Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 10: Maintaining that Hindu bodies are committed to start the annual Amarnath pilgrimage on Jesht Purnima falling on June 4 by defying the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB)’s decision to start yatra from June 25, the leaders of Bajrang Dal today said that a team of 100 activists will visit the Baltal base camp in Kashmir Valley on May 13 to inspect the tracks form Baltal to holy cave and Panjtarni to Chandanwari.
Disclosing this to mediapersons here today, the BD regional co-convener, Nand Kishore Misra, its State convener, Neeraj Dhontriya and Akhara Parmukh J&K Kundan Pahalwan said that BD will fully back the VHP decision regarding yatra.
Misra said the team after visiting track will see whether the snow has been cleared or not. “We will stay at Baltal Base camp and supervise both the tracks” he added.
He said a grand congregation will be held on May 20 here in which the VHP senior leader Ashok Singhal and other religious and social leaders will participate.
He said on June 2 over 20,000 activists of BD will reach Jammu from different parts of the country to participate in the holy Amarnath yatra. They will leave from here to holy cave next day to perform the darshan on June 4, he added.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, May 10: The police arrested a youth after some local boys, resorted to stone pelting on a bus and teasing some girl pilgrims of Mata Vaishnodevi at Lakhanpur, last night.
Reports said two buses carrying students (girls and boys) from Roorkee (Uttrakhand) stopped for dinner at Lakhanpur late last evening. These students were returning from Katra Mata Vaishnodevi. Some local boys started teasing the girls. The school staff members and boys accompanying, intervened and objected. This led to exchange of some abuses between them. The scuffle between them was however, averted with the intervention of school staff and others.
When the buses bearing number UK07PA/1427 and UK07PA/0987 left the station, the local youth resorted to stone pelting on buses. The window panes of buses were smashed and it caused injuries to the three students. The buses were stopped and the school boys ran after these `goonda’ elements and nabbed one of them while others escaped. After giving good thrashing by boys, he was handed over to Lakhanpur police which also reached there. Two injured students were hospitalized.
The police identified the nabbed accused as Arvinder Singh, son of Sanjeev Singh, resident of Pathankote. The police has started manhunt for the other accused persons. The matter was then brought to the notice of SSP Kathua and DC by the staff. The Administration has taken serious note of the issue and directed the SHO to trace all the accused and nab with in 24 hours. However, no arrest was reported till this evening.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) was held today under the chairmanship of its vice president, R K Raina in which grave concern was expressed over the fresh land grabbing incidents of KPs and their shrines in Valley by anti social elements.
Addressing the gathering H L Chatta general secretary, criticized the Government for its total failure in protecting the land of KPs and their religious places from land grabbers. He, while expressing concern over grabbing of land of Vichar Nag shrine in outskirts of Srinagar city, urged the Government to take immediate steps in restoring the same. He alleged that a local leader of the area was involved in the land grabbing and Government should take action against him.
R K Raina demanded that the land of the shrine be immediately handed over to the Trust looking after the shrine failing which the community will resort to agitation. He also demanded immediate constitution of Shrines and Temples Prabandhak Board as promised by Chief Minister recently. B L Handoo, Ravi Raina and S L Mujoo also addressed the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Rashtravadi Shiv Sena (RSS) activists today staged a protest demonstration at Hari Market against the long duration power cuts in Jammu and warned to launch agitation in case the Government enforced power cuts in those areas where electronic meters have been installed and over eight hour cuts in those areas which are without electronic meters.
The protest was led by Kuldeep Luthra and other senior leaders of RSS who addressed it included Vipin Hindu, Rakesh Kak, Vikas Diwan and Ashwani Gupta. They warned that the RSS will resort to agitation in case the practice of enforcing power cuts of long duration was not stopped forth with.
They said that the power curtailments have led to the problems to old and infirm people as well as students who have to participate in competitive examinations. Criticizing the Government they said that the Chief Minister during the Winter season got the power supply snapped to his residence in Srinagar as entire Valley was plunged into darkness after the power failure due to heavy snow fall but no such directive was given by him to PDD authorities in Jammu as soon after the darbar move the people are witnessing over 12 hour power curtailment here.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, May 10: In the routine course of procedure, IRP IX Battalion organised a road march here today with full preparation under the close supervision of SSP VK Bali, Commandant and other officers of the Battalion.
