Jammu: PHE workers clash with police as protest march to Raj Bhawan stopped midway

Thousands of workers of Jammu and Kashmir's public health engineering (PHE) department clashed with police on Wednesday as their march to Raj Bhawan here to demand pending wages was stopped midway.

The workers, including casual labourers and daily wagers, began the march from the chief engineer's office.

A large contingent of police had closed the route at BC road and did not allow the protesters to proceed towards Raj Bhawan, triggering a clash between the demonstrators and police personnel, officials said.

The PHE workers continued to protest at the spot for over two hours, raising anti-administration slogans and resulting in a road blockade, they said.

A leader of the protesters said, "We urge Lieutenant Governor G S Murmu to look into the issues pertaining to regularisation (of our jobs) and release of wages to daily rated workers."