Page 568 - War Conflict
Suspected jihadists kill six in Cameroon
Six villagers were killed overnight in northern Cameroon in an attack attributed to NIgeria's Boko Haram jihadist group, a local leader said today. The attack occurred in the village of Mangave Foya, said Abdoulaye Yerima Bakari, the head of the Dogba administrative region. "They attacked the home of a district chief, whom they shot, as well as two other people" who were in the building, he said. When the neighbours came out to investigate the gunfire, the assailants opened fire, killing three of them, he said. A local self-defence group and the security forces, joined by some villagers, gave chase, killing five attackers and arresting three others, he added. Boko Haram, a militant movement opposed to Western influence and seeking an Islamic state based on Sharia law, has caused the deaths of at least 20,000 people since it took up arms in Nigeria in 2009. Their insurgency has spilled into neighbouring countries, including Cameroon. Since 2014, the group has killed 2,000 civilians and
Shopkeeper shot in J&K's Pulwama
Militants on Friday evening shot a shopkeeper in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.
400 Palestinians wounded in Gaza protests
Some 400 Palestinians, including two journalists, were wounded by Israeli fire or treated for tear gas inhalation poisoning, during protests at the Gaza-Israel separation fence, officials from the Gaza's Health Ministry said on Friday.
China backs Afghan ceasefire
China today welcomed the temporary ceasefire declared by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in the fight against the Taliban, saying military means cannot solve the Afghan problem. "We hope all relevant parties can move in the same direction and initiate the peace talks at an early date. China firmly supports the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process and continues to play a constructive role in this aspect," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here. "China appreciates the Afghan government's announcement that it will start a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban. China always thinks that military means cannot resolve the Afghan issue," Hua said in response to a question on Ghani's declaration of ceasefire. Ghani said the ceasefire would last from June 12-20 and offered to hold peace talks with the Afghan Taliban. China is trying to aid Afghanistan and Pakistan in resolving their differences over the Afghan Taliban, which Kabul alleges operates from Pakistani
On 'Jerusalem Day,' Gaza anti-blockade protest near Israel
Palestinians burned tires and Israeli troops fired heavy volleys of tear gas today to push back large Gaza crowds from the area of the fence separating the blockaded territory from Israel. It was the latest in a series of protests against the decade-long blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt. Friday's march also coincided with the annual "Jerusalem Day," instituted by Iran to protest against Israeli rule of the holy city. Israel and Iran have been arch enemies since Tehran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. In the capitals of Iran and Iraq, thousands of Shiite Muslims marched in Jerusalem Day protests, some chanting "Death to Israel" or burning Israeli flags and effigies of President Donald Trump. Today's Gaza protest was accompanied by concerns about renewed bloodshed. At least 115 Palestinian protesters, the vast majority unarmed, have been killed and close to 3,800 have been wounded by Israeli army fire since the marches began in late March. After Muslim noon prayers today, thousands of ...
Chhattisgarh: Maoist killed in encounter, weapons recovered
A Maoist was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Jaramongia on Friday morning.An exchange of fire took place between Maoists and a joint party of District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bhairamgarh PS and Naxalites at around 5: 30 a.m. here.The exchange of fire took place for about 30-40 mins after which the Naxalites ran away taking shelter of forests and river.During the search operation, a uniform-clad male dead body, one 7.62 mm pistol with three live rounds, one INSAS magazine with live rounds, explosives with detonators and wires, a tiffin bomb, Naxal literature and spikes were recovered from the spot.The deceased has been identified as Moti Farsa, a twenty-eight-year-old militia Platoon Commander of the Maoists.
Threats received are an attempt to misguide people: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the letters of threat that were issued by Maoists were an attempt to misguide the people in urban areas."To say more than this at the moment won't be right. But it's now certain that while armed forces are fighting Naxals in forests, a large group is trying to misguide people in urban areas," Fadnavis said."Several facts have surfaced in the letter. Police have found different documents, internal communication hard disks, concrete proof of conspiracy that was being made against this country. From where the fund has come for this conspiracy and whose money has been used, the police has information on everything. These things will be presented in the court and a probe is underway to find more links," he added.Earlier today, Fadnavis and his family members received a death threat from Maoist organisations in connection with Gadchiroli encounters, wherein 40 Maoists were killed by security forces in April.According to ...
14,500 safety bunkers coming up in J&K border areas (Roundup)
Nearly 14,500 safety bunkers will be constructed in Jammu and Kashmir border areas for people to take shelter in the event of Pakistani shelling of civilian areas on this side, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, capping his two-day trip to the state.
J&K border residents to get 60 pc reservation in 5 new IRP battalions: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the Centre had decided to raise five Indian Reserve Police (IRP) battalions in which people from border areas of Jammu and Kashmir would be given 60 per cent reservation. The minister was speaking after meeting people living in border areas in the frontier Kupwara district, on the second day of his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Singh reached the north Kashmir district this morning and later, took a flight to the state's Jammu region, officials said. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh to Kupwara, they said. "We have decided to create two battalions from the people living from zero to 10 km distance from the border, and also create five IRP battalions having over 5,000 personnel in which 60 per cent reservation will be given to people living in zero to 10 km range from the border," Singh said. Besides, two female battalions will also be created, he said. The Home minister .
Two gunrunners held in Delhi, 31 pistols seized
Two gunrunners were arrested and 31 countrymade pistols seized from them, which they intended to supply to criminals in the National Capital Region-Delhi, police said on Friday.
