Srinagar: Casual workers from multiple government departments in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir staged a protest at Press Enclave in Srinagar, demanding the regularisation of their services.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the local police intervened and detained several protesters, effectively disrupting the demonstration. The workers have expressed ongoing struggles due to a lack of regularisation and delayed salaries, issues they feel the government needs to address.

“We have been suffering in the absence of regularisation and salaries for years now. This is the time for the government to wake up to resolve our issues. No one wants to hit the streets on a daily basis but we have no option when we are not able to make ends meet and feed our families,” said a protester.

Last month, similar protests took place involving casual labourers from the IIOJK Wildlife Department. Demonstrators gathered outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, raising slogans to advocate for their demands for job security.

In another protest, residents in the Kathua area of the Jammu region voiced concerns over illegal mining in the Ravi and Ujh rivers. These activities, as stated in a memorandum submitted to the Additional Deputy Commissioner Kathua, are causing significant financial losses to the local exchequer.

Separately, a Rajput group organized a march in Jammu, demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The Yuva Rajput Sabha, led by president Vikram Singh, initiated a rally from the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi bridge, with police presence ensuring a peaceful demonstration. The group’s leader threatened to escalate the protest if the Indian government fails to fulfill its statehood promise.