Page 598 - War Conflict

Massive cache of weapons, explosives recovered in Quetta

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) recovered a massive cache of weapons and explosives during a raid in Kili Barat area of Quetta.A CTD spokesperson said, the raid, conducted by the CTD with law enforcement agencies, unearthed various weapons, explosives and suicide jackets from a house, Geo News reported.The raid was carried out by the CTD after it received information from the arrested terrorists belonging to a banned outfit.No arrests were made during the operation.Last week, Pakistan security forces foiled a major terrorist attack at the Frontier Corps Help Centre in Quetta and shot down five suicide bombers.During the operation, Four Frontier Corps personnel also suffered bullet injuries.

Naxalism is losing ground: Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that Naxalism is shrinking and losing ground although it still poses a challenge.

25 companies of para-military forces to be deployed in Kairana bypoll

Twenty five companies of para military forces will be deployed during Kairana Lok Sabha by-election on May 28 to ensure free and fair polling, a senior election official said here. Shamli District Magistrate/District Election Officer Inder Vikram Singh also said that patrolling and checking in the district areas bordering Haryana has also been started. He said that district authorities have also decided to use drone cameras for surveillance and have identified at least 20 bordering villages in Kairana where such cameras will be installed. Meanwhile, the Shamli Suprintendent of Police Devranjan Verma said that 10 companies of para military forces have already reached Shamli. Kairana bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP MP Hukam Singh. BJP has fielded Singh's daughter Mriganka Singh from the seat. While opposition parties' joint candidate is Rashtriya Lok Dal's (RLD) Tbassum Hasan, who has the support of the Samajwadi Party, the BSP and the Congress.

Naxalism a menace which is shrinking: Rajnath Singh

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that Naxalism is a challenge and a menace which is now shrinking."Naxalism is a challenge but I want to say that this menace is now shrinking and is losing ground. The casualties in Security Forces have declined," Singh said while addressing the Passing Out Parade of 261 Bastariya Battalion in Ambikapur.The Home Minister attended the commissioning of the 'Bastariya' battalion of the CRPF, created for the first-time with more than 534 tribal youths from Chhattisgarh.Singh also awarded the best performers of the new unit after they presented him with a guard of honour and a military parade.The 'Bastariya' jawans will be deployed in core area to add teeth to the anti-naxal operations of CRPF in the naxal-infested Bastar division of Chhattisgarh.This new battalion of CRPF carries the moniker 'Bastariya Battalion' for the special reason that it comprises of youths, mostly scouted from the four highly naxal infested Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur

2 injured in multiple bombings in Thailand's troubled south

Thai authorities say suspected Muslim insurgents set off small bombs at about two dozen locations in the country's deep south, wounding two women. A spokesman for the military and police's joint security command in the troubled south said the bombings occurred Sunday evening across four provinces. Peerawat Sangthong said Monday that the explosives were placed near ATMs, electricity poles and buildings. More than 6,500 people have been killed since a Muslim separatist insurgency flared in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat in 2004. Last night's violence also affected Songkhla province. Peerawat said the bombings were aimed at instilling fear and undermining an amnesty under which the government says ex-insurgents and supporters can surrender and return home. Recent cease-fire talks between the government and some separatist factions have made little progress.

Six injured in heavy Pak shelling along IB

Six persons, including a woman and a special police officer (SPO), were injured today as Pakistani Rangers rained mortar shells on Arnia sector along the International Border (IB) here, hitting Arnia town and a police station, officials said. BSF troops guarding the border retaliated and the heavy exchange of fire between the two sides was going on when last reports came in. The heavy firing triggering panic among locals who have started fleeing their homes, they said. The intense Pakistani shelling started a day after it "pleaded" with the BSF to stop firing, after being pounded with heavy artillery that left a trooper dead across the border. Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Vivek Gupta said so far six persons including a woman and a SPO have been injured in the Pakistani shelling in Arnia sector. The SPO was injured when one of the mortar shells landed at the local police station, Gupta told PTI. Another police official said the injured also included a 62-year-old woman ...

