Page 674 - War Conflict
4 Christians among 9 killed in twin attacks in Pakistan
Nine people, including four of a family from the minority Christian community in Pakistan, were killed in two separate attacks in Quetta in the south-western Balochistan province, police said. The ISIS claimed responsibility for the first attack in which unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a rickshaw in which a Christian family was travelling on Quetta's Shah Zaman road. All four died on the spot while a woman was injured and rushed to a hospital, Provincial Police Chief Moazzam Jah Ansari said, adding that her father and three cousins were killed in the firing. The attack on the Christians, he said, appeared to be a targeted attack. "We are investigating whether it was a targeted attack due to personal enmity or sectarian reasons," he said. The Christians on Sunday had celebrated Easter in Pakistan and the family had come to celebrate with their relatives from Lahore. Shortly after the attack on the Christian family in the evening, two groups clashed with each other ..
40,000 civilians return home in Syria's Eastern Ghouta
A total of 40,000 civilians have returned home in the Syrian capital's Eastern Ghouta, where the Army nearly gained full control, state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday.
Arms watchdog to meet over UK-Russia spy poison case
The world's chemical weapons watchdog said it would hold a meeting at Russia's request tomorrow to discuss Britain's allegations that Moscow was behind the poisoning of an ex-spy in England. "The chairperson of the Executive Council... has received a request by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation... to convene a meeting of the Executive Council," the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said today on its website. It said the meeting behind closed doors will start at 10:00 am at the OPCW's headquarters in The Hague. Britain has said it is "highly likely" that Moscow was responsible for an attempt to poison former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the quiet English city of Salisbury on March 4. London has accused Russia of using the Novichok nerve agent, developed in the latter days of the Soviet Union. Moscow has angrily denied any involvement. In a letter dated last Thursday, Russia's ambassador to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin asked
Western Command starts self-defence training for kin of personnel
With terrorists targeting families of defence personnel at army camps in Jammu and Kashmir, the Western Command has started imparting self-defence training to the families of serving personnel, official sources said on Tuesday.
Follow SOPs to avoid collateral damage: J&K CM
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday asked security forces to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for crowd control and anti-militancy operations to avoid collateral damage.
ULFA(I) ultra apprehended
An ULFA(Independent) ultra was apprehended by a joint army and police team in Nalbari district of Assam and a revolver with ammunition were recovered from him, Defence sources said here today. The joint operation was launched by a unit of Red Horns Division and the police in Nalbari district last night, the sources said. The troops of the unit established a special mobile check post at Barkura Chowk on NH 31 and during the routine search the ultra was nabbed along with a 9 mm factory made revolver and two live rounds of ammunition. The ultra has been handed over to Nalbari Police, the sources added.
CRPF promotes four personnel for foiling terror attacks in J&K
The CRPF has given out-of-turn promotions -- for the first time in last 14 years - to four personnel who were instrumental in thwarting two separate "fidayeen attacks" on the paramilitary force's camps in Jammu and Kashmir leading to the killing of six militants.
2 civilians injured in clashes with forces in JK
At least two youths were injured today in clashes between protesters and security forces in Kangan area of Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, police said. Mohammad Amir and Irfan Ahmad were brought to the SKIMS hospital in Soura with injuries to the head and the chest respectively, a police official said. Another youth from Kangan, injured in similar clashes yesterday, succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital here today. Protests have been reported from many parts of Kashmir against the killing of civilians during encounters between militants and security forces in Shopian and Anantnag districts on Sunday.
Army's Western Command to train soldiers' kin in self-defence
The Army's Western Command has taken the initiative of imparting self-defence training to the families of serving personnel. "The step has been taken in view of the recent attacks on army camps of Sunjuwan and Nagrota (in J&K) where the families of serving personnel became soft targets for the militants," an official release said here today. "The EME (the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers) unit at Chandimandir organised a training session, where trained professionals from a martial art academy demonstrated self-defence skills to women and children of the soldiers," it said.
Civilian toll post J&K gunfights rises to five
A 23-year-old man injured in clashes with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Monday succumbed to his critical injuries at a hospital here on Tuesday, hospital authorities said.
UN probing reports on 'mass civilian casualties' in Afghan airstrike
The United Nations on Tuesday said that it is probing reports on civilian casualties sustained during Monday's airstrike in a local madrassa in Afghanistan's Kunduz province.The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) took to its Twitter handle and informed that it is "actively looking into disturbing reports of serious harm to civilians yesterday from airstrike at DashtiArchi, Kunduz. Human Rights team on ground establishing facts."According to TOLOnews, this comes after residents of Dasht-e-Archi district in Kunduz province claimed that an airstrike on Monday claimed 50 lives and injured 150 others. The airstrike was carried out at about 11 a.m. (local time)According to the residents and some provincial council members, the airstrike was carried out on the madrassa by the Afghan Air Force (AAF). Government officials have claimed that Taliban militants were inside the madrassa and planning out to carry an attack on Afghan forces.They also asserted that a high-ranking
4 CRPF jawans get out-of-turn promotion for bravery in Kashmir ops
Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans have been given out-of-turn promotions for extraordinary vigilance and valour displayed in thwarting terrorist attacks in Kashmir. Due to their alertness and bravery, six militants were gunned down and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered in two separate "fidayeen attacks".On the request of CRPF, the Ministry of Home Affairs has waived the eligibility criteria for promotion in recognition of their gallant acts in the militancy-hit state.While Head Constable A.S. Krishana has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector, Constables K. Dinesh Raja and Prafulla Kumar have been promoted to the rank of Head Constables.The high alertness of these brave hearts of the 45th Battalion thwarted a deadly terrorist attack on the CRPF camp located in the Industrial Area (Training Ground) in Sumbal in the Bandipora district of Kashmir on June 5, last year.Due to their raising of an alarm, the terrorist attack was foiled and all the
OPCW to meet over Britain-Russia spy
The world's chemical watchdog will meet tomorrow to discuss Britain's allegations against Russia that it had a hand in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal, documents said today. "The chairperson of the Executive Council... has received a request by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation... to convene a meeting of the Executive Council," the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said. The confidential meeting will start at 10.00 am (0800 GMT) at the OPCW's headquarters in The Hague.
