Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: Srijan Samooh, the group dedicated to art, held its maiden painting exhibition titled The Beginning’, at the Kala Kendra, here today.
The highlight of the exhibition is that it comprises of works of an apparently disparate group of 10 painters who despite coming from different age groups and backgrounds have one common thread of respective passion for individual artistic expression.
The participating group as such includes art hobbyists like Amardeep, an engineer, Al Nasir, a practicing lawyer, Gopesh a student, Gulshan Sehgal, a retired government servant, Dr Sanjay Sharma, a university professor, Virji Virendra Sumbli, an art college drop out, the trio of Vijay Anand, Amit Anand and Chetna Anand—for whom, being the children of veteran artists Dev Dass, art has been a family vocation while Subhash Langeh, a teacher in KCS, in turn has been a student of Vijay Anand.
The paintings on display due to artists’ unique individual situations of taking to art as a hobby and profession are therefore marked by a variety in terms of subjects, materials and techniques. Mainly figurative the works on show ranging between being realistic to symbolic include landscapes, monuments, characters from life and philosophical renderings of religious characters and concepts. The three-day exhibition, which was inaugurated by Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner. The show is open between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., will conclude on 22 April 2012.
Srijan Samooh’s maiden painting exhibition opens at Kala Kendra
2 yrs imprisonment to matador driver
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: Munsiff Magistrate, Jammu, Anjum Ara today awarded two years imprisonment and fine of Rs 1000 to a driver, whose negligent driving led to the death of a student on June 15, 2000.
After hearing Prosecuting Officer Yogesh Nagpal appearing for the State whereas Advocate BB Kotwal for the accused, Munsiff Magistrate observed, “the evidence on record is sufficient to conclude that prosecution has been able to prove its case against the accused person”, adding “all the witnesses have also supported the prosecution case”.
With these observations, the Court awarded two years imprisonment and fine of Rs 1000 to matador driver namely Mohd Amin, son of Ghulam Mustafa, a resident of Bahu Fort area.
Fire Services Week concludes
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: Fire Services Week, which was observed with the aim to make the public aware about fire hazards as well as fire prevention and protection, concluded today.
During the week, Fire and Emergency Services Department conducted public meetings, seminars in the educational institutions, industrial areas and petrol pumps etc to create awareness among the people.
On the penultimate day of the week, inter-school speech competition was held at Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters at Gandhi Nagar on the theme “smoke management saves lives”. The cash prizes and trophies were distributed by Dr G A Bhat, Director General, Fire and Emergency Services and R S Sodhi, Director, to the toppers.
Consolation prizes were also distributed among the participants while as teachers of the schools were awarded with cash reward of Rs 500 each.
On the concluding day, different lectures and demonstrations were held to make the general public aware about the fire hazards as well as fire prevention and protection. The special event was display of disaster management tools, which have been procured by the department recently to safeguard the lives and property of general masses.
The demonstrations, mock exercises and displaying of tools were held under the supervision of C K Peshin, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Command Jammu.
At Udhampur, the concluding function was presided over by R C Raina, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Command Udhampur/Reasi.
Speaking on the occasion, he exhorted upon the personnel of the organization to exhibit high degree of professionalism while safe guarding the lives and property of the public.
During the week, the command organized various awareness programmes at various locations in Udhampur and Reasi districts besides a professional exercise at Air Force Station in collaboration with IAF and 1 FOD on the directions of Dr G A Bhat, DG and Director, R S Sodhi.
At Srinagar, the week concluded with a commemoration parade at Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters. On the occasion, jawans were told to prepare themselves to face challenges being faced by the department due to ever increasing fire risks because of massive urbanization.
Gang rape accused acquitted
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, Jang Bhadur Singh Jamwal today acquitted Deepak Sharma and Pawan Kumar, both residents of Jawahar Nagar, New Plot and Ajay Khajuria of Shakti Nagar, who were facing trial in a gang rape case.
According to the police case, prosecutrix, who was studying in the 8th class in Vivekananda Model School went missing on December 4, 2007 and accordingly her mother lodged a complaint with the police.
On this, police registered a case and started investigation during which the prosecutrix was recovered and subjected to medical examination. After completion of investigation, challan was presented in the court of law.
