The release of the 11 convicts who were released in the Bilkis Bano case has taken a turn with filing FIRs for harassment against them being revealed.

A policeman lost his life on Wednesday while saving his two children from drowning in a river in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor called on party president-elect Mallikarjun Kharge after losing to him in the battle for the top post, and offered his full cooperation going forward.

Bursting firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi will attract jail term up to six months and a fine of Rs 200, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday

The Opposition AIADMK presented a picture of contrast on Wednesday with former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam attending the Assembly session while the leader of opposition K Palaniswami staged a protest here, demanding that the Speaker de-recognise the former as deputy floor leader of the party.

As Mallikarjun Kharge won the Congress president poll, his electoral rival Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said the "democratic contest" has galvanised vibrancy at all levels and has prompted a healthy and constructive discussion on change, which will serve the party in good stead in the future.

Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist from Karnataka, has become the Congress' first non-Gandhi president in 24 years.

After Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor flagged the issue of "polling irregularities" in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP mocked him on Wednesday, saying did he expect free and fair elections.