Bangladesh inviting Modi, other regional leaders for Tarique Rahman's swearing-in ceremony
New Delhi (PTI): Bangladesh is learnt to be in the process of inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other regional leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the country's next prime minister, Tarique Rahman, on February 17, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
It is learnt that Dhaka has already communicated its plan to New Delhi.
Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has indicated that the leaders of several countries in the region would be invited for the ceremony.
There is no official word on the invitation yet.
Modi is unlikely to travel to Dhaka as he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on February 17.
New Delhi may send a senior government functionary to attend Rahman's swearing-in ceremony, it is learnt.
In a phone conversation with Rahman on Friday, Modi congratulated the BNP leader on his party's remarkable victory in the Bangladesh parliamentary election.
"I conveyed my best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh," Modi said after the call.
"As two close neighbours with deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, I reaffirmed India's continued commitment to the peace, progress, and prosperity of both our peoples," he said.
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5 held after encounter in connection with Dalit man's murder in UP's Ballia
Ballia (UP) (PTI): Five men, including three named accused, were arrested following a police encounter in connection with the murder of a 30-year-old Dalit man in the Rasra area here, officials said on Sunday.
Two of the accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs during the exchange of fire, they said.
According to police, Satya Prakash Ram, a resident of Gurgujpur village in Rasra, was returning home on Saturday afternoon when he was allegedly stabbed to death by three men near a liquor shop in Sawara village following an argument.
Based on a complaint lodged by the victim's brother, Om Prakash, a case was registered against Sundaram Singh, Raja Singh, and Umakant Pandey -- all residents of Sawara village -- under section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
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Ballia Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh on Sunday said Pandey was arrested soon after the incident.
He said that around 4 am on Sunday, during a vehicle-checking drive near the Navapura-Mahatwar Road, police signalled four motorcycle-borne suspects to stop. However, they opened fire at the police team in an attempt to escape.
Police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) team retaliated in self-defence, arresting two named accused in the murder case -- Sundaram Singh alias Satya Singh, 21, and Raj Singh alias Raja Singh, 24, who were injured.
Sundaram was shot in the left leg, while Raj sustained a gunshot injury in his right leg, police said.
During the encounter, police also arrested Anuj Singh, 19, of Badi Pakwal in the Sarayalkhasni area of Mau district, and Ajay Kharwar, 18, of Chakia in the Ranipur area of Mau district. The two injured accused have been admitted to a hospital.
Police recovered a country-made pistol, cartridges, two motorcycles, and the knife allegedly used in the murder from the accused.
