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Raj Bhavan march of govt employees foiled: Scores detained, injured in lathi-charge

SYED YASIR. Dated: 6/23/2013 12:25:26 AM

SRINAGAR, June 22: Police today foiled a protest march by state government employees towards Raj Bhawan here by resorting to lathi charge and using water cannons.
Work in the government offices and other public sector undertakings across Jammu and Kashmir was affected as the employees observed pen-down strike for second consecutive day today.
During today’s protest march, number of employees got injured and scores of them were arrested as they tried to march towards Raj Bhavan from the Sher-i-Kashmir Park. The employees’ leaders Muntazir Mohidin, Abdul Qayoom Wani, Farooq Ahmad Trali and other were arrested.
A heavy contingent of police stopped the employees and bundled the leaders and other agitating employees into police vehicles. They were lodged in Kothibagh and Ram Munshi Bagh police stations of the city.
Police also resorted to lathi-charge and used water canons to disperse the agitating employees. The employees tried to reassemble and take forward the march but police, wearing riot gear and carrying batons, chased them away.
The ding dong battle started between employees and state police when large number of employees, who had assembled at Sher-i-Kashmir Park and were intending to proceed towards Raj Bhavan.
The agitated employees showed stiff resistance and crossed the temporary barrier erected by police outside the park. The employees were again intercepted by police. The cops resorted to lathi charge and used water cannons to disperse the employees. In the police action number of the employed again got injured and dozens of them were again detained.
The employees’ leader, Abdul Qayoom Wani condemned the police action. He termed protest programme genuine and maintained that the agreement signed by them and state government over implementation of the 6th pay commission was violated by government.
The employees leaders alleged that government dithering on the release of arrears has put poor employees in dire economic straits in times of high inflation.
The employees are demanding the 6th pay commission arrears in cash, regularization of daily wage workers, contractual workers, removal of the pay anomalies of the clerical staff, in cash payment to the retired employees and early settlement of their other arrears and enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years.