Ruling People's Democratic Party, which shares power with the Bharatiya Janata Party, today disapproved of the Army chief's commendation for Major Leetul Gogoi who had tied up a man to a jeep as a shield against stone-pelting in Kashmir last month.

PDP general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat said honouring Gogoi was not proper as the act was a human rights violation.

He said action should be taken against any human rights violation.

"If he (officer) has been rewarded for this bravado, I do not feel this is proper," Bhat told reporters in Srinagar.

He was responding to a question about the Major being honoured yesterday with the Army chief's Commendation Card for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations.

"The stand of the PDP is that this seems wrong in public perception. This is a human rights violation and there should be an investigation," the PDP leader said. -- PTI

An encounter broke out today between security forces and terrorists in Hakripora area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir.

Acting on a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in the area, security forces launched a cordon and search operation, an army official said.

The terrorists opened firing during the operation,prompting retaliation from the forces which triggered the gunbattle, he said.

The encounter is in progress and further details are awaited, the official said. -- PTI

Representative image.

The Afghan security forces have seized a Pakistani bus carrying 6,250 kilogrammes of Ammonium Nitrate, which is used in making Improvised Explosive Device in eastern Nangarhar province, Afghanistan Times quoted officials as saying.

Read more

See footage, filmed by a neighbour, showing armed police surround a door before blasting it open under controlled explosion and entering the house.

A special court today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to consider taking necessary action against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler for allegedly furnishing false details to the passport office for renewal of his travel document.

Special Judge Bharta Parashar said 'though, an FIR should be registered, I am leaving it to the agency (CBI) to take any action as it may deem appropriate'.

The court also took the passport into custody and handed it over to the CBI.

The matter came into light after Tytler withdrew from the court his application seeking a No Objection Certificate for the renewal of his passport this morning.

The court, upon enquiry, noted that he has already received the renewed passport and asked the CBI to probe how he had procured it without an NOC.

Later, the CBI informed the court that Tytler had falsely submitted before the passport office that no criminal case was pending against him.

Thereafter, the court issued summons against the Congress leader and directed him to appear before it later in the day.

Tytler followed the court orders and submitted before it that a clerical mistake was committed in the application to the passport office.

However, the court said, "When you received the passport, you should have realised that there was something wrong since the NOC was still pending before the court."

"If it was a clerical mistake, you should have approached the authorities and submitted the passport and informed about the mistake done earlier in the application.

"However, after getting the passport, you simply preferred to withdraw the application without showing the true and entire picture to the court," it said and directed the agency to take appropriate action.

During the arguments, the investigating officer in the matter urged the court that action should be taken against Tytler as he had 'knowingly furnished wrong information'. -- PTI

Industrialist Naveen Jindal and five others were today summoned as accused by a special court for allegedly cheating the government by misrepresenting facts to get a coal block allocated in Madhya Pradesh.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar took cognisance of the charge sheet filed today by Central Bureau of Investigation in the case pertaining to allocation of the Urtan North coal block and said that 'prima facie', the offences of 'cheating' and 'criminal conspiracy' were made out against the accused warranting their summoning.

The court directed all the accused to appear before it on September 4, the next date of hearing. This is the second case in which Jindal has been named as an accused.

Jindal is already named as accused, along with former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao and ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, in another case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand.

Bedsides Jindal, the court today also summoned his firm Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), its then authorised signatory D N Abrol, then Executive VC and CEO Vikrant Gujaral, then deputy MD Anand Goel and then Director (Finance) Sushil Maroo.

According to the CBI, the accused had misrepresented facts in its January 2007 application before the Screening Committee, responsible for recommendation of the coal block allocation, for obtaining the MP-based block and hence cheated the Coal Ministry to get wrongful gain.

The ministry had issued the allocation letter to the firm in October 2009. The probe agency has named 64 persons as prosecution witnesses to prove its case besides annexing 60 documents in its charge sheet.

The chargesheet said that in the feedback form, the firm misrepresented/made false claims on two counts -- firstly, it had already acquired 964 acres of land for its Jharkhand-based Patratu project and secondly, it had placed orders for equipment for its Orissa-based Angul project for Rs 4,340 crore.

