By Abhishek Kumar
Jan Mohammad, a primary school headmaster from Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district, who was suspended after a complaint from a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, has been reinstated by the government after an inquiry committee found the allegations was false.
The suspension of Mohammad, the headmaster of Naujheel Primary School, was ordered by the district Basic Education Officer (BEO) after Durgesh Pradhan, a BJP mandal president, had filed a complaint on January 30, claiming that the teacher was “Islamising” the school, brainwashing students, forcing them to offer namaz and inciting them against Hinduism. He also alleged that the national anthem was not being sung at the school.
Within 24 hours of receiving the complaint, BEO Ratan Kirti suspended Mohammad with immediate effect on January 31, deeming the allegations were “of a serious nature”. This was done without any preliminary investigation or verification of the allegation.
Kirti told Dainik Bhaskar, “A complaint was received regarding children being made to offer namaz at the school. A report was sought from the block education officer. The headmaster was found guilty prima facie. He has been suspended and attached to Primary School Nagla Humayun, Mant. The block officers of Chhata and Mant have been ordered to conduct a detailed investigation. Action will be taken based on the report.”
However, the BEO publicly acknowledged that they did not have any video or photographic evidence to corroborate the allegations against Mohammad. In a statement to the media, she described the suspension as an “interim decision,” stating that a two-member committee had been formed to look into the matter. A final decision would be made after the committee submitted its report.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
