The Indian government is dispatching an additional 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Manipur in the wake of the state's security situation. The 50 companies of CAPF will comprise more than 5,000 personnel, various Indian media outlets reported.&nbsp;

Union Home Minister&nbsp;Amit Shah&nbsp;met security officials at North Block on Monday (Nov. 18) and directed the paramilitary forces to focus on restoring peace and order in the Indian state of Manipur.

The step was taken a day after Shah cancelled his political rallies in the Indian state of Maharastra to look into Manipur's security situation.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-violence-amit-shah-cancels-maharashtra-election-rallies-to-review-situation-in-northeastern-state-777003">Manipur violence: Amit Shah cancels Maharashtra election rallies to review situation in northeastern state</a>

Later, the minister held a review meeting with senior security officials at his home, which continued for around four to five hours.&nbsp;

Shah also sent CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh, who is from the Manipur cadre, to Imphal. He has&nbsp;been asked to coordinate with all the forces and send a ground assessment report.

<h2>Centre looks into fragile situation in Manipur</h2>

Last week, the Centre in a statement said that Manipur's security scenario has been fragile for the past few days.

“Armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence, leading to the unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order. All the security forces have been directed to take the necessary steps to restore order and peace. Strict action will be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities,” it said in a statement.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;India | Manipur Unrest: Home Minister Amit Shah To Review Security Situation

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The decision to send&nbsp;an additional 50 CAPF companies to&nbsp;Manipur has been taken by the Centre and after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had dispatched 20 additional CAPF companies, 15 from the CRPF and five from the BSF, to the state as part of an order issued on November 12 after violence escalated in Jiribam district and spread to other places.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indian government is dispatching an additional 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Manipur in the wake of the state's security situation. The 50 companies of CAPF will comprise more than 5,000 personnel, various Indian media outlets reported.

The Indian government is dispatching an additional 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Manipur in the wake of the state's security situation. The 50 companies of CAPF will comprise more than 5,000 personnel, various Indian media outlets reported. Union Home Minister Amit Shah met security officials at North Block on Monday (Nov. 18) and directed the paramilitary forces to focus on restoring peace and order in the Indian state of Manipur. The step was taken a day after Shah cancelled his political rallies in the Indian state of Maharastra to look into Manipur's security situation. Also Read: Manipur violence: Amit Shah cancels Maharashtra election rallies to review situation in northeastern state Later, the minister held a review meeting with senior security officials at his home, which continued for around four to five hours. Shah also sent CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh, who is from the Manipur cadre, to Imphal. He has been asked to coordinate with all the forces and send a ground assessment report. Centre looks into fragile situation in Manipur Last week, the Centre in a statement said that Manipur's security scenario has been fragile for the past few days. “Armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence, leading to the unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order. All the security forces have been directed to take the necessary steps to restore order and peace. Strict action will be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities,” it said in a statement. Watch: India | Manipur Unrest: Home Minister Amit Shah To Review Security Situation The decision to send an additional 50 CAPF companies to Manipur has been taken by the Centre and after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had dispatched 20 additional CAPF companies, 15 from the CRPF and five from the BSF, to the state as part of an order issued on November 12 after violence escalated in Jiribam district and spread to other places. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian govt sends 50 CAPF companies to Manipur as violence escalates in Jiribam 

The Russian army, which has been fighting to gain control of the embattled city of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine have most probably faced some worst casualty rates this year, as they have faced losses of at least 4,000 troops, as per reports. 
 
In a call held with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday (Oct 28), Ukraine Defence Minister Rustem Umerov spoke about the staggering death tally of the Russian army in Avdiivka, as per a Telegram post by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. 
 
The defence ministry of the United Kingdom stated eight brigades had been deployed by Moscow in its campaign for Avdiivka, which is home to a sprawling coke plant and is located roughly 16 miles from Donetsk, which has been occupied by Russia. However, those forces have “likely suffered some of Russia’s highest casualty rates of 2023 so far”.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-8-injured-after-russian-strike-in-ukraines-kherson-dozens-of-buildings-damaged-652137">At least 8 injured in Russian strike on Ukraine’s Kherson, dozens of buildings damaged</a>

In its Saturday battlefield report, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces were making attempts to encircle Avdiivka, however, Kyiv has continued to repel the Russian troops strongly. “The Ukrainian soldiers are standing their ground, inflicting major losses on the enemy,” it stated. 
 
The assault was launched by Russia on the embattled Donetsk in mid-October as Ukrainian forces were slammed with repeated artillery assaults along with multiple attacks by armoured vehicles and troops, as per the local and military authorities in Ukraine.

<h2>Moscow lost at least a brigade: Zelensky</h2>

On Friday, Ukraine President Vladimir Zelensky stated that in the offensive push of Russia for Avdiivka, Moscow lost “at least a brigade”, which has different sizes but can include as many as 8,000 troops. 
 
