Guest teachers face cops’ brutality

FIR lodged, violence erupts as teachers protest for regularisation 

 

In a shocking turn of events, guest teachers in State faced severe police brutality during their protest for regularisation in the State capital on Wednesday. At night, police allegedly turned off the lights and brutally charged at the guest teachers with batons, resulting in serious injuries. The marks from the batons are clearly visible on the bodies of many teachers. The violence escalated late night when police reportedly launched a baton charge on the crowd, leading to chaos and numerous injuries. Teachers were beaten up so harshly that police batons reportedly broke. Distressing videos captured the horrific scenes which went viral on the internet drawing sharp criticisms from the denizens. Female teachers were reportedly beaten up by the police.

 

The protests, which took place on October 2 at Ambedkar Park, were “a response to the State Government’s inaction on teachers’ demands”. The situation intensified when police, after maintaining a heavy presence throughout the day, decided to act under the cover of darkness, turning off the lights and initiating the attack. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Sunil Singh Parihar, President of the Guest Teachers Co-ordination Committee, mentioned, “guest teachers are neither terrorists nor criminals. Their demands are justified.” He recalled that the Madhya Pradesh Government had summoned thousands of guest teachers to Bhopal at government expense on September 2, 2023, for a guest teachers’ assembly. During this event, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had made several promises, including regularisation through departmental exams, annual contracts, 50% reservation in direct recruitment, and bonus points. However, even after a year later, no orders have been issued. “Despite hundreds of applications and memorandums submitted to the government, there has been no response.

 

This led guest teachers to gather at Ambedkar Park on Gandhi Jayanti to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister. When police set up barricades to prevent them from proceeding, they chose to sit peacefully in the same location,” he said. Parihar condemned the cruelty of the State Government and Bhopal Police, stating that all guest teachers oppose this brutality. He warned that if the FIRs are not withdrawn, soon one lakh guest teachers will come to Bhopal without permission. “Let the Government file FIRs against us; none will seek bail, and all guest teachers will happily go to jail,” he declared. In response to the Government’s broken promises, they also intend to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar. “The BJP government made promises, and it is still in power. Fulfill the commitments made to guest teachers. Your government vowed to secure our future, not to render us unemployed. Thousands of guest teachers have been left jobless due to direct recruitment, promotions, and transfers. After 16 years of service, where should these guest teachers go? How will they provide for their families? he lamented. Teachers alleged that this was a deliberate tactic to carry out the assault without witnesses. Following the violent crackdown, police filed FIRs against several union leaders, including K C Pawar, citing unlawful assembly. Notably, the protests were ignited by a recent dismissive remark from School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh, who questioned the teachers’ demands by saying, “Mehman ho to aap ghar par kabja karoge?” (If you are a guest, will you occupy someone’s home?). Prominent political figures, including Congress State President Jitu Patwari and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, showed support for the teachers, amplifying the political dimensions of the crisis.

 

As tensions mount, the situation remains precarious. It was learnt that teachers are prepared to escalate their protests, with leaders warning of a hunger strike if their demands are not met. The police’s heavy-handed response has ignited a wider conversation about the treatment and rights of educators in the state, as guest teachers unite in their fight for recognition and stability in their careers. With their livelihoods at stake, the guest teachers seem determined to press on until their voices are heard, leaving the state government with no choice but to address their concerns.