Students forced to offer namaz at NSS camp; 7 varsity staffers among 8 booked in Chhattisgarh

A probe was instituted after students came back and protested, following which right wing outfits too agitated seeking action against those responsible, the official said.(Repesentative Photo)

Eight persons, including seven faculty members, were booked for allegedly forcing some students of Guru Ghasidas Central University to offer namaz during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp in Chhattigarh’s Bilaspur district, a police official said on Sunday.

They forced 159 students to offer namaz during the NSS camp held between March 26 and April 1 in Shivtarai village under Kota police station limits, though only four among them were Muslims, he said.In its report of April 26, PTI had inadvertently mentioned it as an NCC camp. The error is regretted.

A probe was instituted after students came back and protested, following which right wing outfits too agitated seeking action against those responsible, the official said. "The incident took place on March 31. Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh had constituted a four member committee under City Superintendent of Police (Kotwali) Akshay Sabadra to investigate the matter.

The case was lodged on Saturday after the investigation report was submitted to the SSP,” he said.Seven faculty members of Guru Ghasidas Central University and a team core leader-cum-student have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act for promoting enmity among groups on the basis of religion etc, outraging religious feelings and other offences, the official said.

Nobody has been arrested so far, he added.Kota police station in charge SHO Sumit Kumar told PTI on Sunday that the case diary has been received and a probe has begun.”The persons named in the FIR will be served notices to be present for recording of statements. Action will be taken on the basis of further probe,” he said.