HYDERABAD: The Armoor police in Nizamabad district on Saturday booked a Hindi teacher at a private school for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups after officials found her teaching Urdu during a Hindi class. Police also named the principal and correspondent of Bharat Chandra High School (Bhavishya Darshini School) in Perkit village in the First Information Report (FIR).
According to police, Huma Hania, who recently joined the school as the Hindi teacher for Classes 1 to 5, taught students the Urdu alphabet instead of the prescribed Hindi syllabus.
“Enquiries revealed that Huma Hania, who was recently appointed as a Hindi teacher for Classes 1 to 5, was teaching students the Urdu alphabet instead of the prescribed Hindi syllabus. Multiple students confirmed this,” Armoor Inspector P. Satyanarayana said.
Police also alleged that the teacher asked students to greet each other with “Adaab” instead of “Namaste” during classes.
Teacher, principal and correspondent booked
The Armoor tehsildar filed the complaint that led to the FIR. Police booked Huma Hania, principal Ameer Khan and correspondent Mallaiah under Section 196(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence or language. They also invoked Section 3(5), which deals with common intention.
Officials said the issue surfaced after the revenue inspector and the Mandal Education Officer (in charge) inspected the school. The inspection followed directions from the additional collector (revenue), Nizamabad, and the Armoor sub-collector after complaints alleged that the school was teaching Urdu to primary students without permission.
During the inquiry, police said the principal and correspondent admitted that parents had complained about the Urdu lessons. They claimed they had instructed the teacher to stop teaching Urdu. Investigators also alleged that someone tore pages containing Urdu notes from students’ notebooks after parents raised objections.
“The destruction of the notes appears to have further fuelled public anger,” Inspector Satyanarayana said.
BJP workers also face FIR
Police also registered a separate FIR against BJP workers for allegedly trespassing into the school and assaulting staff.
According to police, BJP Armoor town president Mandula Balu, along with party workers including Nuthana Srinivas, visited the school on Saturday afternoon and objected to the alleged Urdu lessons. Police alleged that the group assaulted the principal in the presence of police personnel.
“We have booked the BJP workers for trespassing and assaulting the principal,” Nizamabad Commissioner of Police P. Sai Chaitanya said.
Police invoked Sections 329(4) (criminal trespass), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 324(4) (mischief), read with Section 3(5) of the BNS.
Police have not arrested anyone in either case so far.
