Afternoon brief: Lie detector test for parents of Mizoram girl, who died due to sexual assault; and all the latest news

Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Parents of Mizoram girl, who died due to sexual assault, to undergo polygraph test The Mizoram police has decided to conduct lie detector tests on the parents of a two-year-old girl who died due to suspected sexual assault in Aizwal district on September 16, a senior official said on Saturday.

Rahul Gandhi to be in Surat tomorrow to challenge conviction in defamation case

Former Indian Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi will challenge his conviction and sentencing in a criminal defamation case on Monday. Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha after being sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 defamation case. A court in Surat will hear his appeal against the magistrate order convicting him in the defamation case. Gandhi has requested the sessions court to set aside the conviction and sentence and to grant an interim stay on the conviction until the matter is disposed of.

Mild earthquake jolts Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur

An earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale hit Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, India on 2 April, according to the National Center for Seismology. The epicentre was close to the city at a depth of 23 km. On 22 March, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake with its epicentre in Afghanistan hit north India, including Delhi and its environs. The earthquake killed at least 21 people and injured more than 130, with roofs of hundreds of homes collapsing.

Afternoon brief: Rahul Gandhi likely to challenge conviction in defamation case tomorrow, and all the latest news

Indian politician Rahul Gandhi is planning to challenge his conviction and two-year jail sentence in a sessions court in Gujarat's Surat. Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP following the 2019 defamation case.

Tripura to host G20 conclave on clean energy from April 3

The Indian state of Tripura is to host a two-day science conclave on ?Clean Energy for a Green Future? as part of G20 meetings for the first time from 3 April. Around 85 delegates from various countries will attend, including Bangladesh, which will be represented as an invitee member. Delegates will visit tourist destinations such as Albert Ekka Park, Oxygen Park, Purbasha, Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary and Neermahal Palace. India assumed the presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022.

‘Anti-Hindu’: Anurag Thakur slams Mamata Banerjee for Bengal violence

India's Union Minister for Sports, Anurag Thakur, has accused the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, of fanning tensions. Speaking after the alleged murder on Saturday of a BJP worker, Thakur said Banerjee was "anti-Hindu" and had remained silent as "Ram bhakts" (devotees of the Hindu god Ram) were attacked in the state. Clashes during a Ram Navami procession in Howrah saw vehicles set on fire and vandalised, while internet services were suspended in Bihar's Nalanda and Sasaram districts after similar violence.

'India achieved it': ISRO successfully conducts ‘Reusable Launch Vehicle' test from Karnataka. Video

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested its Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX). The vehicle was carried to an altitude of 4.5 km by a Chinook helicopter and then released. The RLV then performed an autonomous landing on a runway. The Indian Air Force, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Aeronautical Development Establishment, and Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment all contributed to the test. The RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift to drag ratio requiring a high glide angle approach that necessitates a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph.

Modi mourns legend cricketer Salim Durani's demise: 'He will surely be missed'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to cricketer Salim Durani following his death at the age of 88. Durani was known for his style both on and off the pitch and played a pivotal role in India's rise to prominence in the sport. He scored 1,202 runs in 50 innings for his country and was also India's first Arjuna Award winner in cricket. Durani also had a brief career in Bollywood, starring in Charitra opposite actor Praveen Babi in 1973.

Rahul Gandhi likely to move Surat court tomorrow against jail sentence

Former Indian Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to challenge his conviction and prison sentence in a sessions court in Gujarat, following a 2019 defamation case. Gandhi was disqualified as an MP after being sentenced to two years in prison. He faces the risk of not being able to contest the next general election if his conviction is not suspended or overturned. The complaint was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Purnesh Modi, who alleged that Gandhi had made remarks about the Modi surname.

At 3,824, India sees sharp jump in daily Covid infections; active cases at 18,389

India's daily Covid cases increased by 28% to 3,824 on Sunday, up from 3,095 on Friday, according to the Union health ministry. The total number of active cases stood at 18,389, while the number of recoveries reached 4,41,73,335. Authorities have urged people to remain vigilant but have not reintroduced the mandatory mask mandate. India has administered more than 2.2 billion Covid-19 vaccines under its nationwide vaccination drive, which began two years ago.

March 19 London high commission protest face Khanda is also KLF terror chief

Avtar Singh Khanda, the main orchestrator of the recent violence at the Indian High Commission in London, is also the self-styled chief of designated terror outfit Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), according to evidence obtained by the Hindustan Times. Khanda, who led the March 19 protests at the High Commission, is named in a Delhi Police FIR relating to the incident, which involved the pulling down of the Indian National Flag. The Indian High Commission informed UK security services in writing about the protest and the expected violence beforehand, but UK security forces did not intervene.

Morning brief: Sibal's request after Modi's 'supari' allegation, and all the latest news

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reveal the names behind his recent allegations that individuals have given a "supari" (contract) to tarnish his image. Sibal, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, stated that the information couldn't be considered a state secret.

From Byjus to Netflix: Cyberabad Police busts India's 'biggest' data theft

Indian police have arrested a man they say was involved in stealing, holding and selling the private data of 669 million individuals and organisations from 24 states and eight cities. Vinay Bhardwaj had data from edtech platforms such as Byjus and Vedantu, as well as consumer data from GST, road transport organisations, e-commerce portals, social media platforms and fintech companies, police said. The 30-year-old was found operating through a website, InspireWebz, in Faridabad, Haryana, selling the data to clients through cloud drive links. Police have seized two mobile phones and two laptops, and data from 135 categories.

Sibal's request after Modi alleges 'supari given to…': ‘Let us prosecute them’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused "some people" of plotting to damage his reputation, prompting calls for him to name names. Kapil Sibal, a senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP, demanded Modi reveal the identities of those involved, saying it was not a state secret. Modi made his comments amid a partisan row after Germany noted Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party accused the opposition Congress party of inviting foreign powers to interfere in India's politics.

Criminal wanted in murders of Suresh Raina's relatives killed in UP Police encounter

Rashid alias Chalta Firta alias Sipahiya, a wanted criminal accused of the 2020 attack on cricketer Suresh Raina's relatives, was killed in a police encounter in Uttar Pradesh. Rashid was wanted in dozens of cases of dacoity and murder, including the triple murder of three relatives of Suresh Raina in Punjab in 2020. The police said Rashid was killed in a retaliatory firing after he and another miscreant on a bike opened fire on officers who had intercepted them following a tip-off that members of an inter-state gang were staying in the Shahpur police station area.

MVA's rally vs BJP-Sena's ‘Savarkar yatra’ today after Aurangabad clashes. Top points

The Indian state of Maharashtra is bracing itself for two rallies, one organised by the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance and the other by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the Shiv Sena, after rioting and arson in the city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The BJP's 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' is being held to honour Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and to oppose attacks on him by the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, while the MVA rally will feature speakers from the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Congress.