Page 601 - War Conflict
2 IS militants killed in US drone strike
At least two militants associated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) have been killed in US drone strike in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.The two militants were apparently operating as snipers and were killed in Haska Mina district, reported Khaama Press, citing, the provincial government media office in Nangarhar, as saying.The statement added that the airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Gagar area.This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities.The US military based in Afghanistan also conduct regular airstrikes against the IS, Taliban, and other militant and terrorist groups.The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants, according to the reports.No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups including the IS militants in ...
Malaysia's Najib summoned to anti-corruption agency: report
Scandal-tainted former Malaysian leader Najib Razak has been summoned to appear before the country's anti-corruption authorities next week as part of an anti-graft investigations, state media has reported. Najib, 64, unexpectedly lost a May 9 election to a political coalition that had focused on allegations that he oversaw the looting of billions of dollars from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB in a vast conspiracy of fraud and money-laundering stretching around the world. Najib was already barred from leaving Malaysia in the wake of the election, and police seized large amounts of cash, jewels and luxury items from his home and other sites last week. State-run Bernama news agency said Najib had been ordered to appear before the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) next Tuesday. "So far, he is asked to turn up next Tuesday to enable us to record his statement relating to SRC International," Bernama quoted an MACC source as saying in the report issued late Friday. SRC International ...
8 killed in blasts at cricket match in Afghanistan
An Afghan official says at least eight people have been killed after multiple explosions hit a cricket match in eastern Nangarhar province. Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor in Nangarhar, says around 45 others have been wounded at the sports stadium late Friday night in the provincial capital of Jalalabad. The attack happened as players and hundreds of spectaculars gathered for a nighttime tournament during the holy month of Ramadan. Khogyani says an investigation is underway. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but both Taliban insurgents and the Islamic State group are active in eastern Afghanistan, especially in Nangarhar province.
Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr bloc wins Iraq elections
An alliance headed by former Shia militia chief Moqtada Sadr has won the parliamentary elections in Iraq, the poll panel said.
UN says over 200 South Sudan children freed by armed groups
The UN says more than 200 children have been released by armed groups in civil war-torn South Sudan. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters today that a release ceremony was the third this year, bringing the total number of children released so far this year to 806. Haq said "additional releases are expected in the coming months that could result in more than 1,000 children being freed." The 210 children released included three girls and largely came from the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in Opposition, with eight associated with the National Salvation Front. During yesterday's release ceremony, he said, the children were formally disarmed and given civilian clothes. Once reunited, Haq said, the children and their families will be provided with three months' worth of food, vocational training and education.
Two killed as gunmen open fire near Assam-Arunachal border
Two persons were killed after suspected gunmen fired indiscriminately at a grocery shop in a remote are along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Friday late evening, police said.
11 soldiers killed in Syria's Hama air base explosions
At least 11 soldiers and pro-government fighters were killed on Friday in five explosions that rattled the arms depot in the air base of the central province of Hama, a monitor group reported.
Suspension of operations in JK opportunity to engage with youth: Lt Gen Dua
Lieutenant General Satish Dua today said that the suspension of operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan was an opportunity to engage with, and bring back into the mainstream, youth who have joined the ranks of militants. Dua is currently the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC). The Centre, on May 16, had announced that the security forces would not launch any operation in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan but reserved the right to retaliate if attacked. "It is unfortunate that some youth are joining militancy but the government has now declared a halt in operations during the holy month of Ramzan. Civil society, government organisations, NGOs and elders can engage with their children in order to bring them back into the mainstream," said Dua. "These youth are our children but they are misguided. We are hopeful of positive results during this one month window," he said. Dua was talking to mediapersons on the ...
Encounter breaks out between militants, security forces in Kupwara
Security forces are engaged in a gun battle with militants in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir today, the Army said, in a first counter-militancy operation since the Centre announced a conditional suspension of operations during Ramzan. The encounter broke out in Haphruda forests in Handwara area of Kupwara in north Kashmir,an Army official said. He said the gun battle was underway when reports last came in and further details were awaited. The Centre had on May 16 announced that security forces will not launch any operations in J and K during the holy month of Ramzan, but they reserve the right to retaliate if attacked. Union Home Ministry officials had said that the move was not a concession to the extremists, but an effort to create an environment free of terror and violence during the holy month and there will be no lowering of guard. They had said that the security forces, however, reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent ...
