No break-through, SRTC strike continues in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 14 (UNI) As the authorities failed to achieve any breakthrough to end the indefinite strike by the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees, transport minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen held a meeting for providing better transport facilities to people.

An official spokesman said with a view to ensure better transport facility particularly to the devotees in connection with Eid-i-Milad-u-Nabi, birthday of Prophet Muhammad, Mr Hakeem chaired a high level meeting, which was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Mehboob Iqbal and other senior police and civil officials.

The meeting was informed that adequate transport arrangements are being made for carrying the devotees to Hazratbal shrine, housing the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad.

It was also decided that more private buses would be pressed into service in remote areas of the valley and for ferrying school-going children to schools.

Hundreds of SRTC buses often ply from different parts of the valley to the shrine during the Milad celebrations.

Official sources said the SRTC employees continued their indefinite strike in support of their demands.

Yesterday, authorities operated some SRTC buses with the help of drivers from police department, leading to clash between striking employees and police drivers.

Officials said four police drivers were injured after they were attacked by striking employees in the city.

Later, eight SRTC employees were arrested and cases registered against them.

The striking employees alleged that government diluted the agreement reached between them and the transport minister at Jammu recently.

Among other things, they are demanding release of wages for the past five months, cola and other allowances.

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