Abhuar (Bihar): In a shocking incident, a government school teacher was arrested in Bihar on Monday for raising pro-Pakistan slogans during the 77th Republic Day celebrations at the Model Upgraded Middle School in Abhuar under the Kishunpur block of the Supaul district.
Agitated parents and locals may have caused harm to Mansoor Alam, had the police not arrived in time to pacify them and take away the accused.
Supaul SP Sharath R S confirmed the incident and said that a case has been lodged, based on a complaint by school headmaster Dhananjay Tiwari.
“We have lodged a case and the teacher has been arrested. The crime is serious and police will take stringent action against the teacher as per law,” the SP said.
Alam, an assistant teacher at the school, allegedly began raising slogans such as “Mohammed Jinnah Amar Rahen” (Long live Mohammed Jinnah) immediately after the national anthem ended following the unfurling of the national flag.
Some students who were reciting the national anthem reportedly followed Alam as he shouted the slogan at the top of his voice. Other teachers and local residents present within the school premises for the Republic Day celebrations were stunned by his behaviour.
Agitated residents demanded disciplinary action, accusing Alam of acting against the Constitution and insulting the national
anthem and the flag. As the situation worsened due to protests, Tiwary sought immediate police intervention.
More people joined the protest after a video of the incident went viral on social media. They demanded that the accused be handed over to them. A police team led by station house officer Gyan Ranjan Kumar reached the spot, pacified the crowd, and brought the situation under control. Alam was taken to the police station and placed under arrest.
According to sources, students later told the investigating officer that Alam used to describe Pakistan as ‘Jannat’ (heaven) and had attempted to influence some of them.
“The police have recorded the statements of students, and his antecedents are being verified,” a teacher said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Alam may have earlier attempted to radicalise children. His antecedents are being verified.
The state’s education department has initiated departmental proceedings against the teacher.
“We have asked the school to submit the report today. Based on this report, further legal and departmental action will be initiated against the teacher,” district education officer Sangram Singh said,
The police said that this is not an isolated incident. In the past, there have been instances of Pakistani flags being raised or unfurled and anti-national slogans being raised during Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations in different districts of Bihar.
In 2016, Pakistan’s national flag was hoisted at a house in Kharadi Colony of Biharsharif town in Nalanda district, which was later seized by police. Three people were arrested in that case. In 2023, Pakistani flags were found in a house in the Sipahi Tola area of Madhubani in Purnea district.