Kolkata school gets parcel requesting Islamic teaching, religious texts

KOLKATA: A state-run school in the city has lodged a complaint with the police after receiving a registered parcel containing religious books on Islam, including a copy of the holy Quran, and a letter which proposed that Islamic teaching be introduced in its curriculum, an official said on Monday.

Head master of Jadavpur Vidyapith, Parthapratim Baidya, told PTI on Monday that on September 24 some parcels including a copy of the Quran came to his table along with a letter which requested the school to include Islamic teaching and study of religious texts in its syllabus.

An FIR was lodged at Jadavpur Police station on September 25. "We are a well-known state-run school and never instilled religious dogmatic views among our students.

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We believe in India's inclusiveness, where students cannot be taught the tenets of one particular religion. In the present situation, I believe some elements might have sent the letter and parcel to stir up trouble," he said without naming the sender.

Police investigation

Baidya said it was up to the police to unravel the circumstances behind such a move. "Also keeeing in mind that our school building is located near the campus of Jadavpur University which had witnesd standoffs betweeen two groups of students, we don't want any trouble as thousands of children study here," he said.

Police have launched an investigation into the source of the parcel and are trying to ascertain the identity of the sender, a senior officer said. Investigators are also examining CCTV footage in and around the school and checking whether the sender named in the parcel and letter had actually sent the parcel or whether someone did so on his behalf.