A school in the Damoah district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh placed a poster of meritorious students in which Hindu girls were also seen wearing hijab. The poster sparked controversy across the state. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra ordered an inquiry into the controversy, and as a result, the police arrested the school principal, maths teacher and a security guard.
According to the media, Principal of Gangajumna School Afshan Sheikh, math teacher Anas Athar and security guard Rustam Ali have been arrested for allegedly forcing female students to wear hijab. The provincial government of Bharatiya Janata Party bulldozed the building constructed on the school premises in the name of encroachment. The state administration faced opposition from the local residents and the relatives of the school students for bulldozing the building.
Earlier, the school’s registration was also cancelled due to the hijab controversy. A relative of one of the students, Mubaraka Begum, said that the state government is playing with the future of the students.
Principal’s husband Sheikh Iqbal said that politics has ruined his family as his wife Afshan is facing judicial custody while he is trying to obtain bail for her.