School staff attacked after students told to wear uniform instead of Burqa

Murshidabad (Bengal) – At least 18 people were arrested for attacking staff members of a school in Suti village of Murshidabad District over reports that the headmaster had asked some students to wear the school uniform instead of a Burqa. A group of local residents surrounded the school demanding that the headmaster be handed over to them.

Senior District Police and administration officials rushed to the spot to defuse the situation. The situation worsened as some members of the group resorted to violence. Police had to resort to lathi charge and fire tear-gas shells to disperse the mob. The Police rescued the teachers and the headmaster, who had locked themselves up inside the school building.

The headmaster has been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against him. although it appears he was only following education Department directives. A section of villagers said that the students were given uniforms from the school. The teachers are supposed to send those pictures to the District administration. Hence, the students were asked to wear a uniform instead of Burqa.

Trinamool Congress MLA Jakir Hossain, who represents the Jangipur constituency, said, “The incident that took place at Bahutali High School in Suti is very unfortunate. Some miscreants started the brick-batting”.

When even the conservative Muslim Education Group of Kerala that runs 150 educational institutions has banned Hijab from its campuses, the demand that has suddenly arisen in Karnataka has no basis.

According to the 2011 census, Muslims formed around 66% of the population in Murshidabad, which was the highest among all Districts in Bengal.