Page 827 - War Conflict
China boosts investment in Sri Lankan mega-project
China will invest USD 1 billion in the construction of three 60-storey buildings at a mega- project near Sri Lanka's main port, Colombo said today, as Beijing aims to boost its influence in the Indian Ocean. The deal follows an earlier Chinese investment of USD 1.4 billion to carry out reclamation work for the wider Colombo International Financial City development, strategically located next to Sri Lanka's harbour, the only deep sea container port in the region. The countries hope the project, initiated by former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse, will create a financial centre in the Indian Ocean comparable with those in Singapore and Europe, drawing billions in foreign investment and thousands of jobs. Sri Lankan officials said 60 per cent of the 269 hectare reclamation, due to finish next year complete with yacht marina, had already been completed. No completion date was given for the buildings, the first for the development. "China Harbour (company) will put in .
CRPF DG visits camp attacked by JeM militants in Pulwama
CRPF Director-General Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar today visited the camp in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where three Jaish-e-Mohammad militants killed five paramilitary personnel in a pre-dawn attack on Sunday. Bhatnagar was briefed on the counter operation launched by the troopers following the attack, a CRPF spokesman said. The operation lasted for nearly 36 hours and ended last evening with the recovery of the body of the third militant. The bodies of two terrorists had been recovered on Sunday. "The DG took stock of the buildings and the incident site. He was briefed about the sequence of events and how all the three terrorists were neutralised and what roles were played by different (security) teams," he said. Bhatnagar praised the bravery of the officers and the jawans who participated in the operation, the spokesman said. He honoured them with the DG's Commendation Disc and Certificate. Cash rewards were also given to the jawans, the spokesman said. Five CRPF ...
Pune cops receive complaint against Mevani, Khalid
The police today said they had received a complaint against Gujarat MLA and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani and Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid for their "provocative" speeches at an event here on December 31. Mevani and Khalid had attended the "Elgar Parishad", an event organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon, at Shaniwar Wada in the city on December 31. According to the complainants -- Akshay Bikkad and Anand Dhond -- Mevani and Khalid had made "provocative" comments at the event. Bikkad and Dhond, both locals, approached the Deccan Gymkhana police station with an application and demanded the registration of a case against Mevani and Khalid for allegedly promoting enmity between different communities. "Mevani provoked the people to come out on the streets and retaliate. Due to this statement, people took to the streets and tension gripped the city," according to the complaint. A senior officer
Mayawati accuses BJP, RSS of instigating Bhima-Koregaon violence
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and the other 'caste forces' of instigating the Bhima-Koregaon violence."The incident which took place could have been avoided. The government there must make necessary arrangements to maintain security. There is a BJP Government there and it seems it instigated the violence there. The BJP, the RSS and other caste forces are behind this," Mayawati said.Earlier in the day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the BJP and the RSS wanted to keep the Dalits at the bottom of the society.He took to Twitter to mount an attack on the BJP and the RSS over the Bhima-Koregaon violence in Pune, Maharashtra, adding the protest over the violence was the symbol of Dalit resistance.Tension gripped many parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday after the death of a youth in clashes on Monday during an event to mark 200 years of Bhima Koregaon battle near Pune. Several vehicles were
AB Mathur appointed government interlocutor for talks with ULFA
The Central Government on Tuesday announced the appointment of AB Mathur as the interlocutor on their behalf to hold talks with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).A 1975-batch IPS officer, Mathur served as the former Special Secretary of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), following his appointment on December 10, 2009.Mathur, prior to his stint at RAW, was a part of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).On a related note, the ULFA is a separatist outfit operating in Assam for the indigenous Assamese and seeks to establish a sovereign Assam with an armed struggle in the Assam conflict.In 1990, the government of India banned the organisation, citing it as a terrorist organisation.The organisation is known for a number of assassinations and bombings, and also reportedly maintains a number of camps in Bangladesh, where members are trained and sheltered away from Indian security forces.
Nepal students clash with police during protest; many injured
A group of students in Nepal today clashed with the police during a demonstration organised to protest the recent hike in petroleum prices here, resulting in injuries to several protesters. The agitating student of the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), the student wing of main opposition Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), also tried to burn the effigies of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav outside Tri Chandra Multiple Campus. Their attempts were, however, foiled by the police. The students burnt tires and blocked roads in Ratnapark area, the police said. ANNFSU Secretary RC Lamichhane said that they also want the government to announce the results of the Proportional Representation category of the House of Representatives elections. This is the third time that the Nepal Oil Corporation hiked the prices of petroleum products in a month. The police fired several rounds of tear gas ..
