Udupi, May 22: Members of the All India Gramin Dak Sevak Union and its Udupi branch began their indefinite strike in front of the Udupi general post office here on Tuesday, demanding implementation of Kamalesh Chandra Committee recommendations.

All India Gramin Dak Sevak Union president Basava Billava said that even after one year of implementing the recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission for central government employees, the Grameen Dak Sevaks were deprived of that benefit. Within eight months of the Commission’s recommendation, the government has implemented it for 48 lakh central government employees and the same number of pensioners. In order to revise the pay scale of 2.42 lakh Grameen Dak Sevaks, the central government has constituted the Kamalesh Chandra Commission which had submitted its report in 2016. They have prevailed upon Lok Sabha Members like Shobha Karandlaje, Yeddyurappa and BJP national president Amit Shah to prevail upon the government to implement the recommendation. But nothing was happened, he said.

National Postal Employees Association Group-C divisional secretary Suresh K said that except a few MPs of North India, no Lok Sabha Member from the South have supported their cause. But they could increase their salaries and other benefits within no time, he said.

201 post offices closed

As part of their indefinite strike, total 201 rural post offices were remained closed in the district. In 201 rural post offices, total 525 Grameen Dak Sevaks have been working and they would not attend their duties till their demand is fulfilled, he said.

All India Gramin Dak Sevak Union divisional secretary K Santosh Madhyastha, National Rural Dak Sevaks Association divisional secretary Ashwath Kumar, deputy secretary B Suresh Sherigar, vice president Shanker Shetty, assistant secretary Praveen Jattan, All India Postal Employees Association Postman and MTS unit state president Vijay Nari, district president Vasudev Thottam and others were present.

 

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Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.

The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.

The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.

Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.

Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.

“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.

It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.

“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”

“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”

Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.

State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.

Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.