An encounter broke out on Wednesday between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Shopian district.

Two terrorists have been killed in the ongoing encounter while some terrorists who got caught in the encounter at Shopian had plans to do fidayeen attack on security establishment in the area.&nbsp;

According to officials one AK series weapon&nbsp;and one INSAS&nbsp;have been recovered.&nbsp;

A 17-year-old was also killed and two girls were left injured in clashes near the site after security forces reportedly fires tear gas shells and pellets o disperse protestors gathered in Chaigund village.&nbsp;

An official also informed that the two girls with bullet injuries were brought to District Hospital Pulwama.&nbsp;

&quot;An encounter has started at Shopian. Security forces are on the job,&quot; a police official said.

Massive clashes started at Chaigund Dairoo on Wednesday morning, while it&#39;s internet services have been barred in Shopian district.

The police also informed that the area has been placed under cordon

More details awaited.&nbsp;

Terrorists who got caught in the encounter at Shopian had plans to do fidayeen attack on security establishment in the area.

An encounter broke out on Wednesday between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. Two terrorists have been killed in the ongoing encounter while some terrorists who got caught in the encounter at Shopian had plans to do fidayeen attack on security establishment in the area. According to officials one AK series weapon and one INSAS have been recovered. A 17-year-old was also killed and two girls were left injured in clashes near the site after security forces reportedly fires tear gas shells and pellets o disperse protestors gathered in Chaigund village. An official also informed that the two girls with bullet injuries were brought to District Hospital Pulwama. "An encounter has started at Shopian. Security forces are on the job," a police official said. Massive clashes started at Chaigund Dairoo on Wednesday morning, while it's internet services have been barred in Shopian district. The police also informed that the area has been placed under cordon More details awaited.

J&K: 2 terrorists, 17-year-old killed in Shopian encounter

A 25-year-old Indian Army soldier Chandan Kumar Rai lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Poonch on Sunday.

The Indian Army said that they retaliated strongly and effectively after Pakistan initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of mortars, small arms and automatics.

Rai was injured during retaliation and succumbed to his injuries at the military hospital in J&amp;K.

He&nbsp;was from Uttar Pradesh&#39;s Chandauli district and is survived by his father.

Pakistan opened fire at 9:15 am&nbsp;using 120 mm mortars, 82 mm mortars, automatics and small arms.

This marks the 101st incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan.&nbsp;

Sunday is the fourth consecutive day of shelling by the Pakistan Rangers in civilian areas and border outposts (BoPs).

The Indian Army said that they retaliated strongly and effectively after Pakistan initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of mortars, small arms and automatics

A 25-year-old Indian Army soldier Chandan Kumar Rai lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Sunday. The Indian Army said that they retaliated strongly and effectively after Pakistan initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of mortars, small arms and automatics. Rai was injured during retaliation and succumbed to his injuries at the military hospital in J&K. He was from Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli district and is survived by his father. Pakistan opened fire at 9:15 am using 120 mm mortars, 82 mm mortars, automatics and small arms. This marks the 101st incident of ceasefire violation by Pakistan. Sunday is the fourth consecutive day of shelling by the Pakistan Rangers in civilian areas and border outposts (BoPs).

Soldier killed after ceasefire violation in J&K's Mendhar

A 35-week pregnant woman who was severely injured in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sunjwan-army-camp-attack-3-terrorists-killed-operation-on-for-27-hours-32460">Sunjuwan attack</a> gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday night.&nbsp;

The woman was shot in her lower back by four terrorists who had entered the family quarters of the Brigade Army camp in the Sunjuwan area of Jammu, opened fire at the security forces and civilians.

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Army doctors saved life of a pregnant lady injured in terror attack on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SunjwanArmyCamp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SunjwanArmyCamp</a>, she delivered a baby girl through c-section last night; lady says, &#39;I am very thankful to them for saving me and my baby&#39; <a href="https://t.co/iOSwLhsnrv">pic.twitter.com/iOSwLhsnrv</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/962744193809571841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The woman was then immediately evacuated by an Army chopper and rushed to a military hospital where a C-section was performed on her. The mother and the baby were completely healthy, doctors informed.

A Twitter user shared a picture of the baby girl on the social networking website, terming the incident as no less than a miracle.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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A story of a miracle from today&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SunjuwanAttack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SunjuwanAttack</a> 
A 35 week pregnant lady shot in the lower back was evacuated by chopper to the military hospital and immediate C section was performed. Baby girl weighing 2.5 kgs delivered. Mother and child both are safe. <a href="https://t.co/Z5LSfAFDWm">pic.twitter.com/Z5LSfAFDWm</a>
&mdash; kaveri (@ikaveri) <a href="https://twitter.com/ikaveri/status/962396777503653889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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A group of heavily armed JeM terrorists struck the camp of the 36 brigade of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in the early hours on Saturday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dont-throng-encounter-site-maintain-communal-harmony-jammu-police-to-public-32494">Don&#39;t throng encounter site, maintain communal harmony: Jammu Police to public</a>

The operation to flush out Jaish-e-Mohmmad (JeM) terrorists who stormed an Army camp entered the second day on Sunday. The death toll in the attack&nbsp;reached nine with the death of five more security personnel and one civilian. It has also left&nbsp;10 people injured, of which 6 are women and children.

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This wasn&#39;t a routine case. As a gynaecologist, it is always our motto that mother should come alone &amp; go with a healthy baby in her lap. It&#39;s a very joyful moment for my hospital &amp; our team. Patient is really happy: Gynecologist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/fe0zmFTzbI">pic.twitter.com/fe0zmFTzbI</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/962745510036635650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Some AK-47 assault rifles and other weapons were also recovered from the terrorists neutralised by the security forces.

The terrorists, who attacked the Army camp in Sunjwan, located on the outskirts of Jammu city, were believed to be from the &#39;Afzal Guru squad&#39; of JeM.&nbsp;

The woman had been shot in the lower back by the four terrorists who entered the family quarters of the army camp in the Sunjuwan area of Jammu

A 35-week pregnant woman who was severely injured in the Sunjuwan attack gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday night. The woman was shot in her lower back by four terrorists who had entered the family quarters of the Brigade Army camp in the Sunjuwan area of Jammu, opened fire at the security forces and civilians. Army doctors saved life of a pregnant lady injured in terror attack on #SunjwanArmyCamp, she delivered a baby girl through c-section last night; lady says, 'I am very thankful to them for saving me and my baby' pic.twitter.com/iOSwLhsnrv — ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2018 × The woman was then immediately evacuated by an Army chopper and rushed to a military hospital where a C-section was performed on her. The mother and the baby were completely healthy, doctors informed. A Twitter user shared a picture of the baby girl on the social networking website, terming the incident as no less than a miracle. A story of a miracle from today's #SunjuwanAttack A 35 week pregnant lady shot in the lower back was evacuated by chopper to the military hospital and immediate C section was performed. Baby girl weighing 2.5 kgs delivered. Mother and child both are safe. pic.twitter.com/Z5LSfAFDWm — kaveri (@ikaveri) February 10, 2018 × A group of heavily armed JeM terrorists struck the camp of the 36 brigade of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in the early hours on Saturday. Also read: Don't throng encounter site, maintain communal harmony: Jammu Police to public The operation to flush out Jaish-e-Mohmmad (JeM) terrorists who stormed an Army camp entered the second day on Sunday. The death toll in the attack reached nine with the death of five more security personnel and one civilian. It has also left 10 people injured, of which 6 are women and children. This wasn't a routine case. As a gynaecologist, it is always our motto that mother should come alone & go with a healthy baby in her lap. It's a very joyful moment for my hospital & our team. Patient is really happy: Gynecologist #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/fe0zmFTzbI — ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2018 × Some AK-47 assault rifles and other weapons were also recovered from the terrorists neutralised by the security forces. The terrorists, who attacked the Army camp in Sunjwan, located on the outskirts of Jammu city, were believed to be from the 'Afzal Guru squad' of JeM.

Pregnant woman wounded in Jammu army camp attack delivers baby girl

As part of its latest security operation, Egypt&#39;s military has reported destroying close to dozens of targets, killing over a dozen of militants and detaining more than 30 suspects in the northern Sinai Peninsula.&nbsp;

According to Egyptian Army spokesman Tamer el-Rifaai vehicles, weapons caches, communications centres and illegal opium fields were targeted in the sweep.

The operation was launched on Friday and targets terrorist agents and organisations.&nbsp;

Egyptian army and police forces have been actively deployed to cover areas like north and central Sinai, the Nile Delta, the Western Desert and the border with Libya.

Militant attacks in Egypt escalated dramatically after President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in the year 2013.&nbsp;

Militant attacks in Egypt escalated dramatically after President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in 2013

As part of its latest security operation, Egypt's military has reported destroying close to dozens of targets, killing over a dozen of militants and detaining more than 30 suspects in the northern Sinai Peninsula. According to Egyptian Army spokesman Tamer el-Rifaai vehicles, weapons caches, communications centres and illegal opium fields were targeted in the sweep. The operation was launched on Friday and targets terrorist agents and organisations. Egyptian army and police forces have been actively deployed to cover areas like north and central Sinai, the Nile Delta, the Western Desert and the border with Libya. Militant attacks in Egypt escalated dramatically after President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in the year 2013.

Egypt: Army reports successes in Sinai operation against militants

Security forces have neutralised three terrorists holed up in the Sunjuwan Army camp in Jammu, while six people, including five Army personnel, have been killed in the attack by suspected JeM terrorists, Army officials said on Sunday.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SunjwanArmyCamp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SunjwanArmyCamp</a> attack: Arms &amp; ammunition among other paraphernalia recovered in today&#39;s operation <a href="https://t.co/akZkuiKM5I">pic.twitter.com/akZkuiKM5I</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/962690536460169216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Reviewing earlier casualty figures, Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Devendra Anand said three terrorists had been killed in the fighting that broke out before dawn on Saturday at the Sunjuwan Army station in Jammu city.

It was earlier reported that four terrorists were killed in the ensuing military operation in Sunjuwan.

The Defence spokesman, however, said that he could only confirm the killing of only three attackers.&nbsp;

Some AK-47 assault rifles and other weapons were also recovered from the terrorists killed by the security forces.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) examined the evidence collected by the Army from the site of the gun battle, an official said.

The terrorists, who attacked the Army camp in Sunjuwan, located on the outskirts of Jammu city, were believed to be from the &#39;Afzal Guru squad&#39; of JeM.&nbsp;

Since this&nbsp;attack was also the handiwork of JeM terrorists, the NIA is looking for its link with previous cases which will help them in building a stronger case against Azhar and India can make a firm case at the United Nations, the official said.

The terrorists, who attacked the Army camp in Sunjuwan, located on the outskirts of Jammu city, were believed to be from the 'Afzal Guru squad' of JeM

Security forces have neutralised three terrorists holed up in the Sunjuwan Army camp in Jammu, while six people, including five Army personnel, have been killed in the attack by suspected JeM terrorists, Army officials said on Sunday. #SunjwanArmyCamp attack: Arms & ammunition among other paraphernalia recovered in today's operation pic.twitter.com/akZkuiKM5I — ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2018 × Reviewing earlier casualty figures, Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Devendra Anand said three terrorists had been killed in the fighting that broke out before dawn on Saturday at the Sunjuwan Army station in Jammu city. It was earlier reported that four terrorists were killed in the ensuing military operation in Sunjuwan. The Defence spokesman, however, said that he could only confirm the killing of only three attackers. Some AK-47 assault rifles and other weapons were also recovered from the terrorists killed by the security forces. National Investigation Agency (NIA) examined the evidence collected by the Army from the site of the gun battle, an official said. The terrorists, who attacked the Army camp in Sunjuwan, located on the outskirts of Jammu city, were believed to be from the 'Afzal Guru squad' of JeM. Since this attack was also the handiwork of JeM terrorists, the NIA is looking for its link with previous cases which will help them in building a stronger case against Azhar and India can make a firm case at the United Nations, the official said.

Jammu Army camp attack over; death toll at 9

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar&#39;s security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident.

Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/one-grave-for-10-rohingya-men-how-myanmar-forces-burned-looted-and-killed-in-a-remote-village-32293" target="_blank">killing of 10 Rohingya men</a> in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers.

A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that &quot;action according to the law&quot; would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published.

The arrests were &quot;not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news,&quot; Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people.

On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 &quot;terrorists&quot; who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved.

The military&#39;s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses.

Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach.

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide.

Arrested journalists

The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency&#39;s reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested.

Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar&#39;s Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: &quot;We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials.&quot;

If there was &quot;strong and reliable primary evidence&quot; of abuses, the government would investigate, he said.

There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report.

Britain&#39;s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday.

A statement issued by Britain&#39;s Foreign Office after Johnson met with Aung San Suu Kyi said he had raised the case of the two journalists without providing details.

&quot;Discussed importance of Burmese authorities in carrying out full &amp; independent investigation into the violence in #Rakhine &amp; urgent need to create the right conditions for #Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine,&quot; Johnson said in a separate tweet following the talks.

The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;. Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing, and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.

A Myanmar government spokesman said "action according to the law" would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar's security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident. Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers. A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that "action according to the law" would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published. The arrests were "not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news," Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people. On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 "terrorists" who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved. The military's version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses. Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide. Arrested journalists The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency's reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested. Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar's Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence. Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: "We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials." If there was "strong and reliable primary evidence" of abuses, the government would investigate, he said. There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report. Britain's foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday. A statement issued by Britain's Foreign Office after Johnson met with Aung San Suu Kyi said he had raised the case of the two journalists without providing details. "Discussed importance of Burmese authorities in carrying out full & independent investigation into the violence in #Rakhine & urgent need to create the right conditions for #Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine," Johnson said in a separate tweet following the talks. The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya "ethnic cleansing". Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing, and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.

