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´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service has announced the appointment of Amit Baruah, a leading Indian print journalist, as the Head of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hindi.

Amit will be based in New Delhi and will be responsible for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hindi service's multimedia output.

He will also be ´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service's lead Editor for India.

Amit Baruah, who has been working as the Foreign Editor of India's national daily, Hindustan Times, brings to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ 23 years' experience in international reporting.

A foreign correspondent for nearly a decade, Amit has reported from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South-East Asia.

He has travelled and reported extensively from the troubled areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, filing from there for India's national daily, The Hindu, and its weekly magazine, Frontline.

Amit is the author of Dateline Islamabad, a unique take on living and reporting from Pakistan, with a close look at the country's contemporary history.

Amit has interviewed international political leaders including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.

He was presented with the Prem Bhatia Award in 2000 for his coverage of Pakistan.

Behrouz Afagh, Head of Asia Pacific Region, ´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service, says: "Amit joins ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hindi at a time of big changes with fresh ideas and energy, and will play a key role in shaping the future of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in India."

Notes to Editors

´óÏó´«Ã½ Hindi programmes are produced from London and Delhi, set in a rolling format, with news, current affairs and features.

The interactive morning and evening programmes, Aaj Ke Din and Aaj Kal, bring news, analysis and interviews on a range of issues, from current affairs and careers to showbiz and sports.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Hindi is available on short wave, medium wave, FM and via cable television.

Hindi-speakers across the world can access ´óÏó´«Ã½ Hindi programmes in text and in audio at the 24/7 site bbchindi.com.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s special output for India's FM market includes infotainment updates – ´óÏó´«Ã½ Ek Minute, weekly features – ´óÏó´«Ã½ Take One, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Fun & Games and the Sunday chat show, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Ek Mulaqat.

It is available via partner stations – Radio One in Mumbai and Delhi, Radio Choklate in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela, Radio Tadka in Jaipur and Udaipur, Tomato FM in Kolhapur, Radio Misty in Siliguri, Radio Chaska in Gwalior, Radio Rangila in Raipur and Radio Spice in Dubai.

´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service International Publicity