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A New India:
New Delhi’s School Children Brawl Over Religious Lines
FAIZEN HAIDER & PRAWESH LAMA
At least two reports have come in, in the last three days alone, of brawls involving school children along religious grounds.
In one case, two victims in their police complaint said they were asked about their religion before being beaten up by fellow students.
After the violence, the police headquarters on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, sent Rapid Action Force personnel to guard the government school in Block 27. The police also met the school principal and asked him to keep a sharp eye on mischief-makers.
In another case, locals alleged some boys in a Mayur Vihar Phase I government school smeared the face of a fellow student with meat, ridiculing him over his religion.
The police, however, denied such an incident happened.
The violence at the Block 27 school started Saturday (November 29, 2014) afternoon. A 14-year-old, Class 9 student was allegedly thrashed by seniors outside the school. The victim in his police complaint alleged the group asked him whether he was Muslim or Hindu.
“When I told them I am a Muslim, the blows started. I managed to flee and reach home. At least 30 students thrashed me. Some locals present at the spot rescued me from them,” he alleged.
The victim lodged a police complaint but no FIR has been registered. His father, Mohammed Kilabuddin, said, “The other boys were also there. The police told us they are kids and it was a normal fight between them and my son. Those who are brainwashing these students should be punished severely.”
Kalibudin alleged that on Monday (December 1), he asked his 17-year-old elder son to drop his younger son to school.
“At around 1 pm, the two had reached the school gate when the same boys hurled abuses and blows on him. My sons told me there were at least 20 boys. My elder son has sustained head injuries but police asked us to compromise,” he said. “Later, a local leader brought some of those boys to the police station. They said it was a two-way fight and they could also press charges. I have not heard from the police since then.”
A senior police officer who refused to be quoted said there was no communal angle in the two reported brawls. “It was a normal brawl between students. Moreover, all involved are minors so we did not register a case. We have warned the principal and teachers and asked them to ensure students do not take advantage of the recent riots,” the officer said.
[Courtesy: Hindustan Times. Edited for sikhchic.com]
December 4, 2014
Conversation about this article
1: GC Singh (USA), December 04, 2014, 8:52 AM.
These school brawls are a continuation of the "engineered communal riots" prior to the upcoming elections in Delhi. Even a small confrontation is embellished by a dutiful media and is used to polarize votes and win elections.
2: R Singh (Canada), December 04, 2014, 2:32 PM.
Yes, they are kids. But where are the adults who are supposed to teach them how to behave? Where are the school administrations who are supposed to keep kids safe? With the current atmosphere and fascist organisations operating openly, this is not a surprise. In our day it was in vogue to ridicule minorities, now the virus has spread and morphed into a violent kind. And the police have been compromised. Hiding behind 'just kids brawling' is not going to cut it. The adults should be held culpable and liable. Open season on minorities, burning churches, gurdwaras and mosques, and molestng others, has to stop.
3: Rup Singh (Canada), December 04, 2014, 7:19 PM.
Indian Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti recently said at a public meeting here: "You have to decide if you want a government in Delhi to be led by the children of Lord Ram or by illegitimate children). Prime Minister Modi said in the upper house: "Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has apologised ... the house should gracefully accept that and carry forward its business in the national interest." The government on Wednesday (December 3, 2014) ruled out any resignation or dismissal, meaning the government totally condones such language and behaviour of its MP's and Ministers. A government that sows the seeds of hate and violence will be quite happy when even children attack each other as mobs along communal lines. The grownups have done it, why not the children? They know full well that the government won't punish them for killing minorities and the police know they will get promotions for letting it happen. Indians, you must be so proud.