Indigo crisis: Turbulence hits dreams of Gulf job aspirants in M’luru; interviews shifted to Mumbai
Mangaluru: The Indigo chaos has throwed several gulf job aspirants from the city into a tailspin. Sources close to VB have also confirmed that the interviews scheduled where shifted to Mumbai, at the last minute.
Indigo runs highest number of services from Mangaluru airport, connecting various parts of the country to the maximum extent, and major gulf nations, direct or connecting. Meanwhile, after wider cancellations across the country, several aircrafts are stranded at airports across the country.
Official sources confirmed that eight IndiGo flights have been cancelled daily at Mangaluru airport between December 8 and 11.
ALSO READ: Govt to take strict action against IndiGo to 'set example'; airline adds flights after disruptions
The coastal region has seen a surge in the number of people heading to Gulf countries in search of employment, often through agencies that offer relatively low-paying placements. When rare opportunities for better-paying jobs arise, job seekers depend heavily on timely interviews.
However, due to IndiGo flight cancellations, several agencies have been forced to shift interview venues from Mangaluru to Mumbai, giving candidates just two days’ notice.
“It’s difficult to attend interviews in such a situation,” said Imran, a job aspirant from Thumbay. “Flight tickets are too expensive now, and even train and bus tickets are hard to get,” he told Vartha Bharathi.
Another aspirant Faizal echoed the same, he said, “It has been a week since the flight chaos started. If agencies change the interview location now, how are we supposed to travel? This is a precarious situation.”
Meanwhile, Recruiters are also bearing the brunt. Galiana of Suhana Travels, Mangaluru, said, “One of our managers attended an interview in Delhi three days ago. The next day, he had another scheduled in Mumbai. But when he reached the airport, the flight was cancelled. He had to take a train at the last minute and somehow made it.”
Sources also said that the disruptions have caused poor turnout at interviews, forcing some agencies to cancel or reschedule sessions.
A staffer from As Max Travel Agency, located near the State Bank of India in Mangaluru, said an interview planned for December 9 had to be altered after the Gulf company representative, who had booked an IndiGo flight, could not travel due to cancellations.
“We informed shortlisted candidates at the last minute to come to Mumbai instead. But many said they would not be able to make the trip,” the staffer said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Cross-border narcotics network busted in Jammu; most-wanted drug lord arrested
Jammu, Apr 15 (PTI): The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday said a major narcotics network with interstate and cross-border links was busted with the arrest of most-wanted drug kingpin Gulzar Ahmad alias Lau Gujjar along with several of his associates.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Jammu) Joginder Singh said Gujjar had been supplying narcotics in bulk quantities across the region, and evading capture for more than two decades, terming his arrest a major breakthrough.
"He was a hardcore criminal and a key figure in the drug supply chain. His network has now been fully identified and dismantled," the SSP told reporters here.
He said Gujjar entered the criminal world as a bovine smuggler in 2006 before launching himself into drug trade around 2016, and scaling up operations by 2019.
ALSO READ: Stand-up comedian Anudeep Katikala held in Prayagraj for joke on AP DCM Pawan Kalyan
A Pakistan-made pistol was recovered from his possession at the time of his arrest on April 4, the SSP said, adding that three of his associated were also arrested and more than 700 grams of heroin was seized.
Interrogation of around 10 more suspects linked to the network is underway, while around two dozen other suspects have been identified and are under surveillance, he said.
SSP Singh said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a superintendent of police rank officer has been constituted to probe the case, who would examine forward and backward linkages of the network including financial trails and assets created through illicit trade.
The police are trying to ascertain the source and the routes through which these illicit supplies entered India -- whether through Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir or through other border areas, he said.
Singh said the weapon recovered from the accused drug lord indicates a Pakistan link. "We are investigating that aspect as well, pointing towards broader narco-terror angle."
ALSO READ: Police inspector suspended in UP's Ballia for making 'obscene' remarks against rape survivor
The SSP said Gujjar was wanted in at least 28 cases in Jammu district alone and dozens of FIRs are registered against him in other states under different identities.
Highlighting the crackdown against drug syndicates, he said police have so far registered 103 cases related to drug peddling in Jammu district this year.
Out of these, nine cases involve commercial quantities of contraband.
Nearly 11 kg of heroin has been seized, along with poppy husk, ganja, controlled medication capsules, and other such contraband, he said, adding around 20 driving licences have been cancelled, and nearly 200 vehicles linked to drug activities have been blacklisted.