Myanmar says soldiers, police face action over village killings

Bollywood can easily call this year as the year of &#39;postponing release dates&#39; with another classic case of upcoming movie Aiyaary starring <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-aiyaary-yet-to-get-clearance-from-censor-board-siddharth-malhotra-says-film-will-release-on-time-31835" target="_blank">Sidharth Malhotra</a> and Manoj Bajpayee as Army officials in a defence-drama getting postponed twice.&nbsp;

The movie was originally planned to release on January 26, then shifted to February 9 (as Padmaavat announced its release on Jan 25), which finally shifted to February 16 as CBFC delayed the process of issuing the release certificate to the film.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-watch-aiyaarys-song-lae-dooba-sidharth-malhotra-rakul-preets-chemistry-on-point-28033" target="_blank">Also Watch:&nbsp;&#39;Aiyaary&#39;s song Lae Dooba: Sidharth Malhotra, Rakul Preet&#39;s chemistry on point</a>

The second shift in dates resulted due to CBFC&#39;s hesitation in issuing a certificate without Defense Ministry&#39;s nod in&nbsp;a curious case. As the movie is set against the backdrop of the Indian Army, it looks like the Censor Board played safe to ensure the Ministry was okay with the film and thus showed it to them for a go-ahead.&nbsp;

The real reason behind this has now been revealed: As per a report in a Mumbai-based newspaper, the film shows a real-life scam surrounding the army and the government -- something that bothered both the Censor Board and Ministry of Defense. Dealing with corruption in certain sections of the army, the movie takes inspiration for one of its subplots from the real-life land scam of the Adarsh Housing Society,&nbsp;located in Colaba are of Mumbai.

In the film, there are scenes where&nbsp;Sidharth Malhotra and Pooja Chopra&#39;s characters are heard referring to a plot in &#39;Colaba&#39;. Naseeruddin Shah&#39;s (who has a cameo in the movie) character is linked to this subplot, where he is playing the watchman of the said plot. He mentions that the property reserved for widows of martyred soldiers will be taken over by politicians. This is what happened in real life as well in 2010 when the scam was revealed and several top brass officials and politicians were investigated.&nbsp;

The CBI is currently investigating the claim. It led to the resignation of then&nbsp;Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, while the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil, two former urban development ministers, Rajesh Tope and Sunil Tatkare, were all named in the scam.&nbsp;

As of now, Aiyaary <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-aiyaary-gets-censor-certificate-films-cast-rejoices-32065" target="_blank">received its certificate</a> on February 7 and will continue to release on February 16.&nbsp;

As for the cuts suggested by the Censor Board, a source close to the film said in the report:&nbsp;&ldquo;The filmmakers were glad they didn&rsquo;t ask for too many, there were just four minor changes which were carried out to everyone&rsquo;s satisfaction.&rdquo;

Aiyaary is directed by Neeraj Pandey and&nbsp;stars Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee, Rakul Preet Singh, Kumud Mishra, Adil Hussain and Anupam Kher.

&nbsp;

Aiyaary was slated to release on Feb 9 clashing with PadMan but owing to non-issuance of certificate from CBFC, the movie postponed its release to Feb 16

Bollywood can easily call this year as the year of 'postponing release dates' with another classic case of upcoming movie Aiyaary starring Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee as Army officials in a defence-drama getting postponed twice. The movie was originally planned to release on January 26, then shifted to February 9 (as Padmaavat announced its release on Jan 25), which finally shifted to February 16 as CBFC delayed the process of issuing the release certificate to the film. Also Watch: 'Aiyaary's song Lae Dooba: Sidharth Malhotra, Rakul Preet's chemistry on point The second shift in dates resulted due to CBFC's hesitation in issuing a certificate without Defense Ministry's nod in a curious case. As the movie is set against the backdrop of the Indian Army, it looks like the Censor Board played safe to ensure the Ministry was okay with the film and thus showed it to them for a go-ahead. The real reason behind this has now been revealed: As per a report in a Mumbai-based newspaper, the film shows a real-life scam surrounding the army and the government -- something that bothered both the Censor Board and Ministry of Defense. Dealing with corruption in certain sections of the army, the movie takes inspiration for one of its subplots from the real-life land scam of the Adarsh Housing Society, located in Colaba are of Mumbai. In the film, there are scenes where Sidharth Malhotra and Pooja Chopra's characters are heard referring to a plot in 'Colaba'. Naseeruddin Shah's (who has a cameo in the movie) character is linked to this subplot, where he is playing the watchman of the said plot. He mentions that the property reserved for widows of martyred soldiers will be taken over by politicians. This is what happened in real life as well in 2010 when the scam was revealed and several top brass officials and politicians were investigated. The CBI is currently investigating the claim. It led to the resignation of then Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, while the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil, two former urban development ministers, Rajesh Tope and Sunil Tatkare, were all named in the scam. As of now, Aiyaary received its certificate on February 7 and will continue to release on February 16. As for the cuts suggested by the Censor Board, a source close to the film said in the report: “The filmmakers were glad they didn’t ask for too many, there were just four minor changes which were carried out to everyone’s satisfaction.” Aiyaary is directed by Neeraj Pandey and stars Sidharth Malhotra, Manoj Bajpayee, Rakul Preet Singh, Kumud Mishra, Adil Hussain and Anupam Kher.

This is the real reason why Censor Board, Defense Ministry had issues with 'Aiyaary'

The Syrian army performed air strikes in northwest Syria on Thursday killing atleast 28 people.&nbsp;

The aerial bombardment took place when warplanes and helicopters struck in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo provinces including towns of Saraqeb and Kafr Nabouda.&nbsp;

A hospital built under 60 feet of rock in Hama province was also wrecked due to an air strike on Thursday, medical sources say.

They say the hospital was regarded as one of the best protected in the country - was put out of service by Thursday&#39;s strike.

However, it was not clear if it was the same strike carried out by the Syrian army.&nbsp;

The Syrian army and its allies are pushing towards Saraqeb from Abu Duhur, an airbase they captured last month, and they seized several villages on Thursday, the Observatory said.

The strongest rebel group in northwest Syria is Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance of jihadist factions including a former al Qaeda affiliate previously known as the Nusra Front.

The government has pushed rebels from many of the areas they seized during the civil war, which began in 2011, but opposition groups still hold significant pockets near Damascus and Homs and in the southwest, as well as the enclave in the northwest.&nbsp;

The aerial bombardment took place when warplanes and helicopters struck in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo provinces including towns of Saraqeb and Kafr Nabouda

The Syrian army performed air strikes in northwest Syria on Thursday killing atleast 28 people. The aerial bombardment took place when warplanes and helicopters struck in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo provinces including towns of Saraqeb and Kafr Nabouda. A hospital built under 60 feet of rock in Hama province was also wrecked due to an air strike on Thursday, medical sources say. They say the hospital was regarded as one of the best protected in the country - was put out of service by Thursday's strike. However, it was not clear if it was the same strike carried out by the Syrian army. The Syrian army and its allies are pushing towards Saraqeb from Abu Duhur, an airbase they captured last month, and they seized several villages on Thursday, the Observatory said. The strongest rebel group in northwest Syria is Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance of jihadist factions including a former al Qaeda affiliate previously known as the Nusra Front. The government has pushed rebels from many of the areas they seized during the civil war, which began in 2011, but opposition groups still hold significant pockets near Damascus and Homs and in the southwest, as well as the enclave in the northwest.

Syrian army airstrike kills 28 in Northwestern enclave

Supreme Court officers will now be entitled to get &quot;washing allowance&quot; of Rs 21,000 per annum, reports said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The Special Protection Group (non-operational) has been granted composite and washing allowance of Rs 21,225 with a meagre difference. The SPG (operational) have been granted an allowance of Rs 27,000 -&nbsp; the highest among all services - reports further stated.&nbsp;

Soldiers of armed forces and paramilitary forces, CRPF and BSF will get an amount of Rs 10,000 for purchasing their uniform and washing them. The officers of Supreme Court including top-secretary general, however, will now get a washing allowance of Rs 1,750 per month.

As per direction given by the finance ministry,&nbsp;the non-clerical staff of the apex court will get washing allowance of Rs 1,350 a month and remaining staff of the SC will get Rs 1,250 per month.&nbsp;

The dress and washing allowance to the officers of the Army, Air Force and Navy has been fixed at Rs 20,000 per annum. The officers of the Delhi Police and DANIP service will get dress and washing allowance of Rs 15,000 annually.

This allowance will come into effect from December 14, 2017.&nbsp;

The decision came after several officers clashed with the government, saying that their allowances have been discounted post the seventh pay commission and permitted only in case of troops where it has been subsumed with the dress allowance, reports said.

The Special Protection Group (non-operational) has been granted composite and washing allowance of Rs 21,225 with a meagre difference. The SPG (operational) have been granted an allowance of Rs 27,000 - the highest among all services reports further stated

Supreme Court officers will now be entitled to get "washing allowance" of Rs 21,000 per annum, reports said on Tuesday. The Special Protection Group (non-operational) has been granted composite and washing allowance of Rs 21,225 with a meagre difference. The SPG (operational) have been granted an allowance of Rs 27,000 - the highest among all services - reports further stated. Soldiers of armed forces and paramilitary forces, CRPF and BSF will get an amount of Rs 10,000 for purchasing their uniform and washing them. The officers of Supreme Court including top-secretary general, however, will now get a washing allowance of Rs 1,750 per month. As per direction given by the finance ministry, the non-clerical staff of the apex court will get washing allowance of Rs 1,350 a month and remaining staff of the SC will get Rs 1,250 per month. The dress and washing allowance to the officers of the Army, Air Force and Navy has been fixed at Rs 20,000 per annum. The officers of the Delhi Police and DANIP service will get dress and washing allowance of Rs 15,000 annually. This allowance will come into effect from December 14, 2017. The decision came after several officers clashed with the government, saying that their allowances have been discounted post the seventh pay commission and permitted only in case of troops where it has been subsumed with the dress allowance, reports said.

Supreme Court law officers awarded Rs 21,000 as 'washing allowance'

Zimbabwe&rsquo;s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday named the former army chief who led a coup that ended Robert Mugabe&#39;s 37-year rule, as one of his two deputies in the ruling party, the presidency said.

Presidential press secretary George Charamba said in a statement, retired general Constantino Chiwenga and long-serving state security minister Kembo Mohadi were appointed as Mnangagwa&rsquo;s deputies in the ZANU-PF party &ldquo;with immediate effect.&rdquo;

The party appointment is the first step in their elevation to state vice presidents. Two other top military officials were earlier this month awarded ministerial posts.

Chiwenga retired this week, slightly over a month after the military temporarily took control of the country on November 15 as internal feuding escalated in&nbsp; ZANU-PF over then-president Mugabe&rsquo;s succession.

The takeover which the army said was targeting Mugabe&rsquo;s corrupt allies came days after the 93-year-old leader had fired then deputy Mnangagwa who has strong military ties and was widely tipped as the likely successor.

Mugabe&#39;s wife Grace had indicated interest in succeeding her husband.

The army&rsquo;s intervention was followed by mass street protests against Mugabe and a motion to impeach the veteran ruler who resigned in a letter to parliament as proceedings to recall him began.

The ruling ZANU PF party then appointed Mnangagwa as Mugabe&rsquo;s replacement, leading to his inauguration as the country&#39;s president on November 24.

Zimbabwe?s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday named the former army chief who led a coup that ended Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule, as one of his two deputies in the ruling party, the presidency said.

Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday named the former army chief who led a coup that ended Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule, as one of his two deputies in the ruling party, the presidency said. Presidential press secretary George Charamba said in a statement, retired general Constantino Chiwenga and long-serving state security minister Kembo Mohadi were appointed as Mnangagwa’s deputies in the ZANU-PF party “with immediate effect.” The party appointment is the first step in their elevation to state vice presidents. Two other top military officials were earlier this month awarded ministerial posts. Chiwenga retired this week, slightly over a month after the military temporarily took control of the country on November 15 as internal feuding escalated in ZANU-PF over then-president Mugabe’s succession. The takeover which the army said was targeting Mugabe’s corrupt allies came days after the 93-year-old leader had fired then deputy Mnangagwa who has strong military ties and was widely tipped as the likely successor. Mugabe's wife Grace had indicated interest in succeeding her husband. The army’s intervention was followed by mass street protests against Mugabe and a motion to impeach the veteran ruler who resigned in a letter to parliament as proceedings to recall him began. The ruling ZANU PF party then appointed Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s replacement, leading to his inauguration as the country's president on November 24.

Zimbabwe's ex-army chief named ruling party VP: Official

The ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir was violated 881 times this year.&nbsp;

Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir told the Lok Sabha Tuesday that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir 771 times till December 10, and 110 times along the IB till November-end.

He added that the firing from across the border had led to the deaths of 30 people -- 14 Army personnel, 12 civilians, and four BSF personnel.

He added that there had been no cross-border firing in any other state bordering Pakistan.&nbsp;

The truce between India and Pakistan along the International Border, the Line of Control and the Actual Ground Position Line in Jammu and Kashmir came into force in November 2003.

India shares a 3,323-km-long border with Pakistan, of which 221 km of the IB and 740 km of the LoC fall in Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2016, there had been 449 ceasefire violations in which 13 civilians and 13 security personnel were killed and 83 civilians and 99 security personnel injured.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir told the Lok Sabha Tuesday that the firing from across the border had led to the deaths of 30 people

The ceasefire along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir was violated 881 times this year. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir told the Lok Sabha Tuesday that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir 771 times till December 10, and 110 times along the IB till November-end. He added that the firing from across the border had led to the deaths of 30 people -- 14 Army personnel, 12 civilians, and four BSF personnel. He added that there had been no cross-border firing in any other state bordering Pakistan. The truce between India and Pakistan along the International Border, the Line of Control and the Actual Ground Position Line in Jammu and Kashmir came into force in November 2003. India shares a 3,323-km-long border with Pakistan, of which 221 km of the IB and 740 km of the LoC fall in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2016, there had been 449 ceasefire violations in which 13 civilians and 13 security personnel were killed and 83 civilians and 99 security personnel injured. (With inputs from PTI)

J&K: Ceasefire along India-Pakistan border violated 881 times this year

Pervez Musharraf has said that he is banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba&#39;s (LeT) &quot;biggest supporter&quot; and that he is aware that they &quot;like&quot; him too.&nbsp;

In an interview with Pakistan&#39;s ARY News, Musharraf said that he is similarly appreciative of&nbsp;LeT co-founder and the man thought to be the&nbsp;mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed.

