Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh: A shocking case of an upper primary school at Kajikheda village, which comes under the Titawi area of the Muzaffarnagar district, has been the source of shock and has led to a police investigation. The family of a class 6 student accused a class teacher, Farhana Khatoon, of religious discrimination and manipulating the religious and cultural identity of the child against his wishes. As per the complaint made by the family, the teacher, being a practitioner of Islam, supposedly prohibited Devansh from having a tilak on his forehead and keeping his shikha (a lock of hair), both of which carry deep religious and cultural significance in Hindu rituals. The family complained that the teacher not only admonished him for keeping the tilak but also removed it several times during school hours. Irrespective of the complaints made by the boy to his family on a daily basis, no action was taken until the issue turned more serious.
Condition of Hindus in a Hindu-Majority
Country:Muslim principal Farhana cut the ‘Shikha’ or ‘Choti’ of a Hindu boy, A well educated muslim is having this much hatred for Hindus, shameful.
We request @Uppolice to deliver the harshest punishment to her. pic.twitter.com/BjDr5iEwPV
— Team Jhaat Official (@TeamJhaant__) May 18, 2025
The situation worsened when the teacher allegedly invited Devansh to her cabin and shaved his shikha against his will. The family also said she threatened to not teach him if he continued to wear the tilak. Humiliated and upset, Devansh told his family members about the experience, who in turn decided to go to the school administration with the issue. The student’s elder sister came to the school to settle the matter; however, she was reported to have been insulted and not treated with civility by the teacher. The family claimed that rather than hearing them out, the teacher unilaterally struck off Devansh’s name from the rolls of the school and gave him his transfer certificate without following the due procedures.
Following these events in Muzaffarnagar , the family visited the police station in the area and filed a written complaint against the teacher. In return, the police have opened an investigation into the event. District Basic Education Officer (BEO) Sandeep Kumar confirmed that the matter has been forwarded to the Assistant Basic Shiksha Adhikari (ABSA) with the intention of carrying out an investigation. This incident has led to significant anxieties regarding the violation of religious freedom by children and the suspected bias in schools. Though the investigation is still under process, increased pressure is being witnessed from the general public and activists for stringent legal measures and policy protection to ensure that schools remain inclusive and tolerant of diverse cultural practices. The authorities must probe the charges thoroughly and decide whether to bring disciplinary as well as legal action against the accused teacher.
