Delhi Court awards death penalty to convict in 2008 Batla House encounter case

Home minister Amit Shah campaigned in West Bengal today and also visited Assam later in the evening.

Picture credit: ANI

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah commenced the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Sido-Kanhu Samman Yatra in Jhargram, virtually at 11 am for the upcoming Assembly election on Monday (March 15). He had to cancel attending the yatra in person due to technical difficulties with his helicopter. He also addressed the public in Ranibandh at 1 pm and will attend a town hall programme at 4 pm in Assam.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Purulia district for the first time, where she addressed two public meetings.

The Parliament continued its second budget session at 11 am today. It is likely to see yet another uproar over certain issues relating to the farmers' protests and fuel price hike.

Banking services were hit across the nation as lakhs of bank employees protested privatisation today. The March bank strike came after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the privatisation of two public sector banks (PSBs) as part of the government's disinvestment plan as part of the 2021 Union Budget.

Thank you for tuning to Zee News for the latest updates.

15 March 2021

22:49 IST

Ahead of upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, DMK chief MK Stalin in Thiruvarur laid a scathing attack on CM Edappadi Palaniswami and said, "CM Edappadi Palaniswami is lying to people. He said Karunanidhi and MK Stalin are responsible for Jayalalithaa's death. If you (the CM) claim that we are the reason behind her death, then lodge a case against me and I'll face it legally." 

"AIADMK election manifesto is a copy of DMK manifesto... They could even announce that an aeroplane and a helicopter will be given to everyone. They can say anything because they know they are not going to win the elections," he added. 

CM Edappadi Palaniswami is lying to people. He said Karunanidhi & MK Stalin are responsible for Jayalalithaa's death. If you (the CM) claim that we are the reason behind her death, then lodge a case against me & I'll face it legally: DMK chief MK Stalin in Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/3rUu5YAwf6

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2021

22:48 IST

Due to spate in COVID-19 cases, remaining T20 International matches between India and England will be played without audience at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Refund will be given to the spectators who have purchased tickets, Gujarat Cricket Association announced on March 15. 

17:40 IST

2008 Batla House encounter case: Delhi Court awards death penalty to convict Ariz Khan. The court calls the case as 'rarest of rare case'.

16:35 IST

Former Chairman of Haldia Municipality, Shyamal Kumar Adak, TMC Councillors Swapan Das and Supriya Maity, and others joined Bhartiya Janta Party in the presence of BJP leader Mukul Roy in Kolkata, ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls. 

16:31 IST

Taking a dig at Congress, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Naharkatia, Assam, "Congress joined with a man like Badruddin Ajmal who supported infiltrators & left no stone unturned in destroying Assam, who talks about creating a Muslim nation. Ajmal is a man with whom even Tarun Gogoi did join hands. This is an insult to Gogoi too." 

"Rahul Gandhi is not walking the path of (Mahatma) Gandhi, he is walking the path of Jinnah and Jinnah’s path will neither be accepted by the people of Assam, nor by people of India," Chouhan added. 

#WATCH | Rahul Gandhi is not walking the path of (Mahatma) Gandhi, he is walking the path of Jinnah and Jinnah’s path will neither be accepted by the people of Assam, nor by people of India: Madhya Pradesh CM & BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Naharkatia, Assam pic.twitter.com/WED5meokjg

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2021

14:47 IST

Tamil Nadu: Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan files his nomination for Coimbatore South assembly constituency.

14:43 IST

Mamata Ji has a leg injury, it's not known how she got it. TMC calls it a conspiracy, but EC says it was an accident. Didi, you're roaming around in a wheelchair, concerned about your leg, but not the pain of mothers of my 130 workers who were killed, Amit Shah said.

14:31 IST

CM Mamata Banerjee raises slogans in Purulia.

#WATCH | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee raises slogans in Purulia says," Chaie na BJP ke chaie na, chaie na Congress ke chaie na, CPM ke chaie na. BJP ke bidai dao...Khela hobe, dekha hobe, jeeta hobe." #WestBengalElection pic.twitter.com/XdYsv0VxG0

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2021

14:25 IST

"I am a little late today because of some glitch in my helicopter but I won't call it a conspiracy," said Home Minister Amit Shah at a rally in Ranibandh.

