BJP leader arrested for assaulting school principal over Urdu row

Hyderabad: A controversy over the teaching of Urdu and Namaz at a private school in Armoor escalated on Monday, June 29, leading to the arrest of a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader for alleged assault and the precautionary detention of the local MLA.

Nizamabad police arrested Mandula Balu, the BJP town president of Armoor, from a guest house in Ankapoor. The property reportedly belongs to Paidi Rakesh Reddy, the MLA for the Armoor Assembly constituency.

The arrest follows a complaint filed by Mallaiah, the correspondent of Bharat Chandra High School, who alleged that Balu confronted and physically assaulted the school’s principal, Amer Khan, during a heated dispute regarding the school's curriculum. Police have registered a case against Balu under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those for voluntarily causing hurt, mischief, house-trespass, and criminal intimidation. Officials confirmed that Balu is currently in custody and will be produced before the court as investigations continue.

The tension began two days prior when parents, BJP leaders, and members of various Hindu organizations alleged that Hindu students at Bharat Chandra High School, located in Perkit under the Armoor Municipality, were being taught Urdu and Namaz. Protesters quickly demanded that local authorities take immediate action against the school management, calling for the institution to be sealed pending an official inquiry.

As right-wing organizations called for a protest rally in Armoor, the police took preemptive measures to maintain law and order. Armoor MLA Paidi Rakesh Reddy was intercepted by police at Bhiknoor while traveling from Hyderabad to join the demonstration. He was detained and moved to the Kamareddy MLA Camp Office as a precautionary step.

Despite the MLA's detention, BJP leaders and activists pressed forward with their demonstration in Armoor. Led by BJP district president Dinesh Kulachari and other local leaders, the group submitted a formal memorandum to Armoor Mandal Education Officer (MEO) Rajaganga Ram. The memorandum urges the education department to launch a thorough investigation into the school's practices and enforce strict penalties if the allegations are proven true. Local police maintained a heavy presence throughout the town to prevent any flare-ups, and further investigations into both the assault case and the school curriculum allegations are actively underway.