Why Did a Senior Cop Justify the Baton Charge on Protesting Teachers?
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Synopsis
In a controversial move, a senior police official defends the baton charge on protesting teachers in West Bengal. The teachers, who lost their jobs due to a Supreme Court ruling, claim their protests were peaceful. As tensions rise, calls for accountability and a transparent investigation into recruitment corruption grow louder.
Key Takeaways
- The police defended the baton charge as necessary due to protestor aggression.
- Teachers claim their protests were peaceful and are demanding accountability.
- Calls for a transparent investigation into recruitment corruption are growing.
- The Supreme Court ruling annulled over 25,000 jobs due to procedural issues.
- Various organizations are voicing support for the protesting teachers.
Kolkata, May 16 (NationPress) A senior official from the West Bengal Police on Friday defended the use of a baton charge outside Bikash Bhavan, the headquarters of the state Education Department, against the "untainted" or "genuine" secondary and higher secondary teachers employed in state-run schools who found themselves jobless due to a recent Supreme Court ruling.
"We had been waiting patiently until Thursday evening for about seven hours. However, after duty hours ended, approximately 600 employees inside the building were trapped due to the ‘gherao’ protest outside. As our personnel attempted to escort these employees out, a faction of the protestors became aggressive and attacked them. Consequently, we were left with no alternative but to resort to force," stated Additional Director General of Police for South Bengal, Supratim Sarkar, during a press briefing on Friday evening.
These comments come amid severe backlash directed at the state police for the perceived "unprovoked" and "brutal" baton charge against the protesting educators, with the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, T.S. Sivagnanam, already being petitioned for the court's suo motu intervention in the situation.
In contrast, the protesting teachers, united under the banner of the Jogyo Shikhok-Shikkika Adhikar Mancha (Genuine Teachers’ Rights Forum), have strongly refuted Sarkar's claims. "None of us resorted to violence, and our protests were entirely peaceful. We are victims of institutional corruption. Now, the state government talks about protocols. Why didn’t they consider such protocols to ensure a transparent and corruption-free recruitment process?" questioned one teacher.
Additionally, the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum, which has been at the forefront of the movement against the horrific rape and murder of a junior lady doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital last August, also condemned the assault on the protesting educators on Friday.
The forum issued a statement calling for an unconditional public apology from all authorities and individuals accountable for this "brutal" attack on teachers that took place on Thursday night.
They have also demanded a transparent, time-bound, and court-supervised investigation into the individuals and institutions involved in the alleged school recruitment scam.
Furthermore, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, criticized the state government over the alleged police brutality, asserting that in a civilized society, such a violent response to respected educators is unacceptable.
On April 3 of this year, a Supreme Court bench led by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a previous ruling by the division bench of the Calcutta High Court, which had annulled 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal.
The apex court also acknowledged the Calcutta High Court's observation that the entire panel of 25,753 candidates had to be annulled due to the state government’s and commission’s failure to separate the "untainted" candidates from the "tainted" ones.
The state government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) have already filed petitions for review on this matter.
Point of View
I believe that the situation unfolding in West Bengal highlights the urgent need for dialogue and transparency in education-related matters. The voices of the teachers deserve to be heard, and accountability must be prioritized to restore trust in our institutions.
NationPress
08/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the police baton charge?
The police baton charge was justified by officials as a response to aggressive actions by a section of protestors who were obstructing the exit of employees from Bikash Bhavan.
What do the protesting teachers claim?
Teachers assert that their protests were peaceful and that they are victims of institutional corruption that led to their job losses.
What has been the reaction of other organizations?
The West Bengal Doctors’ Forum has condemned the police's actions and demanded accountability for the assault on teachers.
What is the background of the job losses?
The job losses are linked to a Supreme Court ruling that annulled over 25,000 school jobs due to procedural failures in the recruitment process.
What steps have been taken by the state government?
The West Bengal government and the WBSSC have filed petitions for review regarding the Supreme Court's decision.
