India's 58th R-Day celebrated at Indian missions

Washington, Jan 26 (UNI) India's 58th Republic Day was celebrated at various Indian missions in different countries with gaiety and enthusiasm today, except the neighbouring Pakistan where a grand celebration was marred by a suicide bomb attack killing two in a hotel where the Indian High Commission was to host a reception this evening.

At least two people were killed and five others sustained serious injuries in a suicide bomb attack near parking area of Marriott hotel in the capital city of Pakistan.

The suicide bomber and the hotel security guard were killed in the attack, Pakistan Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah told mediapersons.

India's Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen unfurled the national tricolour at the Indian Embassy here and read out the President's message to people from the Indian-American community who gathered to celebrate the occasion despite freezing cold.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty hosted a gala reception at the Indian House in Dhaka. About 1000 invitees including leading politicians, advisors to the caretaker government, senior civil and military officials and foreign diplomats attended the function.

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