Musharraf was quoted as saying <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/hafiz-saeed-walks-free-vows-to-fight-for-kashmir-cause-24988" target="_blank">Saeed &quot;is involved in Kashmir&quot;</a> and that he &quot;supports&quot; that involvement.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/hafiz-saeed-files-petition-in-un-to-remove-terrorist-tag-25302" target="_blank">Hafiz Saeed files petition in UN to get terrorist tag removed</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-should-ensure-hafiz-saeed-is-arrested-us-25045" target="_blank">Pakistan should ensure Hafiz Saeed is </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-should-ensure-hafiz-saeed-is-arrested-us-25045" target="_blank">arrestedl</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-should-ensure-hafiz-saeed-is-arrested-us-25045" target="_blank">, says </a><a class="gr-progress" href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-should-ensure-hafiz-saeed-is-arrested-us-25045" target="_blank">US</a>

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I am the biggest supporter of LeT and I know they like me &amp; JuD also likes me: Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan&#39;s ARY News, also said &#39;yes&#39; on being asked if he likes Hafiz Saeed, added that, &#39;I have met him (Hafiz Saeed)&#39; <a href="https://t.co/txxT58oPoU">pic.twitter.com/txxT58oPoU</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/935710968058822656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Was always in favor of action in Kashmir &amp; of suppressing Indian Army in Kashmir &amp; they are the biggest force (LeT), India got them declared as terrorists by partnering with US. Yes they (LeT) are involved in Kashmir &amp; in Kashmir it is b/w we &amp; India: Musharraf to ARY News <a href="https://t.co/b1fOAyreKl">pic.twitter.com/b1fOAyreKl</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/935712835278999557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Hafiz Saeed is a&nbsp;United Nations-designated terrorist who was freed from house arrest last week on an order of Lahore high court.

The US also branded Saeed a terrorist and put a $10 million bounty on Saeed&#39;s head after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Musharraf claimed Saeed was not involved in the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 because Saeed &quot;himself denied the charges&quot; of being the attacks&#39; mastermind.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/opinion-if-pakistan-army-wants-nothing-can-stop-hafiz-saeed-from-being-a-free-man-24881" target="_blank">Opinion: If Pakistan Army wants, Hafiz Saeed will be a free man</a>

Musharraf was declared a fugitive from justice by Pakistan in August this year.

 
&nbsp;

Musharraf also said he was appreciative of the man thought to be the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks -- LeT co-founder Hafeez Saeed

Pervez Musharraf has said that he is banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) "biggest supporter" and that he is aware that they "like" him too. In an interview with Pakistan's ARY News, Musharraf said that he is similarly appreciative of LeT co-founder and the man thought to be the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed. Musharraf was quoted as saying Saeed "is involved in Kashmir" and that he "supports" that involvement. Also read: Hafiz Saeed files petition in UN to get terrorist tag removed Also read: Pakistan should ensure Hafiz Saeed is arrestedl, says US I am the biggest supporter of LeT and I know they like me & JuD also likes me: Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan's ARY News, also said 'yes' on being asked if he likes Hafiz Saeed, added that, 'I have met him (Hafiz Saeed)' pic.twitter.com/txxT58oPoU — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2017 × Was always in favor of action in Kashmir & of suppressing Indian Army in Kashmir & they are the biggest force (LeT), India got them declared as terrorists by partnering with US. Yes they (LeT) are involved in Kashmir & in Kashmir it is b/w we & India: Musharraf to ARY News pic.twitter.com/b1fOAyreKl — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2017 × Hafiz Saeed is a United Nations-designated terrorist who was freed from house arrest last week on an order of Lahore high court. The US also branded Saeed a terrorist and put a $10 million bounty on Saeed's head after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Musharraf claimed Saeed was not involved in the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 because Saeed "himself denied the charges" of being the attacks' mastermind. Opinion: If Pakistan Army wants, Hafiz Saeed will be a free man Musharraf was declared a fugitive from justice by Pakistan in August this year.

I am Lashkar's biggest supporter, I know they like me: Pervez Musharraf

Pakistan&#39;s government has called in the army to restore order after clashes between police and protesters belonging to hardline religious groups killed six people and injured more than 200 others in the capital.

The police aided by paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Constabulary yesterday lunched a massive operation against activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan religious groups who had blocked a key highway to Islamabad for nearly three weeks.

Police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters to disperse them. However, the security forces pulled back after the crackdown turned deadly.

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<h5>The protesters have been laying siege to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for about three weeks demanding the removal of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, whom they accuse of blasphemy</h5>
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At least six people were killed in clashes yesterday, Dawn reported. It also said that no security personnel was killed but at least nine senior police officers were injured including Rawalpindi city police chief Israr Abbasi.

According to health officials, more than 200 people, including at least 95 security personnel, were injured in the clashes and shifted to various hospitals.

The Interior Ministry last night issued a statutory regulatory order to authorize the deployment of the army to control the law and order situation in the capital.

Official sources said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa are expected to hold a meeting to discuss the situation after the government sought deployment of the army in the capital.

However, the army said it needed clarification on some points before moving in to control the situation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-calls-on-army-to-restore-security-in-islamabad-after-violent-clashes-25132" target="_blank">Pakistan calls on army to restore security in Islamabad after violent clashes</a>

General Bajwa was on a visit to the United Arab Emirates and cut short his trip to reach the country last night.

Earlier, he spoke to Abbasi over telephone and suggested to handle the protests peacefully &quot;avoiding violence from both sides as it is not in national interest and cohesion.&quot;

Meanwhile, all news channels have been off-air and access to popular social media blocked since yesterday.

Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) representing electronic media condemned the action against media.

The protesters have been laying siege to the capital for about three weeks demanding removal of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for changes in a law related to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (finality of prohpethood) oath in the Elections Act 2017.

They alleged the action undermined Islamic beliefs and linked it to blasphemy. The government has already amended the law and restored the original oath but the hardline clerics refused to call of the protests until the minister is sacked.

The unrest also spread to several cities where protesters have blocked major roads, resulting in clashes with police. Dozens of people were injured in Karachi and at other places.

Minister of Interior Ahsan Iqbal chaired a high-level security meeting&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;night but failed to reach at any decision about further operation as senior officials of Islamabad administration and police warned to loss of human lives, according to sources in the interior ministry.

The protesters emboldened by failure of government upped the ante and demanded resignation of the government, according to report on Geo TV website.

There are reports that ruling Pakistan Muslims Leauge- Nawaz was discussing the option of removing law minister to pacify the protests. But it may be too late now. The minister is already under immense pressure after an attack yesterday at his residence in Pasroor area of Sialkot district in Punjab.

Opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf have also increased pressure on government and its secretary general Jehangir Tareen demanded resignation of interior minister for mishandling the operation.&nbsp;

The Pakistani government has called in the army to restore order

Pakistan's government has called in the army to restore order after clashes between police and protesters belonging to hardline religious groups killed six people and injured more than 200 others in the capital. The police aided by paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Constabulary yesterday lunched a massive operation against activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan religious groups who had blocked a key highway to Islamabad for nearly three weeks. Police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters to disperse them. However, the security forces pulled back after the crackdown turned deadly. The protesters have been laying siege to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for about three weeks demanding the removal of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, whom they accuse of blasphemy × At least six people were killed in clashes yesterday, Dawn reported. It also said that no security personnel was killed but at least nine senior police officers were injured including Rawalpindi city police chief Israr Abbasi. According to health officials, more than 200 people, including at least 95 security personnel, were injured in the clashes and shifted to various hospitals. The Interior Ministry last night issued a statutory regulatory order to authorize the deployment of the army to control the law and order situation in the capital. Official sources said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa are expected to hold a meeting to discuss the situation after the government sought deployment of the army in the capital. However, the army said it needed clarification on some points before moving in to control the situation. Also read: Pakistan calls on army to restore security in Islamabad after violent clashes General Bajwa was on a visit to the United Arab Emirates and cut short his trip to reach the country last night. Earlier, he spoke to Abbasi over telephone and suggested to handle the protests peacefully "avoiding violence from both sides as it is not in national interest and cohesion." Meanwhile, all news channels have been off-air and access to popular social media blocked since yesterday. Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) representing electronic media condemned the action against media. The protesters have been laying siege to the capital for about three weeks demanding removal of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for changes in a law related to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (finality of prohpethood) oath in the Elections Act 2017. They alleged the action undermined Islamic beliefs and linked it to blasphemy. The government has already amended the law and restored the original oath but the hardline clerics refused to call of the protests until the minister is sacked. The unrest also spread to several cities where protesters have blocked major roads, resulting in clashes with police. Dozens of people were injured in Karachi and at other places. Minister of Interior Ahsan Iqbal chaired a high-level security meeting on Friday night but failed to reach at any decision about further operation as senior officials of Islamabad administration and police warned to loss of human lives, according to sources in the interior ministry. The protesters emboldened by failure of government upped the ante and demanded resignation of the government, according to report on Geo TV website. There are reports that ruling Pakistan Muslims Leauge- Nawaz was discussing the option of removing law minister to pacify the protests. But it may be too late now. The minister is already under immense pressure after an attack yesterday at his residence in Pasroor area of Sialkot district in Punjab. Opposition Tehreek-e-Insaf have also increased pressure on government and its secretary general Jehangir Tareen demanded resignation of interior minister for mishandling the operation.

Islamabad: 6 dead, over 200 injured in clashes between Pakistan police, protesters

Perhaps no single demographic faces greater persecution than women living in conflict zones. Either as members of rebel groups or victims of state-led violence, women in armed conflict are vulnerable and usually always the victims.

This victimisation is part of an organised policy that weaponises their bodies and minds for dominance, power and control by men, in war. And it&rsquo;s a method chosen by both state and non-state actors. Whether it be the enslavement of thousands of Yazidi women by ISIS, the abduction of women and girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria, or the mass-scale rapes of women by soldiers in Syria, conflict always reveals horrific levels of repression women across the world continue to face. India is no exception to the rule. Frequently prone to insurgencies and ethnic conflict, the stories of women in India&rsquo;s conflict zones, whether it is Manipur, Chattisgarh, or Kashmir, bear the scars of brutality, sexual violence, and oppression.

One of the most important cases that catapulted the issue of brutality against women in war in India was the murder of a Manipuri girl, Thangjam Manorama by members of the 17 Assam Rifles. The Chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission tasked with the responsibility to investigate the murder called it one of the most shocking custodial killings.

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<h5>In Kashmir, years of a brutal insurgency between the Indian state and militant groups inflicted its highest toll on women.</h5>
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Thangjam had been sexually assaulted repeatedly and had eight bullets pumped into her. In Kashmir, years of a brutal insurgency between the Indian state and militant groups inflicted its highest toll on women. Rita Manchanda and Urvashi Bhutalia who have extensively worked on this issue show, in their body of work, that in Kashmir, women are either killed in crossfire, shot at in public demonstrations, blown up in grenade explosions across the Line of Control (LoC) or raped by militants.

Both security forces and militant groups use rape as an instrument of control, though, the objectives are markedly different. While militants use rape to humiliate and silence members of minority communities like the Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs, Indian security forces have used rape to punish those suspected of links to militant groups.

A Human Rights Report published by the US State Department in 1999-2000 documents how paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir and the police were culpable in a broader pattern of custodial abuse. The 1991 Kunan-Pushpora incident is still a dark episode in the history of Kashmir&rsquo;s internal conflict when four soldiers belonging to the Rashtriya Rifles allegedly raped at least 23 women in Kashmir&rsquo;s Kunan and Pushpora villages.

Twenty-six years later, six of the victims are deceased and justice remains elusive. In a separate case in 2009, 22-year-old Neelofer Jan and her 17-year-old sister-in-law Asiya Jan were allegedly raped and murdered by CRPF forces in Shopian, Kashmir. Despite setting up several inquiries to investigate the matter, the results were inconclusive and justice, again, a foregone conclusion.

There is another side to the story, though. A 2017 NPR report reveals how many Kashmiri women are actively aiding militants against the Indian state. Alternatively, Kashmiri Pandit women belonging to the Hindu community are killed in militant attacks, the 1998 Wandhama massacre being the case in point. These stories are telling in that not just majority Muslim women but Hindu women and those belonging to minority groups in Kashmir are caught in a relentless cycle of violence between state and militant groups.

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<h5>The women are deeply indoctrinated into an ideology that views violence as a means of liberation and emancipation.</h5>
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Women living in Maoist-held insurgent territory face a similar fate. In 2015, the National Human Rights Commission reported that at least 16 tribal women were allegedly raped and killed by police in Bastar. While many of these reports are evidence of the impunity state security forces and police exercise in conflict zones, one cannot entirely ignore the role of female Maoist cadres leading an orchestrated campaign of violence against the Indian state.

But their victimisation has a different source. These women are deeply indoctrinated into an ideology that views violence as a means of liberation and emancipation. Much of the result of such ideological violence is that the same women inevitably become victims of both state violence and extremist indoctrination, their bodies constant targets of physical and emotional abuse.

Where do we go from here? There are several ways to address the subjugation and brutalisation of women in India&rsquo;s conflict zones. While these measures will not entirely eliminate the problem, they could alleviate the suffering of many women.

First, a speedy justice system that punishes the perpetrators quickly is essential. Much of the violence against women continues unabated when those perpetrating the abuse are convinced they can get away with it. For instance, problematic parts of laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) need to be amended to place limits on military powers.

Second, police and military personnel must receive mandatory training and socialisation in how to approach women in conflict zones, carrying a penalty for misdemeanours.

