Page 775 - War Conflict

Infiltration bid foiled on IB in J&K

An infiltration bid was foiled overnight by the Border Security Force (BSF) troopers on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district.

BSF foils infiltration bid along IB in Samba

BSF troops foiled an infiltration bid along the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said today. "Suspicious movement was seen close to the International Border in Samba sector late last night", a BSF officer said today. Alert BSF troops fired upon the infiltrators forcing them to return, he said, adding that no more movement was not seen later.

J-K: Terrorists fire at security forces in Pulwama

Unknown terrorists fired upon a joint post of police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) near Pulwama on Thursday night.Around three to four rounds were burst upon 182 Battalion, to which the security forces retaliated immediately.No casualties or injuries have been reported.Troops of 182 Bn and Search Operation Group (SOG) launched search operations.More details are awaited.

France asks its citizens to avoid Afghanistan

France has asked its citizens, notably journalists, to avoid going to Afghanistan where the security situation "remains of particular concern".

US not contemplating military action inside Pakistan: Pentagon

The United States is not contemplating military action inside Pakistan, the Pentagon has said, refuting such reports appearing in Pakistani newspapers. Instead, the US seeks Pakistan's cooperation and assistance in various operations under its new South Asia strategy, Lt Gen Kenneth F McKenzie told reporters at a news conference yesterday. "We actually don't contemplate military operations inside Pakistan. On the other hand, we recognise, because the strategy is inherently regional and Pakistan is geographically located at a critical nexus of a lot of different things, Pakistan is a fundamental part of the strategy," said McKenzie. "Through a variety of measures, we look to gain Pakistani cooperation and assistance as we pursue operations in Afghanistan. But we're not planning to conduct military operations inside Pakistan," he told Pentagon reporters in response to a question. Under the new South Asia strategy, Pakistan has an opportunity to be a partner in fight ...

Terror funding case: No charges against nine suspects

A Delhi Court on Thursday released nine persons, who were arrested in November last year in connection with terror funding case.Earlier today, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) moved an application in the court, stating that people arrested along with demonetised currency were not linked with terror funding activities in the Kashmir valley.During the investigation, it emerged that the people and entities linked to separatists and terrorists were still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency notesIn November last year, the nine accused were arrested from the national capital alongwith demonetised currency worth Rs 36.35 crore.They were carrying the currency in four luxury vehicles, which was also seized by the NIA team.

IAF chief Dhanoa meets US air force chief

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa today met US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L Goldfein who is on an official visit to India. Goldfein was accompanied by US Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy. They discussed ways to further enhance cooperation between the two forces.

Five held with firearms in Yavatmal

Five men, including a councillor, were arrested for allegedly possessing firearms and ammunition from the city, police said today. Police found six pistols, 12 rounds, and a motorcycle--collectively worth Rs 3,46,000--from them. "The men were arrested following a tip-off that they are trying to sale firearms," said Superintendent of Police Megnathan Rajkumar. Last night, police picked them up from a deserted road along the Nagpur-Tuljapur highway. They were produced before a court which remanded them in police custody for three days. They are identified as Salim Shah Suleman alias Salim Sagwan, a councillor, Ram alias Chimmanlal Sharma, Nilesh Sonore, Chandraprakash alias Tatu Ramakant Murab--all residents of Yavatmal--and Ravindra alias Ravi Ganesh Umale (35), a resident of Tunaki in Bhuldhana district. The SP said that police had been following Umale's movements for last 15 days on receipt of a tip-off. "The accused have been booked under Arms Act and Mumbai Police ...

1 killed in, 10 injured in road accident

A speeding canter-truck hit a tempo-traveller, killing one of its occupants and injuring 10 others today, the police said. The incident was reported from north Delhi's Timarpur. The deceased was identified as Damodar. The accused driver is at large, they said. Damodar and 10 of his family members had come from Jammu in the tempo-traveller to Delhi as one of their relatives had died on January 25. They were crossing Timarpur while returning to Jammu. The police said that as soon as the tempo-traveller alighted from the Wazirabad flyover, it was hit by the canter-truck from behind. The occupants of the tempo-traveller were rescued after it was cut using a gas cutter. Damodar died at a hospital here. His family members are under treatment, police said. The accused driver fled from the spot.

26/11: Relative identifies handler's voice as that of Jundal

A relative of Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, an alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba operative who is facing trial in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case here, today identified his voice from a tape of intercepted conversations between terrorists and one of their 'handlers'. Prosecution witness Mohammed Rafe Ansari identified the voice when a conversation between a Pakistani terrorist and his handler, taped by Indian agencies during the siege of Nariman House, was played. The handler's voice was that of Jundal, he said. Ansari also told the court that his and Jundal's maternal grandfathers were cousins. His cross-examination will continue tomorrow. A native of Beed district in Maharashtra, Jundal was deported to India from Saudi Arabia in June 2012. According to Maharashtra police, he was one of the key plotters of the Mumbai terror attack of November 2008, which left 166 dead and many more injured. During the attack, terrorists were in touch, through mobile phones, with ...

