Page 787 - War Conflict
Official: Suicide attack kills 2 in southern Afghanistan
An Afghan official says a suicide attack has killed two people in the country's southern Kandahar province. Mohammad Nahim lalai, an MP from Kandahar province, said that a suicide bomber blew himself in front a police vehicle, killing two civilians and wounding three policemen. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The group's statement could not be independently verified.
UN in talks on peacekeeper failings in C Africa
The United Nations is in talks with countries that contribute peacekeepers to its mission in the Central African Republic after an investigation found their response to attacks last year fell short, a UN spokesman today. A special investigation led by a retired general from Benin found "deficiencies" in peacekeeping operations in the southeast of the country from May to August 2017 and presented recommendations, the UN said. UN peacekeeping officials are in to talks with the troop- and police-contributing countries "to ensure that these measures are implemented," said UN spokesman Farhan Haq. "If they are not,... peacekeeping will decide at the appropriate time on any further action to be taken," he said. Troops serving in the MINUSCA force may be sent home if they fail to show improvements, according to UN officials. The Security Council in November voted to beef up the peacekeeping force with 900 extra troops, bringing the total number of troops and police serving in ...
Huge cache of arms, ammunition recovered in Jharkhand
Security forces on Friday recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district.174 battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with the Jharkhand Police, engaged in an encounter with Naxals. They recovered a rifle and four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during a search operation.Further search is being carried out to locate the fled Naxals.
Manipur marks R-Day despite militants' call for boycott
The 69th Republic Day was celebrated with pomp and gaiety here on Friday despite the militants' call for the boycott of the celebrations.Amidst tight security, Governor of Manipur Dr Najma Heptulla unfurled the national flag at the Kangla Fort.Heptulla also inspected the guard of honour accorded by a contingent of 8th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and took the salute from 65 march past contingents headed by parade Commander Achin Haokip, Senior SP.Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who was also present here, conveyed warm greetings to the people of the state on the occasion.
Uttarakhand CM celebrates R-Day at Nelong Border out Post
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat celebrated Republic Day at Nelong Border out Post (BOP) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).Rawat unfurled the national flag at the ceremony held at the BOP, which is located at the height of 11,636 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level)."It is my good fortune to be present among the troops here on Republic Day. I am proud of our defence forces. I have full faith on them," Rawat told ANI.The Chief Minister also interacted with the jawans, who man the borders braving icy winds and extreme cold conditions.Nelong BOP is situated along the same border which has been violated by Chinese troops frequently in the recent past.Despite India's strong reply to Doklam standoff, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops continue to attempt encroachment in the region.
Pune-based radicalised woman detained in Kashmir; likely to be
A radicalised Pune-based woman was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police last night following an intelligence input that she wanted to join banned ISIS terror group, police said here today. The woman identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, who turned 18 in November last year, had come from Pune and was staying in Bijbehara as a paying guest and planning to join the ISIS, the police claimed. However, during her extensive questioning, the school dropout turned out to be having radical thoughts who had fallen prey to false propaganda on social networking site about alleged suffering of the Kashmiri people at the hands of security forces, officials said. The state police has got in touch with her mother and aunt and she will be handed over to them as there is no case pending against the detained woman either in the Valley or Maharashtra, they said. It was a case of misinterpreting an intelligence input by the Jammu and Kashmir police who were informed by central security ...
R-Day: Blasts in Assam; Maoists-police encounter in J'khand
The Republic Day was celebrated across the eastern region with enthusiasm today, but it was marred in Assam by three low-intensity blasts in Tinsukia district and an indefinite curfew in Dima Hasao' Maibang. The explosions, suspected to have been triggered by ULFA (Independent) insurgents, took place at two places in the district. Two blasts occurred within a gap of a few minutes in a drain near the Jagun police station, and the other at the Tirap colliery near the Ledo police station, police said. Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters here that the explosions were of low-intensity and was carried out by ULFA (Independent) to prove its existence. There was no report of any casualty, police said. In Dima Hasao, the indefinite curfew in Maibang, which was clamped yesterday after clashes between the police and a mob during a bandh, continued today. The bandh was extended by groups opposing the proposed inclusion of Dima Hasao in Greater Nagalim after two ...
