Striking PHE workers detained in Jammu

Scores of striking Public Health Engineering (PHE) workers were detained Saturday after they started "Jail Bharo" protest to press for their demands, including release of pending wages and regularisation of their services, officials said.

Hundreds of PHE daily wagers including ITI trained and need based workers assembled at the exhibition ground in the heart of the city and staged a protest demonstration to highlight their demands, the officials said.

Nearly 50 workers were detained by police shortly after they came out on the main road, they said.

The workers are on strike in support of their demands since September 7 and have threatened to intensify their agitation after September 20.

"We have been working in the department for the past nearly two decades but got only assurances. We will continue the 'Jail Bharo' agitation in different district headquarters till September 20," a spokesman of the workers said.

He said the workers have decided to intensify the agitation after September 20 if the government fails to address their issues.