Page 539 - War Conflict
First batch of Amarnath pilgrims leave for Kashmir
A total of 2,995 pilgrims escorted by the security forces left Jammu on Wednesday in two batches who will start their Amarnath Yatra that begins from Thursday.
Cricket is symbol of 'hope for treasure' for Afghan people: India
Cricket is a symbol of "hope for treasure" in Afghanistan that is now battered by terrorism springing from safe havens in Pakistan, according to India's UN Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin.
Largest-ever security coverfor Amarnath Yatra this time
Vehicles tagged with electromagnetic chips, bike and bullet-proof SUV police convoys and scores of bullet-proof bunkers have been deployed as part of the "biggest-ever" security blanket thrown to secure pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath Yatra that begins in Jammu and Kashmir from tomorrow. Over two lakh pilgrims have registered for the annual pilgrimage to the3,880 metre high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas till now. A posse of over 40,000 armed CRPF and state police personnel have virtually dotted the yatra routes from Jammu-- via Pahalgam and Baltal-- with their overwhelming presence in armoured vehicles. Forces have deployed a huge assortment of CCTV cameras and drones, assisted by mounted Army columns, to ensure that the yatra route is not breached by terrorists and in case of a possible attack reinforcements reach as fast as possible. "Each vehicle that has pilgrims and is part of the yatra is being tagged using RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and ...
Amarnath Yatra: first batch of pilgrims arrive in Udhampur
The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims reached Udhampur on Wednesday morning, where they were welcomed by locals and officers of the district administration.The Yatra began earlier today amid tight security arrangements made by the Central Reserve Police Force along with the army and the local police."All security arrangements have been made. We have cross-checked every contingency. We're using latest technology and vehicles, and manpower has been increased as compared to last year," A V Chauhan, Inspector General CRPF Jammu Sector, told ANI.The security personnel have made new additional arrangements, such as RIFD (radio frequency identification) to track the vehicles and prevent them from getting lost. Bike ambulances have also been introduced for speedy first aid or medical assistance."There's no specific threat as such, only general safety concerns. But, we're ready for any kind of attack. On the highway, we have rendered safety from the Improvised explosive device (IED), ambush and
India for global ban on use of chemical weapons
India extended its complete support to the Chemical Weapon Convention to uphold the global ban on the use of chemical weapons.Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of India to Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Venu Rajamony on Tuesday said India is ready to co-operate with the international community for the same."India is ready to work with the international community to uphold the global ban on the use of chemical weapons," Rajamony said in the fourth special session of the Conference of the State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention here.Expressing solidarity to the victims of chemical weapon attacks, Rajamony said the use of such substances cannot be justified under any circumstances and the perpetrators must be held responsible for their acts.The OPCW Permanent Representative branded the use of chemical weapons as disregard of the United Nations and reprehensible and contrary to the provisions of the Chemical Weapon ...
First batch of Amarnath pilgrims leaves for Kashmir
The first batch of 1,091 pilgrims left from here early on Wednesday for Kashmir to start the Amarnath Yatra which begins from Thursday.
Jammu: First batch of Amarnath Yatra flagged off
Amid tight security, the first batch of the Amarnath Yatra was flagged off from Jammu's base camp in Bhagwant Nagar on Tuesday morning.The Yatra was flagged off by BVR Subramanyam, Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir and BB Vyas and Vijay Kumar, advisors to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Narinder Nath Vohra."Amarnath Yatra is a very significant annual event. With cooperation of public, all security agencies and development agencies, we have put a scheme in place and are trying our best to address concerns of the pilgrims. We will ensure smooth flow of traffic," Vijay Kumar said.The pilgrims from different parts of the country have for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in Kashmir, guarded by the security forces in a fleet of vehicles.From there onwards, the pilgrims will start their journey to the 3,880 metre high cave shrine by foot on Thursday.The central government along with the armed forces has beefed up the security for the Amarnath Yatra.Abhay Vir Chauhan, Inspector General .
