Right-Wing Group Attacks Muslim Boy for Defending Hijab-Wearing Students in Tripura School

New Delhi, August 5, 2023: A disturbing incident unfolded in Tripura, where men from a right-wing group assaulted a Muslim boy who dared to object to their prevention of Muslim girls from wearing hijab to school.

The victim, a class 10 student, was brutally beaten in front of the school while no teacher, including the headmaster, came to his aid. Shocked locals reacted with outrage, blocking roads in protest. The attackers were outsiders with no affiliation to the school.

The area affected, Bishalgarh subdivision of Sepahijala district, remained tense after the incident. The police, however, asserted that the situation is now under control, and it should not be treated as a communal issue, despite certain reports suggesting otherwise.

A week prior to the attack, a group of former students, claiming to be linked to a right-wing organization, visited the government-aided Karaimura Class 12 school to demand a ban on Muslim girl students wearing hijab, citing non-compliance with the prescribed government uniform.

The headmaster, Priyatosh Nandi, verbally advised the students not to wear hijab in the absence of clear instructions from the concerned government department.

The police have registered a case and are actively investigating the incident. To de-escalate tensions, classes have been suspended in the area, which is known for its mixed population with members from different communities.

State authorities are closely monitoring the situation, making efforts to resolve the issue and restore peace in the region.