Rajasthan: Kota School Principal Deletes Ganesh Chaturthi Greetings From WhatsApp Group; Arrested For ‘Disturbing Peace’

Shafi Mohammed Ansari, who is the principal of government senior higher secondary school in Laturi village in Kota, Rajasthan, removed several Ganesh Chaturthi greetings posts from a WhatsApp group which has the school staff including teachers, as well as parents of the students, as members.

A government school principal was arrested in a village of Kota district in Rajasthan for allegedly deleting Ganesh Chaturthi greetings on the school’s WhatsApp group, triggering protests by locals. According to the police, Shafi Mohammed Ansari, who is the principal of government senior higher secondary school in Laturi village, removed several Ganesh Chaturthi greetings posts from a WhatsApp group which has the school staff including teachers, as well as parents of the students, as members.

The incident sparked protests by villagers who staged a demonstration outside the school, demanding the removal and arrest of Ansari, following which the principal was arrested for “disturbing peace and communal harmony” but was later released on bail on the same day.

Giving details, a senior official said Ansari, who is the admin of a WhatsApp group named School Management Development Committee or SMDC, allegedly removed posts which had a picture of Lord Ganesh.

“A member had posted a Ganesh Chaturthi greetings message on the school’s WhatsApp group, which the principal deleted. Around two hours later, a school teacher also uploaded a Ganesh Chaturthi greeting in the same group and again Ansari allegedly removed the post,” said Bapawar Police Station SHO Uttam Singh.

Police said the incident angered locals who gathered outside the school and staged protests, demanding the removal of Ansari and his arrest for hurting their sentiments.

“Police rushed to the spot and pacified the angered villagers. The school principal was arrested for breach of communal harmony and initiated proceedings under Section 127 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS),” the SHO said, adding that situation in the village has returned to normal.

(With inputs from agencies)