A detailed look back at this case:

In the month of August 2023, a minor Muslim student was scolded and hurled communal remarks by his school teacher Tripta Tyagi, for allegedly not doing his homework. The teacher also asked other students to slap the minor boy. She could be heard saying, “Go to any Muslim child’s area…” suggesting a pejorative statement. Furthermore, she instructed the fellow students to “hit harder”. The video of the incident went viral on social media and created nationwide outrage.

Following the incident, Tushar Gandhi filed a petition in the Supreme Court to ensure independent investigation in the matter. Subsequently, the teacher was booked under Sections 302 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code, which are non-cognisable offences. Only after a long delay and rap from SC, the FIR was finally filed by the police incorporating the additional charges under Section 295A of IPC, which deals with acts that deliberately and maliciously outrage religious feelings of any class, and Section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, which relates to punishment for cruelty to child.

The SC began hearing the petition in month of September 2023, and since then has issued several directions to the State Government with regards to the filing of FIR, invocation of relevant charges based on the evidence, admission of the victim student in the private school of their choice of school under the EWS quota, counselling of the victim and other students, and seeking compliance reports at various stages. The court has rebuked the State more than once for its repeated non-compliance of the court’s orders.

The trajectory of the case so far

CJP and Sabrang India have already tracked the progress of the case till November 2023, this article is a follow up to the same. To read the earlier updates on the case please visit here [1], [2], [3].

Following the order passed by the SC on November 10, 2023, in which it reprimanded the Uttar Pradesh (UP) state government for not conducting the counselling of either the victim nor the other children, it also asked Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) to “suggest the mode and manner of extending counselling to the victim child and to the other children involved in the incident”^[1] and to “suggest the names of the expert child Counsellors and other experts in the field available in the State who can do counselling under the supervision of TISS”^[2]. Furthermore, the court asked TISS to prepare the report on the assessment made.

Thereafter on December 11, 2023, the court noted that it has carefully perused the report prepared by TISS regarding counselling of students, and ordered the State Government officials to coordinate with TISS experts to chart out the modalities for implementing the recommendations contained in the report. Directing the State to file compliance report, the order notes, “We direct the State to file a report containing the details about the manner in which the State proposes to implement the recommendations in the report of TISS. The State response shall be filed by January 17, 2024.”^[3]

Pertinently, Justice AS Oka, while hearing the case on January 12, observed that, “‘all this happened because the State did not do what it was expected to do. The State should be very concerned about the manner in which this incident happened’”.^[4] To this, the counsel for the State Government protested, saying that the incident took place in a private school.

During the same hearing, advocate Garima Prashad, appearing for the state of Uttar Pradesh, filed an affidavit regarding the implementation of the recommendations contained in the TISS report. When asked by the bench whether the victim child is still studying in the same school, Prashad responded that “We have taken the necessary steps, but my only concern is that a seven-year-old child has to go to school which is 28 kilometres away.” She added that this is also contrary to the Right to Education Act, which mandates that students of classes I to V should reside within a 1-km radius of the school and students belonging to classes VI to VIII within a 3-km radius, India Today reported^[5].

Responding to this, the counsel appearing for the petitioner, Shadan Farasat, noted that the “That’s the only good school available and the father is ready to take the child to school”. He countered the argument of the State, pointing out that “It is the school which was within this radius that caused harm to the child”. The response was in regard to the child being admitted in the private school affiliated to CBSE. Farasat also contended that, the affidavit submitted by the State Government regarding the recommendations contained in the TISS report was “inadequate”.

Following the SC order in November 2023, Basic Siksha Adhikari (BSA) at Muzaffarnagar, Shubham Shukla was quoted as saying, “‘I then visited Shardein School, a well-known educational institution in the city, and got him admitted. The boy was provided a seat there in class II and will restart his schooling from Monday. His uniforms and syllabus have been provided. All the educational expenses will be taken care of by the state.’”, the Times of India reported^[6]

Following these developments, the SC bench comprising Justice AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan in their order dated January 12, 2024, said that the counsel appearing for the petitioner, Shadan Farasat, is free to give his suggestions to the State after consulting the parents of the child, so that the recommendations of the report can be implemented, and listed the matter on February 9, 2024^[7].

