SRINAGAR : Security forces today foiled Secretariat Gehrao by the sacked employees of local bodies of world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and health resort of Pahalgam.
More than two dozen people were taken into preventive custody and about 20 were injured when security forces resorted to lathicharge to disperse the employees when they were proceeding towards the secretariat, seat of the government in the summer capital, Srinagar.
Hundreds of local body employees of Gulmarg and Pahalgam gathered at Mushtaq Press Enclave near here, raising slogans in favour of their demands.
They alleged that their services were terminated after the Muncipal Committees of Gulmarg and Pahalgam were abolished by the respective development authorities. The employees said they were also not paid their salaries for the past about six months.
”We were terminated from service without any notice or information,” they said adding that they were working for more than seven to ten years in these committees.
The employees later marched in a procession towards civil secretariat. However, security forces and state police personnel stopped them at Budshah bridge. But when the employees continued their march, security forces resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.
Pahalgam MC president said more than two dozen were arrested and about 20 were injured in the lathicharge. He threatened to intensify their agitation if they were not re-engaged again. (AGENCIES)