Violence

Attacks in Iraq kill over 40, sectarian tensions high

Baghdad: A series of bomb and gun attacks across Iraq killed more than 40 people on Tuesday, a day after over 70 died in violence targeting majority Shi'ites that has stoked fears of all-out sectarian war with minority Sunnis.

Nearly 300 people have been killed in the past week as sectarian tensions, fuelled by the civil war in neighbouring Syria, threaten to plunge Iraq back into communal bloodletting.

Ten years after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Iraq's Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds have yet to find a stable power-sharing deal and violence is again on the upswing.

In the biggest single incident on Tuesday, a car bomb exploded near a Sunni mosque in the Abu Ghraib area of western Baghdad killing 11 people and wounding 21, police and medics said....more    

Obama urges Myanmar to stop violence against Muslims

Washington: President Barack Obama urged the president of Myanmar on Monday to take steps to halt violence against Muslims in his country and move ahead with economic and political reforms. Thein Sein became the first head of Myanmar to visit the White House in 47 years, and he and Obama sat down for talks in the Oval Office. Obama said the Myanmar leader had assured him that he intends to...  

Bomb attacks kill more than 70 Shi'ites across Iraq

Baghdad: More than 70 people were killed in a series of car bombings and suicide attacks targeting Shi'ite Muslims across Iraq on Monday, police and medics said, extending the worst sectarian violence since US troops withdrew in December 2011. The attacks increased the number killed in sectarian clashes in the past week to more than 200. Tensions between Shi'ites, who now lead Iraq, and minority Sunni Muslims have reached a...  

TN: Released on bail, Ramadoss to undergo heart surgeory

Chennai: PMK founder leader S Ramadoss, hospitalised here since his release on bail last week after 12-day imprisonment, would undergo a heart surgery on Monday, the party said. A team of doctors at the corporate hospital here where he was admitted on May 11 decided to perform the surgery, a PMK release said on Sunday. Ramadoss was arrested on April 30 for trying to stage a protest at Villupuram, defying...  

Iraq: Two blasts outside Sunni Muslim mosque kill 76

Baghdad: Bombs struck Sunni areas in Baghdad and surrounding areas on Friday, killing at least 76 people in the deadliest day in Iraq in more than eight months, officials said, as a spike in violence has raised fears the country could be on the path to a new round of sectarian bloodshed. The attacks in Baghdad and surrounding areas pushed the three-day Iraqi death toll to 130, including Shiites at...  

Iraq: Two blasts outside Sunni Muslim mosque kill 43

Baquba: Two bombs exploded outside a Sunni Muslim mosque in the Iraqi city of Baquba as worshippers left Friday prayers, killing at least 43 people in one of the deadliest attacks in a month-long surge in sectarian violence. Several other bombings claimed lives around the country - with 19 killed near a commercial complex in the west of Baghdad, as mounting violence intensified fears of a return to all-out civil...  

Sukhbir behind 'political murders', must resign: Bajwa

Chandigarh: In the wake of alleged political violence in the state, Punjab Congress on Friday demanded the resignation of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal saying, he was the main architect behind "political murders and growth of mafias". "Sukhbir is a total failure as state's home minister and he has no right to continue in power. "Punjab is heading to a state of total anarchy as no rule of law...  

Punjab: Two more killed ahead of panchayat polls

Chandigarh: A day after one person was killed immediately after an election rally in Bhatinda district, two more were gunned down on Friday in a village in Amritsar in an exchange of fire between two groups, pushing the toll in the run up to the May 19 panchayat polls in Punjab to four. Tension was brewing between two groups in Chak Mishri Khan village over a consensus to elect the...  

Gunmen kill two NATO drivers in Pakistan: Officials

Islamabad: Suspected militants attacked NATO supply trucks in Pakistan's restive northwest on Thursday, killing two drivers, officials said. Two armed men riding a motorcycle targeted a truck in Jamrud area of the lawless Khyber tribal region and killed its driver, officials told the media. Another NATO supply truck was attacked on the outskirts of Peshawar and its driver shot dead, police officials said. No group claimed responsibility for both attacks....  

