Muzaffarnagar: In a viral video, a Uttar Pradesh school teacher was seen directing students to slap their Muslim classmate, faces charges and widespread outrage over the social media.

A distressing video has surfaced from a school in Muzaffarnagar, portraying a heart-wrenching scene where a young boy stands defenseless, tears flowing down his cheeks.

The teacher, identified as Tripta Tyagi, who also holds the position of principal, can be heard making inflammatory remarks in the video and inciting other students to physically harm the boy for failing to complete his homework.

The video captures the principal, Tripta Tyagi, stating, “I have declared it – all Muslim children should be beaten,” addressing someone off-camera. The incident occurred on Thursday within the premises of Neha Public School.

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In a video that has circulated widely, loud slaps can be heard as students follow their teacher’s instructions to physically harm a fellow student. The teacher, identified as Tripta Tyagi, is seen making disturbing remarks and encouraging the students to inflict more forceful blows.

“Why don’t you hit harder? Whose turn is it?” she can be heard saying in the video.

The victim, a seven-year-old boy, was subjected to hours of humiliation and physical abuse, forced to stand for an extended period while enduring the ordeal. The child’s father reported the incident to the police, expressing concern for his son’s well-being and emotional state.

The incident has been met with condemnation from the community and authorities. The father emphasized that this is not a matter of Hindu-Muslim relations but rather a call for justice to prevail. The police registered a case after the video gained widespread attention, initiating a comprehensive investigation.

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Arvind Mallappa, the District Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar, confirmed that an investigation had taken place and a case had been filed against the accused teacher. He also mentioned that departmental action was being pursued against her. The affected child and his family were being offered counseling and support.

The accused teacher attempted to justify her actions and even suggested that the video had been edited. She explained that her intention was not to create any communal discord, but rather to encourage the child to complete his homework. “I am handicapped, so I made some students slap him so that he would start doing his homework,” she said.

Tripta Tyagi stated that there was pressure from the child’s parents to discipline him. She admitted her mistake while downplaying the incident, referring to it as a “minor issue.”

The incident triggered a political uproar, with the Congress party criticizing the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak assured that appropriate action would be taken in response to the incident.

In a subsequent development, farmer leader Naresh Tikait claimed to have mediated a compromise to maintain communal harmony in the region.