What began as a peaceful protest by aspiring teachers turned into a scene of chaos and violence on Thursday as police resorted to a forceful lathi charge outside Bikash Bhavan in Salt Lake, Kolkata. The demonstrators—candidates whose names featured in the 2016 SSC panel but lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order—had gathered to demand justice and reinstatement.

As the protest intensified in the late afternoon, police allegedly used excessive force to disperse the crowd. Witnesses reported brutal beatings, with several protesters suffering serious head injuries, fractured limbs, and torn clothing. Some teachers fell unconscious on the ground while others bled from deep wounds on their hands and legs.

According to participants, the situation deteriorated further due to the lack of basic emergency support. “There was not a single ambulance at the spot. Even those who collapsed from injuries or illness received no medical help,” said one teacher, visibly shaken. “We weren’t even provided drinking water.”

The incident has sparked widespread outrage, as videos circulating on social media show what many have called an unprovoked and disproportionate police response. In contrast to the official claim that the police used “minimal force,” the footage clearly shows officers striking unarmed individuals multiple times and chasing them away with batons.

A tense moment also occurred earlier in the day when the protestors clashed with the private security team of local TMC councillor Mr. Sabbyasachi Dutta. The situation escalated after the crowd broke through the outer gates of Bikash Bhavan and began gathering near the main building.

The protest was organized under the banner of “Jogyo Shikshak Shikshika Adhikar Mancha” (Deserving Teachers’ Rights Forum), which has been leading the charge for the reinstatement of over 26,000 educators and non-teaching staff whose appointments were cancelled due to reported irregularities.

Human rights groups and opposition leaders have condemned the police action, calling for an independent inquiry. “Assaulting peaceful protestors—many of them women—is a violation of fundamental rights,” said a senior rights advocate. “Who gave the order to use such force? The government must answer.”

Despite the crackdown, the teachers have vowed to continue their movement. “We have lost our jobs, our dignity, and now our safety,” said another protestor. “But we will not give up. We are fighting for justice.”

As public anger grows, the state government faces mounting pressure to address not just the teachers’ demands but also the alarming response from law enforcement.