Page 742 - War Conflict
Chief of NZ defence forces meets Navy, IAF, Army chiefs
Chief of Defence Forces of New Zealand Lt Gen Timothy Keating today held talks with chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces and discussed areas of cooperation between the two countries. Lt Gen Keating met Army chief General Bipin Rawat, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. "The discussions centred around possible areas of cooperation between armed forces of the two countries," said an official. He also met Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.
Border residents moved to safer areas following Pak shelling in J-K
The residents of several villages in the Uri area near the Line of Control in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir have been moved to safer locations following unprovoked firing by the Pakistani troops there yesterday, police said today. "In view of the unprovoked firing by the Pakistani troops in civilian areas of Churanda and Silikote, inhabitants of villages of Thajal and Soni have been moved to safer locations," a police official said. He said the police assisted the civilians last night to move out of the villages which fall in the line of shelling by the Pakistani troops. "This is a preventive measure taken to ensure that there are no civilian casualties," he added. The Pakistani troops yesterday violated ceasefire along the LoC in the Uri sector, resulting in injuries to three civilians.
30 civilians released, 8 militants killed in Afghanistan
Afghan forces attacked a Taliban detention centre in Laghman province killing eight militants and setting free 30 civilians, the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Militant attack outside IAF station foiled in J&K
A group of militants today lobbed a grenade and opened fire at a water pump house of Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir but there was no damage caused in the attack, an official said. The firing was effectively retaliated by the alert sentries, forcing the terrorists to flee, he added. "Two to three terrorists lobbed a grenade and opened firing on the water pump house located outside the Air Force Station at Malangpora in Awantipora area of Pulwama district," a defence spokesman said here. There was no loss of life in the incident, the spokesman said adding security forces have cordoned off the area to track down the terrorists.
Security forces recover, diffuse IED in poll-bound Meghalaya
Security forces today recovered and diffused an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by armed militants in the remote Nengmandalgre village in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district, ahead of the February 27 Assembly polls in the north-eastern state, the police said. It was found two days after the NCP candidate from Williamnagar, Jonathone N Sangma, was killed in an IED blast under the Williamnagar police station limits. Acting on an intelligence input about the presence of militants in Rambogra yesterday, police teams were sent to the area to conduct search and area-domination operations, Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Garo Hills district Ringrang TG Momin said. State Director General of Police (DGP) S B Singh said Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants were behind the act of planting the IED. The DGP told journalists in Tura, where he is camping to oversee the law-and-order situation in the region, that credible leads pointed towards the GNLA's involvement in the .
Capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 1,850 cr approved
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Tuesday approved capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 1,850 crore, which primarily include procurement of Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV) pegged at Rs 1,125 crore.The proposals also include procurement of one Survey Training Vehicle (STV), whose construction will be undertaken by the Indian Shipyards at an estimated cost of Rs 626 crore."These include procurement of essential quantity of BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles for mechanised infantry and other arms and services at an estimated cost of Rs 1125 crore from the Ordinance Factory Board (OFB)," the Ministry said in a statement.The Infantry Combat Vehicle is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct fire support. The Survey Training Vessel will augment the Navy's growing hydrographic needs in ports, harbours and exclusive economic zones.A week ago, the Defence Ministry had approved capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 15,935 crore, which ...
Centre burdening masses by reducing small savings interest rates: Mamata
Taking a swipe at the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi government of reducing interest rates on employee provident fund and small savings for what she said was to "compensate for loss incurred due to loot by a few people".
109 freed fishermen arrive in Karaikal
One hundred and nine Indian fishermen,set free by a Jaffna court and among 113 recommended for release by the Sri Lankan government after their arrest in recent months by its Navy on charges of fishing in their waters, arrived in Karaikal today, a top official said. On their arrival, they were met by their family members and fisheries department officials, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Ramanathapuram, Isak Jayakumar said. On February 10, three of the four fishermen set free by the court had arrived at Mandapam in the district. The other fisherman had said he was staying back in the island nation as he has his roots there. The Sri Lankan Government had on February 9 recommended release of 113 Indian fishermen arrested over a period of time by the island nation's Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters. The fishermen from Tamil Nadu had been detained over a period of time and lodged in prisons in the neighbouring country. Their mechanised boats had been impounded. The ...
Def ministry clears capital acquisition proposals worth Rs 1,850 cr
The defence ministry today approved capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 1,850 crore which included procurement of 156 infantry combat vehicles to meet the requirement of the troops for rapid deployment. The long-pending proposals were cleared at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the defence ministry's highest decision making body on procurement. The defence ministry said said "essential quantity" of infantry combat vehicles (BMPs-2/2k) will be procured for mechanised infantry and other services at an estimated cost of over Rs 1,125 crore. Official sources put the number of BMPs at 156. The ministry said the DAC also approved construction of a Survey Training Vessel (STV) to meet the Indian Navy's need for hydrographic surveys at a cost of Rs 626 crore. The vessel will be constructed by Indian shipyards. The defence ministry said the DAC, chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accorded approval to capital acquisition proposals valued at over Rs 1,850 .
