Page 89 - War Conflict
Grenade attack on polling station in Pulwama
Militants Monday lobbed a grenade towards a polling station in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where polling is underway for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, police said. A grenade was lobbed towards Rohmoo polling station in Pulwama but there were no reports of any casualties in the the blast, a police official said. He said security forces have cordoned off the area. This was the first militant attack on a polling station in this Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir. Polling is being held in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency which also includes Anantnag and Kulgam districts as well. The Lok Sabha polls to this constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons. Anantnag district went to polls on 23 April, while voting in Kulgam district took place on 29 April. There are 18 candidates in the fray for Anantnag constituency including PDP president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti.
Israel steps up strikes as Gaza rocket attacks intensify
Gaza militants fired hundreds of rockets into southern Israel on Sunday, killing at least four Israelis and bringing life to a standstill across the region in the bloodiest fighting since a 2014 war. As Israel pounded Gaza with airstrikes, the Palestinian death toll rose to 22, including two pregnant women and two babies. The bloodshed marked the first Israeli fatalities from rocket fire since the 2014 war. With Palestinian militants threatening to send rockets deeper into Israel and Israeli reinforcements massing near the Gaza frontier, the fighting showed no signs of slowing down. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent most of the day huddled with his Security Cabinet. Late Sunday, the Cabinet instructed the army to "continue its attacks and to stand by" for further orders. Israel also claimed to have killed a Hamas commander involved in transferring Iranian funds to the group. Israel and Hamas, an Islamic militant group that seeks Israel's destruction, have fought three ...
UN calls for one-week truce in Libya's Tripoli
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Sunday called for a one-week truce in the capital Tripoli, which is witnessing ongoing clashes between the UN-backed government and the east-based army.
UN calls for week-long Libya Ramadan truce
The United Nations has called for a "humanitarian truce" to halt fighting in Libya from the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Monday. Around 400 people have been killed in clashes since military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive against the seat of the internationally recognised unity government in Tripoli on April 4. The UN mission in the country proposed the "extendable one-week" ceasefire "during which all parties pledge to halt all forms of military operations" in a statement Sunday. It called on the warring sides to "allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need" and use the truce to exchange prisoners and bodies of those killed in the clashes. Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with Haftar supporting a rival administration in the east of the country. The flare-up in fighting has displaced some 55,000 and sparked fears of a humanitarian crisis as civilians remain trapped in the conflict zone.
Mob violence in Shopian, Pulwama on poll eve
Mob violence was reported from Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian and Pulwama districts on Sunday, hours before voting there in the third and final phase of polling in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency.
Srilankan national held in Kerala without valid travel docs
A 30-year-old Sri Lankan national was arrested here Sunday for not possessing valid travel documents, police said. The man, who identified himself as Maluge Juth Selfon Dias, was picked up from Thampanoor bus terminal in the city last night, they said. "We have brought in translators from Sri Lankan Airlines to initiate conversation with the man, but he has not disclosed anything yet. As of now, he has been taken to Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu as part of investigation and will be produced before the magistrate today itself," investigating officer told PTI. Dias, told the investigators that his bag, carrying passport, visa and other documents, had been stolen during the journey. However, he did not give any clear answer as to how he had reached the southern state. "..The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other officials from national agencies have interrogated him," police official said adding the man claimed that he had reached Kerala on February 20. The arrest of the Lankan man .
Gaza Sunday death toll rises to 12 in Israeli strikes: Hamas ministry
The toll of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip on Sunday rose to 12, the Hamas-run health ministry said, as Israel carried out a series of strikes in response to dozens of rockets fired from the enclave. The ministry said three people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in northern Gaza and two in southern Gaza, raising an earlier toll of seven. At least six of those killed were confirmed to be militants affiliated with the Palestinian territory's leaders Hamas or the allied Islamic Jihad group.