Reacting to the development, the firm, in a statement, said, 'true facts, already in knowledge of the investigative authorities along with supporting documents, appear to have been ignored in order to build a pre-meditated, false, baseless and malicious case against the company'. -- PTI

Controversial godman Chandraswami -- close friend of a Prime Minister and allegedly involved in the assassination of another -- died in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Chandraswami, who had suffered a stroke, died at the Apollo Hospital at the age of 66.

'Spiritual leader Jagadacharya Chandraswami ji, 66 years old, had been ailing for some time. He recently suffered a stroke and later developed multi-organ failure,' a hospital statement said.

It said 'despite all measures' taken by doctors, his condition deteriorated.

'He succumbed to the illness today at 2.56 pm,' the statement said.

Chandraswami, whose actual name was Nemi Chand, shot to fame as an astrologer. He wielded enormous power during the regime of then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.

He was seen as one of Rao's trusted aides and advisers.

Often mired in controversy, his name cropped up in investigations into the assassination of former Prime Miniser Rajiv Gandhi.

In its report on the assassination, the Jain Commission dedicated a volume to his alleged involvement in the case.

Allegations of financial irregularities were often levelled at the long haired, white robed self-proclaimed godman.

In 1996, he was arrested on charges of defrauding a London-based businessman. He also faced charges for repeatedly violating the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.  -- PTI

Sir Roger Moore has died aged 89 after the James Bond actor lost a short battle with cancer, it has been revealed.

Shortly after the Indian Army announced that they had decimated a Pakistan Army post in the Nowshera sector by carrying out fire assaults on the Line of Control as part of its anti-terror operations, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted, saying such actions were needed to ensure peace in Jammu-Kashmir. 

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Manchester bombing, which claimed the lives of 22 people and injured another 59 people. 

Just in: India's claims of destroying army posts false, says Pakistan. 

The Arndale Centre in Manchester has reopened after armed police told shoppers to leave the area.The evacuation led to scenes of panic with people running out of the shopping centre, reports the BBC.

People are now returning to shops and police have lifted an extended cordon in the area. An ambulance was seen leaving from inside but it is not known why it was attending.

One person held in the Manchester terror attack.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested in South Manchester by the police investigating the terror attack.

Greater Manchester  Police tweeted @gmpolice With regards to last nights incident at the Manchester arena, we can confirm we have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Theresa May is giving a statement about the attack after chairing a meeting of the emergency Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing) committee, reported the BBC.

She says people have fallen victim to a "callous terrorist attack".

The prime minister says the police and security services are working to establish a full picture of what happened.

She says a single terrorist detonated an improvised explosive device near to an exit of the venue deliberately choosing time and place to cause "maximum carnage".
She adds that the attack stands out for its "appalling, sickening cowardice"

She says that 22 were killed and 59 injured and many people are being treated for life-threatening injuries.

Many children and young people were killed, she says.

She says security services believe the attacker acted alone but they are working to find out whether he was assisted.

She says they believe they know the identity of the perpetrator but can't confirm his name.

May says a large cordon around Victoria station and Manchester Arena will remain in place "for some time".

She calls on people to give information about the attack to police.

She says the threat remains severe and a terrorist attack is still likely.

The PM says the images of people helping others "embodies the spirit of Manchester".

She says everyone in the UK stands together with the people of Manchester at "this terrible time".

She says the terrorists will never win and "our values will always prevail".

Benchmark Sensex tumbled 206 points to end at 30,365.25 today as investors booked profits in recent gainers amid volatile global cues in the aftermath of a terror attack in the UK.

The chief ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will now have their own version of 'mann ki baat' to connect with the common man. The CMs will connect through All India Radio and Doordarshan much like Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has written to all chief ministers to speak in the local language during their reachout programmes, to promote a 'Team India' spirit.

The CMs can select their own date, time and occasion to relay their message.

By Independence Day, at least 15 CMs are expected to be able to talk to their constituents.

The Indian Army statement on the attack on Pakistan army bunkers across the Line of Control. 

Indian Army on the strikes in Pakistan in the Naushera area.

