Page 791 - War Conflict
US Embassy denies bombing refugee camp in Pakistan
The US Embassy in Pakistan on Thursday dismissed a claim by Islamabad that US forces bombed a refugee camp on its territory.
Three held for dacoities in Navi Mumbai
Three persons were arrested today in connection with the cases of dacoity in Navi Mumbai, police said today. The trio are part of a gang that used to target security personnel and workers of various companies in MIDC areas, Navi Mumbai Police said in a release. The gang of eight had robbed security personnel of a godown in Kiravali village near Panvel of Rs 85,000 in November last year. Similar incidents had occurred in MIDC areas. The trio, identified as Barkat Ali Abdul Kalam Choudhary (27), Jiauddin Acchankhan (30) and Kalam Shamsuddin Khan (36), were arrested on January 7. The gang was involved in a theft in Rohinjan village in December 4, 2017 and also wanted for looting a truck driver in Pendarpada area.
Kabul hotel attack killed at least 25: official
An Afghan official said today at least 25 people were killed in the attack on a Kabul hotel, as confusion reigned over the true toll with conflicting figures given and Afghan media reporting higher numbers. The health ministry official said at least 25 people had been killed, including 13 foreigners. But AFP has independently verified that 15 foreigners -- seven Ukrainians, four Americans, two Venezuelans, one German and one Kazakh -- died in the massacre. "We have 25 deaths from the Intercontinental Hotel attack in Kabul -- seven Afghans, 13 foreigners and five suspected attackers," health ministry spokesman Wahid Majrooh told AFP. That was hours after he gave a different toll, telling AFP that 25 Afghans had been killed and that "we don't know about the foreign fatalities." An Afghan security official also said 25 people had been killed in the 12-hour attack on Saturday night but that figure included three badly burned bodies "which we believe are of foreigners". "To ..
Security stepped up in Assam for R-Day
Security measures have been beefed up in Assam in view of Republic Day celebrations tomorrow. The Superintendents of Police of all districts have been asked to remain vigilant against any militant activities. Jungle areas along the inter-state borders with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in upper Assam are being kept under security surveillance, while the City police have beefed up increased watch on people coming from neighbouring states, police said. Special attention is being given to commercial town of Tinsukia in upper Assam along Arunachal in view of extortion activities by militants there who sneak in from their hideouts in the neighbouring state, the police said. Vulnerable areas have been identified to carry out patrolling and area domination there to prevent movement of extremists and anti-social elements, they said. Night patrolling has been intensified while Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Police Force (RPF) checking trains and patrolling railway ..
US aircraft carrier to make historic visit to Vietnam
A US aircraft carrier will port in Vietnam in March, military officials said today, a first for the allies and former foes as they seek to counter Beijing's growing might in the disputed South China Sea. The announcement came as US defence secretary Jim Mattis visited the communist nation following a stopover in Indonesia on a brief Asia tour aimed at drumming up defence cooperation. On his two-day trip to Vietnam, where he met with his counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich and President Tran Dai Quang on Thursday, Mattis zeroed in on freedom of navigation in the resource-rich South China Sea, a thorny issue between communist neighbours Hanoi and Beijing. China claims most of the waterway -- believed to hold vast oil and gas deposits and through which $5 trillion in trade passes annually -- and has built up islands and military installations in the sea. Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims in the waterway. Vietnam and US defence officials have ...
K'taka CM writes to PM Modi
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to confer the title of Bharat Ratna to Sri Sri Sri Sivakumara Swamigalu.Swamigalu is referred to as "the walking God" by legions, devotees and admirers.He is the head of Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur District, South India and founder of the Sri Siddaganga Education Society.
New film reveals Japan's biological warfare atrocities
Canadian-American filmmaker Paul Johnson has promoted his new film "731", which depicts the horrific details of a chemical and biological terror campaign launched by the Imperial Japanese Army during China's occupation in World War II.
