Kannada actress Leelavathi passed away on Friday after prolonged health issues. She was reportedly admitted to the hospital in Bengaluru following respiratory complications. She was 85 at the time of her passing. 

Leelavathi was a veteran Kannada actress who featured in around 600 films. Reportedly, 400 of them were in Kannada. She was the first female superstar in the Kannada film industry in the 1960s. She has been residing in Nelamangala for the past few years.

She is fondly remembered for some of her iconic films namely, Bhakta Kumbara, Bhakta Prahlada and Santha Thukaram, to name a few. She was admitted to the hospital for a few days as there were several old-age ailments she was combating.

Leelavathi reportedly breathed her last in the hospital. She is survived by her son Vinod Raj who is also an actor. 

A policeman has been injured as terrorists opened fire at security forces in Srinagar today.

The injured cop, Mohammad Hafiz Chad, has been rushed to a hospital for treatment. The area has been cordoned off. 

The Kashmir Zone Police posted about the attack on X and wrote: “Terrorists fired upon and injured one police personnel namely Mohammad Hafiz Chad S/O Gh Hassan Chad R/O Bemina at Hamdaniya colony Bemina. He has been shifted to hospital for treatment. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow.”

Mohammad Hafiz Chad is a resident of Karnah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district but currently lives in Bemina, the police said, reported news agency PTI.

Further details awaited.

Two days ahead of a crucial meeting of the newly elected BJP MLAs, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday posted the message “Sabhi ko Ram-Ram (`Ram Ram’ to all)” on X.

The post, accompanied by Mr Chouhan’s picture, sparked off speculation as “Ram Ram” is used both as a greeting as well as a parting message.

सभी को राम-राम… pic.twitter.com/QpaOxpZyMk

— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) December 9, 2023

But the state BJP chief VD Sharma maintained that the MLAs and the top leadership will decide who becomes the next chief minister of the state following the BJP’s landslide victory in the last month’s assembly elections.

“The three (central) observers will arrive in Bhopal on Monday morning. The MLAs will meet at 4 pm to elect their leader. Invitations have been sent to the MLAs. The process of the party would be followed and a decision will be taken,” Mr Sharma told reporters.

Asked about Mr Chouhan’s tweet, he said, “This is (Lord) Ram’s country. On January 22, a grand idol of Lord Ram will be consecrated at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. We greet each other in the morning by saying `Ram, Ram’. It is our culture to start the day with the name of Ram.” The BJP was a cadre-based organisation and the party workers will accept and respect any decision taken by the leadership, he added.

“Our leadership…honourable prime minister, honourable Amit Shah ji, honorable BJP president J P Nadda and central leadership will take a call. The decision will be respected by the workers… our leadership will decide,” Sharma said.

To another question, he said, “The MLAs will decide their leader.” The BJP on Friday appointed Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the party’s OBC Morcha head K Laxman and its secretary Asha Lakra as observers for the election of its legislature party leaders in Madhya Pradesh.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)