Page 814 - War Conflict
Security forces apprehend NSCN-R militant in Arunachal
Security forces apprehended a militant of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Reformation (NSCN-R) from Khonsa, the headquarters town of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh, Defence sources said today. Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of the rebel, the Assam Rifles along with state police launched an operation and apprehended the cadre of the outfit from the town along with arms and ammunition, Kohima based Defence spokesman Col Chiranjit Konwer said today. The arrested cadre was identified as self-styled 'Sergeant Major' Manhua Wangpan of the outfit. A AK-56 assault rifle, live ammunition, extortion note, opium, brown sugar, extortion money, multiple debit and credit cards and other documents were recovered from his possession, the spokesman said. On interrogation the rebel admitted to be an active part of the banned outfit since 2015. He further revealed that he had come to Khonsa town for collection of extortion money.
Insurgents clash with US forces in Afghanistan
A clash between the insurgents and the United States (US) special forces broke out in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Friday.According to the Khaama press agency, the incident took place near Achin district, where an operation by the US special forces is currently on to eliminate terrorists loyal to the dreaded Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.Achin district administrative chief Ismail Shinwari confirmed the incident. However, he said that there was still no information on what caused the incident and possible casualties.Unconfirmed sources have said that the Taliban have claimed the attack was carried out by one of their fighters, who managed to infiltrate among the public uprising forces ranks.Nangarhar province has been relatively calm in eastern Afghanistan, where fewer incidents of insurgent attacks have been reported since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001.However, since 2014, reports continue to emerge regarding the growing insurgency activities of the IS in various .
Chinese troops have thinned in Doklam: Indian Army chief
Chinese troops have maintained their presence in Doklam on the border though their numbers have thinned, Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Friday.
Petrol bomb attack on HMK leader's house
Unidentified miscreants today hurled petrol bombs at the house of a fringe Hindu outfit leader in this district, causing damage to some parked vehicles, police said. The motorbike-borne men threw three petrol bombs into the house of Balamurugan, south zone organising president of Hindu Makkal Katchi and fled the scene, police added. Two motorbikes parked in the front portion of the house parked caught fire in the incident which was recorded on CCTV camera in the premises, they said. While Balamurugan was away, his family members were present when the incident occurred. Top police officials including Deputy Superintendent of Police Shankar visited the place and conducted preliminary investigations.
Pak summons Indian envoy over 'ceasefire violation'
Pakistan today summoned India's acting deputy high commissioner over alleged "unprovoked firing" by Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC) in which an elderly woman was killed. The Foreign Office claimed that a 65-year old woman was killed in Peer Khana village yesterday after Indian troops violated the ceasefire in Kot Kotera Sector. Director general (South Asia and Saarc) Mohammad Faisal summoned the acting Indian deputy high commissioner and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces on January 11, the statement said. He said "despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations." "This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1900 ceasefire violations, Faisal claimed. He said the ceasefire violations by India are a "threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.
Threat of CBRN weapons becoming a 'reality', says Army Chief
Army chief Bipin Rawat today said the threat of the use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear weapons, collectively termed as CBRN, was becoming a "reality", particularly from "non-state actors". Rawat said that unlike the conventional military, CBRN combat requires operations in a "highly unpredictable" environment, where the adversaries may use "asymmetrical" means to counter India. "The threat of the use of CBRN weapons is indeed becoming a reality, particularly as a threat from non-state actors. Use of CBRN weapons could jeopardize life and property and take a long time to recover," Rawat said. The chief of army staff made the remarks at the inauguration of a workshop on CBRN defence technologies at the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) headquarters here. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was scheduled to inaugurate the event, did not attend, citing pressing engagements elsewhere. Rawat said in the absence of any restraint, the ..
Two TPC activists killed in encounter
Two members of outlawed Trutiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), a splinter group of the CPI (Maoist), have been killed in an encounter with security personnel near Donaikala village in Hazaribag district, police said today. The district police found out from its sources yesterday that a group of TPC activists have assembled at a stone crusher site to extract levy, Superintendent of Police Anoop Birtheray said. "The miscreants tried to set ablaze equipment and beat up the labourers at the crusher but a joint team of district police and CRPF personnel rushed to the spot, forcing them to flee," he said. Undaunted, the TPC men then moved to another crusher unit nearby but the security personnel tailed them, Birtheray said. "The activists started firing indiscriminately as soon as it saw police approaching them. The security personnel retaliated, killing two rebels on spot," the SP said. Police have recovered the bodies and launched a massive search operation following the ...
Four killed in Venezuela food looting violence: opposition
Four people were killed and 15 injured in violence linked to food looting in Venezuela, according to members of the opposition and the local press. It brought to six the number of deaths tied to desperate food shortages in the oil-rich but crisis-riven country since December. In the town of Arapuey in the west of Venezuela, for several days now looters have targeted shops and stores and clashed with soldiers, said Carlos Paparoni, an opposition lawmaker. He said around 100 people have been arrested. Gaby Arellano, another opposition lawmaker, said the area has been "overtaken" by soldiers and police, with shop owners doing what they can to defend their property. Venezuela is in the throes of a deepening crisis caused by falling oil prices, spiraling inflation, and corruption that has decimated the economy. In the past several days looting and attempted looting has broken out in a number of towns and cities. A 19-year-old Venezuelan was shot dead Wednesday when hundreds of
Sri Lanka lifts ban on women buying, selling alcohol
Sri Lanka has revoked a 38-year ban on selling alcohol to women and employing them in places where the brews are produced and sold. The finance ministry says Minister Mangala Samaraweera signed the notification revoking the ban to restore gender equality and promote tourism. The ban had been in force since 1979, the early years of Sri Lanka embracing an open market economy. But many businesses had employed women to sell and serve alcohol and sold alcohol to them in spite of the ban. The government also allowed liquor outlets to stay open an hour later, until 10 p.m.
