LIVE: BJP will end political, election violence in Bengal, says Amit Shah

Catch all the live updates on the latest news developments from across the globe

3:37 PM

NIA special holiday court sends accused Riyaz Qazi, Sachin Waze's associate, to NIA custody till April 16

NIA special holiday court sends accused Riyaz Qazi, Sachin Waze's associate, to NIA custody till April 16

3:21 PM

Unfortunate to see appeasement politics even in case of deaths: Amit Shah on Sitalkuchi killings

Unfortunate to see appeasement politics even in case of deaths: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sitalkuchi killings

3:20 PM

EC stopped me from going to Sitalkuchi: Mamata Banerjee

A day after the Election Commission disallowed any political party from entering into Cooch Behar following the death of four people in the firing of the central forces, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who earlier announced to visit Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district on Sunday, accused the poll body of hatching conspiracy against her and alleged that the restriction was imposed only to stop her from meeting the bereaved families.

 

"What has happened in Sitalkuchi is a complete genocide and what the commission is doing after that is unprecedented. First, they have killed people and now they are trying to hush up all the evidence. They are only trying to satisfy the BJP. They imposed this restriction only to stop me from meeting the bereaved families," chief minister Mamata Banerjee said in a press conference in Siliguri on Sunday morning.

3:13 PM

West Bengal polls LIVE: Amit Shah holds a roadshow in Ranaghat Dakshin

3:07 PM

Ambani security scare: NIA arrests Waze's associate Riyaz Kazi

The NIA on Sunday arrested police officer Riyaz Kazi, an associate of suspended cop Sachin Waze, in connection with the case of an explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence, a police official said.

 

Assistant police inspector (API) Kazi was called for questioning again by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday and later placed under arrest, he said.

 

He was previously also questioned by the NIA in connection with the case of the SUV with explosives found near Ambani's residence in south Mumbai on February 25 and the subsequent death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.

2:40 PM

West Bengal polls: Amit Shah holds roadshow in Shantipur

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a roadshow in Shantipur in Nadia district that witnessed a huge crowd on Sunday. Thousands of supporters carrying BJP flags participated in the roadshow. The polling in the Shantipur constituency will be held in the fifth phase of the West Bengal Assembly election on April 17. BJP has fielded Jagannath Sarkar against TMC's Ajoy Dey and Congress' Riju Ghosal.

 

Shah will also hold roadshows in Ranaghat Dakshin and Panihati later on Sunday.

 

45 Assembly segments will go to polls in the fifth phase which is scheduled for April 17. The sixth round for 43 seats would be held on April 22. 35 constituencies will go to polls in the seventh phase elections on April 26. The eighth and final round of elections is scheduled for April 29, when the remaining 35 assembly segments would go to the polls. The Election Commission of India would declare the results on May 2.

2:21 PM

Elections in West Bengal have been conducted peacefully so far: Amit Shah

2:03 PM

I spoke to families of deceased in firing incident over video call sitting in Siliguri: West Bengal CM Mamata

1:51 PM

EC trying to suppress facts by barring entry of politicians in Cooch Behar: Mamata

Describing the incident of firing in Cooch Behar as a "genocide", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said the Election Commission has restricted the entry of politicians in the district for 72 hours as it seeks to "suppress facts".

The TMC supremo, while addressing a press meet here, claimed that central forces "sprayed bullets aiming at the torso of the victims" in Sitalkuchi area, when the fourth phase of polling was underway in the state.

1:20 PM

Govt may hike FDI limit in pension to 74%: Report

The government may hike foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the pension sector to 74 per cent and a Bill in this regard is expected to come in the next Parliament session, PTI reported quoting unnamed sources. Parliament approved in March a Bill to increase FDI limit in insurance from 49 per cent to 74 per cent. 

12:20 PM

EC trying to suppress facts in Cooch Behar: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says central government’s security forces "sprayed bullets aiming at the torso of the victims" in Sitalkuchi of Cooch Behar where elections were held on Saturday. "There was genocide at Sitalkuchi. I would like to visit Sitalkuchi by April 14. The EC is trying to suppress facts by restricting entry in Cooch Behar. We have an incompetent home minister and an incompetent central government," Banerjee said, referring to the Election Commission.

11:12 AM

Lulu Group chief, wife safe after chopper crash lands in Kerala: ANI

A helicopter carrying M A Yusuff Ali, the Indian-origin chief of Dubai-headquartered Lulu Group, and his wife crash-landed near Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) campus in Panangad, ANI reported. "All are safe," hospital authorities told the news agency.

10:51 AM

Iran reports 'accident' at electric grid of nuclear facility

A spokesman for Iran's civilian nuclear programme says an accident has struck the electrical distribution grid of the country's Natanz nuclear facility, without elaborating. Behrouz Kamalvandi made the comment Sunday, saying there were no injuries nor pollution caused by the incident.

9:29 AM

Amit Shah has 6 rallies in Bengal today

Home Minister Amit Shah will speak at six rallies in West Bengal on Sunday, campaigning for the BJP after four people were killed a day before in Cooch Behar district during the fourth phase of elections in the state. The Election Commission of India has banned the entry of politicians in Cooch Behar for the next 72 hours to prevent violence.

8:43 AM

US, Philippines discuss concerns over China's ships in South China Sea

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed with his Philippine counterpart China''s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea. Austin spoke by phone with Philippine Secretary of National Defence Delfin Lorenzana while Austin was flying from Washington to Israel to begin an international trip, the Associated Press reports.