Page 60 - War Conflict
Killed by militants, Aboh retains assembly seat
Tirong Aboh, the National Peoples Party (NPP) candidate who was gunned down by suspected NSCN militants, has retained the Khonsa West assembly constituency in Arunachal Pradesh. Aboh, who was killed along with 10 others at 12 mile area in Tirap district on May 21, has defeated his lone rival Phawang Lowang of the BJP by 1055 votes as per results declared by the Election Commission Thursday. This is the first time that NPP has entered the electoral scene of Arunachal Pradesh thanks to Aboh but its win will be shortlived as the EC will soon announce the mandatory by-poll in the seat. Aboh was elected from the constituency in 2014 on Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) ticket. He was on his way to Khonsa from Dibrugarh on the fateful day when the suspected Naga militants opened fire on his convoy consisting four vehicles and killed him along with his son and nine others. Among the dead were two police personnel, officials said. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Liken Koyu said ...
Zakir Musa, J&K's most wanted militant, killed in Kashmir
The Kashmir Valley's most wanted militant commander, Zakir Musa, who headed the Al Qaeda affiliate Ansar Gazwatul Hind, was killed on Thursday by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.
War veteran blames Pakistan for its duplicity causing US to lose in Afghanistan
A retired US Army Reserve colonel, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and on a humanitarian mission to West Africa, accused Pakistan of its duplicity that has "caused the United States to lose in Afghanistan.""For over 17 years we have wrongly applied counter-insurgency doctrine to a proxy war waged by Pakistan against the United States and Afghanistan. At the same time, we supplied Pakistan with generous aid packages to bribe them from pursuing a course of action opposed to our own, which they considered in their national interest," said Lawrence Sellin in his article published by The National Interest."Counter-insurgency was never a winning strategy as long as Pakistan controlled the supply of our troops in landlocked Afghanistan and regulated the operational tempo through its proxy army, the Taliban, which has maintained an extensive recruiting, training and financial support infrastructure inside Pakistan, where it has been immune to attack," the veteran added.Following the 9/11 ...
Police say 7 died in Indonesia election rioting
Seven people have died in election violence in the Indonesian capital, police said Thursday, as calm returned to the city and the losing presidential candidate prepared to challenge the result in court. The apparently orchestrated chaos that turned central Jakarta into a battleground started Tuesday night during peaceful protests over official results that confirmed President Joko Widodo had won the April 17 election, securing him a second term. National police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said several hundred have been arrested and seven deaths were confirmed. Police, who responded to the rioting with water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas, deny using live ammunition. The defeated candidate, former General Prabowo Subianto, who also lost to Widodo in 2014, has refused to accept the result and instead declared himself the winner. Subianto and his campaign have alleged massive election fraud but not provided any credible evidence. They didn't file a Constitutional Court challenge to ...
Two air strikes kill 14 Afghan civilians: UN mission
Two air strikes have killed 14 civilians in Afghanistan in recent days, the United Nations said Thursday, as the US intensifies its air war across the country. According to the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), five women and seven children were among the 14 civilians killed in Helmand province in the south on May 20, and Kunar province in the east on May 22. "Civilian casualty toll from airstrikes in #Afghanistan continues to rise," UNAMA said on Twitter. "Parties must respect international obligations to protect civilians from harm." While the Afghan military does have a fledgeling air force, most strikes are led or supported by American air power. US Forces Afghanistan declined to comment. According to US Air Force Central Command, the US dropped 7,362 bombs in Afghanistan in 2018, the highest number since at least 2010. In April, UNAMA published a report saying Afghan civilians are for the first time being killed in greater numbers by US and pro-government forces than by the ...
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 ...