Page 583 - War Conflict
Police rescues two kidnapped persons
Police rescued two kidnapped persons in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district after an exchange of fire with the kidnappers, a senior police officer said today. "We had received information of two persons being kidnapped by unknown miscreants from Nagadipu area under Nongalbibra police station of the district," Superintendent of Police, Abraham T Sangma. On receiving a tip-off that the kidnapped persons were being kept in Kamila Bagan area of the district, a police team rushed to the area yesterday, he said. "The miscreants started firing towards the police team forcing the police team to retaliate in self defense. The exchange for fire lasted for five minutes after which the miscreants fled from the spot," the SP said. When the firing stopped the police team searched the area and found the body of one unknown miscreant killed on the spot during the exchange of fire. "The two kidnapped persons were also rescued from the place," the SP said. After a search of the area, ...
Militants carry out two grenade attacks in Pulwama district
Militants carried out two grenade attacks on security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today but there was no loss of life or damage to property, an official said. The grenade attacks on security forces took place this afternoon at Tral and Pulwama towns of the south Kashmir district, a police spokesman said. There was no loss of life or property in the two attacks, he said adding the incidents were being investigated.
Militants kill one, wound five in attack on interior ministry in Kabul
Militants launched a gun and bomb attack on the interior ministry in Kabul today, killing one policeman and wounding at least five people, days after the Taliban vowed to target the Afghan capital. Special forces rushed to the scene after the attackers detonated what police said was a car bomb at the first checkpoint leading to the ministry, then tried to fight their way inside. "The fighting is over, the attackers have all been killed by security forces between the first and second security perimeter," Kabul police chief Daud Amin said. A security source told AFP that a clearing operation was ongoing. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and officials gave differing figures for the number of militants involved, with police saying three to five while interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said there were at least 10. Danish also said one police officer had been killed and five people wounded. "The situation is under control now," he said, adding that there ...
Belgian shooter linked to murder before attack
The man who shot dead two police officers and a civilian in the Belgian city of Liege had killed someone before the attacks, the country's Interior Minister said on Wednesday.
Militants attack Afghan government building in Kabul
Militants armed with guns and rockets attacked the Afghanistan Interior Ministry on Wednesday and casualties are feared, the media reported.
Blasts, gunfire as militants attack interior ministry in Kabul
Militants launched a gun and bomb attack on the interior ministry in Kabul today, days after the Taliban vowed to target military and intelligence centres in the Afghan capital. Special forces were on the scene, a security source told AFP, after an explosion at a checkpoint leading to the compound. The source said at least four attackers then began firing. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which began at around 12.30pm local time and which witnesses said was continuing. "We can confirm an explosion and gunfire at the first checkpoint of the interior ministry building. Security forces are there to assess the situation," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP, in a statement echoed by police. He said the first explosion was "probably a suicide bomber". A security source said there had been more explosions afterwards but could not confirm how many. "The attackers have not been able to enter the main building," Danish said, adding that gunfire could ...
Blast, gunfire heard near interior ministry in Kabul: police
Gunfire and an explosion were heard near the interior ministry building in Kabul today, days after the Taliban vowed to target military and intelligence centres in the Afghan capital. It was not clear if there had been any casualties and no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. "We can confirm an explosion and gunfire at the first checkpoint of the interior ministry building. Security forces are there to assess the situation," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP, in a statement echoed by police. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have stepped up their attacks on Kabul, making the capital the deadliest place in the country for civilians in recent months. Last week the Taliban called on Kabul residents to "keep away" from military and intelligence centres in the heavily fortified city, saying they plan more assaults as part of their annual spring offensive. "Therefore, to avoid civilian casualties and only cause damage to enemy military, we are
10 killed in Afghanistan attacks
At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured in two separate attacks in Afghanistan's Kandahar and Logar provinces on Wednesday, police said.