“The invaders made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time our soldiers stopped them and threw them back, causing painful losses,” stated Zelensky.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War | European firms helping Russia produce dagger missiles: Report

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The concentrated assault by Russia on Avdiivka came nearly five months after a counteroffensive was launched by Ukraine in the south and eastern territories, currently taken by Moscow. 
 
The American think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, on Thursday, said that the forces of Moscow have faced severe losses in equipment in their campaign to control Avdiivka, which “will likely undermine Russian offensive capabilities over the long term”. 
 
This week, the Biden administration stated that Russian soldiers are being executed by the Russian military if they are not following the orders and entire units have been threatened that they will be killed if they tried retreating from the battlefield in Ukraine.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The Russian army, which has been fighting to gain control of the embattled city of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine have most probably faced some worst casualty rates this year, as they have faced losses of at least 4,000 troops, as per reports.

The Russian army, which has been fighting to gain control of the embattled city of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine have most probably faced some worst casualty rates this year, as they have faced losses of at least 4,000 troops, as per reports. In a call held with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday (Oct 28), Ukraine Defence Minister Rustem Umerov spoke about the staggering death tally of the Russian army in Avdiivka, as per a Telegram post by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. The defence ministry of the United Kingdom stated eight brigades had been deployed by Moscow in its campaign for Avdiivka, which is home to a sprawling coke plant and is located roughly 16 miles from Donetsk, which has been occupied by Russia. However, those forces have “likely suffered some of Russia’s highest casualty rates of 2023 so far”. ALSO READ | At least 8 injured in Russian strike on Ukraine’s Kherson, dozens of buildings damaged In its Saturday battlefield report, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces were making attempts to encircle Avdiivka, however, Kyiv has continued to repel the Russian troops strongly. “The Ukrainian soldiers are standing their ground, inflicting major losses on the enemy,” it stated. The assault was launched by Russia on the embattled Donetsk in mid-October as Ukrainian forces were slammed with repeated artillery assaults along with multiple attacks by armoured vehicles and troops, as per the local and military authorities in Ukraine. Moscow lost at least a brigade: Zelensky On Friday, Ukraine President Vladimir Zelensky stated that in the offensive push of Russia for Avdiivka, Moscow lost “at least a brigade”, which has different sizes but can include as many as 8,000 troops. “The invaders made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time our soldiers stopped them and threw them back, causing painful losses,” stated Zelensky. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War | European firms helping Russia produce dagger missiles: Report The concentrated assault by Russia on Avdiivka came nearly five months after a counteroffensive was launched by Ukraine in the south and eastern territories, currently taken by Moscow. The American think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, on Thursday, said that the forces of Moscow have faced severe losses in equipment in their campaign to control Avdiivka, which “will likely undermine Russian offensive capabilities over the long term”. This week, the Biden administration stated that Russian soldiers are being executed by the Russian military if they are not following the orders and entire units have been threatened that they will be killed if they tried retreating from the battlefield in Ukraine. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia suffers 4,000 casualties as fight for Avdiivka escalates in eastern Ukraine

Hostilities between Israel and Hamas escalated overnight, with 35 Palestinians killed in Gaza and five in Israel in the most intensive aerial exchanges in years.&nbsp;

Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Gaza into the early hours of Wednesday, as the Islamist group and other Palestinian militant groups fired multiple rocket barrages at Tel Aviv and Beersheba.&nbsp;

One multi-storey residential building in Gaza collapsed and another was heavily damaged after they were repeatedly hit by Israeli airstrikes. Israel said it attacked Hamas targets, including intelligence centres and rocket launch sites. 
 
Gravitas: Israel &amp; Hamas exchange rocket fire

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It was the heaviest offensive between Israel and Hamas since a 2014 war in Gaza and prompted international concern that the situation could spiral out of control.&nbsp;

UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland tweeted: "Stop the fire immediately. We're escalating towards full-scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take responsibility of de-escalation.&nbsp;

"The cost of war in Gaza is devastating &amp; is being paid by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now," he wrote. &nbsp;

Into the early hours of Wednesday morning, Gazans reported their homes shaking and the sky lighting up with Israeli attacks, outgoing rockets and Israeli air defence missiles intercepting them.&nbsp;

Israelis ran for shelters or flattened themselves on pavements in communities more than 70 km (45 miles) up the coast and into southern Israel amid sounds of explosions as interceptor missiles streaked into the sky.&nbsp;

In the mixed Arab-Jewish town of Lod, near Tel Aviv, two people were killed after a rocket hit a vehicle in the area. Israeli media reported one was a 7-year-old girl. &nbsp;

Hamas's armed wing said it fired 210 rockets towards Beersheba and Tel Aviv in response to the bombing of the tower buildings in Gaza City.&nbsp;

