Page 758 - War Conflict
US drone strike kills 2 IS militants in Afghanistan
Two militants of the Islamic State (IS) group were killed in a drone strike by NATO and US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.
Modi arrives in UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Saturday on the second leg of his three-nation tour to West Asia and the Gulf.
3 of four freed fishermen arrive in Mandapam
Three of four Indian fishermen set free by a court in Jaffna and among 113 recommended for release by Sri Lankan government after their arrest in recent months by its Navy on charges of fishing in their waters, arrived at Mandapam in the district today,a top official said. The other fisherman said he was staying back in the island nation as he has his roots there, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Ramanathapuram, Isak Jayakumar said. The released fishermen were met in Mandapam by family members and fisheries department officials, he said. The fishermen alleged that they were tortured in the jail in Jaffna, where they had been lodged, he said. The Sri Lankan Government had yesterday recommended the release of 113 Indian fishermen arrested over a period of time by the island nation's Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters, a fishermen association leader here had said. Quoting information received by fisheries officials in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boats Fishermen ...
Tripura employees vote through postal ballots
The police and paramilitary personnel today cast their votes through postal ballots in 12 centres across Tripura, Chief Electoral Officer Sriram Taranikanti said here. Voting process for employees engaged in poll process started this morning and 1,470 staff members cast their votes. Police, Tripura State Rifles personnel and traffic officials took part in the voting, the CEO told reporters. He said 76,300 postal ballot papers were printed for 60,000 employees who were engaged in the election process in different capacities. Election for the 60-member Tripura Assembly would be held on February 18 and results would be out on March 3.
Sunjwan strike breaks 15-month lull in terror attacks in Jammu
The latest terror strike on an army camp in Sunjwan by a group of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists came 15 months after a similar attack in Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, in which seven army personnel were killed. In the Nagrota strike on November 29, 2016, a suicide squad targeted the army base killing seven personnel including two officers. Three terrorists were also killed. In the early hours today, a group of JeM terrorists sneaked into the army's 36 brigade camp of light infantry in Sunjwan in the wee hours today, killing two junior commissioned officers (JCOs). The operation to neutralise the terrorists was continuing. The Jammu region has witnessed several major terror strikes in the past. In March 2015, there were two terror strikes in the region. On March 20, a fidayeen squad of militants in army fatigues stormed a police station in Kathua district killing seven people. A day after, two terrorists were killed during a fidayeen attack .
Turkish president says helicopter downed in northern Syria
Turkey's president announced that a Turkish military helicopter was downed in northern Syria today during Ankara's offensive on Syrian Kurdish militia there. Speaking in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn't mention by name the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, but said that those responsible will pay for it. A spokesman for the Kurdish militia, Mustafa Bali, said his fighters downed the chopper in Raju, northwest Afrin. But the Turkish prime minister said the cause of the helicopter's crash was not yet clear and investigations were ongoing. "We don't have exact evidence or document to determine that it went down with any outside interference," Binali Yildirim told reporters in the western province of Mugla. Yildirim said that two Turkish soldiers were killed in the helicopter. Turkey launched a military offensive on January 20 to oust the YPG from Afrin. Turkey considers the group an extension of an insurgency within its own borders. Twenty one .
Merkel: Germany will live up to its Holocaust responsibility
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she won't interfere with a law that criminalises certain statements about Poland's World War II history because, "as Germans, we are responsible for the things that happened during the Holocaust." Merkel said in her weekly podcast today that the onus on Germany from the Holocaust is something every government will acknowledge and have to address. The Polish law allows prison terms of up to three years for statements attributing Nazi crimes in German-occupied Poland to the Polish nation. It has caused a diplomatic dispute with Israel, which fears it will enable Poland to whitewash the role of Poles who killed or denounced Jews during the occupation. Merkel is scheduled to meet Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Berlin yesterday.