Kashmiri militants 'our children' but 'misguided', says top
The Kashmiri youth who have taken to militancy are "our children" but "misguided" and the Ramzan ceasefire announced by the government is an opportunity to bring them back into the mainstream, a top Army official said here today. "It is unfortunate that some youth are joining militancy but the government has now declared a unilateral ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan," said Lt General Satish Dua, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) who has earlier served as the Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps. The central government, on May 16, had announced that security forces would not launch any operation in the state during the Ramzan but they reserved the right to retaliate if attacked. Dua said the ceasefire period can be used by the civil society, government organisations, NGOs and "elders to engage with their children" to bring them back into the mainstream. "These youth (militants) are our children but they are misguided. We are
Infiltration bid foiled by security forces in Kupwara district
The security forces on Friday foiled an infiltration bid by a group of terrorists from across the border in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.More details are awaited in this regard.This comes amid Centre's decision of suspending operations against terrorists in the valley during the month of Ramzan.The Union Home Ministry has said the decision has been taken to help the "peace-loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment".However, it clarified that the security forces "reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people".Today, four civilians and a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan were killed after Pakistan Rangers violated ceasefire and shelled villages in the two sectors along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Gunfights starts in Kashmir Valley
A gunfight started on Friday between a group of militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Interstate gangster, 3 associates arrested in Sonipat
An alleged interstate gangster Pavitar alias Dhola, who carried a bounty of Rs 75,000 on his head, was arrested with three associates today in Haryana's Sonipat district, police said. Pavitar's associates were identified as Abhishek and Vineet, hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, and Sanjeev, a native of Bihar's Champaran district. The arrests were made following a tip off received by a team of Sonipat police that Pavitar and his associates were roaming with illegal weapons in looted cars near the border of Kundli village, a police spokesperson said. The four men were wanted in about two dozen cases of murder, attempt to murder and robbery, he said. Two country made pistols, live cartridges and the looted vehicles were seized from the four men. During interrogation, they confessed to their involvement in several criminal activities including theft of cars, motorcycles, cash and mobile phones, the spokesperson added.
Teenager arrested for 'planning' terror acts in UK
An 18-year-old youth was arrested on Friday by London's Metropolitan Police on suspicion of planning terrorist acts, Scotland Yard said in a statement.
Afghan security forces retake Tala Barfak
The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have retaken the control of Tala Barfak district in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province.Afghan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the district has been fully cleared of the militants, reported Khaama Press.The district fell into the hands of the Taliban insurgents nearly ten days ago after the group launched a coordinated attack.According to the report, the Afghan forces have also cleared the landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) planted by the militants.Additional security forces have been deployed in the district.No comments have been received from the Taliban militants in connection with this report by far.The ministry did not divulge the number of casualties of the Taliban militants in the operations conducted."Baghlan is among the relatively volatile provinces in North of Afghanistan where the Taliban insurgents are active in some of its districts and often carry out insurgency activities," the report said.
Britain considers sending more troops to Afghanistan
The British government is considering sending more troops to Afghanistan, the media reported on Friday.
Maoist killed in encounter in Odisha
A Maoist was killed in a gun battle with security forces in remote Chitrakonda area of Odisha's Malkangiri district, police said today. The encounter took place during a joint operation by personnel of the Special Operation Group, the Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh and the BSF near Similipadar last evening, Superintendent of Police Jagmohan Meena said. Following a tip off, the securitymen launched the operation there and the red rebels, who were about 20 in number, fired at the security forces and they retaliated, Meena said. The body of the rebel, aged between 35 and 40 years, was found during search in the area today, he said. Two rifles, some ammunition and other items were seized during the combing, the SP said. Others managed to flee, though several of them were suspected to have received injuries in the exchange of fire, police said. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced cash rewards of Rs 10 lakh each for Balangir and Kandhamal district police for ...
'Aurangabad violence pre-planned, fall-out of local unrest'
The riot in Aurangabad city last week appeared to be pre-planned and the result of simmering unrest over the civic body's drive against illegal water connections, a police report has said. Two persons were killed in clashes in this central Maharashtra city on April 11 and 12. Aurangabad police commissioner has submitted a report on the violence to the state Director General of Police, an official said here. "There was a month-long unrest over the municipal corporation's crack-down on illegal water connections and some other civic issues in the area (where the violence started)," he said. The special investigation team of city police found petrol bombs and balls of kerosene-soaked balls during searches, suggesting that the violence was pre-planned, he said. Police also found stones, collected for hurling through catapults at police or rival groups, he said. Over 50 persons have been arrested following the violence. Laxminarayan Bakharia alias Lachchu Pahelwan, alleged ...
Russia to send supersonic bombers to protect Arctic borders
Russia will strengthen the security of its eastern maritime border with the help of Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers, a military official said on Friday.
NIA charge-sheet against LeT operative Amir
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge-sheet here on Friday against Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Mohammad Amir for illegally entering India from Pakistan alongwith three associates to carry out terrorist attacks.