Patiala, April 10 -- Health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday warned the protesting nurses to resume duties or face action.

Nursing staff at three government medical colleges and hospitals have been on indefinite strike for the past 15 days, defying the state government's decision to invoke the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA) over the demand for the restoration of the Rs.4,600 grade pay.

Calling the strike 'illegal', the minister said that the nurses would not be paid for the strike period as they had already violated the ESMA.

"It had come to my notice that protesting nurses attempted to shut down an operating theatre (OT). If any patient dies because of such actions, an FIR will be registered," he said, adding that nur...