WB: Clash over Urdu teachers' recruitment, two students dead
(PTI desk)
A college student, injured in a clash between a mob and the police in North Dinajpur's Islampur, died today, pushing the death toll to two, even as a 12-hour bandh called by BJP is underway in the West Bengal district. Trouble brewed over recruitment of Urdu teachers for the school as the students said they needed Science and English teachers. Here are more details.
Locals allege students died in police firing; DIG denies charge
Tapas Barman, a third-year student, succumbed to injuries in North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, officials said. Rajesh Sarkar, an ITI student, died yesterday. Locals alleged the two students were killed in police firing but DIG Raiganj range Jayanta Paul denied the charge. Both Barman and Sarkar were Islampur area residents and former students of Daribhit High School.
Students, area residents stopped Urdu teachers from entering the school
The students and area residents stopped three newly-recruited Urdu teachers from entering the school yesterday, demanding that all vacant teaching posts be filled. The Urdu teachers had previously tried to enter the school but they weren't allowed, following which they took the help of police to enter the school campus yesterday. Several policemen accompanying the teachers were also injured in the clash.
BJP has called 12-hour bandh in North Dinajpur district
The BJP has called the 12-hour bandh from 6 am in North Dinajpur district today. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions are closed in the affected area. Two government buses were ransacked by bandh supporters in Raiganj while private vehicles remained mostly off roads. Altogether 15 bandh supporters were arrested from Islampur and Raiganj, officials said. Train services, however, remained unaffected.
Those responsible for incident won't be spared: Partha Chatterjee
The ruling TMC and opposition BJP traded charges over the incident. "The RSS is bringing outsiders and indulging in politics there. The RSS or the BJP, whoever is responsible (for the incident) will not be spared," Education-ministry'>Education Minister and TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said.
TMC is seeing the ghost of RSS in everything: BJP
State BJP President Dilip Ghosh said, "The TMC is seeing the ghost of the RSS in everything. They should do self-introspection and perform their duty. The police have opened fire on students which isn't desirable." When the school needed teachers of Mathematics and other subjects, Urdu teachers were recruited, he claimed. Officials of Daribhit High School said the school didn't seek any Urdu teacher.
District Inspector of Schools suspended over recruitment of Urdu teachers
Meanwhile, the education department suspended the District Inspector of Schools of North Dinajpur, Rabindranath Mondal, in view of the appointment of Urdu teachers. Sources in the DI's office, however, said the appointments were made by the department and not by the DI.
