A total of 2,995 pilgrims escorted by the security forces left Jammu on Wednesday in two batches who will start their Amarnath Yatra that begins from Thursday.

At least nine people were killed and 11 others wounded on Tuesday in an airstrike by the Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition in the city of Hudaydah, eyewitnesses said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that a bill amending the prohibition law to be curb its misuse will be brought during the state assembly's monsoon session, but asserted that prohibition will continue.

A day after veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani warned about the rising strength of anti-democratic forces and bemoaned that contemporary Indian leaders are not committed to democracy, the party on Tuesday said its "Black Day" programme was inspired by Advani himself.

Two organisations devoted to Gandhian ideology and principles on Tuesday alleged that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had organised a meeting at Rajghat and kept it closed for two days, objecting against the closure of the memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred till Wednesday the hearing on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea opposing a PIL seeking probe into alleged disproportionate assets of Enforcement Directorate's official Rajeshwar Singh who is investigating 2G scam and Aircel-Maxis cases.

Increased drug trafficking in states with international borders poses challenge to national security, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Tuesday.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for holding simultaneous parliamentary and assembly elections in the country.