Officials in Uttar Pradesh have suspended the principal of a secondary school in Shahjahanpur after he allegedly beat up students for not greeting him with ‘As-Salaam-Alaikum‘.
The matter, according to a news report by PTI, came to light on Sunday after Principal secretary and nodal officer of the district, Dimple Verma visited the Bilhari Secondary School in Shahjahanpur’s Tilhar area. She was informed about Principal Chand Mian’s alleged brutalities and he would often demand students to greet him with ‘As-Salaam-Alaikum,‘ which is used by Muslims to greet each other. The principal, the PTI report added, would often beat up students if they wished him a’good morning.’
‘As-Salaam-Alaikum‘ is a greeting in Arabic which means “Peace be upon you.” Verma was forced to order Mian’s suspension after a Class VI student showed her his injury marks.
The student was sent for medical examination and the preliminary inquiry report has been handed over to Basic Shiksha official Rakesh Kumar. “Principal Chand Mian has prima facie been found guilty of the charges and suspended…further inquiry is on,” Kumar said.
Chand Mian has denied allegations and said that he was being framed as part of a larger conspiracy.