Army needs modern technology: Gen. Rawat
The Indian Army needs modern weapons and technology so that soldiers remain empowered, trained, and equipped in order to fight future wars, Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat said on Friday."We need modern weapons, technology. We have to look at what we require to fight the future wars. We have to get systems that are best suited for our requirements. When we talk of empowering soldiers, it is to give him technology," General Rawat said at a press conference here, and added that a soldier should have capability to carry out operations in day and night.To this end, General Rawat said that the prime requirement of the security force is surveillance helicopters, "Our first requirement is of surveillance helicopters. We are looking at Kamov that are coming in. It is moving on track. 2019 should be the year when we should start looking at the real modernisation of helicopters."He further informed infantry soldier on border who engage with the enemy first will get modern assault ...
Security encounter kills 3 suspected militants in Dhaka
Three suspected Islamist militants were killed today in a security raid at their hideout near Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's office in the capital, officials said. The bodies and explosives were found inside the building near the office of the prime minister, said anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) chief Benazir Ahmed. "We found three bodies at the end of our operation," Ahmed said. The operation was carried out in Tejgaon area following information that some of the suspects were staying in a rented apartment. Residents in the neighbourhood said exchange of gunshots and explosions rocked the scene as the RAB, which draws personnel from both army and police, cordoned off the six- storey apartment complex after midnight last night. Ahmed said the militants rented the fourth floor of the building pretending as ordinary tenants since the beginning of this month while the security forces found unexploded explosives, including grenades after the raid. "We began
Threat of CBRN weapons a reality now: Army Chief
The threat of the use of CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) weapons have become a reality, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Friday."The threat of the use of CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) weapons is indeed becoming a reality particularly from the non-state actors. Use of CBRN weapons could jeopardise life health property and commerce, and then take a long time to recover," Rawat said at the DRDO Bhawan here.The Army Chief also warned that potential adversaries may seek to counter India's conventional military superiority using less expensive and more attainable asymmetrical means.To combat the hazardous weapons, Rawat suggested to "develop protection technologies, equipment and systems, and impart training to our soldiers."" I am sure that DRDO's long term perspective plan in conjunction and integrated perspective plan of the services must have encompassed the development of mitigation of technologies against such CBRN threats," he ...
3 militants killed near Bangladesh PM's office
Three militants were killed on Friday in a raid by Bangladesh's anti-crime elite force on a militant hideout near Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's office here.
Two Maoists killed in Jharkhand
Two Maoists have been killed in a shootout with the CRPF during a search operation launched by the paramilitary force in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, an official said on Friday.
Chhattisgarh: CRPF soldier injured in encounter with Maoists
One Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier has been injured in an encounter between security forces and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, the CRPF said on Friday.A team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers was out on special operations in a village in the district when the encounter with maoists took place late Thursday night.In the encounter, one soldier sustained a bullet injury.He was evacuated by chopper on early Friday Morning and his condition is reportedly stable.More updates are awaited.
Jharkhand: Two Maoists killed in encounter with security forces
Two Maoists have been killed in an encounter with security forces at a village in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said on Friday.The encounter was triggered when troops of 22 bn Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were carrying out a search operation along with Jharkhand Police at Donai Khurd village late Thursday night, the CRPF said.One AK 47, one Insas rifle and 200 rounds have been recovered from their possession.The identity of the deceased Maoists have not yet been known.The search operation in the area is underway.
Protesters rally against Guantanamo Bay detention camp in US
Dozens of Activists held a rally here on Thursday to protest against the Guantanamo Bay detention camp while urging an end to "indefinite detention."
All jewels stolen from Paris's Ritz hotel recovered: source
All jewels worth millions of euros stolen from shops in Paris's landmark Ritz hotel have been recovered, a source close to the case said today. Some of the loot was recovered yesterday after the arrest of three of the thieves as they tried to flee the hotel and the rest was in a "bag seized yesterday by police," the source said. The gems and watches stolen were thought to be worth over four million euros (USD 4.8 million).
UN Security Council considers visit to war-torn Afghanistan
The president of the UN Security Council said today that members are considering a visit to Afghanistan to show solidarity with the Afghan people, meet government officials and see firsthand the situation in the war-torn country. Kazakhstan Ambassador Kairat Umarov, who holds the council's rotating presidency this month, said the body hasn't been to Afghanistan for seven years and a trip would give members the opportunity to get an understanding of the country's needs and prospects. He told reporters he hopes to lead a council mission but wouldn't discuss the timing. US National Security Adviser H R McMaster's briefed council members on Tuesday on Afghanistan and Umarov called it "a very good and timely event." Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told reporters Tuesday he agreed with most points McMaster raised and "fully agreed" with his point on the need for Russian and US cooperation on Afghanistan. Nebenzia said he noted President Vladimir Putin's comment at ..
Bangladeshi man pleads not guilty in NYC subway bomb attack
A Bangladeshi immigrant still recovering from injuries suffered in the failed pipe bombing of the New York subway system has pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges. Akayed Ullah entered the plea today after he was indicted a day earlier on charges he provided material support to a terrorist organisation and used a weapon of mass destruction. Ullah was the only person seriously hurt on December 11 when the bomb went off in a corridor linking the subway to Manhattan's Port Authority bus terminal. Authorities said Ullah taunted President Donald Trump on Facebook before the attack. The president later demanded tightened immigration rules. Prosecutors say Ullah wanted to cause carnage to avenge US aggression toward the Islamic State group. The pipe bomb never fully exploded.