Hyderabad: Tension flared at Nirmala Vidyalayam in Kalwakurthy mandal, Nagarkurnool district, on Saturday after BJP and ABVP activists accused the school management of attempting religious conversion of students and lodged a complaint with Kalwakurthy police.
Complainants alleged school authorities and associated individuals encouraged students to take part in religious activities and tried to influence them through counselling and inducements, targeting vulnerable children with promises of assistance.
A video circulating online shows BJP mandal president Deo confronting a teacher and asking, “Every Sunday students are taken to the church. Why? Are you trying to convert them?” The teacher denied any conversion attempt, saying students were taken to the church to learn values and to keep them safe and supervised, adding that otherwise they wandered off or fought among themselves.
Deo countered that students could be taken to a nearby temple instead and accused what he called a “Christian mafia” of trying to convert people.
Members of local organisations including the ABVP and BJP submitted a formal complaint at Kalwakurthy Police Station seeking an investigation into the school’s activities and legal action if laws were violated. Photographs shared by complainants show students and local representatives outside the police station after filing the complaint.
Kalwakurthy police confirmed receipt of the complaint and said further action will follow a preliminary inquiry; no case has been registered so far. Kalwakurthy Police SI Kurumurnthy told Siasat.com that about 20 students stay in the hostel and the management had been taking them to church on Sundays to ensure none were left behind and to avoid untoward incidents. He said authorities have asked the school to roster hostel staff for Sundays and to take only willing students to religious services.