Page 643 - War Conflict

Naxal ops: CRPF to replace 12,000 older troops with young personnel in Chhattisgarh

The CRPF has decided to replace about 12,000 of its aged troops with young and freshly inducted recruits to bring agility and renewed strength in its anti-Naxal operations in the LWE-hit areas of Chhattisgarh. The paramilitary, designated as the lead force against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the country, has recently recruited and trained about 20,000 fresh troops and has now planned to deploy the 'young blood' in these strenuous operations that require personnel to be out in jungles for days together, in harsh climatic conditions. The first-time measure, a senior official told PTI, is part of the forces' strategy to bring renewed vigour in its operations by posting young and motivated personnel and having the least amount of causalities and injuries on its side. "About 12,000 freshly trained young recruits, in the age group of 18-21 years, will be deployed in Chhattisgarh soon by replacing their older colleagues who are in the age-group of 45-50 years." the official said. The aim ..

Afghan officials: Taliban attacks kill 11 troops, policemen

A new wave of Taliban attacks across Afghanistan killed at least 11 Afghan soldiers and policemen on Tuesday, officials said, the latest in a particularly deadly week of assaults by militants. At least five soldiers were killed when their checkpoint was attacked by the Taliban in western Farah province, according to Mohammad Naser Mehri, the provincial governor's spokesman. Two soldiers were wounded in that attack, in the Bala Buluk district. Mehri said six Taliban fighters were killed and three others were wounded in the battle, which lasted several hours. "Reinforcements have arrived and right now, the situation is under control," he added. Earlier on Tuesday, insurgents killed at least four members of the local police force and wounded seven in eastern Ghazni province. The Taliban there targeted the local police security post in the province's district of Jaghatu, said Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor. He also said the gunbattle lasted several hours and that the ...

Advocates clash on court premises, few injured

A man was shot at and injured and a few lawyers were hurt after two groups of advocates clashed on the Civil Court's premises here over the district bar association elections, police said today. Both the groups lodged complaints against each other yesterday at the Kotwali police station, Station House Officer (SHO), Fateh Singh said. He said a client of a lawyer was shot at and injured during the firing in the clash. The person was admitted to a hospital along with the other advocates who were hurt in the violence, the officer said. Circle Officer Gajendra Singh said the case is being investigated. The reason behind the clash could be the animosity between the groups over the elections of the district bar association, police said.

15 dead Maoists fished out of Maharashtra river; toll 37

The security forces have recovered at least 15 more bodies of Maoists from the Indravati River here early on Tuesday, taking the toll in the gunfight in the past 48 hours to 37, official sources said.

Militant, among 3 killed in J&K forest shootout

Three persons, including two security personnel and a militant, were killed on Tuesday in an ongoing gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Tral forest area.

Afghan officials: Taliban attacks kill 9 soldiers, policemen

A new wave of Taliban attacks killed at least nine Afghan soldiers and policemen today, officials said, the latest in a particularly deadly week of assaults by militants. At least five soldiers were killed when their checkpoint was attacked by the Taliban in western Farah province, according to Mohammad Naser Mehri, the provincial governor's spokesman. Two soldiers were wounded in that attack, in the Bala Buluk district. Mehri said six Taliban fighters were killed and three others were wounded in the battle, which lasted several hours. "Reinforcements have arrived and right now, the situation is under control," he added. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in Farah but Mehri blamed the Taliban who have stepped up attacks against Afghan security forces. The Taliban did, however, claim another attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday, in eastern Ghazni province that killed at least four members of the local police force and wounded seven. The attack in Ghazni took ...

37 Naxals killed in major operation against Maoists in Maha

Fifteen more bodies of Maoists, who were killed in an encounter with C-60 squad of commandos of the Maharashtra Police, have been recovered, taking the total number of casualties of Naxals in the Gadchiroli encounter to 31. "In the operation by C-60 squad in Kasanasur jungle area, 16 bodies of Naxals (9 men and 7 women) were recovered on April 22," a senior police official said today. "Due to heavy rain and paucity of manpower, search was stopped. Yesterday, an operation was launched to search for bodies in Indravati river and 15 more bodies were recovered," the official said. Search for more bodies and weapons is going on, he said. In another operation in Kapewancha area of Rajaram Khandla post yesterday, six Naxals were killed and their bodies recovered. These include two men and four women,the official said. Maharashtra Director General of Police Satish Mathur said the massive operation against Naxals was a result of "accurate and specific" intelligence, low morale of ...

Security personnel killed in encounter in Pulwama

A security force personnel was today killed while another was injured in an encounter with militants in a forest area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in Laam forest of Tral area in Pulwama district following information about presence of militants there, a police official said. He said a gunbattle broke out between militants and security forces when the ultras opened fire. Two security force personnel -- an Army soldier and a policeman -- were injured in the encounter while the operation is still in progress, the official said. He said the injured soldier later succumbed to injuries.

Two security personnel killed in Pulwama encounter

Two security force personnel and a militant were today killed in an encounter in a forest area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in Laam forest of Tral area in Pulwama district following information about presence of militants there, a police official said. He said a gunbattle broke out between militants and security forces when the ultras opened fire. In the fierce exchange of fire, an Army soldier and a policeman sustained injuries. They were evacuated to hospitals here but succumbed to injuries, the official said. The slain security force personnel have been identified as Sepoy Ajay and Constable Lateed Gujri. A militant was also killed in the gunbattle, the official said adding search operation was still going on in the forest area.

Soldier injured in J&K forest shootout, succumbs

An Indian Army soldier injured earlier on Tuesday in a shootout between militants and security personnel in Jammu and Kashmirs' Tral forest area, has succumbed, police said.

Soldier injured in J&K forest shootout

An Indian Army soldier was injured on Tuesday in a shootout between hiding militants and the security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs' Tral forest area.