It was at the hearing of the case on February 9, 2024 that the bench sharply chastened the UP government and expressed its strong disapproval for not complying with its orders. The order reads, “We find from the affidavits filed on record that the State has not undertaken counselling of the other children, who were participants and witnesses in terms of the suggestions of TISS. There was an element of urgency in counselling. We direct the State Government to immediately implement the suggestions in TISS report about the counselling of other children, who were participants and witnesses in the corporal punishment incident. Compliance affidavit shall be filed on or before 28.02.2024.”^[8]

During the hearing, Farasat had brought to the notice of the court the fact that the affidavit submitted by the State did not name the agency appointed to conduct the counselling of the said students^[9]. To this, the counsel for the state of Uttar Pradesh, Garima Prashad, responded that the officials had held discussions with one agency, Childline, and will file a better affidavit showing the steps taken^[10]. The bench then dismally observed that “There has been a complete breach of our directions. None of the kids have been given counselling. This has to be in letter and spirit.” The court also directed the State to comply with its other directions issued in the order dated September 25, 2023 regarding implementation of the provisions of the RTE Act, 2009, and Uttar Pradesh RTE Rules, 2011, and granted one month’s time to report the compliance^[11].

It was following this rebuke that, on March 1, 2024 Uttar Pradesh Government informed the SC that it has implemented the recommendations of TISS report and started counselling workshops for students who were encouraged by their teacher to slap their fellow classmate, as per the Indian Express report^[12]. The workshops will continue till April 24 as per the affidavit filed by the State Education Department. The state government has also been asked to file a status report on the workshops conducted by the end of April. Another issue emerged during the court hearing on March 1, when the counsel for the petitioner raised the issue of travel reimbursement for the victim child being stopped by the State Government.^[13] Though no written order was passed by the court in this regard, it orally asked the State Government to release the pending amount and suggested that some help can be taken from a charitable trust for the same. For other matters relating to the implementation of RTE Act and Rules and relevant court orders, the next hearing is scheduled on April 15.

How the present case violates several provisions of the law

The present incident of hate crime against a minor school student is not only reprehensible for vitiating the classroom environment but also transforms the safe learning spaces of such classrooms, which should ideally teach children the values of fraternity, dignity, religious harmony, and scientific temperament, into factories of hate propaganda, misinformation, and bigotry.

The incident also violates the right of children to a safe educational environment under sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the RTE Act, which completely prohibits subjecting a child to physical punishment or mental harassment. In addition, sub-rule (3) of Rule 5 of UP RTE Rules, 2011, states that local authority shall be responsible for ensuring that no child is subjected to caste, class, religious or gender abuse or discrimination in the school.

The Supreme Court in the earlier hearing in September 2023 had also referred to detailed guidelines for eliminating Corporal Punishment in Schools as laid down by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)^[14], a statutory body for ensuring the rights of children. Incidentally, when the video of the incident emerged in public, NCPCR wrote to the police to file an FIR against the teacher and submit a copy of the inquiry report.

While the Constitution of India under Article 21A provides the fundamental right to free and compulsory elementary education to all children between the age of 6-14, and the complementary RTE Act provides the framework to implement the same, the role of (civil) society and most importantly teachers in creating harmonious and hate free environment is prerequisite to secure the most basic of our fundamental rights.

(The author is part of CJP’s Legal Research Team)

[1] Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 406/2023, Item No. 49, https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/35839/35839_2023_9_49_48228_Order_10-Nov-2023.pdf.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 406/2023, Item No. 53, https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/35839/35839_2023_8_53_48975_Order_11-Dec-2023.pdf.

[4] Krishnadas Rajagopal, “U.P. Muslim student slapping case | Supreme Court says State failed in its role”, The Hindu, January 12, 2024. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/muzaffarnagar-slapping-case-sc-directly-criticises-uttar-pradesh-in-case-of-teacher-goading-students-to-slap-muslim-classmate/article67733661.ece.

[5] Kanu Sarda, “Muzaffarnagar slapping case: Top Court says state did not act the way it should have”, India Today, January 12, 2024. https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/muzaffarnagar-student-slapping-case-supreme-court-says-up-did-not-act-as-it-should-have-2488071-2024-01-12.

