MSF, SFI protest after teachers stop pro-Palestine mime show in Kerala school
Kasaragod (Kerala) (PTI): The student organisations MSF and SFI staged protests at a school here on Saturday after teachers allegedly stopped a mime show in support of Palestine.
General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that he has ordered a higher official to to investigate and report about the development.
According to police, the mime show was stopped during the school arts festival at Kumbala Government Higher Secondary School on Friday. Two teachers intervened and asked them to stop the performance before pulling down the stage curtains, they said. The move drew sharp criticism, prompting the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to convene a meeting on Saturday.
However, activists of Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), barged into the meeting demanding action against the teachers.
The protestors alleged that teachers locked students in a room to stop the event. Pro CPI(M) Student Federation of India (SFI) cadres also staged a protest at the school.
Police later removed the protesters from the premises, and personnel have been deployed on the campus to prevent any untoward incident. Officials said the PTA was looking to resume the arts festival and resolve the issues.
Meanwhile, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that he has directed the Director of General Education to investigate and submit a report into the incident immediately.
“It is understood that the action was taken because the mime touched upon the issue of Palestine. Kerala has always stood against the atrocities being carried out by Israel and stands in solidarity with the children being targeted in Palestine,” he said.
He added that efforts would be made to allow students at Kumbala School to perform the same mime on stage in the future.
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Ranji Trophy final: Paras Dogra headbutts Karnataka substitute during heated Day 2 in Hubballi
Huballi: Tempers flared on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy final as Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra was involved in an ugly on-field incident with Karnataka substitute fielder KV Aneesh at the Hubballi Cricket Ground.
The confrontation took place in the 101st over of Jammu and Kashmir’s first innings. Dogra, who was batting with Kanhaiya Wadhawan during a key partnership, edged a delivery from Prasidh Krishna for a boundary. Soon after, he exchanged words with Aneesh, who was fielding at forward short leg.
What began as a verbal exchange quickly turned physical. In a sudden outburst, Dogra moved towards Aneesh and headbutted him while still wearing his helmet. The act left players and officials stunned, forcing the umpires to intervene immediately.
Senior Karnataka batter Mayank Agarwal stepped in and confronted Dogra, while the umpires worked to calm the situation. At the end of the over, Dogra apologised, but Aneesh appeared visibly upset and did not accept the apology on the field.
The tension did not stop there. Agarwal and KL Rahul were also seen engaging in sharp exchanges with the Jammu and Kashmir skipper. Moments later, another heated moment unfolded when Karnataka pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak and Wadhawan came face to face after accidental contact during a run. Teammates and officials again had to step in to prevent matters from escalating further.
Despite the dramatic scenes, Jammu and Kashmir continued to stay in control of the match. The team crossed the 350-run mark in the first innings, building on the strong start made on Day 1.
Earlier, Shubham Pundir had anchored the innings with a well-made 121. Yawer Hassan contributed 88 runs, while Abdul Samad added 61, putting Karnataka under sustained pressure in the final.
