Page 59 - War Conflict
Srinagar: Militants hurl grenade at CRPF bunker, no one injured
Suspected militants Thursday lobbed a grenade at a CRPF bunker here, but there was no loss of life or property as it missed the target, police said. Militants hurled a grenade at a CRPF bunker at Tagore Hall, but it missed the target and exploded on the road, a police official said. The CRPF personnel responded by firing some shots in the air, creating panic in the area and forcing youngsters in a nearby indoor stadium to flee, the official said.
Sri Lanka president pardons firebrand Buddhist monk who led anti-Muslim campaign
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has pardoned a firebrand Buddhist monk, Galagodatte Gnanasara, who is accused of inciting violence against minority Muslims and convicted of contempt of court. President Sirisena granted pardon to Gnanasara days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak, also known as 'Buddha Jayanti'. "He will be released later today (Thursday), the President had signed all the papers," Witharandeniye Nanda, a Gnanasara peer told reporters. The magistrate complained of contempt while the Court of Appeal convicted him. Gnanasara's appeal for pardon was later rejected by the Supreme Court. Gnanasara who headed the ultra Buddhist nationalist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or the Forces of Buddhist Power was sentenced by the court for contempt. He was given a six year jail term over his disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant in 2016. In 2013, Gnanasara led an anti-Muslim minority stance against what he termed the rising Muslim extremism in ..
Sri Lankan Parliament approves committee to investigate Easter bombings
The Sri Lankan Parliament has unanimously approved the formation of a select committee to look into the factors that led to the Easter Sunday bombings and come up with possible measures to avoid such attacks in future, according to a media report. Nine suicide bombers, including a woman, carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels, killing 258 people and injuring over 500 others. The motion to set up the committee, which will have 12 members, was passed unanimously in Parliament on Wednesday. The Speaker will nominate the committee chairperson and its members. The committee would investigate whether the law enforcement authorities possessed prior intelligence relating to the attacks, if there were deficiencies in the state machinery that led to such attacks or whether any other factors contributed to such terrorist attacks, the Times Online reported on Wednesday. The committee would also look into what action should be taken to ..
Over 250 arrested in Indonesia following protests
At least 257 people were arrested following deadly protests in the Indonesian capital against the re-election of President Joko Widodo for a second five-year term, police said on Thursday.
'American Taliban' Lindh to be released as Afghan war still boils
John Walker Lindh, dubbed the "American Taliban" after he was captured fighting for the Islamist insurgents in November 2001, will be freed from prison Thursday amid concerns he has not forsaken the radical ideology that took him to Afghanistan. Known as "Detainee 001" in the US War on Terror, Lindh's release after 17 years in prison is resurrecting memories of the September 11 attacks and underscores the fact that, almost two decades later, the US continues to battle the Taliban with no end in sight. Images of Lindh -- bearded, dirty and disheveled and strapped to stretcher after his capture -- came to symbolize the country's enemy. While Lindh's family and supporters say he never took up arms against his own country, others say he remains a committed jihadist and a danger to society. In a letter this week to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, two senators asked how his alleged threat would be contained, citing unproven allegations that he "openly" supports extremist violence. "We must ..
Indonesian troops flood Jakarta streets after post-election riots
Tens of thousands Indonesian troops were deployed on the streets of the capital Jakarta Thursday, as a deadline approached for a presidential challenger to file an appeal over claims of widespread cheating in last month's election. At least six people were killed -- reportedly including a 17-year old high school student -- after two nights of rioting as police clashed with protesters opposed to the re-election of President Joko Widodo. The violence has been fanned by claims from Widodo's rival Prabowo Subianto, a retired general, that the April 17 poll was a fraud. Indonesia's election commission on Tuesday confirmed Widodo had beaten Subianto who has until early Friday to file a formal challenge at the Constitutional Court. The 67-year-old has appealed for calm and said he would pursue legal channels to contest the results, as he did, unsuccessfully, against Widodo in 2014. Election officials and analysts have discounted Subianto's claims. But many of his supporters appeared ...
Counting begins for LS, Assembly seats in Odisha
The counting of ballots for 21 Lok Sabha seats and 146 Assembly segments in Odisha began amid tight security on Thursday.
Counting of votes begin for 40 Bihar LS seats
The counting of votes for all the 40 parliamentary seats of Bihar began on Thursday in 35 counting centres amid tight security, officials said.
