Teachers hold protest in Srinagar, detained by police

Dozens of government employees were today detained here as police foiled their protest march towards the official residence of Governor N N Vohra in support of their demands including implementation of the seventh pay commission recommendations.

Hundreds of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers assembled at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park here in the summer capital of the state and started marching towards Raj Bhavan in Gupkar area of the city, a police official said.

He said the protesting employees were demanding implementation of the seventh pay commission recommendations and de-linking of their salaries from the Union Ministry of Human Resources and Development funding.

A large contingent of police was deployed to stop the march and the protesting teachers were asked to disperse, the official said.

However, he said, as they continued the march, the police swung into action and used coloured water canons and batons to disperse them.

Police also took dozens of teachers into custody, the official said.