India, Aug. 29 -- Escalating its confrontation with protesting staff, the Punjab government is preparing to clamp down on lakhs of employees who participated in the statewide 'maha-strike' on August 27 by taking mass casual leave.

In a fresh communique sent to all administrative secretaries and department heads, the department of general administration directed disciplinary authorities to issue show-cause notices and initiate strict action under applicable service rules against staff marked absent without authorisation. This follows an earlier directive ordering officials to compile full lists of absentees.

The punitive push comes right as employee unions assemble at Ludhiana's Bachat Bhawan on Sunday to map out their response.

Tension...