J&K recorded 36 per cent decline in violence in 2012: Omar

Srinagar: There was a 36 per cent decline in militancy-related violence in Jammu and Kashmir during 2012 as compared to 2011 and 54 security forces' bunkers were removed from public places here in 2012, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday. Abdullah was speaking at a meeting of various departments under his charge. "Under the amnesty scheme devised for youth involved in stone-pelting, orders to withdraw 196 cases involving 1,432...  

Woman commits suicide after throwing 3 children into well

Bhavnagar: A middle aged woman in Nani Rajasthali village near Palitana killed her three kids on Wednesday, by throwing them into a well, police officials said. Later on, she committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree near the well, the police said. Mamta Gohil (35) allegedly threw her three kids Riddhi (4), Hetal (3) and Jaimin (1) into a village well and later committed suicide by hanging herself. Mamta...  

Daughter-in-law should not be treated as domestic help: SC

New Delhi: A daughter-in-law should be treated as a family member and not the domestic help, and she cannot be "thrown out of her matrimonial home at any time", the Supreme Court has said, while expressing concern over instances of brides being burnt and tortured in the country. The top court said a bride must be respected in her matrimonial home as it "reflects the sensitivity of a civilised society."...  

Rohtak violence: Haryana government seals Satlok Ashram

Rohtak: The disputed Satlok Ashram was on Wednesday sealed by Haryana government after nearly 3,000 followers of self-styled godman Rampal vacated the site in Karontha village, where an uneasy calm prevailed. "The ashram has been vacated by the hundreds of followers of self-styled godman Rampal and there is calm now," an official spokesman said. Satlok Ashram, a cause of dispute between Arya Samajis and Rampal's followers, was the site of...  

UP: 10 people attack person offering prayers, several injured

Muzaffarnagar: Tension gripped Kazikhera village in Muzaffarnagar after several people, including a religious head, were injured when ten persons allegedly attacked people offering prayers inside a place of worship, police said on Tuesday. The accused entered the place of worship on Monday evening to attack a person who was offering prayers inside, police said. The person had a confrontation with one of the accused earlier following which the latter gathered...  

Rohtak violence: Ashram authorities promise to vacate area

Rohtak: The Satlok Ashram authorities in Rohtak are promising to vacate the area after the locals gave an ultimatum. Prohibitory orders are in place in the area. The villagers refused to cremate the body of a woman who lost her life in the violence, that also left two others dead. They have said that the cremation will only take place once the Ashram has been vacated fully. The district administration...  

Rohtak clashes: Magisterial probe ordered

Violent clashes took place in Rohtak in Haryana on Sunday leaving three people dead and over 100 injured. Clashes took place between members of the Arya Samaj and followers of a godman, who owns the Satlok Ashram at Karontha village. The state government has ordered a magisterial probe in the case. ...

Rohtak: 3 dead, over 100 injured in violent clashes over Ashram

Rohtak: Violent clashes took place in Rohtak in Haryana on Sunday leaving three people dead and over 100 injured. This includes 50 police personnel. Clashes took place between members of the Arya Samaj and followers of a godman, who owns the Satlok Ashram at Karontha village. Arya Samajis claim that the ownership of the dera is illegal and its presence is affecting peace in the region. The police had to...  

Turkey says world must act against Syria after bombings

Reyhanli: Turkey accused a group with links to Syrian intelligence of carrying out car bombings that killed 46 people in a Turkish border town, and said on Sunday it was time for the world to act against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The two car bombs, which ripped through crowded shopping streets in Reyhanli on Saturday, increased fears that Syria's civil war is dragging in neighbouring states, despite renewed...  

Pakistan polls: 16 killed in violence in Balochistan

Quetta: The voting for historic general elections in Pakistan was marred with violence as at least sixteen people died in poll related violence in the troubled Balochistan province in south-west Pakistan. As many as 10 persons died and 15 others sustained injuries on Saturday when a bus carrying supporters of independent candidate Khadim Hussain Shah came under attack in Naseerabad district, Quetta city police chief Mir Zubair said. "The supporters...  

Turkey: Car bombs kill 43 in Reyhanli near Syrian border

Reyhanli: Twin car bombs killed around 43 people and wounded many more in a Turkish town near the Syrian border on Saturday and Turkey said it suspected Syrian involvement. The bombing increased fears that Syria's civil war was dragging in neighbouring states despite renewed diplomatic moves towards ending fighting in which more than 70,000 people have been killed. The bombs ripped into crowded streets in the early afternoon in Reyhanli,...