PATIALA: A large number of unemployed teachers were cane-charged by the Patiala police during their protest demonstration at YPS Chowk on Tuesday.
The protesters tried to cross police barricading and gherao the chief minister’s residence in the city following which the police had to use force to disperse them.
The protestors from five different unions were protesting for a long time under the banner of ‘Berozgar Sanjha Morcha (BSM)’.
The union leaders, however, claimed that none of the protestors faced serious injuries.
They claimed that police held around 70 protestors at different police stations in the district.
The police rounded up and later released protestors after brief detention.
“Our protestors faced mild injuries.
The police had arrested around 70 protestors.
On April 28, we got a meeting fixed with the OSD of CM for May 6 but the meeting was postponed twice and later on May 31, we were called to the CM office.
Besides the BSM that comprise five unions, around six other unions were also called for a meeting the same day and the OSD refused to meet the heads of all the unions.
It was a trick played to delay the matter.
We have now got the meeting fixed with education minister on June 14,” said Amandeep Sekha, a state member of the BSM.
Meanwhile, Patiala police said around 150 protestors were booked but none of them was arrested.
The police said five cops, including two women cops, were injured after protesters attacked them while trying to cross barricades.
DSP Yogesh Kumar said, “Around 150 protestors are booked under various sections.
The protestors were detained and released and no arrest has been made so far.
We resort to mild lathi-charge on protestors.
None of protestors were injured but our five cops received mild injuries.”