Headmistress, parent arrested for staging anti-CAA drama in school

The headmistress of a private school in Karnataka’s Bidar and a student’s mother have been arrested for their alleged involvement after the students a drama was staged in the school portraying Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “poor light” over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Days ago, the management of the school was slapped with a sedition case for allegedly allowing the students to enact the anti-CAA and anti-NRC play in the school. Police said the play staged by the students had communal and derogatory remarks against Modi. The play was uploaded on social media and had gone viral.

The police action came after they questioned the two women and a few staff members of the Shaheen School and students on Thursday. They were produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody, police said adding further investigation was on. The drama was staged by students of fourth, fifth and sixth standard on January 21.

Also read | Karnataka school booked for ‘allowing’ anti-CAA play by students

A sedition case was booked by police on January 26 against the school based on a complaint from social worker Neelesh Rakshyal. Officials said the utterances against the prime minister were not part of the original script, but the mother of a Class 6 students had allegedly incorporated them during the practice and the teacher allowed it to be part of the drama.

The complainant alleged the school authorities “used” the students to perform a drama where they “abused” Modi in the context of the CAA and the NRC. The management tried to create “fear” among the Muslims that they would have to leave the country if the CAA and NRC were implemented, Rakshyal had charged.

(With inputs from agencies)