Page 668 - War Conflict
Rural polls: Many injured in violence over filing of nominations
Violence over filing of nominations for the rural polls in West Bengal was reported today from Birbhum, Bankura and Murshidabad districts in which many people were injured. The poll-related violence has claimed two lives in Malda and Bankura districts so far since the beginning of filing of nominations on April 2, the police said. In the Nalhati area in Birbhum district, clashes broke out between the police and BJP supporters when they defied orders against holding rallies or processions while filing nominations. The directives were issued after an attack on former CPI(M) MP Ramchandra Dome allegedly by TMC hoodlums on Thursday. The BJP workers took out a rally and were stopped by the police. A heated argument erupted between the two sides and snowballed into a clash. The men in uniform used batons and fired rubber bullets to disperse the rallyists, a police official said. A number of police personnel were injured in brick batting by the BJP cadres. Twenty-five BJP workers were ...
Jawan injured in Pak shelling along LoC in Rajouri
An Army jawan was injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops who opened fire and resorted to shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir today, district officials said. Pakistan troops resorted to firing and shelling on forward posts along the LoC in Nowshera sector in which one jawan suffered injuries, they said. On Wednesday, a man and his daughter were injured when the neighbouring country's troops fired mortar bombs at forward posts and targeted civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowshera sector. Pakistani troops also fired using small arms and automatic weapons and targeted the Sair and Kadli hamlets and forward posts of the Indian Army, the officials said. On Tuesday, an Army jawan was killed while four others were injured as Pakistani troops fired mortar bombs at forward posts in Krishna Ghati sector along the LoC in Poonch. The death toll due to Pakistani shelling along the LoC this year has gone up to 27. The ...
15 killed in Nigeria bank robbery, attack on police station
- Fifteen people were killed when a gang of armed men attacked two banks and a police station in the central Nigerian town of Offa, police told AFP today. "They attacked the police station and at the same time attacked two banks," said Kwara state police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi, adding that nine police and six civilians died in the brazen assault. The gang invaded a busy commercial area where several banks and the police station are located at around 4:50 pm (1550 GMT) yesterday, said Okasanmi. "We are going all-out to ensure we arrest them," he said, adding that the haul from the robbery was not immediately known. The attack happened in part of Nigerias volatile central region, which is notorious for criminal gangs and cattle rustling. Attacks on police are not uncommon. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has had to deploy security forces throughout Nigeria, West Africas largest economy, to quell violence in the absence of a strong police force and rigorous legal system. The gang ..
3 killed in pair of suicide car bombings in Somali capital
Three people are dead after a pair of suicide car bombings in Somalias capital, police said today. The first explosion occurred at an army checkpoint on the airport road in Mogadishu, injuring one soldier, Captain Mohamed Hussein said. The bomber apparently was heading to Mogadishus international airport but was stopped by soldiers. The heavily fortified airport houses embassies and is a major target for al-Shabab extremists. The second car bomb detonated shortly afterward near busy Benadir junction after soldiers stopped the vehicle, firing on it as it tried to speed through a checkpoint. The three dead included a soldier, Hussein said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the two explosions. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab often targets high-profile areas of the capital and holds large parts of southern and central Somalia.
19 TN fishermen released by Lankan court
Nineteen fishermen from here, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy recently on charges of poaching, were released today by a court in the island republic, a local fisherman association leader said. The fishermen, under judicial remand, were ordered to be released by a court in northern Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boats Fishermen Association president P Sesuraja said. All the 19 fishermen would return home in a day or two, he said. The fishermen were among the 27 arrested by the Lankan navy since February and lodged in a jail in Jaffna. Efforts were on to free the remaining eight, Sesuraja added. On February 9 last, a Sri Lankan court, acting on the island government's recommendation, had set free 113 Indian fishermen arrested over a period of time till January this year.
Youth beheaded in Kashmir
A youth abducted by militants this week was found beheaded on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district, drawing widespread condemnation.
Ex-Sri Lankan military intelligence chief held over scribe's abduction
A former Sri Lankan military intelligence chief has been arrested and remanded in custody over the assault and abduction of a leading journalist nearly 10 years ago, police said today. Major General (retired) Amal Karunasekera was arrested yesterday for the abduction of Keith Noyahr, the then deputy editor of The Nation, an English weekly, they said. Noyahr was abducted by an armed group on May 22, 2008 when he was returning home. He was released the next morning with severe bruises due to assault. Noyahr wrote a weekly defence column and it was said that the military was unhappy about his writings. Karunasekera headed the military intelligence at the time. Noyahr's abduction alongside the murder of the editor of The Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunga, were incidents of media harassment during the regime of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka was dubbed one of the dangerous places in the world for journalism during the 10-year-rule of Rajapaksa. Noyahr's case was ...
Encounter underway between security forces- terrorists in Pulwama
Encounter underway between security forces and terrorists at Kangan area of Pulwama in South Kashmir.As per reports, a Cordon-And-Search Operation (CASO) has been launched in the area to get hold of the terrorists.The militants began firing at the security forces as they approached the suspected spot.It is not yet clear how many militants are hiding in the area.More details are awaited.This is the second attack in a week upon security forces in Pulwama.
Militant killed in encounter with forces in Pulwama
An unidentified militant was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir today, the Army said. Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Kangan village following information about presence of militants in the area, an Army official said. As the security forces closed in on the target house, the militant opened fire. The forces retaliated the firing triggering a gunbattle, the official said. The unidentified militant was killed after a brief encounter, he said, adding one firearm has been recovered from the scene of the gunbattle.
