On way to Punjab CM’s house, protesting teachers face Chandigarh police water cannons

Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 29

Protesting teachers today faced water cannons of the Chandigarh Police as they jumped barricades on their way to gherao the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in the UT.

Non-permanent teachers, who had been protesting outside the office of Education Secretary at the Punjab School Education Board building in Phase VIII for the last several days, suddenly started marching towards Chandigarh in support of their demands today.

The Chandigarh Police had put up barricades near the YPS Chowk to stop their entry from the Mohali side but the protesters were adamant on moving ahead. After they managed to break the barricades and entered Chandigarh, the police used water cannon to stop them.

Some teachers fainted as they could not face the water pressure. A few female protesters managed to reach atop the water cannon and stop the water flow following which the marchers moved forward.

Meanwhile, the SSP of Chandigarh reached the spot and tried to calm down the protesters and appealed them to stop their protest march. A delegation of the teachers was then taken to Chandigarh for having a dialogue with Punjab officials.

At this, other protesters relented and squatted on the roadside. They demanded that the government should issue them confirmation letters or else they would not go back from there.

These teachers have been holding demonstrations in favour of their demands for the past 20 days on the trot. Seven teachers carrying petrol bottles are sitting on the rooftop of the PSEB building.