-SYED AHMED ALI
Uttar Pradesh: A deeply disturbing video has surfaced, depicting a troubling incident involving Tripta Tyagi, a schoolteacher at Neha Public School in Khubbapur, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The video has been widely shared on social media, triggering an outcry among netizens demanding swift action against the teacher responsible for instructing fellow students to slap a Muslim classmate.
On Friday, August 25, 2023, a viral video emerged, showcasing a shocking scene where the teacher can be seen directing students to slap a Muslim student. In the distressing footage, the students obeyed, and the teacher went so far as to encourage them to slap the student even harder. The video was captured by a concerned parent who remained off-camera, capturing the teacher’s statements such as “Muslim children should be packed off there” and asserting that “Muslim boys fail to learn unless given a beating.”
Reacting to this appalling incident, Uttar Pradesh-based lawyer S M Haider Rizvi has taken action by submitting a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission. The complaint calls for registering a First Information Report (FIR) against the teacher under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 153A, 295A, 298, 323, 504, and 506. Furthermore, it demands an independent investigation into the matter, as well as compensation for the victimized student’s schooling and transfer to a different district.
The complaint points out that the teacher’s behavior underscores a deeply prejudiced mindset, fomenting hatred against a specific community. The video’s widespread dissemination not only tarnishes the nation’s reputation but also undermines its secular fabric, which has already been strained by similar divisive elements seeking to disrupt harmony among different religious groups.
Mohammed Zubair, a Fact-Checker and Co-founder of AltNews, shared a video featuring a father who expressed his reluctance to involve the police or courts due to the potential hassle and stress of legal proceedings.
In response to this distressing incident, Prof Salim Engineer, the Markazi Taleemi Board (MTB) Chairman, condemned the incident unequivocally. He called for severe actions against both the school and the teacher involved. Prof Salim Engineer emphasized the need for an inquiry by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and stressed that the child’s rights had been egregiously violated. He noted that the rise of Islamophobia in schools and colleges needs to be officially recognized by the government and addressed with appropriate legislation.
Furthermore, Prof. Salim Engineer urged the police, NCPCR, and the courts to take immediate and proactive steps in pursuing justice for the victimized student. He called for an investigation into whether the school adhered to the required standards and norms of the State School Board and suggested that the school’s license should be revoked if deemed necessary.
