A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Nizamabad district was arrested on Monday for allegedly slapping the principal of a private school during an altercation over the introduction of Urdu language classes in the institution, police said.
The director was also booked for actions creating hostility among people.
Mandula Balu, president of the BJP unit of Armoor town in Nizamabad, was accused of assaulting Aamir Khan, principal of Bharat Chandra High School, on June 27, Armoor police inspector P Satyanarayana said. A video clip of the incident was widely circulated on social media.
“Based on the complaint filed by school reporter A. Mallaya, we have registered a case of alleged trespass, criminal intimidation and assault against Balu,” the inspector said.
The police have also registered a case under Section 196 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the school principal Aamir Khan and reporter A. Malaya and Urdu language teacher Umm Hani. Article 196 deals with acts, speeches or writings that promote hostility between different groups on grounds such as religion, race, social class, language or place of birth.
On June 27, Balu and several other BJP activists entered the school premises and confronted the school principal for introducing Urdu as a second language. “Children have been exposed to Urdu songs, Urdu texts in school subjects and religious content, raising concerns among some parents,” Balu told reporters.
The school principal tried to clarify the school’s position, and stressed that he was only carrying out the responsibilities assigned to him by the school administration. “I was slapped and subjected to abusive behaviour,” he said.
Malaya told police that the teacher, Umm Hani, had been teaching Urdu lessons for only two days. “Investigations revealed that Urdu language classes were conducted without necessary permissions,” the inspector said, adding that further action would be taken after examining available evidence, witness statements and other materials collected during the investigation.