After hearing Public Prosecutor Shabir Choudhary for the State whereas Advocate Anil Bargotra for the accused persons, the Principal Sessions Judge observed, “the statement of the prosecutrix is damaging and she has declined to support the prosecution version. She being the aggrieved person has to be relied upon. The Court is satisfied that there is no evidence connecting the accused with the commission of offence”.
With these observations, the Court acquitted the accused persons of the charges leveled against them.
CBI enhances reward for information on killers of RTI activist
PUNE, Apr 20:The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today enhanced the reward money from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for anyone giving credible information regarding the accused involved in the conspiracy and murder of RTI activist Satish Shetty.
The identity of the informant will be kept secret. The information can be given to the Superintendent of Police, CBI Anti-corruption Branch Pune, sources said.
The additional sessions judge Sadhana Shinde granted permission to the CBI yesterday to conduct polygraph test on the accused, witnesses and the suspects in the murder of Shetty.
The judge also granted permission to the CBI to record confessional statements of witnesses and interrogate three suspects at the Yerawada central jail. The court passed the order in three pleas filed by the CBI additional superintendent of police Sushil Prasad Singh and inspector Anjir Jadhav. Shetty, who invoked the RTI act for unearthing land scams in Pune district, was murdered near his residence at Talegaon Dhabade on January 13, 2010. The rural police had filed a chargesheet in the case against criminal lawyer Vijay Dabhade, Pramod Waghmare, Navnath Shelar, Dongraya alias Hanumant Rathod and Shyam Dabhade. (UNI)
Arguments for junior seer completed
PUDUCHERRY, Apr 20:Defence Counsel in the Sankararaman murder case Lakshmana Reddiyar appearing for accused number two Vijayendra Saraswathi and four today concluded the defence argument on behalf of the two concluding that the two have no connection in this case and hence be set free.
During the trial in the case, in which the Kanchi Acharyas Jayendra Saraswathi and Vijayendra Saraswathi are the prime accused, before the Puducherry Principal District and Sessions Judge C S Murugan, eight of the 24 accused, did not turn up. The judge, however, has exempted the two seers from personal appearance.
After the counsel concluded his argument, the judge posted the case for Monday, April 23 when the arguments in relation to accused number one and three would commence.
Reddiyar later told newspersons outside the court that he had argued that no motive was proved against the accused number two and four in this case.
He further argued that the alleged consipracy was not proved and no witness had spoken about consipracy in the court, other than the approver who turned hostile. Mr Reddiyar also claimed that the confession of the approver and Kadiravan was not voluntary.
Under these circumstances, his clients were not guilty and must be released, he pleaded. (UNI)
Malini Awasthi to prepare ‘tune bank’ of Indian folk music
LUCKNOW, Apr 20: Malini Awasthi, a noted singer credited with bringing back these traditional forms of folk music to the national stage, is preparing a ‘tune bank’ of age-old popular songs mainly originated from Uttar Pradesh.
” The folk songs have their set tunes sung since ages and it is necessary to conserve and preserve those tunes for the generations to come,” she told while disclosing an album is on the anvil which will have all the tunes.
Ms Awasthi said she was already working on the album beside hosting various music shows and judging the talent search programmes in Hindi and Bhojpuri.
The number of folk music lovers was on the rise everywhere, Malini claims while expressing pleasant surprise over the curiosity of foreigners over Indian forms of music. “My shows in United States,UK and other places have been hit which shows the sustainability of Indian classical music,” she says. The folk music represents way of Indian life and its rendition always gives out the picture of how the Indian tarditions existed over the ages, she said.
Malini Awasthi who was shot to fame with her versatility in the famous music reality show ‘Junoon’ telecast on a popular television channel few years ago, further enhanced her popularity with a fusion mujra song ‘Dil Mera Muft Mein’ picturised on Kareena Kapoor in recent bollywood flick of Saif Ali Khan ‘Agent Vinod’.
Though , she has been flooded with offers from Mumbai film industry but for Ms Awasthi, already a singing star in Bhojpuri and Hindi films,the folk music will remain her prime passion. She modestly denies her contribution in reviving the folk music culture in the country but says she will always strive to keep such traditions alive for the times to come.
