UP police downplay seriousness of slapping incident, say teacher lacks malicious intentions

Muzaffarnagar: Despite the clear voice in which she expressed her desire to encourage Hindu students to 'beat a Muhammadan like this,' the Uttar Pradesh police downplayed the incident in which a teacher instructed students to slap a seven-year-old Muslim classmate, suggesting that she lacked “malicious intentions”. The teacher, Tripta Tyagi, has only been charged with non-cognisable offences.

The concerning incident that has ignited outrage and prompted a larger conversation about intolerance, a teacher at Neha Public School in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.

Muzaffarnagar's Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Suman, acknowledged the ongoing investigation and indicated a willingness to consider more severe charges if warranted. Tyagi's apparent use of divisive language based on the student's religion has prompted calls for additional charges related to hate speech.

The incident occurred last Thursday when a video surfaced on social media, capturing the distressing scene at the school. In the video, a student is seen striking the Muslim boy, while Tyagi purportedly encourages other students to hit him even harder. Her directive was accompanied by disturbing remarks, including divisive language that suggested targeting Muslim children.

The boy's father lodged a complaint, leading to a case being registered against Tyagi. However, the charges brought against her, Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code, have been criticized as insufficient given the gravity of the incident.

The charges currently fall under non-cognisable offences, meaning Tyagi cannot be arrested without a warrant, and any investigation requires court permission.

The incident has generated widespread public outrage, with advocacy groups and opposition leaders condemning the incident as reflective of a "culture of hate." Social media has been flooded with expressions of shock and concern, as netizens share their indignation over the incident.

Some individuals even reported that their posts discussing the incident were withheld on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) due to legal demands.

Shadab Khan, who was among the first to share the video, had his post reportedly withheld in the country due to legal reasons. The incident has sparked a broader discussion on social media censorship and freedom of expression.

In a perplexing twist, Tyagi herself expressed a lack of remorse for her actions during an interview with NDTV. She deemed the incident a "minor issue" and defended her actions as necessary for maintaining discipline in the school environment.