Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture Atul Duloo today visited the Sharda Radio 90.40 FM and interacted with the team of artists and management there.
Mr Duloo while interacting with the members of the Peer Panchal, which is managing the Sharda Radio, said FM 90.40 will go a long way in taking the displaced people to their roots and keep them in touch with their ancient culture besides enriching the local culture also.
He said the culture is an identity of a person having deep values and ethos. He assured all help to the organization working for preservation and promotion of culture.
Speaking on the occasion Pir Panchal president, Ramesh Hangloo and founder Director Sharda Radio, highlighted the role of Radio Sharda in development of language, literature, music, history and culture.
Later Mr Duloo visited the recording studio also. He stressed on broadcasting of such programmes, which will be useful for younger generation and take them closer to their roots.
Others present included Manoj Jad, Mukesh Kumar, Vijay Koul, Rajesh Khar, J K Raina, J K Raina, J L Saroor, P N Shad, M L Pandita, A K Naz, Adarsh Anand and Manmohan Wazir.

Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, May 5: A group of 12 KAS Probationers visited Doda today and interacted with District Administration in a meeting held under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Farooq Ahmed Khan.
The group was accompanied by the Associate Professor J&K IMPA , Faculty of Industrial Management, Srinagar, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Khan.
While addressing the officers, DDC said that Government and people of the state have many expectations from them as they are the  future administrators and planners and such type of exposure visits would certainly yield better and fruitful results in the multifaceted development of the State. He gave a detailed account of the developmental activities being carried out in the District under various sectors like roads, health, education, industries and employment. He also shared experiences of his services at various positions. DDC said planning and implementations should be done keeping in view the ground situation of the area. He said development as per the expectations and aspirations of people is important for the concrete and sustainable development.
DDC apprised the probationers that peace is imperative for carrying forward the  development activities in any part of the state. He said the credit for the development of the Doda goes to the people of the District who have maintained age old tradition of peace, harmony and brotherhood among the different sections of the society and said better public relations is also vital for strengthening faith of people in the administration.
Additional District Development Commissioner , Doda G.N Balwan, Chief Planning Officer, Doda Dr. Yassir Balwan, ACR Doda,  ADC Doda, ACD Doda,  Chief Education Officer, Doda Y.R Thussu, Chief Medical Officer, Doda Dr. M.I. Zargar  besides various other District and Sectoral officers attended the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: Ganesh Chaturdashi was celebrated with religious fervour today.
In this connection two -day long celebrations started with a Maha Yagya at Ganesh Vihar Muthi. The function has been organized by Mahaganesh Charitable Trust formed by villagers of Hand Chawalgam. A large number of devotees attended the function, which will conclude with Puran ahuti tomorrow afternoon.
The Foundation, which has constructed a grand Ganesh temple the replica of old Hanand Chawalgam Ganeshbal here also installed a unique black stone idol of Lord Ganesh last year in the temple.
The devotees will be served prashad after puranahuti tomorrow.
The Ganesh Chaturdashi was also celebrated at Vinayak Nagar, Geeta Bhawan Muthi. On the occasion a special pooja was performed and the religious scholars highlighted the significance of the auspicious day. The pooja was attended by a large number of devotees who had brought traditional Prashad with them. After the performance of pooja, the prashad was served to devotees.
Another function was organized by the Ganesh Asthapan Committee Firadpora Rafiabad Sopore at Jagti township today. The function started with Maha Yagya yesterday and concluded with Puranahuti this afternoon which was followed by serving of prashad to devotees. The bhajan and Kirtan also continued for the entire day.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 5: Police today recovered the body of a civilian from the Ahmadabad area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
A police spokesman said that SHO Police Station Damhal Hanjipora came to know through reliable sources that the body of one person is lying in a field at Ahmadabad, in the suspicious circumstances.
A police party swung into action and  found the blood stained body of Bashir Ahmad Teli son-in-law of Munawar Malik resident of Ahmadabad in the nearby field, at a distance of three kilometers from his house.
During investigation, the weapons of offence, wooden stick and one axe were recovered from the house of the deceased.
The police spokesman said that his wife, father in law and one of his cousins are suspected to be involved in the commission of crime. He said these people have been taken into custody for questioning. Police has registered a case under section 302 RPC and further investigations have been taken up.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: To aware the people about the importance of birds,“ Save the Birds” programme was launched by former Minister and president Dogra Sadar Sabha, Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak at Dogra Sadar Sabha Bhawan, Partap Hall today.
While launching the programme, he handed over the earthen pots to the villagers and colleges as well as school students and advised them to placed these pots full of water near the trees.
Charak said that Birds and wild animals play very important role in the ecology of the area to maintain balance. He exhorted the Sabha to carry out the programme faithfully till monsoon season starts.
Expressing gratitude to the participants Charak asked them to take this message to every nook and corner of the region.
Prominent among those who participated in the programme included Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, Prof NK Dogra, Prem sagar Gupta, Nisar Masih Nishar and many others.

