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University professor held in Chhattisgarh over students being coerced to offer namaz at NSS camp

A probe was initiated after some students of the university lodged a complaint after they were forced to offer namaz without their consent on March 31, during their one-week (March 26 to April 1).

Senior Police Inspector Vinay Patankar said a court has remanded the woman in police custody for five days for further investigation.

A university professor in Chhattisgarh was arrested on Thursday in connection with allegations that more than 150 students were coerced into reciting namaz during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp.

The incident took place in March during the NSS event in Bilaspur district. Professor Dilip Jha of Guru Ghasidas Central University, along with six faculty members and a student leader, were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act for promoting enmity among groups on the basis of religion, outraging religious feelings and other offences.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rashmeet Kaur Chawla told news agency PTI, “Professor Dilip Jha was taken into custody in the morning in connection with an FIR registered on April 26 against eight persons over the alleged incident.”

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A probe was initiated after some students of the university lodged a complaint after they were forced to offer namaz without their consent on March 31, during their one-week (March 26 to April 1).

Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh had constituted a four-member team headed by City Superintendent of Police (Kotwali) Akshay Sabadra to investigate the matter. Based on the committee’s report, the case was registered against Jha and others.

(With PTI inputs)

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