Residents in Kashmir valley today were deprived of bread with their morning tea, as bread manufacturers in Kashmir valley went on an indefinite strike in support of their demand for hike in the price of bread.

The bread makers popularly known as 'Kandur' went on an indefinite strike in Srinagar and other major towns of the valley this morning, accusing the authorities of backtracking from the agreement on the price hike.

"We have called for indefinite strike to protest the strong-arm tactics by authorities," president of Jammu and Kashmir Bakers Union Abdul Majeed Sofi said.

He said that the union has called off the two-day strike on November 7 after authorities assured us of revision of rates of bread within 10 days in view of sky rocketing rates of wheat and firewood used in 'Tandoor' (clay oven).

However, he said that the government started crackdown on union members and imposed fine on them.

Terming the crackdown as "highly condemnable", he said the union decided to call off the strike only after the new rate structure come into effect.

Confirming raids on the shops of bakers yesterday, a spokesman of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution said action followed complaints by the consumers that bakers were selling the bread on exorbitant rates.

"We realised a fine to the tune of Rs7,000 from the violators and booked at least a dozen shopkeepers under Essential Commodities Act," the spokesman said.