Huge quantity of arms, ammunition recovered
Security personnel have recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from a forest in naxal stronghold Lugu Pahar in Bokaro district, a senior police officer said today. The raids were carried out yesterday by the security personnel on the basis of leads provided by hardcore Maoist Sunil Majhi alias Charles, who was arrested a couple of months ago, Superintendent of Police, Karthi S said. The security personnel, comprising CRPF and District Armed Police personnel, recovered the arms, ammunition and Rupees three lakh hidden inside the forest, the SP said. One carbine, 12 rifles, 18 magazines, two double barrel guns, one 9mm pistol, 26 ammunition of INSAS rifles, 128 live cartridges of 9mm pistols, two detonators, a landmine, three wireless sets and three mobile phones were seized during the operation.
Gunman with Islamist links kills three in Belgian city
Belgian police were investigating today how a gunman on their own watchlist for contacts with Islamist extremists came to launch a brazen suspected terror attack, shooting dead two female officers with their own weapons before killing a bystander. The bloodshed in the eastern industrial city of Liege began around 10:30am local time (0830 GMT) yesterday when the attacker armed with a knife repeatedly stabbed the two policewomen before using their own firearms to kill them. Federal prosecutors said they had launched a terror investigation into the incident and would hold a press conference later today. "The signs are pointing towards a terrorist act," prosecutor spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told AFP. Amateur footage picked up by AFP showed the gunman shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") as he walked through the streets during the rampage. In another video, a short and intense burst of gunfire is audible, after which the man lies on the ground. "Armed with a knife, the suspect ...
Taliban attack kills six police in southern Afghanistan
Taliban attackers including a suicide bomber stormed a police station in southern Afghanistan today and killed six police officers, officials said. The bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at the entrance of the police station in Puli Alam, the capital of Logar province, said provincial police spokesman Shapoor Ahmadzai. Three other attackers then rushed into the police station compound, triggering a half-hour gunbattle with security forces, he said. "In half an hour security forces killed all the attackers. Unfortunately, three national police and three traffic police were also killed. Eight civilians have also been wounded," he told AFP. Shamshad Larwai, the provincial governor's spokesman, confirmed the details and said the situation was under control, but the blast had damaged the police station. The Taliban, who are stepping up their spring offensive against Afghan security forces and government officials, claimed responsibility for the attack. Also a vehicle bomb in the ..
Armed forces a rare breed of human beings: Prez
President Ram Nath Kovind today described the armed forces as a "rare breed of human beings" and said they are a symbol of excellence and dedication for the entire country. The president was here to review the passing out parade of the 134th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla near Pune. "The armed forces are not merely about doing a job they are about answering a calling. And this is a calling for a rare breed of human beings," he said during the event. Delighted to review the passing out parade, Kovind said as the supreme commander of the armed forces, this was a moment of immense satisfaction for him. "The armed forces are a symbol of excellence and dedication for the entire country. This parade comprises cadets from all parts of India and from a variety of communities. Its harmony speaks for our essential unity as much as for our pluralism as a society," he said. The president said a soldier or an officer in uniform, irrespective of whether he or she is ...
Russian journalist shot dead in Ukraine
Arkady Babchenko, a Russian journalist, who was a critic of the Kremlin's military intervention in Ukraine and Syria, was shot dead on Tuesday evening in Kiev, Ukraine.Babchenko was shot at his home and died on his way to the hospital, CNN reported.Babchenko left Russia in 2017, after he wrote about his experience suffering political harassment in Putin's Russia, in an essay which was published by the Guardian. He wrote about the Russian bombing of Aleppo, Syria, killing civilians.The Russian Foreign Ministry called it an armed assault and demanded an investigation by independent groups.
Suicide car bomber kills 2 police officials in Afghanistan
An Afghan official says at least two police officials were killed in suicide-bomb attacks at a police station in eastern Logar province. Khalid Safi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, says those killed were the commander of the police station and the deputy director of traffic police for Logar's capital city, Puli Alim. Safi said the casualty toll in the attack today morning was only an initial report and could rise. The attack started with a suicide car bomber, then two other suicide bombers targeted the police station. He said both bombers were identified, shot and killed by forces. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban insurgents are active in Logar province.
