Page 9 - War Conflict
Army chief visits Rajouri sector, reviews security situation in JK
Army chief General Bipin Rawat Friday visited troops on the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, assuring material and moral support to all soldiers for enhancing operational capabilities. The Army chief reviewed the security situation in the state and exhorted all ranks to remain vigilant to counter the nefarious designs of the enemy and anti-national elements, a defence spokesman said. During the visit to the forward areas, General Rawat awarded some soldiers on the spot for gallant actions on the LoC. Accompanied by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the Army chief visited troops on the LoC to review prevailing situation and operational readiness of the units of White Knight Corps, the spokesman said. He said the chief was briefed and updated by Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps and commanders on ground. "General Rawat reviewed the mission readiness of units, response mechanism ..
Chinese Army personnel participate in joint Yoga session with Indian Army troops
Chinese Army personnel participated in a joint Yoga session with the Indian Army troops at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the Eastern Border on the fifth International Yoga Day.The Joint Yoga session took place at Nathu La in Sikkim, Bumla and Wanchai Damai in Arunachal Pradesh.International Yoga Day was celebrated throughout the country and Indian forces including, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Security Forces and Indian Navy participated in the event in their own unique ways.
CAPFs perform unique 'doga', 'hoga' in tough terrain on Yoga Day
Over 5 lakh troops of the Central Armed Police Forces performed some unique exercise postures--'doga' and 'hoga'-- on the fifth International Day of Yoga Friday as they held sessions in the most difficult terrain ranging from the remote Naxal-affected regions to border locations along Pakistan and China. The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG and NDRF undertook yoga drills at their formations spread across the country. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) animal transport unit, based in the border area of Lohitpur of Arunachal Pradesh, exhibited their yoga skills along with their dogs-- calling it 'doga', an acronym for dog yoga. They rendered the same drills atop their horses, giving it the name of 'hoga' or horse yoga. The dogs aid the force in conducting operations, sanitising routes, sniffing out explosives and drugs, while horses carry loads of ammunition and rations to high-altitude posts of the ITBP. Senior officials of the ...
Yemeni officials: Gunmen attack military, kill 3 soldiers
Yemeni security officials say gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in the eastern province of Hadramawt, killing three soldiers and wounding four. The officials say the attack occurred early on Friday in the town of Coton, a hotbed for al-Qaida militants. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The security officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to reporters. Yemen's civil war began with the 2014 takeover over of the country's north and central regions by the Iranian-backed rebels who drove out the internationally recognised government from the capital, Sanaa. Months later, in March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched its air campaign to prevent the rebels, known as Houthis, from overrunning the country's south. Al-Qaida and other militant groups have exploited the chaos.
Georgia parliament head quits after 240 injured in crackdown
The head of Georgia's parliament quit Friday after more than 240 people were injured in a police crackdown on mass protests, which erupted over a controversial address to lawmakers by a Russian MP. Opposition leaders have vowed to hold demonstrations until parliament is dissolved and snap elections are held. Rallies broke out in the capital Tbilisi on Thursday after a Russian lawmaker addressed parliament from the speaker's seat -- a deeply controversial move in a country at loggerheads with Moscow. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at crowds, leaving at least 160 demonstrators and 80 officers injured according to the health ministry. The use of force in the pro-Western ex-Soviet country has sparked an international outcry, while the Kremlin condemned the protests as "Russophobic provocation". The presence of Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov in parliament brought a backlash in Georgia, which in 2008 fought and lost a brief but bloody war with Moscow over the breakaway regions of ...
Suicide blast at Shiite mosque in Baghdad kills two: Police sources
A suicide explosion at a Shiite mosque in eastern Baghdad killed two civilians and wounded nine people on Friday, two Iraqi police officers told AFP. The blast hit the Imam Mahdi al-Muntadhar mosque in Baladiyat, near the massive and densely-populated district of Sadr City. "At least one attacker wearing a belt of explosives tried to enter the building but was stopped by the guards, and detonated himself outside," one officer told AFP. "Two civilians were killed and nine people were wounded," the source said. The second officer confirmed the details and toll for the attack. At the scene, security forces quickly deployed to cordon off the site, an AFP photographer at the mosque said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Iraq has witnessed a rare period of relative calm in recent months after decades of back-to-back conflict, including years of sectarian violence that regularly saw dozens killed in explosions in Baghdad. In 2017, Iraq declared victory against the Islamic ...
Search operation underway in J-K's Kishtwar
Security forces Friday launched a search operation in a forest area in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir following information about movement of suspected terrorists, officials said. The operation was being jointly carried out by Army and police in Keshwan forest, the officials said, adding that there was no immediate report of any contact between the search parties and the suspected terrorists. On May 31, two special police officers were injured in a gun battle with terrorists during an operation in Appan area of Marwah belt in the district. However, the militants managed to escape after the encounter. Kishtwar, which was declared terrorism-free over a decade ago, was rattled by the killing of state secretary of BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar on November 1 last year, followed by assassination of senior RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his security guard inside a health centre on April 9.