The road march flagged off by Commandant of the Battalion, started at 0615 hours from Battalion Headquarters and culminated at Karol Brigade, Chanderkote at 0915 hours. As many as 81 Battalion personnel participated in the march.
During the course of road march, paramedical staff accompanying the march provided possible first aid and medicines to the seasonally ailing Bakerwals who were on their seasonal move.
The Commandant of the Battalion said that the motive of the road march was to put impact upon the evil designs of the undesired elements by showing the presence of security personnel, adding that such road marches would be organised in future also particularly in the militancy infested areas.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Legendry singer and heart- throb of millions of music lovers Vijay Malla who breathed his last yesterday after a massive heart attack was given a tearful adieu today.
Hundreds of his fans including prominent people participated in his funeral procession, which took place from Sarwal where Mr Malla was putting up at present to Bantalab Cremation Ground where his mortal remains were consigned to flames amid chanting of Vedic mantras.
The people started gathering at Malla’s residence from early in morning to pay their tearful homage to this great singer of the State. They included members of artistic fraternity, officials of Song and Drama Division J&K, DD and Radio Kashmir artists, and leaders of various social, religious and political organizations. Some of the shell shocked fans of the ghazal singer had also come from Kashmir Valley to attend his funeral procession and bid last adieu to him.
“It was unbelievable for us that this golden voice has silenced once for all as we used to hear and enjoy his songs like “Zind Rozneh Bapth Lukh Chi Maran Cheti Markah Naa’’ , “Harmukh Bartal Praray Madano’’ etc. said some of his fans from Valley in a chocked  voice. “He was Mehdi Hassan of Kashmir and the void created by his sudden death can’t be filled up for years to come’’ they added.
Malla’s contribution to the music world can’t be forgotten, said his colleagues and friends for whom his death came as a bolt from blue.
The representatives of Panun Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, ASKPC, All India Kashmiri Samaj, Bhagavaan Gopi Nath Ashram, Athwas Foundation, Nagrad Adbi Sangam, Aahroi Sangeet Vidayalaya, Nagrai Literary Forum, Pt Prem Nath Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan, Pir Panchal, Prem Sangeet Niketan, were among the prominent personalities who participated in his funeral procession.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Bharti Walmart is celebrating “Earth Month” at its Best Price Modern Wholesale stores.
The key objective behind this initiative is to increase awareness about environment-friendly products and inspire the customers to buy these at low prices, thereby supporting efforts to conserve the earth’s environment.
Commenting on the campaign, Arvind Mediratta, Chief Operating Officer, Cash and Carry, Bharti Walmart said that they are committed to sustainability initiatives that save people money, so they can live better.
During earth month and beyond, we will work with our members towards promoting products, which not only save our members’ money but also are environment-friendly, he added.
He said that Bharti Walmat’s Earth Month campaign is spread over green products, green packaging and organic products. Under green products, the raw materials are either from recycled or reused sources.
Green packaging category comprises of products that have recycled materials used in its packaging, or the packaging is being recycled after use.
Coinciding with the Earth Month, the store associates and members are undertaking clean and green drive at public places around the stores.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Postal Circle was awarded Speed Post award for its excellent performance in Speed Post. The award was given to John Samuel, Chief Post Master General, Jammu and Kashmir Circle by Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology at Delhi.
At the all India level, the Jammu and Kashmir Circle has stood first in Post Office Saving Bank and it has secured second position in Speed Post. Speaking during the function, Samuel said that the post offices in the State are on the path of recovery. He said this is the first time that Speed Post awards have been instituted at the National level.
He said during 2012 all the 800 Post Offices in the Kashmir valley will be revamped and the services would be improved. He said the objective is to go for total financial inclusion especially in the rural areas. He added that in the next two months Speed Post services will be made available in all the Post Offices in the State.
Samuel said that next day delivery services will be extended to tehsil headquarters soon. He said as part of improving speed post services Department of Posts has introduced Same Day Speed Post within Srinagar and Jammu cities.
Meanwhile, School Stamp Show-2012 was inaugurated today at Burn Hall School, Srinagar by the CPMG along with Fr Ivan Perera, Principal, Burn Hall School This exhibition of rare stamps is being held at various schools in Srinagar during May 2012.
This exhibition displays more than 5000 rare stamps from India and abroad. Stamps on Lady Diana, Harry Potter, Animal Kingdom, special cover collection are major attractions.