LS Poll counting: Fate of 8,040 candidates to be decided today
The fate of as many as 8,040 candidates will be decided on Thursday when the counting of votes polled for the 17th Lok Sabha elections is done.Around 90 crore voters were eligible to vote in this Lok Sabha polls which were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. As many as 13 crore of them were first-time voters.According to the Election Commission of India data, 67.11 per cent voters exercised their right to franchise. This was the highest turnout in the Lok Sabha polls since independence.Voting took place at 10.35 lakh polling stations across 36 states and Union Territories. Around a million polling staff was engaged in the smooth conduct of elections.Ladakh (17,73,266 sq km) was the largest Lok Sabha constituency in terms of area, while Chandi Chowk (10 sq km) in Delhi was the smallest.Largest Lok Sabha constituency in terms of voters was Malkajgiri (31,83,325 voters) in Andhra Pradesh while the smallest parliamentary constituency was Lakshadweep, which had 43,239 registered .
Somalia car explosion: Death toll climbs to 9
The death toll of those killed in a car explosion in the capital of Somali has risen to nine, reported Al Jazeera.Former foreign minister Hussein Elabe Fahiye, who was an advisor to the current president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, was among those killed in the Yesterday's blast.The responsibility for the Wednesday's attack has been claimed by Al-Qaida-allied terrorist group Al-Shabab. The explosive-laden car exploded when the police were checking vehicles in Mogadishu's Bondhere District.A Somali military officer and her bodyguards are amongst those feared dead, the unnamed police officer added.This latest attack comes just four days after another car filled with explosives went off at Mogadishu's Hamarweyne District. However, no casualties were reported in the incident.The terrorist group is responsible for a string of attacks in Somalia which have claimed the lives of scores of people.At least 10 people lost their lives and dozens were injured when a car bomb exploded at a crowded ..
Armed group kills more than 30 in Central African Republic: UN
More than 30 people were killed and many more wounded when an armed group attacked villages in northwestern Central African Republic on Tuesday, the UN's peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) said. The massacres took place in several villages near the town of Paoua, not far from the Chad border, Major General Pascal Champion, head of MINUSCA's police component, said at a press conference in Bangui on Wednesday. "Criminals arrived and opened fire" on the residents, he said. Thirty-one people were killed in Koundjili and Lemouna. At least three other were killed in Bohong. Local security forces also reported the deaths of 15 people in Maikolo village, but this information was not immediately confirmed by the UN. The slaughter was the biggest single loss of life since the government and 14 militias signed a deal in February aimed at restoring peace to one of Africa's most troubled countries. The UN peacekeeping mission "utterly condemns" the killings, MINUSCA head Mankeur Ndiaye said in a tweet
Sri Lankan president pardons firebrand Buddhist monk
Sri Lanka's president has granted an amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said. President Maithripala Sirisena Wednesday pardoned Galagodaatte Gnanasara, days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. "The President has pardoned the monk and he should walk out of prison by tomorrow or the day after," an official source said. Gnanasara's Bodu Bala Sena, BBS or the Buddhist Force, urged their supporters to assembly outside the main Welikada prison on Thursday afternoon to receive him. On Saturday, Sirisena reportedly had lengthy talks with Gnanasara who is serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court. Many had expected Gnanasara to be released on Saturday along with the 762 other convicts, but he was not among those freed. Gnanasara has been serving concurrent jail sentences extending up to six years over his disruptive .
Assam Rifles battalion, Indian Coast Guard ship sign affiliation charter
An affiliation charter was on Wednesday signed between 3rd (Naga Hills) Battalion of the Assam Rifles and the Indian Coast Guard Ship 'Shaurya' with an aim to enhance inter-armed forces cooperation and utilise each other's assets for training and sports, officials said. The charter was signed by the director generals of the two sides at an impressive ceremony held at Laitkor in Shillong. The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of India with a rich history of valour, courage and tradition. They have 46 battalions manning the Indo-Myanmar border and countering the insurgency in the northeastern states. The Indian Coast Guard, with 142 ships and 62 aircraft, is one of the youngest armed force under the Ministry of Defence. Third (Naga Hills) Battalion Assam Rifles is the oldest battalion of the force raised in 1835 as 'The Cachar Levy' comprising 750 personnel of all ranks for guarding the Eastern Frontier of Assam from Brahmaputra river to the Cachar Hills. Presently, the ...