VVPAT machines for Meghalaya Assembly election arrives
All the 4400 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines to be used in February 27 Meghalaya Assembly election have arrived in the state, chief electoral officer F R Kharkongor said today. The VVPAT machines which arrived in two batches of 2400 and 2000 pieces have undergone various checks and are poll-ready, Kharkongor told PTI. The 4400 VVPAT machines will be deployed in all 3082 polling booths across the state and it will be the first time these printer-attached voting machines will be put in use in the state, he said. The 43 Election observers deployed by the Election Commission have arrived in the state and are have taken charge in their respective areas, the CEO said. The Election Commission has deployed 22 expenditure observers, 20 general observers and 11 police observers for the assembly elections, he said. The CEO also informed that 20 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have arrived in batches in the poll-bound state. All 20 companies have been ...
Pak smuggler killed, another caught near Indo-Pak border
A Pakistani smuggler was killed while another was caught today as BSF jawans thwarted an attempt to smuggle in heroin into the country through the Abohar sector in Punjab. A pistol (7.63mm), two magazines, seven rounds and eight packets (nine kg) of heroin were recovered during searches near the Border Out Post Jagannath, BSF official said today. The operation was launched after BSF troops noticed suspected movements near border fence laat night. An official said BSF troops challenged Pakistani smugglers as they tried to approach the border security fence to smuggle in the contraband. But the suspects opened fire at them which was retaliated by the jawans, he said. In the exchange of fire, one smuggler sustained bullet injuries on the right leg while the other managed to escape towards Pakistani side taking advantage of darkness, the official said. During searches, BSF troops apprehended one injured smuggler along with arms and heroin, he said. In the morning, BSF jawans .
Sunjwan terror attack: Two jawans killed, four injured
Two army jawans died in a terror attack on Sunjwan army camp in Jammu city.The attack has also left four others injured, including daughter of a killed jawan.The Sunjwan army camp, situated at Jammu and Kashmir, was attacked by a group of terrorists in the wee hours of Saturday in which Subedar Madan Lal Choudhary, Subedar Mohd. Ashraf Mir were killed. While Subedar Mohd.Ashraf Mir was killed on the spot, Subedar Madan Lal Choudhary succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.Col. Rohit Solanki, 6 Mahar (Officiating CO), Havildar Abdul Hamid, Lance Naik Bahdur Singh, and Neha, daughter of Subedar Madan Lal Choudhary were injured in the attack.The security forces are still conducting search and combing operation in the area.
Two soldiers killed in terror attack on army camp, one militant killed (Fourth Lead)
Two soldiers, including a junior army officer, were killed and and five others, including women and children, injured when a group of heavily-armed militants dressed in army fatigues stormed a military camp in Jammu in a pre-dawn attack on Saturday, hurling grenades and spraying automatic gunfire as they entered the family quarters when everyone was asleep, officials said. One terrorist has been killed so far, while two-three militants are still holed up.
Official: Taliban kill 6 local police in Afghanistan
An Afghan official says at least six local police have been killed in a Taliban attack on their checkpoints in southern Helmand province. District police chief Amanullah, who goes by only one name, said today eight others were wounded in the previous night's attack in Nawa district. Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement sent to media he said fighters overran three checkpoints, killing around 15 local forces. Separately, gunmen killed a district judge in western Herat province, said Iqbal Nezami, spokesman for the provincial police in Ghor province. Nezami said Mawlavi Baz Mohammad was on his way from Ghor to Herat when gunmen forced him from his vehicle and killed him in Shandand district. No one claimed responsibility.
Jaish militants attack Army camp, kill two JCOs
Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists today struck at an Army camp on the outskirts of Jammu city, killing two junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and injuring six others, including a Major and a daughter of an Army personnel. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri informed the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly that Subedar Madanlal Chowdhary and Subedar Mohammed Ashraf Mir were killed in the attack by a group of militants. The Army, however, maintained that only one JCO was killed. Briefing media persons at the main entrance of the camp, Jammu-based Army PRO Lt Col Devender Anand said, "In the early hours today after a brief exchange of fire with sentry on the periphery, some terrorists entered the family accommodation complex. "The quick response teams have cordoned off the area and isolated the terrorists, who are holed up in a few houses (inside the camp)," the officer said. He said in the operation to evacuate families, one JCO was killed while six persons, including ...
