Tollgate employees’ flash protest
Vehicles are moving without paying toll charges at Hejmadi, Sastana
Padubidre: Tollgate employees are staging flash protests pressing their various demands at Hejamadi and Sastana on National Highway 16 since this morning. Consequently, vehicles are moving without paying the toll fees at both the tollgates.
The primary demand of the toll booth employees is to get a confirmation letter about their employment.
Earlier, a company called Feedback had obtained the contract of the Hejamadi and Sastana tollgates. But recently a new company Markline has got the contract. The new contracting company has allegedly not issued the confirmation letter to the employees. Due to which the tollgate employees are on strike since 8 am today demanding the new company to give the confirmation letter on the employment immediately.
Meanwhile; at Hejmadi Tollgate, the new company dismissed an employee Shivu, a local resident. Now, the protestors are demanding to retain Shivu.
About 80 employees participated in the strike at Hejamadi.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
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.
