The Madhya Pradesh government and Chairperson of National Commission for Protection Of Child Rights on Wednesday ordered a probe against a private school in Damoh district after right-wing groups accused the school of forcing Hindu girl students to wear headscarves.
The controversy began after a photo of students wearing headscarves in a poster went viral on social media. Right-wing groups and the Hindutva bloc accused Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School of forced religious conversion.
In response, Damoh Collector Mayank Agrawal said a probe conducted earlier had found the allegation of religious conversion to be false.
गंगा जमना स्कूल के टॉपर वाले पोस्टर के मामले में तहसीलदार दमोह की अध्यक्षता में जांच समिति गठित की गई है।
— Collector Damoh (@CollectorDamoh) May 31, 2023
जांच समिति को अपनी रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत करने के निर्देश दिए गए हैं@ChouhanShivraj @mohdept @JansamparkMP pic.twitter.com/z0sM6IxrGI
Agarwal Tweeted, “The information being spread by some people regarding a poster of Ganga Jamna School was found to be wrong by the station in-charge local Kotwali, and the District Education Officer and the inquiry committee submitted its report.”
The SP Damoh also replied to the tweet that “the allegations were not proved on the investigation”.
Later, the collector said after the home minister’s instructions, a team was formed to probe the matter.
Meanwhile, Hindu outfits staged a protest at the district collector’s office and demanded the cancellation of the school’s registration.
Responding to tweets tagging him, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo also said a letter have been sent to the collector seeking a report on the allegations.
State home minister Narottam Mishra told reporters that the matter was first investigated by the district education officer.
“No complaint was received in this regard. In view of the seriousness of the issue, the superintendent of police has been instructed to thoroughly investigate it,” he said.