-- Locations along the LoC have been destroyed.
-- The Pakistan army was aiding and supporting infiltrators.
-- The Pakistan army does not hesitate to target Indian villagers.
-- Infiltration by Pakistan is likely to go up, Naushera is an example of punitive action.
--  The action in Naushera has caused damage to Pakistani posts. -
-- Locations aiding infiltration are being destroyed.


Image: A video grab of the Pak posts destroyed across the Line of Control. The video was released by the Indian Army.    

Just in: Army destroys Pakistani posts across the Line of Control in the Naushera sector of Kashmir. Maj Gen. Ashok Narula confirming the action said, "Recent actions in Naushera have caused damage to the Pakistan army posts. We need normalcy in Kashmir; infiltrations are likely to increase with the melting of snow and opening of passes. We have caused damage to Pakistan army posts along the LoC which help infiltrators. "

Army has provided video proof of the attacks.

Details awaited.

Investigations into the circumstances that led an Army major to tie a man to his jeep as a human shield against stone-pelters last month would continue regardless of the officer being awarded by the army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police clarified today.

The first information report has not been quashed, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Munir Khan, told reporters in Sopore, 52 km from Srinagar. "The investigation will be done and its result will be shared," Khan said.

"Once an FIR is lodged, the investigation has to be completed. FIR means the beginning of investigation," he added. "Whatever comes out in the investigation is a separate matter, but investigation will take place and it will be seen what is right and what is wrong," he said.

Major Leetul Gogoi, who had tied a man to his jeep during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election on April 9, was honoured yesterday with the Army Chief's Commendation Card for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations.

The video showing the man, identified as Farooq Ahmad Dar, being used as a human shield had triggered public outrage, prompting the army to institute a probe to look into the circumstances that led Gogoi to tie him to his jeep. The state police had also registered a case into the incident.

The US has asked its citizens to postpone all their non-essential travel to Pakistan in wake of the increased and continued terror threat in the country.

In a travel advisory, the second in less than 45 days, the State Department referred to a recent advisory of the Federal Aviation Administration, which cautioned pilots of commercial airlines about the risks to civil aviation operating in Pakistan, particularly at low altitude, during the arrival and departure phases of flight, and when on the ground, due to extremist or militant activity.

A 16-year-old has been named as the first confirmed victim of the terror attack at Manchester Arena, reports the Independent. Georgina Bethany Callander was one of 22 people killed by the blast as she left the concert by Ariana Grande at the 21,000-capacity venue. On Saturday, Georgina tweeted that she was "so excited" to see the pop star in Manchester.

Missing Sukhoi 30: There were two pilots in the aircraft.  

Just in: Indian Air Force Su-30 MKI, an advance frontline fighter goes missing after take-off from Tezpur, Assam, late this morning, say reports. The ground control lost both radio and radar contact about 60 km north of air base. It was on a routine sortie from Tezpur. India Today reports quoting Indian Air Force sources that the inclement weather -- rain and wind -- may be the reason there is no radio contact.  Search operations underway. The area near Tezpur is hilly and deeply forested. Details awaited.

File pic.

Just in: Indian Air Force Su-30 MKI fighter missing after take-off from Tezpur, Assam. Contact lost about 60 km north of air base. Details awaited.

US president Donald Trump has reacted to the Manchester terror attack saying from now on he will call terrorists 'evil losers'. Speaking in Bethlehem during his trip to the Middle East, he said he was in solidarity with the UK.

"I extend my deepest condolences to those so terribly injured... and to the so many families of the victims. We stand in absolute solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom.

"So many young beautiful and innocent people enjoying and living their lives, murdered... by evil losers in life," he said.

"I wont call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think thats a great name. I will call them from now on losers because thats what they are, theyre losers. And well have more of them. But theyre losers, just remember that."

The Gomti river in Lucknow is even more polluted than the Ganga in Varanasi, a CAG report has revealed. The CAG, which studied the pollution levels in the two cities from 2011 to 2015, said the temple town, despite having a higher population density, had performed better than the state capital with regard to water and air pollution and solid waste.

Update: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Misa Bharti's CA Rajesh Agarwal, in connection with the money trail scam of around Rs 8000 crore.

