Kite festival in Jammu marks Janmashtami
Jammu (PTI): A kite festival in Jammu marked Janmashtami on Thursday, in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Dogras and to promote culture and tourism in the region.
The event at the Bahu ropeway showcased the splendour of the ride that links important pilgrimage sites in the city.
Jammu Tourism Director Vivekanand Rai told PTI, "My greetings to all the people of Jammu on Janmashtami. Flying kites on Janmashtami is an integral part of Jammu culture."
Deputy Commissioner (Jammu) Sachin Kumar Vaishya inaugurated the festival to highlight the region's tourism potential.
Over a hundred enthusiasts took part in the festival with kites of various shapes, sizes and colours.
"We chose this location and invited the people. Over a hundred enthusiasts have come so that youngsters and tourists know that gondola rides are also available in Jammu," Jammu Tourism Deputy Director Mohd Jabbar told PTI.
Azharuddin, a kite enthusiast, said, "It is very good that the kite festival is being organised by the tourism department. I have been watching this festival for the past three years. We enjoy it. More children and youth should take part to promote culture."
Shubang Sethi claimed the first prize of Rs 3,000 while Himanshu Gupta and Kunal Goria secured the second- and third-place awards worth Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively.
All participants were also given certificates of appreciation.
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'Godman' Kharat held in 8th sexual exploitation case; court denies police remand, sends him to jail
Nashik (PTI): Police took custody of self-proclaimed godman-cum-astrologer Ashok Kharat in an eighth case related to sexual exploitation of women and produced him before a Nashik district court which sent him to jail till May 12 after rejecting the plea for his police remand on Thursday.
On April 29, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik police in north Maharashtra filed a request application in the court demanding Kharat's custody in the eighth case.
After the court granted them the necessary permission, the SIT took custody of Kharat, who was in jail in connection with the seventh case of sexual exploitation registered against him.
The 'godman', named in a dozen FIRs related to rape and financial fraud, was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate B N Ichpurani in the eighth case through video conferencing due to security reasons.
The eighth case related to Kharat allegedly sexually exploiting a woman who had approached him in search of solutions to her family problems, according to police.
During the hearing, the prosecution demanded police custody of the accused in the latest case.
However, the defence strongly opposed the demand and argued that the SIT was giving same reasons for police custody every time and there was no strong reason for accepting their plea.
The court accepted the argument put forth by the defence and remanded Kharat to judicial custody till May 12 in the eighth case.
The SIT will produce Kharat in the court on Friday again and seek his police custody in the ninth case. As the self-styled godman has been granted judicial custody in the eighth case, he will be sent to Nashik Road Central Jail and the SIT will take his custody from there.
Meanwhile, Kharat's judicial custody in the fourth case ended on Thursday. On April 18, the accused was remanded to judicial custody till April 30 in the fourth case of sexual exploitation of women.
In a related development, the SIT conducted a search at Kharat's office in the 'Canada Corner' area of Nashik city on Wednesday. A 'panchnama' (record of search and seizure proceedings) was conducted and the office was locked and sealed again.
Kharat, a well-heeled man with political connections, was arrested for the first time on March 18 after a woman alleged he had repeatedly raped her for three years.
He is accused of sexually exploiting several women by claiming to have divine powers and knowledge of black magic, and also committing large-scale financial fraud.
The SIT is conducting a probe into 12 cases of sexual exploitation and financial fraud registered against the astrologer in Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts.
