Tripura police take action against agitating teachers, over 300 detained

AGARTALA: Tripura police on Wednesday arrested more than 300 protesting teachers at Paradise choumuhani in Agartala.

The 10,323 teachers, who were terminated from service in a faulty recruitment case, have been protesting at Paradise choumuhani since December last year demanding their jobs back.

The agitation which started on December 7, 2020, entered its 52nd day today. The teachers had earlier served January 25 as the deadline for the government to solve their problems.

On Tuesday night, the teachers conducted a torch rally at Agartala and announced that they will try and meet the Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday to demand answers.

On Wednesday morning, a large contingent of police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the capital city. Sources informed that the security forces rushed to ‘Gana Dharna’ (protesting) spot and removed their (protestors') tents.

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The teachers have alleged that some of their leaders were arrested on wee hours of Wednesday from their houses.

Piyali Choudhury, one of the leaders, said that more than three hundred teachers were arrested and taken to RK Nagar TSR second battalion camp this morning.

"Their tents were broken by police, who harassed the teachers, even the females," sources said.

The District Magistrate of West Tripura District had imposed section 144 in Agartala from Wednesday morning to control the situation.

One the other hand, the Sub Division Police Officer (SDPO) of Agartala, Sashawat Kumar termed the protesting teachers' actions as "provocating" and fearing that law and order might go out of control, the police had to take action.

It may be reminded that the then left front government had recruited 10323 teachers from 2010 to 2014. Later, all the teachers lost their jobs following an order passed by the Supreme Court for faulty recruitment policy.

On October 2 last year, members of three organisations of the 10323 teachers met the Chief Minister and claimed that the CM had promised to solve their problems within two months.

But following the failure of the government to resolve this issue, the teachers resumed their agitation.

"The CM assured to solve our problems within two months. But two months have gone but nothing has happened," said one of the teachers.

The sacked teachers have asked the BJP-led State and Central Government to make good on the promises made to them during the 2018 assembly election.