Jobless teachers face lathicharge, water cannon in Chandigarh

Mohali, July 6

The Chandigarh Police on Tuesday used tear gas shells and water cannon and resorted to lathicharge to prevent the protesting non-permanent unemployed teachers from heading towards Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s residence. At least 10 protesters, including women, and five cops were injured in the action.

Hear them out: SAD

The SAD on Tuesday flayed the lathicharge on agitating teachers at Mohali and asked CM Capt Amarinder Singh to listen to their grievances sympathetically

Unemployed teachers, who had been protesting outside the Punjab School Education Board’s office in Mohali for more than three weeks, were on their way to Chandigarh to gherao the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. They succeeded in crossing the barricades near the YPS crossing to enter the UT.

The Chandigarh Police took action after the protesters started scaling the barricades set up to prevent their entry into the city. Earlier, on June 29, the non-permanent teachers tried to cross over to Chandigarh to gherao the CM’s residence. A few days ago, the Chandigarh Police failed to stop farmers who had also succeeded in breaking through the barricades.

Drive against govt

Unemployed members of five different unions under the banner of a joint front of unemployed will start “Expose Punjab Government” campaign in Sangrur villages from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Mohali administration immediately shifted the injured protesters to the Civil Hospital. They were discharged after treatment. Deputy Commissioner Girish Dyalan said the meeting of teachers with the Education Minister, which was scheduled for today, was postponed till tomorrow due to some unavoidable reasons. Following which, the teachers started their march. “It will be ensured that the meeting takes place tomorrow,” he said. — TNS