50 teachers booked for violent protest in Patiala

Tribune News Service
Patiala, February 11

A day after teachers clashed with police during a protest, Patiala police have booked 50 teachers, including 10 union leaders of Adhyapak Sangharsh Committee, on Monday. 

Police said teachers were booked after they clashed with cops wherein more than 10 police officials were injured. A Superintendent of Police-rank officer had also sustained injuries while stopping thousands of teachers from crossing the barricade near junior wing of Budha Dal Public School.

They have been booked under IPC's Sections 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter a public servant for discharge of duty), 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 333, 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149, 120-B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy) and 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).

The teacher union leaders booked by the police were: state co-convener of Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha Hardeep Toderpur, Davinder Punia, Sukhwinder Chahal, Harjeet Singh, Balkar Singh, Baaj Singh Khaira, Didar Singh Mudki, Amritpal Singh Sidhu., Sukhraj Singh and Harvinder Singh.

Condemning the police action, Punia said, "Instead of regularising the teachers, the government has registered cases against them. We will not stop our protest since injustice has been done to the thousands of teachers."