The brutal murder of a Hindu student by a Muslim junior inside Ahmedabad’s Seventh Day Adventist Higher Secondary School on 19th August has sparked massive outrage. The accused has been arrested, but the incident has put the spotlight on the school’s controversial past, allegations of religious bias, and charges of administrative negligence.
Murder on Campus Triggers Outrage
According to police, the Hindu student was brutally stabbed by a Muslim classmate within the school premises. Though he was rushed for treatment, he succumbed to his injuries the same night.
The victim’s family accused the school administration of negligence, alleging that the staff delayed taking the injured student to the hospital. Instead, they claimed, the school authorities hurried to wash away blood stains from the site an act the police are now investigating as possible destruction of evidence. Protests broke out soon after, with parents and community members demanding accountability from the school.
A History of Controversies
This is not the first time the school has found itself in the dock. In 2016, a teacher named Moses Adla was suspended after he mercilessly beat a 4th standard child, pulling his hair and punching him in the face until he bled. Parents had staged protests back then, leading to a police case.
In October 2024, the school courted controversy again by taking 200 students on an unauthorized trip without permission from the District Education Office. A legal notice was issued, and a complaint was filed against the administration.
Now, with the murder incident, old allegations of misconduct and mismanagement have resurfaced, once again putting the school under public and legal scrutiny.
Harassment Allegations and Forced Religious Influence
The victim’s grandfather has alleged that Hindu students have long faced harassment at the hands of Muslim classmates, with complaints repeatedly ignored by the administration. In one shocking incident, Muslim students reportedly tricked Hindu vegetarians into eating mutton disguised as paneer sparking protests from parents, but with no action taken by the school.
Locals and parents have also claimed that students have faced pressure to convert either to Christianity or Islam. According to them, the Moral Science syllabus appears designed to lure Hindu students toward Christianity, while some staff allegedly offered promotion to higher classes without exams in exchange for bribes of ₹2 lakh.
Managed by a Foreign Church
The school is run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church Organisation, headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. Under its Indian arm, the Ashlock Trust, the institution follows Christian church rules and priorities. Globally, the Adventist network runs nearly 7,800 schools, colleges, and universities, all adhering to guidelines framed by the US-based headquarters.
This foreign connection has raised concerns among parents and locals, who see the institution as operating under a religious agenda rather than purely educational principles.
Principal’s Role Under the Scanner
The current principal, G. Immanuel, has been accused by parents of repeatedly ignoring complaints of bullying and violence prior to the murder. Making matters more controversial, Immanuel also serves as the Chairman of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), which regulates the school.
Parents argue this dual role creates a conflict of interest, as CISCE is unlikely to act on complaints against the school as long as its head is also the CISCE president. While the principal has yet to issue a public statement, police investigations into both the murder and the school’s alleged misconduct are ongoing.