J-K deputy CM urges people to celebrate unity in diversity
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh hoisted the tricolour and took salute today at an impressive march past amid the presence of thousands of people in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. Over 37 contingents from CRPF, SKPA, Home Guards, police, NCC, Flag troops and civil scots of different educational institutions, and the police band took part in the event. While extending Republic Day greetings to the people of Udhampur, Singh said, "This day symbolises unity in diversity of our great nation." The Dy CM commemorated the sacrifices of freedom fighters, including Sardar Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, Chander Shekhar, Madan Lal Dingra, Ashfaq-Ullah-Khan etc, who laid down their lives for the nation, an official release said. The deputy chief minister also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar. Singh gave credit to the police, the paramilitary forces and the Army for bringing down violence and militancy in the state.
Dozens of bodies found in Iraq mass grave
A mass grave containing the remains of dozens of civilians and security personnel apparently executed by jihadists has been found in northern Iraq's Kirkuk province, its governor said today. Rakan Said al-Juburi told AFP it was the 14th such discovery in the area. "Local residents and shepherds guided security forces to the mass grave which appears to contain the remains of more than 75 civilians and security personnel," he said. The governor said the victims had been "savagely executed by jihadists who occupied Hawija", one of the last urban centres held by the Islamic State (IS) group before its ouster last year by Iraqi security forces. The corpses found near Ryadh village, 45 kilometres west of the city of Kirkuk, had been shot in the head with their hands bound behind their backs, he said. Residents fear that many missing relatives and friends, especially members of the security forces, have probably suffered the same fate. Security forces have discovered dozens of ..
Pune-based radicalised girl detained in Kashmir; likely to be
A radicalised Pune-based teenage girl was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police last night following an intelligence input that she wanted to join banned ISIS terror group, police said here today. The girl identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, who turned 18 in November last year, had come from Pune and was staying in Bijbehara as a paying guest and planning to join the ISIS, the police have claimed. However, during her extensive questioning, the school dropout turned out to be having radical thoughts who had fallen prey to false propaganda on social networking site about alleged suffering of the Kashmiri people at the hands of security forces, the officials said. The state police has got in touch with her mother and aunt and she will be handed over to them as there is no case pending against the detained girl either in the Valley or Maharashtra, they said. It was a case of misinterpreting an intelligence input by the Jammu and Kashmir police who were informed by central
J&K: Terrorists hurl grenade at police station
Terrorists hurled a grenade at a police station in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday.No casualty or injury has been reported as of now.On January 22, a similar attack took place in the state, wherein terrorists lobbed a grenade near Baramullah police station that injured a policeman.
Assam R-Day celebrations marred by blasts, curfew
Republic Day celebrations in Assam today were marred by three low-intensity explosions in Tinsukia district and an indefinite curfew at Maibong in Dima Hasao following a bandh call over the death of two people, who were injured in police firing yesterday. Besides, the police said that an improvised explosive device (IED) and two gelatin sticks were found during a search operation in Lakhimpur district last night. Three low-intensity explosions, suspected to have been triggered by ULFA (Independent) insurgents, took place at two places in Tinsukia district. There was no report of any casualty, police said. Two blasts occurred within a gap of a few minutes in a drain near the Jagun police station, and the other at the Tirap colliery near the Ledo police station. Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters here that the explosions were of low-intensity and was carried out by ULFA (Independent) to prove its existence. Investigations are on and security has been ...
R-Day: I-T officer gets Shaurya Chakra for op along LoC
An additional commissioner in the Income Tax Department, enrolled with a special territorial army unit, has been decorated with the Shaurya Chakra for exhibiting extraordinary courage and killing infiltrators along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. 47-year-old Captain Pradeep Shoury Arya's is one of the exceptional cases in which a bureaucrat has been decorated with the third highest peacetime military gallantry medal. Shoury, a 2004-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was commissioned into the 106th infantry battalion of the Territorial Army (PARA) in 2009. His unit was on attachment with the 4th battalion of PARA (Special Forces) deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) when he undertook a dare-devil operation. Shoury's team was tasked to create effective intelligence and defence mechanism against cross-border infiltration in the Baramula district of J-K, along the LoC. The officer's citation says: "On the night of May 28 last year, he displayed heroic initiative ..