Agarwal, who provided money to Misa Bharti's company, will be produced before the Patiala court.

The arrest comes days after raids were conducted by the I-T department at 22 locations in Delhi, Gurugram on companies and people associated with Lalu.

As per sources, the raids were conducted on the charges of illegal (benami) land deals worth Rs. 1,000 crore. The RJD chief is already under scanner in the fodder scam case.

French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his "horror" at the attack that killed 22 people at a concert in England, and plans to speak to British Prime Minister Theresa May. Macron "learnt with horror and shock about the attack that occurred yesterday evening," his office said in a statement.

The suicide bomber behind the deadly terror attack at a pop concert in Manchester, United Kingdom, died when he detonated his device, killing 22 others, say reports. A lone suicide bomber is behind the attack,but no terror organisation, including the ISIS has claimed responsibility.

Many of the dead are children. The Manchester Police said the number of injured stood at 59.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said the police have been treating the blast as a terrorist incident. "We believe at this stage that the attack last night was conducted by one man," told reporters.

He said children are among the deceased, and the injured are being treated at eight hospitals across Manchester.

"The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network. The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated, causing this atrocity.

"We would ask people not to speculate on his details or share names."

Police responded to reports of an explosion shortly after 10.35pm (local time) on Monday night at the Manchester Arena, which has the capacity to hold 21,000 people, where Grande had been performing to an audience that included many children and teenagers.


Image: @SweetRelease_Uk  tweets this image with the message: Love & Prayers #Manchester The human race is stronger than those trying to bring us down. We hold in our hearts those that have been taken.

Senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and four-time MP Prabhunath Singh was sentenced to life by a Hazaribagh court, which found him guilty for murder of the then MLA Ashok Singh in 1995. The case dates back to 1995 when Masrakh MLA Ashok Singh was shot dead in broad daylight at his official residence in Patna. "We waited 22 years for this decision, we are satisfied that this decision has been given," says Ashok Singh's nephew.

Just in: The Delhi High Court issues a notice to CM Arvind Kejriwal in relation to the defamation case filed by Arun Jaitley. 

US President Donald Trump's Deputy Assistant Sebastian Gorka has suggested that the deadly blast at Manchester arena could be timed with the date of another fatal attack in the U.K. four years ago.

Gorka tweeted, "Manchester explosion happens on 4th anniversary of the public murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. Dates matter to Jihadi terrorists."

Rigby, 25, was the British Army soldier stabbed and hacked to death in London on May 22, 2013 by two Islamists, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who ran over him with a car before attacking him with knives and a cleaver, attempting to behead him.

At least 19 people were killed and 50 injured after what is being investigated as a suspected suicide bombing of a crowded pop concert in Manchester late Monday night.

Last England saw such a deadly terror attack was in 2005 when on July 7, which killed 52 people after terrorists carried out a series of coordinated suicide bomb attacks in central London targeting civilians using the public transport system during the rush hour.


Image: Teary pallbearers with the body of Fusilier Lee Rigby, a British Army soldier stabbed and hacked to death in London on May 22, 2013 by two Islamists.

The Greater Manchester Police while condemning the attack urged citizens to be alert at all times, adding that the area around Manchester Arena must be avoided.

Confirming the details of the attack, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins said the investigation to identify the perpetrators behind the deadly attack is underway, until which the attack is being treated as a terrorist incident.

"We are working closely with the National Counter Terrorism Policing Network and U.K. Intelligence partners. It is recommended that citizens of Manchester remain away from the area and be vigilant at all times. We are doing all that we can," he said.

Reports of the explosion which killed over 19 people and injured 50 were received around 10.33 pm at the conclusion of Ariana Grande's concert. The injured are currently being treated across six hospitals in the city.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the number of casualties in the explosions. A helpline number has also been enabled to call in case of any assistance, the number being 01618569400.

Additionally, the police as also invited inputs from anyone with information on the attacks, and can contact them on 0800789321 (national anti- terrorist hotline)

Two loud explosions were reportedly heard near the ticket office of the arena. However, the cause of the reported blast is still not known.

