Breaking News, December 27, 2019 | As it happened

A major fire broke out at a residential building in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar on Friday, a fire department official said.
The department got a call about the fire around 8.30 pm and four fire tenders were rushed to the spot, he said.

In second incident, fire broke out at a shop in Mahrani Bagh. Firefighters doused the flames.

No casualties were reported in both incidents till midnight on Friday.

CBI arrests two conmen for posing as its chief to threaten custom officials

Justice (Retired) Dr. S. Mohan, former Judge of Supreme Court, passed away at 6.10 PM today, in a private hospital in Chennai.

Union Minister for Railways, Piyush Goyal said: "We have had occasional incident of accidents. But in the last nine months we have not had fatality of any railway passenger. I think its a great achievement."

Fire breaks out at a factory in Ghatkopar; fire tenders at spot. No casualties reported.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman receives a cheque of Rs 2,610.74 crores from MR Kumar, Chairman of LIC, as Government's share of surplus for Financial Year 2018-2019 here today. Rajeev Kumar, Finance Secretary, was also present.

During the Financial Year 2018-2019, LIC generated a valuation surplus of Rs 53,214.41 crores, registering a growth of 9.9% over the previous year. It has a market share of 76.28% in number of policies and 71% in First year Premium as on 30.11.2019.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said: "The untimely death of 10 newborns in 48 hours at a maternal and child hospital in Kota, is a matter of concern. Rajasthan government should take immediate action in this matter with empathy."

A Delhi Court to hear the bail plea of 10 accused in the case tomorrow in connection with Seelampur violence. 

Pro-CAA rally held at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan where anti-CAA protest was held last week

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) submitted first charge sheet in Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank scam against 5 persons — Rakesh Wadhavan, Sarang Wadhavan,Waryam Singh, Joy Thomas & Surjit Arora.

Left Front-Congress take out joint rally against CAA and NRC in Kolkata.

Fresh protest against CAA, NRC in Mumbai; students carry anti-govt banners at Azad Maidan

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said: "No one can snatch away our rights, like citizenship."

DGP OP Singh said: "Friday prayers pass off peacefully in Uttar Pradesh."

The entry and exit gates of Lok Kalyan Marg are closed. Trains will not be halting at this station.

Ram Madhav said: "4 months ago, a large number of people were put under preventive detention. But, today, only 30-32 prominent leaders are under preventive detention and in total the number is less than 100." 

"Internet services have resumed in Kargil from today. We expect that internet services will soon be resumed in Jammu region and Kashmir valley as situation becomes favourable," he added. 

Gautam Gambhir, on Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria said: "This is the actual face of Pakistan, on the other side we have got people like Mohammad Azharuddin captaining India for such a long time, despite being a minority."

"Despite having Imran Khan as the Prime Minister, a sportsman who represents his country has to go through all this. It is shameful," he added. 

Pakistan Army violated ceasefire along the Line of Control, last night in the Poonch-Rajouri sector. Indian Army retaliated effectively to inflict damage on Pakistan posts. 3-4 Pakistan Army soldiers also killed. 

A new LPG bottling plant was on Friday inaugurated near here by Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal on behalf of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

The vice president, who was scheduled to inaugurate the facility, could not reach here due to inclement weather at Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

In a voice message, Naidu wished success for the project located at Barkhani village in the western Odisha district.

Set up at a cost of Rs 103 crore by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), the facility has a capacity to fill 42 lakh cylinders per year.

Hundreds of people marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to demand the release of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad and to voice their protest against the CAA and the NRC were stopped by police on Friday.

The protesters took part in the march with their hands tied so they can't be blamed for violence and arson during the protest.

The protesters, including Bhim Army members, began marching from the Jor Shahe Mardan Qarbala in Jor Bagh and were stopped by police at a barricade on the way to the prime minister's residence in Lok Kalyan Marg a few kilometres away. 

Amit Shah accuses Congress of misleading people, says CAA has no provision to take anyone's citizenship away.

As per IMD statement, "Northwest and Central India are very likely to experience fairly widespread to widespread rainfall accompanied with hailstorm at isolated places during December, 31, 2019 to January, 1, 2020 and over East India on January, 2, 2020.

