December 19: Top news at noon  

Pathankot attack: NIA files charge sheet, names Azhar and his brother

The National Investigating Agency has filed a charge sheet at Panchkula Special Court in the Pathankot airbase terror attack on January 2, 2016. The charge sheet names Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf Asghar and the two handlers—Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif—of the four terrorists killed in the attack, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The charge sheet has alleged that immediately after the Pathankot incident, Asghar had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

Pampore martyr Saurabh Farate cremated

Thousands of mourners gathered at gunner Saurabh Farate’s native Phursungi, Maharashtra as his mortal remains were today consigned to flames this morning with full military honours. Farate was killed in the Pampore attack on December 17. The 33-year-old gunner, who served the Indian Army for 13 years, is survived by parents, wife, twin daughters and a brother, who too is in the Army. According to Saurabh's father Nandkumar Farate, his son had come home on two-months leave in October to celebrate the first birthday of his twins and had rejoined duty in December.

Five surrender in Kerala ragging case

Five of the seven students accused in the ragging case in a government polytechnic, in which a first year student suffered kidney damage, have surrendered before the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Changanassery, Kottayam district last night. The other two are still absconding. On December 2, eight first-year students of the polytechnic at Nattakom here were allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by a gang of senior students at the men's hostel of the college. Two students have been admitted to hospitals in Thrissur and Ernakulam respectively, including one who suffered kidney damage, police said. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.

Man attacked for blaming PM for queue outside ATM

A 45-year-old man was allegedly attacked with cricket bails after he blamed the Prime Minister for the serpentine queue outside a bank in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur area, police said today. According to complainant Lallan Singh Kushwaha, he was on his way to buy a television set on December 15 when he passed an ATM and noticed the long queue, they said. He said 'Modiji ki wajah se line lagi hai' (queue is because of Modi), following which a man named Atik came out of the crowd and started beating him. Kushwaha alleged that the accused also took away ₹6,000 from him, police said. The matter is being investigated.

AIADMK: 597 dead from grief following former TN CM Jayalalithaa's demise

The AIADMK has announced that a total of 597 people died due to grief post former TN CM J Jayalalithaa's demise. The party said that ₹3 lakh aid will be given to the families of the survivors. Meanwhile expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa has moved the Supreme Court demanding a CBI enquiry into the former CM’s demise. Pushpa claimed that the role of Sasikala Natarajan and her family is suspect and the inquiry should be conducted right from the day Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital till she was declared dead.

With inputs from NH National Bureau.