Terrorist held in J&K's Kupwara district
Security forces on Friday arrested a terrorist in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.The terrorist, Zabiullah, a resident of Pakistan's Multan district, was arrested after a cordon and search operation at Turshan area of Juktiyal.Prior to terrorist's arrest, a joint team of Indian Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police had asked the local residents to step out of their homes in order to flush the terrorist.The terrorist, who was held in bad health, had escaped in an injured condition after a two-day long gunfight with the security forces last month in Check Post Fateh Khan of Kupwara. The gunfight that ensued claimed 10 lives including five terrorists, three soldiers and two policemen.Earlier on April 4, terrorists hurled a grenade at A Central Reserve Police Force post in Keegan village of Shopian district and on April 1, at least 12 terrorists and three soldiers were among 20 people killed in three separate gunfights in the Valley.
Police officer injured in Srinagar clashes
A police officer was injured during clashes between the security forces and stone pelters in Hazratbal area here on Friday, police said..
5 killed, 18 injured in two accidents in J-K
Five persons, including three pilgrims, were killed and 18 others injured today in two accidents in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Ramban districts, police said. Three pilgrims were killed and 18 others injured when their mini bus overturned in Rajouri district, they said. The bus was on its way to the Shiv Khori temple when it overturned at the Triyath belt, police said. The injured have been admitted to the GMC hospital in Jammu, they said. In another incident, two persons, identified as Sanjay Singh and Manjeet Singh, were killed after their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a 300-feet deep gorge near the Karool Kundi area in Ramban district, police said. Their bodies have been recovered, they said.
Mehbooba condemns killing of youth by LeT
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today condemned the beheading of a youth of Hajin in Bandipora district. Manzoor Ahmad Bhat was abducted on Wednesday night by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and his body was found by police today. In a statement, the chief minister said the inhuman way in which the youth was killed is against the social ethos and cultural value system of the people of the state. Mehbooba has conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved family.
15 pilgrims injured in J&K accident
Fifteen pilgrims were injured in an accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Friday, police said.
Omar hits out at separatists for not criticising killing of civilians by militants
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today hit out at separatists for not criticising and condemning the killing of civilians by militants. Omar's remark came after Manzoor Ahmad was abducted and killed by suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants. He was abducted from his home at Hajin in Bandipora district on Wednesday night and his headless body was found today by police. "Any shut down call or call for peaceful protests for Manzoor Ahmed whos decapitated body was found in North Kashmir after he d been abducted & killed by militants? No? I m not surprised (sic)," Omar said on Twitter. "The unknown gunmen are conveniently termed to give cover to those who don t want to/cant criticise terrorist crimes (sic)," the opposition National Conference leader said in another tweet. Terming the incident "inhuman", he tweeted, "What happens to Kashmir Solidarity and wannabe Imran Khans when people like Manzoor are inhumanly butchered? It s so easy to flow with the tide, ...
Clashes erupt along Gaza-Israel border as protests begin
Clashes erupted on the Gaza-Israel border today, AFP journalists said, a week after similar demonstrations led to violence in which Israeli force killed 19 Palestinians, the bloodiest day since a 2014 war. Palestinians burned tyres and threw stones at Israeli soldiers over the border fence, who responded with tear gas and live fire, the correspondents said. One person appeared to have been shot east of Gaza City, an AFP photographer on the scene said, but his condition was not immediately clear. Hundreds of Palestinians were gathering at different places along the Gaza border as part of six weeks of protests calling for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to the lands they fled or were expelled from that are now inside Israel. Nineteen Palestinians were killed and hundreds wounded by gunfire from Israeli forces last Friday when a protest by tens of thousands led to clashes. No Israelis were injured.
3 killed, 18 injured as bus turns turtle in Rajouri
Three pilgrims were killed and 18 others injured today when their mini bus turned turtle in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, police said. The bus was on its way to the Shiv Khori temple in Reasi district when it turned turtle at Triyath belt, they said. The injured have been shifted to the GMC hospital in Jammu, police said.
Russia rejects claim Novichok stored at military lab
Moscow today rejected a British news report that the nerve agent used in the poisoning of a former double agent originated from a town on Russia's Volga river. Yesterday, The Times newspaper cited British security sources saying they believed the so-called Novichok chemical was manufactured at the Shikhany facility in central Russia's Saratov region. "This laboratory was never part of the scope of our work," Mikhail Babich, the Kremlin's envoy in the Volga Federal District, told Interfax news agency. "All the bases where chemical weapons were stored are well-known. Shikhany is not one of them," said Babich, who is the former chairman of the state commission for chemical disarmament. He added that there used to be a different "facility" in the Saratov region but it was not located in Shikhany. The Times said the facility was the Russian equivalent of Britain's Porton Down defence laboratory. The closed town of Shikhany is the location of a branch of the State Scientific Research ...
Restrictions in parts of Kashmir as separatists calls for protest, traders strike
Authorities today imposed restrictions in parts of Kashmir, including the summer capital here, as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in view of protests called by separatists and strike by trade bodies. Restrictions under Section 144 CrPc have been imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar, a police official said. He said Khanyar, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safakadal, Maisuma and Kralkhud police station areas of the summer capital here are where the restrictions have been imposed. The officials said restrictions have also been imposed in Kangan town in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district as well as in Shopian town in south Kashmir. The curbs were put in place as a precautionary measure to prevent protests against the killing of 13 militants in three encounters on Sunday and five civilians in the aftermath of those encounters. Yesterday, while there were no restrictions or shutdown after three days and schools and colleges reopened, protests by students of
Russia, Britain lob 'Alice in Wonderland' in UN over ex-spy's poisoning
The Queen and the Knave of "Alice in Wonderland" showed up at the UN Security Council during a tense discussion about the poisoning of a former Russian spy when Moscow's representative hurled the English classic at Her Majesty the Queen's envoy who lobbed it back at him.