Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 13: Police resorted to lathicharge and detained several ReT Teachers who were protesting for release of their pending salary, here today.
More than a dozen ReTs sustained injuries, though minor, in the Police action after the protesters tried to take out a march from the Press Club Ground towards Civil Secretariat in the city.
Protesting under the banner of All J&K ReT Teachers Forum, the agitating ReTs were demanding release of their pending salary under SSA scheme. They were also demanding regularization of KGBV Teachers, disbursement of Mid-Day meal charges and revocation of controversial order exempting ReT Teachers from exam duties.
Earlier, a number of ReTs from different parts of the State assembled near the Press Club Jammu and held a strong protest demonstration. Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans in support of their demands.
The protesters were also addressed by the Forum State president Vinod Sharma, vice president Younis Rahi, general secretary Najam Jafri and provincial president Rajesh Jamwal who lamented that family members of the ReTs were at the verge of starvation but the State Government was sleeping over their salary issue.
The trouble erupted soon after the protesting ReTs tried to proceed towards the Civil Secretariat. Police immediately swung into action and resorted to lathicharge on the marching ReTs. More than a dozen ReTs, including female teachers, were injured in the police action while several others were detained and taken to Nowabad Police Station.
The dispersed ReTs re-assembled soon and staged a dharna there demanding release of their colleagues, who were set free on the intervention of senior Police officers.
Meanwhile, executive body of the Forum has threatened to lock the schools throughout the State and come on the roads with family members and even protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi if their salaries are not released within ten days.
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