Incursion of Outsiders Sparked Teachers' Protests on April 9: Kolkata Police Chief
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Synopsis
Protests by teaching and non-teaching staff in Kolkata became violent on April 9 after outsiders joined the demonstration. Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma stated that the police were unprepared for such aggression and addressed the involvement of an officer accused of excessive force.
Key Takeaways
- Outsiders joined protests by jobless teaching staff.
- Violence erupted during the demonstration on April 9.
- Police were criticized and reassigned an officer involved in misconduct.
- Demonstrators demanded the segregation of genuine candidates from tainted ones.
- Several protesters sustained injuries due to police actions.
Kolkata, April 11 (NationPress) A group of outsiders became involved in the protests led by the teaching and non-teaching staff -- who were recently dismissed from their positions -- in front of the district inspector of schools' office at Kasba in South Kolkata on April 9. This development escalated the protests into violence, as stated by Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma during a media briefing on Friday.
His remarks came shortly after the city police, facing widespread backlash, decided to reassign the officer accused of physically confronting a protesting teacher at Kasba on the same day from the investigation into the incident involving those who lost their jobs.
Verma noted that it was previously unimaginable for the police that a demonstration by teachers could become so violent. He mentioned that security measures at the district inspector's office were arranged with the belief that only teachers would participate in the protest.
However, police personnel only recognized the presence of outsiders once the demonstration commenced.
“We never anticipated that teachers would engage in violence against police officers. The protestors intended to lock the gate of the district inspector's office as a form of protest. Yet, in reality, they broke the existing lock at the main entrance. There's a significant difference between locking a gate and breaking a lock,” the Commissioner remarked.
Nonetheless, he conceded that the incident involving a police officer kicking a protestor was regrettable. “I have previously stated this and will reiterate, such actions are undesirable. Mistakes can occur on the part of the police, and we consistently remind them to avoid repeating such errors,” added the Commissioner.
He also mentioned that Riton Das, the officer implicated in the incident, sustained injuries during the altercation. “He was slapped and struck on the chest. His spectacles were even damaged,” the Commissioner asserted.
On the afternoon of April 9, police utilized batons against the teaching and non-teaching staff of state-run schools whose employment was recently terminated following a Supreme Court ruling.
The protestors gathered outside the District Inspector's office in Kasba, demanding that the state government swiftly differentiate between the “genuine” candidates and the “tainted” individuals who secured jobs through illicit payments.
During the police action against the protesting staff, numerous individuals suffered serious injuries due to police batons. Amid the chaos, media personnel captured Das kicking a protestor.
However, the administration characterized the police response as moderate, asserting that officers were compelled to act after being attacked.