For Israel, the militants' targeting of Tel Aviv, its commercial capital, posed a new challenge in the confrontation with the Islamist Hamas group, regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel and the United States.&nbsp;

The violence followed weeks of tension in Jerusalem during the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan, with clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the compound revered by Jews as Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.&nbsp;

These escalated in recent days ahead of a, now postponed, court hearing in a case that could end with Palestinian families evicted from East Jerusalem homes claimed by Jewish settlers.&nbsp;

Violence has also flared in the occupied West Bank, where a 26-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire during stone-throwing clashes in a refugee camp near the city of Hebron.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Hostilities between Israel and Hamas escalated overnight, with 35 Palestinians killed in Gaza and five in Israel in the most intensive aerial exchanges in years.

Hostilities between Israel and Hamas escalated overnight, with 35 Palestinians killed in Gaza and five in Israel in the most intensive aerial exchanges in years. Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Gaza into the early hours of Wednesday, as the Islamist group and other Palestinian militant groups fired multiple rocket barrages at Tel Aviv and Beersheba. One multi-storey residential building in Gaza collapsed and another was heavily damaged after they were repeatedly hit by Israeli airstrikes. Israel said it attacked Hamas targets, including intelligence centres and rocket launch sites. Gravitas: Israel & Hamas exchange rocket fire It was the heaviest offensive between Israel and Hamas since a 2014 war in Gaza and prompted international concern that the situation could spiral out of control. UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland tweeted: "Stop the fire immediately. We're escalating towards full-scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take responsibility of de-escalation. "The cost of war in Gaza is devastating & is being paid by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now," he wrote. Into the early hours of Wednesday morning, Gazans reported their homes shaking and the sky lighting up with Israeli attacks, outgoing rockets and Israeli air defence missiles intercepting them. Israelis ran for shelters or flattened themselves on pavements in communities more than 70 km (45 miles) up the coast and into southern Israel amid sounds of explosions as interceptor missiles streaked into the sky. In the mixed Arab-Jewish town of Lod, near Tel Aviv, two people were killed after a rocket hit a vehicle in the area. Israeli media reported one was a 7-year-old girl. Hamas's armed wing said it fired 210 rockets towards Beersheba and Tel Aviv in response to the bombing of the tower buildings in Gaza City. For Israel, the militants' targeting of Tel Aviv, its commercial capital, posed a new challenge in the confrontation with the Islamist Hamas group, regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel and the United States. The violence followed weeks of tension in Jerusalem during the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan, with clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the compound revered by Jews as Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. These escalated in recent days ahead of a, now postponed, court hearing in a case that could end with Palestinian families evicted from East Jerusalem homes claimed by Jewish settlers. Violence has also flared in the occupied West Bank, where a 26-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire during stone-throwing clashes in a refugee camp near the city of Hebron. (With inputs from agencies)

35 killed in Gaza, 5 in Israel, as violence escalates 

An Indian national who was working as a caregiver has been killed in a Hamas rocket attack at Ashkelon in Israel.

According to the family members of 31-year old Soumya Santhosh, the rocket fell on her residence in the city of Ashkelon while she was talking to her husband Santhosh, who is in the southern Indian state of Kerala, over a video call in the evening.

"My brother heard a huge sound during the video call. Suddenly the phone got disconnected. Then we immediately contacted fellow Malayalees working there. Thus we came to know about the incident," Santhosh's brother Saji said.

Soumya Santosh, who hailed from Kerala's Idukki district, worked as a caregiver attending to an elderly woman at a house in the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon.

Ashkelon, which borders the Gaza Strip, has come under massive fire from the Palestinian terrorists.

Soumya was reportedly living in Israel for the past seven years. She has a nine-year-old son whom she had left with her husband in Kerala. Her 80-year-old elderly charge is said to have survived the direct hit on the house and is hospitalised in a serious condition, local media reports said.

Soumya is the daughter of former Kanjikuzhy panchayat member Satish and Savithri. Her last visit to Kerala was in 2017. The deadly rocket attack directly struck the house of the elderly woman.

Channel 12 reported that the rocket shelter was at least a minute's run away from the woman's home and the pair could not manage to reach it in time.

The home lacked a fortified room of its own.

Some media reports said that a technical glitch with an Iron Dome battery (an all-weather air defence system that intercepts and destroys short-range rockets) during the massive rocket barrage towards the Israeli coastal city prevented some rockets from being intercepted and may have been responsible for the casualties and deaths.

Ashkelon's Mayor Tomer Glam said that some 25 per cent of the residents do not have access to a protected area when rockets are fired at the city. It is impossible when normal life becomes a state of emergency within minutes, Glam told Army Radio.

There are houses from the 1960s where there is no basic protection. It is time for treasury officials and decision-makers to understand what is happening here in the city, he stressed.

