UP School Principal Allegedly Beaten by Mob Over Ambedkar Photo Dispute
In a disturbing incident from Uttar Pradesh, a 42-year-old school principal was allegedly chased and brutally beaten by a mob of minor boys. The assault followed a dispute over a photograph of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar at Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, a branch of RSS's Vidhya Bharti, located in Aliyabad village within the Bilari area of Moradabad district.
Allegations and the Violent Attack
The school principal, identified as Ashok Kumar Suryavanshi, faced serious accusations from some villagers. He was alleged to have torn a picture of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar that was pasted on a wall and used objectionable language against Dalit students. These claims sparked outrage, leading to a mob of minor boys entering the school premises on January 27 and assaulting him. Notably, these boys were not students of Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, adding a layer of complexity to the incident.
Aftermath and Community Response
Following the attack, teachers associated with Vidya Bharati and RSS functionaries convened a meeting at the school. They strongly condemned the assault and raised concerns about police inaction, which they claimed persisted for nearly three days. Suryavanshi expressed his frustration, stating on Friday, "Till Jan 29, no action was taken by police. On Thursday, a meeting was held by a group of principals of Saraswati Sishu Mandir schools and RSS members. Later, we came to know that a few minors have been ‘detained'."
Sumit Kumar, the district president of the Azad Samaj Party, confirmed to TOI on Friday that police have detained five minor boys on Thursday night. However, this action has not quelled tensions, as supporters of the boys alleged biased police conduct and staged protests. In response, police forces were deployed at the school on Friday to maintain order.
Denials and Official Silence
Acharya Gajendra Singh, principal of a Saraswati school and Moradabad zila samanwyak of RSS, refuted the allegations against Suryavanshi. He defended the teacher, asserting that an educator "imparts values" and would not disrespect Babasaheb. Efforts by TOI to contact local police officials, including the SHO, CO, SP, and SSP, yielded limited results. Only the CO responded, declining to comment and indicating that details would be disclosed to the media shortly.
Video Evidence and Broader Implications
A five-minute-long video of the purported assault has surfaced on social media, depicting the teacher-cum-principal being mercilessly beaten thrice by at least 20 minors. The footage shows him being saved only when other teachers intervened. This incident highlights ongoing tensions in the region and raises questions about:
- The safety of educational institutions
- Police responsiveness in such cases
- The role of community dynamics in escalating disputes
As investigations continue, the community remains divided, with calls for justice and accountability echoing from all sides. The case underscores the need for swift and impartial action to prevent such violence in the future.
