Page 744 - War Conflict
Two Naxals held, explosive recovered in Chhattisagrh
Two Naxals were today arrested and a powerful 16 kg tiffin bomb was recovered from them in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district, police said. The cadres Sukaram Salaam (23) and Lamkuram Korram (21) were apprehended from the forest between Aadnar and Chema villages under Bayanar police station limits when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) was out on a search operation, Kondagaon Additional Superintendent of Police Maheshwar Nag told PTI. During interrogation, the duo admitted that they were active as janmilitia members in Temrugaon village of neighbouring Narayanpur district, he said. Besides, one 16 kg IED, detonator, electric wire, Maoist banners and literature were also recovered from their possession, he said. The ultras informed that the explosive was meant to target security forces in the area, the ASP said adding their interrogation was underway.
SC orders withdrawal of Central Paramilitary Forces
Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside Calcutta High Court's earlier order on the deployment of additional Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) in Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas of West Bengal, over the Gorkhaland protests.The forces have been deployed in the region since the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland State in July turned violent. The protests were led by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which had begun fresh agitation demanding a separate state for the Gorkha people.In October 2017, the Centre had decided to withdraw 10 of the 15 companies of paramilitary forces, comprising 1,000 troopers, from the region, as it wanted to deploy them at other places during the festival season.The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government had moved the Calcutta High Court, asking for a stay on the order. The state government reasoned that the situation had still not become completely normal and therefore forces were required to maintain law and order in the Hills.The High Court agreed to the ..
SC allows Centre to withdraw forces from Darjeeling after March 8
The Supreme Court today allowed the Centre to withdraw the remaining four companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) from West Bengal's troubled Darjeeling area after March 8, amid the state government's demand that they be kept for four more weeks. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra settled the dispute between the Centre and the state over deployment of CAPF companies in Darjeeling area which was affected by the agitation of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha . A bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, considered Attorney General K K Venugopal's submission that the deployment of the central armed forces fell under the Centre's administrative domain and allowed it to withdraw the remaining CAPF companies. The apex court set aside the Calcutta High Court order that had restrained the Centre from withdrawing CAPF from the state's hilly regions on the ground that normalcy had not returned and said the pending case at the High Court would now stand ...
Bank bomb kills two in northern Myanmar: security officer
Two people were killed and several wounded when a bomb exploded today at a bank in northern Myanmar, a security officer said. Two female staffers at the branch of Yoma bank in the town of Lashio were killed and 11 other people were injured, the officer told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Some nearby buildings were destroyed as well. The explosion was quite heavy. Security is still working to clear the area." Pictures showed shattered windows at the bank, damaged cars on the street and rescue services arriving. A branch of an adjoining bank was also damaged by the explosion. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Lashio is in the northern state of Shan, where ethnic armed groups are fighting the military for greater autonomy. Civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who came to power in 2016, has made it a priority to try to end various decades-long armed conflicts.
Nothing to worry about Doklam: Army Chief
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday assured that there is nothing to worry about the Doklam standoff."Everything is fine. There is nothing to worry," General Bipin Rawat told media.He further said that the situation is fine.Earlier in the day, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba expressed his concern over the increasing assertiveness of China with the frequent instance of transgression by People's Liberation Army (PLA)."Frequent instance of transgression by PLA across LAC&recent standoff at Doklam are indication of increasing assertiveness of China, as it makes rapid progress economically and militarily.Recent developments have also underscored vulnerability of Siliguri Corridor," Admiral Lanba said.Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had dismissed reports of Chinese troops regathering near Doklam, saying that the status quo at the face-off site has not been altered.Earlier, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had said that the infrastructure development by .
Terror threat far from over, says Italian PM
Rome, Feb 21 (IANS/AKI) The threat posed by terrorism is "far from over", Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni has warned, saying that "unprecedented" resources have been earmarked for security.
Russia appoints honorary consul in Pak border province
Russia has named an honorary consul in a Pakistani province on the Afghan border, signalling closer ties with Islamabad at a time when US-Pakistani relations are spiralling downward. The appointment of Arsala Khan as honorary consul general in the northwestern Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province was announced at a ceremony on Tuesday. Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said it signalled a "new chapter" of renewed diplomatic relations. Russia is concerned about the rise of an Islamic State affiliate based in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, just across the border. The US has meanwhile suspended aid to Pakistan over its alleged support for the Afghan Taliban. The Trump administration and the Afghan government have accused Pakistan of harbouring Taliban insurgents who attack US and Afghan forces, charges denied by Islamabad.
Malaysia holds Filipinos seeking to set up extremist cell
Ten suspected Islamic militants who were trying to establish a Malaysian cell of a Philippine kidnap-for-ransom group have been arrested in Borneo island, police said today. The alleged extremists, mostly Filipinos, are also accused of trying to help fighters linked to the Islamic State (IS) group travel to the Philippines to join up with militants there, they said. The southern Philippines has long been a pocket of Islamic militancy in the largely Catholic country. A long siege in Marawi, the country's main Muslim centre, sparked fears IS was seeking to establish a foothold in the region. Malaysian police made the arrests in January and early February in Sabah state on the Malaysian part of Borneo, not far from the southern Philippines. Borneo is a vast island shared between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Seven of those detained were Filipinos, including several senior members of Philippine extremist group Abu Sayyaf which has been behind the kidnappings of numerous foreigners, ...
