Three teachers attempt suicide outside minister's house

The agitation of teaching course pass-outs against recruitment of outsiders today took a violent turn as three of the protesters tried to immolate themselves outside the house of the education minister here.

Three unemployed Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) doused themselves with kerosene and tried to set themselves on fire, before police overpowered them and foiled the attempt.

According to eyewitnesses, about 500 unemployed teachers organized a state-level rally at local grain market demanding exclusion of teachers who had passed their ETT courses from outside state from the recruitment process.

After the rally, they took out a protest march and sat on dharna outside the residence of the minister Upinderjit Kaur here, where the immolation attempt took place.

Two teachers of ETT Jammu group were on fast unto death and their fast had entered seventh day today. The condition of one of teachers Harjit Kaur is stated to be critical according to doctors attending to her.

On February 7, protester Kirnjit kaur had immolated her self in support of the demands.