Sri Lanka announces charges over 2012 prison massacre
Sri Lanka's chief prosecutor on Friday announced charges against a top prison officer and an elite commando for the killing of 27 inmates in a notorious rights case. Attorney General Dappula de Livera said he wanted a special fast track trial for Prisons Commissioner Emil Lamahewage and police commando Moses Rangajeewa over the execution-style killings in November 2012. A third suspect who was a member of a prison intelligence unit was on the run, de Livera said. Commandos were used to put down a riot at the Welika jail in Colombo and disarm inmates who had taken weapons from the armoury. According to de Livera's account, eight prisoners were called out by name and killed execution-style. Weapons were later introduced to make it look like the victims had tried to fire at jail guards, according to court documents made available to AFP. The documents did not mention any command responsibility for the deaths. Media reports have said the killings were ordered by the then defence secretary
Algerian protesters rally despite arrests
Hundreds of Algerian protesters gathered Friday in the capital despite a spate of arrests ahead of the latest weekly rally since the April 2 resignation of longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, AFP correspondents said. The demonstrators in central Algiers brandished the Algerian flag that has been a mainstay of the protests but some also carried the Berber colours despite a ban on the minority's flag imposed this week by army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah, Algeria's strongman since Bouteflika's ouster. "No to regionalism, we are all brothers," the protesters chanted. Police earlier detained dozens of demonstrators, especially those carrying the Berber colours, from around the capital's main post office, the epicentre of demonstrations since they first broke out in February. On previous Fridays since the fall of Bouteflika, those detained have been released at the end of the day. Algerians have been holding massive protests since an ailing Bouteflika announced plans to seek a fifth
BJP-Sena workers 'looting' fodder camp grants, claims Chavan
The Congress Friday accused BJP- Shiv Sena workers of "looting" grant meant for fodder camps by showing inflated number of cattle. Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan alleged that the workers of the ruling parties from the parched Marathwada region secured grant by operating fodder camps on behalf of their NGOs. He demanded that fodder camps be audited to bring out the truth. "The drought situation has turned grim in the state. At such a juncture, the workers have looted grants worth crores by showing bogus number of cattle at their fodder camps. Action must be taken against the scamsters concerned," Chavan said in a statement. To drive home his point, the former Maharashtra chief minister said the district collector of Beed, in Marathwada, found during his inspection that the number of cattle kept in the camps were lesser when compared to the grants given. Chavan said random inspection by Beed district collector showed cattle figures were inflated by 16,000 and ...
Haryana: People loot yoga mats at Yoga event attended by Shah, Khattar
A pandemonium broke out when people started looting yoga mats at the venue where Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar participated in a yoga programme in Rohtak district of Haryana on Friday.The two leaders performed yoga here as a part of the International Yoga Day celebrations.Shah said that yoga is for the welfare of the world and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to make it popular globally."Knowledge of yoga is for the welfare of the whole world and it is being adopted by the entire world. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given a universal form to yoga. I express gratitude to him for this," he tweeted after the event.Prime Minister Modi performed yoga at an event in Ranchi in the morning.The International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21 to raise global awareness about the benefits of the ancient Indian practice.
Sadhguru leads yoga session at Indian Navy Floating Dock
Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev led the yoga session of over 500 personnel and families of the Andaman and Nicobar command at the iconic Indian Navy Floating Dock to celebrate the fifth International Day of Yoga here on Friday. "Our soldiers, here in Andaman and Nicobar, miles away from their families and the mainland, are putting their lives at stake to protect the Nation," Sadhguru, the founder of Isha Foundation, said in his address. "Our activities and achievements rest upon the sacrifices of these brave soldiers. It is of utmost importance to equip them with the Yogic tools of transformation for inner well-being," he said. The session was also attended by commander-in-chief of Andaman and Nicobar command, Vice Admiral Bimal Verma. The Sadhguru also interacted with personnel of the armed forces at another event, according to a statement from Isha Foundation. Terming this special, Sadhguru also tweeted: "Yoga for Indian armed forces personnel at the first ...
Chinese armymen,civilians do yoga with Indian defence
Chinese army troops and civilians for the first time participated in a joint Yoga session with Indian army personnel along the Indo-China border in the Eastern border on Friday. Altogether 70 Chinese army personnel and 30 civilians participated in the joint yoga sessions at Nathu-La in Sikkim and at Bumla and Wacha-Damai in Arunachal Pradesh, a defence spokesperson Lt Col Harshwardhan Pande said. Participation of Chinese army personnel in such an event during border personnel meetings will go a long way in promoting peace and tranquility along the borders, he said. The event was oragnised as a part of India's fifth International Yoga Day celebrations. Meanwhile, Eastern Command with an aim to promote better mental and physical health of people on the theme 'Yoga for Heart' organised various events where a large number of troops, their families and local citizens participated in far flung areas of the East and North Eastern region. Various workshops were organised by the ..
