The girl in Saharanpur alleges teachers laughed off her complaints, raising serious concerns over safety of Muslim students
SAHARANPUR – A shocking video from Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh has gone viral, showing a Muslim father being beaten up after he complained about the molestation of his daughter in a private school under the Gangoh police station area of the city.
The father had gone to the principal to lodge a complaint against a student accused of harassing his daughter. Instead of taking action, the principal allegedly called in outsiders and had the father thrashed. The victim is now undergoing treatment at the district hospital.
The girl, a student of the school, said she had been facing harassment for a long time but the authorities did not listen to her.
“I told my teachers many times, but they just laughed and ignored it,” she said, adding that her studies had been badly affected. “Now I am afraid to go to school.”
Her statement has raised questions about the attitude of the school administration towards female students, especially Muslims, who often face discrimination and neglect.
Relatives of the victim accused the principal of siding with the accused boy instead of protecting the girl. “When my brother went to complain, the principal did not listen. Instead, he called goons and got him beaten badly,” a family member was quoted by the media as saying on Tuesday.
Community leaders in Saharanpur have also expressed anger. “This is not just negligence, it is cruelty,” said Mohammad Saleem, a local activist. “A Muslim father went to protect his daughter’s dignity, and he was attacked inside the school itself. This shows the bias and lawlessness Muslims are facing.”
The school principal has denied wrongdoing, claiming that the matter was investigated on 29 August and the boy was expelled after being found guilty. He alleged that the girl’s family later came to the school, created a ruckus, and abused staff.
However, the family has rejected this version, insisting that the principal was responsible for the assault and that the teachers had long ignored the girl’s complaints.
The incident has sparked outrage in Saharanpur and beyond. Muslim groups are demanding strict action against the school management and those responsible for the attack.
“This is about justice and safety of our daughters,” said Maulana Tariq, a community elder. “If a Muslim father is beaten for complaining about harassment, how can our children feel safe in schools?”
Police have said they are investigating the case. No arrests have been made as yet.
