Yavatmal: An FIR was registered on Thursday against the headmaster and a teacher of a municipal school in Umarkhed town of Yavatmal district for allegedly playing a Pakistani patriotic song at the school’s cultural programme on January 31. Based on a complaint filed by BJP councillor from Umarkhed, Gopal Kalane, on Thursday, an offence was registered under Section 196(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, against headmaster Sanchar Ulla Khan Abdul Khan and teacher Mohammad Firoz Asha (both residents of Umarkhed) of Abdul Gafur Shah Municipal Urdu School No. 2, said police. Kalane in his complaint stated that he was headed to Tajpura area from his home around 6pm on January 31 when he heard a song “Ay Mard e Mujahid, Teri Yalgaar Kaha Hai” which was being played at Abdul Gafur Shah Municipal Urdu School No. 2. “Students from Class 6 were dancing to the song with symbolic swords in their hands. I observed the performance and later also obtained a clip which clearly indicated that an attempt was being made to spread hatred in society,” the complaint stated. Kalane told TOI that the programme held on January 31 was related to Republic Day celebrations. The clip mentioned by Kalane went viral on local social media groups a couple of days after the incident. “The song is reportedly known as a military motivational anthem associated with Pakistan. Performing such a Pakistani patriotic song at a school function hurt public sentiments and was anti-national in nature,” said Kalane, and claimed that the song was accorded national significance in Pakistan and was used during the 1962 India-Pakistan war. “Presenting it before schoolchildren could adversely influence young minds,” he said. Investigating officer Sagar Ingale confirmed that a case was filed against the headmaster and a teacher following the complaint. “Appropriate action will be taken after conducting investigation,” the officer said.