Schools along International Border shut due to Pak shelling

The schools along a section of the International Border (IB) were today closed down by authorities due to firing and shelling by Pakistani troops, officials said. The schools, up to five kilometers range from the IB, have been shut. "The schools along the IB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua were closed because of the firing and shelling by the Pakistani troops, divisional level officials said. Over 150 schools are situated in the range along the IB in the region, they said. For the past one week, Pakistani Rangers and Army have directly targeted civilians areas, killing six persons, including two BSF jawans, and causing injuries to 18 people along the IB. The officials said that the situation was very tense as the firing and shelling by Pakistan has been going on intermittently from across the border. PTI AB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts of J&K. The schools, including government and private educational institutes, up to five kilometers range from the IB and LoC, have been ...

9 Haqqani militants killed in Afghanistan

At least nine militants of the Haqqani militant group were killed following air strikes in Afghanistan's Paktika, officials said on Monday.

Restrictions in Srinagar to prevent Eidgah march

Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Monday to prevent a separatist called march. Police in riot gear has been deployed and all exams for the day has been postponed.

Palestinian president hospitalized with fever

President Mahmoud Abbas was hospitalised with fever today just days after undergoing surgery on his ear, an official said. The 83-year-old Abbas has endured a series of recent health scares which have revived anxiety over who will succeed him. A senior Abbas aide, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with protocol, said the Palestinian leader was diagnosed with a fever on Sunday. Abbas had an ear operation last week, and returned to the hospital late Saturday for a follow-up. Saed Sarahneh, of Istishari Arab hospital, said late Sunday that "all tests are normal and his condition is reassuring." He did not elaborate. Another Palestinian official, speaking anonymously because he was discussing the president's health, said Abbas has pneumonia and is on a respirator and is receiving antibiotics intravenously. He said he is conscious and lucid. Abbas, who is a heavy smoker and overweight, has a long history of health issues, ranging from heart trouble to a bout with prostate cancer .

Spain breaks up 'main' hashish smuggling ring

Spanish authorities said today they had broken up one of the "main" gangs that smuggles hashish from Morocco to southern Spain with the arrest of 12 people. It is the second major bust this month of alleged drug smugglers in the southern province of Cadiz, where drug traffickers are operating in an increasingly brazen manner that has alarmed authorities. "We have declared war on drug traffickers and those who help them," Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said in a Twitter post. In addition to the 12 arrests, police seized a submachine gun, ammunition a bulletproof vest and nearly 190,000 euros (USD 223,000) in their latest bust, he added. The minister said the operation "has broken up one of the main criminal organisations dedicated to the introduction of hashish from Morocco to the Campo de Gibraltar", a country in Cadiz province. Two weeks ago police arrested 14 suspected smugglers and seized drugs and boats allegedly used to run stashes of hashish across the Strait of Gibraltar

Two, including minor, stabbed by unidentified men in Delhi

Two persons, including a minor, were stabbed in two separate incidents in southeast Delhi, police said today. Firoz Khan (45) was stabbed thrice by unidentified miscreants in Govindpuri when he was returning home last night, the police said. The victim, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, was undergoing treatment at a hospital, they added. In another incident, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed when he was returning home after offering prayers at a mosque in Jasola, the police said. He got into a fight with some men, who stabbed him, they said, adding that the boy was also undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Maoist landmine kills seven security personnel in Chhattisgarh (Fourth Lead)

Seven security personnel were killed in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Sunday when a landmine planted by Maoists ripped through the vehicle they were travelling in.

Bastariya battalion of CRPF to be commissioned tomorrow

The much-awaited "Bastariya" Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) comprising recruits from naxal-hit districts in the state will be commissioned into service tomorrow, with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh attending its passing out parade in Ambikapur district. The new battalion, numbered 241, was named Bastariya because it included recruits from Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Sukma districts, a CRPF official said today. Another special feature of the battalion was the number of women recruits which, at 33 per cent, was according to the policy of the government, he said. Rajnath Singh today arrived in Surguja district on a two-day visit to the state. His chopper landed on Ambikapur PG College ground this evening from where he travelled to the CRPF Training Center in KP Ajirma village and took part in the Sainik Sammelan programme, the official said. CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar, CRPF IG (Raipur sector) Sanjay Arora and other senior paramilitary officials ...