Third, civil society must work with non-governmental organisations to spread greater awareness about the experiences of women in violence-afflicted zones and offer assistance in any way possible. Journalists, too, must continue to educate and confront the problem. Finally, cultural norms that sustain a deeply patriarchal society must be challenged and broken. The onus is on us, both men and women, to do it.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

There is need to end violence against women in conflict zones because as members of rebel groups or victims of state-led violence, women in armed conflict are vulnerable and usually the victims

Perhaps no single demographic faces greater persecution than women living in conflict zones. Either as members of rebel groups or victims of state-led violence, women in armed conflict are vulnerable and usually always the victims. This victimisation is part of an organised policy that weaponises their bodies and minds for dominance, power and control by men, in war. And it’s a method chosen by both state and non-state actors. Whether it be the enslavement of thousands of Yazidi women by ISIS, the abduction of women and girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria, or the mass-scale rapes of women by soldiers in Syria, conflict always reveals horrific levels of repression women across the world continue to face. India is no exception to the rule. Frequently prone to insurgencies and ethnic conflict, the stories of women in India’s conflict zones, whether it is Manipur, Chattisgarh, or Kashmir, bear the scars of brutality, sexual violence, and oppression. One of the most important cases that catapulted the issue of brutality against women in war in India was the murder of a Manipuri girl, Thangjam Manorama by members of the 17 Assam Rifles. The Chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission tasked with the responsibility to investigate the murder called it one of the most shocking custodial killings. In Kashmir, years of a brutal insurgency between the Indian state and militant groups inflicted its highest toll on women. × Thangjam had been sexually assaulted repeatedly and had eight bullets pumped into her. In Kashmir, years of a brutal insurgency between the Indian state and militant groups inflicted its highest toll on women. Rita Manchanda and Urvashi Bhutalia who have extensively worked on this issue show, in their body of work, that in Kashmir, women are either killed in crossfire, shot at in public demonstrations, blown up in grenade explosions across the Line of Control (LoC) or raped by militants. Both security forces and militant groups use rape as an instrument of control, though, the objectives are markedly different. While militants use rape to humiliate and silence members of minority communities like the Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs, Indian security forces have used rape to punish those suspected of links to militant groups. A Human Rights Report published by the US State Department in 1999-2000 documents how paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir and the police were culpable in a broader pattern of custodial abuse. The 1991 Kunan-Pushpora incident is still a dark episode in the history of Kashmir’s internal conflict when four soldiers belonging to the Rashtriya Rifles allegedly raped at least 23 women in Kashmir’s Kunan and Pushpora villages. Twenty-six years later, six of the victims are deceased and justice remains elusive. In a separate case in 2009, 22-year-old Neelofer Jan and her 17-year-old sister-in-law Asiya Jan were allegedly raped and murdered by CRPF forces in Shopian, Kashmir. Despite setting up several inquiries to investigate the matter, the results were inconclusive and justice, again, a foregone conclusion. There is another side to the story, though. A 2017 NPR report reveals how many Kashmiri women are actively aiding militants against the Indian state. Alternatively, Kashmiri Pandit women belonging to the Hindu community are killed in militant attacks, the 1998 Wandhama massacre being the case in point. These stories are telling in that not just majority Muslim women but Hindu women and those belonging to minority groups in Kashmir are caught in a relentless cycle of violence between state and militant groups. The women are deeply indoctrinated into an ideology that views violence as a means of liberation and emancipation. × Women living in Maoist-held insurgent territory face a similar fate. In 2015, the National Human Rights Commission reported that at least 16 tribal women were allegedly raped and killed by police in Bastar. While many of these reports are evidence of the impunity state security forces and police exercise in conflict zones, one cannot entirely ignore the role of female Maoist cadres leading an orchestrated campaign of violence against the Indian state. But their victimisation has a different source. These women are deeply indoctrinated into an ideology that views violence as a means of liberation and emancipation. Much of the result of such ideological violence is that the same women inevitably become victims of both state violence and extremist indoctrination, their bodies constant targets of physical and emotional abuse. Where do we go from here? There are several ways to address the subjugation and brutalisation of women in India’s conflict zones. While these measures will not entirely eliminate the problem, they could alleviate the suffering of many women. First, a speedy justice system that punishes the perpetrators quickly is essential. Much of the violence against women continues unabated when those perpetrating the abuse are convinced they can get away with it. For instance, problematic parts of laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) need to be amended to place limits on military powers. Second, police and military personnel must receive mandatory training and socialisation in how to approach women in conflict zones, carrying a penalty for misdemeanours. Third, civil society must work with non-governmental organisations to spread greater awareness about the experiences of women in violence-afflicted zones and offer assistance in any way possible. Journalists, too, must continue to educate and confront the problem. Finally, cultural norms that sustain a deeply patriarchal society must be challenged and broken. The onus is on us, both men and women, to do it. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Women and the wounds of war

In the backdrop of the 73-day- long Dokalam standoff, the Army has decided to significantly ramp up road infrastructure along <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-welcomes-modis-not-a-single-bullet-fired-along-sino-india-border-remark-16447">the Sino-India border </a>and tasked its Corps of Engineers to vigorously work on it to ensure swift movement of troops whenever necessary. Official sources said the Corps of Engineers (CoE) has already initiated a series of steps including placing orders for latest versions of various mountain cutting and road laying machines and equipment besides procuring assault tracks for fast movement of troops.

The sources said the Army headquarters ordered over 1,000 dual track mine detectors to enhance Corps of Engineers&rsquo; mine detection capability.

Over 100 excavators with latest features are also being procured to increase the existing capability of the engineers to lay operational track along mountainous regions in Northern sector.

The sources said over 50 short span bridges and a sizeable number of assault tracks for quick movement are also being procured to increase their mobility.

India and China share a 4,000-km-long border. The 237-year-old CoE provides key combat engineering support and maintains connectivity in key border regions for speedy movement of troops and artillery.

As per the plan, the Army engineers will initially lay roads in mountainous terrains and if necessary they will be further strengthened by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

In 2005, the Border Road Organisation was asked to construct 73 roads in the strategically important regions along the Sino-India border but there has been huge delay in implementation of the project which has apparently left the Army unhappy.

They said enhancing infrastructure along the sensitive borders is part of the government&rsquo;s overall strategy to boost combat readiness of the armed forces. The first company of CoE was raised in 1780 and the organization celebrated its raising day on November 18.

The Army has been focusing on enhancing infrastructure along the Sino-India border following the Dokalam standoff.

Soon after the face-off ended, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had expressed serious concern over China&rsquo;s &ldquo;muscle flexing&rdquo; and said these conflicts can expand into an all-out war.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army.

The face-off ended on August 28.

Recently, the Army has also finalized one of its biggest procurement plans for infantry modernization under which a large number of light machine guns, battle carbines, and assault rifles are being purchased at a cost of nearly Rs 40,000 crore.

In the backdrop of the 73-day- long Dokalam standoff, the Army has decided to significantly ramp up road infrastructure along the Sino-India border and tasked its Corps of Engineers to vigorously work on it to ensure swift movement of troops whenever necessary

In the backdrop of the 73-day- long Dokalam standoff, the Army has decided to significantly ramp up road infrastructure along the Sino-India border and tasked its Corps of Engineers to vigorously work on it to ensure swift movement of troops whenever necessary. Official sources said the Corps of Engineers (CoE) has already initiated a series of steps including placing orders for latest versions of various mountain cutting and road laying machines and equipment besides procuring assault tracks for fast movement of troops. The sources said the Army headquarters ordered over 1,000 dual track mine detectors to enhance Corps of Engineers’ mine detection capability. Over 100 excavators with latest features are also being procured to increase the existing capability of the engineers to lay operational track along mountainous regions in Northern sector. The sources said over 50 short span bridges and a sizeable number of assault tracks for quick movement are also being procured to increase their mobility. India and China share a 4,000-km-long border. The 237-year-old CoE provides key combat engineering support and maintains connectivity in key border regions for speedy movement of troops and artillery. As per the plan, the Army engineers will initially lay roads in mountainous terrains and if necessary they will be further strengthened by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). In 2005, the Border Road Organisation was asked to construct 73 roads in the strategically important regions along the Sino-India border but there has been huge delay in implementation of the project which has apparently left the Army unhappy. They said enhancing infrastructure along the sensitive borders is part of the government’s overall strategy to boost combat readiness of the armed forces. The first company of CoE was raised in 1780 and the organization celebrated its raising day on November 18. The Army has been focusing on enhancing infrastructure along the Sino-India border following the Dokalam standoff. Soon after the face-off ended, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had expressed serious concern over China’s “muscle flexing” and said these conflicts can expand into an all-out war. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28. Recently, the Army has also finalized one of its biggest procurement plans for infantry modernization under which a large number of light machine guns, battle carbines, and assault rifles are being purchased at a cost of nearly Rs 40,000 crore.

Doklam standoff: Army takes steps for swift troop movement along China border

President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday, making his first public appearance since military generals took control of Zimbabwe earlier this week.

In a display of defiance, Mugabe, 93, arrived at the ceremony in the capital Harare, dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat, an AFP correspondent reported.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/army-says-progress-made-in-ending-zimbabwe-crisis-24452" target="_blank">Army says progress made in ending Zimbabwe crisis</a>

The generals took over late on Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked and Mugabe&#39;s wife Grace emerged in prime position to succeed her increasingly frail husband.

Zimbabwe was left stunned by the military intervention sparked by the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa, 75.

Analysts say the military leadership was strongly opposed to Grace&#39;s rise, while Mnangagwa has close ties to the defence establishment.

Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks on Friday as the takeover appeared to signal his imminent exit from office after 37 years in power since Zimbabwe won independence from Britain in 1980.

Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed Mugabe, flew back to Harare on Thursday after fleeing the country when he was sacked last week.

Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday

President Robert Mugabe attended a university graduation ceremony on Friday, making his first public appearance since military generals took control of Zimbabwe earlier this week. In a display of defiance, Mugabe, 93, arrived at the ceremony in the capital Harare, dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat, an AFP correspondent reported. Army says progress made in ending Zimbabwe crisis The generals took over late on Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked and Mugabe's wife Grace emerged in prime position to succeed her increasingly frail husband. Zimbabwe was left stunned by the military intervention sparked by the bitter succession battle between Grace and Mnangagwa, 75. Analysts say the military leadership was strongly opposed to Grace's rise, while Mnangagwa has close ties to the defence establishment. Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks on Friday as the takeover appeared to signal his imminent exit from office after 37 years in power since Zimbabwe won independence from Britain in 1980. Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed Mugabe, flew back to Harare on Thursday after fleeing the country when he was sacked last week.

Mugabe makes first public appearance since army takeover

Rohingya refugees cannot return to Rakhine state until &quot;real Myanmar citizens&quot; are ready to accept them, the country`s army chief said Thursday, casting doubt over government pledges to begin repatriating the persecuted Muslim minority.

More than 600,000 Rohingya are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in late August.

The UN says the scorched-earth operation, which has left hundreds of villages burned to ash in northern Rakhine state, amounts to ethnic cleansing of the stateless minority.

But Myanmar&#39;s hardline army chief Min Aung Hlaing has steadfastly denied all allegations of abuse, insisting troops only targeted Rohingya insurgents.

He has also taken to Facebook throughout the crisis to fan anti-Rohingya sentiment among the Buddhist public, branding the Muslims as foreign interlopers from Bangladesh despite many having lived in Rakhine for generations.

On Thursday he signaled repatriation of the Rohingya was a long way off, saying their return must first be accepted by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists -- many of whom loathe the Muslim minority and are accused of aiding soldiers in torching their homes.

&quot;Emphasis must be placed on the wish of local Rakhine ethnic people who are real Myanmar citizens. Only when local Rakhine ethnic people accept it, will all the people satisfy it (sic),&quot; the statement, written in English, said on his Facebook page.&nbsp;

The army commander also said Myanmar would not allow the return of all Rohingya in Bangladesh, a country that was already hosting hundreds of thousands of the minority from previous waves of persecution.

&quot;It is impossible to accept the number of persons proposed by Bangladesh,&quot; the army statement said, after branding the refugees as &quot;terrorists&quot; who fled with their families.

The general`s comments came a day after he met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who on Wednesday called on the army to support efforts to return &quot;all refugees&quot;, adding that the reports of widespread atrocities by Myanmar`s soldiers were &quot;credible&quot;.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed in principle to begin repatriation but are still tussling over the details.

Questions are mounting over how many Rohingya will be allowed to return, where they will live after they homes have been burned down and how they will coexist peacefully among ethnic Rakhine neighbors.

Tensions between the two groups have simmered for years, erupting into bouts of bloodshed in 2012 that pushed more than 100,000 Rohingya into grim displacement camps.

The Muslim minority has for years suffered under discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship and severely restricts their access to work, healthcare, and education.

'It is impossible to accept the number of persons proposed by Bangladesh,' the army chief said, after branding the refugees as 'terrorists' who fled with their families

Rohingya refugees cannot return to Rakhine state until "real Myanmar citizens" are ready to accept them, the country`s army chief said Thursday, casting doubt over government pledges to begin repatriating the persecuted Muslim minority. More than 600,000 Rohingya are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in late August. The UN says the scorched-earth operation, which has left hundreds of villages burned to ash in northern Rakhine state, amounts to ethnic cleansing of the stateless minority. But Myanmar's hardline army chief Min Aung Hlaing has steadfastly denied all allegations of abuse, insisting troops only targeted Rohingya insurgents. He has also taken to Facebook throughout the crisis to fan anti-Rohingya sentiment among the Buddhist public, branding the Muslims as foreign interlopers from Bangladesh despite many having lived in Rakhine for generations. On Thursday he signaled repatriation of the Rohingya was a long way off, saying their return must first be accepted by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists -- many of whom loathe the Muslim minority and are accused of aiding soldiers in torching their homes. "Emphasis must be placed on the wish of local Rakhine ethnic people who are real Myanmar citizens. Only when local Rakhine ethnic people accept it, will all the people satisfy it (sic)," the statement, written in English, said on his Facebook page. The army commander also said Myanmar would not allow the return of all Rohingya in Bangladesh, a country that was already hosting hundreds of thousands of the minority from previous waves of persecution. "It is impossible to accept the number of persons proposed by Bangladesh," the army statement said, after branding the refugees as "terrorists" who fled with their families. The general`s comments came a day after he met with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who on Wednesday called on the army to support efforts to return "all refugees", adding that the reports of widespread atrocities by Myanmar`s soldiers were "credible". Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed in principle to begin repatriation but are still tussling over the details. Questions are mounting over how many Rohingya will be allowed to return, where they will live after they homes have been burned down and how they will coexist peacefully among ethnic Rakhine neighbors. Tensions between the two groups have simmered for years, erupting into bouts of bloodshed in 2012 that pushed more than 100,000 Rohingya into grim displacement camps. The Muslim minority has for years suffered under discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship and severely restricts their access to work, healthcare, and education.

Rohingya can return only if Myanmar's 'real citizens' accept them: Army chief

Washington&#39;s top diplomat on Wednesday said he would not yet push for sanctions against Myanmar over the Rohingya refugee crisis, but he called for an independent investigation into &quot;credible&quot; reports that soldiers committed atrocities against the Muslim minority.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was speaking after a one-day stop in Naypyidaw, as global outrage builds over impunity for a military accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya.&nbsp;

Speaking by his side, Myanmar&#39;s de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi hit back at global criticism that she has been silent over the refugee crisis, saying she has instead focused on speech that avoids inflaming sectarian tensions.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tillerson-in-myanmar-to-press-suu-kyi-and-army-on-rohingy-24275" target="_blank">Also read: Tillerson in Myanmar to press Suu Kyi and army on Rohingya</a>

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled the mainly Buddhist country since the military launched a counter-insurgency operation in northern Rakhine state in late August.

While the army insists it has only targeted Rohingya rebels, refugees massing in grim Bangladeshi camps have described chilling and consistent accounts of widespread murder, rape and arson at the hands of security forces and Buddhist mobs.

