Jammu, June 30: Family members of Joginder, a daily wager lineman with the Power Development Department (PDD), staged a protest outside the SDM office in Janipur on Tuesday, demanding justice following his death while on duty. The protest led to a temporary blockade of the road, affecting traffic in the area.
Joginder, a resident of Nardani, lost his life on Monday after falling from an electricity pole while attending to a power fault in the Janipur area. His body was brought to the protest site in an ambulance, where grieving family members, relatives and local residents gathered to pay their last respects and seek accountability.
The deceased’s wife, who had been married to Joginder for only two years, was inconsolable as the family demanded a fair investigation into the incident. Protesters urged the authorities to identify those responsible, ensure justice for the bereaved family and provide adequate financial assistance.
The family also raised concerns over the working conditions of daily wager employees in the power department, alleging that workers are often assigned hazardous duties without adequate safety arrangements. They called for stronger safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
A heavy police deployment was made at the protest site to maintain law and order. Officials held discussions with the agitating family members and attempted to pacify the protesters. However, the family maintained that their protest would continue until they received assurances of justice.
Traffic remained disrupted for some time outside the SDM office as the road was blocked during the demonstration. Police advised commuters to use alternate routes until the situation returned to normal.
It is pertinent to mention that Joginder was carrying out repair work on an electricity pole in Janipur on Monday when he fell. He was immediately shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Bakshi Nagar, where doctors declared him dead. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
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