Jammu, June 12
With electricity crisis getting deeper, unbridled power cuts amid high-level of humidity and sizzling conditions have made the situation excruciating for the residents.

Consequently, series of outages, especially during night hours, have disturbed the sleeping habits while the high fluctuation in power has caused huge losses to traders and business community.

The irony is that Jammu-based ministers and politicians had been enjoying the cool climes of Kashmir Valley and they seemed to be “least bothered” to the public outcry.

“The hostile weather conditions in summers can cause stress which in turn affects the equilibrium of neuro-transmitters which are hormones of the brain,” renowned psychiatrist Dr Jagdish Raj Thappa told The Tribune.

He said extreme weather conditions could cause stress and imbalance in chemicals in the brain like dopamine, nor epinephrine, epinephrine and serotonin.

Another senior psychiatrist of Jammu described it as “summer depression” and the searing heat wave coupled with frequent power cuts, sometimes lead to anxiety among the people and some might suffer from minor mental disorders.

“There is an increase in such patients and the number of patients will go up further if the prevailing situation continues for next few days,” the psychiatrist said.

However, repeated spells of outages have hit the normal life in the region and many areas of the region, including 100 per cent metered areas, have been experiencing five to eight hour-long power cuts.

A senior official of the Power Development Department (PDD) said the present power requirement of the entire state was 2,500 MW, but the state had a shortfall of 850 to 900 MW as against the availability of about 1,500 to 1,600 MW of electricity.

“The demand of the Jammu region during peak hours in summer is around 1,400 to 1,500 MW, while the region is being supplied only 850 to 900 MW. The shortfall is being met by enforcing seven to eight hours curtailments in un-metered areas,” the official said.

Jammu, June 12
A 20-member group of bikers from Jammu today began a 15-day-long Jammu-Ladakh-Mughal road journey via Manali to launch a campaign on the theme “Explore the Beauty of J&K” to attract people from various part of the country to visit and know the tourist destinations of the state.

The group of bikers, under the banner “Iron Hawks”, which was formed in 2006 to spread the message of complying road safety norms and peace, would visit Manali and would enter the Kashmir region after visiting Ladakh.

“The purpose of the journey is to spread the message that the state has a great tourism potential and people can visit here without any fear. There is a need to explore the hidden beauty of Jammu and Kashmir to bring it on the global map,” Alok Kumar, founder of the Iron Hawks, said.

He said the 15-day-long journey would conclude in Jammu. “The bikers will take the route of Manali to Ladakh, then the Kashmir region and finally enter the Jammu region through the historic Mughal road, which is likely to be opened formally for traffic by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on June 25,” Kumar said. 

Jammu, June 12
Two days after three Jammu university scholars were stabbed by unidentified assailants near Jammu, the Jammu and Kashmir Police is still clueless about attackers and no arrests have been made so far.

Though the police is making attempts to get a clue about the assailants, not even a single person has been questioned or detained so far.

“We have impounded a car on the basis of suspicion, but no concrete progress has been made in the case so far. Though the CCTV footage of a petrol pump was a little hope, it was off at the time of attack due to power cut,” said a police official.

The attack on the university scholars by unidentified scholars have sent a fear wave among people working during late nights.

Jammu, June 12
John Samuel, Chief Post Master General, Jammu and Kashmir Circle, today inaugurated a philately bureau-cum-post shop at the Gandhi Nagar Head Post office.

He said the Gandhi Nagar Post office had been made a model office in the state with state-of-the-art facilities and a range of new postal services on par with international standards.

He said the Gandhi Nagar Head Post Office had been provided with a philately bureau-cum-post shop, apart from enlarging the counters.

“Customer convenience has become the focus and to achieve this, a large customer space has been provided with good ambiance and customer seating arrangements. The help desk is an additional feature for the customers,” he said.

Samuel disclosed that as a night post office, the post office functioned up to 8 pm on all the working days and operated on Sundays and holidays also, except the three national holidays.

He added that the philately bureau-cum-post shop was a new attraction at the Gandhi Nagar Head Post office. “Here, customers will be able to get a range of packaging materials, philately products, stationery and souvenirs. “For those interested in philately, this is a must-visit place for getting new postage stamps and philately products,” the Chief Post Master General said. 

Jammu, June 12
Taking a strong note of the unauthorised absence of gymnastics coach SP Singh, who remained absent from June 3 and allegedly went abroad without taking a prior permission, the J&K Sports Council today suspended him with an immediate effect.

Ashok Singh, manager, Mini Stadium, Parade Ground, has been given the additional charge of the KK Hakku AstroTurf Stadium. Earlier, SP Singh was the in charge of the stadium. Mohammad Afzal Malik, administrative officer, State Sports Council, while confirming the development, said, “Yes, the suspension orders of the gymnastics coach were issued today”.

When asked whether the coach had informed the sports council before leaving for abroad, Afzal said, “Though he informed the Delhi authorities, he never followed the actual procedure and remained absent”.

The officer said an inquiry committee would soon be set up to probe the matter. — TNS

Jammu, June 12
With the establishment of Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Jammu under the jurisdiction of the Regional Passport Office, Jammu, an online payment system has been launched and it will be applicable from June 14.

