Hindu children served beef in a Christian missionary school in Assam, protest erupts

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 24, 2024

Protest erupted outside the Carmel School campus in Andherijuli under Rani Police Station in Lower Assam’s Kamrup district, following allegations that two students from Manipur had served beef to Hindu students during the tiffin hour.

The incident led to widespread outrage, and eight days after the alleged event, hundreds of protestors blocked the main gate of the school, disrupting the ongoing half-yearly examinations.

The protestors demanded action against the two students accused of serving beef, which is a sensitive issue in the locality due to religious beliefs. In response, 69 guardians of the students submitted a formal complaint to the Circle Officer of Palashbari Revenue Circle.

However, the police have yet to file any charges or register a formal case concerning the incident.

According to the complaint, two Class VIII students staying in the hostel of Carmel School allegedly offered beef to two Hindu students during tiffin hours on September 19. The issue escalated when a Hindu teacher reported the incident to the principal, who reportedly did not take any action. Instead, the teacher was suspended by the school administration.

Following the inaction, two concerned guardians formally approached the principal on Monday to file a complaint, but the principal allegedly attempted to cover up the incident rather than address it. This led to mounting frustration among the community, and on Tuesday, more than a hundred guardians, along with local residents, gathered at the school in protest.

They demanded that the school take immediate action and sought to confront the two students accused of serving beef.

Following the protest, a police team accompanied by a magistrate arrived at the scene to address the growing unrest. The officials managed to calm the protestors by assuring them that appropriate action would be taken regarding the incident.

Later, the school principal informed the protestors (in the presence of police and magistrate) that the two students from Manipur, who were allegedly involved in feeding beef to Hindu students during the tiffin hour, had been expelled from the hostel as a consequence of the incident.

The school authorities have remained largely silent on the matter, refraining from making any formal public statements. Meanwhile, a Christian missionary leader pointed out that the school administration may not bear direct responsibility for the food consumed during tiffin hours.

A representative of Carmel School addressed the ongoing controversy, stating that hostel students are regularly reminded not to engage in actions or consume foods that might offend the religious sentiments of others. He emphasized that such teachings are imparted during the school’s morning assemblies to foster mutual respect among students of different communities.

The missionary leader also denied the allegations that beef was served to Hindu students during tiffin hour by two fellow students, contradicting the claims made in the complaint lodged by the guardians.

Established in 2011, Carmel School Rani is an English medium School, run by the Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel and administered by the Carmel Nilaya Society.