MP: A private school in Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh, has found itself embroiled in controversy as allegations surface of students being forced to wear headscarves and embrace Islam. The local police confirmed on Wednesday that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Juvenile Justice Act. This action comes in response to the directive of Narottam Mishra, the state home minister, who assured that appropriate measures would be taken in the case.
The situation unfolded following a contentious poster displayed by the school that depicted female students, irrespective of their religious backgrounds, wearing headscarves resembling hijabs as part of their uniform. Subsequently, the state education department suspended the school’s recognition, leading to a series of events that culminated in the FIR.
FIR Filed Against MP School Amid Allegations of Coercion and Religious Imposition
While the school administration declined to comment on the FIR, administrator Mohammad Idris Khan expressed willingness to cooperate with a fair investigation. In the meantime, Mishra addressed the media, stating, “Police are going to take action against the school administration for embracing one religion and forcing female students to wear headscarves.” Notably, the school primarily enrolls students from the minority community, according to the school education department.
The controversy surrounding the headscarves erupted on May 31 when the school displayed the poster showcasing the top-performing students in the Class 10 state board exams. The female students in the image were depicted wearing headscarves, regardless of their religious affiliations.
A student in Class 8 alleged that the authorities compelled students to practice Islam, claiming, “Our teachers would force us to learn and recite the Quran on Friday.” Following this revelation, several right-wing organizations staged protests on June 1, accusing the school of attempting to convert students.
Explosive Outrage: Swift Legal Action Initiated Against MP School in Headscarves Dispute
Despite the district education officer (DEO) S.K. Mishra initially absolving the school of any wrongdoing, district collector Mayak Agrawal, on the orders of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, subsequently constituted a probe committee. Agrawal stated that a report would soon be submitted to the state government for further action but refrained from providing additional details. In response, School Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar dismissed DEO Mishra for exonerating the school administration. Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders also threw ink at the DEO, accusing him of favoring the school.
Superintendent of Police Rakesh Singh of Damoh confirmed that the FIR has been registered under sections 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act. He explained, “A few students alleged before the probe committee that they were forced to embrace Islam, read the Quran every Friday, and learn the Urdu language.”
Expressing his firm stance on the matter, Chief Minister Chouhan emphasized a zero-tolerance approach toward such alleged activities. He instructed the chief secretary and director general of police to investigate the complaints against the school. Chouhan’s office relayed his message, stating, “There is a conspiracy for conversion in some places in the state, and we will not let such efforts succeed. I have also given instructions to probe the activities of all educational institutions, including madrassas. If education is being imparted incorrectly, then we will address that as well.” The chief minister vowed strict action and the harshest punishment for those with such intentions.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also took note of the matter, emphasizing that such
