The culprits involved in the alleged ‘religious conversion’ issue in a Damoh-based school, according to Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, are being held by the police. Without going into detail about the current inquiry, the minister stated that police were hunting for people who were on the run, news agency IANS reported. He further stated that the state government is planning a “bulldozer operation” against the Damoh-based Ganga Jamuna school, where a dispute erupted over a banner depicting girl student toppers in hijab, which has since been revealed to be an alleged “religious conversion.” A police report was filed against the school administration a few days ago.
“The investigation is still underway and the accused are being arrested one after another. The police have also launched a search for those on the run. Those involved in the case will not be spared and bulldozer action will also be carried out,” Mishra said, adding that “layers of crime are being peeled away one after another. Things will become clearer once the police completes it’s investigation,” IANS reported.
In poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, this tragedy has taken new turns. The governing BJP’s leaders and ministers have accused the authorities, including the Damoh district collector, of being ‘biassed’ in their probe and have called for a high-level investigation. The BJP has also claimed that the tragedy had a ‘terror funding’ connection.
Now, a second complaint has been made by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairman Priyank Kanoongo, who claimed that the Ganga Jamuna School group was maintaining a hostel in Bhopal which was also being used for purported ‘religious conversion’. It has sought an investigation.
A billboard depicting top pupils, including Hindu girls, wearing the hijab sparked outrage at the private English medium school Ganga Jamuna. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered a high-level investigation into charges of “religious conversion” and “terror funding.”
