Six EGS teachers jump into canal fearing arrest

Punjab’s six Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) teachers, including two women, jumped into the Sarhind Canal near thermal plant on Sunday while the police was trying to take them into custody. However, all the six teachers were saved by the police officials.The incident came when the EGS teachers were staging a state level protest demanding their pending salaries, besides implementation of some of the demands accepted by the state government last year.

During their protest, when the teachers wanted to march towards the city, the police tried to persuade them not to go ahead. After minor scuffle between the police and the protesters, the police tried to round up the teachers but some teachers, including ladies, ran towards Sirhind canal.Some of them jumped into the canal which created panic but some police officials also jumped into the canal and saved the teachers. 

Most of the protesting teachers were rounded up by police and taken to different police stations of the city.DSP Gurmit Singh Kinra, who was heading the police party along with two other police officials, jumped into the canal to save the drowning teachers.But later on, the police party mercilessly seen abusing and beating the male and female teachers in anger. Some of the injured have been admitted to the hospital.Bathinda SSP said that 150 teachers have been arrested under various offences as they had attacked the police personnel. He said that these teachers will be sent to judicial custody after producing them in the court.