US-Taliban talks stumble over troop withdrawal: Taliban
Talks between the Taliban and the US have become bogged down over the key issue of when foreign forces might leave Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman told AFP on Sunday. The Taliban and US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad have met repeatedly in the Qatari capital Doha in recent months in a bid to finally end Afghanistan's gruelling war. Central to negotiations is the fundamental question of a timetable for when US and foreign forces might leave Afghanistan, after more than 17 years of conflict. While Khalilzad in February sounded an optimistic tone, suggesting a deal was within reach by July, the two foes have hit a sticking point. Before the US announces a withdrawal timeline, it is demanding the Taliban put in place security guarantees, a ceasefire and other commitments. But the insurgents insist they won't do a thing until the US announces that timeline. In an interview with AFP, Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's political spokesman in Doha, said the two sides are grappling with "one point, .
Lanka police reimposes curfew on western coastal town
The Sri Lankan authorities on Sunday reimposed a curfew on the western coastal town of Negombo where jihadists attacked a church during a series of coordinated blasts on April 21. The move was taken after a group of miscreants carrying swords attacked some people travelling on a three-wheeler in Porathota area of the town. The vehicle was also set on fire and the military had to intervene to bring the situation under control. "Curfew has been imposed with immediate effect for Negombo and Kochchikade police areas till 7 am tomorrow," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. Tension prevailed in the area since the Easter Sunday after the St Sebastian's church was attacked by a suicide bomber killing scores of people. Nine suicide bombers, including a woman, carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels on April 21, killing 253 people and injuring over 500 others. The Islamic State terror group claimed the attacks, but the government ..
Thirteen killed in Taliban attack on Afghan police compound
At least 13 people were killed and dozens more wounded after a Taliban suicide bomber and several gunmen attacked a police headquarters in northern Afghanistan on Sunday. The deadly assault occurred two days after President Ashraf Ghani offered the Taliban a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins Monday. The insurgents have rebuffed the move, which came at the end of peace talks in Kabul, and as the Taliban meet with the US at separate talks in Qatar. Sunday's attack started with a massive blast at the police facility in Pul-i-Khumri, about 250 kilometres north of Kabul, sending a huge plume of smoke into the sky. The explosion was followed up by gunmen storming the police compound, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. In a tweet, he said a suicide bomber had detonated a bomb inside an armoured personnel carrier, "flattening most of the building". Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said 13 police officers were killed in the attack, with another ..
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conferred with award
The Art of Living founder Sri SriRavi Shankar was Sunday conferred with the 'Order of St George' Award at St George Orthodox Church in Kottayam district of Kerala. Former Chief Minister of state Oommen Chandy, who inaugurated the function, said the country was blessed to have the presence of a person like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. "He (Ravi Shankar) is a symbol of peace and tolerance and makes the world a better place," Ommen Chandy said. A press release said Ravi Shankar acknowledged the award saying it signifies more responsibilities that must be taken to serve others. The award was given as part of the Commemorative Feast of StGeevarghese Sahada, the release said.
Security agencies checking data of Sri Lankan tourists: officials
Security agencies are examining data of all tourists from Sri Lanka who visited India in last six months after the island nation's Army chief claimed that some terrorists involved in the April 21 serial bombing had visited the country, officials said Sunday. Information is also being sought for those tourists from Sri Lanka who had visited Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Bengaluru. A detailed analysis of the tourists who visited India became a necessity after the Sri Lankan army chief reportedly claimed that the terrorists who carried out attacks in churches and hotels had visited Kerala, Kashmir and Bengaluru for training and also establishing links with terror groups operating in these areas, a security official said. However, analysis of the Sri Lankan tourists was carried out by security agencies suo motto based on the statement of the Sri Lankan Army chief as no information has been shared by the authorities of that country yet. As per the security officials, as many as 20,000 ...
Vivek Oberoi urges Delhi to vote for Modi
Actor Vivek Oberoi, whose film on Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stopped from releasing ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, on Sunday actively campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), urging Delhi to vote for Modi.
Officer, two soldiers injured in LoC ceasefire violation
An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were injured on Sunday as Pakistan violated the ceasefire on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, police sources said.
