Srinagar, Oct 1 (IANS): Leaders of government employees in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday courted arrest here in support of their demands, including raising the retirement age from 58 to 60.

Abdul Qayoom Wani, president of the state government employees joint consultation committee, told IANS that more than 30 leaders courted arrest outside the civil secretariat.

"The leaders reached the secretariat despite a police crackdown on our leaders at night," he said.

"Ours is not an underground movement. We are demanding the implementation of our genuine demands, already agreed to by the government in 2003."

He said government employees will stay away from work Oct 4-5.

The demands include regularization of those on daily wages, payment of pending wages to about 40,000 "daily wagers", removal of salary anomalies, and raising the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.

The government has said the principle of 'no work, no pay' would be invoked against the striking employees.