A government school teacher in Bihar’s Siwan district has been suspended after a video allegedly showing her cutting sacred threads tied to a banyan tree during the Vat Savitri festival went viral on social media.
The incident took place at the Government Higher Secondary School in Rajanpura village under Hasanpura block. The teacher, identified as Khalida Zia, is posted as a mathematics teacher at the school.
Video sparks controversy
In the viral video, the teacher is seen using scissors to cut threads tied around a banyan tree by Hindu women as part of the Vat Savitri ritual, which is observed for the well-being and long life of their husbands.
Local residents alleged that she had initially tried to cut the threads with a blade and returned the following day with scissors after failing to do so. They claimed that when she was stopped, she responded angrily and continued cutting the threads.
The video triggered protests from local residents and Hindu organisations, who demanded action against the teacher.
School cites behavioural concerns
School principal Madhusudan Ram said the teacher had been facing mental health issues and claimed complaints about her conduct had been submitted to education authorities on multiple occasions.
According to the principal, written complaints had been sent three times to the Block Education Officer, District Education Officer and other senior officials, alleging that the teacher often remained absent from school, marked online attendance without teaching, behaved inappropriately with colleagues and threatened male staff with false cases.
The principal also alleged in his written complaint that the cutting of the religious threads had the potential to disturb communal harmony.
Education department orders inquiry
Following the circulation of the video, District Education Officer Raghavendra Pratap Singh ordered an inquiry and deputed the District Programme Officer to investigate the matter.
Based on the inquiry report and the principal’s written complaint, the education department suspended the teacher with immediate effect.
The department said a detailed investigation into all aspects of the incident is underway and that further departmental action will be taken based on the findings.
Meanwhile, the teacher’s family reportedly told local residents that she was suffering from mental health problems and that the act was unintentional.
