Cops crack down on protesting teachers

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, September 18

Tension has gripped Sunam road here after the civil administration removed two persons from the protesting lot. The protestors had completed their elementary teacher training (ETT) and cleared teacher eligibility test (TET) but were still unemployed. The hunger strike has been ongoing since September 11.

They were removed on account of their deteriorating health. The administration requested them to end their fast but they refused to budge. Later, cops got them admitted in the Civil Hospital.

“Since the health of both Barjinder Singh and Harjeet Singh had been deteriorating, we were trying to convince them from the last two days to end their hunger strike. Doctors had warned that anything could happen to them if they do not end their fast. We have got them admitted in the hospital,” said SDM Avikesh Gupta.

After their removal, other five protesters, who have been sitting atop a water tank since September 4, announced to jump from atop. It caused panic among the police and civil authorities.

Both police and civil administration immediately arranged for big nets and deputed cops near the water tank. Two protesters from atop threatened to jump if the police tried to remove more protesters from the site. Later, teachers also blocked the Sangrur-Sunam road.

“Authorities have got fixed our meeting in the CM’s office on September 20, but our protest here would continue till our recruitment on the basis of 12th pass with ETT and TET,” said Deepak Kamboj, president of ETT-TET Pass Unemployed Teachers’ Union.

DSP Sangrur Satpal Sharma said they had deputed the police to maintain law and order in the area.

“We did not try to remove other protesters, but only got two unwell protesters admitted into the hospital,” said the DSP.