Tunisia security forces kill three suspected jihadists
Tunisian security forces have killed three suspected jihadists from an Islamic State group affiliate in the centre of the country, the interior ministry said Sunday. A statement said "three of the most dangerous terrorists" from the Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate) group were "eliminated" Saturday evening near the town of Sidi Ali Ben Oun, 230 kilometres (140 miles) southwest of Tunis. It identified the men as Hatem ben Aid Basdouri, 40, Mohamed ben Ibrahim Basdouri, 35, and Montassar ben Khraief Ghozlani, 31. Security forces seized weapons, ammunition, explosives and suicide vests, the authorities said. In an earlier statement Saturday the ministry said it also had managed to "thwart terrorist projects" planned for upcoming Muslim holy month Ramadan after arresting another suspected jihadist. Tunisian security forces regularly conduct search operations in the mountainous areas near the border with Algeria to hunt down IS- and Al-Qaeda-linked militants. In March the ...
"LeT engaged operative to set up bases in various parts of the
Pakistan based LeT, which had orchestrated terror attacks in India, including Mumbai and Bengaluru from here, had engaged its operative Abu Hamza to set up bases in various parts of the country, according to a former top official of the state intelligence department. As part of his mission, Hamza hired a man from Bihar and they carried out the December 28, 2005 attack at the Indian Institute of Science, killing mathematics professor Munish Chander Puri of IIT-Delhi and injuring four, Gopal B Hosur, former ADGP in the department said. "The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had engaged Abu Hamza to plant terror in various parts of India. He in turn found Sababuddin from Bihar to carry out terror operations. Sababuddin got admission to a local college in Bengaluru only to get an identity card. His intention was to set up a base and to survey the city," Hosur said. He was speaking at the release of a book "Corridors of intelligence Revealing politics" and its Kannada version ...
Sri Lanka: Ammunitions recovered from school backyard
Ammunitions were recovered from the premises of a girls' school in Gampola yesterday, the police said on Sunday.A labourer of the school had recovered the parcel, consisting of 201 rounds of T56 ammunition and 25 pistols, at a garbage dump during the cleaning of the school, Daily Mirror reported.The labourer had then informed the security unit of the school, who later informed the police and the Army.The police suspected that due to intensified raids in the area in the wake of Easter Sunday attacks someone must have thrown away the ammunition parcel into the school premises.Earlier, the police had also arrested two wanted suspects, identified as Mohamed Iwuhaim Saadiq Abdul Haq and Mohamed Iwuhaim Shahid Abdul Haq, in Gampola over the Easter Sunday attacks.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has expelled around 200 Islamic clerics after a local terror group, National Thawheed Jammath, claimed the responsibility for the Easter bombings that left at least 253 people dead and several hundred injured, ..
No record to suggest that some Sri Lanka bombers visited Kashmir: Police chief
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbag Singh Sunday said there was no record to suggest that any of the suicide bombers, who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, had visited Kashmir as claimed by the Army chief of the island nation. Talking to PTI, Singh said they have not received any information from the Island nation through diplomatic channel but the persons whose names appeared on social media have not travelled to Kashmir. "We have checked and there is no information about them having visited here," Singh said, adding immigration records were re-visited after the terrorist attacks and none of the bombers had visited Kashmir. He was reacting to a day after claims were made by Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, on BBC that "they (the suspects) have gone to India, they've gone to Kashmir, Bangalore, they've travelled to Kerala state. Those are the information available with us." Singh said that the army chief of Sri Lanka should ...
Taliban attack a police headquarters in Afghanistan
A Taliban suicide bomber and several gunmen attacked a police headquarters in northern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least four people and wounding 40 more, according to the insurgents and Afghan officials. The attack occurred two days after President Ashraf Ghani offered the Taliban a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins Monday. The insurgents rebuffed the offer that came at the end of peace talks in Kabul, and as the Taliban meet with the US at separate talks in Qatar. Sunday's attack started with a massive blast at the police facility in Pul-i-Khumri, about 250 kilometres north of Kabul, sending a huge plume of smoke into the sky. The explosion was followed up by gunmen storming the police compound, according to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. In a tweet, he said a suicide bomber had detonated a bomb inside an armoured personnel carrier, "flattening most of the building". Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said "two terrorists were gunned down" .
Sri Lankan without travel papers held in Kerala
A Sri Lankan national, who claimed to have lost all his travel documents, was held from the bus station here and is being interrogated by both the state police and central security agencies, the Kerala Police said on Sunday.