Page 541 - War Conflict
India hosts 160 Sri Lankan defence personnel, families in Gaya
In an innovative step towards strengthening military ties, India today hosted a 160-member delegation comprising Sri Lankan military personnel and their families in Bihar's Gaya, where they will visit Buddhist religious places. One C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought the Sri Lankan delegation comprising of personnel from all three services and their family members from Colombo to Gaya, the Air Force said. The delegation will also visit the Officers Training Academy in Gaya. The visitors would be airlifted back to Colombo tomorrow. During the Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's recent visit to Sri Lanka, a proposal was discussed for a visit of Sri Lankan military personnel of all three services and their families to the Officers Training Academy in Gaya and the Buddhist religious site at Bodh Gaya. The Sri Lankan side was extremely enthusiastic about the tour, while the Ministry of Defence cleared the out of the box proposal from the Army chief on priority. India and Sri Lanka ..
Masked men snatch bag containing cash: police
Four masked men on two motorcycles allegedly snatched a bag containing Rs 22 lakh cash from an employee of a private cash collecting company at gun point today, police said here. The incident took place this evening at Fatehgarh Churian road when Kulwinder Singh after collecting cash from different city based traders was on way towards office on his scooter to deposit the money, they said. He was intercepted by four unidentified people who looted the cash at gun point, police officials said. They masked men fired in the air, they said adding investigations were underway.
Army officer dies in accidental fire in J-K's Anantnag
An Army officer died today after he accidentally shot himself from his personal firearm in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said. Colonel J V Mahadik suffered grievous injuries after his personal weapon went off accidentally while he was travelling in a vehicle in Khundroo area of Anantnag district, a defence spokesman said here. "In an unfortunate incident Col J V Mahadik (Corps of Artillery) posted at Station Headquarters, Khundroo, succumbed to the injuries suffered due to accidental discharge of fire from his personal weapon while travelling in a vehicle," the spokesman said.
RF tag for every vehicle carrying Amarnath pilgrims, joint control room for security
Amid heightened threat from terrorists, the government has decided to monitor each vehicle carrying Amarnath pilgrims with radio frequency (RF) tag and it will set up a joint control room for close coordination among different security agencies besides the Army, officials said today. The government has also decided to extend the validity of temporary pre-paid mobile connections taken by pilgrims during the Amarnath pilgrimage, beginning June 28, from seven days to 10 days. All vehicles carrying the Amarnath pilgrims will have one RF tag for its close monitoring for better security, an official said. RF tag uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track object attached to it. An RF tag attached to an automobile can be used to track its progress. A joint control room will be set up for better coordination between Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces and the Army to ensure security during the two-month-long pilgrimage to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva ..
Families flee as Syria regime bombards southern city
Syria's regime pounded rebel-held parts of the southern city of Daraa with rockets and barrel bombs overnight causing dozens of families to flee, a monitor and an AFP reporter said today. Government forces have ramped up their bombardment of the wider province of the same name for nearly a week, as fears rise of a full-blown regime assault to retake the country's south from rebels. Regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Daraa city for the first time in a year, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. An AFP correspondent said the heavy bombardment pushed dozens of terrified families to flee their homes on foot or on the back of motorbikes to seek shelter in olive groves on the outskirts of the city. Some families took refuge in small shelters or tents between the olive trees, the correspondent said. Russia-backed regime forces have been preparing an offensive to oust rebels from Syria's south, a strategic area bordering Jordan and the
PMK,BJP workers clash over remarks against Anbumani Ramadoss
Workers of the BJP and PMK today clashed here after the latter took out a march to the saffron party's office here intending to lay siege to it. The PMK workers wanted an apology from the state BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan after she reportedly made some remarks against PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a television interview. Police intervened and detained many protesters, police sources said. "Soundararajan should immediately apologise for her remarks failing which we would organise state-wide protests," PMK leader A K Moorthy, who organised the protest along with over 100 cadres, told reporters. Ramadoss in a series of tweets hit back at the BJP leader for her "lack of experience (in politics)." Speaking to reporters, Soundararajan said, "I never disrespected anyone. ....If I put forth my views, I would expect the same from the other side. Instead there has been ill-mannered retorts." The BJP leader said she would not apologise for anything as she has said ...
