Kolkata school suspends teacher, FIR lodged over alleged tilak removal from student

A private missionary school in Kolkata has suspended a teacher and an FIR has been registered after allegations that she repeatedly removed a sandalwood tilak from a student’s forehead, an act that came to light through a viral social media video and drew the attention of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The incident surfaced when the student posted a video alleging that the teacher would wipe off the tilak applied to his forehead before he entered the institution, triggering a controversy over religious freedom in educational institutions. After the allegation reached the chief minister, the administration looked into the matter and initiated action against the teacher, an education department official said.

At a press conference in Kolkata, Adhikari said “derogatory remarks” from government employees against the Prime Minister or any person holding a constitutional position would not be tolerated, stressing that staff must adhere to the prescribed code of conduct. He also announced the suspension of an education department employee over allegations that the official had posted objectionable remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.