New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) 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. DEL31-HR-LD DERA CHIEF Decision on Ram Rahim's parole after DC, SP report: Khattar Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday a decision on the parole application of Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape-murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh would be taken keeping in view the interests of the state.

DES30-HR-INLD-JOIN Two more sitting INLD MLAs join BJP Chandigarh: In yet another setback for the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls, two of its sitting MLAs joined the ruling BJP here Tuesday. DES23-HR-COW SLAUGHTER Cow slaughter act: Haryana govt gives nod to stricter provisions Chandigarh: The Haryana government gave nod to stricter provisions under the 2015 cow slaughter act, entailing police to seize the vehicle involved in the transportation of animals for slaughtering and search the premises used for such a purpose.

DES29-PB-BADAL Vigilant people, independent media a must to protect India's secular democracy: Badal Chandigarh: Former Punjab Chief Minister and Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal Tuesday said constant vigil by people besides a strong and independent media were required to protect India's secular democracy from overt and covert threats. DES31-JK-LD ACCIDENT 3 schoolchildren killed as dumper falls into river in J-K's Ramban district (Eds: updating figures) Banihal/Jammu: Three schoolchildren were killed while one more was missing after a dumper they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district on Tuesday, police said.

DEL23-JK-EDITOR-ARREST Editor of Kashmir daily arrested in nearly three-decade old terror case Srinagar: Editor of a local Urdu daily has been arrested here in a nearly three-decade-old terror-related case, officials said on Tuesday..