All India

Maoists from Maharashtra, Telangana and Odisha have crossed into Chhattisgarh ahead of the first phase of polling on Monday in a bid to disrupt the elections, intelligence sources said today. Voting for the second phase is on November 20.

An FIR has been lodged against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Gadarwara constituency for organising rally without permission from the administration.

Himachal Pradesh has banned plying of school vehicles older than 15 years and fixed the age of drivers to 60 to ensure the safety of students, an official said today.

Actor-turned-politician Locket Chatterjee said that those who are trying to stop BJP's rath yatra in West Bengal "will get crushed under the wheels of the chariot". The chief of the BJP women's wing in Bengal was speaking at a public meeting in Malda district on Saturday.

An encounter is underway in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur between security forces and Maoists. Security forces have also recovered arms and ammunition from the Maoists even as the operation continues. A fierce gunfight broke out between the security forces and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Antagarh village after the Maoists triggered at least seven explosions, a day before voting begins for the assembly election.