Giving details, the passport officer, Jammu, Rajinder Gupta, said with the launch of the online payment-based appointments, applicants would be required to make payment at the time of booking appointment on the MEA website and only genuine applicants would book the appointment and number of no-shows would reduce.

Under the new process, payments can be made while booking an appointment on the website www.passportindia.gov.in either by credit /debit card or internet banking of State Bank of India. Applicants can also use the challan option provided on the website and deposit the money in the SBI branch after generating it online.

The online payment system will be applicable for taking appointments for Jammu PSK from June 14 onwards.

The new system will be gradually rolled out to all the PSKs across the country soon.

Jammu, June 12
The hunger strike by Non-Gazetted Employees Union (NGEU) of the University of Jammu entered the second consecutive day today with the protesting employees refusing to end their agitation till the fulfilment of their demands. Their strike entered 32nd day today.

Hundreds of employees assembled outside the old administrative block and raised slogans against the authorities. They accused the authorities of being responsible for the present stalemate on the campus.

Speaking on the occasion, Krishan Chand, president of the union, criticised the authorities for maintaining a “criminal silence” over the “plight” of Class-IV, casual labourers and safai karamcharis.

“We will continue our strike as the authorities have failed to fulfil our genuine demands,” Chand said.

He added that they had pinned high hopes on tomorrow’s meeting between officials of the Jammu University and the state government.

He warned the authorities that if anything happened to any of the protesting employee, the authorities would be responsible for it.

Over 700 non-gazetted employees had been demanding regularisation of casual workers, removal of pay anomalies and reduction in the period of conducting test for the promotion of Class-IV employees from five years to three years.

Jammu, June 12
Citizens forum president RK Chadha has ridiculed the concern being aired by some leaders of the business community about the business interest of Jammu getting hurt with the shifting of bus stand from the present site.

Stating that city is no more confined to Raghunath Bazaar, Hari Market, Ranbir Market, Jewel Chowk and below Gummat areas, Chadha said the shifting of bus stand from present site was a dire necessity to provide breathing space to the people, which was free from frequent traffic jams, environment degradation and growing pollution.

He said it was ironical that on one hand, Jammu leaders complained of development activities, but on the other hand, they were resisting the steps taken by the authorities to shift the bus stand from the crowded place in the city. He has also allayed the fears of business community in old Jammu city that with the shifting of bus stand from the present site, the old markets would be neglected and it would hit their business interests. — TNS

Jammu, June 12
Displaced Kashmiri Hindus living in Jagti today termed the township as a ‘concentration camp’ for 5,000 community members. They said despite directions from the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the state government has denied regular electricity supply to the people. They alleged that inhabitants were being denied of their basic human rights to live their life with dignity.

Addressing a press conference, Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) president Shadi Lal Pandita alleged that due to long power cuts, inhabitants had developed many health problems.

Pandita alleged that they were receiving electricity supply for just six hours which had made their life miserable, keeping in view the sweltering heat of summers. “It seems that the government is deliberately inflicting pain on the people living in the township, who have already mourn loss of their homeland, which they had to leave because of threat from terrorists,” Pandita said.

Committee members have warned to start agitation and block the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, near Nagrota, if the power supply was not regularised soon.

“Even the SHRC has directed the PDD to supply electricity to the township, but they have not responded to any communication. The state government has totally failed to ensure regular supply,” said Rajinder Dhar, another camp inhabitant.

It is pertinent to mention here that on March 22, the state government had made it clear that required electricity would not allotted to Jagati township, inhabited by displaced Kashmiri Hindus, till they make payment for the electricity being used by them.

Nearly 5,000 people are living in the township, constructed under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Plan (PMRP) as part of the rehabilitation process of terrorist affected families from the Kashmir valley, who are getting electricity for just five hours everyday.

The township project was started in 2007, envisages construction of 4,218 two-room flats for migrants with all other facilities like hospitals, schools, community halls and parks. 

Jammu, June 12
A one-day awareness camp on women empowerment was organised at Saharan village, Block Marh Jammu, in which over 200 ladies from surrounding villages participated.

The camp was organised by Jammu Women Credit Cooperative Limited in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Union.

Rajesh Kumar Sharma, chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Union, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Women Credit Cooperative chairman Kailash Verma presided over the programme.

Giving resume of the cooperative movement, Kailash Verma disclosed that the Women Credit Cooperative movement has 13,026 women members at present. The membership fees is Rs 1,000 each while registration fees is Rs 100. The members have been advanced a total loan of Rs 3.76 crore till date for running self employment ventures. Members from Saharan village branch have been disbursed Rs 25 lakh as loans.

Jammu Women Credit Cooperative Limited chairperson Kailash Verma appealed to the women to become members of the credit cooperative movement for running self-employment ventures.

She also appealed to the Central government to provide adequate funding to the women cooperative credit societies, out of a total allocation of Rs 1,000 crore in the current ear budget, for women empowerment.

Disclosing that the Jammu Women Credit Cooperative Limited had applied for opening of a Women Cooperative bank in Jammu, she demanded early sanction of the same by the Reserve Bank of India. 

