Five more persons were arrested under the ESMA since Wednesday night as the all-union strike by the government employees and teachers in Kerala entered the ninth day on Thursday with no major improvement in attendance in offices and educational institutions across the state.
According to the police, 35 persons had so far been arrested under the ESMA and another 60 under other charges, even as unions and the government stuck to their unrelenting positions.
Universities and civic bodies continued to be hit by the strike, but in some towns temporary hands have been roped in for garbage removal under the auspices of residents' associations.
The police said no untoward incident had been reported on Thursday morning.
The employees are demanding restoration of perks curtailed as part of the cost-cutting measures initiated by the government in view of the financial crisis. Bureau Report