Punjab cops lathicharge protesting teachers

Punjab Police on Wednesday caned protesting teachers and arrested three of them when they tried to meet Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a function at Muktsar district in Chandigarh.

A few teachers of the Education Guarantee Scheme, including a woman, were injured in the lathicharge.

The teachers wanted to meet Badal during his visit but were stopped by police following which a scuffle broke out and police resorted to lathicharge, EGS teachers association president Pritpal Singh said.

Singh said that their demand was that the police should take appropriate action against the sarpanch involved in slapping a lady teacher in public.

"We were on a peaceful protest to get justice, but without provocation police used force against us," he said.

"The sarpanch should be sent to jail without further delay," he said, adding that the EGS teachers were adamant on their demand for getting government jobs.

Meanwhile, the teachers who complained of not getting justice blocked the Gidderbaha kacheri chowk on the Malout-Bathinda road here.

On Tuesday, police had arrested the sarpanch on charge of bailable offences and he was bailed out within hours after his arrest.

The village panchayat had also moved an application to police to take action against the lady teacher for using caste specific remarks against the member of the panchayat.

Peeved at the Punjab government for not heeding to their demands, the teachers had threatened to immolate themselves in front of Deputy Chief Minister's residence in Chandigarh on Thursday on the occasion of Badal's birthday.

One of the lady teachers was allegedly slapped in public view by an Akali Dal sarpanch on Sunday last.

Singh said that Badal left the venue giving them assurance that action would be taken as per law.