Bhima Koregaon: 2 right-wing leaders booked under Atrocities
Police today booked leaders of two right-wing organisations in connection with an alleged attack on a woman by members of their outfits when she was returning after visiting the war memorial in violence-hit Bhima Koregaon village yesterday. According to police, the woman alleged that the entire attack and arson was orchestrated by the two outfits. Pimpri Police today filed a case against Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide who head Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan, respectively, and others under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and under various sections of the IPC including attempt to murder. Earlier in the day, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar told reporters in Mumbai that Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan were responsible for yesterday's violence in Bhima Koregaon village in which one person was killed. The violence had occurred at an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon in which the British Army ..
BJP, RSS want to keep Dalits at 'bottom of society': Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) wanted to keep the Dalits at the bottom of the society.He took to Twitter to mount an attack on the BJP and RSS over the Bhima-Koregaon violence in Pune, Maharashtra, adding the protest over the violence was the symbol of Dalit resistance."A central pillar of the RSS/BJP's fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance," Rahul tweeted.Tension gripped many parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday after the death of a youth in clashes on Monday during an event to mark 200 years of Bhima Koregaon battle near Pune, claiming one life and injuring several people. Several vehicles were also set on fire.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a Crime Investigation Department (CID)-led probe into the death of a youth in the violence.The chief ...
76 Naxals killed, 1,017 arrested in Chhattisgarh in 2017
As many as 76 Naxals were killed and 1,017 ultras arrested by the security forces in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas of Chhattisgarh in 2017, a senior police officer said here today. He also asserted that 2017 was a successful year for the state in its fight against the Maoists. At the same time, the security forces lost 59 personnel in Naxal-related incidents in the last year, officials said, quoting statistics provided by the police in this regard. Normalcy was restored in many Naxalism-hit areas due to the consistent operations of the security forces and also because of development activities, Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) D M Awasthi told reporters today. The security forces had achieved a major success in their fight against LWE in 2017, he said, adding that as many as 76 Maoists, including 51 senior cadre carrying a cumulative cash reward of Rs 2.08 crore on their heads, were killed in encounters in the state during the ...
All border guarding forces to march in R-Day parade this year
Marching contingents of all border guarding forces -- the BSF, the ITBP and the SSB -- will be seen marching down on Rajpath during January 26 parade after a gap of two years, an official said on Tuesday.
Imran gets bail in cases of 2014 attack on PTV headquarters
Pakistan's opposition leader Imran Khan was today granted bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) here in cases of attack on the state-run Pakistan Television headquarters building in 2014.
'76 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh last year'
Seventy-six Naxalites were killed in Chhattisgarh during 2017, said DM Awasthi, Special Director General of Police (DGP), Naxal Operations, on Tuesday.Addressing the annual press conference here, Awasthi said, "In 2017, 76 bodies of Naxalites were recovered, out of which 51 had bounty on their head."The DG also briefed about the arrests of Maoists and seizure of arms and ammunition from them."1,017 Naxalites were arrested last year which included 79 Maoists who carried over Rs 1 crore bounty on their head. Apart from it, 1,458 Maoists surrendered and 221 weapons were recovered from them. 1,280 kg Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were also recovered from 263 places. 100 grenades were also recovered," Awasthi said.The police officer also informed that 76 police stations were also established in naxal-affected areas."The construction of 75 Fortified Police stations in LWE affected areas by the Chhattisgarh Police Housing Corporation has been completed. Construction of STF hub Kanker ..
Maha govt announces CID investigation into Pune violence
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the Crime Investigation Department (CID) would investigate into the death of a youth in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence.Clashes broke between two groups on Monday during an event to mark 200 years of Bhima Koregaon battle near Pune leaving one person dead. Several vehicles were also set on fire.Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis said, "The state government will also request the Supreme Court for judicial inquiry into Koregaon violence."The chief minister also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victim's kin.Earlier, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also talked to Fadanavis and demanded an action over the Koregaon violence.Talking to ANI, Athawale said, "I have spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister and demanded Bhima Koregaon incident be enquired and an action be taken against the culprits so that such incidents don't occur. The enquiry must be conducted who planned attack on the Dalit community."Seeking .
Athawale demands action in Bhima Koregaon incident
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday demanded an action be taken in connection with the Bhima Koregaon incident in Pune, in which one person died and several others were injured on Monday.Talking to ANI, Athawale said, "I have spoken to the Maharashtra Chief Minister and demanded Bhima Koregaon incident be enquired and an action be taken against the culprits so that such incidents don't occur. The enquiry must be conducted who planned attack on the Dalit community."Clashes broke between two groups on Monday during an event to mark 200 years of Bhima Koregaon battle near Pune. Several vehicles were set on fire.The Battle of Koregaon was fought on January 1, 1818 between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy, at Koregaon Bhima.The Marathas ultimately withdrew, fearing the arrival of a larger British force led by General Joseph Smith.The Company troops of Indian origin included predominantly Mahar Dalit soldiers belonging to the Bombay ...
