GUWAHATI: A Muslim woman and her son were arrested on Saturday after the boy allegedly brought a beef item in his tiffin, prepared by his mother, and attempted to compel two Hindu classmates to eat it at a government school in Assam's Goalpara district.
Charges Filed
The duo was charged with criminal conspiracy, wrongful restraint, deliberate and malicious intention of outraging religious feelings, and criminal act done by several persons under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), police said.
Involvement of Other Students
Four other Muslim students were also with the arrested student when they allegedly offered beef to the two Hindu students together. Police said interrogation of the four other students was underway at Krishnai police station.
Police said the arrested minor boy and his mother, Noor Sahida Begum, were being produced in a local court at the time of filing this report.
Incident Details
The incident took place at Habraghat Higher Secondary School on Friday and came to light on Saturday morning. The families of the two Hindu students lodged First Information Reports (FIRs) at Krishnai police station. Krishnai is an area in Goalpara district with a significant Muslim population, though Hindus also have noticeable numbers.
Official Response
On Saturday, the Goalpara district commissioner and the senior superintendent of police visited the school as the incident sparked tension in the communally sensitive district.
