Univ teacher who had students recite namaz at NSS camp arrested: Police

Bilaspur Range iG Sanjeev Shukla said Dilip Jha, six other faculty members and a student team leader, were booked on April 26.

Published on: May 1, 2025, 21:22:51 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: A teacher at Guru Ghasidas University in Chhattisgarh has been arrested in connection with allegations that a group of students were forced to recite namaz during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp, police said.

Prof Dilip Jha was taken into custody on Thursday morning in connection with a first information report (FIR) registered on April 26.

The case pertains to an incident that occurred during an NSS camp held from March 26 to April 1 in Shivtarai village under the jurisdiction of the Kota police station.

Bilaspur range inspector general of police (IGP) Sanjeev Shukla said Jha, six other faculty members and a student team leader, were booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act.

“The charges include promoting enmity between groups on religious grounds and outraging religious sentiments. We have arrested him today and produced before the court ,” Shukla said.

They are accused of compelling 159 students to participate in a namaz recital on March 31, though only four of them were Muslim.

Some students spoke against the incident after returning from the NSS camp, prompting right-wing organisations to intervene and demand action against the faculty members.

Bilaspur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajnesh Singh subsequently appointed a four-member team led by city SP (Kotwali) Akshay Sabadra. The FIR and subsequent arrests were made following the committee’s report.

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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