Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: At least 80 PHE workers protesting outside the office of Chief Engineer at BC Road were today arrested by police while the ongoing strike of the workers entered 43rd consecutive day today.
The Jal Shakti/PHE workers are on strike are demanding release of their pending wages and regularization of their services. Today again, a large number of PHE workers from various PHE Divisions and Sub Divisions assembled outside the office of Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, at BC Road, in the morning at around 10.30 am and started protest demonstration under the banner of PHE Employees United Front and held strong protest demonstration.
They were shouting slogans in support of their demands and also against LG’s Administration, BJP and other higher authorities in the J&K UT. Many of them were carrying banners and placards in their hands depicting slogans. As they were protesting in the PHE complex , a strong contingent of police arrived there and opened the gate. The police tried to arrest some union leaders from the spot. There was minor scuffle between the cops and workers.
Agitated over police action a large number of workers came out on the road. The police men then arrested many workers, packed them in buses and shifted to District police Lines. Gandhinagar.
A spokesman of the United Front said that at least 80 workers including some leaders were arrested by police. They were however, released in the evening.
The employees representatives including Ravi Hans, Hoshiar Singh, Navdeep Singh, Rajinder Singh Taj, Mohan Lal Sharma and others said that they were protesting peacefully inside PHE complex. Then police men along with some senior officers arrived there and they started dragging some of the leaders outside and pack them in the police bus. During this the workers clashed with police but the cops dragged many of them and pushed inside the buses and arrested. They alleged that about hundred workers were today detained.
They said the strike has been extended and they will continue their strike for the next 72 hours. The daily rated and consolidated workers of the PHE/ Jal Shakti Department are on strike since June 22, 2022. These workers are demanding regularization, enhancement of Minimum Wages as per Central norms in J&K UT and release of pending wages of 70 months of PHE workers.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
