The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Protesting teachers lathicharged

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Protesting teachers lathicharged

Correspondent

The protest in response to JACTO’s call was total in Telangana

Photo: K.V.Ramana

Tough fight: Police lifting a teacher from dharna in front of the Collectorate in Nizamabad on Saturday.

MAHBUBNAGAR: Several teachers sustained injuries and over 20 were admitted in the hospital, when the police resorted to lathicharge on them, who as part of their agitation staged a dharna at Collectorate here on Saturday.

The teachers in response to the call given by JACTO assembled at Collectorate around 12 noon and staged dharna and organised rasta roko. After two hours of demonstration the representatives of JACTO tried to gate crash into Collectorate premises to submit their memorandum to Collector V. Usharani.

When the police prevented them from entering premises of the Collectorate, the agitating teachers tried to move in forcibly. Prompting the police to resort to lathicharge. The Police also arrested 29 representatives of teacher organisations.

Later, opposing the arrest of their leaders and lathicharge, the teachers staged a sit-in programme in front of the One Town police station for about two hours. They demanded the suspension of Circle Inspector, Muthaiah.

They withdrew their agitation after assurance by the Additional Superintendent G. Satyanarayana that he would do justice.

Sangareddy Staff reporter adds: protesting teachers on Saturday held a dharna before the Collectorate preventing officials from entering the premises.

The agitation continued for about five hours forcing the police to search for an alternative route to divert the traffic on the main road, where the Collectorate was located.

Addressing the gathering TRS leader K. Taraka Rama Rao announced complete support to the agitating teachers. JACTO leaders Ashok Kumar, N Sangameswar, V Sangameswar, Ch Ramulu, Laxma Reddy, TRS leaders R. Satyanarayana, Navaj Reddy and CPM leader B Mallesh participated in the agitation. Karimnagar staff reporter adds: In spite of implementation of section 144 in the town, teachers have staged a massive dharna in front of Collectorate in Karimnagar town on Saturday demanding the government to solve their grievances. In the early hours, when the teachers’ association leaders assembled in front of the Collectorate, the police had instructed the protestors to leave the place as they had imposed section 144. But the teachers participated in massive dharna raising slogans against the state government.

Leaders of various political parties including TRS legislators Etala Rajender, T Harish Rao, BJP leader G Ramakrishna Reddy, TDP leader L Ramana and others also participated in the dharna and expressed their solidarity to the agitating teachers. Nizamabad Staff Reporter adds: Normal work at the Pragathi Bhavan housing several government offices was affected with the thin attendance of the staff members and officers following the picketing by teachers.Leaders and activists of different political hues (except Congress) squatted on the road and at the main entrance of the Collectorate in support of the striking teachers.

After a couple of hours the policemen bundled the agitating teachers and Opposition leaders into waiting vans. They were later shifted to different police stations. The arrested were released after a few hours late in the afternoon. According to the One Town police Sub-Inspector, S. Lakshminarayana, 561 agitators were arrested and let off after taking their names. .

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