14-day police custody for threatening judge
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 30
The Judicial Magistrate of Sonepat, Mr Rakesh Kumar, yesterday remanded a convict Surinder of Khanda village in 14-day police custody on the charge of threatening to kill Mr J S Jangra, Additional Session Judge who had sentenced him for attempting to kill his wife by poisoning.

According to a report, the accused became angry in the court when Mr Jangra announced the judgement and sentenced him in the case. It is also alleged that the accused had used abusive language against the judge during the trial period in the case.

RI for possessing charas

The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Dharamvir Singh, yesterday convicted an accused Krishan of Rathdhanna village under the NDPS Act and sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh or in default to undergo further three years RI on the charge of keeping 200 grams contraband charas.

According to the prosecution story, the police had arrested him near the Hindu College chowk in this city and recovered 200 grams of contraband charas from his possession during the search operations. The accused is a wrestler and had won gold medals in various meets.

Three get RI for murderous assault

The District and Sessions Judge, Mr B L Singal, yesterday convicted three accused Maha Singh, Rajbir and Ram Chander under Section 307 IPC and sentenced them to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 3,000 each or in default to undergo further two years RI on the charge of murderous assault on one Jagdish of Sehoti village on October 19, 1999. According to a report, the judge also acquitted two accused, Umrao Singh and Karamvir who were also facing trial in this case. The murderous assault on the complainant was the result of an old enmity.

Sangeet Natak Akademy celebrates golden jubilee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 30
The valedictory ceremony of the golden jubilee function of the Sangeet Natak Akademy concluded here on Tuesday with the Vice President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, delivering the address.

An audio-visual presentation incorporating the rare glimpses from the Akademi was screened at the event. The Sangeet Natak Akademy completed fifty years of its existence on January 28, 2003. The Akademy was inaugurated by the then President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

The inauguration of the Akademi signaled a new era in nurturing and development of the performing arts.

The golden jubilee function was inaugurated by the President, Dr. APJ Adbul Kalam. Major festivals, exhibitions and seminars throughout the year gone by were part of the celebrations. Among these were the Putul Yatra, Rang Swarna, Sangeet Swarna and Nritya Swarna.

Exhibitions, including one on puppets and Indian musical instruments, and seminars were organised in the country and abroad.

The Government of India, Department of Posts, has issued a set of three commemorative stamps on the occasion of the golden jubilee.

Moving toward the future, the Akademy has lined up three new series: these are the Swarna Sampada, focussing on traditional performing arts of India of each state, Swarna Rang Pratibha, devoted to the work of new directors in modern theater of each state and Swarna Nritya and Swarna Sangeet Pratibha, designed to locate and nurture young talent in each zone.