Breaking news on October 30

IAF recommends gallantry awards for 6 personnel killed in friendly fire chopper crash

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his mother at her residence in Gandhinagar.

J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) annual regular examination of higher secondary (class 12th) commenced today. Around 48,000 students of Kashmir division appeared in the examination.

Around 99.5% students appeared in examination for which fool-proof arrangements were made. Flying squads were constituted for monitoring the examination. Adequate security measures in & around the examination centres were also taken.

Businessman Raj Kundra on being asked if he has ever met Iqbal Mirchi, said: "Never, never. We supported authorities & have given whatever they needed". He had been summoned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) to join investigation in connection with underworld don Iqbal Mirchi."

An Indian Coast Guard ship intercepted two fishing boats off Lakshadweep & Minicoy islands within the Exclusive Economic Zone. Prima facie, it appears that the boats were engaged in poaching activities; Investigation is on.

A 43-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by one of his acquaintances after an altercation in Rohini, police said on Wednesday. Jitender, an AC mechanic, was killed on Tuesday, they said. One of the suspects identified as Vijay (50), who is a property dealer, has been arrested, police said, adding his three other accomplices have also been identified. According to police, the incident took place at around 8.30 pm on Tuesday. However, police said they were informed at around 1 am.

Kashmir Zone Police said that one civilian was killed and three were injured in cross border shelling by Pakistan in Machil area of Kupwara.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader said: "Anybody who has the majority of 145, be it any politician or MLA, can become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Governor will invite whoever has the figure of 145 or the largest party, but even they have to prove majority on the floor of the house."

Jawaharlal Nehru University ABVP workers staged a protest in the university premises, against Kerala government over the acquittal of three accused in the alleged sexual assault and murder of two minor girls in Walayar in 2017.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf issued a statement that Pakistan has decided to send invitation to Navjot Singh Sidhu for Kartarpur Corridor opening ceremony. Senator Faisal Javed Khan had a telephonic conversation with Navjot Singh Sidhu on the direction of PM Imran Khan and invited him to Pakistan on 9  November.

India Meteorological Department issued a statement that light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places likely over coastal Karnataka in the next 2 days. Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated place likely to occur over Tamil Nadu on 30 Oct and over coastal Karnataka on 31 October. 

Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar was on Wednesday elected NCP's state legislature party leader. The newly-elected legislators of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) elected him unanimously, state party unit chief Jayant Patil said.

Kashmir Zone Police said: "Killed terrorist has been identified as Aijaz Malik of Hizbul Mujahideen, he was active since 2018 and was involved in the killing of a truck driver at Bijbehara. This establishes complicity of Hizbul in the terror crime."

A meeting of RSS leaders, including Mohan Bhagwat and Bhaiyyaji Joshi, is underway in Delhi. BJP working President JP Nadda is also present. Home Minister and party president Amit Shah, and Joint General Secretary Organisation BL Santosh, likely to attend the meeting.

A statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was found desecrated at a village in Buldhana district of Maharashtra on Wednesday, which triggered tension in the area, police said.

The Rajasthan High Court has quashed the FIR filed against Pehlu Khan's family members for cattle smuggling. 

P Chidambaram has been sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the INX Media case. Chidambaram may be allowed to have home-cooked food in Tihar considering his medical condition, says court. Delhi court directs Tihar authorities to provide Chidambaram medicines, western toilet, security, and separate cell. Delhi court dismisses ED's plea for a one-day custodial interrogation of P Chidambaram. 

Pakistani Army on Wednesday shelled forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defense spokesman said.

There was no immediate report of any casualty in the Pakistani firing and shelling, the spokesman said.

"At about 3.15 pm, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing small arms and mortars along the LoC in Sunderbani sector. Indian Army is retaliating befittingly," he said. 

Pakistan violated ceasefire in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri today at 1515 hours by resorting to the firing of small arms and shelling with mortars. Indian Army is retaliating.

Nitish Kumar has been elected as the national president of the Janata Dal (United) for the next 3 years.

ED seeks 1-day custody of P Chidambaram in INX Media money laundering case.

Delhi court reserves order, to be pronounced shortly in connection with the INX Media case. 

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Orange alert in Trivandrum, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki and Malappuram districts of Kerala for today. Yellow alert issued in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts for today.

IMD has issued Orange alert in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts for tomorrow. Yellow alert issued in Trivandrum, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts for tomorrow.

Shiv Sena to have a legislative party meeting tomorrow, at the party headquarters in Mumbai.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday elected as BJP legislature party leader in Maharashtra.

Italian-American carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is confirming that it is in talks with French rival PSA Peugeot on a tie-up to create one of the world's largest automakers.