Highest UN peacekeeper deaths in last 70 years from India
India has lost the highest number of its peacekeepers in various UN peacekeeping operations in the last 70 years, with 163 military, police and civilian personnel from the country laying down their lives in the line of duty. According to the UN, of the 3,737 peacekeepers who have died since 1948, 163 have been from India, the highest total from any troop contributing country. India is currently the third largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping, with 6,693 now deployed in Abyei, Cyprus, Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, the Middle East, South Sudan and Western Sahara. However, the UN owes India USD 92 million for troops, formed police units and contingent-owned equipment as at April 30, 2018. The UN commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers yesterday, paying tribute to the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers around the world. Currently, more than 96,000 uniformed personnel from 124 troop and police-contributing countries serve under the ...
Modi lays wreath at Indonesian martyrs' cemetery
Starting his official engagements in Indonesia on Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a wreath at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery here.
Russia comes under fire at UN over MH17 downing
Russia today rejected calls at the United Nations to accept responsibility for the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine after an investigation found that a Russian army missile was used in the attack. At a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok called on Moscow to accept the findings that the airliner was shot down by a Russian-made BUK missile provided by a brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk. "The language of ultimatums is not something that anyone will be allowed to use when speaking to Russia," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council meeting. "We cannot accept the unfounded conclusion of the JIT", the Dutch-led Joint investigation Team, he added. All 298 people on the Malaysia Airlines flight en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were killed when the missile slammed into the plane as it flew over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine in July 2014. Responding to Nebenzia, the Dutch foreign minister said his arguments ...
US: At least 50 were killed in strike on Taliban leaders
A US military official says a US artillery strike last week on a gathering of Taliban leaders in southern Afghanistan killed at least 50 people. Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell said today that the impact of the strike will be felt beyond Helmand province, where four artillery rockets destroyed a command-and-control position. The May 24 attack was announced last week, but without a public estimate of the numbers killed. O'Donnell says the attack hit a high-level gathering of Taliban commanders in the Musa Qala district. He says it was an example of how the US military is using expanded authorities granted as part of the Trump administration's new regional strategy for fighting the Afghanistan war, allowing US forces to take a more active role in combat.
Latvia convicts ex-railway worker of spying for Russia
A Latvian court has convicted a former railway worker of spying for Russia, sentencing him to 18 months behind bars for sharing classified information on NATO troops and heavy equipment being moved by rail. Aleksandrs Krasnopjorovs, an ethnic Russian and former Soviet Red Army soldier who served in Afghanistan during the 1980s, worked for Latvian state railways and had access to its network of surveillance cameras. He was found guilty of recording videos of NATO troops and cargo being moved by rail -- images considered to be classified -- and then sending them to contacts in Russia. Krasnopjorovs pleaded not guilty and his lawyer vowed to appeal the verdict yesterday. Latvia hosts one of four NATO battle groups deployed to the three Baltic states and Poland to reinforce the alliance's eastern flank, particularly since Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Krasnopjorovs made the recordings between October 2015 and September 2016 when troops from Canada, Poland, United ...
Woman may be one of two suspects invoved in blast at Indian restaurant in Canada
A woman may be one of the two suspects involved in detonating a powerful homemade improvised explosive device at an Indian restaurant in Canada that injured 15 people, police said today. The two suspects with their faces covered entered the Bombay Bhel restaurant late in Mississauga on Thursday night, dropped the improvised explosive device and fled. "The IED appears to be homemade. However, what led the two suspects to detonate this device is still not clear. We do not have a clear motive and no one has claimed responsibility," a police official said. The Peel Regional Police said "at this point nothing suggests that it was a hate crime or an act of terrorism". The police official also gave a brief description of the two suspects and said that surveillance videos indicate that one of the two suspects might be a woman. He also also confirmed that 30 people were inside the restaurant at the time of the explosion. Peel Regional Police said they received a call about the incident at ...