Russian army demonstrates latest weapon: Cuddly puppies
The Russian Armed Forces has unveiled its latest cutting-edge weapon in a New Year greetings video: cuddly puppies. After a year of showing off its military might in Syria, the Defense Ministry has taken a softer approach. The one- minute video shows dozens of puppies sharing food and cuddling with each other. Older dogs are shown playing with unidentified officers. Over 3,000 dogs are employed in the Russian armed forces. Dogs from the 470th Dog Breeding Centre outside Moscow are among the most decorated in Russia. The centre won an international competition last summer against the canine forces of Belarus, Egypt, Iran and Uzbekistan.
Key Taliban militant killed in Afghan airstrike
A key Taliban militant and 11 others were killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan, the country's Ministry of Interior (MoI) confirmed on Tuesday.According to Tolo news, Taliban's shadow deputy governor Mawlawi Wali Jan, also known as Hamza and his 11 associates were killed in an airstrike in Uruzgan province.As per a statement released by MoI, the airstrike was launched from the provincial capital, Trinkot and also added that weapons, vehicles, and ammunition were destroyed during the airstrike.A MoI official said: "Hamza was the main planner and organizer of terrorist and destructive activities, armed assault and explosions in Trinkot and as well as in different parts of Uruzgan."The Taliban have is yet to confirm the MoI's claim.
ITBP, SSB, BSF to return to Republic Day parade after 2 years
Contingents of the three border guarding forces of the country--the ITBP, SSB and BSF-- will march down Rajpath on January 26, two years after they were taken out from the Republic Day celebrations. While the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) contingents will be part of the parade after two years, the Border Security Force (BSF) squad will return to the event after one year's gap. As part of a new rotation policy of paramilitary forces' squads at the Republic Day parade, the contingents of two other forces--the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)-- have been taken out of the event this time, officials said. "This is a new policy formulated by the Ministry of Defence for the CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) contingents taking part in the Republic Day parade. The defence ministry is the organiser of the annual event. "The paramilitary forces' headquarters have asked the home ministry to get this ..
Defence Ministry clears two procurement proposals
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cleared two procurement proposals, on Tuesday.The first proposal is related to the procurement of 240 bombs, at a cost of Rs 1,254 crore from M/s JSC Rosonboron Exports, Russia.These bombs, which fall under the category of precision guided munitions, are used by the Indian Air Force (IAF).This procurement will address the deficiency of precision guided munitions in the IAF arsenal, besides enhancing the offensive capabilities of the IAF.The second proposal pertained to procurement of 131 Barak Missiles and associated equipment, under option clause from M/s Rafeal Advance Defence Systems Ltd., Israel, at a cost of Rs 460 crore.These missiles are surface-to-air missiles designed to be used as a ship-borne anti-missile defence system against anti-ship missiles.
Egypt executes 4 Islamic militants over 2015 attack
Egypt has executed four Islamic militants following their conviction by a military tribunal of killing three military academy students in a 2015 bomb attack. The attack took place outside a stadium in the Nile Delta city of Kafr el-Sheikh as the military cadets were waiting for a bus to take them to the academy. Six other people were injured in the attack. Tuesday's executions at a prison in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria bring to 19 the number of militants executed over the past week. Authorities executed 15 militants on Dec. 26 after a military court convicted and sentenced them to death over a 2013 attack on a military checkpoint in the Sinai Peninsula, home of a long running insurgency by Islamic militants. Nine were killed in that attack.
Naveen announces compensation for martyred jawan of Odisha
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family members of CRPF jawan Pradeep Kumar Panda who died fighting militants in Kashmir on December 31. Describing Panda as a "valiant son of Odisha", Patnaik also announced a monthly pension of Rs 2,000 for the widow of Panda. The amount will be given from the state government's Defence and Paramilitary Personnel Relief fund, a release by the Chief Minister's Office said. "Saluting the valiant son of Odisha, Pradeep Panda who laid down his life for the motherland. He was the pride of @crpfindia for his gallantry. The braveheart will always live in our hearts and inspire us with his heroism," the chief minister tweeted. Panda who hailed from Liploi village in Sundergarh district was martyred in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on December 31. His body is likely to reach the village today. Besides Panda, four other CRPF men were killed in the pre-dawn suicide attack on