Govt employees attempt to gherao Civil Secretariat,foiled

Several employees’ unions,including Employees Joint Action Committee,had called for the gherao of the civil secretariat today as part their two-day strike to press government to fulfil their demands.

The two-day strike,which affected work in most government offices,was aimed to demand an increase in the retirement age of employees from 58 to 60 years and release of arrears on account of sixth pay commission.

A big contingent of employees marched towards the civil secretariat,which began from CAPD office at Shaheed Gunj,was intercepted by a large posse of police personnel midway and sprayed with coloured water.

Scores of employees,including several union leaders,were detained and bundled into armoured police vehicles which were driven to adjoining police stations.

A clash also took place between police and protesting employees near Jehangir Chowk.

Earlier,addressing a gathering of employees in the CAPD office compound,union leader Khurshid Alam warned government that it will face “downfall” if their demands were not met.

“We form 32 per cent of the votes,if our demands are not met,then this government will face a downfall,” Alam,who was later detained while leading a march,said.

He warned the Chief Minister to refrain from listening to his advisers,who Alam said,were pushing “the government and the ruling party to chaos”.