IN PHOTOS: Govt employees' strike in J&K turns ugly

Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday detained scores of employees to foil their plan to 'gherao' the civil secretariat to press their demands which includes raising their retirement age from 58 to 60.

Wednesday was the second day of the employees' two-day strike which has crippled the government offices and educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.

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The leaders of the joint consultative committee which is spearheading the strike has, however, exempted essential services from the strike.

The employees say the strike was triggered by non-implementation by the government of the agreement signed by the representatives of the government and employees last year.

Thousands of employees gathered at various points in capital Srinagar and tried to march towards the civil secretariat to 'gherao' it.

The marches were, however, foiled by the police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force troopers who used baton charges and coloured water canons to break up the marches.

Scores of employees were detained and lodged in various police stations.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that despite huge financial constraints his government has enhanced salaries of government employees from Rs 6000 crore in 2008 to Rs 11,500 crore at present.

"In addition to this Rs 450 crores of arrears and additional DA installments have already been provided to the government employees", he added, questioning the rationale behind the protests of employees.

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