[6] Mohd Dilshad, “Boy in UP school slapping row admitted to ‘good’ institute”, The Times of India, November 19, 2023. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/boy-in-up-school-slapping-row-admitted-to-good-institute/articleshow/105320508.cms.

[7] Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 406/2023, Item No. 48, https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/35839/35839_2023_7_48_49426_Order_12-Jan-2024.pdf.

[8] Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 406/2023, Item No. 45, https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/35839/35839_2023_7_45_50289_Order_09-Feb-2024.pdf.

[9] Abraham Thomas, “‘Why weren’t students counselled’: SC rebukes UP in Muzaffarnagar slapping case”, Hindustan Times, February 9, 2024. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/why-weren-t-students-counselled-sc-rebukes-up-in-muzaffarnagar-slapping-case-101707494991430.html.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 406/2023, Item No. 45, https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/35839/35839_2023_7_45_50289_Order_09-Feb-2024.pdf

[12] “Slapping by classmates: Counselling workshops being held at Muzaffarnagar school for students, UP tells SC”, Indian Express, March 2, 2024. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/slapping-by-classmates-counselling-workshops-being-held-at-muzaffarnagar-school-for-students-up-tells-sc-9191211/.

[13] Srishti Ojha, “UP student slapping case: Top Court seeks status report from state on counselling”, India Today, March 1, 2024. https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/up-student-slapping-case-supreme-court-seeks-status-report-on-counselling-workshop-2509180-2024-03-01.

[14] Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 406/2023, Item No. 50, https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/35839/35839_2023_11_50_47191_Order_25-Sep-2023.pdf.

Related:

SC directs UP government to immediately sanction prosecution of teacher accused of instructing students to beat Muslim child

Lack of compliance with orders of the Supreme Court by UP government in Muzaffarnagar slapping case- a worrisome and “shocking” spectacle

Outrageous, hate corrodes UP classrooms

Hate Hatao: CJP’s Campaign Against Division and Discrimination

The post Supreme Court: Directs UP government to comply with directions and implement wholistic reparations appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Dates 28th August, the FIR specifically names Mohammad Zubair as the accused party responsible for exposing the identity of the minor involved in the distressing case. However, this move by the police has sparked widespread outrage among social media users. Many argue that Zubair’s actions had a pivotal role in bringing the incident to the attention of the authorities, and thus his targeting by law enforcement raises concerns over his work as a journalist being unfairly targeted.

In response to the controversy, Zubair had earlier taken to X, formerly Twitter, to explain his actions. In a post dated August 25, he clarified that he had removed the video from circulation as per the request of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Deleted the video because @NCPCR_ wanted people to the delete the video. https://t.co/hZh7gajJQI pic.twitter.com/kt2yMt8GGC

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 25, 2023

The shocking incident that has gathered widespread condemnation across the nation after, a distressing video surfaced from a school, capturing a teacher instructing students to physically assault a fellow 6-year old boy, sees further developments in the village of Khabbapur, Muzaffarnagar. The victim, a visibly shaken Muslim child, reportedly endured a series of slaps and physical blows from his peers. The teacher, identified as Tripta Tyagi, is seen in the video to have orchestrated this shocking display as a form of punishment, reportedly instructing the class to take part and chastising those whose hits were not hard enough on young child. The incident has triggered outrage and demands for justice as well as raising questions about the school’s affiliation and the role of the authorities in overseeing such matters.

The nationwide outcry prompted the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to intervene. Priyank Kanoongo, the chairperson of NCPCR, stated that notices have been issued to both the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Muzaffarnagar.

“We have directed the SP to register an FIR in this matter and give us a report,” Kanoongo emphasized. Furthermore, the district magistrate has been tasked with investigating the school’s certification, the qualifications of its teachers, and the circumstances leading up to this distressing incident.

In addition, the police has registered an FIR under IPC Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) against Tyagi.

In the wake of the incident, farmer leaders and politicians alike have rallied to the houses of the victim and the accused. Figures such as BJP politician and Union Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Sanjeev Balyan, farmer leader Naresh Tikait and other Samajwadi Party other leaders have been reported to have visited the village. It is to be of note that Balyan is a two-time MP from Muzaffarnagar who has been accused in 2013 Muzaffarnager violence. Balyan has stated about recent instance saying that “this issue is forcibly been given a ‘communal colour’. We have sorted it in between us.”

