Amid escalating tensions at Bikash Bhawan in Kolkata, a violent clash broke out between SSC teachers and the police on Thursday (May 15) evening, resulting in injuries to at least 30 teachers. The incident occurred during a protest demanding the reinstatement of jobs lost due to the Supreme Court’s decision in the SSC recruitment scam.
According to the protesting teachers, the police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd, leading to several injuries. Some of the injured teachers, reportedly suffering from head and limb injuries, were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. The teachers alleged that the police action was excessively brutal, with many being dragged and beaten despite protesting peacefully.
Police Lathicharge
Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as the protesters attempted to break through barricades set up by the police. In the ensuing scuffle, several police personnel were also seen injured, with some being escorted away for medical assistance.
“The police attacked us mercilessly. We were only demanding our rightful jobs back, but they responded with brutality. Many of our colleagues are in the hospital now,” said one of the injured teachers.
As the night progressed, the situation remained tense, with additional police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed in the area to maintain order. The injured teachers continued to gather at the protest site, demanding an immediate response from the state government regarding their grievances.
The protest, which began peacefully, escalated when the demonstrators tried to breach police barricades and enter the state education department headquarters. As the protesters broke the gates and surged forward, the police resorted to lathicharge to control the crowd, leaving several teachers injured.
Over a hundred state government employees were stranded inside the building during the commotion and were later escorted out by police. The area remained tense late into the evening as protesters continued their sit-in, demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s intervention.
Teachers’ Demands
The aggrieved teachers have called for the state government to publish a segregated list of tainted and non-tainted appointees, insisting that they should not have to sit for fresh examinations. “We have been working for the last seven years. Why should we take another test? The Chief Minister must intervene and reinstate us,” said Mehbub Mondal, one of the protest leaders.
The protestors also questioned why the state government was hesitant to address their concerns, asserting that they would not vacate the premises until their jobs were restored. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led government, accusing it of authoritarianism. He highlighted the police violence, claiming that a woman teacher sustained a broken leg, while another suffered a head injury.
The Supreme Court Verdict
The Supreme Court had cancelled the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-sponsored and aided schools on April 3, citing large-scale irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process. The court ordered the state to complete a fresh recruitment process by December 31. The teachers argue that the fault lies with the School Service Commission (SSC), which failed to distinguish between meritorious and fraudulent appointments.
Former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and several Trinamool Congress leaders were earlier arrested in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam. The teachers have demanded that the state government take legal steps to restore their jobs and ensure justice.
Political Reactions
Opposition leaders, including BJP’s Amit Malviya, condemned the police action and accused the state administration of suppressing democratic protests. “Mamata Banerjee’s government is showing blatant disregard for the teachers’ plight. Such brutality is unacceptable,” Malviya said in a statement.
The teachers have vowed to continue their protest until the state government addresses their demands. They have warned of intensifying their agitation if no resolution is offered. Meanwhile, the police have urged the protesters to maintain peace and avoid disrupting public order in the busy Salt Lake area.
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