Helmand peace activists reject Taliban's allegations
The Helmand peace activists on Tuesday rebuffed Taliban's allegations that their campaign is fabricated by the United States, asking the Taliban to provide sufficient evidence for such claims.Head of the peace convoy, Iqbal Khyber, said they are ready to appear in the Taliban court if the insurgent group can gather sufficient evidence if the activists had the support of other countries.Khyber vowed to give an appropriate response to Taliban's claims within next five days."This movement is completely people-oriented and there are no foreign hands behind the initiative. Sixty percent of our journey lied in areas either under the control or influence of the Taliban and we met them (Taliban) during the march. If this movement was fabricated by the US, why you (Taliban) did not realize it before?" Tolo News quoted Khyber as saying.The Taliban said it sees the Helmand peace march as a conspiracy which has been fabricated by the United States and implemented by the High Peace Council ...
Iraqi PM calls for disarmament of PKK
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has called for the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group, including other armed groups."My government wanted to see the complete disarmament of all armed groups operating in Iraq, especially the PKK," Anadolu Agency quoted al-Abadi as saying.At a press conference on Tuesday, he said that his cabinet had also discussed the security issue along Iraq's borders with Turkey and Iran.Earlier this month, the Turkish Armed Forces launched counter-terrorism operations in Qandil Mountain region (a known PKK stronghold) in northern Iraq.Turkey, the US and the European Union (EU) had earlier listed the PKK as a terrorist organization.The insurgent group's terror campaign against Turkey is on for three decades now, which resulted in the killing of more than 40,000 people.
Amarnath Yatra to kickstart today amid tight security
The first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra will leave from Jammu's base camp in Bhagwant Nagar today amid tightened security.The pilgrims from different parts of the country will leave for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in Kashmir, guarded by the security forces in a fleet of vehicles on early Wednesday morning.From there onwards, the pilgrims will start their journey to the 3,880 metre high cave shrine by foot on Thursday.Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jammu Sector Abhay Vir Chauhan chaired a meeting of senior officials deployed in the region here to review the efficacy of security arrangement for the Amarnath Yatra.During the meeting, various aspects of the security were discussed upon among which security of Base Camp Bhagwati Nagar and security of Yatra route were emphasised.Chauhan also talked about the necessity of optimum utilisation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) on Yatra vehicles.He also reviewed the composition .
UN mission says 12 civilians died in Mali soldiers' revenge
The United Nations mission in Mali says soldiers who are part of a regional counterterrorism force "summarily and/or arbitrarily" executed 12 civilians in retaliation for the death of a fellow soldier. The UN mission said today that unknown attackers shot a Malian soldier on May 19 at the weekly Boulkessy cattle market. It said fellow soldiers from the Malian battalion of the G5 Sahel Joint Force retaliated, and civilians were killed. The mission says it has given its investigative report to Mali's government. The government has not yet responded. The mission says it remains concerned about human rights violations in the central region where Islamic extremist groups operate, urging G5 Sahel and Malian forces to conduct military operations in accordance with international human rights law and to protect civilians.
Russia, Syria clash with West on boosting chemical watchdog OPCW
In a bitter diplomatic battle, Russia, backed by Iran and Syria, today sought to head off a Western push to endow the world's global chemical watchdog with new powers to identify those behind toxic arms attacks. Delegates from 143 countries gathered in The Hague for a special meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) called by Britain and other allies, including France and the United States. It comes as the body is expected to unveil soon its report into an alleged sarin and chlorine gas attack in April in the Syrian town of Douma. Medics and rescuers say 40 people were killed, blaming the attack on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was expected to address the rare special session of the OPCW's top policy-making body later, as London seeks to overcome the lack of an effective way of holding perpetrators to account. "We want to strengthen the Organisation entrusted with overseeing the ban on chemical ...
Burglars loot Rs 54.70 lakh from three ATMs in Nagpur
Cash worth Rs 54.70 lakh was stolen from three ATMs of a nationalised bank in two separate incidents in Jaripatka area of Nagpur on the intervening night of June 25 and 26, police said today. The burglars used gas cutters to break open two unguarded ATMs at Power Grid square and Patankar Square under jurisdiction of Jaripatka police station. In the first incident, the burglars broke open an ATM machine at Power Grid square and fled with Rs 11.35 lakh cash. Similarly, two ATM cabinets were found broken at Patankar square wherein cash worth Rs 27.24 lakh and Rs 16.10 lakh, respectively, was found to be looted, Nagpur Police stated in a release. In another crime, one person was shot at and injured by unidentified person in Pension Nagar area of the city. A Gittikhadan police station officer said that the victim was identified as Kuldeep Pandey who has criminal record. The incident occurred when Pandey was smoking a cigarette at a pan shop when two assailants riding a ...