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 8 Indian fishermen
Eight Indian fishermen were arrested today by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu in the country's northern territorial waters, the Sri Lankan Navy said in Colombo. The Navy personnel, during a routine patrol onboard a fast gun boat and a fast attack craft attached to the Northern Naval Command, also seized two trawlers of the fishermen when they were illegally fishing in the north-west of the Delft Island. The fishermen were brought to the naval base SLNS Uththara in Kankesanthurai and later handed over, along with trawlers, to the Assistant Fisheries Director of Jaffna for further legal action, the Navy said. This is the third instance of Indian fishermen being arrested this month by the Sri Lankan Navy. Meanwhile, Assistant Director of Fisheries in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu, Kumaresan said the fishermen belonged to Jagadapattinam in Pududottai district. They were arrested while fishing off Neduntheevu by the Lankan naval men and taken to ...
Security stepped up in Maharashtra for Republic Day
An alert has been issued across Maharashtra to maintain law and order and security beefed up in view of the Republic Day celebration tomorrow, a top police official said today. The security has been stepped up at all the vital installations and sensitive locations in Mumbai, he said. "We have issued an alert in the state on the basis of inputs from the central agencies for the Republic Day celebrations," Director General of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Bihari told PTI. The superintendents of police in all the districts and commissioners in cities have been alerted to handle any untoward situation, he said. The police units, including the Quick Response Teams, Anti-Terrorism Cells and reserve police forces, have been deployed in Mumbai to deal with any eventuality, another police official said. The police is also conducting checks at all vital points and combing in sensitive areas, he said. Heavy security cover will be provided at the important venues for celebrations and
UN official says not safe yet for Rohingya return to Myanmar
Attacks on Rohingya Muslims appear to be continuing in Myanmar and it is not yet safe for the hundreds of thousands living in refugee camps in Bangladesh to begin returning home, a senior United Nations official said. Many Rohingya want to return eventually to their villages in Myanmar, UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth said Wednesday during a visit to the immense Kutupalong refugee camp. But they fear for their safety if they were to go back now, he said. "The situation isn't safe for the returns to begin," he said. "I spoke to one young woman who had been on the phone to her aunt in Rakhine in Myanmar. And they were attacking villages even today." More than 680,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar's Rakhine state beginning in August, after Myanmar security forces began "clearance operations" in their villages in the wake of attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts. Forsyth's comments came as former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson resigned suddenly from an ...
Case against RJD legislator after clash between castes
A case was lodged on Thursday against an RJD legislator in connection with a violent clash between two castes in which over a dozen were injured during the idol immersion after Saraswati Puja in Bihar's Bhojpur district, police said.
Security tightened across Mizoram in view of Republic Day
Security has been beefed up across Mizoram in view of the 69th Republic Day tomorrow. Inspector General of Police Zorammawia said security was tightened in the Assam Rifles ground here where the main function would be held, and other district headquarters and sub-divisional towns. Governor Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma would unfurl the national flag from the Assam Rifles ground. "Police personnel with fully equipped bomb disposal squad would spend the inside the Assam Rifles ground tonight," Zorammawia said. Strict vigil was being maintained at vital installations including the lone airport at Lengpui near here, he said. The IGP said though there was no particular threat, personnel deployed in border outposts were alerted with instructions to maintain strict vigil. "Being one of the most peaceful states in the country, we did not expect any law and order problems or terror threats, but we can ill-afford to be complacent," he added.
Padmaavat row: Karni Sena's bandh evokes tepid response in Guj
The nationwide bandh call given by the Karni Sena against the release of film "Padmaavat" today failed to make any major impact in Gujarat, as educational institutions, offices and markets remained open in most parts of the state. However, as a precautionary measure, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has suspended its bus services from Ahmedabad to Mehsana and Banaskantha, an official said. "Since several buses were targeted on these routes in the last few days, we have suspended the bus services from Ahmedabad to Mehsana and Banaskantha of north Gujarat," Ahmedabad divisional controller A K Parmar said. "We will resume services on these routes after assessing the situation. The buses on all other routes are running as per schedule," he added. According to the state police control room, no untoward incident has been reported in any part of the state since this morning amid the call for bandh (general strike). The routine life in major cities and towns .
Karni Sena denies role in stone pelting on school bus
The Shree Rajput Karni Sena on Thursday denied any role in stone pelting on a school bus in Gurugram in Haryana over the screening of "Padmaavat".