Syria, Russia pound rebel enclave, put clinic out of service
Syrian and Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta enclave have killed more than 100 civilians for the second straight day and put another hospital out of service. In a major development in Syria's complex seven-year war, Damascus also sent pro-regime fighters to the northern Afrin region, where they came under fire by Turkish forces attacking the Kurdish-controlled enclave. On the outskirts of Damascus, air strikes, rockets and artillery fire have been battering the Eastern Ghouta enclave in apparent preparation for a government ground assault. At least 250 civilians have been killed since the escalation began on Sunday, among them dozens of children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Bombardment on Tuesday killed 106 civilians, including 19 children, the Britain-based war monitor said. It was the second straight day that the civilian death toll topped 100, after 127 were killed Monday in Eastern Ghouta's bloodiest day in four years. The strikes left an ...
'Nothing to worry' says Army chief on Doklam
The situation in Doklam is fine and there is no reason to worry, Army chief Bipin Rawat said here today. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam near Sikkim last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road by the Chinese Army in the disputed tri-junction. "There is nothing to worry," the army chief told reporters when asked about the situation in Doklam. He added that the situation was fine.
Six killed in attack on S Africa police station
An armed gang stormed into a rural police station in South Africa today and stole firearms in an attack that left five officers and a soldier dead, police said. The robbers entered the police station in the southern village of Engcobo shortly after midnight, opening fire on the officers and seizing two others, who were later shot and killed, police spokesman Vish Naidoo said. "During the early hours of this morning six people were killed when robbers attacked Engcobo police station," Naidoo told AFP. "Five of the six were on-duty police officers. Three police officers were killed at the police station when robbers attacked the station and randomly opened fire on the members." Naidoo said the robbers made off with firearms and bundled two other officers into a police car. The bodies of the two were later found dumped on the side of a road. The attackers also shot and killed a soldier as they fled. Attacks on police are common in South Africa, which has one of the highest crime rates in
India for seeking ICJ's ruling on use of force without UNSC nod
India has supported a proposal to get the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of nations using force against others without the approval of the Security Council as required by the UN Charter.
Suicide attacker blows self up in Nigerian university (Lead, Correting headline)
A suicide attacker blew up himself in a university in Nigeria's Borno state. However, no casualty was reported, police said on Tuesday.
Egypt opens border with Gaza temporarily
Egyptian officials say the country will open its border with the Gaza Strip amid a military campaign against Islamic insurgents in restive northern Sinai Peninsula. The two officials said today the Rafah crossing point will operate starting tomorrow for four days on a humanitarian basis. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to brief the media. The Palestinian embassy in Cairo confirmed the opening of Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. Thousands of Gaza residents are on travel lists, most of them medical patients, students and holders of residency permits of other countries. Only a few thousand will make it out in the time allotted. Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt's elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Suicide attacker blows self up Nigerian university
A suicide attacker blew up himself in a university in Nigeria's Borno state. However, no casualty was reported, police said on Tuesday.
Groups clash at Trilokpuri, police personnel injured
Members of two groups clashed in east Delhi's Trilokpuri and area tonight and resorted to stone pelting in which a few people, including a some police personnel were injured, police said. The cause of the clash is unknown, but the situation has been brought under control, said Omvir Singh, DCP(East). "It was a minor stone pelting in which 2-3 of our men sustained injuries. The cause of clash is yet to be known.
13 militants killed in Afghanistan
At least thirteen militants were killed in clashes with the Afghan security forces in western Farah province of Afghanistan.According to The Khaama Press, the incident took place late on Monday night in the vicinity of Bala Bolok district after a large number of militants launched coordinated attacks on security posts.Provincial governor's spokesman Mohammad Nasir Mehri confirmed the incident and said at least eight policemen were also killed in the attack.Earlier in January, at least 21 militants, including Pakistani nationals, were killed in the latest airstrikes carried out in the western Farah province.
Maleeha Lodhi criticises UNSC over Kashmir resolution
Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi on Tuesday criticised the U.N. Security Council, saying it has not implemented the resolutions on Kashmir.Lodhi took to Twitter and said, "86 in the SC and over 700 resolutions in the U N General Assembly none have been implemented We feel the same about resolutions on Kashmir (sic)."Her statement remark came after the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations Security Council in New York City on Tuesday and called for a "multilateral international mechanism" for the peace process.
J-K: Terrorists open fire near Awantipora Air Force Station
Terrorists on Tuesday fired bullets and lobbed grenades at the security forces near Malangpora water point outside Awantipora Air Force station in Jammu and Kashmir.According to police, "At around 1800 hrs, terrorists fired bullets and lobbed grenades at Malangpora water point outside Awantipora Air Force station. The firing was retaliated by Defence Security Corps (DSC) guards"."After a brief round of firing, the terrorists fled. No loss of life or property has been reported yet," the police added.The area has since been cordoned off to track down the terrorists.The details of the incident are being ascertained.
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.