LAHORE: About 400 temporary clerks of the North-Western Railway Accounts Office are on strike since Saturday last demanding 100 per cent increase in their pay.

The strike situation took a serious turn today [July 31] when the Railway authorities summoned the aid of the police following the refusal of the strikers to resume duty or to disperse and leave the Railway premises. The police are reported to have forcibly dispersed the strikers.

The temporary clerks are at present getting a pay of Rs. 40 plus allowances totaling Rs. 22. In a representation submitted to the General Manager some time ago they demanded that their salaries should be raised to Rs. 80 and a similar amount given as dearness allowance. These demands were considered as “extravagant” by the General Manager whereupon about 400 temporary clerks went on strike on Saturday.

[Meanwhile,] a young woman hailing from the interior of Almora district has given birth to what is described as a “three headed monster” according to a report received here. Long queues of inquisitive men and women are waiting outside the woman’s residence to have a glimpse of the new arrival which has aroused keen interest in the adjacent villages. (Dawn, Delhi)

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014