30 employees injured, scores arrested by police in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 16 (UNI) At least 30 employees of different government departments were injured today when police resorted to lathicharge near the Exhibition crossing to prevent them from proceeding towards civil secretariat here.

Police also arrested scores of employees who had stopped work in their respective offices and joined the strike called by Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC) headed by Abdul Qayoum Wani in support of their demands.

The JAC is demanding regularisation of daily wagers working in different government departments for the past 10 to 20 years, interim relief and dearness allowance to employees.

A spokesman of the JAC told UNI work in all the 35 departments was affected.

As the employees were heading to civil secretariat in a procession, police swung into action and stopped them near the Exhibition crossing.

However, when the employees remained adament on meeting the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and his cabinet colleagues, police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.

The employees made repeated attempts to break the police cordon.

However, a large number of police personnel deployed in the area, foiled their attempt.

A UNI correspondent, who was also on the spot, saw scores of employees being arrested and taken to police station.

Traffic on airport and civil secretariat road was also affected due to the incident.

UNI