Karnataka govt raises salaries of employees of power companies, transport corporations
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said the government has decided to hike the salaries of employees of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and the Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) in the state by 20 per cent.
He also said the employees of transport corporations will also get a raise of 15 per cent in their salaries.
The decision, which comes weeks before assembly elections are to be announced, was made after several rounds of talks between the government and employees of KPTCL and ESCOMs, and transport corporations on the demand for wage revision.
"KPTCL and ESCOMs employees had demanded wage revision, our minister (Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar) and employees had held discussions for two to three days, following which we have come to a decision. I have agreed for 20 per cent wage revision, and orders will be issued in this regard," Bommai said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said: "Also, transport department employees have been demanding a wage hike, stating that it has not happened for the last couple of years. After two to three rounds of discussion with Transport Minister B Sriramulu and officers, I have decided to revise their pay making a 15 per cent increase. Orders will be issued on this too."
According to officials, the hike in salaries will come into effect from April 1.
Employees of KPTCL and ESCOMs had withdrawn the protest call for Thursday following a discussion with the Chief Minister on Wednesday night.
The Joint Action Committee of RTC (Road Transport Corporations) Trade Unions had earlier called an indefinite strike from March 21, demanding an increase in wages along with other demands.
Assembly elections in Karnataka are due by May.
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3 Indians arrested in Canada for shooting outside home
Ottawa (PTI): Three Indian nationals have been arrested by Canadian police on an anti-extortion patrol and charged after bullets were fired at a home.
Harjot Singh (21), Taranveer Singh (19) and Dayajeet Singh Billing (21) face one count each of discharging a firearm, and all have been remanded in custody until Thursday, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said in a statement on Monday.
The suspects were arrested by patrol officers after an early morning report of shots fired and a small fire outside a home in Surrey's Crescent Beach neighbourhood, the LakelandToday reported.
On February 1, 2026, the SPS members were patrolling in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood when reports came in of shots being fired and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street.
The three accused were arrested by SPS officers a short time later, the statement said.
SPS’s Major Crime Section took over the investigation, and the three men have now been charged with Criminal Code offences, it said.
All three have been charged with one count each of discharging a firearm into a place contrary to section 244.2(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. All three have been remanded in custody until February 5, 2026.
The SPS has confirmed they are all foreign nationals and has engaged the Canada Border Services Agency, it said.
One of the suspects suffered injuries, including two black eyes, the media report said.
Surrey police Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said on Monday that the suspect had refused to comply with instructions to get out of the ride-share vehicle and started to "actively resist."
"As we were trained, he was taken to the ground and safely handcuffed," said Houghton.
A second suspect with a black eye was also injured in the arrest after refusing to comply, Houghton said.
The arresting officers were part of Project Assurance, an initiative that patrols neighbourhoods that have been targeted by extortion violence.
Houghton said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is also involved because the men are foreign nationals, and the trio may face additional charges.
It's not clear if the men are in the country on tourist visas, a study permit, or a work permit, but Houghton said CBSA has started its own investigation into the men's status.
Surrey has seen a number of shootings at homes and businesses over the last several months, but there's been an escalation since the new year.