Taliban key commander among 12 killed in Afghanistan
A key Taliban commander was among 12 militants who were killed on Monday as security forces repulsed an attack by the militant group to overrun a district in Afghanistan's Faryab province, officials said.
Rajnath to visit Bangladesh; to discuss anti-terror cooperation, radicalisation
Anti-terror cooperation and ways to check radicalisation of youths will be high on the agenda during Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Bangladesh next month, officials said today. During the three-day visit beginning July 14, the home minister is also expected to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discuss various bilateral issues. In his meeting with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Singh will discuss how to strengthen the anti-terror mechanism between the two countries and check radicalisation of youths by terrorist groups, a home ministry official said. Singh, who will be accompanied by top officials of the home ministry and Border Security Force, will also discuss how to strengthen the existing mechanism set up to check movement of illegal immigrants, smuggling of cattle, arms and ammunition, narcotics and other items through the porus Indo-Bangla border. The Indian side is expected to take up the issue of the continuous inflow of fake Indian currency ..
13 cops suspended over imprisonment of minor on trumped up charges
Thirteen policemen, including SHOs of two police stations, were today suspended in connection with the arrest and imprisonment of a 14-year-old boy allegedly on trumped up charges, after he refused to give vegetables to policemen for free, a top police official said. On July 21, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had ordered a high-level inquiry into media reports that the boy was arrested here and sent to jail three months ago. Inspector General of Police, Patna Zone, Naiyar Hasnain Khan told PTI that suspension of the 13 policemen was made on account of inconsistencies in lodging of the FIR and "wrongfully" sending the boy, who is less than 18 years of age, to jail. He, however, said the charge of policemen demanding free vegetables could not be proved "as there was no independent witnesses". The boy was picked up from his house in March by a posse of police personnel who allegedly refused to tell his family members as to why he was being taken away, the reports claimed. His parents .
Deployment of police units to UN peacekeeping missions should be based on clear, achievable mandates: India
India, one of the top police contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, has said deployment of police units should be based on clear and achievable mandates and after detailed consultations between the Security Council and the contributing countries. Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General R K Pachnanda speaking at the 2nd United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit last week said the timing of deployment and role of the police in peacekeeping varies according to specific contexts. "Their capabilities and responsibilities are distinct from the military peacekeeping troops. Their mandates also have to be clearly aligned with the tasks they are trained to handle and distinct from those of the peacekeeping troops, he said. Pachnanda said the primary role of the police in UN peacekeeping missions is to train and build capacity of the host nation to enable them to build sufficient expertise and skills in policing, an important task in enforcing and maintaining the rule of law. "While a rapid
Security personnel on high alert ahead of Amarnath yatra
The Nunwan Base Camp here has been converted into a fortress ahead of the commencement of the annual Amarnath yatra, which will begin on Thursday, as security for this year's pilgrimage was heightened to thwart any rerun of last year's militant attack that left eight pilgrims dead and several injured. Security forces -- mainly police and CRPF personnel -- have been deployed in large numbers around the Nunwan Base Camp located at the entry of this buzzing tourist town known as the 'valley of shepherds' in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. The first security checkpoint was established and activated near the Langanbal bridge where police personnel check every vehicle entering or leaving Pahalgam, which serves as the base camp for the pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath in the mountainous region of south Kashmir. Security personnel have been deployed on both sides of the Lidder stream to thwart any attempt of daredevilry by militants. The next security barricade is adjacent to the ...
Sitharaman reviews Amarnath Yatra's security arrangements
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat on Monday visited Baltal Base Camp to review security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra.The two-month-long pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Amarnath will commence on June 28.Sitharaman and General Rawat were received by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Northern Army Commander and LT Gen AK Bhatt, Chinar Cops Commander.Sitharaman was briefed about the security and administrative arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra.She was subsequently given an update by the Chinar Corps Commander in Badami Bagh Cantonment on the latest security scenario in the Kashmir Valley including details of counter infiltration and counter-terrorist operations, undertaken in the recent past.She also appreciated the effectiveness of the intelligence and operational grids and commanded the commanders' troops for the excellent operational successes, which has contributed significantly towards improving the security environment in ...