Jammu, June 12
The National Secular Forum (NSF) organised a day-long convention for its activists at the University of Jammu (JU) campus. Large number of activists attended the convention and discussed various issues related to the youth.

NSF state president Dr Vikas Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion. He endorsed the resolution wherein it was demanded that the unemployed youth of the state should be given a job. Construction work at Central University, Jammu (CUJ) was also demanded.

Vikas Sharma said the CUJ administration was ignoring the youth of Jammu region in jobs as jobs were awarded to non-Jammuties. He alleged that the Vice-Chancellor of the CUJ was playing with the emotions and sentiments of people. Dr Sharma said the varsity had become a rehabilitation centre for retired and corrupt officials.

“The varsity administration has violated the norms by recruiting the retired teachers and other staff members. As per the Central University statutes, the serving officials should not be above 65 years, but the administration had recruited some teachers who were above 65 years,” he said.

Surjit Choudhary also addressed the convention. He said the future of students was in dark and they had to come forward to save them from being ruined. The NSF has appealed to the Chancellor of the Central University to look into the matter and hold an inquiry into the misuse of positions by the university authorities. 

Jammu, June 12
A camp was organised by an NGO Prayas at the blood bank unit of SMGS hospital, Shalamar, in collaboration with the Blood Transfusion Department, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, on the eve of ‘World Blood Donors Day’ here today.

Volunteers donated blood under the guidance of Rajesh Sharma and Vikrant Dogra. The theme of the camp was “Every blood donation is a gift of life”.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikrant Dogra, vice-chairman, Federation of Indian Blood Donor Organisations (FIDBO), said there was a great need to spread awareness regarding blood donation and this initiative had to be taken at the grass-root level.

Members of Surya Milk Product also donated blood. Darshan Gupta, Tajinder Singh, Balbir Singh, Anil Dutta and Nishant Sharma were also present. 

Jammu, June 12
A special police officer (SPO) has been terminated and is presently behind bars for molesting a mentally disturbed woman at Dyala Chak area of Kathua district.

The incident happened on the Tuesday night in Dyala Chak area when SPO Raj Kumar, who was drunk, got separated from a police patrolling party and started molesting a mentally disturbed woman who was lying on the roadside in the area.

According to eye witnesses, Kumar held both hands of the woman and allegedly tried to rape her, but was stopped by local residents and shopkeepers of the area. They said the police was informed, following which a police team swung into action and arrested the SPO, while the woman was taken for medical examination.

“We have terminated the SPO and a case under Section 354 of the RPC has been registered against him,” said Mohan Lal, superintendent of police Kathua.

The police has also suspended havaldar Sardar Lal for lack of supervision.

Jammu, June 12
Vimal Muni College of Education, Ramgarh (Samba), organised a faculty exchange programme.

Two faculty members namely Prof Priya and Renu from Chenab College of Education delivered lectures on significance of studying philosophy in education and educational psychology.

Jammu, June 12
Dogra Cricket Club (DCC) registered a narrow five-run win over Satwari Cantonment Cricket Club (SCCC) today to secure a berth in the semifinals in the ongoing Veteran Twenty20 Cricket Tournament Salute and Tribute to the Players being organised by the Parade Sports Association at Parade ground here.

Batting first, DCC set a target of 131 runs for the loss of eight wickets and restricted SCCC to 125 for the loss of nine wickets to emerge victorious in an exciting contest.

Rajesh Tandon was the top scorer with 36 runs off 23 balls. Arun and Sandeep Singh Sunny contributed 28 and 22 runs, respectively. Satwant Singh chipped in with valuable 20 runs. For SCCC, Ganguly was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while Madan and Hoshiar Singh shared two wickets each. Sham Lal claimed one wicket.

In reply, SCCC got off to a disastrous start by losing first wickets for just 20 runs in four overs. Though the middle order provided some stability in the middle of the innings, but just could not achieve the target.

Nadeem was the chief destroyer who triggered a batting collapse with his devastating bowling spell. He grabbed three wickets. For SCCC, Ganguly played a gutsy knock of 60 runs off just 45 balls studded with 11 hits to the fence. Pritpal and Viney contributed 18 and 17 runs, respectively.

Ashok Kumar bagged four wickets for DCC while Nadeem took three. Arun and Satwant Singh shared a wicket apiece.

Later, Ashok Kumar was adjudged man of the match. The match was officiated by JD Singh and Ajay Sharma as umpires while Sunny was the scorer.

J&K Forest script emphatic win in football

Srinagar: The first match of A Division league in the ongoing Football League Tournament was played between Syed Tajuddin and Alfath Football Clubs on Tuesday.

Both the teams played attacking football, but none of them could find net till the end of the game. The match ended in a draw.

The second match was played between J&K Forest and Kashmir Mughals. It was the Kashmir Mughals who opened the account in the sixth minute. Tabish scored the first goal for his team.

The Forest team levelled the score in 11th minute of the game through Toufeeq Ahmad. Naseer doubled the lead in the 21st minute.

The Forest team won the match by 6:1 goals.