LS polls: Counting of votes across 24 centres in Jharkhand
Counting for the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand will begin at 8 am across 24 districts amid tight security, officials said. The counting process and announcement of results, however, are expected to be delayed by several hours this time as the outcomes of five assembly segments per Lok Sabha constituency will be tallied with VVPAT slips, an Election Commission release said here Wednesday, quoting Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) L Khiangte. EC sources said that the counting centers at Dumka, Godda, Hazaribag, Ranchi and Jamshepdur have been categorized as sensitive due to political and social reasons, adding, more security force would be deployed there. Twenty companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), apart from thousands of state police personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order during the counting process, L Khiangte said. In addition, 25 companies of state police will be deployed is the districts where counting is scheduled, the EC official said. The
4 killed after bomb-laden car explodes in Mogadishu
Four people were killed while 12 others were wounded after an explosives-laden car detonated here on Wednesday."The blast happened in a traffic area at a police checkpoint, so far we can confirm four people died in the explosion. We are establishing more details on the incident," a police officer told Xinhua.The responsibility for the attack has been claimed by Al-Qaida-allied terrorist group Al-Shabab. The car exploded when the police were checking vehicles in Mogadishu's Bondhere District.A Somali military officer and her bodyguards are amongst those feared dead, the unnamed police officer added.This latest attack comes just four days after another car filled with explosives went off at Mogadishu's Hamarweyne District. However, no casualties were reported in the incident.The terrorist group is responsible for a string of attacks in Somalia which have claimed the lives of scores of people. At least 10 people lost their lives and dozens were injured when a car bomb exploded at a ...
Will not give room to rioters who disrupt our nation: Widodo
Threatening police action, Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday said that people who disturb "security, the process of democracy, and the unity" of Indonesia will not be tolerated in the wake of riots which claimed the lives of six people.Riots took place in the nation after poll results were announced. Widodo secured another term in office after the results were released on Tuesday."I do not tolerate anyone who will disturb security, the process of democracy, and the unity of our beloved nation. We will not give room to rioters who will disrupt our nation," Xinhua quoted Widodo as saying.Media reports suggest that social media would be partially blocked in Indonesia in a bid to prevent the spread of fake news."There is no choice, the military and police will take firm actions in accordance with the law," the Indonesian President added.Prabowo Subianto, who lost the elections to Widodo also called for peace after violence broke out in Jakarta following the declaration of poll
Six dead after election riots in Indonesia's capital
At least six people were killed as Indonesia's capital erupted in violence when police clashed with protesters opposed to the re-election of President Joko Widodo. Police sirens blared as fresh skirmishes broke out Wednesday evening with thousands of protesters chanting and waving Indonesian flags in the heart of the capital. Some hurled stones and fireworks at riot police who lined up behind a razor wire barricade near the election supervisory agency building. Earlier, dozens were arrested and parts of Jakarta were littered with debris and burned-out cars, as the violence triggered security advisories from the US and Australian embassies. Authorities also restricted access to some social media in a bid to stop rumours and fake news from spreading online. National police chief Tito Karnavian said six people had died, but denied authorities had fired live rounds on protesters, and called for calm. "Some had gunshot wounds, some had blunt force wounds but we still need to clarify this,"
Armed group kills 26 in Central African Republic: UN
More than 26 people were killed on Tuesday and many were wounded when an armed group attacked two villages in northwestern Central African Republic, the UN's peacekeeping mission said. The massacre took place in the villages of Koundjili and Djoumjoum, Mankeur Ndiaye, head of MINUSCA, said in a tweet on Wednesday. The slaughter was the biggest single loss of life since the government and 14 militias signed a deal in February aimed at restoring peace to one of Africa's most troubled countries.
Sri Lanka extends Emergency by a month
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday extended by a month the state of Emergency that was imposed immediately after the Easter Sunday attacks that killed over 250 people and injured hundreds.
NIA charge sheets 4 suspected members of ISJK
The National Investigation Agency Wednesday filed a charge sheet against four suspected terrorists of the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) for the attack on a police team in Srinagar last year, officials said. Nearly 20-days after the attack at the Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar on November 24 last year, the NIA had taken over the probe into the incident from the state police, they said. During its probe, The Jammu and Kashmir Police had arrested three suspected members of the terror group -- Tahir Ahmad Khan, Haris Mushtaq Khan and Asif Suhail Nadaf -- immediately after the incident. "During their search, two pistols, 14 live rounds and three hand grenades were recovered from their possession along with an ISIS flag. "The case was subsequently taken over by the NIA for investigation on December 13, 2018," an NIA spokesperson said here. The agency had arrested one more accused Asif Majid Khan, who was allegedly involved in "harbouring other co-accused persons", he ...