These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm

These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm DEL65 JK-2NDLD ENCOUNTER Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, 'active associate' killed in encounter in J-K's Shopian Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants and their "active associate" were Friday killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said. DEL79-JK-LD GUNBATTLE Two SPOs injured in a gunbattle with militants in J-K's Kishtwar Jammu: A gunbattle broke out between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district Friday, in which two special police officers (SPOs) were injured, officials said. DES19-PB-SACRILEGE-chargesheet (CORRECTED) Sacrilege case: SIT charge sheet points fingers at Sukhbir Badal over police firing Chandigarh: The SIT probing the desecration of scriptures in Punjab in 2015 has filed a charge sheet, claiming that the police firing on protesters was a "pre-planned handiwork" of the then deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, the former state police chief and the Dera Sacha Sauda head. DES31-PB-BJP SAD-BJP alliance: BJP eyes bigger share of seats in Punjab Chandigarh: Buoyed by its improved show in the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, the BJP is eyeing a bigger share of seats from its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in parliamentary and assembly elections. DES15-UP-APNA DAL 'Anupriya didn't join Modi team as she was offered only MoS rank' Mirzapur (UP): The omission of Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel from the Union ministry has come as a disappointment for supporters, with some leaders suggesting that she declined an offer to be a minister of state.

DES12 NCR-SP LEADER-KILLED Samajwadi Party leader shot dead in Greater Noida Noida (UP): A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader was shot dead by unidentified assailants near his home in Greater Noida's Dadri area Friday, police said. DES5 UKD-HEMKUND Hemkund Sahib to reopen for devotees on Saturday Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand): The sacred portals of Hemkund Sahib, one of the most revered Sikh shrines in the Garhwal Himalayas, will reopen for devotees on Saturday morning.

DES20 DL-LD WEATHER Heat wave sweeps in Delhi, mercury rises to a season-high of 44.8 deg C New Delhi: The national capital Friday sweltered under heat wave conditions with the mercury rising to the season's high of 44.8 degrees Celsius.