Congress workers led by their president Rahul Gandhi took to the streets on Friday against the move to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers and send him on leave, and to demand an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Amnesty International India said Friday the Union government is treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises in the wake of searches by the Enforcement Directorate at its premises.

The Supreme Court Friday sought a response from the CBI, the CVC and the Centre on agency Director Alok Kumar Verma's plea challenging the government's decision to divest him of his duties and send him on leave.

Nearly 25 armed men stormed a dairy in a village in Muzaffarnagar district and took away 18 buffaloes worth Rs 20 lakh after taking the owner hostage, a police official said Friday.

 Two militants and an Army jawan were killed during an encounter between ultras and security forces in Sopore area of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir Friday, officials said.

A strong earthquake has shaken the Greek tourist island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea.

The US Geological Survey says the 6.8 magnitude quake was 35.9 kilometres southwest of Lithakia in the southern part of Zakynthos. It had a depth of 16 kilometres and struck at 22:55 GMT (4:25 am IST) on Thursday.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday said forcing CBI director Alok Verma to go on indefinite leave was "illegal" and alleged that it was done as the government panicked over the possibility of him investigating the Rafale jet deal.

A constable Thursday escaped on a two-wheeler along with Rs 50,000 in bribe money from a trap laid by the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau here, an official said.