The Jharkhand government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act in view of the Jharkhand Police Men's Association's threat to launch a five-day strike from midnight Saturday.

With the invoking of the act, the superintendents of police will have the power to take disciplinary action against the striking personnel, an official release said on Friday.

The decision was taken in order to maintain law and order in the state, the release said.

JPMA president Ram Chandra Pandey said the association would go ahead with the agitation even if the government took disciplinary action.

Among others, the association is demanding free housing for policemen and free education for their children.