Violent protests erupted outside Bikash Bhavan in Salt Lake, Kolkata on Thursday, as thousands of teachers who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court verdict staged a dramatic demonstration. The protest turned chaotic, forcing the police to intervene amid scenes described by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jawed Shamim as a “hostage-like” situation for government employees trapped inside.
The agitation stems from the recent Supreme Court ruling that led to the termination of nearly 26,000 teachers recruited through the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC), an issue that has plagued the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
Protest Turns Violent
According to ADGP Shamim, the situation escalated quickly on Thursday morning when a large group of aggrieved teachers broke barricades, forcibly entered the Bikash Bhavan premises, and caused significant damage.
“They broke the gates open… They flooded the whole premises… It became extremely volatile,” said Shamim.
“We showed restraint because 58 departments operate from that building, with over 500 staff members,” he added.
As per Shamim’s account, the protesters refused to allow government employees to leave after office hours ended at 5:30 pm, locking the building’s gates and sparking fears of a potential standoff.
“They were adamant that nobody would be allowed to leave. It was a kind of hostage situation,” he noted.
Police Intervention
After hours of negotiation that stretched till 8:30 pm, the police created a cordoned-off passage to allow trapped staff to exit the premises. During this, protesters allegedly hurled stones and plastic bottles at the police.
“We used minimum required force to ensure the safety of government employees… One person is seriously injured, and 19 others sustained minor injuries,” Shamim confirmed.
Protests Continue
Despite the intervention, the teachers resumed their protest on Friday, demanding justice and reinstatement after losing their jobs in what they claim was an administrative failure, not their fault.
The ongoing unrest has put further pressure on the West Bengal government, already under scrutiny over SSC recruitment irregularities. The state government has not yet released an official statement regarding the continued protests or possible remedial measures for the affected teachers.