Clashes broke out between police and protesting computer teachers in Punjab’s Sangrur on Friday after security personnel used water cannons to stop them from marching towards the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The teachers were seeking the release of pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears and the resolution of several long-standing service-related demands.
The protesters alleged that police used force, including water cannons and a lathicharge, leaving three teachers injured. They also claimed that 35 people were detained during the confrontation, although all of them were subsequently released.
The police, however, disputed the allegations of a lathicharge. Sangrur Superintendent of Police Palwinder Singh Cheema said the protesters had attacked police personnel and that water cannons were deployed to maintain law and order.
The demonstration was led by Computer Teachers Union state leaders Gurvinder Singh Tarn Taran, Nardeep Sharma and Jonny Singla. The union leaders accused the Punjab government of repeatedly delaying action on their demands, alleging that meetings with panels had been held without producing any concrete results.
Teachers allege prolonged neglect of their demands
The teachers said the march towards the chief minister’s residence was organised to press for the payment of pending DA arrears and other benefits they have been seeking for a long time.
Their demands include the merger of all computer teachers into the state’s Education Department, implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, release of retirement benefits and justice for the families of computer teachers who have died.
They have also expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as repeated assurances from the government without meaningful progress. Union representatives alleged that the administration had been holding panel meetings merely as a formality while continuing to ignore their grievances.
The teachers have been staging an indefinite protest outside the Sangrur Deputy Commissioner’s office. According to a report published on Friday, the agitation had continued for 48 days before the latest confrontation.
Police deny lathicharge, promise of meeting ends protest
SP Palwinder Singh Cheema denied that police personnel had resorted to a lathicharge, maintaining that the use of water cannons was necessary after protesters allegedly attacked the police.
He said the teachers agreed to call off their march after receiving an assurance that their representatives would meet the cabinet sub-committee in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
The confrontation also drew political reactions. Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh condemned the reported use of water cannons and lathicharge, describing the police action against teachers seeking their rights as unjustified. He claimed that one teacher, Kuldeep Singh, suffered three fractures in his leg, while a woman teacher sustained a serious eye injury. He demanded that the state government cover the medical expenses of those injured and take action against officials responsible for the alleged use of excessive force.
The BJP also criticised the police action. Party general secretary Anil Sarin said the teachers had been peacefully pressing for their long-pending service demands and accused the state government of failing to address their grievances.
The latest confrontation has added to the pressure on the Punjab government over employee-related issues, with computer teachers continuing to seek formal decisions on their service conditions and benefits rather than further assurances.