The Gujarat Education Department is conducting a statewide survey of madrasas following an order from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). On May 18, in accordance with this directive, a survey was carried out in madrasas across Ahmedabad. During this process, an incident occurred where a teacher, who had gone to inspect a madrasa in the Sultan Maholla neighborhood of the Dariapur area, was attacked. A police complaint was filed, leading to the registration of a case.
A First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Dariapur police station. The teacher, Sandeep Patel, who is also the principal of Shruti Higher Secondary School in Bapunagar, detailed the incident in his complaint and demanded strict action. Farhan and Faisal, two Muslim youths, were named among the accused.
According to Patel’s complaint, he arrived at the madrasa managed by Saiyad Sultan Masjid in Sultan Maholla around 10:30 am. He was there as part of a directive from DEO RM Chaudhary to gather information about the number of students, instructors, and available amenities. However, upon arrival, he found the mosque door locked. Patel contacted his superior officer and was instructed to take a photograph of the mosque using his smartphone as evidence of the institution being closed.
Patel recounted, “Suddenly, a group of people approached me and started questioning why I was taking pictures. Before I could respond, five to seven unidentified men began assaulting me, using derogatory language and issuing death threats.”
During the assault, someone in the crowd instructed Farhan and Faisal to seize his phone and documents, which they did.
Patel added, “I tried to explain that I was a teacher, but they ignored me and continued the attack.” Meanwhile, his government-issued documents were taken, and bystanders did not intervene. After the attack, Patel went directly to the police station.
The Dariapur police have registered a case against Farhan and Faisal under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294(b) (uttering obscene words), 392 (robbery), 186 (obstructing a public servant), 332 (causing hurt to deter a public servant), and 506(2) (criminal intimidation). The police are investigating further.
The Dariapur police told OpIndia, “A case has been registered and we are identifying the perpetrators. No arrests have been made yet, but we are working to apprehend them soon.” The authorities are searching for five to seven suspects, including the two named in the FIR.
