Chandigarh, Oct. 29 -- Government services at 544 Sewa Kendras across Punjab were disrupted on Thursday after employees launched a statewide strike against alleged arbitrary financial penalties of up to Rs 1.5 lakh, warning that the agitation would continue until Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann intervenes.

The strike, which began in the afternoon, affected centres providing Aadhaar-related services, certificates and other government documents, potentially inconveniencing thousands of residents who depend on the facilities for routine administrative work.

Jaswinder Singh Gill, state president of the Sewa Kendra Employees' Union, alleged that employees were being subjected to disproportionate financial penalties for minor clerical mistakes and...