M A I N   N E W S

30 hurt in student-police clash
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 16
At least 14 Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) and District Institution of Education and Training (DIET) students sustained injuries when the police lathi-charged agitators, who had assembled outside Government Senior Secondary School, to gherao the Education Minister, Mr Khushal Behl, here today. However, according to PTI, 30 students were hurt. Four policemen were also injured in the scuffle while panes of a police vehicle were smashed.

A newly married student of ETT protests against the Punjab Police. An ETT student being taken away by the Punjab Police. — Photos RS

However, Dr S.K. Kalia, SP (City), claimed that the police resorted to a lathi-charge in ‘self-defence’. He said action would be taken against the students for ‘assaulting’ the policemen.

The students, who had come here in a good number, blocked all entry and exit gates of the school where the minister and senior Congress leaders had gone in connection with a prize distribution function of sports. The blockade was complete and hence Mr Harjinder Singh Thekedar, a Congress MLA, had to use another vehicle to leave the place as he was not allowed to board his car. Though the police made repeated attempts to defuse the situation by arranging a meeting between leaders of the ETT students and the Education Minister yet the agitators insisted that Mr Behl should come out and listen to their grievances. However, at the behest of the minister, the police allegedly resorted to the lathi-charge. As the agitators dispersed following the lathi-charge the minister immediately left the venue.

The students had served an ultimatum on the state government to withdraw the ‘new education policy’ under which ‘draconian rules’ were being applied on them. They said under the new policy the ETT teachers could teach up to third standard while they were being trained to teach up to middle standard.

The agitators alleged that the policemen hurled lathis on female students in the presence of Mr Parmjit Singh Teja, DSP, and Mr Harwinder Singh, SHO (Civil Lines). They threatened to start a chain fast if no action was taken against the police officials responsible.