Speaking after meetings with the army chief and Suu Kyi, Tillerson said that broad economic sanctions are &quot;not something that I&#39;d think would be advisable at this time&quot;.

&quot;We want to see Myanmar succeed,&quot; he told reporters. &quot;You can&#39;t just impose sanctions and say therefore the crisis is over.&quot;

But he said Washington was &quot;deeply concerned by credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by Myanmar&#39;s security forces and vigilantes&quot; and urged Myanmar to accept an independent investigation into those allegations, after which individual sanctions could be appropriate.

&quot;The scenes of what occurred out there are just horrific,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

Both the army and Suu Kyi&#39;s administration have dismissed reports of atrocities and refused to grant entry to UN investigators charged with probing allegations of ethnic cleansing.

&#39;I have not been silent&#39; 
But Washington has been careful to focus blame on the military rather than Suu Kyi, whose fledgling civilian administration is in a delicate power-sharing arrangement with the army.

Though she lacks any say in security policy, the Nobel laureate has become a punching bag for rights groups disappointed by her failure to publicly criticise the military or defend Rohingya against rising Islamophobia, partly because she was so outspoken during the junta years.

Suu Kyi, who rarely holds press conferences, addressed those criticisms on Wednesday.&nbsp;

&quot;I have not been silent... what people mean is what I say is not interesting enough,&quot; she told reporters.

&quot;What I say is not meant to be exciting, it&#39;s meant to be accurate... not set people against each other.&quot;

Suu Kyi&#39;s defenders say she must tread lightly to avoid provoking a powerful army that could roll back democratic gains at any time.

The US was a major ally in the democratic opening that eventually led to Suu Kyi taking office after free elections in 2015, ending five decades of military dictatorship.

Washington rolled back junta-era trade bans and sanctions on military cronies at key points in the transition to encourage progress.&nbsp;

But the Rohingya crisis has pushed US lawmakers to propose a renewal of targeted military sanctions, including import bans on a jade trade run mostly by junta-era cronies.

Tillerson said he would review the bills upon return to Washington. &nbsp;

As anger over the plight of Rohingya mounts abroad, Myanmar&#39;s army has dug-in with its denial of abuses -- while also curbing access to the conflict zone.&nbsp;

Ahead of Tillerson&#39;s arrival the commander-in-chief published an internal probe that exonerated soldiers of all allegations, saying there was no evidence troops had killed civilians, raped women or used &quot;excessive force&quot; in Rakhine.

Rights groups blasted the report as an attempt to &quot;whitewash&quot; atrocities by a military with a long history of abuses, especially against ethnic minorities in border regions.&nbsp;

The statement by Tillerson came after a meeting with the country's army and civilian leaders

Washington's top diplomat on Wednesday said he would not yet push for sanctions against Myanmar over the Rohingya refugee crisis, but he called for an independent investigation into "credible" reports that soldiers committed atrocities against the Muslim minority. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was speaking after a one-day stop in Naypyidaw, as global outrage builds over impunity for a military accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya. Speaking by his side, Myanmar's de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi hit back at global criticism that she has been silent over the refugee crisis, saying she has instead focused on speech that avoids inflaming sectarian tensions. Also read: Tillerson in Myanmar to press Suu Kyi and army on Rohingya More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled the mainly Buddhist country since the military launched a counter-insurgency operation in northern Rakhine state in late August. While the army insists it has only targeted Rohingya rebels, refugees massing in grim Bangladeshi camps have described chilling and consistent accounts of widespread murder, rape and arson at the hands of security forces and Buddhist mobs. Speaking after meetings with the army chief and Suu Kyi, Tillerson said that broad economic sanctions are "not something that I'd think would be advisable at this time". "We want to see Myanmar succeed," he told reporters. "You can't just impose sanctions and say therefore the crisis is over." But he said Washington was "deeply concerned by credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by Myanmar's security forces and vigilantes" and urged Myanmar to accept an independent investigation into those allegations, after which individual sanctions could be appropriate. "The scenes of what occurred out there are just horrific," he added. Both the army and Suu Kyi's administration have dismissed reports of atrocities and refused to grant entry to UN investigators charged with probing allegations of ethnic cleansing. 'I have not been silent' But Washington has been careful to focus blame on the military rather than Suu Kyi, whose fledgling civilian administration is in a delicate power-sharing arrangement with the army. Though she lacks any say in security policy, the Nobel laureate has become a punching bag for rights groups disappointed by her failure to publicly criticise the military or defend Rohingya against rising Islamophobia, partly because she was so outspoken during the junta years. Suu Kyi, who rarely holds press conferences, addressed those criticisms on Wednesday. "I have not been silent... what people mean is what I say is not interesting enough," she told reporters. "What I say is not meant to be exciting, it's meant to be accurate... not set people against each other." Suu Kyi's defenders say she must tread lightly to avoid provoking a powerful army that could roll back democratic gains at any time. The US was a major ally in the democratic opening that eventually led to Suu Kyi taking office after free elections in 2015, ending five decades of military dictatorship. Washington rolled back junta-era trade bans and sanctions on military cronies at key points in the transition to encourage progress. But the Rohingya crisis has pushed US lawmakers to propose a renewal of targeted military sanctions, including import bans on a jade trade run mostly by junta-era cronies. Tillerson said he would review the bills upon return to Washington. As anger over the plight of Rohingya mounts abroad, Myanmar's army has dug-in with its denial of abuses -- while also curbing access to the conflict zone. Ahead of Tillerson's arrival the commander-in-chief published an internal probe that exonerated soldiers of all allegations, saying there was no evidence troops had killed civilians, raped women or used "excessive force" in Rakhine. Rights groups blasted the report as an attempt to "whitewash" atrocities by a military with a long history of abuses, especially against ethnic minorities in border regions.

Sanctions against Myanmar over Rohingya crisis not advisable: Tillerson

The Army has finalised one of its biggest procurement plans for infantry modernisation under which a large number of light machine guns, battle carbines, and assault rifles are being purchased at a cost of nearly Rs 40,000 crore to replace its aging and obsolete weapons.

The broad process to acquire around 7 lakh rifles, 44,000 light machine guns (LMGs) and nearly 44,600 carbines has been finalised and the defence ministry is on the same page with the Army in moving ahead with the procurement, official sources told PTI.

The world&#39;s second largest standing Army has been pressing for fast-tracking the procurement of various weapons systems considering the evolving security threats including along India&#39;s borders with Pakistan and China.

Apart from kick-starting the procurement process, the government has also sent a message to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to expedite its work on various small arms, particularly on an LMG.

The sources said a fresh RFI (request for information) to procure the LMGs will be issued in the next few days, months after the defence ministry scrapped the tender for the 7.62 calibre guns as there was only one vendor left after a series of field trials. The plan is to initially procure around 10,000 LMGs.

The Army has also finalised the specifications for a new 7.62 mm assault rifle and the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the defence ministry&#39;s highest decision making body on procurement, is expected to give the go-ahead for the much- needed procurement soon.

&quot;The General Service Quality Requirements (GSQR) for the new assault rifle has been finalised. The procurement plan will soon be placed before the DAC for approval,&quot; said a senior official, who is part of the acquisition process.

In June, the Army had rejected an assault rifle built by the state-run Rifle Factory, Ishapore, after the guns miserably failed the firing tests.

The procurement of assault rifles has witnessed significant delays due to a variety of reasons including the Army&#39;s failure to finalise the specifications for it. The Army needs around 7 lakh 7.62x51 mm assault guns to replace its INSAS rifles.

The Army had issued RFI for the rifles in September last year and around 20 firms responded to it. An RFI is a process whose purpose is to collect information about capabilities of various vendors.

In June, the Army had kick-started the initial process to procure around 44,600 carbines, nearly eight months after a tender for it was retracted, also due to single-vendor situation. Around half a dozen firms including a few global arms manufacturers have responded to the RFI.

Army sources said various specifications for the LMGs and battle carbines were tweaked to ensure that the problem of single vendor does not recur.

The combined cost of the LMGs, assault rifles and carbines will be in excess of Rs 40,000 crore, said an official.

On DRDO missing a number of deadlines in finalising the LMG, an official said the defence secretary has called a meeting this week of all stakeholders to discuss the project.

&quot;The infantry modernisation plan is a major initiative of the Army and it will significantly bolster the overall capability of the foot soldiers,&quot; said a senior army official.

The issue was extensively discussed at the recently- concluded Army Commanders conference which felt modernisation of the Army must be in tune with the evolving security threat facing the country.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman conveyed to the Army during the conference that modernisation of the force was a priority for the government and all its &quot;deficiencies&quot; will be addressed to strengthen its combat capability.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A large number of light machine guns, battle carbines, and assault rifles are being purchased at a cost of nearly Rs 40,000 crore to replace its aging and obsolete weapons

The Army has finalised one of its biggest procurement plans for infantry modernisation under which a large number of light machine guns, battle carbines, and assault rifles are being purchased at a cost of nearly Rs 40,000 crore to replace its aging and obsolete weapons. The broad process to acquire around 7 lakh rifles, 44,000 light machine guns (LMGs) and nearly 44,600 carbines has been finalised and the defence ministry is on the same page with the Army in moving ahead with the procurement, official sources told PTI. The world's second largest standing Army has been pressing for fast-tracking the procurement of various weapons systems considering the evolving security threats including along India's borders with Pakistan and China. Apart from kick-starting the procurement process, the government has also sent a message to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to expedite its work on various small arms, particularly on an LMG. The sources said a fresh RFI (request for information) to procure the LMGs will be issued in the next few days, months after the defence ministry scrapped the tender for the 7.62 calibre guns as there was only one vendor left after a series of field trials. The plan is to initially procure around 10,000 LMGs. The Army has also finalised the specifications for a new 7.62 mm assault rifle and the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the defence ministry's highest decision making body on procurement, is expected to give the go-ahead for the much- needed procurement soon. "The General Service Quality Requirements (GSQR) for the new assault rifle has been finalised. The procurement plan will soon be placed before the DAC for approval," said a senior official, who is part of the acquisition process. In June, the Army had rejected an assault rifle built by the state-run Rifle Factory, Ishapore, after the guns miserably failed the firing tests. The procurement of assault rifles has witnessed significant delays due to a variety of reasons including the Army's failure to finalise the specifications for it. The Army needs around 7 lakh 7.62x51 mm assault guns to replace its INSAS rifles. The Army had issued RFI for the rifles in September last year and around 20 firms responded to it. An RFI is a process whose purpose is to collect information about capabilities of various vendors. In June, the Army had kick-started the initial process to procure around 44,600 carbines, nearly eight months after a tender for it was retracted, also due to single-vendor situation. Around half a dozen firms including a few global arms manufacturers have responded to the RFI. Army sources said various specifications for the LMGs and battle carbines were tweaked to ensure that the problem of single vendor does not recur. The combined cost of the LMGs, assault rifles and carbines will be in excess of Rs 40,000 crore, said an official. On DRDO missing a number of deadlines in finalising the LMG, an official said the defence secretary has called a meeting this week of all stakeholders to discuss the project. "The infantry modernisation plan is a major initiative of the Army and it will significantly bolster the overall capability of the foot soldiers," said a senior army official. The issue was extensively discussed at the recently- concluded Army Commanders conference which felt modernisation of the Army must be in tune with the evolving security threat facing the country. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman conveyed to the Army during the conference that modernisation of the force was a priority for the government and all its "deficiencies" will be addressed to strengthen its combat capability.

Army finalises mega procurement plan to replace ageing weapons

Iraqi forces said Thursday they had retaken the centre of Islamic State group stronghold Hawija and were pushing forward in their assault on one of the last IS enclaves in the country.

Troops, police and paramilitaries &quot;liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance,&quot; the operation&#39;s commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said.

Government and allied forces backed by a US-led coalition launched an offensive last month to oust IS from Hawija, a longtime insurgent bastion.

The town is among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014 and its recapture would leave only a handful of remote outposts in IS hands.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was due to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris later on Thursday for talks on the campaign against IS, which is backed by a US-led coalition including France.

The United Nations said on Tuesday that an estimated 12,500 people had fled Hawija since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month.

The UN&#39;s humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000.

It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee.

Longtime insurgent bastion&nbsp;

Hawija, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, is one of just two significant areas of Iraq still held by IS, along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border which is also under attack.

It has been an insurgent bastion since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003, earning it the nickname of &quot;Kandahar in Iraq&quot; for the ferocious resistance it put up similar to that in the Taliban militia&#39;s citadel in Afghanistan.

The town&#39;s mainly Sunni Arab population is deeply hostile both to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas.

Hawija lies between the two main routes north from Baghdad -- to second city Mosul, recaptured from IS in July, and to the city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region.

Last year, government forces bypassed the area in their advance north to Mosul, which culminated in the jihadists&#39; defeat in their most emblematic bastion.

IS has been forced out of most of the territory it seized in Iraq and Syria during a lightning offensive in the summer of 2014 that was followed by its declaration of a cross-border &quot;caliphate&quot;.

The US-led coalition is also backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that is battling to oust IS from its de facto Syrian capital Raqa.

The SDF has captured about 90 percent of Raqa and is fighting fierce battles with remaining IS jihadists.

IS&#39;s other main stronghold in Syria is the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, which borders IS-held territory in Iraq.

Two separate offensives are underway against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor -- one by the SDF, the other by government forces supported by Russia.

Troops, police and paramilitaries 'liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance,' the operation's commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said.

