Tripura: Clash between police and terminated teachers leaves 87 injured

Agartala: Section 144 of CrPc, which was issued for 24 hours in Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area by the West district magistrate and collector Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav, has once been extended until January 30.

Speaking with reporters, Yadav said that based on a written report from the West district administration and violent protests by the agitating teachers, the restrictions will remain enforced for another 48 hours.

“A total of 87 people were injured while trying to stop the movement of terminated teachers. Among them, 70 are teachers and 17 police personnel. Out of those 17 police personnel, six are female police personnel,” he said.

Also Read: Tripura: Police arrest hundreds of terminated teachers amid protests

Prohibitory order was issued on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure to prevent danger to human life, public property and tranquility, from the agitating Joint Movement Committee (JMC), said Yadav.

He also said that the administration had received reports that JMC may resort to violence, according to the prohibitory order was imposed to disperse the agitating teachers from the protesting site.

“Order was published, and the announcement was done starting 6:30 am on Wednesday. The police detained around 223 teachers and took them to a detention centre,” Yadav added.

Also Read: Tripura: Terminated teachers intensify protests with dead body of another teacher

The district magistrate also informed that police tried to prevent them but they did not stop from marching forward which forced the police to use water cannons and tear gas.

Assistant inspector general (Law and Order) Subrata Chakbarorty said they (teachers) crossed all limits in the torch procession on the evening of January 26. They warned of violent movement from that procession.

“We detained a total of 223 teachers, and they were released in the evening,” Chakraborty said.

He also said that among them, Bijoy Krishna Saha, the leader of the terminated teachers, had given a provocative speech in the last few days. So, he will be arrested on Wednesday.

Also Read: Tripura: Terminated teachers serve 4-day ultimatum, threaten mass protests

The West district police have also registered two cases against the terminated teachers for resorting to violence in the name of a day-long movement.

The district magistrate further said that the teachers vandalized four vehicles including the additional superintendents during the clash with police. They also vandalized a bus, as a result, the police had to take strict action.

Regarding the injured in the incident, the medical superintendent of Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital said, “Everyone received mild injuries. We have released most of them after initial treatment. Only 9 people have been kept under the care of doctors,” he said.

However, he claimed that their condition was stable.

Earlier, speaking with reporters, Kamal Deb, leader of the Joint Movement Committee, a forum of the terminated teachers, said the Tripura police broke inside their tent, where the teachers were sleeping.

“The teachers were forcibly detained by Tripura Police and TSR personnel and taken to RK Nagar TSR battalion. We are not criminals. Why is the government so worried?” Deb questioned.

Reacting to the day-long clash, opposition CPIM has condemned the assault on the teachers and demanded the immediate release of the teachers.

Also Read: Tripura: Police arrest hundreds of terminated teachers amid protests

“We condemn the barbaric attack on the demonstration of terminated 10,323 teachers and their detention. We demand to release them immediately and accept their demand of reinstating in government service”, Left Front convener Bijan Dhar said.

State Congress president Pijush Kanti Dey echoed the same and said that the state should be dealt with in other ways.

“The state government instead of carrying out attacks upon the terminated teachers should have held discussions, and sort out the problem. They had promised to find a solution to their problems,” Biswas said.

However, state BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee claimed that a section of the terminated teachers are backed by the opposition CPIM.

“A section of CPIM goons were involved in the clash and started attacking the police personnel. We hope that law plays its role against those who have resorted to violence,” Bhattacharjee said.