New Delhi: A government schoolteacher in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur district was suspended after a student accused him of making “objectionable remarks” about the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, the Indian Express reported.

The incident reportedly occurred after the student sought permission to meet a group of Kanwariyas that included some of her relatives. The teacher, identified as Om Prakash, allegedly denied her request and made remarks that led to protests among villagers.

The controversy came to light after two videos went viral, one, showing the student levelling allegations against the teacher, and another purportedly showing Om Prakash admitting to having made a “mistake”.

Om Prakash, a Dalit, was posted as an assistant teacher at the Composite School in Samratpur, Sultanpur. The district’s Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), Upendra Gupta, told the Indian Express that the teacher has been suspended prima facie and an inquiry is underway. He said students can be heard in the videos alleging that the teacher made objectionable comments.

A colleague of the suspended teacher said the incident took place last Tuesday (July 22) when a group of locals gathered at the school to protest against Om Prakash.

The village headman, Rajesh Tiwari, also arrived to calm tensions. “People told me that a student informed them that on July 17, when she sought permission from Om Prakash to meet a group of Kanwariyas – which included some of her relatives – he not only denied her request but also allegedly made objectionable remarks about those participating in the Kanwar Yatra,” Tiwari recounted, as per the Express report.

He added that Om Prakash later came out of the school building and appeared to admit his mistake in front of the crowd.

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