Page 581 - War Conflict
Terrorists lob grenades at Bunker vehicle in J-K's Pulwama
Terrorists lobbed grenades and fired upon a Bunker vehicle of the 183 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion on Friday, while it was on its way to an Idgah in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.No causality has been reported in the matter till now.The security forces have also recovered three bags containing suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) mechanism during a search operation conducted after terrorists fired upon the bunker.Earlier in the day, high alert was issued in Srinagar over the possibility of a Fidayeen and a hit and run attack on security forces and their establishments in next two or three days.The alert was issued after the intelligence agency confirmed about the infiltration of some terrorists in the region from the across the border.In the wake of the same, the security has been beefed up in the region.Hotels and guest houses are being checked for the presence of any suspicious person.Checking and frisking have also been intensified at all entry points
Curfew imposed in Shillong following violent clash
Curfew was imposed in some parts of Meghalaya's state capital Shillong on Friday following a violent clash that broke out between the police and an unruly mob in the city's Motphran area.
Security forces put on high alert in J-K
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have been put on a high alert following reports of large scale infiltration of militants in the Valley from across the Line of Control, officials said here today. There are reports of infiltration of over 20 militants into Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) recently, the officials said. They said most of the militants are believed to be affiliated to Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit headed by Maulana Masood Azhar. The security grid is apprehending a spike in militant attacks in the state,particularly in the Valley,the officials said. The security forces have been asked to remain on a high alert and maintain vigil around sensitive security installations across the state, they said. The officials said it is rare for such a large number of militants to infiltrate in one go and indicated the desperation of their handlers across the LoC to keep the Kashmir pot boiling.
Police raids illegal firearms factory
Police today raided an illegal firearms making factory in Malda district and seized a number of unfinished firearms and bomb making materials. Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Additional Superintendent of Police, Arindam Sarkar raided the factory at Naldubi area and seized machines used to make firearms and unfinished firearms, a senior police officer said. Nine persons working in the the illegal firearms factory were arrested during the raid, the officer added.
Difficult to move ahead on connectivity under BIMSTEC unless Rohingya issue resolved: Bangladesh
Emphasising the need for a "sustainable repatriation" of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, Bangladesh today expressed concern about their possible radicalisation, saying refugee camps all over the world are a "good breeding ground" for extremism. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said unless the refugee problem is addressed, it will be difficult to make any significant progress on connectivity under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which involves Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. Bangladesh has nearly 11 lakh Rohingya refugees, while India has an estimated 40,000 scattered across various states. "We would like that there is sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya people and they should be allowed to lead a normal life like many others because there are chances of radicalisation. As you know refugee camps all over the world is a good breeding ground for radicalisation and ...
Turkey says 3 soldiers killed in Iraq clashes with Kurdish rebels
Three Turkish soldiers were killed today in clashes with fighters from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the army said. "Three of our heroic comrades fell as martyrs as a result of clashes with members of the separatist terrorist organisation in northern Iraq," the army said, referring to the PKK which is designated as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. Turkish warplanes have often bombed PKK hideouts in the mountainous northern Iraq while the security forces have sporadically launched cross-border incursions in pursuit of rebel fighters. The army statement did not say where the latest clashes took place. On Tuesday, the army said another soldier was killed in an attack blamed on the PKK, and responded with airstrikes against the group. The PKK has been waging an insurgency in the southeast of Turkey since 1984 which has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Fighting in the region intensified between Turkish security forces and the PKK after the
Bid to snatch weapon foiled by CRPF jawan
A bid to snatch weapon was foiled by a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir.An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of F/ 18 Battalion guard commander, deployed at the DC Office in Kulgam, was attacked by an unknown person. The attacker attempted to snatch the ASI's weapon, an axe. The guard commander sustained an injury on his head.Some SPOs nearby came and rescued the Jawan. The attacker fled, and left behind a bag containing a pistol pouch and an axe.The ASI was taken to Kulgam district hospital.This is the fourth incident this week where security personnel has been attacked.Earlier this week, an army camp was attacked by was attacked by terrorists. There was also an open fire where they again tried to snatch police rifles. And, a grenade attack at the 34 Rashtriya Rifles camp.
Video showing militants questioning SPO goes viral
A video showing militants interrogating a special police officer (SPO), who was shot at and critically injured by the ultras in Pulwama district, has gone viral on social media. SPO Aqib Wagay was shot at in his both legs by the militants in Puchal village of the south Kashmir district on Tuesday, leaving him with critical injuries. The video was shot before he was fired upon. The 1.23 minute-long video shows that he was being questioned by militants for being involved in supply of liquor to villages from Army camp. Immediately after being shot, Wagay was shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, wherefrom he was referred to 92 Base Hospital here for specialized treatment. A police official said Wagay is recovering in the hospital but his leg was amputated to save his life.
Army officer dies under mysterious circumstances in Jammu
An Army officer died today under mysterious circumstances in an Army Camp in Jammu, police said. Lieutenant Colonel Sanat Kabi (45) was found unconscious in transit camp here under suspicious circumstances, they said. He was shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) Jammu where doctors declared him brought dead, they said. Kabi belonged to Odisha. His body was handed over to Army after the postmortem, they said. Inquest proceedings have started, police said.
Exclusive: China's free trade talks with Sri Lanka hit major hurdles
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Talks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit major hurdles, mainly because Beijing will not agree to Colombo's demand for a review of the deal after 10 years, Sri Lanka's top negotiator said.
