New Delhi. In Telangana’s Mancherial district, the principal of a missionary school faced criticism for questioning students about their religious attire. When people came to know about the principal’s inquiry about the religious dress of the students, they became angry. The angry mob not only vandalized the school but also beat up the staff members. A video of vandalism in the school has also surfaced.
According to NDTV report, the police have registered a case against the school principal and two staff members following a complaint by the students’ parents. The police have registered an FIR under sections related to hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion. However, the situation remains tense as the protesters, hurt by the principal’s actions, have demanded an apology from the school.
Principal stops students from wearing saffron clothes
Officials said that ‘Blessed Mother Teresa School’ is located in Kannepalli village, about 250 km from the capital Hyderabad. Principal Jamon Joseph, who hails from Kerala, noticed that some students were coming to school wearing saffron clothes instead of school uniform. When Joseph asked the students about this, they told that they were celebrating 21-day ‘Hanuman Diksha’. After this Principal Joseph asked the students to bring their parents to school.
Vandalism in school, assault on principal
The controversy escalated when someone shared a video on social media claiming that the principal was not allowing students to wear Hindu attire in the school. Angered by this, the mob attacked the school. A video of the incident shows people chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ while breaking windows and doors of the school.
Teachers were seen with folded hands appealing to the crowd to stop. Police immediately reached the spot and managed to control the situation, and asked the protesters to leave the school premises. The situation was brought under control and the crowd left the school. The video also shows the principal being surrounded and beaten by the mob. Tilak was also applied on the principal’s forehead.