Page 664 - War Conflict

11 SPs transferred in J&K

In a minor reshuffle, 11 Superintendents of Police (SPs) including three traffic police officers in Jammu and Kashmir were transferred today. Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic, City) Jammu Nisha Nathyal, SSP (Traffic, Rural) Kashmir Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, Additional SP (Traffic, Srinagar) Muzaffar Ahmed Shah and SP Traffic Rural Jammu Shaheen Wahid were posted in Battalions as commandants and deputy commandants. Nisha Nathyal was transferred and posted as commandant 10th battalion of Indian Reserve Police (IRP), while Aijaz Ahmed Bhat was posted as Commandant 13th battalion of IRP, the transfer order said. Muzaffar Hussain Shah was posted as SP Traffic Rural Kashmir, while SP Traffic Rural Jammu Shaheen Wahid was posted as Deputy Commandant of 24th battalion of IRP, it said. Additional SP of Ramban Mushtaq Ahmed has been posted as SP Traffic rural Jammu, while Deputy Commandant of 16th battalion of IRP Mubashir Hussain has been posted as Additional SP Traffic Srinagar city, the ...

Chhattisgarh: CRPF, Maoists exchange fire in Bijapur

Nearly five days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bijapur, an exchange of fire took place between Maoists and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel here on Monday.The exchange of fire took place in the forest area between Mahadev Ghati and Chinnabodkel in Bijapur between Maoists and troops of the CRPF's 85 Battalion.As per reports, the CRPF troops, along with Chhattisgarh police, were out for area domination when two improvised explosive device (IED) blasts occurred, followed by a brief exchange of fire.However, no loss of life or casualty was reported.Today's exchange of fire comes less than ten days after a security force personnel was injured in an IED blast here in Chinnakorepal village of the district.As per statistics, as many as 47 security personnel have been killed in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected Bastar region since 2005.Among the major incidents in which insurgents targeted the anti-mine vehicles include the killing of 22 CRPF jawans in September

China bans exports of dual use items to North Korea

China has banned exports to North Korea of 32 "dual-use" items that can be applied in the development of weapons of mass destruction, the commerce ministry said. The list of items, which include radiation monitoring equipment and software that can be used to model fluid dynamics or neutrons, is in line with a UN Security Council resolution adopted in September to curb North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. The ban also applies to items with potential dual use in the development of conventional weapons, according to a ministry statement published late Sunday. The announcement comes ahead of planned nuclear summits between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and the presidents of South Korea and the United States in the coming weeks. China is North Korea's sole major ally and top trade partner, but Beijing has backed a raft of UN sanctions to put pressure on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions. China's exports to North Korea fell 32.4 per cent in February, compared to

Naxals, police exchange fire in Chhattisgarh; no casualty

A gun-battle broke out today between the security forces and Naxals at a forest in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said. There were no reports of any casualty on either side, they said. The skirmish took place this morning in Mahadeoghat area on the Bijapur-Bhopalpatnam road when a team of 85th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was out on an area domination operation, Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg told PTI. When the patrolling team was cordoning off the forest near Mahadeoghat, located around 500 km from the state capital Raipur, Naxals triggered twin IED (improvised explosive device) blasts and opened fire on the security personnel, leading to the gun-battle, he said. However, the rebels escaped into the forest after a brief exchange of fire, he said, adding that "no harm was reported to either side in the encounter". Another police official said Naxals had reportedly put up some pamphlets in the Mahadeoghat area, opposingPrime Minister ...

100 injured in major student protests in Bangladesh

Thousands of students across Bangladesh staged protests and sit-ins today after clashes at the country's top university left at least 100 people injured. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at Dhaka University students fighting what they consider "discriminatory" government job quotas in favour of special groups. It was one of the biggest protests faced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her decade in power. A minister was due to meet protest leaders in Dhaka today. But students at state-run universities in Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal, Rangpur, Sylhet and Savar boycotted classes and staged sit-ins, police and media said. "More than 1,000 students joined the demonstrations at Jahangirnagar University," said Ataur Rahman, a protester in Savar where the university is located. The clashes, which began last night and went into the early hours of Monday, turned Dhaka University into a battleground. Copycat protests soon started in other major cities as thousands of students .

Sri Lanka launches search for 7 missing trekkers

Police in Sri Lanka on Monday launched a search operation in the Knuckles mountain range to locate seven missing trekkers.

Rift over new IS leader in Afghanistan

A rift has emerged over choosing a new Islamic State (IS) leader in Afghanistan's Jawzjan province after its previous chief was killed in an air strike, a police officer said on Monday.

NIA puts ex-Pak diplomat on 'wanted' list

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday put a former Pakistani diplomat on its wanted list and released his photo, seeking information.During the investigation, the NIA had found that the diplomat, Amir Zubair Siddique, while working in Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2016, engaged people to indulge in espionage and terror activities in India.Nicknamed as 'Boss' in the NIA list, he was charge-sheeted in February, along with two others, for plotting 26/11 type attacks in southern India.He was a visa counsellor at the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

China's PLA using new equipment for all-weather border monitoring

China's military is bolstering the management of its border defence by developing new types of equipment including a satellite early warning system that can be used to monitor the border areas in all environments, according to official media reports. A satellite early-warning monitoring system is planned in some border areas that are in dispute or are difficult to enter and patrol, state-run Beijing Evening News reported yesterday. A surveillance camera network has also been built in border zones and the density of coverage is set to increase to cover blind spots, the report said but did not mention which, or if all, of China's border regions are covered. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China covered 3,488 kms which included Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by China as part of southern Tibet. The informatization and mechanisation of equipment, vehicles and monitoring methods of People's Liberation Army (PLA) border defence will give an early-warning of any risks to ...