Yoga Day: Indian Army personnel perform asanas in Siachen
Battling the bone-numbing cold, Indian Army personnel performed Yoga in Siachen on Friday to mark the occasion of 5th International Yoga Day.Army personnel showed their grit and zeal by performing asanas at the Siachen Glacier - the world's highest battlefield. The troops deployed at the glacier are known for their perseverance and fighting spirit as the temperatures at the altitude of over 20,000 feet may be as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius.All the defence forces took part in the celebrations of International Yoga Day at various locations across the country.The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as the nodal force to coordinate with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to conduct yoga demonstration at Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.BSF camps in Delhi, Odisha and Assam also participated enthusiastically, while Navy personnel performed Yoga on-board vessels in the sea.The theme of this year's Yoga Day is "Climate Action".It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi ...
Georgia opposition vows fresh protests after police crackdown
Georgian opposition leaders on Friday vowed to hold mass protests until parliament is dissolved, after police used rubber bullets and tear gas against demonstrators who had rallied overnight. Demonstrations broke out in capital Tbilisi on Thursday after a Russian lawmaker addressed parliament from the speaker's seat -- a deeply controversial move in a country at loggerheads with Moscow. "The Georgian people and opposition parties demand snap parliamentary polls as well as the resignation of the speaker and the interior minister," Grigol Vashadze, the leader of the United Opposition alliance, told AFP. "Peaceful mass protest will continue until these demands are met," he said, adding that a fresh rally would start at 7 pm (GMT 1500) on Friday. The Kremlin on Friday condemned the protests as "aggressive demonstrations against citizens of Russia". The presence of Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov in parliament sparked outrage in the ex-Soviet nation which in 2008 fought and lost a war with ...
Bihar encephalitis deaths figure in RS
The death of more than 130 children in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district due to encephalitis figured in the Rajya Sabha Friday, with opposition parties demanding that the government make an urgent intervention and pay compensation to families. The issue first figured when Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu was reading out obituary references on death of former members as well as those killed in terrorist attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Opposition members demanded a similar reference be made for the children who died in Bihar. Naidu first asked the Secretary General to "take care of the Bihar thing" and bring an appropriate resolution. Such a reference was not listed in the agenda paper for the day. But after making a reference to June 21 being celebrated as International Day of Yoga, he said that a number of children had died in Bihar and the House condoles their death. "We will stand in silence in memory of the children who lost their lives," he said as members stood in silence .
Gujarat: Indian Army troops perform yoga in Bhuj
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, Indian Army troops along with their family members performed yoga on a river bank in Bhuj on Friday.The striking yogic poses have now become a norm amongst the defence personnel in India. Several departments of the defence have taken part in yoga in the run-up to the fifth international yoga day.The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as the Nodal Force to coordinate with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to conduct yoga demonstration at Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad on the occasion of 5th International Yoga Day today."345 units and 74 Formations of CISF, which includes eight training institutions, 12 reserve battalions, zonal, sector and force headquarters across the length and breadth of the country are ready to celebrate the 5th International Day of Yoga on 21st June, 2019 with great fervor," CISF Public Relations Officer (PRO) said in a statement.Over 1000 CISF and CAPF personnel will participate in the Yoga ...
5 Taliban terrorists killed by Afghan forces in Faryab province
Five Taliban terrorists were killed in an operation by Afghan Special Forces in the country's northern province of Faryab, the provincial government said on Friday.The anti-terrorist operation was carried out in the Dara-e-Shakh area of Gurziwan district in the wee hours of Friday. Two Taliban hideouts were destroyed, reported Xinhua.There was no immediate comment from the Taliban regarding the operation.Afghanistan is facing an unstable political and security situation due to the activities of the Taliban and the Islamic State.The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces have been conducting operations to combat terrorism across the country.
US official: Bad spending oversight hampers Afghan troops
A US watchdog says lack of coordinated oversight of America's spending in Afghanistan has led to a waste of funds and hampered training and development of the country's security forces. Washington's Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, which monitors billions of dollars in US aid to the country, says America has so far spent more than $84 billion dollars on Afghan forces but they continue to suffer staggering losses and bleed personnel. Soldiers go home on leave and never return. SIGAR's report, released late Thursday, paints a troubling picture of a costly Afghan security development scheme, with multiple supervising U.S. and NATO departments that don't coordinate with one another. The report says the "security sector assistance mission in Afghanistan lacked an enduring and comprehensive plan" from the start.
Cannon found while digging canal in Nadia district
Workers engaged in digging a canal in Nadia district have stumbled upon a cannon, sparking excitement among the locals, a district official said. The weapon is very old and it is about 4 feet 2 inches in length, Haringhata BDO Krishna Gopal Dhara said. The cannon, made of brass, was recovered from Yamuna canal at Haringhata in Nadia district on Wednesday. As the word spread, locals soon gathered at the spot to have a look at the cannon. They were also flocking to the local police station, where it has been kept, to have a glimpse of the artillery. IC, Haringhata police station, Ashoktaru Mukherjee said, "We have kept it in the police station and informed the Archaeological department, so that experts can come and examine it. "It was found at south Rajapur in Haringhata. While one end of the cannon is 17-inches in diameter, the body tapers to a 12-inch base on the other end. It has a handle to fix the cannon to a base, either on a carriage or a boat," he said. The workers