Clashes broke out after Friday prayers in Srinagar
Clashes were reported between protestors and security forces after Friday prayers in Nowhatta area of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said. There were no reports of anyone getting hurt in these clashes, the police said. After the prayers culminated at Jamia Masjid here, a group of youth took out a protest march and started pelting stones when the security forces asked them to stop, they said. The security forces in turn fired several rounds of tear smoke shells to disperse the crowd.
Maoist plan to assassinate Modi hollow threat: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security was the top priority of the government and a reported Maoist plan to assassinate him was a hollow threat.
Fight against IS will step up during Afghan truce: US general
A one-week ceasefire with the Taliban announced by the Afghan government will allow the fight against the Islamic State group to be stepped up, the top US general in the country said today. Afghan commandos backed by US special forces and air support are tackling IS and Al-Qaeda fighters who hold pockets of territory in the northern and eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Jowzjan. "We are in the middle of a new offensive against ISIS in Nangahar. This will continue and in fact will be intensified during the period of ceasefire," General John Nicholson, who commands US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, told reporters. Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO defence ministers' meeting in Brussels, Nicholson said US forces would respect the apparently unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani yesterday. But Nicholson said his troops would not hesitate to respond if the Taliban broke the ceasefire. "We will act in self defence of coalition and Afghan
Arunchal guv meets MEA officials, pitches for road via Bhutan
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) B D Mishra has underlined the need for an all-weather road connecting Tawang and Guwahati via southern Bhutan during his meeting with the officials of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), a release issued by Raj Bhavan said here today. The existing road joining Lumla in Tawang with Guwahati in neighbouring Assam, adjacent to the Bhutan border, becomes non-functional during snowfall and landslides, Mishra, who is presently camping at the national capital, told MEA Joint Secretary (North) Sudhakar Daleha yesterday. The governor also impressed upon the fact that the proposed road would cut the distance between the two places by 119km, the release asserted. He urged the MEA officials to coordinate with the government of Bhutan on the matter. Daleha, along with other MEA officials who were present at the meet, assured Mishra of "full cooperation" in the proposed initiative, the release said. Later in the day, the governor also called on ...
Militants strike in Kupwara hours before Rajnath's visit
Militants attacked security forces in a north Kashmir village in Kupwara on Friday hours before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the border district.
CRPF jawan awarded PM's medal for life saving act at Vaishno Devi
A CRPF jawan, who saved the lives of Vaishno Devi pilgirms trapped in a landslide in 2016, has been posthumously decorated with the PM's police medal for life saving. A spokesperson for the paramilitary said Head Constable Harvinder Singh of the 6th battalion of the force has been decorated with the Prime Minister's medal for "showing exemplary ideal of self-sacrifice in a life-threatening incident" on August 24, 2016. Singh, deployed for frisking of pilgrims and others to the famous shrine that day, noticed some women pilgrims and their children trapped under a landslide even as few others present around were hit by flying stones and pebbles. During this rescue bid, he said, Singh was hit by a falling boulder and later succumbed to grievous injuries, the spokesperson said. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is tasked to guard the cave shrine in Trikuta hills of Reasi district of Jammu against terror and sabotage threats.
The onus of responsibility of the peace process on Taliban, says WH
The White House has said that the onus of responsibility of the peace process is now on the Taliban and it needs to acknowledge that it cannot achieve its objectives on the battlefield, a day after Afghan government offered a temporary ceasefire. Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani announced the ceasefire with the Taliban after the country's Islamic Council issued an edict that forbade suicide bombing and had urged the group to join peace efforts. "President Ghani's remarks at the Kabul Process conference combined with the announcement of the ceasefire initiative demonstrate the Afghan governments willingness to undertake difficult steps toward a political settlement," said Lisa Curtis, the Deputy Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council. "The onus of responsibility is now on the Taliban to respond positively, so a peace process begins with all sides sitting down at the table," said Curtis said. The US is ready to .
Arunachal Governor meets Vice Chief of Air Staff
Arunachal Pradesh Governor B.D. Mishra met the Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, here and briefed him about an initiative to form a group of Army officers in the northeastern state to motivate the youth.
Militants thrash cops posted at J-K AG's ancestral house
Jammu and Kashmir's Advocate General Jehangir Iqbal Ganaie today said that militants thrashed policemen posted for security at his ancestral house in Anantnag district last night after finding that the guards had no weapons. A group of four militants barged into Ganaie's residence in Mattan area of the south Kashmir district late last night looking for weapons, but could not find any weapons there. Four gunmen entered my residence. I think there must have been two to three outside also. I do not know how it happened but these persons (militants) directly entered the house as the main door was open, the Advocate General told PTI. He said the policemen posted at his residence were unarmed and beaten by militants. The militants then entered into the guard house which is an annexe to the main house. There were two cops at that time and they were beaten by militants. The guard house was ransacked. It looks they were looking for weapons, Ganaie said. He said after finding no weapons there, .
Afghan official: Attackers target lawmaker, leave 3 dead
An Afghan official says suicide bombers targeted a lawmaker in eastern Nangarhar province, leaving three dead, but the lawmaker wasn't home at the time. Ataullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack Friday targeted the home of Feridon Momand, a member of parliament, in the provincial capital of Jalalabad. A police officer, a woman and her husband in the building were killed and five others were wounded. Khogyani says says Momand was not at home at the time. Khogyani says one of the suicide bombers was killed by police and another was still fighting. Momand said he owns the building and it is used by the Momand tribal council. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday announced a weeklong cease-fire with the Taliban to coincide with the holiday marking the end of Ramadan next week.