DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Facing criticism from teachers and opposition party SAD, authorities in Punjab's Phagwara on Saturday withdrew its order of deputing government schoolteachers to check illegal mining. More than 20 government teachers had been deputed to keep a check on trucks and trolleys, carrying sand, during night hours, according to the teachers' association. This came a month after the Gurdaspur administration deputed government teachers at distilleries and breweries to keep a check on the supply of liquor. That order was also withdrawn following stiff opposition from teachers. According to an order issued by the Phagwara Sub-Divisional Magistrate, a team of teachers have been formed to check trucks and trolleys, carrying sand, coming from various entry points into Phagwara sub-division in order to stop illegal mining. Phagwara is in Punjab's Kapurthala district. Their duty hours were 9 pm till 1 am, as per the order. Teachers, along with police officials, were also asked to send a detailed report of vehicles every da to the concerned authorities.However, following opposition from the teachers' association and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the order was cancelled on Saturday. "We strongly oppose the decision to depute government teachers to check illegal mining," Democratic Teachers' Front (Punjab) President Davinder Singh Punia said prior to the withdrawal of order. He had feared that the unarmed teachers could be attacked by those who indulge in illegal mining business. (editor@dailyworld.in)