Rajnath to commission maiden anti-naxal 'Bastariya' battalion tomorrow

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will tomorrow attend the commissioning of the much talked-about 'Bastariya' battalion of the CRPF, created for the first-time with more than 534 tribal youths from Chhattisgarh, here. Singh reached the Ambikapur-based camp of the Central Reserve Police Force in the state this evening after attending an event in Satna district in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. The squad that will pass out tomorrow has 33 per cent representation of women combatants with 189 'mahila' constables. PTI first reported on May 17 about the squad set to getting operational. The new battalion has been numbered 241. Singh will award the best performers of the new unit after they present him with a guard of honour and a military parade. The hardcore, localised battalion of the young combatants will be immediately deployed for anti-naxal operations in some of the worst Left Wing Extremism-hit areas such as Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur, a senior official said. The unique battalion - ..

Rahul Gandhi expresses anguish over killing of policemen in Naxal attack in Dantewada

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has expressed anguish over the death of seven policemen in a Naxal attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh today. The Naxals carried out a land mine blast around 12 noon to target a vehicle of the policemen. The intensity of the blast, which took place near a culvert, was strong enough to toss the vehicle in a roadside ditch. "The death of six jawans in the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh is extremely sad. My sympathies are with the bereaved family members," he said in a tweet. Five personnel had died on the spot and two were rushed to the National Mineral Development Corporation's hospital at Kirandul. One of them died during treatment at the hospital and another was airlifted to Raipur, where he died, officials said. The Naxals had attacked a joint team of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and the District Force (DF) which was patrolling the Cholnar-Kirandul road to provide security to trucks carrying construction material for road works between ...

Maoist landmine kills six policemen in Chhattisgarh (Third Lead)

Six police personnel were killed and another was critically wounded in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Sunday when a landmine planted by Maoists ripped through the vehicle they were travelling in.

IED blast: One jawan succumbed to injuries

One jawan, who was injured in the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, taking the death toll to seven.Earlier today, six jawans lost their lives in the IED blast, when their vehicle was passing through Cholnar village.The bomb went off the moment the moving vehicle came over it, leaving a small crater on the road.Troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) rushed to the spot where the attack took place.Earlier, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said the state will give a befitting reply to Naxals and their growing activities."We condemn the Naxal attack in Dantewada in which six jawans have been killed. The Naxals try to stop development and target jawans. We will give a befitting reply to them," he told reporters.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also condemned the attack and said, "It is a sad incident where six jawans were killed in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. The Naxals targeted the

Lanka's FM accuses Rajapaksa family of trying to grab power

Sri Lanka's Finance Minister today came down heavily on the family of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, accusing it of trying to grab power once again by misleading the public. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the brother of the former strongman, may contest the next presidential election due in 2020. He was the powerful defence ministry secretary during his brother Mahinda's nearly 10-year rule which was ended by President Maithripala Sirisena. Gotabhaya last week gave a public policy lecture seen as an attempt to announce his candidature. Mahinda cannot run to be the president again. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said: "Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who could be considered as the most corrupt and dangerous public officer ever appointed in this country is now talking like a child after rebirth". "Instead of proving his innocence before courts against such charges, he has retained lawyers to obtain anticipatory bail. It is crystal clear that Rajapaksa siblings have been endeavouring to grab ruling

Palestinian president back in hospital: source

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas returned to hospital today with a high fever after having undergone ear surgery last week, a source familiar with his condition said. The source who spoke on condition of anonymity did not provide further details on the condition of the 83-year-old, who was at the Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. It was the third time he was in hospital in a week. On Tuesday, Abbas underwent what was called a minor ear surgery. Late Saturday, he returned to hospital for further tests and was released after about 30 minutes later. Official news agency WAFA said the test results had been "excellent". Abbas was however back in hospital on Sunday around mid-morning and was still there in the afternoon, according to the source. A statement on WAFA on Sunday afternoon, quoting the hospital director, said tests results were "good" and Abbas's health was "reassuring". His health is the subject of regular speculation, with no clear successor ..