Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police have denied permission to the agitating Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association to stage a dharna at the Lower PMG in the capital city on Wednesday on the ground that it would lead to traffic congestion during the ongoing Matric examination.
In a letter to the United Primary Teachers’ Federation, the Commissionerate Police said, “As the Matric examination is currently going on in the State, any kind of dharna and strike will only intensify the traffic congestion in the Capital City. Hence, permission is not granted for the strike.”
The United Primary Teachers Federation had sought permission to stage a dharna at Lower PMG at 12.30 pm on March 15 in support of their demands. However, the Zone-I ACP and Capital police station IIC have not recommended this.
“Your organisation had obtained permission from this office on 27.11.2022 for the congregation of 2,500 teachers to participate in a dharna at Lower PMG. However, your turnout was more than 40,000 which caused traffic congestion, inconvenience to passengers and the general public in around Master Canteen and the railway station area, and blockage of all the roads,” read the letter issued by the Commissionerate Police to the teachers’ body.
Meanwhile, the federation has termed the refusal of permission as ‘unfortunate’. A steering committee meeting of the federation will be held on Wednesday to decide whether to go for the strike or not.
