NEWS

New Delhi: The new battalion, numbered 241, of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been named Bastariya because it included recruits from Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Sukma districts. The much-awaited "Bastariya" Battalion of the CRPF comprising recruits from naxal-hit districts in the state will be commissioned into service today, with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh attending its passing out parade in Ambikapur district.

Another special feature of the battalion was the number of women recruits which, at 33 per cent, was according to the policy of the government, he said. Rajnath Singh today arrived in Surguja district on a two-day visit to the state. His chopper landed on Ambikapur PG College ground this evening from where he travelled to the CRPF Training Center in KP Ajirma village and took part in the SainikSammelanprogramme, the official said. CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar, CRPF IG (Raipur sector) Sanjay Arora and other senior paramilitary officials were present on the occasion.

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday questioned Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal for three hours in connection with the case of the alleged assault on chief secretary AnshuPrakash. The incident had taken place on the intervening night of February 19-20. The police said the CM cooperated but evaded answering a few questions. He may be questioned again. This was conveyed to him and he agreed.

The police will be questioning deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia next on the allegation that he called the chief secretary for the meeting that evening. The police had served a notice on Kejriwal on Thursday, asking him to join the investigations at 11am on Friday. The CM had replied that he would be available only at 5pm at his camp office because of some prior commitments. He wanted to get his questioning recorded on video, a request that was turned down by the police. They, however, recorded the proceedings for themselves.

New Delhi: Prime MinisterNarendraModi will be on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir covering all three regions of Jammu, Srinagar and Ladakh. His visit comes in the backdrop of his government asking security forces to suspend anti-militancy operations in the state as part of a people-centric outreach coinciding with the month of Ramzaan.

In his Independence Day address last year, the PM had noted that the Kashmir issue could be resolved not by bullets or abuses, but by embracing Kashmiris.Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the birth centenary celebrations of the 19th KushokBakula Rinpoche in Leh. At the same event, he will unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the ZojiLatunnel, which will connect Baltal and Minamarg.

New Delhi:Officials said that the Enforcement Directorate summoned at least four members of fugitive NiravModi's family, including his father and brother, and his US-based business partner in connection with a money laundering case linked to the over $2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.

The family members are required to be questioned as a number of financial transactions and NiravModi's businesses are linked to them, they said. The officials said summonses had been issued to NiravModi's father Deepak Modi, brother NishalModi, sisterPurvi Mehta, her husband Mayank Mehta, and MihirBhansali, who is the director of the jeweller's US-based firm Firestar Diamond Inc. They said the summonses, issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), were sent through e-mail as all the five people are settled abroad.