Jammu, August 17
A young man made a futile bid to commit suicide while a large number of people were protesting against the suspension of potable water and electricity supply in a few areas of the old city for the fourth consecutive day today.

He suddenly climbed the pole on which the national flag was hoisted, tied a piece of cloth around his neck and tried to hang himself from it. A few protesters swung into action and rescued him. He was later shifted to the local Medical College Hospital.

Residents of the old city blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway by squatting on the road near the Rehari Chowk. They were annoyed that neither the government nor officers of the Public Health Department had so far taken effective steps to restore the water supply following a flash flood in the Tawi.

Among the protesters were a large number of women who raised slogans against Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for having failed to address the basic problems of those living in Jammu.

Senior engineers of the Public Health Engineering Department were non-committal about the restoration of potable water, but said tankers would be deployed in strength in the affected areas.

Power minister Rigzin Zora said the power supply got affected due to shutdown of the Nathpa Jhakri power project near Shimla because of a cloudburst near Rampur that flooded the Sutlej. The state receives 120 MWs of power from the Nathpa project.

Moreover, he added, that the transmission system had got overburdened as consumers were running air-conditioners and other gadgets to beat the heat. The power scenario was expected to improve within a year, he added. 

Jammu, August 17
While speakers at Independence Day functions were appealing for Indo-Pak peace and friendship and opening of borders, hundreds of children were enthusiastically watching Sunny Deol abusing or thrashing Pak Rangers on television.

"We are at war with Pakistan since 1947, Sir," says an angry Ajay Devgan, attired in olive green in ‘LoC’. This movie, along with ‘Border’, ‘Kabul Express’ and ‘The Hero’, were the favourite movies for local channels to telecast that day as they revolve around the theme of Indo-Pak armed conflict.

With no place for films like ‘Veer Zara’ that spread the message of love across the borders, local channels in Jammu unwittingly became the vehicle for children to learn that "Pakistan is our enemy".

"I will join the Army and fight Pakistan," said a boy studying in third standard. He said so as he watched Bobby Deol in ‘Tango Charlie’ on the small screen at his father’s shop, without knowing that the movie revolved around the conflict in the North-East and not with Pakistan!

However, a cable operator here said the movies were telecast in the name of patriotism only. "If the element of patriotism is carried in bad taste in some movies, then Bollywood is responsible for that and not the viewers, as they just want entertainment," he said.

It's another matter that the sensitivity on the issue of peace between India and Pakistan prevailed in Bollywood corridors. Falling in line with the productions like Veer Zara and Shaeeh-e-Mohabbat, Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Sunil Shetty and Arshad Warsi promised at a public function nearly two years back that they would not sign any "anti-Pak film".

According to renowned political analyst, Dr Rekha Chaudhary of the University of Jammu, the political discourses prevailing in any country had a direct impact on the entertainment media as well and the 1990s witnessed the trend of "Pakistan bashing" in the Indian politics.

But that phase was now fading as films like 'Khamosh Paani' and 'Pinjar' had come up, touching the grey areas of human aspects across the borders, she said. 

Udhampur, August 17
As the Congress-led coalition government has failed to implement the Minimum Wages Act in the state, working class came out on streets in support of their demand.

A large number of workers under the banner of the Dogra mazdoor sangh today staged a protest demonstration in Udhampur town to highlight their demands. They sought implementation of the Minimum Wages Act and Rs 150 per day as minimum wages keeping in the view the price hike.

Coming down heavily on the state government for its failure to implement various legislations passed by the Assembly, Sangh leaders regretted that despite repeated promises this dispensation had failed to provide industrial jobs to workers. They reminded that while announcing incentives for industrialists, the state government had promised to reserve 80 per cent jobs for locals. They, however, regretted that the government has failed to fulfil its promises.

Sangh leader alleged that industrialists had been taking benefits of the incentives but locals were being denied jobs as per agreement with the state government. He charged the labour department for being hand-in-glove with industrialists in this issue.

They took out the rally which started from Bhagat Singh park and culminated in front of DC’s office. They also submitted a memorandum to him and gave 15 days ultimatum to the government for fulfilling their demands.

Jammu, August 17
Bhola, an Army dog, has been honoured with a commendation card for distinguished performance in terrorism-hit border areas of Rajouri and Poonch.

The honour for the sniffer dog came during the Independence Day celebrations when the GOC-in-C of the Northern Command presented the commendation card.

Bhola, part of the 20 Army Dog Unit, had tracked down hideouts of terrorists from where a large quantity of arms, ammunition and rations was recovered by troops. The dog has become a favourite of the Romeo Force of the Army that operates in the two border districts. His name figures in the list of 24 troops of the Romeo Force who have received Distinguished Service awards and commendation cards on this Independence Day. Twenty-two of these soldiers have been awarded by the President.

These awards include one Shaurya Chakra, five Sena Medals (Gallantry), fourteen Chief of Army Staff’s commendation cards and two Northern Army Commander’s commendation cards. Three gallantry awards have been given posthumously to Lance Naik Jyotish Prakash of 39 Rashtriya Rifles (Shaurya Chakra), Havaldar Anand Kumar, 43 RR (Sena Medal) and Grenadier Virender Singh, 39 RR, (Sena Medal).

The Romeo Force, part of the elite counter-insurgency force, has been instrumental in neutralising 1,390 terrorists and recovering 1,884 weapons so far. Prior to the current ones, the Romeo Force has received 671 gallantry and distinguished service awards in the past.

Srinagar, August 17
Even though the situation in the Khundroo area following Saturday’s fire in the field ordnance depot has been described as safe and under control, four more persons sustained injuries when an unexploded shell went off at Nowgam yesterday evening.

With this the number of those injured in the incident has gone up to 30, the police said today. An explosive shell lying at Nowgam went of at about 5.30 p.m. yesterday evening, resulting in injuries to four persons who were hospitalised. However, their condition is stated to be stable.

Defence spokesman Lt Col A.K. Mathur said over 300 shells and 1,000 fuses had been cleared from the affected areas. The joint coordination centre had ensured that the affected area remains cordoned off while bomb disposal teams clear it. Roads from Achabal to ammunition dump, Sangarsh to Achabal, Pinghqwana to Khundroo and Shangus-Nowgam have been sanitized thereby permitting the smooth flow of relief and supplies, he added.

Villages of Shangus, Nowgam, Jogikund and Nagdandi have been cleared and the work is going on in adjoining villages.