Sixteen policemen and administrative personnel were injured on Tuesday as physical education degree holders demanding government jobs in primary and secondary schools clashed with police which used batons and water canons to quell the protest, with the agitators claiming that 50 protesters were injured in police action.
The activists belonging to B.P ED Sangharsh Committee turned violent and indulged in severe brick batting, leading to injuries to 16 policemen and administrative officials, district magistrate Raj Shekhar said.
The police used lathis, tear gas shells and water cannons to control the protesters who also damaged several vehicles and set government cars on fire outside the U.P. Assembly.
A few journalists present at the spot to cover the incident were also injured.
Women thrashed
The general secretary of the Morcha, Akash Gupta, who led the agitation, claimed that about 50 protesters were injured in police action, out of which three were admitted to the Civil Hospital, while others got medical aid in different hospitals. Some of them were later discharged.
Mr. Gupta alleged that police also beat up some 100 women members participating in the protest.
“In total, 102 persons were arrested, including important and responsible persons for this agitation,” the DM said.
An FIR has been registered under Sec 143, 147, 332, 353, 351, 307, 427, 436 IPC and 3/4 Damage to public property Act And 7 CLA.
As many as 16 policemen and administrative Officials were injured in the incident, the DM said.
Two police buses, one government car, one police jeep and five police motorcycles were damaged in the protest, the DM said.
Investigations are underway into the facts and sequence of the events which led to the incident, the preparedness and action taken by police and administration in order to access the reasons and ‘shortcomings’ to take corrective measures accordingly, he added.
Mr. Gupta said that “about 10,000 B.P ED degree holders drawn from all over the State were peacefully demonstrating to press for appointment on 46,000 posts when the police resorted to action.”
“Our president Dhirendra Yadav is among those arrested,” he added.
Opposition parties including BJP and Congress have condemned police action on demonstrators saying that in democracy everyone has the right to express his views and cannot be crushed using force. - PTI
