Teachers’ protest against Bengal govt continues in Kolkata

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

Kolkata, May 16: Protests outside Bikash Bhavan in Kolkata intensified on Friday as hundreds of aggrieved school teachers returned to the streets, demanding the reinstatement of their jobs.

The demonstration comes in the wake of a Supreme Court verdict that cancelled over 25,000 appointments in state-aided schools, branding the entire 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment process as “vitiated and tainted.”

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The protesting teachers, many of whom had suffered injuries in Thursday’s violent clashes with police, regrouped outside the West Bengal Education Department headquarters, shouting slogans against the Mamata Banerjee-led state government and the SSC.

Despite the injuries and police action the previous day, several demonstrators continued their sit-in throughout the night and resumed agitation the next morning.

Teachers Reject Re-Test, Demand Justice

The teachers have categorically rejected the idea of reappearing for the recruitment exam, insisting they had already qualified through the 2016 SSC test and deserve permanent reinstatement.

According to members of the Deserving Teachers’ Rights Forum, the group leading the protest, the demand is simple: justice for those who followed the rules but lost their livelihoods due to systemic corruption.

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Protests Resume Despite Yesterday’s Police Lathi Charge

On Thursday evening, the area around Bikash Bhavan turned chaotic as a confrontation erupted between police and protesters. Eyewitnesses reported that the police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd, leaving several including women injured. The violence unfolded over more than an hour, transforming the administrative hub into a virtual conflict zone.

Undeterred, the teachers returned on Friday, tearing through police barricades and launching fresh protests, further escalating tensions with the state authorities. Visuals from the site showed large crowds raising anti-government slogans, demanding accountability and a clear path to regain their jobs.