Srinagar, Sept. 8 -- Medical interns from 10 Government Medical Colleges and two Dental Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir began a 48-hour hunger strike on Monday after talks with the state government failed to end their seven-day strike for an enhanced monthly stipend.

"Our strike is indefinite. It will not stop until we receive an official order. But now, over a week has passed since the strike began. If the government takes an issue seriously, it doesn't take this long to issue an order," a protesting medical intern, Dr Faraz, said.

He said the medical interns were compelled to sit on a hunger strike to create sustained pressure on the government. "No one forced them. Two to three students from each college have come forward to sit on a h...