Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 27: The police today foiled the protest march of clerical cadre employees from various districts to the Civil Secretariat and arrested at least 40 employees and their leaders near Lal Chowk here.
As already decided by both the factions of Jammu Kashmir Ladakh All Departments Clerical Staff Associations and supported by many organizations, the employees from various districts of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir regions today assembled at Partap Park and held strong protest demonstration against the State Government. They were demanding removal of pay anomalies. They also raised loud slogans in support of their demands.
The employees from various Government Departments from Jammu, Rajouri, Udhampur, Doda, Reasi, Ramban, Kishtwar, Poonch, Anatnag, Baramulla, Handwara, Pulwama, Kupwara etc had already reached Srinagar. Several employees leaders also addressed massive gathering and projected their issues including removal of pay anomalies, release of 10 % DA, increase Medical Allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 per month, framing of policy for regularization of daily rated/ consolidated workers. They alleged that despite framing of committee for the purpose, the Government has back tracked and not honoured its commitment.
After staging protest for about an hour, the employees carrying banner and placards started protest march towards Civil Secretariat. As they hardly reached near Lal Chowk, a strong contingent of Police was already there. The police intercepted the agitating employees and using mild- lathicharge, foiled their protest march. The employees showed some resistance but police cane charged the employees and packed about 40 of them in vehicles and lodged in Kothibagh Police Station. They were released in the evening.
Some of the employees leaders arrested by police included Javed Ahmed Akhoon, Ravi Singh Bhau, Babu Hussain Malik, Sewa Ram Rathore, Surinder Mehta, Balbir Singh, Raj Mohammed, Vishav Bandhu, Mohd Iqbal, Pawnesh Kumar, Tanveer Hussain and Kabhi Raj.
Meanwhile, Jammu unit of Clerical Employees Association members including Anil Mehta, Ravi Kumar, Sukhbir Singh, Ravinder Singh, Bashir Malik, Yash Paul and others condemned the police for using force on peacefully agitating employees at Lal Chowk in Srinagar and also their detention.. They alleged that Government was trying to gag the voice of clerical cadre employees.
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