Three dozen teachers detained in Srinagar

 STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Over three dozen government teachers were on Wednesday detained here as police used force to scuttle their protest march against Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to conduct a screening test for in-service teachers.
Hundreds of teachers assembled outside Directorate of School Education office at Samandar Bagh in the close vicinity of Lal Chowk and started marching towards the city centre to lodge their protest against the government’s decision, officials said.
As soon as they reached near Press Colony, police personnel deployed in strength asked them to disperse.
However, the teachers led by Employees leader Qayoom Wani, demonstrated reluctance and continued with the march towards Ghanta Ghar (clock tower), they said.
They said police swung into action and resorted to baton charge, water cannons and teargas shelling to disperse the protestors.
Nearly half a dozen protestors were injured in the police action, the officials said, adding, one of the injured was hit by a teargas shell on his face and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Some agitating teachers also resorted to stone-pelting, resulting in brief clashes with police, following which the normal activities in the commercial hub was affected.
Over three dozen teachers, including Wani were detained and taken to different police stations in the city, they said.
Chairman J and K ReT Teachers Forum, Farooq Ahmed Tantray and Senior Vice Chairman, Bhupinder Singh condemned the action taken by the State Government by resorting cane charge on peaceful demonstrators.
Kuldeep Katoch, Sunil Salaria, Deep Kumar, Diljeet Singh, Ashiq Rasool Dilbar Mushtaq, Jahajir Khan and Mahoona Khan were prominent among those who were detained from Jammu.
Teachers have called for a three-day strike, beginning today, as a mark of protest against the government decision to make screening test compulsory for Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers who have obtained their degrees from outside study centres or through distance mode.
The work in all government-run schools was affected due to the strike, the officials said.