Jammu/Srinagar: Work at government offices in Jammu and Kashmir was paralysed on Tuesday as hundreds of employees hit the streets across the state in support of a host of demands, including enhancement of their retirement age from 58 to 60 years and removal of pay anamolies.
Under the aegis of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of employees, the agitatators held protest demonstrations at various district headquarters in the region.
"Close to 4.50 lakh state employees across Jammu and Kashmir took part in the strike and it was supported by several associations, federations and government departments, PSUs and corporations," Ram Kumar Sharma, a senior leader of JCC, told reporters in Jammu.
Describing the strike as "successful", Sharma said it was "an ultimatum" to the government to act on their demands.
He said the employees would go on another strike on May 8 and 9 in protest against the government`s "failure" to fulfill their demands.
"The demands should be immediately implemented as the government had agreed to fullfil them by March 31 this year," Sharma said.
Government employees also held protests in the state`s summer capital Srinagar, demanding enhancement of retirement age, release of 7 per cent Dearness allowance installment and regularisation of daily wagers, among others.
Led by Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), over a hundred government employees assembled at Exhibition crossing in Srinagar and tried to march towards the Civil Secretariat, but were stopped by police, who asked them to disperse peacefully, officials said.
The protesters, however, refused to pay heed and continued to march, forcing police to resort to lathicharge and use water cannons against them.
At least, 20 EJAC members, including president of one of its factions, Khursheed Alam, were detained, officials said.
There were no reports of anyone being injured in the police action, they said.
PTI
