India

Srinagar, Oct 19 (PTI) Two militants were Friday killed by security forces in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The militants, travelling in a car, were asked to stop at Kraalhaar but they opened fire at the security personnel, a police official said adding, that the duo was killed in retaliatory fire.

Some arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene, he said. Further details were awaited.

Lucknow, Oct 19 (PTI) The VHP Friday hailed the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to adopt a proposal to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj and demanded that the name of Faizabad be changed to "Sri Ayodhya".

VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma said the renaming of Allahabad aimed to free the mindset of slavery and added all sections of people had hailed this step of the state government.

Chandigarh, Oct 19 (PTI) A suspended Chandigarh Police sub-inspector has been booked for allegedly raping a 25-year-old model from Mumbai, police said on Friday.

The victim told the police that Naveen Phogat raped her in June this year and he claimed to have objectionable videos and photos of her.

Phogat used these to blackmail the woman to get sexual favours from her in lieu of getting her money back from a man who had fraudulently transferred Rs 12 lakh from her account, the police said.

Jaipur, Oct 19 (PTI) The number of people infected with Zika virus rose to 109 in Rajasthan on Friday.

According to a spokesperson of the state medical and health department, the nine new cases confirmed were from Jaipur.

However, 91 Zika virus infected patients are healthy now after treatment, he said, adding the department is making all efforts to contain mosquito larvae in the affected area.

Most of the cases have been reported from densely populated Shastri Nagar locality of the state capital.

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.