Latest news with #Burhan
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Khartoum changes hands, marking a new phase in Sudan's civil war
Nearly two years after being forced to fall back to Port Sudan on the coast, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan are triumphantly back in charge of Khartoum, the capital. They still face resistance in areas south of the city and in the district of Omdurman on the west bank of the Nile. But the city's recapture marks a turning point in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 12m and caused one of the world's worst famines for decades. The question now is whether the SAF halts its advance or pushes westward. That will depend partly on pressure from the general's allies. The SAF has advanced on the battlefield in recent months largely thanks to a broad and diverse coalition assembled since the early months of the war, when it lost swathes of the country, including most of Khartoum, to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a descendant of the Janjaweed, an ethnically Arab militia that terrorised the vast western region of Darfur for two decades. The RSF is commanded by Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, who is apparently determined to fight on. On the SAF's side are foreign backers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and neighbouring Egypt, which has reportedly provided air support. Looser associates include Russia, Turkey and Iran, which have sold the army weapons and drones. Some of those countries may now press General Burhan, who has doggedly refused peace talks, to negotiate with the RSF. To sweeten the deal, outsiders may offer to recognise an SAF-led government in Khartoum and help pay to rebuild the battered city. Yet competing interests among the army's domestic allies could scupper any such deal. The SAF has enlisted voluntary local defence units, composed of civilians enraged by the RSF's looting and terrorising of populations under its control, and militias from Darfur. It has also fought alongside jihadist brigades with links to the Islamist government of Omar al-Bashir that was ousted in 2019. Faced with the dilemma of whether to continue the fight westwards towards the RSF's base in Darfur, or to consolidate in Khartoum, this shaky alliance could well splinter. Prominent voices are urging it to push on. 'Darfur is part of Sudan,' says Amjed Farid, a former government official. 'The SAF should not surrender it to the RSF.' Many Darfuris, not least the ethnic African groups who have suffered atrocities including possible genocide at the hands of the RSF, probably feel the same. But such a push could easily end badly. The army has made the biggest recent gains in its traditional strongholds in central Sudan. A ground offensive in Darfur would entail battles on the RSF's home turf and stretched supply lines. As a commander during the first Darfur war, in the 2000s, General Burhan got bogged down in the region. Even with the support of local allies his forces could find themselves in a quagmire again. 'The Sudanese Armed Forces have never really won in Darfur,' says Kholood Khair of Confluence Advisory, a Sudanese think-tank. Still, for the moment there is little talk of a ceasefire or negotiations, at least in public. The SAF continues to bomb civilians: a strike on a market in Darfur on March 24th reportedly killed at least 54 people and injured dozens more. In Khartoum there are alarming reports of lawlessness. Gruesome videos have circulated in recent days appearing to show beheadings of suspected RSF collaborators by groups allied to the army. There are equally few signs that the RSF, despite its defeat in Khartoum and its recent insistence that it wished to begin dialogue, is ready to sue for peace. In February it announced the formation of a parallel government in the areas under its control. Its chief foreign supporter, the United Arab Emirates, does not appear to have stopped sending it weapons. Almost all of Sudan's immediate neighbours, except Egypt and Eritrea, now fall within the Emiratis' sphere of influence. This means the RSF should be able to continue resupplying itself. 'I'd be surprised if the RSF is going to take this one lying down,' says Alex Rondos, a former EU special representative to the Horn of Africa. In Khartoum and its surroundings the SAF's victory should at least make it easier for aid agencies to deliver food and other emergency supplies. That could stave off famine, temporarily reducing the misery for Sudanese in these areas. 'But does it actually bring the war closer to the end?' asks Payton Knopf, a former American diplomat. 'Probably not.'
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
SC takes serious note of rising suicide cases in Kota
Kota: Rajasthan Police filed an FIR in connection with the suicide of a Jammu and Kashmir student in Rajasthan's Kota. Recently, the Supreme Court made strong remarks over the increasing number of such incidents in the city. The victim, identified as Zeeshan Jahan (18), a NEET aspirant from Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, was found dead in her PG accommodation in Mahavir Nagar on May 25. According to police, this is only the second case in Kota where an FIR has been filed in connection with a student suicide. The Supreme Court had earlier taken serious note of the rising student suicide cases in Kota. On May 23, a bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan questioned the Rajasthan government's inaction, stating, 'Fourteen students have committed suicide in Kota so far this year. What are you doing about it as a state? Why are students committing suicide in Kota? Have you not given it any thought?' Following this, police filed FIRs in two separate student suicide cases—one at Kunhari Police Station and another at Mahavir Nagar Police Station. Mahavir Nagar Police Station Officer Ramesh Kaviya confirmed that Zeeshan Jahan was found hanging in her room. She had reportedly spoken to a person named Burhan on the phone shortly before the incident. After the call, Burhan contacted a mutual acquaintance in Kota, urging her to check on Zeeshan. When she arrived, she found the room locked from the inside. Upon hearing her screams, nearby students gathered. A carpenter working nearby was called, and the door was cut open with a cutter. Zeeshan was found hanging. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead. A postmortem examination was conducted in the presence of his relatives, who had arrived from Jammu and Kashmir. The police have registered a case under Sections 306 and 108 of the IPC, which pertain to abetment of suicide. The role of Burhan is under investigation. According to Zeeshan's uncle, Shakeel Ahmed Wani, she had been mentally distressed and was under medical treatment. She had previously attended a private coaching institute in Kota and had returned to the city just a month ago after Eid. Whether she had taken readmission this session is being investigated.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
