Chennai: The Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Employees Organsiation and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTEO-GEO) on November 1 claimed that over 10,000 government employees courted arrest across the state in support of their demands including bonus even as the strike entered the 10th day on November 1.

Over 1000 employees courted arrest in Chennai by attempting to picket the government offices as part of their agitation programme demanding among other things revival of leave surrender facility, the JACTTEO-GEO sources said.

More than 100 employees had already been arrested and many were suspended by the government for not reporting for duty. Reports of arrest had also been received from other parts of the state.

Most of the government offices continued to wear a deserted look, with several employees abstaining from work.

The JACTTEO-GEO sources said the government threat to impose dies non and ESMA would not deter them from continuing the strike until their demands were met.

The government had warned that it would impose dies non and invoke the provisions of the ESMA, if the employees did not report for duty by October 31.

JACTTEO-GEO had given the strike call, seeking revival of the benefits withheld by the government due to resource crunch.

PTI