Separatist leaders, MLA detained as shutdown hits Valley
Life across the Kashmir Valley was derailed on Monday by a separatist-sponsored shutdown even as the authorities detained senior separatist leaders to prevent their participation in protests.
Three killed in fresh Papua violence: Indonesia authorities
Three people were killed by Papuan rebels today, Indonesian authorities said, in the latest violence to hit the restive region ahead of regional elections. The separatists fired on a small plane carrying 15 police officers -- travelling to oversee the polls -- just after it landed at Nduga in the centre of the province, Papua military spokesman Muhammad Aidi said. The plane's pilot was injured in the attack, he added. Several rebels then killed a trio of street vendors as they fled the scene, Aidi said. "As they were fleeing, they shot and attacked vendors near the airport," he said. "Three of them were shot dead while another was seriously injured." A Papua police spokesman said authorities were looking for the shooters. The incident comes days after a pilot on another plane was shot and injured at the same airport. Indonesia holds regional elections on Wednesday that are seen as a bellwether for the 2019 presidential polls. Papua, on the western half of New Guinea island, has been ..
Saudi-led coalition says killed 8 Lebanese Hezbollah members in Yemen
The Saudi-led coalition battling rebels in Yemen today said its forces killed eight members of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah in northern Yemen, near the Saudi border. "The coalition killed 41 terrorist elements in Maran and destroyed their vehicles and equipment. Among the dead were eight members of Lebanese Hezbollah, including a commander," coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said in a statement, without providing further details. Maran is in Saada province, a stronghold of Yemen's Shiite Huthi rebels who are backed by Iran.
Minor boy from PoK detained
An eight-year-old boy hailing from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was detained after inadvertently crossing into this side from across the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said today. The minor was intercepted by troops guarding the LoC in Digwar sector late last night and handed over to the local police station this morning, the official said. He said the boy had apparently crossed the heavily-guarded LoC inadvertently and would be sent back after completion of legal formalities. On June 15, two Pakistani nationals were taken into custody by BSF troops along the International Border in Samba district but handed over to Pakistani Rangers the next day after it was confirmed that they had inadvertently crossed the border.
4 die in junk shop blast in UP
Four persons were killed and three injured in an explosion on Monday in a junk shop in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, police said.
Sitharaman visits J&K to review Amarnath Yatra security
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the Baltal base camp in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday to review security arrangements made for the annual Amarnath Yatra.
Nigeria: 86 killed in fresh herder-farmer violence
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has called for calm after 86 people were killed in an attack by suspected nomadic herders against farming communities in the restive centre of the country. The grim discovery in the Barikin Ladi area of Plateau state came after days of violence apparently sparked by an attack by ethnic Berom farmers on Fulani herders on Thursday. State police commissioner Undie Adie said a search of Berom villages in the area following clashes on Saturday found "86 persons altogether were killed". Adie told reporters six people were also injured and 50 houses were razed. Bodies of those who died have been released to their families, he added. The deaths are the latest in a long-running battle for land and resources that is putting President Muhammadu Buhari under pressure as elections approach next year. The violence fuelled by ethnic, religious and political allegiances has killed thousands over several decades. Analysts believe it could become Nigeria's biggest .
36 dead in militia attack on village in central Mali: Group
A community militia killed 32 civilians in an attack on a village in central Mali then returned shortly after Malian soldiers left and killed four more, the head of the West African nation's largest ethnic Fulani association has said. Mali's government earlier in the day confirmed the first attack and said 16 people were killed, as the Fulani ethnic group faces growing pressure over accusations of links to al-Qaida extremists. The death tolls differed because many bodies had been buried by the time Malian soldiers responded, Abdoul Aziz Diallo with the Tabital Pulaku association told The Associated Press. The original attack occurred Saturday when militia members killed herders outside Koumaga before entering and "starting to fire on the villagers," Diallo said. As soon as Malian soldiers left the village Sunday afternoon militia members returned, killing a man and his three sons, Diallo said. Koumaga village has the reputation of being the birthplace of a number of al-Qaida-linked ...