News roundup: Rahul targets Modi; 2 militants killed; protest for safe hostel

Over 900 students of the National Institute of Technology, Uttarakhand have left en masse for their homes to press for their demand that the institute is shifted from its present "unsafe" location along National Highway 58.

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

JHALAWAR DEL66 RAHUL-2NDLD CBI

Jhalawar (Rajasthan): Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the CBI row, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday alleged that its Director Alok Verma was removed because the agency was raising questions over the Rafale fighter jet deal.

SRINAGAR DEL73 JK-3rd LD ENCOUNTER

Srinagar, Oct 24 (PTI) Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a reportedly M.Phil degree holder, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam area of the city on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI LGD14 UP-COURT-GOVARDHAN HILL (CORRECTED)

(Eds: Corrects errors in previous Mathura copy)

New Delhi/Mathura: The National Green Tribunal has ordered demolition of temples located on the forest land on the Giriraj Parvat in Mathura after "respectfully" removing the idols from the unauthorised shrines.

CHANDIGARH DES13 HR-EXTORTION CALL

Chandigarh: A Haryana BJP leader has been getting extortion calls, with the caller using internet telephony to make it appear that he was dialling from the Chief Minister's Office, an official said.

LUCKNOW DEL63 UP-LD-AZAM-FIR

Lucknow/Badaun: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan Wednesday said the ruling BJP invoked his name whenever elections are near, treating him like an "item girl".

HOSHIARPUR DEL72 PB-CATHOLIC PRIEST-DEATH

Hoshiarpur: The family of Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, found dead in a room on the premises of at Dasuya near here, Wednesday alleged that the senior Catholic priest was being consistently harassed at the behest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal who is facing allegations of raping a nun.

SRINAGAR DES7 UKD STUDENTS NITUK

Srinagar (Garhwal): Over 900 students of the National Institute of Technology, Uttarakhand have left en masse for their homes to press for their demand that the institute is shifted from its present "unsafe" location along National Highway 58 to a permanent campus, officials said.

NEW DELHI DES4 DL-AIR-QUALITY

New Delhi: Delhi's air quality Wednesday dipped to 'very poor' barely two days after staying in the 'poor' category, even as firefighting operations continued at the Bhalswa landfill site.

TEL AVIV FES3 ISRAEL-PB-MOUS

Tel Aviv: The Punjab government has signed four MoUs with Israeli institutions to address issues of farmers and depleting groundwater level in the state.

JAIPUR DEL69 RJ-ZIKA

Jaipur: Fresh cases of Zika virus were reported in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Wednesday, taking the total number of infected people to 135, a government official said.