S P O T L I G H T

ESMA likely to be enforced
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, Dec 12 — The invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) appears imminent against the six lakh striking postal employees with the Union Cabinet today authorising the Union Communication Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, to take “appropriate” steps. Briefing newspersons after the Cabinet meeting, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, said the Union Communication Minister briefed the Council of Ministers about the on-going strike.

9 Bodos die in clash
GUWAHATI, Dec 12 (UNI) — At least nine Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) activists were killed in a fierce clash with the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) at Rangdhara village in Barpeta district yesterday, the police said today. 

Teachers’ strike
NEW DELHI, Dec 12 (UNI) — University and college teachers observed a one-day countrywide strike today in protest against the withdrawal and non-implementation of the notification by the Ministry for Human Resource Development and the University Grants Commission relating to the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and proposed moves for commercialisation of higher education.