Death toll rises to 6 in Afghanistan's 'Save the Children' attack
The death toll in 'Save the Children' office attack in Afghanistan has risen to six.According to the Tolo News, provincial spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the death toll.Khogyani said that four of the aid agency's staff members were killed along with one security force member and a passerby in Wednesday attack."The fighting has ended. The security forces are clearing the building now", Khogyani said following the attack.The Islamic State (IS) has reportedly claimed the responsibility.Earlier in the day, attackers entered the aid group office after a car bomb exploded outside.Before the attackers stormed into the office, a suicide bomber detonated a car at the gate.Save the Children has temporarily suspended all of its Afghan programmes.The attack comes just three days after the Taliban gunmen raided a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, mostly foreigners.
JK CM urges youth to stay away from encounter sites
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has urged the youth to stay away from the scene of encounter between security forces and militants. Her appeal came after a youth died yesterday in clashes between security forces and protesters near a site of encounter in Chaigund village of Shopian district. Expressing anguish, Mufti described the death of Shakir Mir as unfortunate. Yesterday, the state assembly was rocked by anti- government slogans as the opposition National Conference and a few members of the Congress protested over MIr's death.
Ground-to-air security cover in Delhi ahead of R-Day
The national capital has been brought under a ground-to-air security cover in view of the Republic Day celebrations and the visit of 10 ASEAN leaders for a high-profile summit here, a senior police official said today. Thousands of armed personnel have been keeping a tight vigil for Republic Day in Delhi and in border areas of the city to ensure a smooth passage of the celebrations tomorrow. Additional security personnel will be deployed on high- rises with anti-aircraft guns, the official said. CCTV cameras have been installed and control rooms have been set up to monitor the feed from the cameras. Police officials were maintaining a tight vigil at strategic points. All market places have been put on alert and Delhi Police teams were carrying out security audits. The police has deployed dog squads in key market areas. Leaves of police personnel have been cancelled, the official said. The entire central and New Delhi region will have nearly 50,000 security personnel drawn
UN hits out at surge in extra-judicial executions in DR Congo
The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported a surge in summary "executions" in the country, notably in the southern Kasai region. In 2017, "state agents" carried out 1,176 extra-judicial killings, "including at least 89 women and 213 children," the United Nations Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) said in an annual report on human rights violations in the DRC yesterday. Such killings have tripled over the past two years, MONUSCO said, adding that it condemned the increase. The armed forces accounted for nearly two-thirds - 64 percent - of extra-judicial killings by state agents, it said. Across the country, a total of 6,497 violations and abuses - committed not just by state agents but also by armed groups - were recorded in 2017. This was a rise of more than 25 percent over 2016, which itself saw a 30 percent rise over 2015. A sprawling, mineral-rich country in central Africa, the DRC is in the grip of several conflicts, including political and ethnic unrest ..
Shopian encounter: Bodies of slain terrorists recovered
The bodies of the two terrorists, who were neutralised in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian on Wednesday, have been recovered.The slain terrorists have been identified as locals, who indulged in an encounter with the security forces in Dairoo's Chaigund area in Shopian.Earlier, Director-General of Jammu and Kashmir SP Vaid took to Twitter to confirm the killing of the terrorists."In an encounter today at Saigund Shopian, two terrorists have been neutralised and weapons have been recovered. Unfortunately, one boy was also killed in the cross-fire and two ladies sustained injuries. Search is still going on", read Vaid's tweet.A local boy was also killed in the crossfire, while two women sustained injuries.The security forces have launched cordon and search operations in the area.Earlier in the day, Indian Army's 44 Rashtriya Rifles, 14th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Shopian Police were engaged in a fierce encounter in Dairoo's Chaigund in the ...
Two customs officers killed in Mali 'jihadist' attack
Two Malian customs officers have been killed in a suspected jihadist attack at a market in the small village of Toubakoro, security sources told AFP today. "Two customs officers were killed, a terrorist too," according to one source. The attackers arrived in Toubakoro, some 200 kilometres north of the capital Bamako, on motorcycles and were armed, said another source, adding that, "there was a great panic in the village". "The jihadists were well informed about the comings and goings of the security forces," said an elected representative who was near the market at the time. "The jihadists fired at a customs vehicle," he added. Islamic extremists linked to Al-Qaeda took control of the desert north of Mali in early 2012, but were largely driven out by a French-led military operation launched in January 2013. However, large tracts of the country remain lawless and jihadists have continued to carry out attacks against civilians and security forces. Newly-appointed Prime ...