Page 661 - War Conflict
Encounter sites not marriage venues, says JK DGP as he urges youngsters to stay away
Encounter sites are are not the venue of "marriages of terrorists" to be flocked by youngsters as bullets do not differentiate between stone pelters and militants, Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid said today as he asserted his force was as competent as the CBI to probe the Kathua rape and murder case. In a first, the state Director General of Police (DGP) took to micro-blogging site Twitter to participate in a live broadcast where he took questions directly from people ranging from issues like the Kashmir problem, Islamic State terror group, human rights violations to educated youth joining terrorists and disruption of work in educational institutions. Asked why the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district in January was not transferred to CBI, he said we have no objection but the police is as competent as anybody else". If we can we fight terrorism and stone pelting, why we can't carry out the professional investigation. Our officers are on deputation
'Obvious' that Syria didn't eradicate chemical arsenal: Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today it was now evident that the Syrian regime failed to eradicate its chemical weapons, after a toxic gas attack blamed on Damascus. "We... must now acknowledge that it is obvious that the destruction was not completely carried out," she said. Damascus narrowly avoided American and French air strikes in 2013 in retaliation for a suspected sarin attack by agreeing to hand over its chemical arsenal.
Macron says has 'proof' of Syrian chemical attack, vows response
French President Emmanuel Macron said today that he would respond to "proof" that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons, "at a time of our choosing." "We have proof that chemical weapons were used last week, at least chlorine, and that they were used by the regime of Bashar al-Assad," Macron said during an interview on France's TF1 television. Macron added that he was in daily contact with US President Donald Trump and that they would decide on their response "at a time of our choosing, when we judge it to be the most useful and the most effective." The French leader, who had made the use of chemical weapons in Syria a "red line", said one of his aims in Syria was to "remove the regime's chemical attack capabilities". But he repeated that he wanted to also avoid "an escalation". "France will in no way allow an escalation or anything that would harm regional stability, but we cannot allow regimes that believe they can act with impunity to violate ...
Global watchdog to meet Monday on suspect Douma gas attack
The global chemical weapons watchdog will meet Monday to discuss an alleged poison gas attack on the rebel-held Syrian town of Douma, officials and sources said. The chairman of the executive council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has "requested a meeting... be convened to discuss alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic," a statement said on its website late yesterday. Diplomatic sources confirmed to AFP that the discussions would focus on Douma -- the target of Saturday's alleged attack -- in which rescue workers said more than 40 people were killed. OPCW head Ahmet Uzumcu voiced his "grave concern" at the allegations earlier this week, and the body later confirmed that it was deploying a fact-finding mission to the town. The Russian embassy in the Netherlands also tweeted about Monday's meeting. "It is high time to drop militaristic speeches we hear from some capitals and to return to diplomatic settlement of the situation," it
Syria rebels say 'chemical attack' pushed them to quit Ghouta
A top Syrian rebel official told AFP today that his faction only agreed to abandon its battered enclave outside Damascus because of an alleged toxic gas attack. "Of course, the chemical attack is what pushed us to agree" to a withdrawal from Douma, said Yasser Dalwan, a high-ranking member of Jaish al-Islam. It was the first public acknowledgement by Jaish al-Islam of a deal reached for Douma, their last rebel holdout in the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus. The agreement was announced on Sunday morning by Syria's government and its ally Russia, just hours after toxic gases were allegedly released on Douma. First responders there said more than 40 people died Saturday after suffering symptoms consistent with chemical exposure, including wheezing, discoloured skin and foaming at the mouth. World powers have threatened a strong response, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying today he had "proof" Syria's government was behind the attack. Syria and its ally Russia have both denied
Civilians thronging encounter sites responsible for their deaths: JK DGP
Civilians thronging encounter sites are responsible for their deaths as bullets don't distinguish between a stone pelter and a militant, Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid said today as he again urged the youth to stay away from such places as they were not marriage venues. Nobody wants civilian deaths and the police and security forces are pained at such incidents, he emphasised. "We have been appealing to young boys to stay away from encounter sites. A bullet does not distinguish between a stone pelter and a militant. It has a trajectory to hit. They are responsible for their own deaths. They should not come to encounter sites", Vaid said in a live Twitter question-answer session today. He was replying to a question posed by oneTajamul Wani about civilian deaths in gunfights. The strong words from the senior officer came a day after four civilians were killed in the crossfire in an encounter in Kulgam district. An Army-man also lost his life in the line of duty while the three
Israel commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day
A two-minute siren sounded in Israel on Thursday for Holocaust Remembrance Day, which commemorates the roughly six million Jews murdered by the Nazi regime during World War II.
3 held in Sri Lanka for smuggling gold
The Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday caught three people for attempting to smuggle 24.2 kg of gold from the country via sea.
Israel commemorates Holocaust victims
Israel came to a standstill today as sirens wailed across the country to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day in memory of the six million Jews killed by Nazi Germany during World War II. Vehicles halted on streets and highways as Israelis stepped out and stood on the roads with heads bowed down. Schools, public institutions and army bases will also organise a series of ceremonies to pay respects to the victims of the Holocaust with about 10,000 people expected to participate later in the day in the 'March of the Living' in Poland led by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The Israeli parliament - the Knesset - will hold its annual ceremony - 'Unto Every Person There is a Name - in which lawmakers recite names of victims of the Nazis for nearly two hours. A similar ceremony will also be held at the Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) in Jerusalem. Israel Defence Forces chief Gadi Eisenkot and the heads of spy agency Mossad and internal security agency Shin Bet will also participate in the ...
