Indian Sub-continent

Srinagar, Oct 19 (PTI) Two unidentified militants were killed Friday in a shootout with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

Security forces signalled a sports utility vehicle (SUV) to stop at Kraalhaar in Baramulla but the militants travelling in it opened fire at them, a police spokesman said.

He added the security forces retaliated and neutralised the two ultras.

Amritsar, Oct 19 (PTI) The Punjab Police on Friday arrested two members of a Khalistani module who were allegedly engaged in propagating the 'Referendum 2020' campaign by affixing banners and posters in public places in Amritsar.

'Referendum 2020' is a campaign that seeks to garner support for a separate state for Sikhs -- Khalistan.

The accused were identified as Sukhraj Singh alias Raju and Malkit Singh alias Meetu, police said.

New Delhi, Oct 20 (PTI) A haze engulfed the national capital as the air quality nosedived to "very poor" category with several areas inching towards "severe" pollution levels, authorities said Saturday.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 337, which falls in the 'very poor' category and is the highest of this season, creating hazy conditions, said data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

About 31 areas in Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality while two areas showed 'severe' air quality levels, it said.

Raipur, Oct 20 (PTI) Three Naxals were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh Saturday, police said.

The skirmish took place around 9.30 am in the forest near Madpal village under Mirtur police station limits when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Bijapur Superintendent of Police, Mohit Garg told PTI.

Kochi, Oct 20 (PTI) Activist Rehana Fathima's house was allegedly vandalised by unidentified persons while she was attempting to reach the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Friday, police said.

She had made a failed attempt to reach the temple with heavy police protection.

Police said Saturday that the attackers reached Fatima's house in Panambilly Nagar here while she was climbing the hills.

Amritsar, Oct 20 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Saturday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Amritsar train accident after visiting injured and kin of those killed in the tragedy.

The chief minister postponed a trip to Israel and arrived here this morning to assess the damage.

"We are announcing a magisterial probe into the incident," Singh said while talking to media here.

Mumbai, Oct 18 (PTI) A 28-year-old passenger has been arrested for allegedly molesting a female flight attendant on board a Bengaluru-bound IndiGo plane before its departure from the Mumbai airport, a police official said Thursday.

New Delhi, Oct 18 (PTI) Several records have gone missing from Income Tax department because of a restructuring drive in 2001 and 2013, the Central Information Commission has been informed.

Information Commissioner Bimal Julka noted it in one of the cases heard by him when the tax department could not furnish information about pension fund in NTPC to an RTI applicant.

Noida (UP), Oct 18 (PTI) The Noida Police Thursday said it had busted a fake call centre operating from the city and arrested the mastermind for allegedly duping Canadians and other foreign nationals.

Working on an input from the Canadian police, the fake call centre operating out of Sector 63 was busted, the police said.

"The Noida police and its cyber cell tracked down the conmen, who were offering 'tax benefits' to foreigners in return for money," Station House Officer, Phase 3 Police Station Akhilsh Tripathi said.

Pamba (Ker), Oct 18 (PTI) A Delhi-based woman journalist of a foreign media outlet, who trekked the Sabarimala Hill, was Thursday stopped midway by Lord Ayyappa devotees opposing entry of women of menstrual age into the hill shrine.

The journalist accompanied by her male colleague, a foreigner, descended the hills from Marakkoottam area in the face of mounting protest by Ayyappa devotees.

Reporters of Malayalam news channels who followed the journalist to the hill shrine said the devotees shouted slogans ladies go back .