Page 742 - War Conflict
1,920 TN pilgrims leave for Katchatheevu church festival
About 1,920 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu today left for Katchatheevu, an islet in the Palk Strait, to participate in the annual St Anthony's church festival, which would begin later this evening. Officials said the pilgrims, mostly local fishermen, were allowed to carry Rs 5,000 each and were checked before boarding the boats, they added. Ramanathapuram district collector S Natarajan saw them off at the fishing harbour here. The pilgrims, including 336 women and 52 children, set out for Katchatheevu in 62 mechanised boats and two country boats.They would return tomorrow, officials said. The piglrims carried a portrait of St Anthony and a wooden cross to be given as thanksgiving gift for the church. Last year, the pilgrimage was boycotted by Rameswaram fishermen after a fisherman was allegedly gunned down by the Sri Lankan Navy. Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974.
Clashes as IS-linked gunmen seek new Philippine base: military
Months after being routed from the southern Philippine city of Marawi, jihadists are waging a fresh and deadly bid to set up a Southeast Asian caliphate in the same region, the military warned today. The gunmen have mustered a force of about 200 fighters and fought a series of skirmishes with the security forces this year after government forces retook Marawi last October, Colonel Romeo Brawner told AFP. "They have not abandoned their objective to create a caliphate in Southeast Asia," said Brawner, the commander of a Marawi-based military task force. "Mindanao is the most fertile ground," he said, referring to the country's southern region. Struggling with widespread poverty and armed Muslim insurgencies seeking independence or self-rule, Mindanao must improve poor supervision of Islamic schools or madrasas where most young gunmen are recruited, he added. He said the armed forces are retooling to meet the challenge of the Maute group, which occupied Marawi over five months and has ...
Ban troops from participating in US-led wars: Duterte
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he would not allow Philippine troops to participate in any armed conflicts involving the US.
EU to give Sahel force funding boost
European leaders will today give a financial boost to a joint African force tackling jihadists in the Sahel at an international conference in Brussels, as fresh violence highlights the region's fraught security situation. The European Union will announce 50 million euros (USD 61 million) for the G5 Sahel force at talks with heads of state from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, adding to around 280 million euros already pledged by international donors. The high-level meeting attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel comes after two soldiers from France's counter-terrorism force in West Africa were killed Wednesday when their vehicle struck a mine in northeastern Mali. It was the latest in a surge of attacks underscoring the challenge facing the five countries, among the poorest in the world, which are on the frontline of a war against Islamist militants. An EU official warned of a "deteriorating security situation" in Mali, with ...
Preparations begin for US-Israeli joint military drill
Israel's military has said it has begun deploying forces across the country as part of the preparations for a large-scale joint exercise with the US military next month.
Turkey 'strongly' condemns Dutch MPs' recognising Armenian 'genocide'
Turkey responded firmly to the recognition by Dutch lawmakers of the early 1900s massacre of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as "genocide", a term Ankara has long rejected for describing the mass killings. "We strongly condemn the decision taken today by the chamber of deputies of the Netherlands to recognise as genocide the events of 1915," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. Armenians have long sought international recognition for the 1915-1917 killings in the Ottoman era as genocide, which they say left some 1.5 million of their people dead. But Turkey -- the Ottoman Empire's successor state -- argues that it was a collective tragedy in which equal numbers of Turks and Armenians died. In another sign of Turkish irritation at the Dutch MPs, Ankara reminded the Netherlands of the massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serbs during the war at Srebrenica in 1995 where Dutch peacekeepers were stationed. "The unfounded decisions taken by the parliament of .
Dutch MPs recognise Armenian 'genocide'
Dutch lawmakers today overwhelmingly voted in favour of recognising the 1915 massacres of Armenians as "genocide", in a move likely to further worsen already-strained ties with Turkey. "The motion is accepted," parliamentary speaker Khadija Arib announced after the lower house voted 142 to 3 in favour of the proposal "that parliament in no uncertain terms speak about the Armenian genocide". It also agreed to send a cabinet representative to Yerevan in April for the commemorations of the killings and every five years afterwards. Armenians have long sought international recognition for the 1915-1917 killings under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, which they say left some 1.5 million of their people dead. But Turkey - the Ottoman Empire's successor state -- argues that it was a collective tragedy in which equal numbers of Turks and Armenians died. Meanwhile acting Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag quickly tempered the motion, saying even though the ruling four-party coalition voted for ..
