Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 28: Police cane-charged hundreds of protesting Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers and Education Volunteers (EVs), after they were trying to march towards Civil Secretariat here to push the Government to fulfill their demands including regularization of Education Volunteers (EVs), seniority of five year service as ReTs, pension benefits and transfer policy of ReTs.
Police used water cannon to disperse protesting teachers, who assembled near Jahangir Chowk and tried to march towards Civil Secretariat and scores of teachers were taken into preventive custody.
The protesting teachers also alleged that their other colleagues were harassed inside police station after their detention at Jahangir Chowk. “We went to police station Shaheed Gunj to see out detained colleagues and we offered water bottles to them, but some police men on duty snatched our water-bottles and threw them away. The police misbehaved with us. A Police officer abused us in the police station Shaheed Gunj,” the agitated teachers said.
The ReTs have decided to close down all primary and middle schools in the State to show solidarity with those who have been beaten and abused by police.
Talking to Excelsior after protests, the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir ReT Teacher Forum, Gazi Abdul Aziz condemned the police lathi charge on peaceful protesters.
Meanwhile, State General Secretary, JKReTF, Farooq Ahmad Tantary said that the government has also failed to release the salary of SSA teachers on monthly basis, which has forced them to protests again and again.
Tantray said that there are 15000 SSA teachers and ReTs without salary from last six months and the amount of which sums up of Rs 374 crore, but they have been told by State Project Director (SPD) that only Rs 60 crore is lying with them. “SSA is funded by Central and State Government with the ratio of 65:35, but State has failed to pay its share, which has also put hindrance to central funds meant for SSA teachers’ salary,” Tantary said.
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