Kohima: Police burst tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge as rival groups of striking ad hoc teachers were involved in scuffle outside old Nagaland assembly complex demanding regularisation of their jobs.
Trouble began when striking All Nagaland Ad hoc Teachers’ Union office bearers announced temporary suspension of their two-day agitation after a meeting with Chief
Secretary Lalthara, Education Commissioner and Secretary and Director of School Education, official sources said.
As the delegation members said the government has promised the ad hoc teachers’ grievances would be brought before the cabinet within 30 days, a section of agitating teachers insisted that the strike would not be suspended unless the government came up with a written undertaking.
As both sides jostled, police used tear gas cells and canes to bring the situation under control, the sources said. In the melee, some passers-by and nearby shopkeepers
also suffered blows, eyewitnesses said.
Taking strong exception to police action on shopkeepers, members of Kohima Chambers of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) later submitted a memorandum to the SP demanding action against the erring police officers.
The teachers' union was on strike outside the office of School Education Directorate, also before the old assembly complex, for the past two days in support of their
demand for regularisation of services.
PTI
First Published: Friday, August 19, 2011, 21:37