Srinagar, Jul 18 (IANS): Police used batons and water cannon to disperse hundreds of Jammu and Kashmir government employees who were holding a rally to press for various demands here Monday.

Scores of striking government employees marched towards the civil secretariat, which houses the offices of the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats, but were prevented by the police. Some employees were also arrested.

"About two dozen of our colleagues have been injured in the police action," a striking employee said.

The employees were stopped at Jahangir Chowk in the city, barely 100 metres from civil secretariat.

The striking employees are demanding release of arrears as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from the present 58 to 60, regularisation of daily wagers and enhancement in wages of Anganwari workers.

A government official said here that the work in the civil secretariat was not affected by the strike.

Attendance was, however, very thin in all other government offices in Srinagar city.

There are over two lakh government employees in the state but it is not clear as yet how many went on strike.