A school teacher in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, has come under scrutiny for reportedly subjecting two Muslim students to abusive treatment, sparking outrage and leading to an investigation. The teacher, identified as Manjula Devi, allegedly told the students to “go to Pakistan” during a classroom incident on August 31, prompting swift action from education authorities.
The incident came to light when Shivamogga District President Nazarullah of the Minority Branch of Janata Dal Secular filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education.
According to Nazarullah, the troubling incident unfolded during a Class 5 lesson when two students engaged in a dispute. Manjula Devi, the teacher in question, reportedly scolded the children and made the controversial remarks, stating, “This is not their country. Hindus belong.”
District President Nazarullah stated, “When the children told us about the incident, we were surprised. We filed a complaint with the Deputy Director Public Instruction (DDPI), and the department took action against the teacher.”
B Nagaraj, the Section Education Officer (BEO) investigating the incident, confirmed that other students corroborated the incident’s details. “The teacher allegedly said to the students: ‘This is not your country; it belongs to the Hindu community. You should go to Pakistan. You are our slaves,'” he said.
Nagaraj has submitted an inquiry report in the matter, with further decisions pending instructions from higher authorities.
This incident involving the mistreatment of Muslim students has unfolded against the backdrop of a recent case in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, where a video of a Muslim student being assaulted by fellow classmates went viral. In the video, a woman can be heard urging the students to harm Muslims in the class, along with derogatory comments about the teacher-student relationship.
The assault case had garnered significant attention, with opposition parties directing criticism at the BJP government of Uttar Pradesh. Prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Asaduddin Owaisi, decried the incident as a result of divisive politics.
