In the UP, a teacher was detained after ordering a Muslim pupil to strike a Hindu classmate

Shaista, a teacher at a private school in the small hamlet of Dugawar in the Sambhal district, was detained on Thursday for allegedly inciting racial unrest. The altercation allegedly started when the instructor instructed a Muslim pupil to strike out at a Hindu classmate who was unable to respond to a question. The student’s father, a Hindu, complained to the police that the instructor had hurt his son’s religious feelings, which led to the arrest.

According to Additional SP Shrish Chandra, the instructor, Shaista, has been charged with violating IPC sections 153A (promote enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, race, etc.) and 323 (willfully cause harm). According to PTI, the arrest represents a recognition of the seriousness of the issue and an early legal action.

This troubling incident reminds us of a similar incident that happened in Muzaffarnagar last month, when a teacher from a private school was sued for allowing Muslim students to slap a Muslim student for not turning in their homework. In that instance, a complaint was filed under IPC sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to incite disturbance of the peace) and 323 (voluntarily inflicting harm) against the accused instructor, Tripta Tyagi.

The Supreme Court highlighted on September 25 that excellent education cannot be attained if pupils are punished because of their community connection, highlighting the wider ramifications of such instances. In response to its displeasure with the preliminary inquiry, the Supreme Court ordered the state of Uttar Pradesh to choose a top IPS officer within a week to carry out a full investigation into the Muzaffarnagar matter.