14:24 IST

TMC government will remain, you will continue to get free ration. We will deliver ration at your doorstep. You don't have to come to shop after May: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

13:43 IST

Minister Amit Shah said, "We'll be providing 50% financial assistance to students from tribal community scoring above 70%, in the class 12 exam, for higher education."

13:39 IST

Under Stand Up India Scheme, the forthcoming West Bengal govt will allocate Rs 1,000 crores to help the tribal community become Atmanirbhar: Union Minister Amit Shah

13:32 IST

"After coming to power in West Bengal, BJP govt will make Pandit Raghunath Murmu Tribal University in Jhargram, for tribal community." the Home Minister said.

13:30 IST

"I was going to come here for campaigning. Unfortunately, my helicopter was damaged & I couldn't come to see you. West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh & our incharge Kailash Vijayvargiya are also present with me," said Union HM Amit Shah, addressing a public rally in Jhargram (WB) virtually.

13:15 IST

Representing Delhi Police,Senior Public Prosecutor tells Delhi Court that it's a gruesome murder of law enforcement officer & defender of justice while discharging his duty & therefore serious exercise is required to be undertaken in this case for determining quantum of sentence: Batla House case

13:12 IST

Hearing of the argument on quantum of sentence for convict Ariz Khan, in Batla House case: Delhi Court reserves order till 4 pm today.

13:12 IST

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm.

12:43 IST

DMK president MK Stalin files his nominations for Kolathur constituency in Tamil Nadu.

12:38 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will not address the Jhargram rally after his helicopter developed a technical snag. He will be addressing Jhargram rally virtually.

12:33 IST

"She overcame all the challenges to become the first Indian woman president of Oxford University student's Union. What treatment was meted out to her? Shouldn't this diversity be celebrated, instead she was cyberbullied to the point that she had to resign," Ashwini Vaishnaw added.

12:27 IST

"There appears to be a continuation of attitudes and prejudices from the colonial areas, especially in the UK. The recent case of Rashmi Samant, a student from Karnataka is a classic case in point," said Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the Rajya Sabha.

12:06 IST

CM Pinarayi Vijayan files his nomination as CPI(M) candidate from Dharmadam constituency for the upcoming Kerala Elections 2021.

11:41 IST

President of Inter-Parliamentary Union, Duarte Pacheco present in Rajya Sabha today to observe the proceedings of the House.

11:39 IST

"We will monitor these developments very very closely. We will raise it when required and we will always champion the fight against racism and other forms of intolerance," EAM Dr S Jaishankar said in the Rajya Sabha on Oxford University's racism row.

11:35 IST

During the parliament session, EAM Jaishankar said, "As land of Mahatma Gandhi, we can never ever turn our eyes away from racism. Particularly so when it is in a country where we have such a large diaspora. We've strong ties with UK. We'll take up such matters with great candour when required."

11:30 IST

Lok Sabha Secretariat (Reference Division) organized a briefing session on 'The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020' for MPs in Parliament House today.

11:19 IST

Bank employees in Patna, Bihar raised slogans in support of their two-day nationwide strike. United Forum of Bank Union has called a two-day nationwide strike today & tomorrow, against privatisation of Public Sector Banks & 'retrograde banking reforms'. 

11:17 IST

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) health camp in Parliament House Annexe.

Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurates CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) health camp in Parliament House Annexe. pic.twitter.com/i9pankqoUM

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2021

10:37 IST

BJP MP Ashok Bajpai has given Zero hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over the demand for inclusion of Awadhi language in 8th schedule to the Constitution.

10:36 IST

BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over the "epidemic proportion of Cancer in the country."

10:32 IST

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267, over ongoing farmers' protest.

09:46 IST

Yashwant Sinha inducted into Trinamool's highest decision-making body. Sinha appointed as a national working committee member & Vice President of the party.

09:17 IST

The United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU), has called a two-day nationwide strike today and tomorrow, against the privatisation of Public Sector Banks and 'retrograde banking reforms' in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

08:44 IST

The Parliament will continue its second budget session today at 11 am today. It is likely to see yet another uproar over certain issues relating to the farmers' protests and fuel price hike.

08:42 IST

CM Mamata Banerjee will visit Purulia district for the first time and will address the public in the Jhalda area of ​​Baghmandi at 12 pm and the other in Rathtala Maidan in Balrampur at 2 pm.

08:41 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to start the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Sido-Kanhu Samman Yatra in Jhargram, West Bengal at 11 am today.