Breaking News, June 22 | HIGHLIGHTS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Sunday review preparedness to deal with floods that affect various parts of the country during the monsoon. Every year, large areas of Bihar, Assam and other eastern states are inundated due to a rise in the water level of various rivers due to monsoon rains.

CNG price in Delhi and adjoining cities was on Saturday hiked by Re 1 per kg following a drop in the supply of subsidised input natural gas. Indraprastha Gas Ltd, the firm that retails CNG automobiles and piped cooking gas to households in Delhi and adjoining cities, announced the hike in rates on its website.

A video of a woman being beaten in public by some men in the tribal-dominated Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh has surfaced on social media, following which the police have arrested all seven accused, including her brothers-in-law, an official said on Saturday. The video shows four men holding a woman and another man hitting her with a wooden stick. Some onlookers are also seen.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Delhi.

A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the CBI and the ED to investigate alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG held on May 5. The petition, filed by 10 students who had appeared for the exam, has also sought a direction to Bihar Police to expedite the investigation in the case and file a report before the apex court. "The petitioners are fully aware of the ramifications of the cancellation of the examination but there is absolutely no other alternative.

Rain lashed parts of Mumbai.

Thirty-six passengers of a bus were injured when it rammed into a tree in an attempt to avoid collision with a tractor-trolley here, police said on Saturday.

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the people about holding of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a meeting here on Saturday to chalk out its action plan in preparation for the much awaited democratic exercise.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Saturday said the BJP was deceiving the Maratha community and Other Backward Classes over reservations. Addressing a press conference, Patole claimed Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule have different positions on the reservation issue.

The BJP's state unit took out a massive rally here on Saturday against firing on one of its activists outside a local court on Thursday. A man allegedly involved in an attack on a former MLA was shot at in a court's premises in Bilaspur on Thursday.

Nilesh Lanke of NCP (SP), who defeated BJP's sitting MP Sujay Vikhe Patil from Ahmednagar in the Lok Sabha polls, on Saturday met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. The NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress comprise the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday underlined Centre's support to states through timely tax devolution and GST compensation arrears to stimulate growth. At the pre-budget meeting with state finance ministers, Sitharaman also nudged states to take advantage of the scheme under which the Centre gives 50-year interest free loan to states for undertaking specified reforms.

Three drones, a pistol and a packet of heroin have been seized from three places near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, officials said on Saturday. In Tarn Taran district, a China-made drone was seized from a field near Noorwala village along the international border by Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police personnel during a search operation, a spokesperson of the BSF said.

With the Amarnath Yatra set to begin in a week, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said security arrangements have been tightened and facilities improved for the successful conduct of the pilgrimage.

Days after an elderly man died in a bomb explosion here, two more bombs were found on an uninhabited property in this politically volatile north Kerala district on Saturday, police said. During a search in the area, the police recovered two steel bombs (a kind of crude bomb) at a property on Ambilad road in Kuthuparamba. An investigation is going on to find out how such highly explosive bombs were kept here, police said.

One person was arrested in Nashik in Maharashtra for allegedly printing pamphlets with objectionable messages about a particular community with the aim of putting a rival in trouble, a police official said on Saturday. The pamphlets caused tension in several parts of the city, including Rajwada and Panchavti, with workers of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) and some Dalit outfits holding protests in Nimani, Dindori Naka etc during the morning.

OBC community held a protest over Maratha Reservation in Beed.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said he will rent a house in Jalandhar for the bypoll in the city, and added that the AAP's campaign will centred on the work done by his government. Addressing a gathering at a state-level function to mark the birth anniversary of Sant Kabir Das in Hoshiarpur, Mann said that the Aam Aadmi Party has decided to contest the bypoll under his leadership.

The Ministry of Education said Saturday it has constituted a high-level committee of experts led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the National Testing Agency (NTA). The seven-member committee will make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvement in data security protocols and the structure and functioning of the NTA, the Department of Higher Education in the ministry said. It added that the committee will submit its report to the ministry within two months. Central University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor Professor B J Rao and former director of AIIMS Delhi Randeep Guleria are on the panel.

Rajasthan Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa on NEET and UGC-NET issues | "Since the BJP government came into power action is being taken against those who cause irregularities. The Central Government is also taking quick action...The double engine government is committed to ensure that the future of students does not get affected..."

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday held a meeting ahead of the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra regarding the arrangements.

Civil Defence Volunteers protest at the site where Delhi Water Minister Atishi is continuing her indefinite fast over the water crisis. The Civil Defence Volunteers are demanding reinstatement of their jobs.

A protester, Sandeep Bharadwaj said, "I am a DTC Bus Marshal. On 31.10.2023, Delhi Government sent us a letter and told us that we were being terminated from our job. For 8 months we protested at the Rajghat. The Government has cheated us. We are giving an ultimatum to this government - if nothing concrete is decided for us by tomorrow, we will sit here on a protest..."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme by unveiling dedicated counters at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport.

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi becomes the first airport in India to introduce the Government of India’s Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) for Indian passport holders and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders.

Gujarat | A fire broke out in a Polymer manufacturing factory in the Naroli village area. Several fire tenders have been rushed to the spot.

