KAPURTHALA: A day after the death of teacher Kiranjit Kaur, who committed self-immolation, members of the Elementary Guarantee Scheme (EGS) Union started an indefinite dharna at Shalimar Bagh here on Tuesday, demanding registration of an abetment to suicide case against DSP Bahadur Singh and termination of his service.
The EGS volunteers also demanded direct admission to the Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) course and enhancement of compensation to Kiranjit’s family from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
Several EGS volunteers alleged that lady police personnel manhandled and detained their president Kulwant Kumari at the local railway station when she arrived here from Faridkot. However, she was released after a protest, they added.
The protesters presented a memorandum to Bholath SDM Ranjit Kaur, even as the police did not let them take out a protest march in the town.
Meanwhile, Dasuya SDM Mohammad Tayyab has initiated an inquiry into Sunday’s incident. Talking to HT, Tayyab said the inquiry was time-bound and he would try to complete it as early as possible.
Sources said Tayyab visited the spot – the water tank on the premises of the local Civil Hospital- where Kiranjit had set herself ablaze on Sunday evening. He also met Deputy Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary.
In a related development, former Congress MP Rana Gurjit Singh denied the charges levelled by local SAD-BJP leaders that he had instigated EGS teachers to stay atop the water tank.
In an unsigned statement, Rana said on Tuesday that he was the only leader who had contacted protesters after the self-immolation to persuade them not to take the extreme step, whereas the entire local SAD leadership remained a mute spectator.
He warned that the people of Kapurthala would give a befit ting reply to the state government if it registered a criminal case against him.
SOURCE-HT
