Police on Wednesday booked more than 50 parents for staging a vociferous protest outside the deputy commissioner’s office over the fee hike row a day before.
However, there was no let-up in agitation as hundreds of angry parents assembled outside the local Spring Dale Senior School and staged dharna.
While heavy police force was deployed outside the school, some parents alleged that they were manhandled and threatened.
Additional deputy commissioner of police (II) Gaurav Garg said cases have been registered against over 50 parents, who blocked the DC’s official vehicle when he was about to leave his office on Tuesday.
On the complaint of sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Rajesh Sharma, police booked protesters under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, 341 (punishment for wrongful assault), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Indian Penal Code. Among those booked is MK Sharma, who is spearheading the agitation.
Earlier, parents blocked the main gate of the Spring Dale school and started raising slogans against the management and the government. The cops asked the protesters to leave the spot. The latter, however, didn’t relent as the deadlock continued throughout the day.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, parents blocked the main gate of the Spring Dale school and started raising slogans against the management and the government. The cops asked the protesters to leave the spot. The latter, however, didn’t relent as the deadlock continued throughout the day.
{{/usCountry}}On allegations of parents being manhandled, ADCP Garg said, “As far as I know, no one was manhandled. Police was just deployed there to prevent any law and order trouble.”
No scope for talks: DC
Amritsar DC Varun Roojam said the agitating parents had left them with no option but to book them. “They blocked my official vehicle and didn’t care about the law and order trouble. There is no scope for talks with them anymore as they have defeated the entire purpose. I’ve taken up the matter with education minister Daljit Singh Cheema and apprised him about the entire situation in Amritsar.”
The DC said the representatives of various parent associations had misbehaved with officers, threatened to block roads and create nuisance in the city.
MK Sharma said the administration was favouring the schools and trying to suppress the voice of parents through police cases.“I have met the education minister who has promised to constitute a regulatory commission within this month,” he added.
Local congress leaders flayed police action against parents and slammed cabinet minister Anil Joshi for not supporting them.