The statement on Wednesday didn't say whether the talks were aimed at a full merger or a looser alliance. No further details were given.

Fiat Chrysler has long been looking for a partner to help shoulder investments in the capital-heavy industry. Talks this year with another French carmaker, Renault, failed over French government concerns over the role of the Japanese partner Nissan.

With the deadlock between BJP and its ally Shiv Sena persisting days after the Maharashtra Assembly polls results, the Congress on Wednesday called a top brass meet here to churn out possibilities.

Although fourth in vote count, the Congress is looking at Sena to take a call, even as its longtime former ally NCP has completely ruled out joining the combine if Shiv Sena is ushered in.

General Secretary in-charge of the state Mallikarjun Kharge will chair the meeting scheduled at 5 p.m. Former Chief Ministers Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan will also be present.

Congress on Tuesday maintained that the party could think of stitching up an alliance with the Shiv Sena, even.

One civilian killed, seven injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Thaligaon village in Kumkari sector along the Line of Control.

Talking about Tipu Jayanti in Karnataka the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said, "we are going to drop everything and we are also thinking to drop everything in the textbooks about him."

India and Germany are expected to sign nearly 20 agreements during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's upcoming visit to India.

Talking about German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to India, German Envoy to India said, "She'll be accompanied by 12 ministers. They represent almost all our ministries. Topics are from artificial intelligence to agriculture  to economic issues.... There's a lot of things they can talk about."

Hundreds of PMC Bank depositors today took their protest to Mumbai's iconic Azad Maidan and demanded a payback of their money. 

The PMC Bank is under restrictions by the RBI for over a month, after an alleged Rs 4,355 crore scam surfaced. The RBI has capped the withdrawal limit to Rs 40,000 as of now. At least five depositors, who had a high quantum of money stuck with the bank have died since then.

Sensex crosses 40,000 marks on Wednesday with gain by 234.23 points. It is currently at  40,066.07.

Guwahati: Family members mourn as they pay tribute to the victims of 2008 Assam bombings on its eleventh anniversary, in Guwahati, Wednesday, Oct.  30, 2019.

Today is the eleventh anniversary of 2008 Assam bombings. On October 30, 2008, bombs exploded at 18 places in Guwahati city on a busy afternoon. The bomb blast caused 81 deaths and over 400 people were injured. 

In the photo above, family members are seen mourning the death of their loved ones. 

The explosions rocked Guwahati's Pan Bazar, Fancy Bazar and Ganeshguri, which were crowded with shoppers and office goers. 

On the demise of two-year-old, Sujith Wilson after falling into a borewell in Thirunelvelli, the Tamil Nadu Disaster Management secretary, J Radhakrishnan said, "We'll take steps to make sure such incidents do not happen in future. We made all possible efforts to rescue him but unfortunately couldn't save him. The real solution is that all borewells should be closed."

Three persons died and four were injured when a bus in which they were travelling rammed into a stationary truck in Uttar Pradesh's Sant Kabir Nagar district on Wednesday, police said.

The accident occurred in the Khalilabad police station area near Maghar town in the morning. The government bus, which was coming from the Basti side, dashed into the truck, killing three persons and injuring four, Superintendent of Police Brijesh Kumar said.

Two of the deceased have been identified as Om Prakash, a resident of Bihar, and Shiv Kumar Gautam of Sitapur district. Efforts are on to establish the identity of the third, Kumar said.

The injured have been to a civil hospital where treatment is going on, the SP added.

DMK President MK Stalin paid floral tribute to freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar's statue in Tamil Nadu's Madurai, on his birth anniversary today. Today is also his death anniversary.

Delhi High Court adjourned plea by Congress leader DK Shivakumar's wife and mother challenging ED summons issued against them in connection with a money-laundering case. Next date of hearing is November 4.

Union Government is planning to bring amnesty scheme for gold, CNBC TV reported. The government is planning to step up its fight against black money and the reported move is being seen as a step to fight it.

The CNBC TV report says gold without a receipt will have to be declared. IndiaTvNews.com, however, can not confirm the report as of now. 

The gold amnesty scheme is likely to be open for a definite period of time. 

(Developing story...)

One of the accused in Malegaon 2008 blast case, Samir Kulkarni has been provided armed security guard from today at his residence in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune.

5 dead and 15 injured after a bus overturned near Koratagere in Tumkur, Karnataka.

European Union lawmakers who visited the valley, are addressing a press meet in Kashmir.