He also reportedly visited the house of the accused, Tripta Tyagi and reassured her in media presence.

मुजफ्फरनगर : स्कूली छात्र के वायरल वीडियो के संबंध में केंद्रीय मंत्री संजीव बालियान मंसूरपुर थाना क्षेत्र के खुब्बापुर गांव में पीड़ित परिवार से मिले, पिता से की बातचीत। उसके बाद मीडिया से बोले- ”हमारा आपस का छोटा सा मामला था हमने बैठ के हल कर लिया, दोनों पक्षों में समझौता हो… pic.twitter.com/6zOqZEXpOq

— Special Coverage News (@SpecialCoverage) August 26, 2023

The young victim’s father has expressed his anguish and hope for justice for his son, who reportedly continues to suffer emotionally following the incident. “We want justice. We can’t go anywhere. Where will we go? If we don’t get justice, we will die,” he spoke to the Print’s Jyoti Yadav. The parents of the child have also informed the media that the boy has not been able to sleep since the incidence.

Amid the escalating furor, Muzaffarnagar Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Shubham Shukla has disclosed that Neha Public School, where the incident occurred, is currently under scrutiny regarding its affiliation. Shukla clarified that the school is not being closed down but rather undergoing a review process. The school has been given a month to address the affiliation issue and fulfil the requisite certification criteria.

Furthermore, according to PTI, the education department has outlined plans to facilitate the admission of the affected students to a government primary school, should their parents’ consent to the transfer. This move has been designed to alleviate any additional burden on the parents and ensure the children’s education continues in a safe and supportive environment as their earlier school has been shut subject to approval of its affiliation.

Related:

Tripta Tyagi and Puru, my son

Outrageous, hate corrodes UP classrooms

Farm leaders reach Muzaffarnagar, reports of pressure on young victims father to not press charges: UP

In Madhya Pradesh, Claims Don’t Match Reality of Crimes Against Dalits

The post Politicians flood Muzaffarnagar, as father of child beaten for being Muslim says he wants justice as he is scared for his life appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In the deeply disturbing video the boy stands helplessly, tears streaming down his face. Loud slaps are heard as one after another the students follow their teacher’s instruction. “Why don’t you hit harder? Whose turn is it?” she says in the wrenching video. Loud slaps are heard as the students follow their teacher’s instruction. According to the boy’s father the torture went on for an hour or two and his young son is in a shock.

“Maine toh declare kar diya, jitne bhi Mohammedan bachche hain, inke wahan chale jao (I have declared — all these Muslim children, go to anyone’s area)….” said Tyagi. She has since declared that she is “not ashamed” of what she did. It’s important to “control” the kids at school… this is how we tackle them” she told NDTV.

No words are strong enough to condemn the shocking misconduct of Tyagi who has scarred a 7-year-old for life, not to mention the instilling of Muslim hatred in the hearts of his classmates. A case has now been registered against her and the school has been shut down by the education department.

IMSD demands a speedy trial and exemplary punishment to the teacher who teaches hate. But incarceration of Tyagi is not enough. The shameful incident is but the latest reminder of the success of Hindutva’s hate-mongers in turning India into a sick society.

Less than a month ago, following a heated exchange, railway cop Chetan Singh shot dead his senior ASI Tikaram Meena in a running train, the Jaipur Mumbai Central Superfast Express. He then proceeded to demonstrate his hatred of Muslims by hounding and gunning down three innocent Muslim passengers: Abdul Kadar Mohamed Hussain Bhanpurawala, Akhtar Abbas Ali and Sadar Mohammed Hussain.

In a chilling video that went viral shows Singh fulminating: “Pakistan se operate hue hain, tumhari media, yahi media coverage dikha rahi hai hai, pata chal raha hai unko, sab pata chal raha hai, inke aaqa hai wahan… Agar vote dena hai, agar Hindustan me rehna hai, toh mai kehta hoon, Modi aur Yogi, ye do hain, aur aapke Thackeray.”

