Cop among 11 injured during teachers'' protest in Patiala

Patiala, February 10 

Ten people were injured on Sunday as police lathicharged a group of teachers that was marching towards Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's residence to protest against conditions for their regularisation, police said.

A superintendent of police-rank officer was also injured in the melee as police tried to disperse the protesters who wanted to gherao Singh's residence, they said.

The protesters were demonstrating against the regularisation policy for 8,886 teachers of Adarsh schools, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

Police also used water cannons to disperse the protesters.

The protesters had gathered near the Patiala bus stand where barricades had been erected to stop them, the police said.

However, as they insisted on marching ahead, towards the chief minister's residence here, a scuffle broke out between protesters and police personnel, they said.

The teachers, most of whom are contractual employees, were protesting against a condition for their regularisation. According to the condition, the contractual teachers will have to work at a monthly salary of nearly Rs 15,000 for three years before being regularised in their jobs.

Some teachers alleged that the state government has stopped paying salaries to the SSA and RMSA teachers for not accepting its condition for regularisation.

Shun path of agitation, appeals Amarinder

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has appealed to the protesting teachers and other employees to shun the path of agitation and show some patience, as the state government was committed to finding an amicable solution to their pending demands.

In a statement issued in Chandigarh, Amarinder said the employees must understand that despite the unprecedented financial crises being faced by the state, the government was doing everything in its power to resolve all pending issues of the employees. He said agitations will not lead to any constructive solution and talks will soon be held to find a way out. 

Underlining that all employees, including teachers, were the most intrinsic part of society, the Chief Minister assured them that the cabinet sub-committee formed under Health Minister Brahm Mahindra was already working to find a solution to their demands. The Chief Minister said that he too would soon meet the representative of various employees bodies to resolve their issues. — TNS/PTI