The Bidhannagar North Police have issued summons to 15 teachers involved in the May 15 protest outside Bikash Bhavan, the headquarters of the state education department in Salt Lake, Kolkata. The teachers have been asked to appear before the police by May 21 for allegedly damaging public property and obstructing government officials during the violent confrontation. Failure to comply may result in arrests under Section 35(6) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), an officer confirmed.

Police Injuries and Clashes

According to the police, 21 personnel were injured in the clashes. Among them, officer Bhawna Das from the Barrackpore police force suffered serious injuries, including a fractured nose and broken teeth. “Our priority was to safely evacuate those trapped inside Bikash Bhavan,” the officer stated.

Police have filed a suo motu case and are open to investigating individual complaints from those affected during the protest. Forensic analysis is underway to determine whether injuries were caused by the police baton charge or by objects allegedly thrown by the protesters, including bricks and bottles.

Protests Over Job Termination

The teachers, protesting under the banner of Jogya Shikshak Shikshika Adhikar Mancha (JSSAM), have been staging a sit-in since the Supreme Court’s April verdict that annulled the appointments of over 25,000 teaching and non-teaching staff recruited through the 2016 West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) examinations.

Teachers Respond to Police Action

Chinmoy Mondol, a representative of the protesting teachers, confirmed to The Indian Express that the summons were sent via WhatsApp and said more are expected. “We are consulting our lawyers. Even if some of us received notices, we all will go to the police station. We have done nothing wrong. This is harassment,” he said.

Child Rights Commission Steps In

Sources indicate that the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken cognizance of the presence of children at the protest site, where open classes were being held. The Commission suspects a possible violation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and has sought a report from the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate regarding the circumstances under which children were brought to the protest.

Protests Enter Fourth Day

Despite the police action, the sit-in continued for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday. Teachers were seen grading answer sheets while participating in the demonstration. Arpita, a teacher from Purba Bardhaman, said, “I have 120 answer papers to check. The court has allowed us to work until December 31, and I have a duty toward my students. I may be protesting, but I won’t neglect my responsibilities.”

Personal Struggles Add to the Protest’s Depth

Several protestors are also fighting personal battles. One such case is of Moumita Haldar, who suffered a brain stroke in 2022 after childbirth. Her husband, Prosenjit Das, has been attending the protests on her behalf. “Teaching is the only thing she can do now. We are here to seek justice for her,” he said.

Political Reaction Sparks Backlash

On Saturday, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim criticized the protest, claiming it was an attempt to seek media attention. “Only the Supreme Court can overturn its verdict. Protesting in front of Bikash Bhavan and blocking roads is not the solution—this is drama, not protest,” he remarked.

The mayor’s comments were met with strong rebuttal from protestors. “We’ve seen enough drama from politicians. If this were theatre, we wouldn’t be suffering like this on the streets. We are here for justice and dignity,” Mondol retorted.