(‘They operate from Pakistan, this is what the media of the country is showing, they have found out, they know everything, their leaders are there… If you want to vote, if you want to live in India, then I say, Modi and Yogi, these are the two, and your Thackeray’)

The same day (July 31) Nuh district in Haryana was engulfed in communal violence leading to the loss of several lives and extensive damage to property. The trigger for the clash was reported to be some objectionable   videos posted on social media by a Bajrang Dal. Monu Manesar, a cow vigilante booked earlier for the murder of two Muslim men whose charred bodies were found in the Bhiwani district in February, had announced he would be participating in the religious procession. The BJP-led Haryana government says it is unable to find Monu Manesar.

Soon after the incidents, Gurugram MP and Union Minister of State (Independent charge) Rao Inderjit Singh had questioned how many in the VHP-organised event were permitted to carry arms. “Kisne hathiyar diye unko is procession mein le jaane ke liye? Koi talwar leke jata hai procession mein? Lathi-dande leke jata hai (Who gave weapons to them for the procession? Who goes to a procession carrying swords, or sticks)? This is wrong,” the BJP minister was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

As shocking as these multiplying instances of hate crimes against Muslims is the silence of the high priests and politicians of Hindutva. Those who proclaim sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka, sabka vishwas, or that “all Indians have the same DNA” say nothing, not a word, to condemn the perpetrators of wanton violence or to comfort the victims and the community in whose name they are targeted.

Meanwhile, IMSD applauds the numerous Hindus and Muslims of Muzaffarnagar who have been working hard to diffuse the situation, ensure peace and mutual amity. This only goes to show that the despite the 24/7 efforts of the hate-mongers the large majority of Indians remain immune to the communal virus.

Signatories:

1. J. Jawad, Co-convener IMSD, Advocate, Chennai
2. Akbar Shaikh, IMSD, Social activist, farmer, Solapur
3. Amir Rizvi, IMSD, Designer, Mumbai
4. Anand Patwardhan, IMSD, Documentary Film Maker, Mumbai
5. Arif Kapadia, IMSD, Businessman, Mumbra, Thane
6. Arshad Alam, Co-convener IMSD, Columnist, Delhi
7. Aziz Lokhandwala, IMSD, Businessman, Mumbai
8. Feroze Mirhiborwala, Co-convener, IMSD, Mumbai
9. Gauhar Raza, ANHAD, Scientist, Poet, Delhi
10. Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, Islamic scholar, Delhi
11. Irfan Engineer, Co-convener IMSD, CSSS, Mumbai
12. Javed Akhtar, IMSD, Poet, Lyricist, former MP, Mumbai
13. Javed Anand, Convener IMSD, Mumbai
14. Kasim Sait, Businessman, Philanthropist, Chennai
15. Khadeeja Farouqui, IMSD, Women’s Rights Activist, Delhi
16. Mohammad Imran, USA
17. Muniza Khan, IMSD, CJP, Varanasi
18. Najid Husain, Oceanographer, USA
19. Naseeruddin Shah, Actor, Mumbai
20. (Dr) Ram Puniyani, IMSD, CSSS, Author, Mumbai
21. Sabah Khan, IMSD, Parcham, Mumbai
22. Saif Mahmood, IMSD, Supreme Court Lawyer, Delhi
23. Shabana Azmi, Actor, former MP, Mumbai
24. Shabana Mashraki, Consultant, Mumbai
25. Shabnam Hashmi, ANHAD, Delhi
26. Shafaat Khan, IMSD, Writer, Mumbai
27. Shalini Dhawan, Designer, Mumbai
28. Shama Zaidi, IMSD, Documentary Film Maker, Mumbai
29. Simantini Dhuru, Documentary Film Maker, Educationist
30. Sultan Shahin, Editor-in-chief, New Age Islam, Delhi
31. Taizoon Khorakiwala, Businessman, Philanthropist, Mumbai
32. Teesta Setalvad, IMSD, CJP, Mumbai
33. Yash Paranjpe, Social Activist, Mumbai
34. Yousuf Saeed, IMSD, Documentary Film Maker, Delhi

The post Prosecute the hate-peddling school teacher Tripta Tyagi: IMSD appeared first on SabrangIndia.

