Teachers clash with Chandigarh Police, water cannons used near CM residence

Mohali: High drama unfolded on Monday as members of the 12,700 Special Cadre Teachers Union clashed with the Chandigarh Police while attempting to march towards the residence of Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh. The protest, which began as a show of strength by thousands of teachers, ended with police deploying water cannons, leaving several protesters injured.The teachers, drawn from various districts of Punjab, gathered to press for fulfilment of their long-pending demands, primarily the regularisation of services and extension of service benefits. The march was halted at the Mohali-Chandigarh border on Jail Road, where heavy barricading was put in place by UT Police to prevent them from proceeding further.
Tensions escalated when protesters attempted to scale the barricades to move ahead and seek a meeting with the chief minister. In response, police resorted to water cannons to disperse the crowd. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as powerful jets of water knocked down protesters, with turbans flying off and several teachers, including women, falling to the ground. Many sustained minor injuries and were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.Protesting teachers accused the state govt of betrayal, alleging that assurances given during previous negotiations were not honoured. "We were ditched. The govt promised to regularise our services and extend benefits, but nothing materialised. Even the assurance of a meeting was not fulfilled. We are only demanding one meeting with the CM," said a protesting teacher.The agitation comes at a sensitive time, as examinations are underway in Punjab schools. With a large number of teachers leaving their districts to participate in the protest, concerns are being raised over the smooth conduct of ongoing exams, adding further pressure on the administration to resolve the impasse swiftly.As a result, the protest triggered traffic chaos, as the site is located near several prominent schools in Mohali, prompting authorities to call off classes for the day. Parents queued up in cars to pick up their wards, further worsening the congestion. Other commuters were diverted via Phase IX, with many driving on the wrong side of the road to reach Chandigarh, increasing the risk of accidents.MSID:: 128948339 413 |