Police cane-charge protesting teachers in Jammu

Police today used batons to disperse the protesting Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers here after they tried to take out a rally to press for their demands, including release of pending salaries.

A number of SSA teachers gathered at the exhibition ground and tried to take out a rally in support of their demands.

However, they were stopped by police and baton-charged after they refused to disperse, officials said.

Meanwhile, opposition National Conference condemned the the use of force on SSA teachers and sought a probe into the "brutal act" of police to silence peaceful protesters.

"Action against teachers, the pillars of the society, is highly deplorable," National Conference Provincial spokesperson Madan Mantoo said in a statement.
 

He said instead of addressing the long-pending demand of the protesting SSA teachers with regard to release of their salaries, they were subjected to harassment and brute cane-charge.

Mantoo demanded immediate release of the salaries of SSA teachers so that "they are not forced to take to the streets".