Iraqi forces said Thursday they had retaken the centre of Islamic State group stronghold Hawija and were pushing forward in their assault on one of the last IS enclaves in the country. Troops, police and paramilitaries "liberated the whole of the centre of Hawija and are continuing their advance," the operation's commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said. Government and allied forces backed by a US-led coalition launched an offensive last month to oust IS from Hawija, a longtime insurgent bastion. The town is among the final holdouts from the territory seized by the jihadists in 2014 and its recapture would leave only a handful of remote outposts in IS hands. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was due to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris later on Thursday for talks on the campaign against IS, which is backed by a US-led coalition including France. The United Nations said on Tuesday that an estimated 12,500 people had fled Hawija since the launch of the offensive to retake the town and surrounding areas last month. The UN's humanitarian affairs office said the number of people still in the town was unknown but could be as high as 78,000. It said humanitarian agencies have set up checkpoints, camps and emergency sites capable of receiving more than 70,000 people who could flee. Longtime insurgent bastion Hawija, 230 kilometres (140 miles) north of Baghdad, is one of just two significant areas of Iraq still held by IS, along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border which is also under attack. It has been an insurgent bastion since soon after the US-led invasion of 2003, earning it the nickname of "Kandahar in Iraq" for the ferocious resistance it put up similar to that in the Taliban militia's citadel in Afghanistan. The town's mainly Sunni Arab population is deeply hostile both to the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and to the Kurds who form the historic majority in adjacent areas. Hawija lies between the two main routes north from Baghdad -- to second city Mosul, recaptured from IS in July, and to the city of Kirkuk and the autonomous Kurdish region. Last year, government forces bypassed the area in their advance north to Mosul, which culminated in the jihadists' defeat in their most emblematic bastion. IS has been forced out of most of the territory it seized in Iraq and Syria during a lightning offensive in the summer of 2014 that was followed by its declaration of a cross-border "caliphate". The US-led coalition is also backing an Arab-Kurdish alliance, the Syrian Democratic Forces, that is battling to oust IS from its de facto Syrian capital Raqa. The SDF has captured about 90 percent of Raqa and is fighting fierce battles with remaining IS jihadists. IS's other main stronghold in Syria is the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, which borders IS-held territory in Iraq. Two separate offensives are underway against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor -- one by the SDF, the other by government forces supported by Russia.

IS bastion Hawija liberated: Iraq army

India and the US have just concluded a joint military training exercise to prepare for any threats that might be encountered during UN peace-keeping operations.&nbsp;

The training exercise, named Yudh Abhyas 2017 or War Practise 2017, was conducted at joint base Lewis McChord in Washington.

The two-week long exercise which began on September 14 and ended on September 27 witnessed soldiers from both countries honing their counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist skills under a joint brigade headquarter.

Both sides (together) trained, planned, and executed a series of well-developed tactical drills for the&nbsp;neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered during UN&nbsp;peace-keeping operations.

One of the largest joint military training and defence cooperation endeavours between India and the US, this year&#39;s Yudh Abhyas was the thirteenth edition of the joint exercise which is hosted alternately by the two countries.

Exercises like Yudh Abhyas provide an opportunity to the armed forces of both countries to train in an integrated manner at battalion level, with joint planning at brigade level.&nbsp;

Multiple scenarios were rehearsed during the joint exercise with a view to understanding&nbsp;each others organisational structures and battle procedures.

The exercise is aimed at a higher degree of what the armies called &quot;jointsmanship&quot;&nbsp;to further facilitate inter-operability between the armed forces of the two countries, and&nbsp;to meet any unforeseen contingency anywhere on the globe.

The exercise, the armies said, is also an ideal platform to learn from each other&rsquo;s experiences of the planning and execution of operations.

Towards the end, a joint exercise simulating operational settings under a UN mandate was undertaken by the two armies.

Experts from both sides also held academic and military discussions on varied topics to share with each other their experiences for mutual benefit.

This was the thirteenth edition of Yudh Abhyas or War Practise

India and the US have just concluded a joint military training exercise to prepare for any threats that might be encountered during UN peace-keeping operations. The training exercise, named Yudh Abhyas 2017 or War Practise 2017, was conducted at joint base Lewis McChord in Washington. The two-week long exercise which began on September 14 and ended on September 27 witnessed soldiers from both countries honing their counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist skills under a joint brigade headquarter. Both sides (together) trained, planned, and executed a series of well-developed tactical drills for the neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered during UN peace-keeping operations. One of the largest joint military training and defence cooperation endeavours between India and the US, this year's Yudh Abhyas was the thirteenth edition of the joint exercise which is hosted alternately by the two countries. Exercises like Yudh Abhyas provide an opportunity to the armed forces of both countries to train in an integrated manner at battalion level, with joint planning at brigade level. Multiple scenarios were rehearsed during the joint exercise with a view to understanding each others organisational structures and battle procedures. The exercise is aimed at a higher degree of what the armies called "jointsmanship" to further facilitate inter-operability between the armed forces of the two countries, and to meet any unforeseen contingency anywhere on the globe. The exercise, the armies said, is also an ideal platform to learn from each other’s experiences of the planning and execution of operations. Towards the end, a joint exercise simulating operational settings under a UN mandate was undertaken by the two armies. Experts from both sides also held academic and military discussions on varied topics to share with each other their experiences for mutual benefit.

WATCH: To better understand each other, Indian & US armies conduct joint military exercise

Pressure grew on Myanmar Monday as a rights group urged world leaders to impose sanctions on its military, which is accused of driving out more than 410,000 Rohingya Muslims in an orchestrated &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; campaign.

The call from Human Rights Watch came as the UN General Assembly prepared to convene in New York, with the crisis in Myanmar one of the most pressing topics.

It also came on the eve of a highly-anticipated national address by Myanmar&#39;s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- her first on the Rakhine crisis.&nbsp;

The exodus of Rohingya refugees from mainly Buddhist Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh has sparked a humanitarian emergency. Aid groups are struggling to provide relief to a daily stream of new arrivals, more than half of whom are children.

Myanmar has suggested it will not take back all who had fled across the border, accusing those refugees of having links to the Rohingya militants whose raids on police posts in August triggered the army backlash.

Any clear moves to block the refugees&#39; return will likely anger Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheik Hasina, who will press the General Assembly to raise global pressure Myanmar to take back all the Rohingya massing in shanty towns and camps near the border.

Human Rights Watch also called for the &quot;safe and voluntary return&quot; of the displaced as it urge governments around the globe to punish Myanmar&#39;s army with sanctions for the &quot;ongoing atrocities&quot; against the Rohingya.

&quot;The United Nations Security Council and concerned countries should impose targeted sanctions and an arms embargo on the Burmese military to end its ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims,&quot; the group said in a statement.

Myanmar&#39;s military was hit with Western sanctions during its 50-year rule of the country. But most have been lifted in recent years as the generals have allowed a partial transition to democracy.

&quot;Burma&#39;s senior military commanders are more likely to heed the calls of the international community if they are suffering real economic consequences,&quot; said John Sifton, HRW&#39;s Asia advocacy director.

Suu Kyi&#39;s &#39;last chance&#39;&nbsp;

Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi has shocked the international community with her near-silence on the plight of the Rohingya and her failure to condemn the actions of the army, with whom she has a delicate power-sharing arrangement.

Speaking to the BBC over the weekend, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called Suu Kyi&#39;s upcoming address a &quot;last chance&quot; to stop the unfolding humanitarian calamity.

But analysts say it will be difficult for her to tamp both global outrage and combustible religious tensions at home, where there is broad support among the mainly Buddhist populace for the army&#39;s crackdown.

&quot;I&#39;m worried that there is almost no possibility given the political climate in Myanmar for balancing the expectations of most of the country and the expectations of the international community,&quot; Richard Horsey, an independent analyst based in Myanmar, told AFP.&nbsp;

Duelling protests&nbsp;

The sharp divide was on display Monday as protests broke out in Dhaka -- where 20,000 Islamist hardliners marched in solidarity with the Rohingya -- and in Yangon, where a much smaller group of 300 gathered to blast global interference in the conflict.&nbsp;

The ultra-nationalists in Yangon braved a downpour as they waved Myanmar flags and banners describing the UN and global NGOs as &quot;supporting organisations for the terrorists&quot;.&nbsp;

While the world has watched the refugee crisis unfold with horror, there is little sympathy for the Rohingya inside Myanmar.

Many Buddhists revile the Muslim minority and have long denied the existence of the Rohingya as an ethnic group, insisting they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi&#39;s government has so far defended the military campaign as a legitimate crackdown on the Rohingya militants, who first emerged as a fighting force last October.

On Sunday Myanmar&#39;s Information Committee accused those who fled to Bangladesh -- more than a third of the Rohingya population -- of working in cahoots with the Rohingya militants, a rag-tag group of fighters armed with mostly rudimentary weapons.

&quot;Those who fled the villages made their way to the other country for fear of being arrested as they got involved in the violent attacks,&quot; the statement said.

&quot;Legal protection will be given to the villages whose residents did not flee,&quot; it added.

The violence has gutted large swaths of northern Rakhine in just over three weeks, with fires visible almost daily across the border from the Bangladesh camps.

Some 30,000 ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Hindus have also been displaced by unrest in northern Rakhine, where foreign aid has been severely curtailed.&nbsp;

On Monday, Doctors Without Borders repeated calls for &quot;unfettered access&quot; to the conflict zone, saying hundreds of thousands of people are thought to be languishing &quot;without any meaningful form of humanitarian assistance&quot;.

The call from Human Rights Watch came as the UN General Assembly prepared to convene in New York, with the crisis in Myanmar one of the most pressing topics.

Pressure grew on Myanmar Monday as a rights group urged world leaders to impose sanctions on its military, which is accused of driving out more than 410,000 Rohingya Muslims in an orchestrated "ethnic cleansing" campaign. The call from Human Rights Watch came as the UN General Assembly prepared to convene in New York, with the crisis in Myanmar one of the most pressing topics. It also came on the eve of a highly-anticipated national address by Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- her first on the Rakhine crisis. The exodus of Rohingya refugees from mainly Buddhist Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh has sparked a humanitarian emergency. Aid groups are struggling to provide relief to a daily stream of new arrivals, more than half of whom are children. Myanmar has suggested it will not take back all who had fled across the border, accusing those refugees of having links to the Rohingya militants whose raids on police posts in August triggered the army backlash. Any clear moves to block the refugees' return will likely anger Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheik Hasina, who will press the General Assembly to raise global pressure Myanmar to take back all the Rohingya massing in shanty towns and camps near the border. Human Rights Watch also called for the "safe and voluntary return" of the displaced as it urge governments around the globe to punish Myanmar's army with sanctions for the "ongoing atrocities" against the Rohingya. "The United Nations Security Council and concerned countries should impose targeted sanctions and an arms embargo on the Burmese military to end its ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims," the group said in a statement. Myanmar's military was hit with Western sanctions during its 50-year rule of the country. But most have been lifted in recent years as the generals have allowed a partial transition to democracy. "Burma's senior military commanders are more likely to heed the calls of the international community if they are suffering real economic consequences," said John Sifton, HRW's Asia advocacy director. Suu Kyi's 'last chance' Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi has shocked the international community with her near-silence on the plight of the Rohingya and her failure to condemn the actions of the army, with whom she has a delicate power-sharing arrangement. Speaking to the BBC over the weekend, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called Suu Kyi's upcoming address a "last chance" to stop the unfolding humanitarian calamity. But analysts say it will be difficult for her to tamp both global outrage and combustible religious tensions at home, where there is broad support among the mainly Buddhist populace for the army's crackdown. "I'm worried that there is almost no possibility given the political climate in Myanmar for balancing the expectations of most of the country and the expectations of the international community," Richard Horsey, an independent analyst based in Myanmar, told AFP. Duelling protests The sharp divide was on display Monday as protests broke out in Dhaka -- where 20,000 Islamist hardliners marched in solidarity with the Rohingya -- and in Yangon, where a much smaller group of 300 gathered to blast global interference in the conflict. The ultra-nationalists in Yangon braved a downpour as they waved Myanmar flags and banners describing the UN and global NGOs as "supporting organisations for the terrorists". While the world has watched the refugee crisis unfold with horror, there is little sympathy for the Rohingya inside Myanmar. Many Buddhists revile the Muslim minority and have long denied the existence of the Rohingya as an ethnic group, insisting they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Suu Kyi's government has so far defended the military campaign as a legitimate crackdown on the Rohingya militants, who first emerged as a fighting force last October. On Sunday Myanmar's Information Committee accused those who fled to Bangladesh -- more than a third of the Rohingya population -- of working in cahoots with the Rohingya militants, a rag-tag group of fighters armed with mostly rudimentary weapons. "Those who fled the villages made their way to the other country for fear of being arrested as they got involved in the violent attacks," the statement said. "Legal protection will be given to the villages whose residents did not flee," it added. The violence has gutted large swaths of northern Rakhine in just over three weeks, with fires visible almost daily across the border from the Bangladesh camps. Some 30,000 ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Hindus have also been displaced by unrest in northern Rakhine, where foreign aid has been severely curtailed. On Monday, Doctors Without Borders repeated calls for "unfettered access" to the conflict zone, saying hundreds of thousands of people are thought to be languishing "without any meaningful form of humanitarian assistance".

UN urged to punish Myanmar army over Rohingya 'atrocities'

Philippine troops fighting Islamic State-linked rebels in a southern city have encountered armed resistance from women and children, the military said on Monday, as troops make a final push to end a conflict that has raged for more than 100 days.

Ground forces were braced for higher casualties amid fierce fighting in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, where the field of battle has shrank to a small area in a commercial heart infested with snipers, and littered with booby traps.

&quot;We are now in the final phase of our operations and we are expecting more intense and bloody fighting. We may suffer heavier casualties as the enemy becomes more desperate,&quot; Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, who heads the military in Western Mindanao, told reporters.

He said the number of fighters was diminishing and a small number of women and children, most likely family members of the rebels, were now engaged in combat.

&quot;Our troops in the field are seeing women and children shooting at our troops so that&#39;s why it seems they are not running out of fighters.&quot;

More than 800 people have been killed in the battle, most of them insurgents, since May 23 when the militants occupied large parts of the predominantly Muslim town.

The battle is the biggest security challenge in years for the mostly Catholic Philippines, even though it has a long history of Muslim separatist rebellion in Mindanao, an island of 22 million people that has been placed under martial law until the end of the year.

The protracted clashes and resilience of the rebels has fanned fears that Philippine groups loyal to Islamic State, and with ties to Indonesian and Malaysian militants, have formed an alliance that is well-organised, funded and armed, and serious about carving out its own territory in Mindanao.

Citing information provided by four hostages who had escaped from the rebels, Galvez said there were some 56 Christian hostages - most of them women - and about 80 male residents may have been forced to take up arms and fight the military.

The fighting was concentrated in an area around a mosque about a quarter of a square kilometre. He said soldiers were taking control of an average 35 buildings a day and at that rate, it could be three weeks before the city was under government control.

AIR STRIKES

Fighting in Marawi was intense on Monday, with heavy gunfire and explosions ringing out across the picturesque, lakeside town, the heart of which has been devastated by near-daily government air strikes.

Helicopters circled above to provide air cover for ground troops as fighting raged, with bursts of smoke rising above the skyline as bombs landed on rebel positions.

Galvez said intelligence showed the rebels&#39; military commander, Abdullah Maute, may have been killed last month in an air strike.

Postings on Facebook and chatter over the past two days on Telegram, a messaging application used by Islamic State and its sympathisers, had carried tributes to Abdullah, referring to him by one of his pseudonyms, he said.