So we went to his school yesterday (Friday). It was a remarkably festive occasion. Smiling and talkative teachers lined the hallways welcoming everyone with genuine passion. Colourfully dressed children and their parents thronged everywhere. Many children happily scanned their classes to see which of their friends from the previous grade had made it to their section. Every class was a mix of new and old faces. To round it off nicely, volunteer parents doled out ice cream to children and parents in the cafeteria.

Puru’s school enrolls about 650 students from kindergarten to fifth grade. Some 80% of the students are white as ours is a predominantly white neighborhood. The rest of the 20% are mostly Hispanic and black students. A few must be mixed-race children.

It’s hard to find South Asian children there. Certainly, Puru is the only South Asian kid in his class, possibly the only across the third grade. I would be surprised if there are more than a couple of other South Asians in the entire school. Without doubt, Puru’s ethnic and national identity is <1% of the schoolchildren’s makeup.

As for the teachers, I’d say 100% of them are white.

Yesterday, after seeing the video of Tripta Tyagi, a Hindu schoolteacher in Uttar Pradesh, prodding Hindu children to slap a Muslim student in her class, my mind was inevitably drawn to several thoughts.

First, I resolved with great determination that, if I can help it, I’d NEVER bring my son back to India, much less send him to school there. Second, I started to think: what if one of Puru’s white teachers had asked the white kids to slap him because he’s Indian and a Hindu?

I wish those of you who are reading this post were there at Puru’s school yesterday to see what happened.

So many teachers who know Puru were delighted to see him. One teacher who teaches ESL (English as second language) class and who knew Puru in his first grade shrieked his name with a giggle and hugged him tight.

His new class teacher, Mrs. Wright, welcomed him to the class with visible emotions and then, a few minutes later, came by again to ask him, “Do you like your new desk? Do you like your new friends?”

I told Mrs. Wright that Puru would like to find people to play chess with. Immediately she held his hand and took him to the male class teacher of another second grade section and introduced Puru to him. That teacher is a chess player. Presently, he and Puru bonded and they’re now looking at some chess time together.

Mrs. Wright and her assistant teachers were delighted to know that Puru plays the piano. One of them asked, “Does the music teacher know about it? Do you play in her class?”

Some day, I will share the comments that Puru’s previous class teacher in second grade wrote every three months on his term report cards. Without fail, she’d be over the moon with his classwork. Once she wrote: “It is a pleasure to work with Puru,” as if Puru is not a student but a colleague.

Every time I go to Puru’s school I am absolutely amazed at how truly, deeply, unquestionably inclusive and welcoming that experience is, not just for Puru but for every single child there. I have not a shadow of doubt that the teachers’ emotions and responses stem from their convictions, because no law or diktat can force people to break into a grin and a tight hug if they don’t feel it. They feel it. We, as Puru’s parents, feel it. The love is real.

Imagine. Here we are. Puru, Sarita and I. Three non-Americans in a sea of non-desi, mostly-White neighborhood. We have lived here only three years. Sarita and I don’t even speak the American accent. Those who know us in our town know well that we are not Americans. Not for a second has anyone — friend or stranger — so much as given a hint that they think we don’t belong here.

At the other end of the planet, in my home country, millions of Hindus are now telling Muslims, who have for millennia lived on the land, that not only do they not belong there but that they will be bullied, attacked, assaulted, lynched, killed, jailed, prosecuted, persecuted as long as they are Muslim.

What a shame.

Related:

Outrageous, hate corrodes UP classrooms

The post Tripta Tyagi and Puru, my son appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The ghastly incident has even caught the attention of international media outlets like Al Jazeera and TRT World. In the footage, now viral, a teacher is seen encouraging communal hatred among her students by urging a Hindu children to physically assault a Muslim peer. The young boy stands frozen, close to tears, while the disturbing incident unfolds before the camera. The incident, which occurred on August 24, has ignited calls for legal intervention to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences. All day, Saturday, August 26 the hashtags, #NehaPublicSchool and #ArrestTriptaTyagi were trending on the social media platform, twitter (X).

The teacher, identified as Tripta Tyagi, is seen saying “Kya tum maar rahe ho iske. Zor se maaro, aur kiska number hai.” (What are you doing, why are you not beating him harder? Alright, who is next in line?).

