Page 639 - War Conflict
Sixty lower-level Naxals surrender in Chhattisgarh
Sixty Naxals, mostly lower-rung members, today surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, a senior police official said, claiming that it was a blow to the rebels' ground network in Abhujmad area. The cadres, including 20 women and 13 minors, turned themselves in before Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Vivekanand Sinha and officials of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Narayanpur police station, district Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla told PTI. Seven among them also handed over their country-made weapons, he said. Three of them -- Sukhraj Kawachi (22), Sannu Ram Potai (18) and Jaisu Vadda (25) -- were Jan-militia commanders, he said. These three, alongwith another leader who surrendered, Narsingh Kawachi (40), who was the head of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Majdoor Sangthan, a Maoist front, were carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh each on their heads, he said. The rest belonged to various lower-lever Naxal squads such as Jan-militia and ...
Civilian killed by militants firing at police
A Shopian resident was killed today in firing by militants on a security forces check point in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said. The police and CRPF had established a check point at Lazibal in Anantnag on a tip off about movement of militants through the area, a police official said. He said the security forces signaled a private car to stop for checking but the militants on board opened fire, hitting a civilian. The civilian, identified as Shakeeb Shabir of Shopian, suffered a crtical bullet injury in the chest, the official said. He said the 25-year-old man succumbed to injuries while being rushed to a hospital here for treatment. An alert has been issued across south Kashmir to track down the militants, he added.
Multiple-tier security for Amarnath pilgrimage 2018
A multiple-tier security arrangement comprising the Army, paramilitary forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police will be put in place for the Amarnath pilgrimage starting June 28, officials said today. A high-level meeting, chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, talked about the various aspects of the security set-up during the nearly 40-day pilgrimage to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir. A multi-tier security will be put in place for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage which attracts a few lakh pilgrims every year, an official privy to the meeting said. Tracking of pilgrims' movement through satellites, installation of jammers, CCTV cameras and bulletproof bunkers, deployment of dog squads, quick reaction teams and thousands of security personnel will be a part of the security drill along the pilgrimage routes as the situation in Kashmir Valley continues to be volatile, another official said. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir S P .
Return to Afghanistan from your 'foreign safe havens': US to Taliban
The US today urged the Taliban to return to Afghanistan from their "foreign safe havens" and turn their bullets and bombs into ballots. The Taliban yesterday announced the commencement of their annual spring offensive in the war-ravaged country, in an apparent rejection of calls for the militants to accept the Afghan government's offer of peace talks. Reacting to the Taliban's announcement, the Acting US Secretary of State John Sullivan said that there was no need for a new fighting season, and that it was time for the Taliban to participate in the country's electoral process. "As President Ghani recently said, the Taliban should turn their bullets and bombs into ballots. They should run for office.They should vote," Sullivan said. "We encourage Taliban leaders to return to Afghanistan from their foreign safe havens and work constructively for Afghanistan's future," he said, apparently referring to the terror sanctuaries in neighbouring Pakistan. More violence will not bring peace and
Two spectators killed during bull-taming sport in TN
Two persons were killed and seven others injured during 'Manjavirattu' (a bull-taming sport slightly different from Jallikattu) held as part of a temple festival in the district today, police said. Two spectators, Sevalkodian and Periyasamy were gored to death by the raging bulls at the event held in Kandramanickam village. The injured were admitted to government hospital in Tiruppatur near here. Bull taming sport remained banned following a Supreme Court order in May 2014 before the Tamil Nadu government last year brought an ordinance to facilitate its conduct at the height of a massive protest held in Chennai and several places across the state.
Civilian killed as militants attack CRPF patrol in J&K
A civilian was seriously injured as militants fired at a CRPF patrol in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday and succumbed while being taken to hospital, police said.
10 aid workers go missing in war-torn South Sudan, UN says
The United Nations says 10 aid workers are missing in civil war-torn South Sudan just days after another group of humanitarians was abducted by gunmen. A UN statement says the three UN staffers and seven aid workers, all of them South Sudanese, went missing yesterday when their convoy driving from Yei town to Tore in Central Equatoria disappeared. The aid workers are with South Sudanese Development Organization, ACROSS, Plan International and Action Africa Help. "We are deeply concerned about the whereabouts of these humanitarian workers and are urgently seeking information about their well-being," says the UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, Alain Noudehou. South Sudan is one of the world's most dangerous places for humanitarians. The UN calls this the third such incident in just six months.
2 killed in Indian army firing across LoC: Pak
Pakistan claimed today that Indian forces fired across the Line of Control, killing two civilians and wounding two others. Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that Indian troops this morning resorted to "unprovoked firing" in Thub and Banchiran sub sectors of Padhar Sector and targeted village Bramla. Two civilians were killed and two others, including a woman, injured in the firing, he added.
Civilian injured as militants attack CRPF patrol in J&K
A civilian was injured Thursday when militants fired at a CRPF patrol in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday, police said.
J-K: Jawan and civilian injured after militants open fire
Two persons were injured in firing by militants on a security forces check point in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said. One security forces jawan and a civilian sustained injuries in the firing incident, they added. According to the official, the security forces signalled a private car to stop for checking, but the militants onboard did not stop and opened fire. The police and CRPF had established a check point at Lazibal in Anantnag following information about movement of militants through the area, he said. An alert has been issued across south Kashmir to track down the militants, he informed.