NEET aspirant's suicide: KotaPolice file FIR as per SC order
1 2 Kota: City police Tuesday registered an FIR for abetment of suicide following the death of an 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Jammu & Kashmir on Sunday. The action comes days after the Supreme Court rapped the state govt, especially the Kota police, for their failure to register FIRs in student suicide cases. Zeeshan Jahan, a resident of Anantnag, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her rented accommodation under Mahaveer Nagar police station Sunday evening. Circle Inspector Ramesh Kavia confirmed Tuesday that the FIR has been registered in the matter under Section 108 of BNS against some identified as well as unidentified persons. "According to police officials, Jahan was on a phone call with her relative Burhan when she took the extreme step. During the conversation, she hinted at her intentions, prompting Burhan to alert his acquaintance, Mamta, another student who lived in the same building," said CI Kavia. "Mamta rushed to Zeeshan's room, found the door locked from inside, so called for help," the police officer said. Nearby people then broke open the door with a grinder obtained from a carpenter working in an adjacent building and took Zeeshan to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead. "No suicide note was recovered from the scene," said CI Kavia. "We are examining all possible angles, including her relationship with Burhan, but conclusions will only be drawn after a thorough investigation," the police officer added. Family members, who reached Kota Tuesday morning, said that Jahan had been battling stress and depression, for which she was receiving medical treatment. Jahan, who had previously studied in Kota for the NEET-UG exam, had returned to the city last month. Unlike her previous stint, she had opted for self-study rather than enrolling in any coaching institute. The police have handed over the body to the family following post-mortem examination and investigations are ongoing. Zeeshan's suicide marks 15th such case by a student in Kota since January and the second this month. Earlier in May, another girl from Madhya Pradesh, also a NEET aspirant, died by suicide under Kunhadi police station a day before the NEET-UG exam on May 3.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
NEET aspirant from J&K hangs self in Kota
Image used is for representational purposes only KOTA: A NEET-UG aspirant from Jammu and Kashmir died by suicide in Kota Sunday evening, marking the 15th student suicide in the coaching hub this year and the second in May. The student, identified as Zeeshan Jahan, 18, was preparing for the medical entrance exam through self-study and was residing at a paying guest accommodation under the Mahaveer Nagar police station area. According to police, Zeeshan allegedly hanged herself from the ceiling fan of her room while speaking on the phone with a relative, Burhan, in Jammu and Kashmir. During the call, she reportedly hinted at her intent to take her life. Alarmed, Burhan immediately disconnected the call and contacted Mamta, a student living on the upper floor of the same building. Mamta rushed to Zeeshan's room and found it locked from the inside. She alerted others nearby, and with help from workers at a neighboring construction site, the door was broken open using a grinder. Zeeshan was found hanging and was taken to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead. Circle inspector of Mahaveer Nagar police station said Zeeshan had previously studied in Kota and returned a month ago to prepare again for NEET-UG, this time without joining any coaching institute. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo She had rented a room behind Pratap Chouraha for self-study. The officer confirmed that no suicide note was recovered from the room and that the reason behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained. He added that the ceiling fan in the room was not equipped with an anti-hanging device—equipment recommended in hostels and PGs to deter suicides. The girl's body has been placed in the mortuary, and her family has been informed. A post-mortem will be conducted after their arrival. Notably, this marks the 15th case of suicide by a coaching student in Kota this year since January and the second this month. Earlier, this month, another girl from Madhya Pradesh, also a NEET aspirant, committed suicide by hanging herself in her room under Kunhadi police station a day before the NEET-UG exam on May 3.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
NEET aspirant girl from J&K hangs self in Kota
Kota: A NEET-UG aspirant from Jammu and Kashmir died by suicide in Kota Sunday evening, marking the 15th student suicide in the coaching hub this year and the second in May. The student, identified as Zeeshan Jahan, 18, was preparing for the medical entrance exam through self-study and was residing at a paying guest accommodation under the Mahaveer Nagar police station area. According to police, Zeeshan allegedly hanged herself from the ceiling fan of her room while speaking on the phone with a relative, Burhan, in Jammu and Kashmir. During the call, she reportedly hinted at her intent to take her life. Alarmed, Burhan immediately disconnected the call and contacted Mamta, a student living on the upper floor of the same building. Mamta rushed to Zeeshan's room and found it locked from the inside. She alerted others nearby, and with help from workers at a neighboring construction site, the door was broken open using a grinder. Zeeshan was found hanging and was taken to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead. Circle inspector of Mahaveer Nagar police station said Zeeshan had previously studied in Kota and returned a month ago to prepare again for NEET-UG, this time without joining any coaching institute. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo She had rented a room behind Pratap Chouraha for self-study. The officer confirmed that no suicide note was recovered from the room and that the reason behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained. He added that the ceiling fan in the room was not equipped with an anti-hanging device—equipment recommended in hostels and PGs to deter suicides. The girl's body has been placed in the mortuary, and her family has been informed. A post-mortem will be conducted after their arrival. Notably, this marks the 15th case of suicide by a coaching student in Kota this year since January and the second this month. Earlier, this month, another girl from Madhya Pradesh, also a NEET aspirant, committed suicide by hanging herself in her room under Kunhadi police station a day before the NEET-UG exam on May 3.