30,000 throng MAM stadium for R-Day event in Jammu amid tight
Around 30,000 people today thronged the M A M stadium here for the 69th Republic Day celebrations, where the Jammu and Kashmir police's daredevil team left the spectators spellbound, as contingents from various armed forces and government departments also showcased their might. Governor N N Vohra hoisted the tricolour at the state- level function at the Maulana Azad Stadium, attended by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Legislative Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta, Chief Justice of J-K High Court Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed, among others. The Governor inspected the parade and took the salute at an impressive march past which was commanded by Col Sriram S of the 1st Battalion of the J-K Light Infantry. The contingents in the parade were from the Army, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, men and women from state armed police, state police, State Disaster Response Force, Haryana Police, fire and emergency services, forest protection force, excise department, SSB
Heavy fine on foreign vessels for fishing in Lankan waters
Sri Lanka has increased by over 100 times the fine on foreign vessels to deter them from fishing in its waters, amid the dispute over the frequent entry of Indian fishing trawlers into the country's maritime territory. Sri Lankan parliament has approved the amendments (to the Foreign Fisheries boats Regulation Act) to increase fines on foreign vessels poaching in the country's waters, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera said today. The draft Bill for amending the Fisheries Act No 59 of 1979 (Foreign Fisheries boats Regulation Act) was presented in Parliament for approval on Wednesday. The Act aims to prevent illegal fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters and protect the fisheries and aquatic resources of the country's coastal belt. "The previous fine of 1.5 million Sri Lankan Rupees was no deterrent. Foreign vessels did not fear facing such a small fine," Amaraweera said. The Minister said that the new fine amount would mean ...
Delhi turns into fortress on R-Day, 60K personnel deployed
The 69th Republic Day passed off peacefully in the national capital with thousands of security personnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters being deployed at various strategic points. Barricades were erected on all major roads leading to the parade venue at the Rajpath with policemen checking vehicles and informing people about diversions. Nearly 60,000 security personnel drawn from the Delhi Police and central forces were deployed in Central Delhi. Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters were deployed to keep a watch on the eight-km-long parade route from the Rajpath to the Red Fort, besides nearby localities. Ten ASEAN leaders, who attended the ASEAN summit yesterday, were the chief guests at the parade. Snipers were stationed atop high-rise buildings while scores of CCTV cameras kept a tight vigil on people's movements on the parade route. Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, were also put in place to secure the
Barring Assam, Republic Day celebrated peacefully in East
The 69th Republic Day was today celebrated with pomp and show across the eastern region of the country peacefully, except in Assam where three low intensity blasts took place. Governors of the all the states hoisted the national flag and extended greetings to the people. Suspected ULFA (Independent) insurgents triggered the three blasts in Assam's Tinsukia district, the police said, adding that there was no report of any casualty. Besides, an indefinite curfew was on at Maibang area in Dima Hasao district where two persons who were injured in yesterday's violence succumbed to injuries. The Republic Day function in Dima Hasao district headquarters town Haflong was also cut short with hoisting of the tricolour only. In the main programme at the state capital Guwahati, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem. In neighbouring Meghalaya, Governor Ganga Prasad in ...
Afghan official: Taliban kill 6 kids, adult in south
An Afghan official says a Taliban rocket killed seven people after security forces launched an operation against the militant group in southern Ghazni province. Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor, said early Friday that the rocket hit a house, killing six children and a man. Three others children were wounded, he said. Noori says Afghan security forces launched the operation south of the capital Ghazni and during the battle the children went into a shelter in the house for safety. But a Taliban rocket killed the six children and man anyway. Zabihullah Mujahidand, Taliban apokesman, denied the account and accused the government of killing the civilians in an airstrike. Noori says the Afghan air force killed 20 Taliban fighters but no civilians.
6 killed as rocket hits house in Afghanistan
Six members of a family were killed and two injured when a rocket hit their home in Afghanistan's Ghazni province on Friday, the police said.
Rocket attack kills 6 in Afghanistan
At least six people were killed and two others injured after a rocket hit a home in Ghazni province of Afghanistan on Friday.According to the Tolo News, the local officials confirmed the incident and said that those killed were members of the same family.Ghazni Police Headquarters, in a statement, said that the incident took place in Qara Baghi village on the outskirts of Ghazni City.Police claimed that the rocket was fired by the Taliban.However, Taliban rejected being behind the attack.Member of Ghazni Provincial Council Hassan Reza Yusufi said the incident occurred due to the ongoing airstrikes by the Afghan security forces and claimed that nine people were killed.