A teacher belonging to a school in Morigaion district of Assam has alleged that her senior colleagues had forced her to eat beef and convert to Islam.
The teacher had reportedly joined the Lalipar Boys Lower Primary School in July of last year. This school is said to be located in a remote Muslim majority area.
According to reports, a senior of hers continuously used to ask her to convert to Islam and marry her. Initially she had taken things lightly, but they worsened over time. She then complained to the head teacher Nurul Islam. He allegedly not just supported the male teacher but also along with his wife, allegedly forced her to eat beef. When she reportedly complained to the School Management Committee, she was rebuked by several of its members, who claimed that she was maligning the image of the now accused.
When she started to look for a transfer, she alleges she was also abused and threatened with dire consequences like rape and murder. As a result of it, she reportedly stopped going to the school 20 days ago.
To search for a possible remedy, she wrote to the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for action. Now a probe finally seems to have been ordered, which will be carried out by the Assam police.
According to the Morigaon Deputy Commissioner Hamen Das, they are taking the matter seriously and two inquiries have been ordered regarding the matter. One inquiry would be carried out by the Inspector of Schools to check whether the teacher was a regular or not. The second one would be carried out by the Superintendent of Police regarding the beef and conversion allegations.
The incidents of forced conversions have arisen in educational institutes in the past. We had reported how teachers of a government residential school in Mewat district of Haryana had been suspended or transferred after they had forced 2 Hindu students to offer Namaz. Incidentally this action against the teachers had resulted in a protest by the villagers of the Muslim majority area.