A Muslim principal at a government higher secondary school in Rajasthan’s Kota was arrested after allegedly deleting a Ganesh Chaturthi greetings post from a school WhatsApp group, which led to protests from local villagers.
The principal, Shafi Mohammed Ansari, of the Government Senior Higher Secondary School, faced backlash after he reportedly removed posts featuring images of Lord Ganesh from the group, which includes parents and teachers.
The incident began when a man shared a Ganesh Chaturthi greeting in the WhatsApp group, known as the School Management Development Committee (SMDC).
Following the initial deletion by Ansari, a teacher posted a similar greeting, which was also allegedly removed by the principal. This prompted a gathering of villagers outside the school, where they demonstrated against Ansari and called for his dismissal.
Bapawar Police Station’s SHO, Uttam Singh, confirmed that Ansari was arrested for allegedly disturbing communal harmony. He was later granted bail and released the same evening.
Authorities reported that the situation in Laturi village remained normal and peaceful after the protests. Police have initiated proceedings against Ansari under Section 127 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for his actions.