A government school in Tripura's Sepahijala district became a site of communal clashes on Friday, following a division between Hindu and Muslim students over the issue of wearing hijab by minority community girls. The situation escalated when a class 10 student, who allegedly supported the wearing of hijab, was assaulted by a mob.
The incident took place at Koroimura Higher Secondary School and was sparked by a disagreement over the headmaster's directive for Muslim girl students not to wear hijab and to attend school in proper school uniforms. According to a police officer, the class 10 student, along with other students, had ransacked the headmaster's room in protest, as reported by PTI.
In response, a mob gathered outside the school and attacked the student when he came out, resulting in his injury. He was promptly rushed to a nearby healthcare center for medical attention, as confirmed by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Law & Order, Jyotishman Das.
The headmaster, Priyatosh Nandi, stated that after a recent meeting with teachers, he had issued a directive for all students to attend school wearing proper uniforms. However, girl students from the minority community expressed their inability to comply, citing wearing hijab as a religious belief.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a delegation from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had met the headmaster, urging him to enforce the school uniform rule uniformly for all students, regardless of religion.
Amidst the ongoing tension, a group of Hindu students appeared at the school wearing saffron-colored kurtas on the previous day, prompting the headmaster to request their adherence to the school uniform policy. The students, however, insisted on complying with the uniform rule only if all students did the same.
Although the situation remains under control, the incident has raised concerns over communal harmony in the school and the broader implications for peaceful coexistence among students of different religious backgrounds.
This incident bears similarities to the Karnataka Hijab controversy, which emerged last year when a college in Karnataka prohibited the wearing of hijab inside classrooms. The matter sparked a statewide debate and is presently pending before the Supreme Court.