An expert in various forms of folk music from Benaras( Now Varanasi) and Awadh like the Dadra, Sohar, Banna, Jhoola, Kajri, Holi, Chaiti, Vivaah, Dhobiya, Nirgun, she showcased these different forms of folk music in her own way. Some of these forms which are almost dying forms when sung on the stage mesmerized the viewers and took the nation by a storm.
A disciple of the Thumri proponent Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi today, Malini is one of the leading Thumri singers of the Benaras Gharana while folk music remains her forte. She excels in folk forms of Awadh, Bundlekhand, Braj, Bhojpuri and Benaras.
A versatile singer, Malini is a regular performer for the famous ‘Jahan-e-Khusro’ organized by renowned film maker and artist Muzaffer Ali. Her Sufi music albums on Roomi and Hazrat Amir Khusro have been widely appreciated. Times Music has recently released a music album ‘Purvaiya’ with Malini which was launched by Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia in Mumbai in 2009. She has also sung for the famous band ‘Medieval Panditz’ in their album ‘Hello Hello’and her fusion song Tonic has been a world wide hit.
Malini Awasthi,A post graduate in hindustani classical music from Bhatkhande University , Lucknow, counts being disciple of most-revered Girija Devi and earning praise from melody queen Lata Mangeshkar as her biggest achievements so far. Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar had praised her during media interview on her 80th birthday in 2009. (UNI)
Italian Govt moves Indian SC for release of 2 marines
NEW DELHI, Apr 20: The Italian Government today moved the Supreme Court for quashing of the criminal proceedings initiated against two Italian marines for killing two Indian fishermen in Kerala.
The Italian Govenment had challenged the Kerala High Court judgement refusing to drop the criminal charges against the two Italians involved in shooting down of two Indian fishermen.
The Italian marines are facing charges of murder. The Italian Govenment has also been using diplomatic channels to impress on the Indian Government to withdraw the criminal cases.
The Italian marines at present are lodged in a jail in Kerala.
The High Court had also directed the Italian Government to pay compensation to the families of the Indian fishermen.
According to the petitioner, the murder charges which are punishable either with life imprisonment or death sentence, are not sustainable against the Italians.(UNI)
Life sentence awarded to rtd army man in Dilshan murder case
CHENNAI, Apr 20: A Fast Track Court here today awarded life imprisonment to retired Army Officer Ramaraj in the sensational teenager Dilshan murder case.
Delivering the verdict in the packed court hall, Fifth Fast Track Court Judge Radha said the prosecution had proved the case beyond any doubt.
Thirtten-year-old Dilshan was shot dead on July 3 last year when he entered the high-security Army residential quarters by scaling the compound wall to pluck almonds.
The judge said 58-year-old retired Lt Col Kandaswamy Ramraj, a native of Madurai, was convicted and sentenced to life under Sec 302 (murder) and Sec 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of IPC, and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000.
The judge also found Ramraj guilty under two sections of Arms Act and awarded him three years and one year jail term respectively, besides a fine of Rs 10,000.
All the sentences would run concurrently, the judge said and directed that Rs 50,000 of the fine amount should be given to Dilshan’s parents.(UNI)
Hazare to kick off awareness campaign from May 1
PUNE, Apr 20: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare will kick off an awareness campaign for a strong Lokayukta in Maharashtra From May 1.
The 74-year-old Gandhian will begin his campaign from world famous temple town of Shirdi in Ahmednagar district, Hazare said here today.
During the campaign, Hazare will meet presidents of all political parties in the state and explain to them the importance of a strong Lokayukta.
“A detailed investigation of tainted and corrupt ministers must be carried out and if they are found guilty, they should be awarded life imprisonment’, Hazare said.
He said it was necessary to change the wrong image of Team Anna versus parliament. An awareness of Jan Lokpal needs to be generated among citizens, he remarked.
When asked about the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report and its findings, Hazare said the ministers are representatives of society, so if they are found guilty in the CAG findings they should be sent behind bars.
The social activist said he would join Baba Ramdev in Delhi on June 3 for a rally.(UNI)