6 Jharkhand Jaguar Force jawans killed in landmine blast
Six jawans of the Jharkhand Jaguar Force were killed today in a landmine blast carried out by Maoists in the state's Garhwa district, a senior police officer said. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Vipul Shukla said the police got information that some Maoists were present in the Chinjo area of Garhwa district. He said when the security personnel went to the area this evening, the Maoists carried out a landmine blast and opened fire, killing six jawans of the Jharkhand Jaguar Force. Some personnel of the force were also injured in the incident, the officer said. The Jharkhand Jaguar Force is a special unit of the state police. He said that an encounter was going on and additional security personnel were being rushed to the area.
British Taliban recruit convicted of London terrorism plot
A Saudi-born British man who claimed he had been kidnapped by the Taliban in Pakistan and forced to make bombs for them was today found guilty on terrorism charges by a UK court. Khaled Ali was arrested by Scotland Yard officers in April last year on Parliament Street in London and found carrying three knives. The 28-year-old had recently returned from Afghanistan, where he made and detonated bombs, the Old Bailey court was told. A jury convicted Ali of preparing an act of terrorism in the UK, and two counts of possessing an explosive substance with intent. The plumber from north London will be sentenced at a later date and faces life imprisonment. It emerged during his trial that Ali, a qualified gas-fitter, had been under surveillance by MI5 after returning from Afghanistan in late 2016. He had spent more than five years helping construct hundreds of bombs for the Taliban. "We were trying to understand what he was up to here and trying to get the evidence from international partners
JK: Khan is ADGP law and order
Senior IPS officer Muneer Ahmad Khan was today assigned charge as Additional Director General of Police for law and order in Jammu and Kashmir. According to an order issued by the home department, Khan, who is presently posted as ADGP Home Guards, was assigned the additional charge of law and order. The Inspector Generals of Police in Kashmir and Jammu zones have been asked to report to Khan on matters of law and order under the overall supervision of DGP S P Vaid.
Amarnath pilgrims guests of militants, not targets: Hizbul commander
The Amarnath pilgrims are guests of militants and not their targets, a senior Hizbul Mujahideen commander said on Tuesday.
Benazir murder: Key Taliban terrorist resurfaces, denies involvement
Ikramullah, one of Pakistan's most wanted terrorists affiliated to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and allegedly part of a cell that assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has denied his involvement in the killing in a video released by the group, the media reported on Tuesday.
British Taliban bomb-maker found guilty of plot to attack MPs
A 28-year-old Saudi-born British man was today found guilty of plotting a daring terror attack on lawmakers and making bombs for the Taliban in Afghanistan. Khalid Ali, a plumber-turned-terrorist, was arrested in April 2017 in Parliament Street, where he was caught carrying three knives. Ali had recently returned from Afghanistan, where he made and detonated bombs, the Old Bailey heard. A jury convicted Ali of preparing an act of terrorism in the UK, and two counts of possessing an explosive substance with intent, the BBC reported. Ali, a plumber from Edmonton in north London, did not react as the verdicts were read out. He will be sentenced on July 20, it said. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon described him as an "incredibly dangerous individual". He said his conviction demonstrates "how close the UK counter-terrorism network works with partners and allies to bring to justice those seeking to harm others across the world". Prosecutor Brian Altman had told the jury that Ali .
Miscreants loot over Rs 16 lakh from ATMs
Unidentified persons looted over Rs 16 lakh by breaking at least five ATMs in Odisha's Ganjam district in the early hours of today, police said. The ATMs belonging to the State bank of India (SBI) were located at Ankuli, Khodasingi, Badriraj Nagara (Gishaninuagaon), Lanjipalli and Haladiapadara area. The miscreants used gas cutters to break the ATM machines before stealing the cash, said SP (Berhampur) Pinak Mishra. In some places the miscreants decamped with cash trays from the ATMs, while in other places currencies were found burnt due to the use of gas cutters to break the machines, said Prafulla Kumar Nayak, chief manager of the bank after visiting the looted ATMs. Scientific teams were rushed to the spots and inquiry started into the incidents, the SP said. The robbers tried to break the ATM at Gopalpur Chhaka but fled on seeing police, a police officer said. "We have received a call from Mumbai about the loot attempt of ATM at Gopalpur Chhaka at about 2.30 am. We ..