Jammu Apr 26 PTI Irked by unscheduled power cuts and shortage of drinking water people on Tuesday staged protests in different parts of the city with Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry CCI warning that the consumers will stop paying bills if the crisis is not resolved forthwith The industrialists also expressed grave concern over the alleged failure of the administration to provide electricity to the industrial estates and said the unit holders are planning to go for single shift work which might lead to retrenchment of the staff Over the past 10 days we are faced with the worst-ever electricity and water crisis contrary to the repeated assurances by the administrationpeople are approaching us and are contemplating to stop paying their bills which is a right decision given the situation JCCI president Arun Gupta told reporters here Gupta who was also flanked by president Bari Brahmana Industrial Association Lalit Mahajan and office bearers of the JCCI urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take all possible steps to provide round-the-clock power supply to bail out industry and common households from the crisis Mahjan said the power crisis has caused huge losses to the unit holders In view of the unscheduled power cuts the industrialists are planning to go for single shift work which will lead to retrenchment of the staff at a time when unemployment is on rise he said Suggesting the administration to go for purchase of power like the governments in the past to overcome the crisis the JCCI president said the silence of the administration over the crisis is beyond the tolerance of the people who are reeling under rising mercury Earlier a group of Shiv Sena Dogra Front activists led by its president Ashok Gupta staged a protest in the heart of the city to protest against the power and water crisis Carrying empty utensils and buckets the protesters chanted slogans in support of the demand for uninterrupted power and water supply The situation is very bad due to unscheduled power cuts and non-availability of water Gupta said requesting personal intervention of the Lt Governor to provide relief to the public Protests against water and electricity departments were also reported from over a dozen places in the city including Talab Tillo Sidhra Janipur Trikuta Nagar and Paloda The protesters briefly blocked the roads demanding restoration of water supply and an end to unscheduled power cuts We have raised the issue of acute water shortage with the concerned department time and again but no action is being taken which is very unfortunate a resident of Waliabad locality of Sidhra said Jammu Mayor Chander Mohan Gupta said the first priority of the corporation is to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply to the consumers We are aware of the problems and are making steps As far as the water crisis are concerned the Jammu Municipal Corporation JMC will work with the Public Health Engineering department to ensure water supply to every household in the city he said There are shortcomings which are being taken care of Lakhs of gallons of water is leaked and wasted while the water lifting pumps have not been upgraded for the past two decades he said adding the corporation will work overtime to fulfill the dream of har ghar nal ka jal as envisioned by the prime minister Even as the power development department is out of the ambit of the corporation Gupta said he will not hesitate to reach out to the union ministry of power to request for additional supply to overcome the present crisis We will take up the issue with the Lt Governor and the concerned department as the power supply is required to lift water and provide it to the consumers he said Apni Party activists led by Jammu provincial president Manjit Singh staged a protest demonstration outside the PDD Chief Engineers office here against the unscheduled curtailment of the electricity As the electricity supply has remained irregular with eight hours long power cuts the water supply industrial sector and farmers and other sectors have adversely affected Singh said He appealed to the administration to take immediate corrective measures to supply adequate electricity to the consumers PTI TAS AQS

Jammu Apr 23 PTI In a major relief to the public the sanitation workers have called off their province-wide proposed strike from April 24 after a meeting with a senior government official here an official spokesman said Representatives of Safai Karamchari Union led by their president called off the strike in public interest after holding a lengthy discussion with Divisional Commissioner Jammu Raghav Langer he said The spokesman said the decision was taken during late night negotiations held in Divisional Commissioner Office Jammu Director Urban Local Bodies was also present All these Safai Karamcharies are working under various urban local bodies of Jammu province he said He said the delegation apprised the divisional commissioner about their long-pending demands in a memorandum which included regularisation of their services implementation of the Minimum Wages Act and the old pension scheme The divisional commissioner gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured them that a meeting will be held within 10 days with higher authorities to review the demands which are genuine for their redressal in a time-bound manner the spokesman said PTI TAS AQS

Jammu Apr 22 PTI Two terrorists and a security personnel were killed after terrorists targeted a CISF bus leading to a gunfight near an Army camp on the outskirts of Jammu early Friday officials saidNine security personnel were also injured in the gunfight they saidThe encounter in Sunjwan took place amid heightened security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir two days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled visit to Samba districtAuthorities suspended classes in all private and government schools in the vicinity and adjoining areas as a precautionary measure besides suspending the mobile internet services the officials saidCentral Industrial Security Force CISF officials said a bus carrying 15 personnel for their morning shift came under attack at 425 am near the Chaddha camp in Sunjwan areaA senior official of the paramilitary force said the terrorists fired at the bus and lobbed grenades killing Assistant Sub-Inspector ASI S P Patil and injuring two other occupants of the busThe force retaliated effectively the officer saidIn the ensuing operation two terrorists were killed a police officer said PTI TAS NES DIV DIV

Jammu Mar 28 PTI A senior army officer on Monday cautioned youngsters against drug abuse saying the enemy nation is using narcotics as a weapon to destroy our coming generations General Officer Commanding GOC White Knight Corps Lt Gen Manjinder Singh said this addressing a cultural function held in Mendhar town of Poonch district The event was organised by Bhimber Gali Brigade under the Ace of Spades Division The officer also announced the Jammu Premier League from this year to be held on pattern of Kashmir Premier League a Twenty20 cricket league started by the army in the valley in 2011 to engage young people in positive activity The league will see participation of one team from each of the 10 districts of Jammu region he said The teams are sponsored by the army which also provides them with cricket kits and refreshments during the tournament The enemy nation used to send militants and weapons but now they are also using narcotics as a weapon to destroy our coming generations Singh said We all are committed and will continue to work together for maintaining a conductive environment of peace and prosperity in the region The youth of the border village are today enjoying the peace dividends and are moving forward with the people of the rest of the country he said at the event which was resumed after two years break forced by the COVID pandemic The two-day festival started on Sunday is being held to encourage young people and locals to celebrate the cultural vibrancy of the region a defence spokesman said PTI TAS TAS VN VN

