West Bengal Government Supports Police Response to Job Protestors
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Synopsis
On April 9, a West Bengal minister, senior bureaucrat, and top police officer defended the police's actions against protesting job losers. Significant unrest occurred in Kasba, South Kolkata, where police were accused of using excessive force against demonstrators demanding action from the state government.
Key Takeaways
- West Bengal officials defended police actions during protests.
- Protests were most intense in Kasba, South Kolkata.
- Police Commissioner described actions as necessary for control.
- Job losers demand differentiation between genuine and tainted candidates.
- Government claims to support affected individuals.
Kolkata, April 9 (NationPress) A minister from West Bengal, along with a senior official and a high-ranking police officer, defended the police's response to individuals protesting the loss of their school jobs across the state. The most significant demonstrations occurred in Kasba, South Kolkata, near the district inspector of schools' office.
Despite several protestors sustaining serious injuries due to a substantial police cane-charge at Kasba, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma characterized the police's actions as mild, asserting they were a reaction to provocation from the protestors.
“The police were the initial targets. Six officers, including two female officers, were harmed. There is recorded evidence of these attacks,” Verma stated.
He further explained that the police were compelled to take restrained measures to manage the situation and avert further escalation.
Echoing the police commissioner's stance, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant asserted that if there are efforts to damage state property or assault police officers, law enforcement must respond accordingly.
Conversely, numerous demonstrators at Kasba earlier in the day contested the police commissioner's assertion that the police action was “mild.”
Some protestors even showcased their injuries — inflicted by police batons — to the media.
West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu also backed the police response, suggesting that those who lost their jobs must choose between negotiating with the state or continuing with what he termed a “destructive movement” influenced by vested interests.
“Why are these protests occurring when the state government is offering complete support to those who lost jobs? We have not issued termination letters to anyone. What is the motive behind these protests?” he questioned.
Last week, a division bench of the Supreme Court upheld a previous ruling from the Calcutta High Court from last April, which annulled a list of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching jobs due to the state's failure to distinguish “genuine” candidates from “tainted” ones who secured positions through improper means.
On Wednesday, those identified as “genuine” job losers gathered in large numbers at various offices linked to the state education department, urging immediate action from the state government and the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) to differentiate between the “genuine” candidates and the “tainted” ones.