The attitude of the teacher, Tripta Tyagi who asked a Hindu student to slap a ‘Mohammedan child’ for not memorising a Math table, underlines both the prejudice and hate generated even as it also raises questions on the educational structure, entrenching social conditioning and the lack of secular teaching attitudes within classrooms.

Amid the uproar, Priyank Kanungo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection Of Child Rights (NCPCR), took to social media, urging people not to share the video.

उत्तरप्रदेश के मुज़फ़्फ़रनगर में एक शिक्षिका द्वारा कक्षा में बच्चे को अन्य बच्चों से पिटवाये जाने की घटना की जानकारी मिली है।
संज्ञान ले कर कार्यवाही हेतु निर्देश जारी किए जा रहे हैं,सभी से निवेदन है कि बच्चे का वीडियो शेयर न करें इस तरह की घटना की जानकारी ईमेल द्वारा दें,बच्चों…

— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) August 25, 2023

The young boy, speaking to the media earlier today, was trembling with emotion as he recounted, “I was beaten up because I had made a mistake. I didn’t learn multiplication tables, that’s why I was slapped by my classmates. She told the children to come and hit me hard. They kept hitting me for an hour.”

His father, speaking to ANI media, decried the cruelty his child endured, stating that this is not a “mere Hindu-Muslim issue” but a matter of justice.

#WATCH | UP: “My son is seven years old. This incident happened on 24th August. The teacher made the students beat my child again & again. My nephew made the video and had gone to school for some work…My seven-year-old child was tortured for an hour or two. He is scared…This… https://t.co/qQ7FaiPbza pic.twitter.com/zEelhTdK6G

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2023

The teacher in question has stated, in a weak defence, after the outrage broke out that while she was wrong in having the child beaten, and that she is differently abled which is why she asked other children to beat the boy; she also alleges that the video has been tampered.

As the nation grapples with the fallout of this disturbing incident, legal actions are being pursued to address the matter. A plea filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by a UP based lawyer SM Haider Rizvi. The complaint argues that the incident reveals a disturbing mindset of the teacher, one that fosters animosity against a particular community. According to Live Law, the lawyer has moved NHRC seeking registration of an FIR under Sections 153A, 295A, 298, 323, 504 and 506 of the IPC.

Prominent Bharatiya Kisan Union(BKU) leader Naresh Tikait also met with the victim’s family as well the teacher earlier today, and unequivocally condemned the incident and advocated a peaceful resolution. He called for doing away the FIR and a “compromise”; he also reiterated the need to maintain unity, and stated “what happened should not happen again.” Naresh Tikait, in a much publicised public event brought the two boys together: the child who is the victim,  and the other boy who was “instructed to beat him.” Both boys are seen making a tight and warm embrace  as Tikait states to the media that “all was well now”. The Hindu child who had slapped Altamash in the notorious video –following the order of teacher Tripta—is seen embracing him. The question is will this sponataneous and much-needed intervention be enough to heal the schisms that are being created between communities, stigmatising and targeting Muslims?

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader #NareshTikait met the victim student’s family & accused teacher #TriptaTyagi.

He Said, What happened was wrong & should not be repeated.

Naresh Tikait wants to expunge the FIR now in the name of “compromise”.#ArrestTriptaTayagi #JusticeForAltamash pic.twitter.com/GiMZZynbdF

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) August 26, 2023

Authorities, including the Child Welfare Committee and Muzaffarnagar’s District Magistrate Arvind Mallappa, have stepped in to provide “counselling to the child.” Legal action is also underway, with charges registered against the teacher under relevant sections, as confirmed by Muzaffarnagar police. No reports are forthcoming on action against the teacher, though one report says that “departmental” or “administrative action will be taken.