The 23-year-old pop singer did not sustain any injury in the incident.

From Manchester: @ElaineWITV  The acts of humanity. Taxi drivers taking the injured to hospital & visitors to safety in the city after terrorist attack #ManchesterArena

Hollywood celebrities flooded social media with condolences and heartfelt messages following the devastating news of 19 dead and at least 50 injured at Manchester Arena in the UK where Ariana Grande performed a concert on Monday evening. Grande said today that she was "broken" and at a loss for words over the deadly terror attack at her concert.
"Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. i don't have words," she tweeted hours after the powerful blast.

Singer Katy Perry tweeted, "Praying for everyone at Ariana Grandes show."

Cher reflected on her personal attachment with the city, writing "My prayers go out to the people of Manchester...had special times there from youth and beyond."

Singer and actress Demi Lovato wrote, "Tearing up imagining innocent concertgoers losing their lives. Praying for everyone and all #Arianators."

A powerful blast ripped through a crowded arena hosting US star Ariana Grande's pop concert in the English city of Manchester, killing 19 people and injuring about 50 others, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in the
UK.

Children and teenagers were feared among the dead because of the very young demographic of the pop star's fans, with desperate parents and relatives waiting for the news of loved ones after the blast struck the Manchester Arena last night.

Others took to Twitter saying:

@fabiwndrlnd  sending love to manchester. this world is so damn cruel sometimes..


@smashnial  My heart is broken, my prayers are with everyone affected in Manchester. This is so awful, concerts are supposed to be safe and joyful.


@Love_HOVE  Our thoughts go out to all those affected in #Manchester


@tezblunn  Absolutely sickening  #Manchester


@Jasonfox1976  Sad sad news today! Thoughts go out to all affected and the hard working emergency services in #Manchester


@KimmynotJimmy  I can't even comprehend the feelings I feel about #Manchester. Concerts are an escape for so many people, not a place for hate.

@AilemaOL   Pray for Manchester


@Ellie1608Ellie  My heart is with anyone affected by the Manchester Attack

@KARDupdates  what happened in manchester tonight was truly heartbreaking. sending love and prayers to all those affected by this horrible tragedy.

@ShahNafisa  Heartbreaking to see children&young people attacked at a #Manchester concert. Thoughts& prayers with families who lost their loved ones.


@modsvegcafe  Manchester our home city we LOVE you!We will be open as usual today at 12 noon, of course we will! #Manchester #ManchesterArena #MENArena


@floyd_patrick  What happened in #Manchester could easily happen in USA. To bad we have Liberal judges who usurp their power and put politics above safety.


@Steffi_Wadaboom  Stay strong Manchester. Wish it was a nightmare

@maddiebanfield   I hate that I'm seeing more tweets about #Bachelorette than the horrific act that happened in Manchester tonight. My heart goes out to all

@Randy_McFadden   Prayers for Manchester. Tonight, we will be as one. How long? How long must we sing this song? How long? How long?


@georgiethespesh So sad to hear about the attack on Manchester

@DanaBrookeFans1  Praying for all involved in Manchester right now.

@DKC1111  En route to Manchester to pick up my  daughter and her friend who were at that concert last night, both ok thankfully !


@bartman_john84  I really don't understand how someone could be motivated to take the lives of others. #Manchester


@DavidHA12890507  My thoughts and prayers go too the families who have lost loved ones after last night's terrible event in Manchester.


@JeanEBraveaux  Why the F is our military not protecting our borders against these invaders? What do we pay taxes for anyway? #Manchester


@peeters_kris1  Horrific news from Manchester. My thoughts go out to the victims and their families.


@Whiterabbit_10  Oh Manchester, so much to answer for...


Image: @sofie_breda  tweeted this image saying:  They died at a place where they should be the happiest they have ever been ❤ #Manchester
 

The US has said it was "closely monitoring" the situation at the Manchester Arena in the UK, where a terror attack claimed at least 19 lives, and working with other countries to obtain information about the incident.


"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is closely monitoring the situation at Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom," an official statement here said.


"We are working with our foreign counterparts to obtain additional information about the cause of the reported explosion as well as the extent of injuries and fatalities," the DHS said.


