State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) chairperson Iamonlang M Syiem has assured that the commission will ensure the well-being of children tear gassed amid protesting contractual teachers.
Syiem who immediately went to the protest site said she came to assess the situation and to make sure that there is no violation of child rights. “Only until we have the report from all sides then we from the commission can make any statement on this,” she said.
The SCPCR chief also took statements of the children and the female teachers affected by the tear gas incident.
It is learnt that around six children were present at the protest and the child rights panel has noted their telephone numbers for a follow up to see they are not traumatised by the incident.
On query relating to police manhandling of female teachers, the Chairperson said she is not in position to make statement but only came to assess the situation and to make sure no child was hurt. “We are here only for the well-being of the children…. we will have (to) wait for the report to find out how many children have been injured,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya State Commission for Women has also taken note of the incident and is expected to meet tomorrow to dwell on the incident.
As per the complaint lodged by the teachers with the Director General of Police, pregnant women were also present at the protest site and that female teachers were handled by policemen as no women police were deployed there.
