JAMMU, April 19 -- Salaries of 172 government employees have been withheld after they were found absent from duty during surprise inspections in Poonch district, officials said on Saturday.

The inspections were conducted on the directions of Ashok Kumar Sharma, who constituted special teams to inspect government offices across the border district.

The teams carried out surprise visits in various offices, including at the district headquarters, and found 172 employees absent without authorisation.

Following the inspections, show-cause notices were issued to all the absentee employees asking them to explain their absence before disciplinary action is initiated.

The administration has also directed all Drawing and Disbursing Officers to ...