Youth injured in clashes in JK's Kangan dies
A youth, who was injured during clashes between protesters and security forces in Kangan area of Ganderbal district yesterday, died at a hospital here today, officials said. Gowhar Ahmad Rather, a resident of Kangan in Ganderbal, had been admitted to SKIMS hospital here with critical head injury, the officials said. "Rather, who was on a ventilator since yesterday, breathed his last this afternoon," a police official said. The deceased was injured during clashes between protestors and security forces in Kangan area last evening. While the locals alleged that he had sustained pellet injuries after being shot at by security forces, a police spokesman said Rather suffered critical injuries after he fell into a drain. "A group of miscreants had gathered in Kangan market to pelt stones and disturb law-and-order in the area. A police party reached the spot, on seeing which, the miscreants started running, during which the boy fell down and injured his head on the edge of the drain," a ...
Violence in Rajasthan city, Dalit leaders' houses torched
Clashes broke out in Hindaun city in Rajasthan's Kairali district after a protest on Tuesday, demanding action against those involved in looting and vandalism during the Bharat Bandh called on Monday by Dalit groups against dilution of SC/ST Act, turned violent, police said.
Soldier killed, 4 Army men injured in Pak shelling
An Army jawan was killed while four others including a lieutenant were injured as Pakistani troops fired mortar bombs at forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today, officials said. The cross-border shelling by Pakistani troops started in Krishna Ghati sector this morning and continued for over two hours, resulting in injuries to five soldiers including an officer, an Army officer said. One of the injured soldiers later succumbed to injuries at the military hospital. The deceased jawan was identified as 20-year-old Sepoy Mustapure Shubham Suryakant, a resident of Konerwadi village in Parbhani district of Maharashtra. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty, defence spokesman Col. N N Joshi said. Suryakant is survived by his mother Sunita, A police official said a lieutenant and two junior commissioned officers were among the injured and they were evacuated to command hospital in ...
Houses of Dalit MLA, ex-MLA set afire in Rajasthan's Karauli distt
The houses of a sitting and a former MLA, both Dalits, were set afire by a violent mob today afternoon in the Hindaun town in Karauli district of Rajasthan following which curfew was imposed in the area, a senior official said. A mob comprising nearly 5,000 people set ablaze houses of sitting MLA Rajkumari Jatav and Congress MLA Bharosilal Jatav in the Hindaun City, District Collector, Karauli, Abhimanyu Kumar told PTI. While Rajkumari Jatav is from the ruling BJP, Bharosilal Jatav is a former Congress legislator who also served as a minister in the state. The incident occurred a day after Rajasthan and several other states saw large scale protests and violence during a 'bandh' called by Dalit organisations. Considering the law and order situation, curfew was clamped in the city, Kumar added. He said the situation was tense since morning. After incidents of stone pelting and arson, a mob set on for the houses of the MLA and the ex-MLA following which curfew has been clamped till ...
MP Dalit stir: Death toll rises to 8, one killed in police firing
The death toll in the violence that broke out during Dalit protests in Madhya Pradesh rose to eight with two more persons succumbing to injuries, officials said today. Meanwhile, the police today admitted that one person, who died yesterday, fell victim to police bullets. Two policemen have been booked in connection with the death of a person in police firing, an official said. Yesterday, a senior police official had claimed that the casualties occurred during clashes between the supporters of the "Bharat bandh", called by Dalit outfits, and those opposed to it and not due to police firing. However, Bhind Superintendent of Police (SP) Prashant Khare today said Mahavir Rajawat (40), who died yesterday, fell victim to police bullets. Besides, two more deaths were reported today, taking the toll in the violence to eight. One person, identified as Pradeep Jatav, succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in clashes between the supporters of the bandh and those opposed to it late last night in
Protests in Rajasthan over damage in Dalit violence
A day after violent protests by Dalits, several members of other castes today hit the streets in Rajasthan over the damage caused yesterday, Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said. In Alwar district, where one man was killed, people held a sit-in protest, refusing to cremate the body. "After the Dalit protests in the state, people of other castes are protesting in some parts of Rajasthan," Kataria said. According to the police, tension prevailed in Hindaun City, Churu and Gangapur City where law-and-order situation remained "critical". "Traders association and upper castes are agitated in Hindaun City. They took out a procession today and tried to enter the SC/ST dominated areas," Additional Director General (law and order) NRK Reddy said. "Police forces lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to cane charging and firing rubber bullets to disperse the mob," Reddy said. Curfew was clamped in Gangapur City last night. "Situation is under control now in Gangapur City. The curfew was lifted ..
Afghan official: 5 civilians killed in airstrike on Taliban
An Afghan official says at least five civilians and 35 insurgents have been killed in an airstrike by Afghan forces in northern Kunduz province. Nematullah Temori, spokesman for the provincial governor in Kunduz, said Tuesday that 55 civilians were wounded in the attack a day earlier in Dashti Archi district. He said a government delegation is investigating the incident. Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish earlier said the airstrike targeted Taliban fighters and killed more than 30 of them, including nine commanders. He said large number of fighters had gathered in the area to hold a military parade. The Taliban said in a statement that the airstrike hit a madrassa, or Islamic religious school, killing and wounding more than 100 clerics, religious students and other civilians.