&quot;There is no 100 percent confirmation until we see his cadaver but this is enough to presume he died already,&quot; he said.

The military has contradictory statements about the status of the rebel leaders over the past few months.

Abdullah Maute and brother Omarkhayam are the Middle East-educated leaders of a militant clan known as the Maute group that has gained notoriety in the past two years due to its ability to engage the army for long periods.

Under the name Dawla Islamiya, the Maute group has formed an alliance with Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of a pro-Islamic State faction of another group, Abu Sayyaf.

Galvez said the army&#39;s intelligence indicated both Omarkhayam and Hapilon, Islamic State&#39;s anointed &quot;emir&quot; in Southeast Asia, were still in the Marawi battle.

Ground forces were braced for higher casualties amid fierce fighting in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, where the field of battle has shrank to a small area in a commercial heart infested with snipers, and littered with booby traps.

Philippine troops fighting Islamic State-linked rebels in a southern city have encountered armed resistance from women and children, the military said on Monday, as troops make a final push to end a conflict that has raged for more than 100 days. Ground forces were braced for higher casualties amid fierce fighting in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, where the field of battle has shrank to a small area in a commercial heart infested with snipers, and littered with booby traps. "We are now in the final phase of our operations and we are expecting more intense and bloody fighting. We may suffer heavier casualties as the enemy becomes more desperate," Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, who heads the military in Western Mindanao, told reporters. He said the number of fighters was diminishing and a small number of women and children, most likely family members of the rebels, were now engaged in combat. "Our troops in the field are seeing women and children shooting at our troops so that's why it seems they are not running out of fighters." More than 800 people have been killed in the battle, most of them insurgents, since May 23 when the militants occupied large parts of the predominantly Muslim town. The battle is the biggest security challenge in years for the mostly Catholic Philippines, even though it has a long history of Muslim separatist rebellion in Mindanao, an island of 22 million people that has been placed under martial law until the end of the year. The protracted clashes and resilience of the rebels has fanned fears that Philippine groups loyal to Islamic State, and with ties to Indonesian and Malaysian militants, have formed an alliance that is well-organised, funded and armed, and serious about carving out its own territory in Mindanao. Citing information provided by four hostages who had escaped from the rebels, Galvez said there were some 56 Christian hostages - most of them women - and about 80 male residents may have been forced to take up arms and fight the military. The fighting was concentrated in an area around a mosque about a quarter of a square kilometre. He said soldiers were taking control of an average 35 buildings a day and at that rate, it could be three weeks before the city was under government control. AIR STRIKES Fighting in Marawi was intense on Monday, with heavy gunfire and explosions ringing out across the picturesque, lakeside town, the heart of which has been devastated by near-daily government air strikes. Helicopters circled above to provide air cover for ground troops as fighting raged, with bursts of smoke rising above the skyline as bombs landed on rebel positions. Galvez said intelligence showed the rebels' military commander, Abdullah Maute, may have been killed last month in an air strike. Postings on Facebook and chatter over the past two days on Telegram, a messaging application used by Islamic State and its sympathisers, had carried tributes to Abdullah, referring to him by one of his pseudonyms, he said. "There is no 100 percent confirmation until we see his cadaver but this is enough to presume he died already," he said. The military has contradictory statements about the status of the rebel leaders over the past few months. Abdullah Maute and brother Omarkhayam are the Middle East-educated leaders of a militant clan known as the Maute group that has gained notoriety in the past two years due to its ability to engage the army for long periods. Under the name Dawla Islamiya, the Maute group has formed an alliance with Isnilon Hapilon, a leader of a pro-Islamic State faction of another group, Abu Sayyaf. Galvez said the army's intelligence indicated both Omarkhayam and Hapilon, Islamic State's anointed "emir" in Southeast Asia, were still in the Marawi battle.

Philippine army says taking fire from women, children in Marawi battle

Myanmar authorities must investigate a video showing men in military uniforms viciously beating handcuffed detainees suspected of being ethnic rebel fighters, rights groups said Sunday.

The video&#39;s emergence comes as negotiators from the civilian-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the military hold peace talks with more than a dozen ethnic rebel groups in the capital, aimed at ending some of the world&#39;s longest running civil wars.

The unverified video first surfaced on Facebook on Saturday morning and quickly went viral.

It showed several men dressed in army uniform kicking three handcuffed men in civilian clothes, part of a wider group of people detained outside some rural houses.&nbsp;

At one point in the 17-minute long video, a uniformed man smashes his helmet into the face of one of the victims.

The uniformed men can be heard asking the handcuffed detainees whether they belong to the Ta&#39;ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic rebel group from north-eastern Shan State currently fighting the military.

Rights groups called on Myanmar&#39;s government to investigate whether troops were responsible.&nbsp;

&quot;The Myanmar authorities should immediately investigate this footage, and with urgency the authority should determine the well-being and whereabouts of the men detained in the footage,&quot; said Matthew Smith from Fortify Rights.

Myanmar&#39;s border regions have burned for decades with insurgencies led by ethnic minority militias fighting for greater autonomy.&nbsp;

Suu Kyi has made signing a nationwide peace deal a priority of her government with the latest round of peace talks currently underway in Naypyidaw.&nbsp;

But the peace process has had limited success so far.

Under Myanmar&#39;s junta-era constitution Suu Kyi has little control over the military and fighting between the army and ethnic rebels is currently at its most ferocious in years.

After decades of crippling junta rule, distrust of Myanmar&#39;s notoriously abusive military runs deep, especially among ethnic rebel groups.

&quot;These kinds of beatings and abuse are all too common,&quot; Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch told AFP.

&quot;That&#39;s a major reason why many of the ethnic armed groups are reluctant to place any trust in the Myanmar army&#39;s promises,&quot; he said.

Robertson said Suu Kyi should &quot;publicly condemn these abuses and demand an independent investigation&quot;.

The Nobel laureate has repeatedly defended the army&#39;s operations in western Rakhine state where tens of thousands of Muslim minority Rohingya have fled a recent military crackdown.&nbsp;

The UN says authorities may have committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in the crackdown but Suu Kyi has rejected calls for an independent fact finding commission.

Last week Myanmar&#39;s military said its own probe had found no evidence of atrocities committed by its troops in Rakhine -- although it said one soldier was punished for stealing a bike.

(AFP)

The unverified video shows men in military uniforms viciously beating handcuffed detainees suspected of being ethnic rebel fighters

Myanmar authorities must investigate a video showing men in military uniforms viciously beating handcuffed detainees suspected of being ethnic rebel fighters, rights groups said Sunday. The video's emergence comes as negotiators from the civilian-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the military hold peace talks with more than a dozen ethnic rebel groups in the capital, aimed at ending some of the world's longest running civil wars. The unverified video first surfaced on Facebook on Saturday morning and quickly went viral. It showed several men dressed in army uniform kicking three handcuffed men in civilian clothes, part of a wider group of people detained outside some rural houses. At one point in the 17-minute long video, a uniformed man smashes his helmet into the face of one of the victims. The uniformed men can be heard asking the handcuffed detainees whether they belong to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic rebel group from north-eastern Shan State currently fighting the military. Rights groups called on Myanmar's government to investigate whether troops were responsible. "The Myanmar authorities should immediately investigate this footage, and with urgency the authority should determine the well-being and whereabouts of the men detained in the footage," said Matthew Smith from Fortify Rights. Myanmar's border regions have burned for decades with insurgencies led by ethnic minority militias fighting for greater autonomy. Suu Kyi has made signing a nationwide peace deal a priority of her government with the latest round of peace talks currently underway in Naypyidaw. But the peace process has had limited success so far. Under Myanmar's junta-era constitution Suu Kyi has little control over the military and fighting between the army and ethnic rebels is currently at its most ferocious in years. After decades of crippling junta rule, distrust of Myanmar's notoriously abusive military runs deep, especially among ethnic rebel groups. "These kinds of beatings and abuse are all too common," Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch told AFP. "That's a major reason why many of the ethnic armed groups are reluctant to place any trust in the Myanmar army's promises," he said. Robertson said Suu Kyi should "publicly condemn these abuses and demand an independent investigation". The Nobel laureate has repeatedly defended the army's operations in western Rakhine state where tens of thousands of Muslim minority Rohingya have fled a recent military crackdown. The UN says authorities may have committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in the crackdown but Suu Kyi has rejected calls for an independent fact finding commission. Last week Myanmar's military said its own probe had found no evidence of atrocities committed by its troops in Rakhine -- although it said one soldier was punished for stealing a bike. (AFP)

Myanmar must investigate 'army beating' video: Rights groups

A statement has been issued by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), which carried a warning for all TV channels against airing unverified news or analysis themed around the Pakistan Army or its relationship with the civilian government.

Pemra has made it clear that all news and current affairs TV channels shall not divulge news or analysis pertaining to the country`s civil-military relations without confirmation from the concerned authority.

Pemra believes the content can prove to be problematic if it accuses the military of something, or tarnishes its &quot;image&quot;.&nbsp;

The statement further added, &quot;Those found in violation of the new Pemra guideline would be charged under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002.&quot;Earlier this week, the Pemra chairman was assured of the Army chief`s support in dealing with threats the employees had been allegedly facing.

(ANI)&nbsp;

Pemra has made it clear that all news and current affairs TV channels shall not divulge news or analysis pertaining to the country`s civil-military relations without confirmation from the concerned authority

A statement has been issued by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), which carried a warning for all TV channels against airing unverified news or analysis themed around the Pakistan Army or its relationship with the civilian government. Pemra has made it clear that all news and current affairs TV channels shall not divulge news or analysis pertaining to the country`s civil-military relations without confirmation from the concerned authority. Pemra believes the content can prove to be problematic if it accuses the military of something, or tarnishes its "image". The statement further added, "Those found in violation of the new Pemra guideline would be charged under Section 27 of the Pemra Ordinance 2002."Earlier this week, the Pemra chairman was assured of the Army chief`s support in dealing with threats the employees had been allegedly facing. (ANI)

Pak TV regulator tells channels not to air anti-Army content

By Sakshi Chand

Serving the nation selflessly was a dream for Rohit Yadav. But disgusted with the way the Border Security Force (BSF) has hounded his father Tej Bahadur after he released a video alleging bad quality rations, this 17-year-old does not want to have anything to do with the armed forces.

&quot;It is an open secret. The food the soldiers get is unpalatable, yet they endure it for the love of the nation. Look at what has the same love brought my father: disrepute and baseless allegations,&quot; says an emotional Rohit. His focus is now on cracking his IIT exams, for which he travels everyday to Gurgaon for coaching. One could easily dismiss Rohit&#39;s decision as just one of the many sons of a soldier who has chosen not to follow the family path. But the Yadav family is just not any family. Its forefathers can be traced back as soldiers to the 1857 Mutiny and the Independence struggle. Indeed, before the video, serving the nation was an automatic choice. But now everything has changed.

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<h5>The only sin my son has committed is to have a voice of his own. He has been awarded 14 medals by the BSF. Why would they decorate a soldier who they say is an &#39;alcoholic&#39; and a &#39;habitual offender&#39;?&#39; says Tej Bahadur&#39;s father</h5>
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Twenty-one-year-old Omvir Yadav, Tej Bahadur&#39;s nephew &mdash; whose father is also in the BSF &mdash; is also one of the family who has now changed his mind. Earlier, Omvir would wait for Bahadur to come for leave as he would make him and his cousin Rohit do fitness exercises.

&quot;Whenever I spoke to my uncle (Tej Bahadur), he always persuaded me to join the forces, but now I know I don&#39;t want to do this anymore. He spoke about bad food and conditions there and the BSF questioned his service record and character. We cannot stand for that,&quot; said Yadav.

The boys&#39; decision is backed by their grandmother Nihal Kaur, Tej Bahadur&#39;s mother. &quot;My grandsons would fondly talk about joining the Army and other paramilitary forces, but today, irrespective of how motivated they are, I will never send anyone from the family to their family,&quot; she says emotionlessly. &quot;Earlier, I use to tell the world about my son&#39;s achievements but I keep silent now.&quot;

The fact that the family would consider leaving the forces is a joke not just for them but for everyone involved. Sher Singh, Tej Bahadur&#39;s father, recounts their history with the forces. Singh is visibly and rightly proud of the family&#39;s lineage that has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

&quot;My father went to jail with Netaji and even (former President) Giani Zail Singh in his autobiography has mentioned his name as his political guru. Our entire family has a legacy and that is how I have brought up my children,&quot; a visibly ill and angry Singh recounts. Rubbishing the BSF&#39;s charges against his son, he adds: &quot;My father was an integral part of the freedom movement. His efforts were lauded by Bose&#39;s brother who even gave him the moniker of &#39;Azad&#39;. Betrayal of our motherland is not in our blood. It&#39;s only sheer nationalism and patriotism that runs in our genes.&quot;

Sharmila Yadav, Tej Bahadur&#39;s wife, seconds her father-in-law&#39;s claims but admits that she is worried about her husband. &quot;He used to call everyday but from the time the video was uploaded. We have only spoken twice or thrice, that too from different numbers. His phone is also switched off,&quot; says a worried Sarita.

