LIVE: Strong earthquake tremors felt in Delhi, other parts of north India

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Strong tremors, lasting for several seconds, were felt in several north Indian states after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan on Tuesday evening. The quake struck 133 km southeast of Fayzabad in Afghanistan, according to National Centre for Seismology. Tremors were felt across various cities in Pakistan. Many people came to open spaces in residential buildings as tremors were felt for a while. No deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

Videos shared on social media show people gathered on the streets and people reported objects falling inside their homes.

A Special court on Tuesday listed Former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia's bail matter in the CBI case on March 24. Manish Sisodia on Tuesday moved a bail plea in a Delhi court in connection with the now-scrapped excise policy case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Three threat calls were received at the office of Nitin Gadkari, all by one man who identified himself as Jayesh Pujari. The number was found to be that of a woman who is in Mangaluru. We also communicated with her, she works in event management. We are finding out if the call was placed by her friend or Jayesh Pujari, said Nagpur DCP, Rahul Madane. The man on the call stated that he had demanded 100 shares last time and he should be given at least 10 this time. He did not issue any life threats.

Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, wanted by the Punjab police, is seen in the front seat of a car at a toll plaza, in security footage from Saturday that surfaced today in the middle of a massive manhunt, reported NDTV. Amritpal Singh was last seen escaping in a Mercedes SUV. The security footage from a toll booth in Jalandhar shows him in a Brezza. Sources say Amritpal Singh changed cars, and then changed his clothes in the Brezza. He swapped his traditional religious clothes for shirt and trousers and also switched his turban before making his getaway in a bike. Thousands of policemen and security personnel have been looking for the Khalistani leader for four days. More than 120 people have been arrested but Amritpal Singh has eluded the police so far. The Punjab and Haryana High Court today slammed the Punjab police and questioned how Amritpal Singh had given them the slip repeatedly. "You have 80,000 cops. What were they doing. How did Amritpal Singh escape?," the High Court asked the Punjab government. The court called it an intelligence failure. The court's remarks come amid the Punjab Police action against the Khalistan leader and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'.

The Election Commission of India has decided to review the national party status of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The election body will be hearing a representation from the NCP today. 

As Amritpal Singh, the self-styled Sikh preacher and head of 'Waris Punjab De', continues to evade police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may take over the case on Tuesday, sources said. A team of NIA has reached Punjab and is speaking to the senior officials of Punjab Police. There are now high possibilities that the NIA may take over the case on Tuesday. The sources said that the NIA is seeking details and documents related to the case.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday requesting him to "not stop Delhi's budget", amid a row between the Centre and the AAP dispensation in the national capital over the issue. The presentation of the Delhi government's Budget for 2023-24, which was scheduled for Tuesday, has been put on hold with the Kejriwal dispensation and the central government trading charges over allocations under various heads.

All mobile internet services, all SMS services (except banking & mobile recharge) & all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice call, shall continue to remain suspended in the districts Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur, Sub-Division Ainala in Amritsar, areas adjoining YPS chowk and Airport Road both in SAS Nagar, till March 23 (12:00 hours) in the interest of public safety, said Punjab Govt, the ANI reported.

After Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena raised certain concerns of administrative nature on the proposed Budget regarding fiscal interest, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday requested the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government to resubmit the Budget addressing these concerns for taking further action. The reply from the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is awaited for the last four days, said the MHA.

10:55 PM

6.8 magnitude quake rocks Afghanistan, strong tremors felt in Pakistan

9:43 PM

Russia wants Chinese business to replace Western firms, Putin tells Xi

Moscow is ready to help Chinese businesses replace Western firms that have left Russia over the Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin told Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday during talks at the Kremlin. Speaking on the second day of Xi's state visit to Moscow, Putin also said the two leaders had discussed the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would ship Russian gas to China.

 

9:43 PM

Chinese peace proposals can be used in Ukraine when West and Kyiv ready, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Chinese peace proposals could be used as the basis for settling the conflict in Ukraine when Kyiv and its Western allies are ready, the RIA news agency reported.

 

Putin, who was speaking after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Moscow, said the two leaders had paid great attention to Beijing's peace proposals during a one-on-one meeting.

