Protest in front of MSEZ gate in Surathkal demanding jobs, outrage against GAIL India
Surathkal: A protest erupted on Monday morning near the MSEZ (Mangalore Special Economic Zone) gate, as aggrieved individuals who lost their land for JBF alleged that GAIL India, owned by MSEZ, has been denying them employment for a year.
The protesters, who were permanent employees of JBF for the last 8 years, claimed that despite the closure of JBF in 2020 due to financial difficulties and its acquisition by GAIL India in 2023, the company has been delaying in providing them with permanent employment. They stated that despite repeated attempts to contact the company, they have not received a proper response.
Seventy-five aggrieved employees blocked the road at the main gate of MSEZ to stage their protest.
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Several leaders, including Congress leader Pratibha Kulai, Shahul Hameed Bajpe, Congress Labor Organization’s Lawrence, Jokatte Gram Panchayat Member Lokesh Pujari, Bala Panchayat President Shankar Jogi, Member Soumya, Vijaya Kana, Raita Morcha President Rajesh, former member Adam, and Santosh Koreya, along with Shakti Kendra leaders, joined the protest.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