Afghan district governor among seven killed in Taliban attack
Taliban militants launched a pre-dawn raid on a district government compound in Afghanistan today, killing at least seven people including the local governor, officials said. Six police also died and 10 intelligence officers were wounded in the attack on the Khwaja Omari district headquarters in the southeastern province of Ghazni, the provincial governor's spokesman Aref Noori told AFP. The militants used a ladder to climb into the compound in the early hours of Thursday, deputy provincial police chief Ramazan Ali Mohsini told AFP. Mohsini put the death toll at 13, including the governor, police and intelligence officers, adding scores of Taliban fighters were also killed but that could not be immediately confirmed. Afghan officials often give conflicting casualty figures immediately after an attack. "The attack is over and the district is under the control of Afghan security forces after reinforcement forces rushed to the scene following the Taliban attack," Mohsini added. The ...
India's military aims not guided by desire for territorial expansion: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's military aims and preparedness were driven not by a desire to conquer anyone's territory but to protect its own people.
OPCW to release statement tomorrow on spy poisoning
The world's chemical arms watchdog said it will release a statement tomorrow about a probe into last month's alleged poisoning of a former Russian double agent. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons "will be issuing a press release anticipated for 1 PM today and the unclassified executive summary per the request of the UK government," the body said in a brief statement to AFP. The statement will be released around 1100 GMT today (4.30 AM IST Friday). At the request of the British government, OPCW experts have carried out an independent investigation into the alleged attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4 in the town of Salisbury.
Kabul: District governor, cops killed in Taliban attack
District governor Ali Shams Dost of Afghanistan's Khwaja Omari district, along with seven other policemen, were killed in a Taliban attack on Thursday.Taliban militants stormed the residence of Governor Ali Shams Dost and later killed the policemen appointed for the former's security, followed by killing the governor himself, as reported by Tolo News.Further, nine intelligence officers were injured.As per an official statement, some parts of the governor's compound were torched."After the attack, the forces called for air support and 27 Taliban were killed during the airstrikes and clashes", the statement further informed.The Taliban militant group had claimed to have captured the Khwaja Omari district, though the same has been refuted by the local Afghan police.
Militants lob grenade on police station, 2 cops injured
Two police personnel were injured today when militants lobbed a grenade on a police station in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. Militants attacked police station in Pulwama with a grenade this morning, a police official said. He said two police officials suffered injuries in the blast. Further details are awaited, the official said.
Kulgam encounter: Restriction imposed in parts of Srinagar
Authorities today imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- and in Kulgam district as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of strike called by separatists to protest the killing of four civilians near an encounter site yesterday. Restrictions have been imposed in Kulgam district of south Kashmir and parts of Srinagar, a police official said. He said curbs have been imposed in five police station areas of the city here which include Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharajgunj. The restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, the official said. Four civilians were killed in clashes with security forces near the encounter site in Khudwani area of Kulgam yesterday. The militants managed to escape from the site and the operation was called off. Separatists, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), have called for a strike today to protest the civilian ...
DGP: Anti-Maoist operations will be stepped up in Odisha
The Odisha police has decided to step up operations against the Maoists and bring in necessary changes in the strategy to deal with the Naxalites, a top police police official said. This was stated by Odisha's Director General of Police (DGP) R P Sharma after reviewing operations with top police officials in Naxalism-hit Rayagada, where a District Voluntary Force personnel was killed in a landmine blast on April 9. The police chief emphasised the importance of adhering to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) during anti-Maoist operations to avert any injury or casualty, officials present at the meeting said. While underlining the need to intensify anti-Maoist operations, Sharma also urged the insurgents to surrender and return to the social mainstream to lead a normal life. "Maoists who surrender will be rehabilitated according to the prevailing surrender policy," the DGP said. A cheque of Rs 18 lakh was handed over as ex-gratia to the father of the deceased DVF jawan,
Will take all steps to protect people, territory: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is ready to take all steps to equip the armed forces to protect her people and territory. He said his government has streamlined defence manufacturing and procurement processes.
Taliban claim attack on Afghan government post, killing 18
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for a blistering attack on a government compound in Afghanistan's central province of Ghazni that killed at least 15 members of the security forces. The insurgent group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, told The Associated Press over the telephone that after the attack in the Khuja Omari district, not far from the provincial capital also called Ghazni, all security posts in the district were under Taliban control. His claim could not be independently confirmed and the government did not immediately respond to it. Mujahid gave a higher casualty figure among the Afghan forces, which the Taliban often do, and a significantly lower death toll among the insurgent attackers. He also confirmed the government's statement that the assault killed three top local officials the district's governor, intelligence chief and deputy police chief. A lawmaker in the Afghan Parliament said three top district officials and several security forces were killed in a ...
12 killed in Afghan Taliban attack
At least 12 people, including a district governor, were killed on Thursday in a Taliban attack in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, a police official said.
Police: Taliban attack Afghan district compound, killing 15
Taliban fighters attacked a government compound in central Afghanistan overnight, killing three district officials and 15 security forces, authorities said today. The attackers stormed the secure compound in Khuja Omari district last night, setting off hours of fighting with security forces, Ramazan Ali Moseni, a deputy chief police in Ghazni province, said. He said 25 Taliban were killed. The district is close to the provincial capital, Ghazni city. Afghan Parliament member Mohammad Arif Rahmani said the district governor, intelligence service director and a deputy police official were killed in the attack, as well as 15 security forces. Rahmani said the attackers planted mines to stop reinforcements from coming to help the government forces fend off the attack. Moseni said the government reinforcements later joined the fighting. He said eight government security forces were wounded.