Authorities at Blessed Mother Teresa High School in Kannepalli village, about 250 km from Hyderabad, have said that principal Jaimon Joseph, a resident of Kerala, noticed two days back that some students had worn a saffron attire to school. When he asked the students about this, they replied they were observing Hanuman Deeksha, a 21-day ritual. The principal then asked them to bring their parents to school so that he can discuss this.
The matter escalated when someone shared a video on social media and claimed that the principal was not allowing Hindu attire on campus. Soon after, a mob attacked the school. Videos show saffron-clad men raising Jai Shri Ram slogans and shattering window panes as petrified teachers with folded hands urge them to stop. Police personnel are seen trying to control the situation and removing the protesters from the school corridors. One of the videos show the mob throwing stones at a statue of Mother Teresa on campus.
Some men surrounded principal Joseph, beat him up and forcibly applied tilak on his forehead, according to reports. The protesters have demanded an apology from the school.The Mancherial district police have booked a case against a school correspondent and principal for allegedly objecting to some students coming to the institution wearing 'Hanuman Deeksha dress' in Kannepalli village about 250 km from here.
According to Dandepally police, based on a complaint by the parents of the students, a case under sections 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race) and 295 (A) (insulting the religious feelings) was booked against the school officials on Tuesday.
The Blessed Mother Teresa High School management told on Wednesday that two days ago, the principal asked the students to bring their parents after noticing that they were wearing a saffron attire instead of a uniform.
Later, a group of people demanded an apology from the school management and some angry protestors allegedly vandalised the school windows on Tuesday, according to video footage given by the school correspondent. The protestors also allegedly demanded an apology from the correspondent, he said.
