Kashmir cracks down on striking employees

JAMMU - The Jammu and Kashmir government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the state Monday evening following the strike called by its employees demanding the release of arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission.

Over 450,000 employees have gone on strike, affecting all government-run institutions.

The government said the ESMA provisions were being invoked with immediate effect and it would mean, ‘No work, no pay’.