At least 35 PTA teachers and five policemen were injured today when police used force to stop protesting PTA teachers from entering the Secretariat in Shimla. The police cane charged the teachers, who were protesting outside the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat, and, in return, the teachers pelted stones on the police, injuring five cops. Damage was also caused to public and private property. The injured included 20 women protesters.

The police later arrested 64 teachers, though the women were later sent home. The men have been detained at Boileauganj Police Station and booked under the non-bailable offence of damaging public and private property and assaulting policemen.

The incident occurred at 5 pm, about five hours after the teachers blocked traffic on the arterial road outside the Secretariat.

Superintendent of Police R.M. Sharma, who was present on the spot, said, “The teachers assaulted the policemen to break into the Secretariat and the police had to use force to stop them. To the administration’s knowledge, only two teachers have been injured and five of our men, including ASP Mahender, DSP Madan Lal and three constables, have been injured.” He said in case there were more injured teachers, they had not reported to the administration. The Deputy Commissioner was also present on the spot when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, as the road remained blocked, the traffic police diverted traffic on all main roads to avoid inconvenience to the public.