Pak Army shells LoC areas in J-K's Poonch
Pakistani troops launched mortars shells at civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district today, police said. There was no loss of life or injury to any one, a police official said. "The Pakistan Army launched mortar shells in Khadi Karmara forward areas in Poonch around 1100 hours today," the official said. The shells fell deep inside Indian territory along the Line of Control triggering panic and fear among the residents. The Pakistan troops also launched shells along the LoC in Chakan Da Bagh forward area in Poonch, official said. On February 9, three Army jawans were injured in intermittent firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. On February 8, a 45-year-old woman was killed in shelling by the Pakistani troops along the LoC in Poonch's KG sector. A total of 18 people, including ten security personnel and eight civilians, were killed and over 75 injured in Pakistani shelling along the LoC and the .
India might lose hosting rights for 2021 Champions Trophy
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has started looking for alternatives venues for the two prestigious events-2021 Champions Trophy and the 2023 World Cup- which are scheduled to be held in India, due to an ongoing tax issue.It is learned that the governing bodies get tax exemptions from the host government for every major sporting tournament, but the ICC hasn't got any dispensation from the Indian government so far.The ICC expressed its concern about it in a board meeting in Dubai on Friday, which was also attended by BCCI's acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary."The Board expressed their concern around the absence of a tax exemption from the Indian Government for ICC events held in India despite ongoing efforts from both the ICC and BCCI to secure the exemption which is standard practice for major sporting events around the world," ESPNcricinfo quoted ICC as saying.According to ESPNcricinfo, ICC will suffer about 100-125 million USD loss if the Indian government fails to provide ..
Bandh affects normal life in Balasore
The dawn-to-dusk shutdown called by traders association to protest alleged spurt in crimes and breakdown of law and order in Balasore town affected normal life here today. Shops, business establishments, educational institutions remained closed during the 12-hour bandh called by Trade Union Association Co-ordination Committee (TUACC), police said. Roads wore a deserted look as vehicular movement came to a stand still in the town. Passenger buses as well as trucks stayed off the road, while train services and vehicular movement on National Highway were normal, they said. The bandh remained by and large peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the town, a senior police officer said. TUACC Convenor Pradipta Panda said the bandh was observed to protest alleged deterioration in law order situation in Balasore. He demanded that concrete steps be taken to check crimes and anti-social activities.
Two killed as militants storm family quarters of Jammu army camp (Third Lead)
At least two persons, including a junior army officer, were killed and six, including women and children, injured after a group of heavily-armed militants stormed a military camp in Jammu early on Saturday and entered the family quarters, spraying automatic gunfire at the sleeping inhabitants, officials said.
Security forces effectively doing their job: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the Army and other security forces were effectively doing their job and would never let any Indian hang his head in shame. He said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the attack on an Army camp in Jammu as the operation was still on. "We have received information that the operation is going on. I understand that until the operation ends, it will not be appropriate on my part to comment regarding that," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event. "Rest assured...our Army and security forces are effectively accomplishing their job and handling their responsibility. They will never let any Indian hang his head in shame," he said. Two junior commissioned officers (JCOs) were killed while a Colonel-rank officer and daughter of an Army man were among four people injured in a militant attack on the Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu early today. Asked about the casualties in the incident, he said it was a sad ...
Disturbed by terror attack on army camp: Mehbooba
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she was disturbed by terror attack on Sunjwan army camp in Jammu.She said in a tweet, "Deeply disturbed by the terrorist attack in #Sunjwan today. My heart goes out to the injured & their families."An army personnel succumbed to his injuries after terrorists attacked an army camp in Sunjwan area of in the heart of Jammu city in the wee hours of Saturday.Earlier, the state police informed that three security personnel and a civilian suffered injuries in the attack."In the morning around 4:45 a.m. militants fired upon one gate of the army camp. The area has been cordoned off. One army man, his daughter and two others sustained injuries as per the reports. The exact number of militants is not known as of now," said Jammu Inspector General of Police (IGP) S. D. Singh Jamwal.Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to look into the attack.He also spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Director .
Terror attack on Army camp in Jammu reverberates in J&K assembly
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Saturday saw its proceedings disrupted after Speaker Kavinder Gupta linked the terror attack on an army camp in Jammu with Rohingya refugees and an opposition National Conference legislator raised pro-Pakistan slogans in the House.