Chhattisgarh: Students forced to offer namaz at NSS camp; 7 teachers booked

Around 159 students were allegedly compelled to participate in the religious practice on March 31, although only four of them were reportedly from the Muslim community

Published on: Apr 27, 2025, 17:52:23 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Raipur: Seven teachers and a student from Chhattisgarh’s Guru Ghasidas Central University have been booked for allegedly forcing students to offer namaz during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp held in Bilaspur district, police said on Sunday.

The incident reportedly took place during an NSS camp organised between March 26 and April 1 at Shivtarai villag (Representational image)

Around 159 students were allegedly compelled to participate in the religious practice on March 31, although only four of them were reportedly from the Muslim community, an officer said.

“The incident reportedly took place during an NSS camp organised between March 26 and April 1 at Shivtarai village, under the jurisdiction of Kota police station in Bilaspur district,” the officer added.

Bilaspur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajnesh Singh ordered an inquiry and formed a four-member committee led by Kotwali (City) SP Akshay Sabadra.

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Based on the committee’s investigation report, a case was registered on Saturday against teachers Dilip Jha, Madhulika Singh, Jyoti Verma, Neeraj Kumari, Prashant Vaishnav, Suryabhan Singh, Basant Kumar, and student leader Ayushman Chaudhary.

“They have been charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act. We will arrest them soon,” inspector general (IG) of police , Bilaspur range, Sanjeev Shukla said.

The case was initially filed at the Koni police station, with the case being subsequently transferred to the Kota police station for further investigation, the officer added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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