Govt school wipes tilak off of Hindu students, allows Muslim students to wear cap, offer Namaz on Fridays
Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India 
24 August, 2024
Case Summary
In Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, a video showing Muslim students in a government school wearing Namazi caps and attending Friday prayers at a mosque went viral. The controversy revolves around Hindu students at the school complaining about discrimination, stating that their Tilaks are removed by the school staff, while Muslim students face no such issues. The incident involves the Higher Secondary School in Baneda. Hindu students, including one named Mayank, reported that when they wore Tilaks to school, they were reprimanded and the Tilaks were wiped off, reportedly by teacher Ayesha. In contrast, Muslim students are permitted to wear Namazi caps and are escorted to a nearby mosque for prayers on Fridays. The principal of the school admitted that while it is inappropriate for students to wear religious headgear to school, the practice persists and Muslim students are allowed to attend mosque prayers during school hours with Muslim teachers. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) criticised the school for discrimination and double standards. The District Basic Education Officer (BSA) acknowledged the complaint and ordered an investigation. RSS leader Rohit said that 50 Hindu students from this school attend the Shakha. They have informed that Hindus students are forced to wipe off tilak and religious symbols while Muslims students have no such compulsions.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been placed under the prime category- Restriction/ban on Hindu practices. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Restriction on expression of Hindu identity- An example of the state-affected prejudicial and targeted orders against the Hindu community would be a government denying the right of a Hindu or a group of Hindus to hold a religious procession owing to the animosity of non-Hindu groups. Denial of the religious right of the Hindus to assuage the non-Hindu group which harbours animosity to a point where it could lead to violence against Hindus is not only a failure of law and order but is a prejudicial order against Hindus, denying them their fundamental rights to express their religious identity. An example of a hate crime against Hindus by a non-Hindu would be a non-Hindu institution forcing its Hindu employees to abandon religious symbols that a Hindu would wear as an expression of faith owing to inherent prejudice against the faith professed by the victim or a non-Hindu group of people restricting a Hindu group from constructing a place of worship simply because the demography of the area in which the temple is being built is dominated by non-Hindus. Such actions are driven by religious animosity and/or prejudice against Hindus and their faith and would therefore be categorized as a hate crime. The incident at a government school in Bijnor, where Muslim students were allowed to wear caps and offer Namaz on Fridays, while Hindu students were prohibited from practicing their faith by having their tilaks wiped off, exemplifies a hate crime rooted in religious discrimination. By permitting one group to freely express their religious identity while actively restricting another, the school created an environment of bias and unequal treatment. The tilak, a significant symbol of Hindu identity and devotion, being forcibly removed, reflects an attempt to suppress Hindu practices, thereby marginalizing Hindu students and their right to religious expression. This discriminatory treatment not only restricts the freedom of Hindus to practice their faith but also fosters a sense of alienation and religious inequality within the institution. Such actions reflect deeper societal prejudices and contribute to the broader pattern of intolerance against Hindus in certain settings.
Victim Details
Total Victim
50
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 50
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 50
Age Group
- Minor 50
- Adult 0
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
