Cracking the whip on striking employees, Uttarakhand government has dismissed 18 security personnel and probationers deployed at the state secretariat and Assembly premises.

However, undeterred by the government order issued yesterday, the employees have threatened to further intensify their agitation opposing reservation in promotion in government jobs.

Work at the secretariat, state Assembly and other government offices across Uttarakhand has been affected for over a week with employees agitating both for and against reservation to SCs and STs in government jobs.

The state government had ordered the striking employees to return to work by September 10 failing which their one day salary will be cut on "no work no pay" basis.

However, they remained on strike, prompting the government to issue another order setting them a deadline of September 11 to return to work or else they will be dismissed with immediate effect.

When contacted a spokesman of the striking employees said, "Our strike continues. These dismissals will further strengthen our stir."

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P), an ally of the Congress led government in the state, and Uttarakhand Andolankari Manch have come out in support of the stir adding to the problems of the state government which is trying hard to end the standoff.

Addressing the anti-quota agitationists at the Parade ground here, UKD(P) chief Trivendra Singh Panwar said opposition to reservation lay at the root of the movement for a separate Uttarakhand and reservation in promotion was not acceptable.

Throwing his weight behind the protesters, Uttarakhand Andolankari Manch leader Jabar Singh said people will boycott the Tehri Lok Sabha bypoll if their demand for end to quota in promotion was not conceded.

Protesting the dismissals, Uttarakhand Adhikari Karmachari Shikshak Sangharsh Morcha Convenor, S S Valdia, said such repressive measures would only add fuel to the fire and make the situation intractable in different districts.

With growing support for the agitation, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna's problems seem to be getting more complicated as he cannot afford to earn the ire of people and his colleagues ahead of the October 10 Tehri Lok Sabha bypoll.