Thirteen striking government employees were taken into custody at Srinagar on Saturday when they held a demonstration in support of their demands and clashed with police which used batons and water cannons to stop them.
The President of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) Khurshid Alam along with 12 others tried to march towards Lal Chowk in the heart of the city but police tried to prevent them from proceeding resulting in clashes between the two sides, police said.
Police used batons on the striking employees but they managed to reach Regal Chowk where Alam and 12 of his associates were taken into custody.
Undeterred by the police action, the striking employees reappeared at Jehangir chowk and proceeded towards Lal Chowk where police used water canons to disperse them, police said.
They said clashes between employees and law enforcing agencies were continuing when last reports came in.
About 4.5 lakh State government and PSU employees are on strike from April 3 and have extended their stir till April 13 demanding arrears of sixth pay commission and raising of retirement age from 58 years to 60 years.
