Police foil teachers march, dozens held

President of Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum, Abdul Qayoom Wani leading protest rally in Srinagar on Saturday.
President of Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum, Abdul Qayoom Wani leading protest rally in Srinagar on Saturday.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 30: Police today foiled the protest march of Jammu Kashmir Teachers’ Forum against screening test of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers and in favour of other demands here in city centre and detained dozens of protesting teachers.
Hundreds of teachers assembled here at Sher-e-Kashmir Park and protested against the screening test and transfer policy. The teachers were led by JKTF chairman and senior trade union leader Abdul Qayoom Wani.
The protesting teachers started marching towards the office of Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) amid heavy sloganeering against the DSEK Faisal and former State Education Minister Nayeem Akhtar.
As the teachers reached near Regal Chowk, a huge contingent of police that was already deployed in strength stopped the March of the protesting teachers by resorting to baton charge, teargas shelling and using water cannons. Police action led to the standoff between the two sides after which cops used flash bang grenades.
The police action created panic in entire Regal Chowk as the area rattled with the huge bangs of stun grenades. People were seen running for safety while many shopkeepers downed their shutters for some 20 minutes and traffic also came to the halt.
At least three dozen protesting teachers including JKTF chairman Qayoom were bundled into vehicles and detained at nearby Kothi Bagh Police Station. The teachers were later let off by the police.
The JKTF chairman earlier while talking to reporters said that today’s protest is against the “arrogant attitude of bureaucrats and politicians”. He warned that if the government doesn’t solve their problems then the employees under the banner of EJAC would hold protest outside Raj Bhavan in Jammu on February 30.