Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 13: Suspecting foul play in the death of a woman, who allegedly hanged herself to death, her parents and relatives held a protest and demanded action against in-laws of the woman.
As per police sources, the parents and relatives of woman namely Renu (30), wife of Kaka of Ashok Nagar, Nai Basti held protest outside the house of woman’s in-laws at Ashok Nagar and demanded action against them for forcing the woman to take this extreme step.
On getting information, SHO Gandhi Nagar police station Manzoor Ahmed Kohli and PSI Ashiq Hussain rushed to the spot and assured the protestors that investigation into the case is going on and all angles will be verified. They said that if anything found suspicious, prompt action will be taken against the persons behind.
On the assurance, the protestors dispersed and the woman was cremated with full religious honour.
As reported, Renu allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself with a fan hook at her residence yesterday. Finding her hanging, family members informed the police and shifted the body to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where after conducting postmortem, it was handed over to family members for last rites.
A case in this regard stands registered at Gandhi Nagar police station and investigation started to ascertain the reason behind such extreme step.

Excelsior Correspondent
URI, July 13: Minister for Health & Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din reviewed the execution and implementation of various Govt. schemes and programs at a meeting of officers here today.
The Minister impressed upon the officers to execute the schemes meant for people’s welfare within the deadline schedule so that the benefits percolate down to masses.
Mr. Taj asked the officers to undertake regular field visits particularly of far flung and border areas and sort out the problems on the spot. He asked them to minimize the red tap and act proactively for the redressal of people’s grievances.
On the occasion, the Minister reviewed the targets achieved in various schemes like NRHM, NREGA, NBA, BADP, PMGSY, IAY etc. in Uri area and asked the officers to complete the targets within the time schedule.
Officers of several district offices were present in the meeting.
Later, Mr. Taj convened a public durbar in which people raised their grievances in presence of officers of concerned departments and these were redressed on the spot.

Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, July 13: Refugee Sadar Sabha has expressed its serious concern over the silence adopted by the Union Government on the plight of PoJK and West PaK refugees.
In a statement issued here today, Kewal Krishan Sharma, Patron and Chairman of the Sadar Sabha said that the stoic silence adopted by present Union Government on refugees issue has hurt the sentiments of about 14 lakh refugees who had pinned high hopes in the present Government that it will fulfill its commitment and settle the 67 years refugees issue once for all.
Sharma, while reminding the Union Government led by BJP about the promises made by it during campaigning with the refugees, said that it seems that it too was exploiting these hapless people as no step was taken in the last two months by it to ameliorate the lot of these hapless people.
He said the Pradesh BJP leaders have also failed to take up the issue of refugees with their leadership at Delhi though they have made many claims in this regard during the recent past.
He said PM Narendra Modi will not ditch the hopes of refugees from West PaK and Pakistan occupied J&K. He stressed till the final package for one time settlement of refugees is announced the Union Government should announce reservation for their (refugees) wards in professional colleges in and outside State as well as special reservation in Government jobs to restore their confidence as 4 generations have perished in the hope of their settlement.
Sharma also took State Government to task for not submitting the draft package for refugees to center till date.
Sharma also said that refugees will not accept the one time settlement package if it will not be on the current family status as refugees has lost their 4 generations to get justice.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, July 13: With a view to listen the grievances and demands of the Safai Karamcharies, the members of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharies Gopal Krishan Sahotra and Vijay Kumar today chaired a joint meeting of Safai Karamcharies and administration at Katra.
The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer SMVDSB Dr. M. K. Bhandari, Superintendent Police Kulbir Singh, Dy CEO SMVDSB, DySP Katra, Executive Officer Municipal Committee Katra, District Social Welfare Officer Reasi, Rafiq Ahmed, Block Medical Officer Katra, Tehsildar Reasi, Officers of other line departments, various Safai Karamcharies and their representatives also attended the meeting.
Underlining the need for taking various measures to improve and upgrade the status of Safai Karamcharies in the society, the members said that the Commission has been constituted for promoting and safeguarding the interests and rights of the community and every possible steps will be taken by the Commission to implement  various welfare schemes for the Safai Karamcharies for their upliftment
During the meeting, the Commission was briefed about various programmes and measures being taken for the welfare of the employees in general and Safaikaramcharis in particular. Discussion was held regarding various issues and demands putforth by the Safai Karamcharies like minimum wages, promotions, more recruitment of Safai Karamcharies, improved accommodations, insurance cover, fast and hassle free recruitments under SRO 43 for those under Government jobs, providing of modern tools and equipments to Safai Karamcharies besides number of other issues came up for discussion during the meeting.
It was informed that the Shrine Board provides for requisite facilities for all the employees including Safai Karamcharies including their uniform, free accommodation, medical related facility, education for their children etc. On the issue of establishing separate colonies, the Commission directed the Executive officer, Municipal Committee to take immediate steps so that Safai Karamcharies could get colonies with modern facilities like crèches, recreational parks and other related facilities. The members of the Commission also desired that Safai Karamcharies get rain coats, masks, gumboots and other tools for their work, BMO Katra was also directed to organize free medical camps quarterly in the colonies of Safai Karamcharies.
They also stressed upon Social Welfare Department to organize awareness camps in these colonies to make them aware regarding various Government sponsored schemes meant for their benefit and welfare.

