Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid detained for protesting outside J&K Civil Secretariat

Srinagar: Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid was today detained along with several of his supporters after he tried to stage a demonstration outside Civil Secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government against the termination of 12 government employees last week.

Rashid and his supporters assembled at Jehangir Chowk this morning and started marching towards the nearby Secretariat building but were stopped by police, officials said.

The legislator tried to march ahead but was detained along with over a dozen supporters, they said.

On October 20, Jammu and Kashmir government announced the termination of services of 12 employees for allegedly indulging in anti-national activities after dossiers were prepared against them.

The employees, who were dismissed from government service, belong to various departments including Revenue, Public Health Engineering, Rural Development and Education, a senior government official had said.

Rashid denounced the government action and announced a sit-in outside civil secretariat to press for his demand for reinstating the terminated employees.