Protesting unemployed physical education teachers arrested

Patiala, Nov 26 (UNI) Police has picked up nearly 100 unemployed physical education teachers, majority of them girls, forcibly from YPS Chowk, near the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in the wee hours today.

Police action came after talks between Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and the striking teachers failed last night.

Five teachers refused to accept the appeal of the Sports Minister to end their fast-unto-death.

An official spokesman said here that Rana Sodhi had offered them jobs in Punjab Sports Department relaxing the condition of having diploma from NIS.

A spokesman of the unemployed teachers had alleged that there was no adequate lady police force to arrest female teachers and only male police personnel took them forcibly in police vehicles.

He added that police used water cannon on sleeping striking teachers.

Five teachers, who were on fast-unto-death, were taken to local Rajindra Hospital and booked under sections 309, 109, 320-B, 149, 188 of the IPC while the rest were arrested under sections 107 and 151 of IPC.

Superintendent of Police (City) Mandeep Singh Sidhu could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

UNI XC DP PKS MIR RAI1936