In a surprising incident, a government school principal in Kota, Rajasthan, was arrested late Friday night for allegedly deleting Ganesh Chaturthi festival posts from a school committee's WhatsApp group. The principal, who belongs to a minority community, sparked outrage among the group members, leading to protests in front of the school and his subsequent arrest.


The principal, identified as Muhammad Shafiq, allegedly deleted two posts related to Ganesh Chaturthi that were shared in the Block School Development Committee’s WhatsApp group. The committee, which typically includes the principal, schoolteachers, the block education officer, and a few guardians and officials, uses the group to communicate essential decisions related to school management. However, when Shafiq deleted the festival greetings, the other members, particularly those from the Hindu community, became enraged, leading to protests.

Details of the Incident

According to police reports, the tension began on Friday morning when members of the WhatsApp group shared posts wishing each other well for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a widely celebrated occasion among Hindus. At first, Shafiq reportedly deleted one post, but this action went largely unnoticed. However, when he deleted a second post about two hours later, it caught the attention of the other group members, including several Hindu teachers, who expressed their anger and frustration over the incident.

What started as an online disagreement quickly escalated. Several group members began protesting outside the school, accusing Shafiq of deliberately disrespecting their religious sentiments by removing the posts. Soon, word of the incident spread throughout the village, prompting more people to gather outside the school, including local villagers and members of various Hindu organizations.

Police Response and Arrest

As tensions rose, the local police were notified. Station House Officer (SHO) Uttam Singh of the Bapawar Kala police station reported that the situation had the potential to disrupt communal harmony in the area. "The principal's actions angered many members of the WhatsApp group, and the protest started outside the school. With more villagers joining in, the situation was getting tense. To ensure peace and order, we immediately dispatched police forces to the school," Singh said.

The police took swift action to prevent further escalation, deploying additional personnel to manage the crowd. Officers worked to calm the protesters while investigating the incident. By late Friday night, an official FIR was lodged against Shafiq by some WhatsApp group members and villagers. The case was filed under Section 196 of the BNS, which pertains to actions that could disturb communal harmony.

SHO Singh explained the reasoning behind the arrest: "We arrested the principal on charges of attempting to disturb social harmony. He claimed that his actions were accidental, but given that he deleted two posts within two hours, we found his explanation questionable."

Shafiq is currently in police custody and is being questioned further. According to initial police statements, the principal maintained that he did not intend to offend anyone and that the deletions were inadvertent. However, investigators are still determining whether there was any intent behind his actions.

Protest and Community Response

The protest, which began with the schoolteachers, was quickly joined by local residents, including several members of Hindu outfits. The protesters demanded immediate action against the principal, accusing him of intentionally removing the Ganesh Chaturthi posts to insult their religious beliefs.

The police worked diligently to defuse the situation, and by Saturday morning, peace had been restored in the area. "The situation was under control by Saturday morning. We assured the protesters that an investigation is underway and that the law will take its course," SHO Singh added.

The incident has stirred up discussions about communal sensitivity in public institutions, with many emphasizing the need for mutual respect in diverse communities. The deletion of the posts, though seemingly minor, has drawn attention to how small actions can spark significant reactions, especially in settings with multiple religious and cultural backgrounds.

Ongoing Investigation

As of now, the police continue to investigate the case. Muhammad Shafiq remains in custody, and authorities are examining his statement to determine whether the deletions were accidental or intentional. Meanwhile, the school remains closed, and the administration is working to ensure that such incidents do not lead to further disruptions.

The police have urged the community to remain calm and allow the investigation to proceed without further unrest. Additional security measures have been put in place to prevent any future gatherings or protests at the school.

This incident highlights the delicate balance between communal harmony and personal actions in a diverse society like India, and how quick interventions by authorities are critical in maintaining peace.