Seven soldiers, 71 jihadists killed in Egypt Sinai op: military
Seven Egyptian soldiers and 71 jihadists have been killed since the launch of a wide-ranging operation to quell an Islamic State group affiliate in Sinai earlier this month, the military said. "As a result of the heroic combat operations by our armed forces...seven heroes of the armed forces were martyred," military spokesman Colonel Tamer Rifai said at a press conference aired today on state television. "71 extremists have been killed and five arrested," he said. Rifai added that 1,852 other suspects have been rounded up in the operation that began on February 9, following an ultimatum by the President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to end the deadly insurgency. IS attacks have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula. The group has also killed over 100 Christians in the past year and targeted tourists. Sisi ordered his security commanders to put an end to the attacks following a massacre at a northern Sinai mosque in November that killed more than 300 worshippers. IS ..
Forces on high-alert to foil infiltration bids by Pakistan: BSF IG
The security forces are on high-alert along the borders to foil any BAT attacks by Pakistani troops, a senior BSF official said today. "Alertness is on the high-level always, but because of the inputs we have received, we have increased our alertness and all the forces are on high-alert to stop any ceasefire violation, BAT action or sniper-fire," Inspector General of BSF, Kashmir Frontier, Sonali Mishra told reporters on the sidelines of a wreath-laying ceremony of BSF jawan S K Murmu in Humhama area on the outskirts of the city. Murmu was injured in sniper fire by Pakistani troops in the Tangdhar sector along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, and later succumbed to injuries. Mishra said Pakistan was regularly targeting Indian posts along the borders as it does not want a peaceful atmosphere. "They do not want peace and calm on the borders and so they continue such actions like ceasefire violations, sniper-fire, BAT action. There was a ceasefire violation ...
HC has no jurisdiction to hear plea seeking OPS, 10 others disqualification: Counsel
The Madras High Court has no jurisdiction to hear a plea seeking disqualification of Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and 10 other AIADMK MLAs for voting against Chief Minister K Palaniswami during a trust vote last year, their counsel submitted today. Senior counsel C S Vaidyanathan submitted to the court that it cannot interfere when the Assembly Speaker has not passed any order on a representation submitted to him stating that these MLAs had violated the AIADMK chief whip's order. He stated that the question whether the MLAs can be disqualified when the Speaker has not passed any order is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court. After hearing the arguments, the bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose adjourned the matter to February 27 for hearing the DMK counsel's submission. DMK whip Sakkarapani has filed the petition seeking disqualification of Panneerselvam, then a rebel leader, and others for voting against Palaniswami. Panneerselvam had ...
Five-day death toll in Syria rebel enclave tops 400: monitor
The death toll for five days of bombardment by the Syrian regime and its allies on the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta passed the 400 mark today, a monitor said. "Five days of air strikes and intense artillery fire by the regime and its Russian ally have killed 403 civilians, including 95 children," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Majority of CRPF camps in J-K are on ad hoc basis: DG
The majority of the Central Reserve Police Force camps, located in Jammu and Kashmir, are running on an ad hoc basis, CRPF Director General R R Bhatnagar told a parliamentary panel today. The members of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs questioned the Home Ministry officials on the recent attack on a CRPF camp in Srinagar, asking whether installations of the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir was vulnerable. During a meeting of the panel chaired by former Home Minister P Chidambaram, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked about the steps being taken for the security of the paramilitary camps in the Valley as these were repeatedly attacked by terrorists, a source who was present in the meeting, said on condition of anonymity. Raising the recent attack at a CRPF camp in Srinagar, Chowdhury asked the top Home Ministry officials, led by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, whether such attacks reflected the vulnerability of the paramilitary camps. Replying to the ...