BJP destroying people's trust in banking system: Mamata
Accusing the BJP-led central government of "destroying" the public's trust in the country's banking system, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today asked where would the people keep their money if their most trusted institution was allowed to be looted. Her comments came at a time when the state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) has detected a Rs 11,400-crore scam, in which diamond merchant Nirav Modi allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from a Mumbai branch of the bank to secure overseas credit from other Indian lenders. "Banks, which are our place of trust for keeping our money, are being destroyed. Where will the people keep their money," Banerjee said at a public meeting in this north Bengal town. Claiming that not only the banks were being allowed to be "looted" by a few, she alleged that the BJP government was also planning to introduce the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, through which it could "forfeit" a customer's savings
JK Governor calls for security audit of vital installations
In the backdrop of the recent spurt in terror attacks, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today called for a security audit of all vulnerable places and vital installations in the state. Vohra emphasized the vital importance of urgently carrying out a security audit of all vulnerable places, vital installations and sensitive establishments during a meeting with a senior police officer here, an official spokesman said. Additional Director General of Police, Home Guards, Disaster Management and Security, Munneer Ahmad Khan called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan and briefed him about several important matters relating to security management in the state, he said. Vohra also complimented Khan for his devoted endeavours during his tenure as the police chief in the valley. In another meeting with the Director, North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala, Saubhagya Vardhan, Vohra emphasised on the importance of preserving and popularising the fast vanishing folk arts, music and dances of the
Militants fire at security vehicle near IAF station in J&K
Militants fired at a vehicle of the security forces near the Indian Air Force station in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, followed by a brief exchange of fire on Tuesday, police said.
Nearly 200 dead in Syria enclave as UN warns situation out of control
Air strikes hit Syria's Eastern Ghouta for a third straight day today, bringing the civilian death toll to nearly 200 as the UN warned the situation in the rebel enclave was spinning "out of control". Air strikes and rocket and artillery fire have battered the rebel-held enclave since Sunday in apparent preparation for a government ground assault on the besieged region. At least 194 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. On Monday alone, 127 civilians, including 39 children, were killed in the bombardment -- the single bloodiest day for Eastern Ghouta in four years. Fresh air strikes this morning killed at least 50 civilians, including 13 children, the Britain-based war monitor said. Held by rebels since 2012, Eastern Ghouta is the last opposition pocket around Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad is keen to retake it with an apparently imminent ground assault. The UN's regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria Panos ...
Militants open fire on security personnel near Awantipora Air Force Station
Militants today opened firing on security forces near an Air Force station in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, defense sources said. "There has been a firing incident at Malangpora, near the Awantipora Air Force station," they said. The details of the incident are being ascertained and the security forces have cordoned off the area to track down the militants, they said.
DAC clears procurement worth Rs 1850 crore
These include procurement of essential quantity of Infantry Combat Vehicle (BMPs-2/2k) for Mechanised Infantry and other Arms and Services at an estimated cost of over Rs 1125 crore from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). This procurement will meet the operational requirement of the troops in rapid deployment of Mechanised Forces.
Two Kenyan pilots released by S Sudan rebels
Two Kenyan pilots held for over a month after crash-landing their plane in rebel-held South Sudan have been released, a rebel spokesman said today. The two men were flying South Sudanese aid workers close to Akobo in the east of the country early last month when they were forced to make an emergency landing, resulting in the death of one civilian and the pilots subsequent detention. They were handed over to Kenyan officials on Monday in exchange for $108,000 (87,000 euros) which rebel spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel said was "compensation" for the loss of life and damage to property, including some houses and "two cattle pens". Gabriel said the money was handed over by "seven Kenyan officials" while Kenyan newspaper The Daily Nation said the money was paid by the airline company and its insurer. A Kenyan foreign ministry official confirmed the release of the pilots but denied the payment of any ransom to secure their freedom. South Sudan plunged into civil war in late 2013 when President ..
2 aid workers killed in eastern Congo, 1 taken hostage
Authorities say two workers with a French aid group have been killed by armed gunmen in a village in eastern Congo while a third has been taken hostage. The UN humanitarian agency said Monday that they had been working for Hydraulique Sans Frontieres. The attack took place in the village of Mushikiri in Congos North Kivu province. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the Mai Mai militia is known to be active in the area. In a statement, the UN humanitarian agency says worrisome security conditions in North Kivu province are hindering efforts to help the thousands in need there. Eastern Congo has been home to a myriad of armed groups for the past two decades.
Another IED recovered in poll-bound Meghalaya
Averting a major tragedy, Special Force-10 commandos on Tuesday recovered another Improvised Explosive Device (IED) left by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels in poll-bound Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district, police said.
'100 civilians killed' as Syrian jets bombard rebel enclave
At least 100 civilians, including 20 children, were killed and hundreds wounded as Syrian government forces bombarded rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area outside Damascus, a war monitor said.
Bomb kills 3 tribal elders in Afghanistan; 9 police killed
A bomb went off in a hotel room in Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar province today, killing three tribal elders, while Afghan officials reported that at least nine policemen were killed in latest attacks by insurgents. The spokesman in Nangarhar, Attaullah Khogyani, said the bomb went off around noon as tribal elders gathered in the hotel room in Jalalabad, the provincial capital, to discuss village problems. Khogyani said three other elders were wounded in the blast and that another bomb was discovered and defused by police forces near the hotel. There were no further details and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. Both the Taliban and Afghanistans Islamic State affiliate are active in Nangarhar. Meanwhile, in western Farah province, attacks on police checkpoints killed eight policemen. Mohammad Naser Mehri, spokesman for the Farah governor, said two police checkpoints came under attack overnight, one in Bala Buluk district and one near Farah city. Mehri added ...