9:42 PM

Locals of a Jalandhar village claim Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh's presence in their village on Mar 18

9:40 PM

IAF's Mirage 2000 takes part in Exercise 'Cobra Warrior' for the first time in Waddington, UK

6:26 PM

Punjab Police recover car that Amritpal Singh used to escape; four arrested for helping him escape

The Brezza car, in which Amritpal Singh fled, has been recovered by the Police. He was helped by four people, said Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill.

 

Punjab police on Tuesday shut down a drug de-addiction centre run by 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh in the State's Amritsar district.

 

The facilty was operating in Jallupur Khera in Amritsar.

 

Gurmukh Singh, the caretaker of the centre said, "Police arrived here and conducted a search. They asked us to shut down the centre. Seventy people who had arrived to receive treatment were sent back."

 

The caretaker claimed that the police had found nothing at the centre and that only de-addiction treatments were given at the facility.

 

"Amritpal used to come here, and people came to treat their problems. Nothing wrong is going on here and whatever is being said about the place is all wrong," the caretaker said.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, the international borders with Nepal, Pakistan among others were alerted after the Centre circulated a message to the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) considering the possibility that Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh might flee the country.

 

The MHA has asked chiefs of both the BSF and the SSB to direct their forces deputed on the international borders to be on alert amid the ongoing hunt against the pro-Khalistani Amritpal Singh whose hunt entered the fourth day on Tuesday, said top government sources.

6:07 PM

Punjab Police release few pictures of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh

6:04 PM

World Bank to assist Kerala in waste management projects

4:24 PM

Excise Policy Scam: CBI tells the court that Sisodia's bail can risk evidence collection

CBI tells the court that Delhi's ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia dealt with an 'unprecedented' 18 ministries, he may not be a flight risk but definitely a risk for evidence destruction.

 

4:14 PM

ABVP holds protest against Hyderabad govt over Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) paper leak issue

4:02 PM

On camera, Amritpal Singh Seen in SUV crossing toll plaza in Punjab

Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, wanted by the Punjab police, is seen in the front seat of a car at a toll plaza, in security footage from Saturday that surfaced today in the middle of a massive manhunt, reported NDTV. Amritpal Singh was last seen escaping in a Mercedes SUV. The security footage from a toll booth in Jalandhar shows him in a Brezza. Sources say Amritpal Singh changed cars, and then changed his clothes in the Brezza. He swapped his traditional religious clothes for shirt and trousers and also switched his turban before making his getaway in a bike. Thousands of policemen and security personnel have been looking for the Khalistani leader for four days. More than 120 people have been arrested but Amritpal Singh has eluded the police so far. The Punjab and Haryana High Court today slammed the Punjab police and questioned how Amritpal Singh had given them the slip repeatedly. "You have 80,000 cops. What were they doing. How did Amritpal Singh escape?," the High Court asked the Punjab government. The court called it an intelligence failure. The court's remarks come amid the Punjab Police action against the Khalistan leader and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'.

2:55 PM

Punjab govt not afraid of taking measures to curb criminal activities: Kejriwal

AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the Punjab government was not afraid of taking stringent measures to curb criminal activities in the state.

His comments came after Punjab Police launched a major crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit Waris Punjab De'.

2:48 PM

India will continue to face terrorism, internal security challenges; security forces united: Army Chief

Army chief Gen Manoj Pande on Tuesday said India will continue to face terrorism and internal security challenges in the future and the security forces of the country will "unitedly" tackle them.

He was speaking after inaugurating the All India Police Commando Competition organised by the federal contingency force National Security Guard (NSG) at its garrison in Manesar here.

2:32 PM

NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, Punjab govt tells high court: Lawyer

Punjab government on Tuesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the stringent National Security Act has been invoked against radical preacher Amritpal Singh, claimed a lawyer.

During a hearing on the habeas corpus petition seeking the preacher's production in court, Justice N S Shekhawat also pulled up the state government over Amritpal Singh giving police the slip on Saturday and called it an intelligence failure.

2:18 PM

Won't let anyone disturb peace in Punjab: CM Mann on Amritpal crackdown

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday said his government will take strict action against anyone who tries to disturb the state's peace and harmony, days after the police crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh.

Police on Saturday launched a major crackdown against Singh and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'. The preacher, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.