Students protest, confess they were pressured to give false statements on Muslim teachers
Three Muslim teachers in Rajasthan were suspended amid allegations of Love-Jihad
In a school in Kota, Rajasthan, three Muslim teachers – Firoz Khan, Mirza Mujahid, and Shabana – faced suspension following allegations of forced conversion, love jihad, and Islamic Jihadi activities by the Hindutva group 'Sarv Hindu Samaj.' However, Hindu students from the same school, Khajuri village, protested the suspension, marching several kilometers to the SDM office in Sangod town.
The Hindu students demanded the reinstatement of the suspended Muslim teachers, denouncing the accusations and urging action against those who made false claims. During the protest, students were emotional, some even admitting they were pressured to make false allegations against the teachers.
A 10th-grade student, under the alias Naveen, stated that he was not forced to offer namaz but was coerced into making false accusations against the Muslim teachers. He expressed regret, emphasizing the positive influence the teachers had on his life.
In a video that is now available on social media platforms, he says, “They were continuously telling me that you are a Hindu and told me things to say in the interview. I got trapped in their words and committed a mistake I should have never done. These are ours, and how can I lie against them? What I am today is because of them.”
The 15 Hindu teachers at the school wrote to the district education department, refuting claims of forced conversion, love jihad, and namaz activities by the suspended teachers. The school's staff, management committee, and the village sarpanch all denied knowledge of such activities.
The controversy appears linked to a love marriage between a local Hindu woman and a Muslim man. However, residents and police officials noted that the incident involved adults, and the woman stated she married of her free will.
Local police officials also said forced religious conversion or ‘love jihad’ activities have never been reported in the area or the school. They cited the incident of a Hindu woman reported missing on Feb 5, being traced on Feb 5 and saying she married a Muslim man out of her free will. “The girl was an adult and said she married as per her will,” said DSP Rajulal Meena.
I never witnessed any such activities or heard of students or parents complaining against the three teachers about conversion or love jihad. I have been working at this school since 2021,” said school principal Kamlesh Bairwa
The School Management and Development Committee (SMDC) president, Lokesh Gochar, dismissed the allegations as rumors, attributing them to a human error in 2019 when a Hindu girl was mistakenly listed as Muslim in admission forms.
“These are all rumours and baseless allegations against the three Muslim teachers. I am a frequent visitor to the school as my agriculture land adjoins it, and I never heard of or seen any such activities.” Gochar said.
Sarpanch Sushila Kanwar confirmed that no conversion activities were reported at the school.
Thread 🧵
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 27, 2024
After Three Muslim teachers Firoz Khan, Mirza Mujahid, and Shabana were suspended from a school in Kota, Rajasthan following Hindutva group 'Sarv Hindu Samaj' accusing them of being involved in Forced conversion, love jihad and Islamic Jihadi activities. Hindu Students… pic.twitter.com/duTXYDNbft
School students were seen protesting against the suspension of three Muslim teachers at Sangod school over the allegations of 'conversion and love jihad'. They were seen crying and saying some students were forced to make false allegations against these Muslim teachers. pic.twitter.com/BrfnDcajgs
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 27, 2024
A 10th class student Naveen ( Name changed ) said he was NOT forced to offer namaz but was forced and pressured to level false allegations against these three Muslim teachers in front of the media. He broke down while speaking to the media.
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 27, 2024
He says, They were continuously… pic.twitter.com/AJMrBZsFcd
School students in Khajuri village of Rajasthan’s Kota district gathered outside the SDM Office in Sangod demanding revocation of suspension of 3 Muslim teachers of their school who according to them are falsely accused of 'forced conversion and love jihad'
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 27, 2024
- Video by… pic.twitter.com/NDk9KAwj48
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