Excelsior Correspondent
BISHNAH, July 13: Former Minister and senior Congress leader Gulchain Singh Charak has alleged that people from   Bishnah and Arnia area are facing lot of problems due to water and power crisis.
Talking to media persons after concluding general body meeting of the Block Committee here today, Mr Charak said people in general from whole of the Jammu region and Bishnah constituency in particular are facing acute shortage of electricity because of the faulty  infrastructure/ transformers, rotten cables  and insufficient supply of electricity.  The public is suffering for want of drinking water, dilapidated condition of roads, lanes and drains.
The students of the area are also suffering due to non-availability of  building and other infrastructure for Degree College, Bishnah. There was shortage of ration at many depots and the consumers were suffering a lot. The farmers were deprived of adequate supply of irrigation water and their crop is being badly hit.
Mr Charak urged upon the Government to take immediate necessary steps for their redressal, otherwise people will be forced to come out on roads to lodge their protest against the concerned authorities. The Congress leader also demanded separate Secretariat for Jammu, after doing away with the old practice of moving the same after every 6 months to Srinagar and Jammu. He also warned the elements involved in the anti-party activities to shun their behavior and work for the welfare of the party in view of the coming elections.
Capt (Retd) Harshvardhan Sharma (BCC president),  Waryam Chand senior vice president, Madan Bhagat general secretary, Dr Raghubir Singh Sarpanch and Mehal Singh were also present.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 13: Apparently referring to NC-Congress Coalition Government of the State, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLC Yash Pal Sharma today said that State has been plunged into unprecedented crisis due to mis-handling of the situation by those who are at the helm of the affairs.
He pointed out that unprecedented power and water crisis in the whole State in general and Jammu province in particular was result of the failure on the part of present Government.
He said that situation in Jammu province has virtually turned out of control due to severe shortage of drinking water and worst ever power crisis during scorching heat.
Addressing a meeting of party workers, Sharma said that power infrastructure has completely collapsed in Jammu region and life of common people thrown out of gear due to the power crisis while the State Government instead of taking some steps to minimize miseries of the common masses is indulged into deceit tactics for cheap publicity.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 13: The delegation of the Consumers Welfare Association (CWA) led by its president Vikram Gour accompanied others members met the General Manager of BSNL and discussed problems arising out of poor signalling causing lot of inconvenience to mobile users, poor network of land line and mobile service including the broadband which has become a serious cause of anxiety for the customers.
The GM was apprised that during the last meeting with his predecessor CWA was assured that a  technical team would survey various locations pointed out by CWA for ascertaining the situation and based on their recommendation more BTS towers (whereever necessary) would be installed. But unfortunately nothing has been done so far.  It was requested to look into the matter urgently and provide relief to its customers.
The other problems discussed were ‘call dropping’ during running calls, unwanted and unnecessary commercial SMS and improving broad band system in respect of speed and connectivity.
While GM admitted that most of the problems of the users are genuine he assured that he would try to address the grievances.
Others in the delegation were  S K Gupta, vice president, B M Kohli, general  secretary,  R N Kaw,  Chander Udey Sharma,  Rajinder Kakkar and Chander Prakash.