First bus of released abductees reaches at Syrian army position

The first bus transporting the released people from rebels' captivity in Syria's Douma reached the Syrian army position near the capital Damascus on Sunday, state TV reported.

UN experts to collect evidence of IS crimes in Iraq

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to discuss sending a team of UN experts to Iraq to collect evidence about crimes committed by the extremist Islamic State (IS) group.

Bangladesh police fire tear gas at student protesters

Bangladesh police today fired tear gas at thousands of students who gathered in the capital demanding cuts in "discriminatory" job quotas. The Shahbagh square campus in Dhaka University turned into a battleground after thousands of students chanted slogans and staged sit-in demonstrations in one of the largest protests against the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina's administration has set aside some 56 per cent of civil service jobs for the families of veterans from the war of independence and disadvantaged minorities, leaving most university graduates to fight for only 44 percent of the jobs. Organisers said they were holding peaceful protests when police started firing tear gas and rubber bullets and used batons and water canon to clear students from the square. "They fired rubber bullets and tear gas at us. They beat us with batons," said Hasan Al Mamun, the leader of the anti-quota student group, which was behind the nationwide protests in state-run universities .

2 killed in Central Africa op to rout armed groups

The United Nations and Central African forces today launched an operation targeting armed groups in a mainly Muslim district of Bangui in which at least two people were killed and dozens wounded, UN and medical sources said. Eleven peacekeepers, mostly Egyptian, were among the injured in the joint operation mounted by the United Nations peacekeeping force (Minusca) and the Central African security forces, Minusca spokesman Herve Verhoosel told AFP. The operation, which had targeted, the "bases of certain criminal groups" would continue "until the goal is achieved", Verhoosel said. Eight people belonging to the armed groups Force and 50/50 had been detained by Minusca and ammunition had been seized, he added. The operation comes after a resurgence in violence in the flashpoint PK5 neighbourhood of Bangui. The Central African Republic has been struggling to return to stability since the country exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize by the ...

Pakistan tribesmen rally against security forces in Peshawar

Thousands of people from Pakistan's tribes have rallied in the northwestern city of Peshawar demanding the release of scores of suspects being held by authorities on alleged links to militants. The participants chanted against security forces and carried portraits of relatives they claim went missing during military operations in recent years. An estimated 15,000 people attended Sundays rally organized by the Movement for Protection of Pashtuns group. In his speech, organizer Manzoor Pashteen said they are calling for the "right to live without fear." The group has become active since January when police killed a 27-year-old aspiring model from the tribes, Naqeeb Ullah, in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province. The rally also called on authorities and the army to clear mines planted in their areas during their operations there.

Naxals kill sarpanch in Chhattisgarh

A sarpanch was today killed by suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, police said. "The incident occurred at around 9 PM at Sodhi Para located in the outskirts of Sukma district headquarter, around 450 kms away from the capital Raipur," Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishsek Meena told PTI. The victim, identified as Kalmu Hunga, was Sarpanch of Badesetti village in Fulbagdi area of the district. He was staying at his brother-in-law's house in Sodhi Para since the last two months, he said. As per preliminary information, Hunga was having meal with his friends at the house, when a group of naxals stormed in. The ultras fled the spot after killing Hunga with sharp-edged weapons, he added. On receiving information, police personnel rushed to the spot, and the body was brought for postmortem, said Meena. "Hunga was the target of naxals and he was already cautioned by police to stay alert," said the SP. A combing operation is launched in the area to

Mattis approves deployment of National Guard troops at US-Mexico border

US Defense Secretary James Mattis has signed a memo according to which the National Guard will deploy up to 4,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.According to the Hill, the move permits the use of the Pentagon money for up to 4,000 National Guard personnel to support the Department of Homeland Security's "southern border security mission while under the command and control of their respective governors through September 30, 2018."The memo reportedly further states that the troops will not be used for law enforcement or interaction with immigrants unless Defense Secretary James Mattis approves it, and that the troops will be armed only if required for self-defense.It will be valid for the current budget year, which ends on 30 September, however, the memo does not say how much the mission will cost.The initial deployment of 500 will include soldiers and airmen."Always Ready, Always There! Moving up to 500 #NationalGuard troops immediately on the SW border security mission. Vehicles, ...

SSB arrests human traffickers, rescues 18 Nepalese children

The 42nd battalion of Sashastra Seema Bal's (SSB) on Sunday arrested four human traffickers and rescued 18 Nepalese children at Rupaidiha town near India-Nepal border.Three out of the four human traffickers caught by SSB was handed over to Nepal police, whereas the fourth person was handed over to Indian police authorities as he had a dual nationality.On November 26, 2017, three human traffickers were apprehended in Hyderabad and rescued a Uzbekistani national who was forced into prostitution.

Schools to reopen in Afghan district after deal with Taliban

Dozens of public schools that were shut down by the Taliban in an area under its control south of Kabul are set to reopen after a deal was reached with the group, an Afghan official said.

Egypt army says it killed 4 jihadists

Egypt's military said today it has killed four jihadists in Sinai in recent days, in an ongoing campaign to quash the extremists based in the peninsula. Two suspected jihadists and 250 "wanted and suspected criminals" have been arrested, it said in a statement. More than 100 jihadists and at least 22 soldiers have been killed in the wider-ranging operation launched on February 9, according to army figures. Security forces have sought to quell attacks by an Egyptian jihadist group that later declared allegiance to the Islamic State group (IS) since the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, following mass protests against him. The group has killed hundreds of soldiers, policemen and civilians, mainly in its North Sinai stronghold but also elsewhere in Egypt. The jihadists have also killed scores of Christians in church bombings and shootings.

Yasin Malik released from Srinagar jail

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Muhammad Yasin Malik was on Sunday released from Srinagar Central Jail after six days.