BANGALORE, May 5:
After India hosted the Formula One race for the first time last year, Japanese car maker Toyota today unveiled its compact Etios sporty variant of its compact Etios.
The Etios Motor Racing (EMR) concept cars idea would be highlighted through various motorsport activities hosted by the dealers in the city.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) exhibited the concept cars of its EMR series in the city. Introduction of this concept would attract
the youngsters interested in motor sport and activities would be open to the general public as well, a top company official said.
‘Motor sports is becoming more popular in India. The effort is of global perspective wherein our mission is to achieve sustainable growth. This is not just one, we hope to be part of many such movements here,’ Hidehisa Nagae, Executive Managing Coordinator (Marketing), TKM, told reporters here.
Toyota has laid down its global mission of spreading joy, excitement, and fun, ‘Waku Doki’ in Japanese, concept through its products.
R K Ramesh, General Manager, Conversion and Accessories of TKM,
said the new sporty Toyota’s efforts to reach out to the youth. Meanwhile Toyota hosted a hunt for their grand event next year in the EMR series. Out of 3,300 auditioners, 70-odd racers were selected who would be then competing on the tracks to reach the winning spot. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 5: Late Mohan Lal Bhat’s  book Chandanvahani hit the stands today. The book was released at an impressive but simple function organized by Mata Bhuvvaneshori Asthapan Committee (MBAC) in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at K L Saigal Hall here today.
Former Chief Secretary and MLC Vijay Bakaya was the chief guest on the occasion and others who were in the presidium included Savita Bakshi, Additional Secretary, J&K Academy of Art and Culture, B L Bhat, R K Bhat and M L Durani, president MBAC.
The programme started with welcome address by Mrs Savita Bakshi. She threw light on the future activities of the Academy.
The review of the book was read out by Manohar Chandpuri a prominent scholar and littérateur. He also conducted the proceedings of the programme.
While speaking on the occasion Vijay Bakaya lauded the role of Academy in organizing cultural activities and also lauded the role of MBAC in bringing out this important book on religious discourses. The vote of thanks was proposed by M L Durani, president MBAC while Dr Manoj Nazir made the introductory address.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: A protest rally was taken out by Jammu West Assembly Movement (JWAM) against the power cuts and increase in water tariff in the West Assembly Constituency.
The large number of residents of Janipur, Amphalla, New Plot, Sarwal and many other areas falling in the Constituency became part of the rally and disrupted the traffic at various places.
Addressing the protestants, president, JWAM, Sunil Dimple, held Omar Abdullah responsible for the complete failure to provide uninterrupted power supply and frequent scheduled and unscheduled curtailments for 10 to 15 hours daily.
He also criticized the PHE regulatory commission for increasing the water tariff and installation of the meters on water taps. He demanded that water to the people of the State be provided free of cost as the State has rich sources of water and our water is going free of cost to our neighbouring country whereas huge rent was being charging from our people.
Dimple appealed the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene personally and directed the authorities for the roll back of increased water tariff.
He appealed the people to participate in the ‘Vishal Sammelan’, which is being organised to intensify Aandolan against the PHE and PDD ministries for discrimination with the Jammu region.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, May 5: Wheat crop worth lakhs was destroyed in several fire incidents in Kathua and Samba districts since last night.
Reports said at village Chagrha near Hiranagar, standing dry wheat crop over an area of 35 kanal and belonging to one Sain Dass was gutted today.  Eight quintal wheat belong to one Chuni Lal at Panjgrain village was also destroyed in a fire incident in the fields.
In another incident standing wheat crop over an area of 18 kanal belonging to Des Raj, Suresh Kumar and Darshan Lal was damaged in fire incident at Kajyal Keso village in Ramgarh today. The police have taken cognizance.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: The chain hunger strike of all Kashmiri migrant relief holders and over aged youth in front of Relief Commissioner’s Office entered 36th day today in support of their demand regarding enhancement of cash relief.
The relief holders flayed the Government and held that despite the assurance given by Chief Minister to Apex Committee members on April 18 that the demand will be settled soon nothing concrete was done till date in this regard.
Meanwhile the Apex Committee members H N Jatoo, H L Chatta, R L Raina, B L Bhat, B K Koul and R K Raina besides spokesperson of AIKS Aryan Ramesh have warned to join the hunger strike also in support of relief holders in case the demand was not settled within one week.
Kashmir Samiti Delhi (KSD), Kashmiri Displaced United Council (KDUC) and  All Migrant Camp Coordination Committee (AMCCC) have also extended full support to relief holders sitting at dharna in front of RC’s office and Jagti.
In their separate statements KSD president, Rakesh Kaul, KDUC convener Vinod Tickoo, AMCCC leaders Ajay Bharti,  G L Bhat and T K Sharma have urged the Government to take immediate steps in solving the problem in view of sky rocketing prices of essential commodities. They warned that in case the decision was further delayed these organizations will also join the dhanra.