Suspected JMB operatives held in Kolkata

The Kolkata police Special Task Force (STF) on Thursday arrested two persons suspected of having links with the terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).The suspects have been identified as Mohammad Jiarul and Mohammad Paigambar.According to the police, both may have a connection with the recent Bodh Gaya incident.In January, two bombs were recovered in Bihar's Bodh Gaya amid high-security measures in view of the Dalai Lama's visit.

Armed robbers loot more than Rs 9 lakh from bank

Armed robbers looted more than Rs 9 lakh from the cash counter of Bank of India's, Jaleswar Nuabazar branch in Balasore district today, police said. According to complaints, five masked person entered the bank after 3 pm and threatened staffs before looting more than Rs 9 lakh from the cash counter at the gun point. They immediately fled away in two motorcycles, the police said. Inspector in charge of the Jaleswar police station, Chandan Ghadei said "we are investigating the incident and details will be ascertained after investigation is complete.

Lt Gen A.K. Bhatt heads 15 Corps

Lt General A.K. Bhatt on Thursday took over as the 47th Corps Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps.

Kabul has 'undeniable' evidence attacks planned in Pakistan

Afghanistan has handed "undeniable" evidence to Pakistan that it claims shows a recent spate of deadly attacks were planned on Pakistani soil, Afghan officials said today, amid growing public anger over their impotence to protect civilians. The attacks, including one of the deadliest bombings in Kabul since the US invasion, came after Washington's recent decision to freeze nearly USD 2 billion in aid to Pakistan in a bid to halt its alleged support for militant groups including the Afghan Taliban and the affiliated Haqqani Network. Kabul is on edge after militants stormed a luxury hotel, bombed a crowded street and raided a military compound in the past two weeks. Afghan authorities have blamed the January 20 attack on the Intercontinental hotel and Saturday's ambulance bombing on the Haqqani Network, long thought to be linked to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment. Both attacks have been claimed by the Taliban. The Haqqani leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is deputy ...

Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt takes charge of Chinar Corps

Lt Gen A K Bhatt has taken over as the 47thCorps Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also called the Chinar Corps, of the Army, an army official said today. "Lt. Gen. Bhatt took over from Lt Gen J S Sandhu yesterday, " the official said. He said a befitting farewell was given to Lt. Gen. Sandhu, who is proceeding to New Delhi to assume the charge of Military Secretary (MS). "Lt. Gen. Sandhus tenure will be defined by the successful execution of Operation All Out launched by the Security Forces in which a large number of terrorists were eliminated in the Valley," the official said. Lt. Gen. Sandhu also gave impetus to improving the education infrastructure, coaching facilities, skill development, sports and youth empowerment, he added. In his farewell message, Lt. Gen. Sandhu complimented the ranks of Chinar Corps for their dedication and thanked civil administration and common people for their support. Lt. Gen. A K Bhatt was commissioned into the regiment of 9thGorkha .

Morocco arrests 7 IS supporters

Rabat, Feb 1 (IANS/MAP) Moroccan security services have dismantled a terror cell of seven supporters of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

NIA opposes photojournalist's bail plea in Kashmir stone

The NIA today told a Delhi court that a freelance photo-journalist, arrested last year for alleged stone-pelting and other offences in Kashmir Valley, was acting as a conduit to those involved in terror funding. The National Investigating Agency (NIA) opposed the bail application of Kamran Yusuf before Additional Sessions Judge Tarun Sherawat, saying the allegations levelled against him were "serious". "He (Yusuf) was working as a conduit to those raising funds and facilitating their motives. It was all part of a larger conspiracy," special public prosecutor and senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for NIA, said. The agency alleged that Yusuf was an active participant in stone pelting and raising anti-national slogans and that there were some WhatsApp groups which showed he was having links with the terror outfits. The counsel also objected to the defence lawyer calling Jammu and Kashmir a 'conflict-zone'. "Okay, let us call it a law and order issue," advocate ...

Army foils infiltration bid on Kashmir

The Indian Army said on Thursday it has successfully foiled an infiltration bid on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Construction of strategically important Rohtang tunnel completed: Jaitley

The construction of a tunnel under the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, one of the country's strategically most important defence infrastructure projects, has been completed, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday.

Suicide bombers target NE Nigeria in Boko Haram 'fight-back'

Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in northeast Nigeria, shortly after another bomber killed four at a displaced persons' camp, an emergency services official said today. The failed mission at Mandarari village, near the town of Konduga in Borno state, and the successful attack just outside the state capital, Maiduguri, both came after ramped-up military action against Boko Haram Islamists. Nigeria's military announced in late 2016 that it had cleared the jihadists' Sambisa Forest stronghold but they are said to have since returned. The head of the Borno state emergency management agency, Ahmed Satomi, said soldiers and civilian militia intercepted two women at Mandarari at about 9:00 pm yesterday. "The women detonated their explosives, killing themselves, having realised they had been uncovered," he told AFP. About 45 minutes earlier, a male suicide bomber scaled a rear fence at the Dalori camp on the outskirts of Maiduguri and blew himself up. As well as the