Lucknow, Feb 12, : Thousands of teachers and employees of non-aided schools across the State who reached here to launch protests demanding higher salaries were baton-charged by the police.

Over 100 teachers gathered outside the Raj Bhawan to take part in the demonstration.

For a long time, the teachers have been waging a war demanding the Government to increase their salaries.

A protestor Sitaram Singh Yadav said, "We had gathered here today asking the Government to fulfill our demands. Earlier we had staged a demo and the Government had given us a month''s time but since none from the Government initiated to talk to us, we were forced to take to streets today again."

The teachers were baton-charged by the police, when the latter tried stop the protesters from moving ahead with their march.

However, Senior Superintendent of Police Raghubeer Lal said, "They abused the policemen and when we tried to remove them, they refused to budge, so we had to resort to baton charging to disperse the mob."

Several protestors were injured during the incident.

Teachers and employees of the non-aided schools are demanding a fixed salary of nearly Rs. 5,000. This time, they are getting a monthly honorarium of Rs. 500-1,500.

Although recognized by the UP education board, the non-aided schools are not entitled for any regular financial grant from the state government. (ANI)