Congress leader Alka Lamba on Friday joined the protest against Citizenship Amendment Act, outside Jama Masjid, Delhi.

A meeting was held today at the residence of Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in Delhi, in view of the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act across the country. BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chairman Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi and others present.

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is filing charge sheet in Esplanade Court in PMC Bank scam case.

Two leopard cubs were recovered from a sugarcane field at Mudagere village in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar, today. Forest department officials are at the spot.

Kuldeep Srivastava, Met Scientist, India Meteorological Department told ANI, "Severe cold conditions to prevail in Delhi NCR today. Minimum temperature of 4.2 degrees Celsius was recorded today. Cold-wave conditions to continue on 28th and 29th December."

Gujarat High Court pronounces death penalty for the convict in Surat rape and murder of a three-year-old girl. 

Mobile internet services have been restored in Kargil district of Ladakh.

A flag march was conducted in some areas of the Northeast district in the national capital and heavy police force was deployed in parts of the city ahead of Friday prayers and protests called by some organisations against the amended citizenship act, police said.

The police organised flag march in northeast Delhi's Seelampur, Jafrabad, Welcome and Mustafabad areas, they said.

The adequate police force from adjoining districts and fifteen companies of paramilitary forces were deployed in the Northeast district to maintain the law and order situation in the area, they said. 

A Norwegian tourist in Kerala was asked to leave the country for participating in anti-CAA protests. 

Guwahati GRP has recovered 3.5 kg suspected opium from possession of a 40-year-old man. A case has been registered under NDPS Act.

A man has been convicted in a six-year-old rape and murder case of a minor girl in Pannimadai, by Coimbatore's local court. Quantum of  punishment will be delivered later.

BJP MP from Nizamabad, Arvind Dharmapuri reacted over Asaduddin Owaisi's support to NRC and anti-CAA protests. Speaking to ANI, he said, "Asaduddin Owaisi has said CAA is communal & unconstitutional. Then,he cannot address a public gathering as there is a code of conduct implemented in Nizamabad ahead of Telangana municipal polls. I've written to Dist Collector, EC & Police."

He further said, "Asaduddin Owaisi is coming there to divide the country. Does he want to fight for people who are coming from Bangladesh & Pakistan? He's acting as an anti-national. He should be booked for sedition and sent behind bars forever."

Security tightened at Seelampur in Delhi, drones being used for security surveillance.

21 trains delayed for a maximum of six hours in north India due to severe weather conditions

According to the weather department, most places of Uttarakhand are likely to receive rainfall/snowfall on 1 and 2 January.

Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh on Friday said, "Law & order situation is absolutely under control, we continue to have strategic deployment of forces, Special Investigation Teams formed to investigate cases. We have suspended internet services in 21 districts, they will be restored as and when situation demands."

Hyderabad police has denied permission to BJP MLA from Goshamahal Assembly Constituency, Raja Singh to hold a public meeting in support of the National Register of Citizens and Citizenship Amendment Act.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives in the capital city of Chhattisgarh, Raipur to inaugurate the Rashtriya Adivasi Nritya Mahotsav today.

Sensex jumps 164.22 pts to 41,327.98 in opening session; Nifty rises 53.80 pts to 12,180.35

Plane with 100 people on board crashes just after takeoff in Kazakhstan at around 7 am on Friday.

Delhi Air Quality Index at 367 in 'very poor' category in areas around India Gate, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured the leadership of the Likud party after winning 72.5% of the party vote in a chairmanship primary election.

 Information & Communication Department of Uttar Pradesh has identified 498 people in connection with the damage caused to public property during Anti-Citizenship Act protests in Lucknow, Meerut, Sambhal, Rampur, Muzaffarnagar, Ferozabad, Kanpur Nagar, Mau and Bulandshahar. 

As per Uttar Pradesh government's guideline, mobile Internet services and sms messages of all mobile service providers except BSNL to remain suspended in Lucknow on December 27.

Minor girl allegedly raped inside a bus at Biaora bus stand in Rajgarh. According to the police, the girl complained she was raped by a man in the presence of another person. Both accused arrested, case registered under relevant sections.

A man in Moradabad arrested for allegedly raping 6-year-old at district  hospital. The investigation is underway.