The school administration is also reported to pressurise the victim and his family to remain silent, threatening expulsion if they spoke out about the incident.
Team Clarion
LUCKNOW — A 12-year-old Muslim student, Furqan, was violently assaulted during the Navratri Dandiya concert at Greenway Public School in Fareedi Pur, prompting serious concerns about the safety and treatment of students within the institution.
As a matter of serious concern,the school administration reportedly pressured the victim and his family to remain silent, threatening expulsion if they spoke out about the incident.
Earlier also, Furqan had experienced harassment from a group of boys at the school, who allegedly targeted him due to his Muslim identity. During the Dandiya celebrations, these students subjected him to severe physical abuse.
Furqan, who is in the eighth grade, felt abandoned by the school, which failed to provide him with any protection or support. Instead, he was confronted by school officials, who warned him against raising his voice or opposing the bullies. The principal reportedly threatened to expel him and remove his name from the school register.
According to athe interview given to The Observer Post, Furqan mentioned the names of the fellow student swho attacked him mericilessly. He said, “Shiva led the group that attacked me. Ankur jumped on me to strangle me, along with Subhash, Rupesh, and many other boys.” He noted that these attackers included students from different grades at Greenway Public School, as well as some outsiders.
The intent behind the attack was clear; the groupof attackers had premeditated their actions, demanding Furqan refrain from befriending other students or participating in the Dandiya celebrations.
Despite his mother’s reassurance that he could attend the event, just four days prior, Furqan had been cornered and threatened by the same boys .
On the day of the concert, Furqan wore traditional attire abd was ambushed by the group of attackers. According to an eye-witness the attackers, comprising approximately eight to nine students from the school and outside, brutally beat Furqan, leaving him incapacitated. Faizan, who witnessed the incident, recounted, “We thought he was done for (that he had died).” In a chilling turn of events, one assailant arrived on a motorcycle, attempting to run over Furqan to make the attack appear accidental.
Furqan managed to flee, but the group pursued him, attacking him again in front of a large iron gate. The motorcyclist was identified as Rupesh, the older brother of an eighth-grade student, Prince Rajput. In a bid to avoid repercussions, Rupesh contacted a female teacher, who advised him to remain calm.
Following the assault, the school administration responded by further victimising Furqan. He reported that instead of receiving support, he faced hostility from school officials, who seemed to side with the bullies. The principal’s threats to issue a Transfer Certificate (TC) and expel him if he spoke out were particularly distressing for Furqan. Despite support from local residents and parents who witnessed the incident, their voices were silenced by the administration, which accused them of creating unnecessary disturbance.
Furqan and his family reported the incident to the local police station, but their attempts at seeking justice were met with a lack of action. A compromise was suggested, but no meaningful steps were taken against the perpetrators. Faizan expressed frustration, stating, “No culprits were identified at the police station, and the bullies faced no consequences. No one accepted responsibility for the incident that could have cost an innocent life.”
Senior teacher S.K. Singh from Greenway Public School commented on the situation, stating, “We have appointed a nodal officer for the investigation of the case. We have also designated counselors. All directives from our local police officials have been implemented, and we are always open to welcom new suggestions.”
Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Shubham acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter, noting that parents od the student are understandably frightened after the incident. “We have requested them to file an FIR and have held a meeting with parents and teachers to address the situation,” he added.
The incident raises serious questions about the safety ofMuslim students and the responsibility of school authorities to protect those who are vulnerable.
