JAJARKOT: Twenty-two people, including two police personnel, were injured when agitating teachers clashed with the police in their attempt to padlock the District Administration Office (DAO) today.

The condition of five of the injured is reported to be critical.

Agitating teachers Bhagiram Sharma, Kousila Khatri, Uma Shrestha, Sulochana Sha, Asha Karki, Dipakjung Shah including others injured in the incident, while police constables Bishnu Bista and Bimala Basnet also sustained injuries. They are undergoing treatment in the district hospital, Jajarkot, while teacher Uma Shrestha has been sent to Nepalgunj for further treatment as her leg has been broken.

The police fired over a dozen tear gas shells and fired in the air to stop the teachers from entering the the DAO premises. However, the agitating teachers barged into the premises and padlocked the office of the CDO and the assistant CDO and the main gate of the office.

Coordinator of the Joint Teachers’ Struggle Committee Dillu Prasad Neupane claimed that the police used excessive force in their peaceful demonstration.

The teachers are up in arms for the past three weeks. They have put forth different demands including remote and local allowance to the teachers and scholarship to students of Jajarkot district on par with those of the Karnali region. Schools in the district have remained closed due to the agitation.

Meanwhile, the struggle committee made public more protest programmes today

The committee said it will shut down all educational institutions in the district for an indefinite period starting tomorrow. It also called a district headquarters bandh for tomorrow.

Different student unions have expressed solidarity with the teachers’ agitation.