Srinagar: Scores of Military Engineer Services (MES) contractors from different parts of Kashmir valley on Wednesday protested in the summer capital, Srinagar, demanding release of funds pending from last three years.

Urging Governor Satya Pal Malik and Defence Ministry to intervene and mitigate their problems, the protesting contractors threatened to hold protests in front of Parliament in New Delhi.

Holding placards and banners, which read, ‘Release our due payments’, ‘Extend time on contracts’, ‘Stop harassment at entry gates’, besides other slogans, scores of MES contractors hit the streets in front of Chief Engineer Srinagar Zone office in Badami Bagh cantonment area in Srinagar. 

‘The contractors are suffering and most of them have lost credibility as they do not have money to pay from the raw material due to non-payment of funds by MES department,’ MES Building Association of India, Srinagar Branch, chairman Mohammad Afzal Wani told reporters during the protest.

He said MES contractors across Kashmir valley have suspended work on Wednesday as protest, except the services provided to Army hospitals. 

Threatening to go on an indefinite strike if the dues were not cleared before Eid, he said all the contractors will hold a protest outside Parliament.

The protesting contractors urged the Governor and Defence Ministry to intervene into the matter so that their sufferings due to non-payment could be mitigated.