West Bengal: Hindu student assaulted in school, forced to apologise for ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chanted by a different student with similar looks, massive protests erupts in Baruipur

Tension gripped Baruipur town in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal after a Class 10 student was severely beaten by his classmates inside the school premises over a dispute involving the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’. The incident, which occurred on June 4 at the Madarat Popular Academy, sparked widespread outrage following the circulation of a video on social media, leading to a large-scale protest on Wednesday that turned the school premises into a battlefield.

According to reports, the victim, identified as Debajit Haldar, was reportedly dragged into the school bathroom by a group of 10 to 12 Muslim students and thrashed mercilessly. The victim said that the assailants mistook him for another student who had uttered the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in the classroom. A video of the assault, showing the victim being forced to apologise, went viral on social media, intensifying public anger.

The victim and his family said that he has no connection with chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, and another student had posted the video on social media saying ‘Jai Shri Ram’. The victim looked similar to that student, and the attackers attacked him because of the similarity in the look.

Debajit Haldar said that he was locked in the bathroom, showed the video of the student chanting Jai Shri Ram, and asked to apologise for the same. When he said that that was not his video, the attackers didn’t believe him, and proceeded to beat him. After the assault, he was forced to apologise.

He further said that while one group was beating him, another group of students was making video of the incident. He added that while he informed a teacher about the incident, he didn’t do anything.

Debajit’s family stated that he sustained injuries in multiple parts of his body, particularly to his ear, resulting in hearing impairment. He has been taken to doctors multiple times and is reportedly traumatised. He has stopped going to school out of fear. A formal complaint has been lodged at the Baruipur police station.

On Wednesday, after the video of the assault went viral, several Hindu outfits and BJP supporters gathered in large numbers outside the school, demanding strict action against the accused students. Protesters blocked the road, leading to a complete shutdown of normal activities in the area. Teachers and students were reportedly stranded inside the school premises amid the escalating tension.

In the meantime, some of the attackers were reportedly assaulted by the angry protestors.  

The school authorities convened a meeting involving the victim’s family, the accused students’ guardians, and police officials. Sources indicated that the families of the accused tendered an apology during the meeting. The school principal, Saikat Purkait, along with others, has written to higher authorities recommending the suspension of the accused students. The principal emphasised that the matter would be handled as per law.

As the protest intensified and protesters refused to disperse despite requests, police, along with central forces, resorted to a lathi charge to clear the blockade. Several protesters sustained injuries in the process. Students were later escorted out of the school under police protection.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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