A powerful blast ripped through the crowded arena hosting US star Ariana Grande's pop concert in Manchester, killing 19 people and injuring over 50 others, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in the UK.


The DHS said it stands ready to assist the UK in all ways necessary as the country investigates and recovers from the incident. The DHS also urged US citizens in the area to pay heed to the directions from the local authorities and maintain security awareness.


Image: A collage of people missing and then found, in the aftermath of the Manchester blast.

Supporters of the Islamic State group (ISIS) are celebrating the explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, UK that has killed at least 19 people and left another 50 injured, reports Newsweek.

Social media accounts linked to ISIS supporters were posting messages supporting the deadly incident Monday night at the sold-out 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena.

While the group has has not claimed responsibility for the explosion, nor have any others, but police said they were investigating the incident as a terrorist attack.

The Independent reports that Twitter accounts affiliated to Isis have used hashtags referring to the blast to post celebratory messages, with some users encouraging similar attacks elsewhere.

One pro-ISIS post, highlighted by co-founder of private intelligence firm Search International Terrorist Entities Intelligence Group (SITE) Rita Katz, said Kill him everywhere, Britain and England and Manchester and UK and Britain. Other accounts were linking to the first statement about the attacks by Greater Manchester Police.

Another ISIS supporter tweeted: "It seems that bombs of the British airforce over children of Mosul and Raqqa has just came back to #Manchester," one user named Abdul Haqq said on Twitter, in reference to the Iraqi and Syrian cities held by the militants where a US-led coalition, of which Britain is a member, is conducting air strikes.

Pro-ISIS users called the incident a successful and surprising blow to Britain. It was framed as retaliation for airstrikes which Britain has been carrying out on ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria.


Image: A Twitter account - which was unverified - posted this four hours before the attack,

Nialler Diaries @niallerdiaries  tweets: Olivia Campbell is still missing. Contact the emergency number if you see her or any of her other missing people #Manchester. 

Manchester attack: Relatives and friends have taken to social media to locate concert-goers who are missing in the aftermath of the bomb attack. Twitter and Facebook have been flooded with pictures of missing people -- many of them children -- as concerned and frightened relatives cannot get in touch with them. Facebook has also activated its 'safety check' feature to allow people in the area to let people know they are OK via social media.

Mayra‏ @cmgs tweets this picture: PLEASE RT can't find my nephew, he's from Mexico and went to Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

If you've just joined us,  a powerful blast ripped through a crowded arena hosting US pop star Ariana Grande's concert in Manchester, UK, killing 19 people and injuring at least 50 others, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in the United Kingdom.

Gurudwaras in Manchester are offering shelter to those affected and stranded by Tuesday's deadly Manchester Arena blast.

"Sikh Temples in Manchester, UK offering food & accommodation. They are open for ALL people. #PrayForManchester #ManchesterArena #England," tweeted Harjinder S Kukreja along with the address of the four Sikh temples located in the vicinity.

The Gurudwaras are Sri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara Educational & Cultural Centre located at 57 Upper Chorlton Rd, Manchester M16 7RQ; Gurdwara Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib located at 12 Sherborne St, Manchester M3 1FE, Dasmesh Sikh Temple located at 98 Heywood St, Manchester M8 0DT and Central Gurdwara Manchester located at 32 Derby St, Manchester M8 8RY.

The locals in the area also took to Twitter to offer shelter to those affected.

"#roomformanchester. Anyone needing help or a place to stay tonight we are 10 minutes walk from the Manchester arena. Spare room and 2 sofas," said a Twitter user.

The Election Commission on Monday asked poll authorities in five states, where assembly elections were held recently, to prepare themselves for sending EVMs for an open challenge to prove that the machines can be tampered with.

Parties which participate in the challenge can demand EVMs used in polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goaand Punjab.

The challenge begins June 3.

Parties can use up to four EVMs to prove that they can be hacked and that they were hacked ahead of the polls.

The EVMs that have been sealed under court orders will not be used for the challenge.

The EVMs for the challenge will have to be transported in special trunks.

The party representatives will be allowed to accompany the EVMs provided they manage their own travel.  -- PTI