VARUN SUTHRA
Jammu, Nov 9: Amid unprecedented presence of police and paramilitary men outside all the educational institutions- which were closed officially on Wednesday– at least 50 student leaders were arrested for staging anti-recruitment policy protest in Jammu – the winter capital of the state.
 The district administration had announced closure of all the educational institutions in view of the growing resentment against new job policy- which slashes the salaries of new recruits to government jobs by 50 percent - and protest programme chalked out by various student organizations on the first day of opening of annual Durbar, here.
 Eyewitnesses said that police foiled ABVP protest march against the new recruitment policy and detained at least 50 activists while they were heading towards the Civil Secretariat Wednesday morning.
 As per details, ABVP activists lead by Rakesh Sharma, Mahanagar Adhyaksh and Varsha, Joint Secretary assembled near Raghunath Mandir and started marching towards the secretariat.
 However, police intercepted and arrested them when they were approaching the main gate of the Civil Secretariat. 'They violated the restrictions placed around the secretariat,' said a police official.
 Youth in Jammu are protesting the new recruitment policy announced by the state government in October, which slashes 50 percent salary of new employees in government jobs for two years and 25 percent for the next three years. Their confirmation in service would be done only after five years, the policy envisages.
 Official sources said that male students were detained and kept at District Police Lines whereas the women activists were lodged at Women Cell, Canal Road. However they were released at 4:15 pm.
 Meanwhile, police also detained about 21 activists of Youth Of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh who had assembled near Shalimar Chowk to stage black flag march against the new policy.
 Later, addressing newsmen, Suresh Ajay Magotra, chairman JKYL said, “Tomorrow we are going to organize a general body meeting to discuss the situation and to announce further course of action against this anti youth policy of the government”, said Magotra.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST