28 August 2024: On Friday, a shocking video surfaced on social media, igniting outrage across the country. The disturbing footage, filmed at Chanakya High School in Wanaparthy, Telangana, appears to show a group of Bajrang Dal members storming the school premises, where they allegedly threatened several Muslim girls engaged in namaz (prayer). These girls were reportedly praying with the explicit permission of the school authorities, as confirmed in the video.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with the Students Islamic Organisation of India, Telangana, leading the outcry. In a strongly worded statement released today, the organization decried the actions of the Bajrang Dal members. The statement reads:
“In Wanaparthy, Telangana, a reprehensible and morally indefensible act was carried out by Bajrang Dal members. They invaded a private space where girls were peacefully offering prayers with the consent of Chanakya High School’s administration. Such heinous acts are becoming alarmingly frequent in Telangana, where Hindutva extremists feel emboldened to intrude into the private lives of Muslims and other religious minorities, spreading fear and chaos.”
SIO Telangana further called on the school authorities to take a firm stand against what they termed “hateful politics.” They demanded that an FIR be filed immediately against the perpetrators. The organization’s statement emphasized:
“We urge the school to resist bowing to the pressure of Hindutva ideologues and to take legal action against those responsible. It is imperative that the state government and the police take immediate action to hold the Bajrang Dal members accountable, along with their leadership, who incite such acts of violence.”
Adding to the wave of criticism, Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson for Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT), took to social media platform X to voice his concerns. He wrote:
“Anti-social elements from Bajrang Dal brazenly entered Chanakya High School in Wanaparthy, where they threatened Muslim girls engaged in Namaz, despite having permission from the school authorities. They even issued threats to the school officials. Shockingly, three days have passed, yet no FIR has been filed, and no arrests have been made. This inaction is unacceptable. I urge @revanth_anumula to press the @sp_wanaparthy to conduct a thorough investigation and bring all culprits from Bajrang Dal to justice immediately. Such incidents not only hurt the sentiments of Muslims but also instill fear among parents and students.”
The lack of swift action in response to this incident has fueled concerns about the safety and rights of religious minorities in the state.