Afghan official: Taliban attack in east kills 4 policemen

An Afghan official says a Taliban attack today killed four local policemen and wounded seven in eastern Ghazni province. Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor, says the attack took place today when the insurgents targeted a security post belonging to the local polce force in the district of Jaghatu. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Noori said the gunbattle lasted several hours and that the Taliban used artillery and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. It has been a particularly deadly week in Afghanistan. A suicide bombing by the Islamic State group targeted a voter registration center in Kabul on Sunday, killing 57, and on Monday, Taliban attacks in western Afghanistan killed 18 soldiers and policemen, underscoring the struggles the government faces to rein in militant assaults.

Army launches hunt for dreaded NDFB(S) leaders

The Army has launched a massive hunt engaging helicopters and deploying over 1000 security personnel to catch two senior NDFB(S) militant leaders in Chirang district and the Manas Reserve Forest, defence sources said. Based on specific input about the presence of dreaded NDFB(S) militants G Bidai and Batha, who have several police cases against them, Army units from Kokrajhar and Chirang districts in association with SSB jointly launched the massive operation in Chirang district and the Manas Reserve Forest along the Indo-Bhutan border since Sunday, the sources said last evening. Stating that the Army also engaged tracker dogs to trace out the insurgents, the sources said more than 1000 security personnel had been deployed in the area for carrying out extensive search operations and cordoned off the area.

Security personnel injured in encounter

A security force personnel was today injured in an encounter with militants in a forest area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in Laam forest of Tral area in Pulwama district following information about presence of militants there, a police official said. He said a gun battle broke out between militants and the security forces when the ultras opened fire. A security force personnel has been injured while the operation is still in progress, the official said.

Kabul: 16 security personnel killed in separate Taliban attack

16 security officers were killed in two separate incidents of terror attacks in Afghanistan's western Badghis province.Taliban insurgents attacked a check post in Qala-i-Naw city earlier on Monday which led to the death of nine soldiers, as reported by the Tolo news.In another incident, seven policemen were killed in another Taliban attack on a police check post in Qads district.None of the local officials have commented upon the attacks.

11 more dead Maoists found in Maharashtra river; toll reaches 33

The security forces have recovered at least 11 more bodies of suspected Maoists from the Indravati River here early on Tuesday, official sources said.

Australia and France remember key WWI battle, a century on

The prime ministers of Australia and France will today inaugurate a high-tech museum casting light on the role of Australian troops in World War I, as they mark a century since a key battle in the conflict. The Sir John Monash Centre, in the Somme region of northern France which became synonymous with slaughter during the 1914-18 war, uses lifesize videos of soldiers and a 360-degree cinema to bring the role of Australian troops to life. "It's designed for visitors to leave with a better understanding of the role of Australians on the Western Front, right here where they fought," said its director Caroline Bartlett. Australian premier Malcolm Turnbull and France's Edouard Philippe will officially open the museum at the Australian National Memorial, 100 years to the day since the Battle of nearby Villers-Bretonneux. On Wednesday -- Anzac Day, Australia's national day of remembrance -- Britain's Prince Charles will join the two leaders and nearly 8,000 other people at a solemn dawn ...

21 dead in NE Nigeria Boko Haram attacks

Suspected Boko Haram militants killed 21 people in separate attacks in a remote northeastern region of Nigeria, security officials and a witness have told AFP. The jihadists shot dead 18 forest workers who had been collecting firewood in Borno state, close to the town of Gamboru, on the border with Cameroon on Sunday, according to a member of a local anti-militant militia in the area. "The bodies were scattered over several hundred metres, and they were mostly shot in the head or the back," another militiaman told AFP yesterday. Also on Sunday, a vehicle carrying civilians travelling in a nearby army convoy hit a mine planted by the insurgents, killing three people near the village of Wumbi, a militia member said. "Three people including the driver were killed and 11 passengers were wounded," he said. A local resident confirmed the toll, adding that the victims were buried on Sunday. The Boko Haram insurgency which broke out in 2009, has killed at least 20,000 people and displaced ...

21 dead in NE Nigeria Boko Haram attacks

Suspected Boko Haram militants killed 21 people in separate attacks in a remote northeastern region of Nigeria, security officials and a witness have told AFP. The jihadists shot dead 18 forest workers who had been collecting firewood in Borno state, close to the town of Gamboru, on the border with Cameroon on Sunday, according to a member of a local anti-militant militia in the area. "The bodies were scattered over several hundred metres, and they were mostly shot in the head or the back," another militiaman told AFP yesterday. Also on Sunday, a vehicle carrying civilians travelling in a nearby army convoy hit a mine planted by the insurgents, killing three people near the village of Wumbi, a militia member said. "Three people including the driver were killed and 11 passengers were wounded," he said. A local resident confirmed the toll, adding that the victims were buried on Sunday. The Boko Haram insurgency which broke out in 2009, has killed at least 20,000 people and displaced ...

Nepalese peacekeepers accused of child rape in South Sudan

UN peacekeepers from Nepal are facing allegations of child rape in South Sudan, the UN spokesman said today, describing the case as "especially heinous". The United Nations has asked Nepal to send investigators to work with its own office of internal oversight on the case and is awaiting a response by Wednesday. "Any act of sexual abuse is horrendous," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. "One involving a child is especially heinous." The allegations were received this month and involve Nepalese troops serving in the UN mission in South Sudan. No details were released on the number of troops involved or the victims. The United Nations has deployed 14,800 troops and police in South Sudan, with a mandate to protect civilians caught up in a brutal war between President Salva Kiir's forces and rebels. In February, 46 UN peacekeepers from Ghana were recalled from their base in northwestern South Sudan after the mission received allegations of sexual exploitation of women. UN ...