Teachers arrested for staging dharna, strike intensifies

Hyderabad, Oct 26 (UNI) Police today arrested several teachers, including the Joint Action Committee of Teachers Organisations (JACTO) members for organising a dharna before the residence of the Andhra Pradesh School Edcucation Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha at Sanga Reddy in Medak district to press their demands.

Police said 151 JACTO members were taken into custody for organising dharna at the residence of the minister. The minister and his family members were not in the house at that time. However they were released later.

Meanwhile, the government schools in the state remained closed, as the state-wide strike called by the JACTO entered into the fifth-day today. JACTO leaders said here that they would intensify their agitation from tomorrow to press their demands.

As part of their agitation, the teachers' organisation would stage dharnas at Mandal Revenue Offices in the state.

Rallies were conducted all over the state and the agitators met leaders of various political parties to seek support for their strike.

The organisation leaders said they would wear black-badges on on October 28 to show their resentment against the government's attitude towards their demands, including unified service rules and promotions to the teachers.

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