HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 2115 hrs.

NATION

DEL94 LD PM Art 370 has given separatism, terrorism in J&K: PM, hails its revocation 'historic'

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday strongly defended his government's decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the provision has not given anything except separatism, corruption and family rule to the state, and Pakistan has used it as a tool to spread terrorism.

DEL100 RAIL-4THLD PAK-SAMJHAUTA Pak stops Samjhauta Express at Wagah, Indian crew escorts train to Attari

New Delhi: Pakistan stopped the Samjhauta Express at the Wagah border on Thursday, citing security concerns, following which an Indian crew and guard escorted the train to Attari on the Indian side, officials said.

DEL101 2NDLD BHARAT RATNA Pranab, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika conferred Bharat Ratna

New Delhi: Former president Pranab Mukherjee, late Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and late singer Bhupen Hazarika were conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, on Thursday.

DEL84 DEF-RAJNATH Groundwork for decisions on J and K began during tenure of previous govt: Rajnath

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday suggested that the groundwork for revoking constitutional provisions according special status to Jammu and Kashmir was initiated during the previous government, and asserted that the armed forces are fully prepared to deal with any security challenges on the western front.

BOM3 MH-BOAT-DROWN Nine drown, four missing after rescue boat overturns in Maha

Sangli: Nine people drowned and four were missing after a boat engaged in rescue work overturned in a water body in Maharashtra's flood-hit Sangli district on Thursday, an official said.

DEL17 MEA-LD PAK India accuses Pak of presenting 'alarming picture' on bilateral ties, says J-K internal matter

New Delhi: India on Thursday termed Pakistan downgrading diplomatic ties with it as an attempt to present an alarming picture to the world about bilateral relations, and urged Islamabad to review its decision.

DEL92 JK-SEPARATISTS Group of separatists airlifted from Srinagar to Agra

Srinagar: A group of about 25 separatists were airlifted to Agra from Srinagar on Thursday, officials said.

DEL60 CAB SECY-FLOODS-MEETING Cabinet Secy chairs high-level meet over floods in four states

New Delhi: Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting and reviewed the prevailing flood situation in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat, directing that immediate assistance be provided to the states to resolve the crisis.

LEGAL

LGD29 SC-2NDLD KASHMIR SC declines urgent hearing of a plea against Centre's restrictions in J&K

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing to a plea filed by a Congress activist against the government's decision to impose restrictions and "other regressive measures" in Jammu and Kashmir after revoking the provisions of Article 370.

LGD28 SC-AYODHYA HEARING Breaking tradition, SC to hear Ayodhya land dispute case on Friday as well

New Delhi: Breaking with the tradition, the Supreme Court will hear the politically sensitive case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya on Friday -- the day which, along with Monday, has been kept for hearing only fresh cases.

LGD37 SC-LAND POSSESSION Person who gets title of property by holding it for 12-yrs can seek legal recourse if ousted: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has held that a person who has acquired right over a property as it was in his possession for 12 years can file a suit to re-claim it in case of forced dispossession by the original owner or any other party.

FOREIGN

FGN44 INDOPAK-LDALL QURESHI Ready to review decision against India if New Delhi agrees to reconsider its actions on Kashmir: Pak

Islamabad: Pakistan is ready to review its decision against India, including downgrading of diplomatic ties, if New Delhi agreed to reconsider its actions on Kashmir, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN36 PAK-FO-KASHMIR Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said that Kashmir has been on the agenda of the UN Security Council as a "disputed territory" as it rejected India's contention that Jammu and Kashmir is its internal matter.

FGN42 INDOPAK-CINEMA-BAN

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday banned the screening of Indian films in the country's theatres, amid tensions between the two sides after New Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

FGN31 US-LAWMAKERS-LD INDOPAK Washington: Two powerful Democratic lawmakers in the US have asked Pakistan to refrain from any "retaliatory aggression" against India and take "demonstrable action" against terrorist groups within its territory.

FGN34 EU-INDOPAK

London: The European Union on Thursday called on India and Pakistan to re-open dialogue through diplomatic channels which is "crucial" to de-escalate tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, in the wake of the Indian government's decision to revoke the region's special status.