Former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong has condemned the use of tear gas on protesting teachers in the city and said those responsible should be taken to task.
“They are peaceful demonstrators who were unarmed and the reaction from the other side was too intense though the protestors did not harm anyone. Such behaviour from the other side was not called for,” Lanong said.
Empathising with the contractual school teachers he said, “Peaceful demonstration is part of life in our country and you can shout at the top of your lungs as long as you are not causing harm to anyone.”
“I believe that the people involved in using the tear gas against the peaceful protestors should be penalised,” he added.
Home Minister Lakhmen Rymbui who had sought for a report from the district administration into the use of tear gas had also said that it is not clear who ordered the use of tear gas – whether it was the police, one of the magistrates present or someone else.