost their lives.On June 17, banned Naga outfit, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang) or NSCN (K) laid an ambush on Assam Rifles' convoy in Nagaland's Mon district along the Indo-Myanmar border. The militants lobbed grenades on the two army vehicles, which were on their way to fetch water from a river on the outskirts of Aboi town, 35 km away from the district headquarters.Three jawans of Assam Rifles namely Havaldar Fateh Singh Negi, Sepoy Hungnga Konyak and Rifleman Alom Hussain, were martyred in the attack. Experts believe the NSCN (K) hideouts in Myanmar need to be busted."Three years earlier, a similar incident was taken place where a number of jawans had been killed .
Air strikes on southern Syria kill 22 civilians: monitor
A barrage of Russian air strikes on rebel-held areas of southern Syria killed 22 civilians today, a monitoring group said, most of them in a single battered town. "At least 35 Russian air strikes hit the town of Al-Mseifra," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "One of them hit a basement where people were taking shelter, killing 17 civilians, including five children," the Britain-based monitor said.
Over 2,500 TN fishermen chased away by SL Navy near Katchatheevu islet
Over 2,500 Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu today, a fishermen association leader said. The fishermen from this island town had ventured into sea in 626 boats and were fishing off Katchatheevu islet when the Sri Lankan naval personnel came to the spot and chased them away at gun point, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, S Emerit alleged. Following this, all of them returned to shore without a catch, he said. On April 8, more than 2,000 fisherfolks from here were allegedly chased away by the Lankan Navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu.
Have faith in security forces: J&K Governor to pilgrims
Stressing on the security arrangements made for the Amarnath Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Thursday urged the pilgrims to have faith in the armed forces.
Political leadership can't be denied credit for surgical strikes: Parrikar
Goa Chief Minister and former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said the existing political leadership which took the "strong decision" to go ahead with the the 2016 surgical strikes across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, cannot be denied credit.
All security arrangements made; no cause for worry: JK Governor
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today said all arrangements have been made for the security of two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage and there is no cause for any worry. Vohra's comments came amidst "biggest-ever" security blanket thrown to secure pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath pilgrimage which began today. "I want to give a message and assurance that all security arrangements have been made for Amarnath Yatra. There is no cause for worry for the pilgrims," he told PTI after offering prayers at the cave shrine here, located at an altitude of 12,756 feet. Vohra was among the first pilgrims to offer prayers at the shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir. The Governor also said that due to the inclement weather, the pilgrimage has been suspended temporarily and it would be resumed once the weather situation improves Vehicles tagged with electromagnetic chips, bike and bullet-proof SUV police convoys and scores of bullet-proof bunkers have been deployed .
Pakistani children recruited for suicide attacks: UN report
Armed groups in Pakistan continue to recruit children, including those from madrassas, and allegedly use them for suicide attacks, according to a UN report released today. The annual report of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict said the Pakistan-based terror outfits have released videos of children being taught how to carry out suicide attacks. "In Pakistan, the United Nations continued to receive reports of the recruitment and use of children, including from madrasas, and allegations of the use of children by armed groups for suicide attacks," said the report covering the January-December 2017 period. "In January, Tehrike Taliban Pakistan released a video showing children, including girls, being instructed how to perpetrate suicide attacks," it said. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "concerned" by the continued attacks on schools by armed groups, particularly the targeting of girls' education. He called on the Pakistan government to prioritise ...
Russia 'does not recognise' extra powers to global chemical arms body: official
Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov today said Moscow does not recognise new powers the international community has given the global chemical weapons watchdog. "Moscow does not recognise the legitimacy of the new mechanism within the OPCW (the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)," Ryabkov said in comments carried by Russian news agencies.
Hizbul, JeM recruited children during Kashmir clashes: UN report
According to a report by United Nations (UN), Pakistan-based banned terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen recruited and used children in Jammu and Kashmir (J&k), during clashes with security forces last year.Using the phrase, "grave violations", the report said during clashes with the security forces, three incidents of recruitment and use of children by the two terror outfits were reported in Jammu and Kashmir."One case was attributed to Jaish-e-Mohammed and two to Hizbul Mujahideen," the report said.The "unverified" reports also show the use of children as informants and spies by the security forces, it further added.The annual report of the UN Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict that covered the January-December 2017 period, said more than 10,000 children, worldwide, were killed or wounded seriously in conflict. Over 8,000 were recruited and used as combatants.It covers 20 countries, including Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, India, the Philippines .
Congress lists multiple surgical strikes, slams Centre over 2016 action
The Congress on Thursday accused the Modi government of using the 2016 surgical strike carried out in Pakistan as "political fodder" to gain votes and listed many similar strikes done in the last two decades to assert this was not the first action of its kind.