Israel's ambassador to India Ron Malka on Tuesday took to Twitter to condole the Indian woman's death.

"On behalf of the state of Israel, I convey heartfelt condolences to the family of Soumya Santosh, murdered by Hamas indiscriminate terror attack on innocent lives. Our hearts are crying with her 9-years-old son that lost his mother in this cruel terrorist attack," he said. 
 
"I just spoke to the family of Ms. Soumya Santosh, the victim of the Hamas terrorist strike. I expressed my sorrow for their unfortunate loss &amp; extended my condolences on behalf of the state of Israel. The whole country is mourning her loss &amp; we are here for them."

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I just spoke to the family of Ms. Soumya Santosh, the victim of the Hamas terrorist strike. I expressed my sorrow for their unfortunate loss &amp; extended my condolences on behalf of the state of Israel. The whole country is mourning her loss &amp; we are here for them. <a href="https://t.co/btmoewYMSS">pic.twitter.com/btmoewYMSS</a>
— Ron Malka 🇮🇱 (@DrRonMalka) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrRonMalka/status/1392358596227203073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Newly-elected MLA and Nationalist Congress Kerala leader Mani C Kappan condemned the incident.

In a Facebook post, Kappan, who is representing Pala seat in the Kerala Assembly, said thousands of Keralites working in Israel were living in fear. He also sought the intervention of the central and state governments.

(With inputs from agencies)

An Indian national who was working as a caregiver has been killed in a Hamas rocket attack at Ashkelon in Israel. According to the family members of 31-year old Soumya Santhosh, the rocket fell on her residence in the city of Ashkelon while she was talking to her husband Santhosh, who is in the southern Indian state of Kerala, over a video call in the evening.

An Indian national who was working as a caregiver has been killed in a Hamas rocket attack at Ashkelon in Israel. According to the family members of 31-year old Soumya Santhosh, the rocket fell on her residence in the city of Ashkelon while she was talking to her husband Santhosh, who is in the southern Indian state of Kerala, over a video call in the evening. "My brother heard a huge sound during the video call. Suddenly the phone got disconnected. Then we immediately contacted fellow Malayalees working there. Thus we came to know about the incident," Santhosh's brother Saji said. Soumya Santosh, who hailed from Kerala's Idukki district, worked as a caregiver attending to an elderly woman at a house in the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. Ashkelon, which borders the Gaza Strip, has come under massive fire from the Palestinian terrorists. Soumya was reportedly living in Israel for the past seven years. She has a nine-year-old son whom she had left with her husband in Kerala. Her 80-year-old elderly charge is said to have survived the direct hit on the house and is hospitalised in a serious condition, local media reports said. Soumya is the daughter of former Kanjikuzhy panchayat member Satish and Savithri. Her last visit to Kerala was in 2017. The deadly rocket attack directly struck the house of the elderly woman. Channel 12 reported that the rocket shelter was at least a minute's run away from the woman's home and the pair could not manage to reach it in time. The home lacked a fortified room of its own. Some media reports said that a technical glitch with an Iron Dome battery (an all-weather air defence system that intercepts and destroys short-range rockets) during the massive rocket barrage towards the Israeli coastal city prevented some rockets from being intercepted and may have been responsible for the casualties and deaths. Ashkelon's Mayor Tomer Glam said that some 25 per cent of the residents do not have access to a protected area when rockets are fired at the city. It is impossible when normal life becomes a state of emergency within minutes, Glam told Army Radio. There are houses from the 1960s where there is no basic protection. It is time for treasury officials and decision-makers to understand what is happening here in the city, he stressed. Israel's ambassador to India Ron Malka on Tuesday took to Twitter to condole the Indian woman's death. "On behalf of the state of Israel, I convey heartfelt condolences to the family of Soumya Santosh, murdered by Hamas indiscriminate terror attack on innocent lives. Our hearts are crying with her 9-years-old son that lost his mother in this cruel terrorist attack," he said. "I just spoke to the family of Ms. Soumya Santosh, the victim of the Hamas terrorist strike. I expressed my sorrow for their unfortunate loss & extended my condolences on behalf of the state of Israel. The whole country is mourning her loss & we are here for them." I just spoke to the family of Ms. Soumya Santosh, the victim of the Hamas terrorist strike. I expressed my sorrow for their unfortunate loss & extended my condolences on behalf of the state of Israel. The whole country is mourning her loss & we are here for them. pic.twitter.com/btmoewYMSS — Ron Malka 🇮🇱 (@DrRonMalka) May 12, 2021 × Newly-elected MLA and Nationalist Congress Kerala leader Mani C Kappan condemned the incident. In a Facebook post, Kappan, who is representing Pala seat in the Kerala Assembly, said thousands of Keralites working in Israel were living in fear. He also sought the intervention of the central and state governments. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian woman killed in Israel was struck by rocket strike during a video call with husband

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