Principal of Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School, a school in South Goa’s Alto-Dabolim, took several Class 11 students to a mosque for a ‘workshop’ by Student Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) on Saturday and allegedly persuaded them to perform namaz. When the details of the event got out, it created a huge outrage among parents and public. Concerned members of the local Hindu community filed a police complaint against the principal on Monday. Following the outrage and complaint, the management of the school suspended the principal.

The school principal Shankar Gaonkar collaborated with Student Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) and took 21 students, including 3 girls, to a mosque in Dabolim for a ‘communal harmony workshop’ on Saturday. As per allegations, the principal also persuaded students to perform namaz and the girl students were asked to wear hijab. The school principal defended himself by saying that ‘some students may have covered their heads out of respect’.

Student Islamic Organisation of India is affiliated to Jammat-e-Islami Hind. Jammat’s state president Asif Hussain responded to the controversy by saying that ‘workshop had been organised for students at Masjid-E-Noor in Dabolim as part of our routine initiatives to promote communal harmony and for a better understanding between communities’.

Local Hindu leaders said that such events are being conducted to brainwash Hindu students and convert them to Islam.

“The principal did not inform parents of the students or seek their permission for the workshop. We have been informed that at least two students had refused to go, but they were taken forcibly. Some photos of school children performing rituals at the mosque and wearing hijab have been circulating on social media. We have lodged a complaint with the police,” said Sanju Korgaoker, Joint Secretary, VHP, South Goa.

The State Education Department has also sought an explanation from the school management.