Jammu Mar 28 PTI A 65-year-old passenger was killed and several others injured on Monday when an overloaded bus skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir officials saidThe bus carrying over 50 passengers was on way from Pukharni village to Naushera and the accident took place at Debatta near Lam around 10 am the officials saidThey said rescue teams comprising locals army and police evacuated nine seriously injured persons to hospital where one of them Bilal Hussain of Pukharni village succumbed to injuriesSeveral others who had received superficial injuries were discharged after first aid they saidA defence spokesman said troops of the Rashtriya Rifles helped in the rescue effortsRegardless of personal safety soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles negotiated the steep slopes and retrieved the gravely injured passengers The injured were further evacuated by troops in military vehicles to Sub-District Hospital Naushera for administration of first aid and further treatment the spokesman said PTI TAS TAS DV DV

Jammu Mar 27 PTI A 15-year-old abducted girl and a mentally challenged woman were reunited on Sunday with their families in Samba and Kathua districts police said The teenager was recovered from Doda five days after she had gone missing from Bari Brahmana where she lived a police spokesman said A complaint was lodged by her father on March 22 alleging that his daughter was kidnapped by some unknown persons the spokesman said Though police recovered the girl it is yet to trace the culprits he said adding the investigation is still on in the matter The spokesman said that police was also able to trace a mentally-challenged woman Rano Devi hailing from Kathua Devi was found wandering around Rattan Palace in Bari Brahmana area by a police patrolling party he said She was handed over to her husband Kartar Chand after completion of legal formalities the spokesman added PTI TAS TAS VN VN

Jammu Mar 21 PTI The Jammu-based Tiger Division of the Indian Armys Rising Star Corps on Monday celebrated its 80th Raising Day with a wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial here to pay homage to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation a defence spokesperson saidGeneral Officer Commanding Tiger Division Maj Gen Neeraj Gosain extended warm greetings to all personnel and their families He exhorted all personnel to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation the spokesperson saidDeputy General Officer Commanding Brig Gautam Segan laid a wreath at the Tiger War Memorial along with Lt Col Rishma Sarin Junior Commissioned Officers and other personnel also paid homage to the slain soldiers he saidA two-minute silence was observed for the fallen soldiers of the division he addedThe Tiger Division was initially raised in 1942 and participated in World War II After WW II it was de-mobilised and was re-raised in March 1948 during the first India-Pakistan warSince then it has participated in the wars of 1965 and 1971 and in various operations including Operation Vijay Operation Parakaram and Operation Zafran where it earned laurels for its valour the spokesperson said PTI TAS TAS DIV DIV

Jammu Mar 21 PTI Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the Centre and his administration are deeply concerned about the future of students evacuated from war-hit Ukraine and working on a policy to facilitate completion of their studies in the country Sinha was interacting with a group of MBBS students of the union territory who have returned from Ukraine at Raj Bhawan here Met MBBS students of UT who have returned from Ukraine at Jammu Raj Bhawan Assured the students that GOI UT govt is deeply concerned about their future and working on a policy so they can complete their studies in the country he tweeted and shared a picture with the students who included both boys and girls A BJP spokesperson said the group of students was led by party secretary Arvind Gupta and submitted a memorandum expressing gratitude for the concern shown by the government for their evacuation from Ukraine Through the memorandum the spokesman said they expressed their gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful conduct of Operation Ganga which led to the safe return of Indian students who were struck in Ukraine after the Russian invasion The students also expressed their gratitude towards Sinha for the unconditional support in managing the crisis he said They were also thankful to the local administration for working as a bridge between parents and the government the spokesman said He said the students shared their worries about future studies due to the prevailing situation in Ukraine and requested the Lt Governor to help them to continue their studies in India PTI TAS TAS AQS AQS

Jammu Feb 26 PTI Anti-Corruption Bureau ACB on Saturday filed a charge sheet in a local court in Doda against a revenue official who was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 5000 in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir about five years ago an official said The charge sheet was filed against the then Patwari Chatroo block Toufeeq Ahmad in the court of special judge anti-corruption Doda an ACB official said He said a case was registered in 2017 on the basis of a complaint that some revenue officials are demanding bribes from him after he cut down a tree Initially the Tehsildar allegedly demanded Rs 50000 but later the bribe money was settled at Rs 10000 the official said adding the Patwari was caught red-handed while receiving the first installment of Rs 5000 from the complainant After completion of the investigation the case was processed and after obtaining government sanction the case was chargesheeted in the competent court for judicial determination the official said adding the next date of hearing has been fixed for March 23 PTI TAS RCJ RCJ

Jammu Feb 20 PTI A three-member delegation of the Citizens Cooperative Banks board of directors called on Lt Governor Manoj Sinha here on Sunday an official spokesperson said The delegation headed by banks Chairman Parveen Kumar Sharma submitted a memorandum to the Lt Governor seeking redressal of issues involving co-operative banks to enable them to raise their equity and improve financial parameters as per the regulators standard the spokesperson said The delegation informed the Lt Governor that the bank has 11 branches and four extension counters to cater to the banking needs of the people and extend credit to its members to fulfil their financial needs Sinha gave a patient listening to the issues and assured the delegation of all possible help from the UT government on merit He impressed upon the management of the Co-operative Bank to continue working with dedication and spirit of service to the people the spokesman said PTI TAS RAX RAX