Uttar Pradesh: Principal beats up students for not saying 'As-salaam-alaikum'

A principal of a secondary school in Uttar Pradesh was suspended and for allegedly beating up students for not greeting him with "As-Salaam-Alaikum".

Photo for representational purpose only.

SHAHJAHANPUR: A principal of a secondary school in Uttar Pradesh was suspended and for allegedly beating up students for not greeting him with "As-Salaam-Alaikum". A case has also been filed against him. Principal secretary and nodal officer of the district, Dimple Verma on a visit to the Bilhari Secondary School in Tilhar area in Shahjahanpur district on Sunday was told that principal Chand Mian was demanding that he be greeted with "As-Salaam-Alaikum" and he would beat up those wishing him "good morning", PTI quoted an official as saying. "As-Salaam-Alaikum" is a greeting in Arabic which means "Peace be upon you". The greeting is a religious salutation among Muslims. A student told Dimple Verma that children in school were beaten up by their principal Chand Mian since they were not being able to say "As-Salaam-Alaikum". Class VI student Priyanshu, who met Verma along with other locals, also showed injury marks on his neck to the visiting official. The student was sent for medical examination and the preliminary inquiry report has been handed over to Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Rakesh Kumar. "Principal Chand Mian has prima facie been found guilty of the charges and suspended...further inquiry is on," Kumar said. Meanwhile, Chand Mian has rejected the allegations and said that he was being defamed as part of some conspiracy. Mian has already been suspended and now police has lodged an FIR against him. Station House Officer of Tilhar, Ashok Pal, said on complaint of Priyanshu's mother Kamla, an FIR has been lodged. A probe is going on in the matter, he said.