City police lists out spots for organising protests
The police today released a list of 27 notified places in the city and its suburbs where protests in various forms can be held. The move comes in the wake of a court case filed by farmer-activist P Ayyakannu seeking permission to hold a pro-Cauvery protest at the Marina beach here, which is out of bounds for any type of agitation. In the list, the City Police identified a total of 27 locations in the city and its suburbs, saying protests such as rally, hunger strike and agitations can be conducted there. Further, with a key location at Saidapet near the Raj Bhavan, official residence of the Tamil Nadu Governor, turning out to be a favoured spot of late for protesters, police recalled that agitations of any kind have been banned there since 2012 keeping in mind the interests of the locals. Police urged those wanting to stage protests to avoid this spot near Panagal Maligai and warned of arresting those violating the order, besides confiscating property including vehicles .
Sri Lanka imposes liquor, meat ban for Buddhist festival
Sri Lanka on today banned the sale of meat and liquor and ordered casinos to close on the Buddha's birthday in a move to appease the island's religious majority. The restrictions, which come just days after the government shifted May Day celebrations in a sop to Buddhist monks, will extend to tourist hotels for the two-day Vesak festival starting Sunday. "Meat and liquor sales at supermarkets and hotels will be banned during this period," the government said in a statement. Casinos will be closed and gambling elsewhere also prohibited, the government said. Bars are usually closed on Buddhist holidays but the decision to ban meat sales at supermarkets is a first and was broadly seen as a gesture to the island's powerful clergy. It follows the government's surprise decision this month to delay May Day festivities by a week after Buddhist leaders complained the date clashed with Vesak celebrations. It is the first time the holiday has been shifted from May 1 since Sri Lanka began ...
Students stone patrol party in Kashmir town
An Army patrol on Thursday fired aerial shots after students of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) at Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district pelted stones at them.
24 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan
At least 24 militants were killed and 36 injured as Afghan forces targeted Taliban positions in Balkh province on Thursday, said an army spokesman.
JeM commander killed in Tral gunfight: J&K DGP
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said that one of the four militants killed in Tuesday's gunfight in the Tral forest area was a Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) operational commander.
Militants attack police post in Budgam, decamped with four rifles
Militants disarmed policemen guarding a temple in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir and decamped with four service rifles, police said today. The ultras barged into the police post, set up for guarding the temple at Goripora in Budgam, late last night and disarmed the cops posted there, a police official said. He said the militants then decamped with four service rifles from the police post. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt for the militants, he added. The official said a departmental inquiry has been initiated into the incident.
Building peaceful neighbourhood Pak's foreign policy priority: UN envoy
Building a peaceful neighbourhood is Pakistan's foreign policy priority which requires normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, Islamabad's envoy to the UN has said. According to a statement issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told a visiting delegation of the US War College that on the foreign policy front, Pakistan's external engagements and strategy emerge from its key national priorities. She said the defeat of terrorism and militancy as well as the creation of conditions in which violent extremism cannot survive was foremost to establish durable stability. The release quoted her as saying that among the other important foreign policy priorities was to build a peaceful neighbourhood. This required the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan and "normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, predicated on the peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes", she said Another key priority was to promote ...
Return to Afghanistan from you foreign safe havens: US tells Taliban
The US today urged the Taliban to return to Afghanistan from their foreign safe havens, saying there was no justification for its announcement of annual spring offensive. It said that there was no need for a new fighting season, and that it was time for the Taliban to participate in the country's electoral process. "As President Ghani recently said, the Taliban should turn their bullets and bombs into ballots. They should run for office.They should vote.We encourage Taliban leaders to return to Afghanistan from their foreign safe havens and work constructively for Afghanistan's future.More violence will not bring peace and security to Afghanistan," Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan said The Taliban yesterday announced the commencement of the spring offensive in the war-ravaged country Ghani, Sullivan said, recently extended an "historic invitation" to the Taliban to join a peace process. "There is no need for a new fighting season. Still, the Taliban announced another campaign ..
Turkey sentences 14 journalists over terror charges
An Istanbul court sentenced at least 14 journalists from Cumhuriyet (Republic) daily, Turkey's oldest national newspaper to different prison terms over charges of terrorism on Wednesday.According to Anadolu news agency, Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Akin Atalay and Orhan Erinc, and three journalists - Ahmet Sik, Aydin Engin, and Hikmet Cetinkaya were sentenced to six to eight years of imprisonment on charges of "acting on behalf of a terrorist group without being members."However, the court granted bail to Atalay, who earlier spent 1.5 years in jail for the same.Another eight journalists from the Turkish daily - Bulent Utku, Kadri Gursel, Guray Tekin Oz, Haci Musa Kart, Hakan Karasinir, Mustafa Kemal Gungor, Onder Celik, and Yusuf Emre Iper were sentenced to four years in prison, as per the report.The Cumhuriyet daily was one of the few newspapers in Turkey which was critical of the views of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The convicted ...
Houthis deny entry of humanitarian aid: Saudi-led coalition
Saudi-led coalition said on Wednesday that the rebels hinder the entry of humanitarian aids to the country, highlighting that 40 ships are waiting to access Al Hudaydah port, Al Arabiya news reported.