Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: One person allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at his residence Majalta, in district Udhampur.
Police spokesman said that a person identified as Yash, son of Paras Ram, resident of Majalta, district Udhampur, allegedly consumed some poisonous substance.
Noticing him unconscious, family members shifted him to District Hospital, Udhampur, from where he was later referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
“In the morning hours, he failed to respond to the treatment and died”, he said, adding, that the body was later handed over to legal heirs after postmortem.
The reason behind such extreme step could not be ascertained, while a case has been registered and investigations started.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Happy, son of Ramesh Singh of Jourian, made an abortive attempt on his life by consuming some poisonous substance at his home.
Family members shifted him to nearby hospital, from where he was later referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). He was responding to the treatment, when last reports came in.

Cong Ex-MLA protests at Hiranagar

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, June 19: Irate public staged protest demonstration against PHE authorities and blocked road at Gurha Dramani near Billawar and Sallan area Dyala Chak for several hours, disrupting movement of traffic today while former MLA from Congress held protest demonstration at Tehsil Headquarters Hiranagar against PHE and PDD authorities today.
Reports from Billawar said that a large number of villagers from Gurha Dramani and adjoining area came out on Jammu-Billawar road at around 8 am and raised barricades. They stopped the movement of traffic and started raising slogans against the PHE Minister, Chief Engineer, local minister and DC Kathua. The villagers alleged that for the last several weeks they were facing acute shortage of drinking water and the concerned PHE authorities failed to improve the situation.They alleged that no senior officer visits the area and due to lack of supervision the situation has turned grim. Even the alternate arrangement through tankers has not been made.
SHO Billawar Irfan Parvez along with some force reached the spot and tried to use force to clear the road and ensure traffic. As the cops used force they had some altercation with the agitating people. In between the SHO slapped one of the villagers. The cops even used force against women protesters. This led to strong protest by all and the villagers resorted to stone pelting. The cops then sensing trouble escaped from the spot. Later with the intervention of tehsil administration and PHE officers, the people lifted dharna around 11 am.
SSP Kathua Atul Goel said that he has ordered an inquiry into the matter. Additional SP Kathua will initiate the probe and submit report with in a week. The police has also registered an open FIR in this connection, he said. He denied the suspension of SHO but maintained that he will take such decision after probe.
Meanwhile, people of Sallan village blocked Dayala Chak-Billawar road for over five hours in protest against the PHE authorities today. Irate public even refused to listen to the Tehsildar, Hiranagar and SHO and warned the cops to stay away or ensure water supply. A large number of vehicles remained stranded on the road for hours together and the passengers had tough time in hot summer. Later, AEE Hiranagar Suraj Gupta reached the spot, the staff installed new motor at pumping station and the public lifted dharna.
The pumping station was not working for the last 4 days and the people were unable to get drinking water. The staff had assured to ensure supply by Monday but failed and the villagers went out for protest.
Former MLA from Congress Party, Girdhari Lal Chalotra, held protest demonstration at Tehsil Office, Hiranagar today along with party workers and his supporters. He alleged that people were suffering due to acute shortage of water and power supply during these hot summer days. The people were shouting slogans against the concerned authorities. They demanded that essential services be ensured to the public. After staging protest for about an hour they dispersed.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer PHE, Jammu B R Dogra said that due to low voltage and poor supply of power, the water supply has also been affected. He said a large number of motors at pumping stations are getting damaged due to low voltage and the staff of Mechanical wing is unable to repair immediately all the motors due to pending works. He said the matter has been taken up with the PDD authorities concerned.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: Baba Amarnath and Baba Budha Amarnath (BABA) Yatri Niyas today flagged off second batch of 11 trucks carrying langar materials.
The trucks were flagged off by Surinder Mohan Aggarwal, president, BABA Yatri Niyas, from Narwal By Pass.
Briefing media persons, Surinder Mohan Aggarwal, said after 9 trucks carrying langar materials from Jaipur, this is the second batch of 11 trucks from Delhi, which will create facilities for the pilgrimage of Amarnath Ji Yatra at Baltal and Pahalgam route.
Among others present were Dr Rama Kant Dubey, president, Vishaw Hindu Parishad, Pawan Kumar Jain, president, Shri Atmanand Jain Sabha, Ved Parkash Sharma, president, Dogra Pratinidhi Sabha, Mahaveer Parsad, president, Aggarwal Sabha, Sham Lal Langar, senior vice president, Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Karan Singh Charak, general secretary, BABA Yatri Niyas, etc.

Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, June 19: Facing acute water shortage in Gursai and adjoining area, the people in large number, including women and children came out on Mendhar-Suranakot road and held protest demonstration and dharna for about four hours today.
At around 7 am today, the people came out on the main Mendhar- Surankote road and raised barricades at Gursai. The mob including women and children along with their empty water pots sat on dharna on the road and started raising slogans against PHE authorities Mendhar, District Administration Poonch and the Minister concerned.
They alleged that water supply was not regular and adequate and moreover, the department has failed to provide tanker supply to the villagers during these hot summer days. They said local water sources have gone dry and people are unable to get water. The tankers are indulging in sale of water and pick and choose is being adopted. There was no proper check of the senior staff.
Later, SHO, Gursai and Naib Tehsildar concerned rushed to the area. They assured the people to take up the issue with concerned AEE and Xen for improving water supply position. The public then lifted dharna at around 11 am. The traffic remained stranded on the road for hours.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: A general meeting of Miran Sahib Traders Association was held today under the chairmanship of its president, Tejinder Singh, to constitute a committee in order to put forward the problems of the shopkeepers before the concerned authorities for redressal.
During the meeting, president of the Association constituted the committee and nominated Ashok Raina and Jeet Kumar Sharma as vice-presidents, Prakash Khajuria as general secretary, Narinder Sharma as advisor, Surjit Singh as joint advisor, Vijay Raina as organizer, Mohinder Sharma as joint secretary, Dr Arun Sharma as publicity secretary, Rakesh Sharma as cashier and Subhash as joint cashier.
Besides, the executive members were also nominated who included Gharu, Suraj Parkash, Ajeet Singh Kapoor, Yashpaul, Daleep, Deepak, Thoru Ram, Yashpal Khanna and Romy.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: High Court today stayed the order of Director CAPD whereby several employees have been deprived of the benefit of retrospective promotions granted to them vide Order No.87-CAPD of 2009 dated January 3, 2009.
After hearing Advocate S K Shukla appearing for the petitioners, Justice Mohd Yaqoob Mir issued notice to Commissioner Secretary CAPD and Director CAPD Jammu returnable within four weeks. In the meanwhile, Court directed that operation of order dated May 26, 2012 shall remain in abeyance.
In the petition filed by Nek Ram and 30 others employees of CAPD presently working as Junior Assistants, Salesman, Storekeepers and TSOs, it has been submitted that grave discrimination has been caused to the petitioners as compared to their counterparts of Kashmir division.
When the petitioners filed writ petition before the High Court in order to seek parity with their counter parts in Kashmir division, Director CAPD Jammu withdrew retrospective promotion granted to the petitioners by his predecessor in the year 2009 with effect from December 3, 1993 with the approval of Administrative Department.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 19: Inspector General of Railway Police, Abdul Qayoom Manhas reviewed security arrangements at Kakapora, Panzgam, Bijbehara, Sadoora , Budgama and Baramulla railway stations.
IGP traveled by train to Baramulla and paid a visit to GRP Police Stations. IGP also had a meeting with SHOs of GRP Police Posts and other senior officers of Railway. In the meeting , various security related loopholes were discussed and arrangements to cope up with the same were discussed.
SSP Railway, Bashir Ahmad Yatoo accompanied with the IGP railway.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu, Kartar Singh today extended the police remand of Zahoor Hussain Zargar, Chief Engineer Mechanical Engineering Department, Ranjan Kumar Langer, AEE Mechanical Engineering Department, foreigner Hanho Yoon alias Calvin Yoon of South Korea, MD of M/s CAS India Pvt Ltd Gurgaon, Anil Dhar DGM M/s CAS India Pvt Ltd up to June 22.
These accused persons were caught red-handed by the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) while accepting bribe of Rs 1.80 lakh.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 19: Police seized 120 bags of Government supply cement meant for public works at Achabal in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district during separate operations last evening.
A police spokesman said that acting on specific information, Achabal Police arrested two persons while transporting 60 bags of cement (Government supply) on a tractor bearing Ch. No 917515191870.
The spokesman said that during further investigation 60 more bags of cement were recovered from the house of one of the accused. Police has registered a case and further investigations have been initiated.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 19: The National Panthers Party launched Pahari Panthers Student Union during a meeting here last evening.
The meeting which was held under the chairmanship of party leader Prof Bhim Singh formally launched Pahari Panthers Student Union in presence of Pushvinder Singh Manhas Senior vice president Young Panthers, Ex-MLA Faqir Nath and general secretary Anita Thakur. A large number of students from the district attended the meeting and the first unit of Pahari students was launched.
A unanimous resolution was passed seeking ST status for the Pahari ethnic fraternity. It was also resolved to take the struggle to the logical conclusion.