A 60-year-old government school headmaster in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has been arrested on charges of allegedly hurting religious sentiments, after he administered a pledge to people, urging them not to believe in Hindu gods and to embrace Buddhism, police said on Monday.
The man, identified as Ratalal Sarovar, who serves as the headmaster of a government primary school in Bharari village, was suspended by the district education officer following the incident,as PTI reported.
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The incident occurred on January 22, coinciding with the consecration of Ram Lalla’s idol at the Ayodhya temple.
Sarovar reportedly convened a group of people, including children, in Mohtarai village under the jurisdiction of the Ratanpur police station. Allegedly, during this gathering, he administered a pledge encouraging people not to believe in Hindu gods but to embrace Buddhism.
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Following the incident, a video of Sarovar’s actions went viral on social media and caught the attention of Rupesh Shukla, a member of a right-wing organisation, who then filed a complaint.
On Sunday, Sarovar was arrested and charged under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds) and 295A (deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.
The complaint alleges that Sarovar’s actions hurt the sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma. An investigation is being conducted by the police into the case.