Violent clashes erupt between protesting teachers and police in West Bengal

Violent clashes broke out between protesting schoolteachers and police outside Bikash Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal Education Department in Salt Lake, on May 15, as a peaceful protest spiraled into chaos.

The protest was led by teachers who had recently lost their jobs after a court annulled thousands of appointments in government-aided schools over recruitment irregularities.

The group had been staging a sit-in since the afternoon, demanding immediate reinstatement.

Tensions reached a flashpoint around 8 pm when police forces, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force, attempted to disperse the crowd.

A lathi charge was reportedly used to clear the demonstrators who had laid siege to the government building, blocking access to hundreds of education department employees stuck inside.

Several teachers were injured in the police action, which continued in multiple phases over an hour.

Protestors could be seen bleeding, with injuries to the head and limbs. Police personnel also sustained injuries, and some had to be carried out by their colleagues.

Earlier in the day, a group of protestors allegedly broke open a gate and entered the Bikash Bhavan premises, prompting a strong police response.

Protesters blocked exits, leaving over a hundred government staff trapped inside until they were eventually escorted out.

Teachers accused the police of using excessive force against a peaceful protest. Some were seen lying down on the road in an attempt to resist eviction, while others were dragged away and detained.

Videos and photos captured confrontations, including fistfights and forceful detentions, with some teachers pulled by their collars and shoved into police vehicles.

"We will not sit for a fresh exam. Our demand is clear — our jobs must be restored. We will not leave until the chief minister herself speaks to us," said Mehbub Mondal, one of the demonstrators.

"First they take away our jobs by resorting to institutional corruption. Then they unleash their police force on us to spill our blood," said another teacher, visibly shaken and wearing a torn shirt.

In response to the incident, a senior police officer said, “Police are doing their job. The higher-ups will give a statement.”

"We have used minimum force to disperse the crowd," said Mukesh, CP, Bidhannagar.