Police operation in Brussels, terrorism ruled out: officials
Belgian police sealed off several streets in suburban Brussels today after reports of armed men and a murder, but there were no indications of terrorism, officials said. Armed officers blocked traffic while a helicopter hovered over the scene of the incident in the Forest district, an AFP journalist said. In 2016, the district was the scene of a shootout with police involving Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam that led to his capture three days later. A local police spokesman told AFP a Polish man had gone to a local shop today "and said that a murder had been committed at a local residence. "The residence was visited and there was nothing. But other people spoke of a disturbance nearby." Local mayor Marc-Jean Ghyssels told broadcaster RTBF that police were called because of the "presence of armed people in a building." "At this stage it seems to be a private dispute. There is absolutely no link with terrorism," he said. Belgium recently lowered its terror alert to its second lowest
BSF jawan hurt in Pak firing in Tangdhar, succumbs to injuries
A BSF jawan, injured in firing by Pakistani troops in Tangdhar sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here, officials said today. S K Murmu was hit by a sniper fire from across the LoC in Tangdhar sector in Kupwara district, they said. Murmu was airlifted to the Army's 92 Base Hospital at Badamibagh Cantonment where he succumbed late last night, they added.
India may send commandos to guard its embassy in Iraq
Paramilitary commandos may soon be deployed to guard the Indian Embassy and diplomatic staff in war-ravaged Iraq, following threats from the banned Islamic State (ISIS) terror groups, officials said. An in-principle approval for the deployment of an armed squad at the complex located in the Al Mansour area of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad has been accorded by the Union ministries of home and external affairs, they said. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been tasked to provide its best combat personnel for the job. They said that the commandos will have a specific task of securing the Embassy, its diplomatic staff and their families against terror threats. "Given the constant threat of the ISIS terror group in Iraq, it was being discussed for a long time that the Indian Embassy there should have a professional security cover," a senior official privy to the development said. "The effort to send the paramilitary commandos is a move in that direction. However, the final approval
One arrested for attack on India Army
The National Investigative Agency (NIA) arrested a carade of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) in connection with the ambush on 6th Dogra Battalion of the Indian Army.The 22-year-old accused, identified as Moirangthem Nimaichand Meitei, hailed from Imphal.The accused has been sent to seven days custody by a special NIA court.Meitei was part of the team, which was involved in the ambush near Paraolen village in Chandel district of Manipur in June 2015, where 18 Army personnel were killed and 15 were injured.
5 Afghan intelligence agency workers killed
At least five workers of the Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) have been killed in a militant attack in Afghanistan's northern Parwan province.The incident took place in the vicinity of Bagram district, according to the local government officials.District administrative chief of Bagram Abdul Shukoor Qudoosi confirmed that the deceased individuals belonged to the Afghan intelligence agency, reported Khaama Press.No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban insurgents on the report by far.According to the report, Parwan is among Afghan's relatively volatile provinces where the Taliban insurgents are actively operating in some of its remote districts and often carry out insurgency activities.
NIA arrests terrorist involved in June 2015 attack on Army in Manipur
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a member of a banned Manipuri terrorist organisation who was allegedly a part of the team that carried out an audacious attack on an army convoy in June 2015, in which 18 soldiers were killed and 15 other injured, an official spokesperson said here. The details of the place of arrest were not given out by the NIA and the spokesman only said 22-year-old Moirangthem Nimaichand Meitei was an active cadre of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Noyon) group. Meitei was also in the team that was involved in the ambush near Paraolen village in Chandel district of Manipur on June 4, 2015, he said. This was the worst-ever terror attack on the army which saw 18 personnel dead and 15 seriously injured. The accused was produced before the special judge on February 20 where he was remanded in seven days of NIA custody. However, sources said that the accused had been detained by a combined team of the NIA, Gorkha Rifles and Bishnupur police in ...
'Tamil detainees should be released from Andhra jails'
PMK founder S.Ramadoss on Thursday condemned the Tamil Nadu government for not taking action to get around 2,700-3,000 Tamil persons out of jails in Andhra Pradesh.
Army commando injured in gunfight with militants in J-K
An Army commando was today injured in a gunfight with militants, who managed to escape, in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, sources said. Security forces launched a counter-insurgency operation in the Hajin area of Bandipora this morning following information about the presence of four militants there, the sources As the troops were laying a cordon in the area, the militants opened indiscriminate fire at them and fled the spot. One Army commando of 31 Rashtriya Rifles was injured in the firing, the sources said.