Pointers from the EU's address: 

• Pakistan should stop cross-border terrorism in the Valley and should not target civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The killings of 5 migrants in Kulgam is painful.
• The people of Kashmir want peace and progress in the state.
• The state of Jammu and Kashmir is hopeful of development.
• Our trip to Kashmir has been portrayed in an incorrect manner, it was a very normal visit.
• Our visit to Kashmir was aimed at collecting facts from the state.
• We spoke to the Indian Army regarding terrorist activities in the Valley.
• We have nothing to do with the politics of India, we had come to Kashmir to meet locals.
• Article 370 is India's internal matter and we agree with it
• The world is fighting against terrorism today.

NCP leader Sanjay Raut said, "Maharashtra government formation will happen according to its faith"

Uttar Pradesh government directed its officials to celebrate October 31 as 'Rashtriya Akhandata Diwas'

Independent MLA from Chandrapur Assembly Constituency Kishor Jorgewar met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and extended his support to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Former Karnataka Lokayukta and former Supreme Court Judge, N Venkatachala passed away in Bengaluru.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Red Alert in Lakshadweep for two days and Orange Alert in 6 districts of Kerala, as extremely heavy rains expected in the area. Also, Yellow Alert issued in Thrissur and Palakkad districts.

Businessman Raj Kundra arrives at Enforcement Directorate (ED) office, in connection with Iqbal Mirchi money laundering case. 

Union Minister Smriti Irani will be on a two-day visit to her Lok Sabha constituency Amethi from Wednesday. Her visit comes as things over a custodial death of a businessman heats up with Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi training guns at the reckless behavious of the Uttar Pradesh Police.

According to her party office, Irani will interact with traders from Amethi in the industrial area of Jagdishpur. From here, she will go to the Amar Bahadur Singh Degree college in Musafirkhana, where she will spend an hour.

Her next programme is in the Raipur Phulwari area of Amethi where she will participate in a programme in the Rajesh Masala factory premises.

On the second day of her visit, Irani will take part in the 'Run for Unity' programme to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. She will also inaugurate a "Sankalp Yatra" in her constituency.

Irani will also visit the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology where she will participate in the 'Amethi project Education and Exclusive Development' programme. Around 3.30 p.m. on Thursday she will return to Lucknow for onward journey to Delhi.

This is Smriti Irani's second trip in over 10 days. Earlier she visited her constituency on October 22-23.

Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda appears before the Special Court of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Panchkula, in connection with Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) plot allotment case and Manesar land scam case.

To disscus the measures to improve air quality of Delhi and NCR, the Center Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has called a meeting of tas force at 3 pm, followed by another meeting with different regulatory agencies.

Yuva Morcha state secretary Sandeep Warrier has alleged that the police did not take any serious investigation into the alleged rape and suicide case of two minor sisters in Kerala's Palakkad district, in which the accused were recently acquitted by a local court.

The youngest child, who died later, testified that she met strangers on the day the older girl committed suicide. She reported the matter to police officers. She later died and the police remained inactive, Warrier has alleged.

He stated that the second child was the key witness in the first girl's death.

Dr L. Murugan, Vice-Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes visited house of two minor girls, victims in 2017 rape and murder case in Walayar, Kerala. He said, "NCSC will take up the case and primary inquiry. I'll issue summons to Chief Secretary and DGP and ask them to appear before NCSC"

On Thevar Jayanti, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam paid floral tribute to Muthuramalinga Thevar's statue in Madurai.

As the Delhi government launched its free-ride scheme for women in the city, nearly 2.2 lakh single-journey pink tickets were issued to women passengers on the day 1.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to meet students of government schools and aware them with the impact of air pollution on November 1. He will also distribute masks to the students.  

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar has been appointed as the Deputy National Security Advisor to the Government of India. 

Currently, there are already two deputy NSAs -- former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna and former IFS officer Pankaj Saran. 

All schools and educational institutions in Ramanathapuram and Madurai district to remain closed due to continuous rainfall in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Delhi after concluding his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. 

A youth was beaten to death on suspicion of cattle theft in Mokama, Patna. Police says,"he died while he was taken to hospital. 13-14 people have been taken into custody. Further investigation underway."

Israeli fighter jets shot down an unidentified drone flying over the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, during which he held extensive talks with the top Saudi leadership and addressed a key financial forum. Modi, who arrived here Monday night, held wide-ranging talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during which a Strategic Partnership Council was established to coordinate on important issues.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed to roll out RuPay card in the Kingdom - making Saudi Arabia the third country in the Persian Gulf after the UAE and Bahrain to introduce India's digital payment system.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "Leaving with a marked upswing in bilateral relations. PM Narendra Modi departs from Riyadh after steering the India-Saudi relationship on a upward trajectory pointing towards greater collaboration in future."