Bhubaneswar, Feb 12: Hundreds of SC/ST and differently-abled teachers were arrested near Master Canteen Square on Thursday as they were marching towards the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to press for fulfilling their demands.
The teachers, who have been protesting in front of the State Assembly demanding regularisation of jobs for the last eight days and performed the “last rites” of the State government by tonsuring their heads as mark of protest on Wednesday were stopped by the police near Master Canteen Square on their way to Naveen Niwas.
A scuffle erupted between the teachers and police personnel resulting in the arrest of hundreds of teachers. Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi and other senior officials rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.
They have been demanding regularisation of jobs. Thousands of the teachers, under the aegis of the Odisha SC/ST Ganashikshak Mahasangha have been staging demonstration along the Mahamta Gandhi Marg since February 4.
There are nearly 7,200 SC/ST and physically-handicapped teachers working in the State.
