PHOTO: AKHILESH KUMAR

USE OF FORCE: Punjab Commando Force personnel chasing the unemployed teachers staging a demonstration near the Secretariat in Chandigarh on Thursday.

CHANDIGARH: At least 21 persons were injured when activists of five organisations of unemployed teachers in Punjab clashed with the police at the Matka roundabout here on Thursday.

The injured include two women and nine police personnel. The trouble started when the police blocked a procession of thousands of activists from all over the State marching towards the Punjab Assembly. Commandos of the Punjab Police were also present.

Tear gas shells lobbed

The organisations had planned to air their grievances related to unemployment before the Assembly, whose monsoon session began on Thursday. When the protesters breached the barricades to cross the Madhya Marg, where prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr.P.C. was imposed, the police first lobbed tear gas shells and then used water cannon to disperse the agitators.

Later the police resorted to lathicharge, at which the activists hurled brickbats at them.

Finally, the police force charged at the crowd and beat them up. During the melee, the police also beat up those participating in a peaceful dharna in the vicinity staged by employees, farmers, home guards and Public Works Department (PWD) workers.

Protesters said that while many sustained lathi injuries, 12 of them, including two women, had to be admitted to hospital. Nine policemen were injured by brickbats. The police have evacuated all protesters who were camping at the adjacent Rose Garden. They also registered a case under various sections against the protesting unemployed teachers.

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