"India will start e-medical visa facility for people coming from Bangladesh to India for medical treatment. We have taken the initiative to open a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur for the convenience of the people of the North West region of Bangladesh. I wish both the teams all the best for the Cricket World Cup match this evening...Bangladesh is India's largest development partner and we give utmost priority to our relations with Bangladesh...," said PM Modi on India-Bangladesh bilateral relations.

"...Though in the last 1 year, we have met 10 times, today's is a special meeting as PM Sheikh Hasina is our first State Guest in our third tenure," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

"Bangladesh is situated at the confluence of our Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy, Vision Sagar and Indo-Pacific Vision. In the last one year, we have together completed many important projects of public welfare...Trade in Indian Rupees has started between the two countries. The world's longest river cruise on the Ganges River between India and Bangladesh has been successfully completed. The first cross-border friendship pipeline between India and Bangladesh has been completed. Export of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid has become the first example of sub-regional cooperation in the energy sector. Implementing such a big initiative in so many areas in just one year reflects the speed and scale of our relations," PM Modi added.

Tis Hazari Court extends the judicial custody of Bibhav Kumar till July 6. He was produced before the court through video conferencing after the expiry of judicial custody. He was arrested on May 18.

Tamil Nadu Hooch tragedy | Kallakurichi SP Rajat Chaturvedi says, "CB-CID is taking over the investigation... Victims are better, it's getting better... Raids have been going on since yesterday, on this we will be giving a press note."

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla slams AAP over water crisis | "AAP has been in power in Delhi for the last 10 years. They have the Delhi Jal Board, MCD. They have all the important departments. So are they protesting against their own government? The reality is that their own ally Congress party is now admitting that Haryana is sending more water. It is sending more than what it has committed to send. The Supreme Court has also acknowledged this... Today, instead of taking action against the water tanker mafia, they are again doing drama and demonstrations. The question is why are they protecting the water tanker mafia? Is it because they are getting commission on every water tanker?..."

In the last 24 hours, 2 new HRI (heat-related illnesses) patients were admitted to Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjang Hospital. 1 death in last 24 hours. A total of 28 patients are admitted here at present, 15 of who are critical. A total of 29 deaths have been reported till date, says Safdarjung official.

Delhi Water Minister and AAP leader Atishi on her hunger strike | "This is the second day of my fast. There is an acute shortage of water in Delhi... Delhi receives water from its neighbouring states. Delhi receives a total of 1005 MGD of water that is supplied to the houses in Delhi. Of this, 613 MGD of water comes from Haryana but for the past several weeks, it has been releasing only 513 MGD...Due to this more than 28 lakh people in Delhi are not receiving water...I tried everything but when Haryana Government didn't agree to supply water, I was left with no choice but to sit on a fast...Even today, the situation of water crisis persists. Yesterday, Haryana supplied 110 MGD lesser amount of water (than the designated)...I will continue my fast until Haryana Government supplies water to Delhi, until 28 lakh people of Delhi get water..."

A 70-year-old woman died after a tree fell on her in Virar area of Palghar due to strong winds. She was trapped under the tree for 2 days, informed Arnala Sagri Police Station.

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman to chair pre-budget meeting with Finance Ministers of all States and Union Territories (with Legislature) to take suggestions for the upcoming Union Budget 2024-25.

A total of 70 calls pertaining to incidents related to rainfall were received by Thane Fire Brigade Control in last 24 hours. 2 calls were related to fire, 8 related to tree branch fall, 3 related to trees in a dangerous condition, 3 related to metal shed fall, 2 related to wall collapse, 1 related to hoarding in a dangerous condition, 1 related to waterlogging and 8 related to other issues, Thane Municipal Corporation said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan during her official visit to the country.

Brother-in-law of gangster Chhota Shakeel, Arif Shaikh alias Arif Bhaijan died of a heart attack, at JJ Hospital in Mumbai. He was arrested in 2022 by the NIA in a terror funding case related to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and was in Arthur Road Jail since then.

Maharashtra | Fire breaks out in Arjun Tower at Gokhale Marg in Thane. Fire tenders are at the spot. Firefighting operations are underway. No injuries reported so far, the Thane Municipal Corporation informed.

A Fire broke out at 5th Garstin Place, in Kolkata earlier this morning. 6 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

A case has been registered under sections 419, 420 of the IPC and section 66(D) of the IT Act after a 54-year-old doctor lost more than Rs 7 Lakhs in a 'share market scam' between April 15-17.

The doctor alleges that she saw a deepfake reel of industrialist Mukesh Ambani on Instagram regarding investment and got influenced by it. She further alleges that she was added to a WhatsApp group through a link, assured of profits, made to download an app and made to deposit money in various accounts, said the Mumbai Police.

Devotees take holy dip and offer prayers at Garh Mukteshwar on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur.

Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy | Visuals from Kallakurichi Government Medical College in Tamil Nadu where the victims of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy are admitted. Till now, 50 people have died in Kallakurichi.

Odisha | On the occasion of Deva Snana Purnima, thousands of devotees visited Puri to witness the 'snana yatra' of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.