M A I N   N E W S

Darbar opens amidst tight security

Srinagar, May 8
The darbar move offices, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah’s Secretariat, reopened here today amid unprecedented security arrangements and total shut down by traders.

The offices were closed in the state’s winter capital Jammu on the last working day of last month.

Heavy security arrangements have been made in and around the Secretariat, to ward off any militant attack.

Officials, including residents of Jammu and Kashmiri migrants, staying in different security zone areas, were taken to the Secretariat in guarded buses.

Border Security Force and other paramilitary and state police personnel wearing bullet proof jackets were seen deployed on both sides of the road, leading to the Secretariat, to prevent any untoward incident.

Since the start of militancy in late 1989, militant organisations have been attempting to target the seat of the government with rockets, grenades and other weapons. At least two persons were killed and several others injured in the last rocket and grenade attacks on the Secretariat. UNI

Balco strike called off

Raipur, May 8
Capping months of uncertainties over the biggest privatisation deal, workers of Balco tonight withdrew their 67-day-old strike following an accord with the company’s new management Sterlite Industries on their 25-point of demands.

The decision to end the strike, called to protest the sale of 51 per cent of government equity in Balco, was taken after seven hours of hard negotiations between leaders of seven trade unions of Balco workers and representatives of the management in Korba, District Collector K.D.P. Rao told reporters. 

The meeting reached “general consensus” on 24 of the 25 demands put forward by the unions, including the key issue of salary for strikers during the period of the stir, he said.

Rao said both the sides failed to agree on the issue of payment of salary to workers during the strike but decided to abide by the Supreme Court order on the issue.

The payment of two months wage either as salary or advance would be decided by the apex court, Rao said.

Except this, there was general consensus between the two sides on rest of the 24 demands and the strike was called off at 10 pm, he said. PTI