West Bengal Sees Widespread Protests Over Job Cancellations: What’s Behind the Unrest?
Protests Erupt in West Bengal
Kolkata: On Wednesday, significant protests broke out across various districts in West Bengal in response to the cancellation of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching positions in state-run schools. This decision followed a Supreme Court ruling that annulled the West Bengal School Service Commission’s (WBSSC) 2016 panel.
Former employees gathered at different Education Department offices, urging the state government and WBSSC to take immediate action to distinguish between 'genuine' candidates and those who allegedly secured jobs through bribery.
In areas like Kasba in South Kolkata, police were compelled to use force to disperse the crowds of dismissed employees who had gathered outside the district inspectors of schools' offices.
The Supreme Court had recently upheld a Calcutta High Court ruling that mandated the segregation of 'genuine' candidates from 'tainted' ones, leading to the cancellation of the job panel.
On Wednesday, sacked employees congregated outside the district inspector's office in Kasba, where a significant police presence was deployed to prevent them from entering.
Despite the main entrance being locked and barricades erected, the protesters managed to remove the barriers, break the lock, and enter the office.
This led to clashes between the police and the demonstrators, prompting law enforcement to conduct a substantial lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.
Several protesters sustained injuries during the police action. One injured individual stated, 'We are legitimate candidates. We have no choice but to protest, and the state is suppressing our movement with force.'
In Chinsurah, Hooghly district, a group of protesting employees marched to the district inspector's office, where they locked the office from the outside after their demonstration.
Similar actions were reported in Siliguri, Darjeeling district, where protesters also locked the district inspector's office.
Another group obstructed the busy G.T. Road in the Howrah district, causing significant traffic delays.
As this report was being compiled, protests, clashes, and police lathi-charges were also occurring in other districts, including Malda, South Dinajpur, East Midnapore, and West Midnapore.