-अपडेट-

सम्बन्धित प्रकरण में थाना मन्सूरपुर पुलिस द्वारा अध्यापिका के विरुद्ध सुसंगत धाराओं में अभियोग पंजीकृत किया जा चुका है, स्थानीय पुलिस द्वारा अग्रिम विधिक कार्यवाही की जा रही है। https://t.co/s1U9vZRT6G

— MUZAFFARNAGAR POLICE (@muzafarnagarpol) August 26, 2023

However, YouTuber,  Deepak Sharma claims that are varying reports coming from the ground, one of which includes that there is pressure on the father of the child to not let the matter get any further traction. Notably, in his only statement to media Irshad, the father,  has clarified that he has given in writing to the police that he will not press charges. A local journalist from ground zero, who is claimed to have broken the story first, Rajeev Pratap Saini, states that the police has been constantly present at the house of the young boy; Saini reports stating that there is so much “pressure” on the father, which is why he is not ready to file a criminal complaint.

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The post Farm leaders reach Muzaffarnagar, reports of pressure on young victims father to not press charges: UP appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Remember, the teacher is not beating the boy herself but ordering each student of the class to beat him up. She encouraged the act of violence and stigmatisation and said that all Muslim children should be dealt with like this!

Where is the Indian moral outrage?

The criminal and thuggish teacher identified as Tripta Tyagi is actually head of the Neha Public school of a village in Mujaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh.

This clearly reflects how much poison has been spread in our heart across the nooks and corners of the country and it should not merely make us feel ashamed of us but worry us deeply.

Should we allow such things to happen or they need a strong socio-political and cultural response. Often the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar promote their “agenda” on a ‘non-political basis’ using common prejudices and cultural practices as if they are the sole guardians of the society.

The most atrocious part of these hate crimes is that they are being recorded and spread across the internet by the perpetrators of the crime, validated and legitimised by hundreds of thousands of viewers.

In most of such cases when there is a huge outrage, the state apparatus acts like it acted in the Manipur case, to punish the person who posted the video on social media. The person who brought it to the notice of the nation becomes a criminal while the criminals who commit such heinous crimes are carefully pushed in the background for some time till someday some outfit of the Hindutva makes the person their leader.

Tripta Tyagi actually does not deserve to be teacher but for certain she is the product of the ‘jahar kee pathshala’ (hate school) of various outfits of the saffron propaganda militia.

We all celebrated India now on the moon but yesterday. The G-20 summit is scheduled to happen in the second week of September. The prime minister has already got an ‘international award’ for his ‘contribution’ but the crisis in India is much bigger than even the BJP can think of now.

The poison of hatred has spread across. The Sangh Parivar outfits, Noida Propaganda media all have worked hard during the past 10 years.

Remember, it is not merely the act of committing the hate crime but justifying it through the vilifying those who speak up against such hatred. The vilification of the opponents is justified through whereaboutary on the prime time.

Criminals get normalised on TV. Media will wait for a couple of days till they find some Muslim criminal to have committed a heinous crime to deflate the story. The continuous vilification of Muslims in our media is the biggest vile “achievement” of the present dispensation.

 India’s ruling party and its Ministers rarely speak on the issue.  The officers will wait for the orders of the highest authority and the media will begin to cover up the incident.

The Darbaris and loud speakers on prime time will not allow ‘Hindus’ to be ‘targeted’ for some ‘isolated’ incident and blame the opponents for conspiring to ‘defame’

India when the country has landed on moon and G-20 is happening. The ruling party’s response to this will be on conspiracy theory while their ground staff will continue to feed the hatred against Muslims as well as the Bahujan Samaj of India.

Good thing is that the people are speaking. Though slowly. And somewhat softly.

Many political leaders have spoken the left, Sitaram Yechury, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. It was essential for them and speak against hatred.

I am still waiting Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Netas to speak up on the issue and call for a full-fledged battle against hatred.

More than anything else, India does not merely need a ‘ muhobbat kee dukan’ but complete demolition of the hate factories built up so powerfully with the help of the power elite. Hate crime flourishes on the strength of distortion of history and fake news.

So, the biggest priority of our political parties today in INDIA should be to unite against the culture of violence, prejudices and hate crime.

Do not legitimise news channels that spread fake news and justify hate crime. Speak up against hatred as otherwise it will engulf you. You can’t build stronger and united India on the edifice of falsehood and hatred.

Remembering Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s powerful lines here

‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depths of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action

into that heaven of freedom, my father, l

Let my country awake’

Let my countrymen awake against this culture of hatred which will ultimately affect us as a society and as a citizen of India.

We must stand united and firm against the culture of hatred and bigotry.

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