Luxettipet, Telangana – A recent incident at the Mother Teresa English Medium School in Luxettipet, Telangana, has raised concerns over religious tensions in the region. The school, managed by a Catholic priest, came under attack on April 16 by a mob of around 300 men dressed in saffron, alleging that the school obstructed Hindu rituals.
The incident sparked controversy after WhatsApp messages circulated claiming that the school management forced students observing Hanuman Deeksha to remove their saffron attire. An independent fact-finding committee, comprised of social activists, revealed that the messages alleging that three students were not allowed to sit for exams and had their malas forcefully removed fueled the violent attack on the school.
According to the fact-finding committee, the school’s management had asked students observing Hanuman Deeksha to inform the office if they intended to continue wearing the saffron clothing. Despite claims of no attempts to forcefully remove the malas or prevent the students from taking exams, a communication breakdown resulted in three students being denied entry to the school on the day of the attack.
The main instigator behind the WhatsApp messages and subsequent mob attack was identified as a parent of a former student who had been expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons. The parent, along with his son, who is currently enrolled in another school, played a key role in vandalizing the school property during the attack.
The incident prompted police intervention, leading to the registration of FIRs against both the school management and the mob under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The fact-finding committee has called for the withdrawal of the FIR against the school, citing lack of evidence supporting the claims made by the attackers, and has urged for the immediate arrest of those involved in the violent attack.
The committee also emphasized the need to compensate the school management for the damages incurred during the incident. Despite the tension and violence, a visit to the school by activists revealed support for the school management from parents of the students, with many denouncing the attack as unjust.
In a call for justice and resolution, the fact-finding committee continues to advocate for accountability and reconciliation in the aftermath of the attack on the Mother Teresa English Medium School in Luxettipet, Telangana.