Vouching for the impeccable integrity and professional commitment of her husband, her anger against the BSF knows no bounds. &quot;They are declaring him mentally unfit&nbsp;because he blew the lid off their corrupt practices. If that&#39;s the case, why have they posted him on the Line of Control (LoC) and that too armed with a weapon? He will fight this even after his retirement as he has proof against them.&quot;

Singh seconds his daughter-in-law&#39;s opinion. &quot;The only sin my son has committed is to have a voice of his own. He has been awarded 14 medals by the BSF. Why would they decorate a soldier who they say is an &#39;alcoholic&#39; and a &#39;habitual offender&#39;?&quot;

(This report first appeared in DNA)

The family, which has been soldiering since the 1857 war of independence, says its members will no longer sign up with the defence forces

By Sakshi Chand Serving the nation selflessly was a dream for Rohit Yadav. But disgusted with the way the Border Security Force (BSF) has hounded his father Tej Bahadur after he released a video alleging bad quality rations, this 17-year-old does not want to have anything to do with the armed forces. "It is an open secret. The food the soldiers get is unpalatable, yet they endure it for the love of the nation. Look at what has the same love brought my father: disrepute and baseless allegations," says an emotional Rohit. His focus is now on cracking his IIT exams, for which he travels everyday to Gurgaon for coaching. One could easily dismiss Rohit's decision as just one of the many sons of a soldier who has chosen not to follow the family path. But the Yadav family is just not any family. Its forefathers can be traced back as soldiers to the 1857 Mutiny and the Independence struggle. Indeed, before the video, serving the nation was an automatic choice. But now everything has changed. The only sin my son has committed is to have a voice of his own. He has been awarded 14 medals by the BSF. Why would they decorate a soldier who they say is an 'alcoholic' and a 'habitual offender'?' says Tej Bahadur's father × Twenty-one-year-old Omvir Yadav, Tej Bahadur's nephew — whose father is also in the BSF — is also one of the family who has now changed his mind. Earlier, Omvir would wait for Bahadur to come for leave as he would make him and his cousin Rohit do fitness exercises. "Whenever I spoke to my uncle (Tej Bahadur), he always persuaded me to join the forces, but now I know I don't want to do this anymore. He spoke about bad food and conditions there and the BSF questioned his service record and character. We cannot stand for that," said Yadav. The boys' decision is backed by their grandmother Nihal Kaur, Tej Bahadur's mother. "My grandsons would fondly talk about joining the Army and other paramilitary forces, but today, irrespective of how motivated they are, I will never send anyone from the family to their family," she says emotionlessly. "Earlier, I use to tell the world about my son's achievements but I keep silent now." The fact that the family would consider leaving the forces is a joke not just for them but for everyone involved. Sher Singh, Tej Bahadur's father, recounts their history with the forces. Singh is visibly and rightly proud of the family's lineage that has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. "My father went to jail with Netaji and even (former President) Giani Zail Singh in his autobiography has mentioned his name as his political guru. Our entire family has a legacy and that is how I have brought up my children," a visibly ill and angry Singh recounts. Rubbishing the BSF's charges against his son, he adds: "My father was an integral part of the freedom movement. His efforts were lauded by Bose's brother who even gave him the moniker of 'Azad'. Betrayal of our motherland is not in our blood. It's only sheer nationalism and patriotism that runs in our genes." Sharmila Yadav, Tej Bahadur's wife, seconds her father-in-law's claims but admits that she is worried about her husband. "He used to call everyday but from the time the video was uploaded. We have only spoken twice or thrice, that too from different numbers. His phone is also switched off," says a worried Sarita. Vouching for the impeccable integrity and professional commitment of her husband, her anger against the BSF knows no bounds. "They are declaring him mentally unfit because he blew the lid off their corrupt practices. If that's the case, why have they posted him on the Line of Control (LoC) and that too armed with a weapon? He will fight this even after his retirement as he has proof against them." Singh seconds his daughter-in-law's opinion. "The only sin my son has committed is to have a voice of his own. He has been awarded 14 medals by the BSF. Why would they decorate a soldier who they say is an 'alcoholic' and a 'habitual offender'?" (This report first appeared in DNA)

BSF soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav's family severs ties with armed forces

A government employee was killed during a&nbsp;counter-insurgency operation launched overnight in south Kashmir&#39;s Kulgam district, officials said today.

Security forces including the army launched a counter-insurgency operation in the Chancer area of Kulgam following information about the presence of ultras in the area, police officials said.

The officials said an employee of the fisheries department, Assadullah Kumar, was killed in firing that broke out minutes after the security forces cordoned off the area.

No militants were found. An army official said the operation was called off this morning.

He added the suspected militants might have escaped taking advantage of the darkness.

He was tight-lipped about Assadullah&#39;s death.

Meanwhile, local residents staged a protest against the Assadullah&#39;s killing and blocked the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Vessu.&nbsp;

(PTI)

Assadullah Kumar was an employee of the fisheries department. Officials were tight-lipped about his death.

A government employee was killed during a counter-insurgency operation launched overnight in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, officials said today. Security forces including the army launched a counter-insurgency operation in the Chancer area of Kulgam following information about the presence of ultras in the area, police officials said. The officials said an employee of the fisheries department, Assadullah Kumar, was killed in firing that broke out minutes after the security forces cordoned off the area. No militants were found. An army official said the operation was called off this morning. He added the suspected militants might have escaped taking advantage of the darkness. He was tight-lipped about Assadullah's death. Meanwhile, local residents staged a protest against the Assadullah's killing and blocked the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Vessu. (PTI)

Kashmir: Govt employee killed in counter-insurgency operation

The wives of two Indian army officers reportedly fended off the militants who attacked the army camp in Nagrota Tuesday with &quot;household items&quot;.&nbsp;

Militants dressed in police uniforms attacked the army camp early Tuesday morning, following which a gun battle broke out.

At some point, the militants tried to enter the family quarters. Which is when they came up against the two wives.&nbsp;

PTI reported that the two wives blocked the militants&#39; entry, using the household items at their disposal.&nbsp;

&quot;The wives of the two army officers, who were on night duty when the encounter broke out, displayed exemplary courage as they blocked the entry of their quarters with all the household items, making it difficult for the militants to break into the houses,&quot; an army officer privy to the attack told PTI.

He added that had the wives -- both of whom had newborns with them -- not kept the militants out, the Army would have been left to deal with a difficult hostage situation. &nbsp;

The militants were however able to get into other buildings housing soldiers and their families. &nbsp;

&quot;The militants entered two buildings which were occupied by officers, families, and men. This led to a hostage-like situation. The situation was very quickly contained and thereafter, in a deliberate operation all were successfully rescued, which included 12 soldiers, two women and two babies,&quot; PTI reported defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta as saying.

The two babies rescued were 18 months and two months old, PTI reported Mehta as saying.

He added that one officer and two soldiers lost their lives in the rescue.

A total of five soldiers and two officers were killed in the attack.&nbsp;

Col Mehta said yesterday that the bodies of three militants had been recovered and that combing operations were in progress.

Combing operations, which were shut down for the night, were restarted at first light Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI)

The wives, staying in the family quarters, prevented the militants from entering and taking them hostage

The wives of two Indian army officers reportedly fended off the militants who attacked the army camp in Nagrota Tuesday with "household items". Militants dressed in police uniforms attacked the army camp early Tuesday morning, following which a gun battle broke out. At some point, the militants tried to enter the family quarters. Which is when they came up against the two wives. PTI reported that the two wives blocked the militants' entry, using the household items at their disposal. "The wives of the two army officers, who were on night duty when the encounter broke out, displayed exemplary courage as they blocked the entry of their quarters with all the household items, making it difficult for the militants to break into the houses," an army officer privy to the attack told PTI. He added that had the wives -- both of whom had newborns with them -- not kept the militants out, the Army would have been left to deal with a difficult hostage situation. The militants were however able to get into other buildings housing soldiers and their families. "The militants entered two buildings which were occupied by officers, families, and men. This led to a hostage-like situation. The situation was very quickly contained and thereafter, in a deliberate operation all were successfully rescued, which included 12 soldiers, two women and two babies," PTI reported defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta as saying. The two babies rescued were 18 months and two months old, PTI reported Mehta as saying. He added that one officer and two soldiers lost their lives in the rescue. A total of five soldiers and two officers were killed in the attack. Col Mehta said yesterday that the bodies of three militants had been recovered and that combing operations were in progress. Combing operations, which were shut down for the night, were restarted at first light Wednesday morning. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Nagrota attack: 2 Army wives fended off militants with 'household items'

In a shocking development, two freshly minted notes of Rs&nbsp;2,000 were recovered from the bodies of the two terrorists, who were gunned down today in an encounter with security forces in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir.

The Army and the police in a joint operation had cordoned off the area to smoke out the two terrorists who were holed up and had opened fire, thus engaging in a heavy gunbattle early in the morning.

Yesterday, four masked men with arms along with them entered into a bank at a state-run Jammu and Kashmir branch in Malpora and left with Rs 13 lakh largely comprising of the scrapped 500 and 1,000 note currencies.

Earlier, three masked men had looted a bank of Rs 2.25 lakh in Kulgam district on October 25.

While announcing the radical step of demonetisation on November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that this move was targeting tax evasion, corruption and forgery and also stressed that terror attacks including those facilitated by Pakistan often include counterfeit 500-rupee notes.

(ANI)

The two terrorists were gunned down today in an encounter with security forces in the Bandipora region

In a shocking development, two freshly minted notes of Rs 2,000 were recovered from the bodies of the two terrorists, who were gunned down today in an encounter with security forces in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir. The Army and the police in a joint operation had cordoned off the area to smoke out the two terrorists who were holed up and had opened fire, thus engaging in a heavy gunbattle early in the morning. Yesterday, four masked men with arms along with them entered into a bank at a state-run Jammu and Kashmir branch in Malpora and left with Rs 13 lakh largely comprising of the scrapped 500 and 1,000 note currencies. Earlier, three masked men had looted a bank of Rs 2.25 lakh in Kulgam district on October 25. While announcing the radical step of demonetisation on November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that this move was targeting tax evasion, corruption and forgery and also stressed that terror attacks including those facilitated by Pakistan often include counterfeit 500-rupee notes. (ANI)

New Rs 2000 notes recovered from bodies of terrorists killed in Kashmir

Hundreds of Rohingya villagers in Myanmar are hiding in rice fields without shelter for the consecutive&nbsp;second night after the army on Sunday forced them out of their village in a crackdown following a string of attacks on border security forces.&nbsp;

Border guard officers stormed into the Kyee&nbsp;Kan Pyin village on Sunday and ordered around 2,000 Rohingya villagers to vacate their homes, giving them just enough time to gather their basic household items, Reuters reported.

Violence&nbsp;has intensified in the country&#39;s Rakhine province, with relations between Rohingyas and majority Buddhists hitting their lowest since 2012 when hundreds were killed and thousands displaced in ethnic and religious violence.&nbsp;

The government led by&nbsp;Aung San Suu Kyi has said the army and police in Rakhine are fighting at least 400 insurgents, drawn from the Rohingya Muslim minority, with alleged&nbsp;links to Islamist militants overseas.

While officials claim conducting carefully targeted sweeps against those who attacked police border posts on October 9 , residents in the region have accused the security forces of burning homes and killing non-combatants, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Rohingya rights activists have uploaded videos showing women and men speaking&nbsp;in Rohingya language carrying their belongings and livestock to other villages or waiting out the crackdown in rice fields, Reuters reported.

&quot;I was kicked out from my house yesterday afternoon, now I live in a paddy field outside of my village with some 200 people including my family, I became homeless,&quot;&nbsp;Rohingya man from Kyee Kan Pyin village told Reuters.

&quot;After the soldiers arrived at our village, they said that if all of us didn&#39;t leave, they would shoot us,&rdquo; he said. 
 
Mynt Kyaw, a government spokesman, told Reuters that the government was unable to contact anyone in the area because it was a militarily-operated &quot;red zone&quot;.

&quot;A Muslim man called me this morning as they were being forcibly removed from their homes, but I was not able to confirm that information,&quot; said Mynt Kyaw.

The area around Maungdaw, near the border with Bangladesh, is under a military lockdown and journalists and aid workers are being denied access.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The security forces are trying to weed out about 400 Rohingya insurgents following attacks on border security forces in Rakhine province

Hundreds of Rohingya villagers in Myanmar are hiding in rice fields without shelter for the consecutive second night after the army on Sunday forced them out of their village in a crackdown following a string of attacks on border security forces. Border guard officers stormed into the Kyee Kan Pyin village on Sunday and ordered around 2,000 Rohingya villagers to vacate their homes, giving them just enough time to gather their basic household items, Reuters reported. Violence has intensified in the country's Rakhine province, with relations between Rohingyas and majority Buddhists hitting their lowest since 2012 when hundreds were killed and thousands displaced in ethnic and religious violence. The government led by Aung San Suu Kyi has said the army and police in Rakhine are fighting at least 400 insurgents, drawn from the Rohingya Muslim minority, with alleged links to Islamist militants overseas. While officials claim conducting carefully targeted sweeps against those who attacked police border posts on October 9 , residents in the region have accused the security forces of burning homes and killing non-combatants, Reuters reported. Rohingya rights activists have uploaded videos showing women and men speaking in Rohingya language carrying their belongings and livestock to other villages or waiting out the crackdown in rice fields, Reuters reported. "I was kicked out from my house yesterday afternoon, now I live in a paddy field outside of my village with some 200 people including my family, I became homeless," Rohingya man from Kyee Kan Pyin village told Reuters. "After the soldiers arrived at our village, they said that if all of us didn't leave, they would shoot us,” he said. Mynt Kyaw, a government spokesman, told Reuters that the government was unable to contact anyone in the area because it was a militarily-operated "red zone". "A Muslim man called me this morning as they were being forcibly removed from their homes, but I was not able to confirm that information," said Mynt Kyaw. The area around Maungdaw, near the border with Bangladesh, is under a military lockdown and journalists and aid workers are being denied access. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Myanmar army drives hundreds of Rohingya villagers out of homes

Bangladesh today arrested five suspected militants of the banned organisation Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including the trainer of its women wing. 
 
In the twin raids, firearms and explosives in large quantities were recovered from their possession. 
 
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Rasheduzzaman Rose, a Canadian expatriate and the acting southern region chief of JMB from Dhaka&#39;s Gazipur district, the Dhaka Tribune reported. 
 
The other persons arrested were identified as Sahabuddin, Firoz, and Saiful, members of the same outfit, and Abul Hye, a leader of another militant outfit Ahl al-Hadith. 
 
The Bangladesh police have blamed JMB for the Dhaka cafe siege on July 1 in Gulshan area where 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed. 
 
The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the Gulshan attack, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the siege. 
 
Bangladeshi authorities had dismissed IS claims over the deadly assaults, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world&#39;s third largest Muslim-majority nation. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Large quantities of firearms and explosives were recovered from their possession

Bangladesh today arrested five suspected militants of the banned organisation Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including the trainer of its women wing. In the twin raids, firearms and explosives in large quantities were recovered from their possession. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Rasheduzzaman Rose, a Canadian expatriate and the acting southern region chief of JMB from Dhaka's Gazipur district, the Dhaka Tribune reported. The other persons arrested were identified as Sahabuddin, Firoz, and Saiful, members of the same outfit, and Abul Hye, a leader of another militant outfit Ahl al-Hadith. The Bangladesh police have blamed JMB for the Dhaka cafe siege on July 1 in Gulshan area where 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed. The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the Gulshan attack, releasing photos from inside the cafe during the siege. Bangladeshi authorities had dismissed IS claims over the deadly assaults, saying international jihadist networks have no presence in the world's third largest Muslim-majority nation. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Dhaka attacks: Bangladesh army arrests 5 militants of banned outfit

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