Not aware of any letter from Ukraine on 'kickbacks': Rajnath
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said he was not aware of any letter to his ministry from Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NAB) regarding alleged kickbacks in the procurement of spare parts for transport aircraft An-32 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). He was replying to a question on the media report which claimed that Ukraine's NAB had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) claiming that kickbacks to the tune of Rs 17.55 crore was paid to some Indian defence officials for the spares deal. "Aisa koi mamla mere saamne abhi tak nahi aya hai (no such matter has come to me so far)," Singh told reporters here. The media report said the Ukrainian agency had sought legal assistance from the MHA for its probe into the alleged kickbacks. Responding to a question on firing by the Pakistani troops targeting civilians along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, the home minister said there were concerns about their safety and bunkers were being built for them. Describing these ...
Six injured as caste violence rocks UP village
At least six people were injured in clashes that broke out between two groups belonging to different castes in Uttar Pradesh, police said today. The violence was reported last evening in Malira village under the Kotwali police station following a minor dispute between the Dalits and the Tyagis. After a brief altercation, both the groups pelted stones at each other, SHO Anil Kaperwal said. The injured were shifted to a hospital. Security has been tightened in the village and extra police force has been deployed as a precautionary measure.
Pak's tribal areas merges with KP as President signs constitutional amendment bill
Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain today signed a key constitutional amendment bill to merge restive tribal region along the Afghan border with the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, bringing an end to the 150-year-old British-era arrangement. The bill was passed by the National Assembly, the Senate and KP Assembly before being sent to the president for formal approval. After signing the bill, the president congratulated the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Geo TV reported. The bill amends several Articles of the Constitution including Article 1 that defines the territory of Pakistani federation. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who played a key role in bringing consensus to pass the amendment in the National Assembly had said that it will "change 150-year-old system in the tribal areas." The semi-autonomous tribal region was created by British colonizer as a buffer zone to avoid direct conflict with Afghanistan. It consists
Taliban in ceasefire talks with Afghan government: US general
The Taliban have been holding secret meetings with Afghan officials on a possible ceasefire, a top US general in Afghanistan has said.
US lawmakers visit Sri Lanka to see massive Chinese investments
Amid the global concern over China's 'debt trap diplomacy', a bipartisan group of influential US lawmakers has visited Sri Lanka to gauge the ground-level situation. Cash-rich China has invested millions of dollars in Sri Lanka's infrastructure since the end of a brutal civil war in 2009. Under a pact with Sri Lanka, China recently gained lease of the strategic Hambantota port for 99 years. Sri Lankan politicians had said that the deal, valued at USD 1.1 billion, was necessary to chip away at the debt. Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, said: "While I share the hope of many that these projects will one day benefit the Sri Lankan people, I was struck by what one Sri Lankan official told me: 'one cannot assume that China's motives are entirely innocent'". Led by Thornberry, the Congressional delegation including Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Vicky Hartzler and Carol Shea-Porter concluded a two-day visit to Sri Lanka. The delegation toured ..
Afghan troops free prisoners held by Taliban; bomb wounds 6
An Afghan military spokesman says elite commando units have freed dozens of prisoners held by the Taliban, including women and children, in an early morning operation in southern Helmand province. The spokesman, Abdul Qadeir Bahadorzai, says Thursday's operation took place in the district of Kajaki and freed 103 people held in two prisons there run by the Taliban. He says four Taliban fighters were killed in the gunbattle. Bahadorzai says five women and two children were among the freed captives, most of whom were civilians. Meanwhile, also in Helmand, a district governor says a suicide car bomber wounded six people, including three policemen, today. Mohammad Salim Roodi says the attack took place in Girishk district when the police tried to stop a suspicious vehicle outside the governor's compound.
Bihar: Naxals torch four road construction vehicles, abduct labours
Naxals in Bihar's Munger district torched four road construction vehicles on Thursday.They also burned three other vehicles along with it.The police authorities have confirmed that Naxals have abducted eight labourers in the process but freed four of them.A search operation has been launched to track down the Naxals and the abductees.Earlier on May 1 Naxalites had set ablaze as many as five vehicles engaged in road construction work in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.
IS claims Belgium attacker 'soldier of caliphate'
The Islamic State (IS) terror group has claimed that the man who killed two police officers and a civilian in the Belgian city of Liege was a "soldier of the caliphate".
Taliban, Afghan officials in ceasefire talks: US general
Senior Taliban officials have been secretly negotiating with Afghan officials on a possible ceasefire, the Pentagon has said, even as US forces killed over 50 Taliban leaders in a series of strikes. "A lot of the diplomatic activity and dialogue is occurring off the stage, and it's occurring at multiple levels," General John Nicholson said in a teleconference with reporters at the Pentagon. He would not identify the figures involved in the negotiations, except to say that they included mid- and senior-level Taliban officials. "I should point out they met in secret. This is how they were able to advance the talks," he said, adding that the success of the effort depends in part on the "confidentiality of the process." Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in late February proposed peace talks with the Taliban, saying they could be recognized as a political party if they accepted a ceasefire and recognized the country's 2004 constitution. The Taliban have not officially responded, but deadly ...
New Sri Lanka map to be released today
After 18 years, the Sri Lanka Survey Department (SLSD), the national surveying and mapping organization under the Ministry of Land and Land Development have decided to update the geographical map of Sri Lanka.A revised map including, an additional two square kilometer of land of the Colombo Port City is set to be released today.Survey General of Sri Lanka PMP Udayakantha said a digital version of the map demonstrating the land added to the Colombo city by reclamation of the sea is to be released, Colombo Page reported.In the last 18 years, the geography of Sri Lanka has undergone several developments, including territorial changes.The new map produced by the 1:500 ratio will include features like Moragahakanda reservoir and various other schemes.Measures have been taken to produce printed copies of this map by June mid, while digital maps are made available.