A dispute has flared in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district after a poster, alleged to carry a verse from the Quran, was found affixed to the outer wall of a government-run school, prompting protests by Hindu organisations and a formal inquiry by the district administration.Officials said the matter came to light after residents alerted authorities to the display at the school, which caters to primary-level students. Demonstrators gathered near the premises, alleging that the public institution was being used to advance religious messaging and demanding swift action against those responsible for placing the poster. Police were deployed to prevent escalation and ensure classes continued without disruption.
District officials confirmed that an investigation was initiated following a written complaint. Preliminary steps included removing the poster, sealing the area for inspection and recording statements from school staff, local residents and members of the school management committee. Authorities said they were examining whether any rules governing the secular character of state-funded schools had been breached and whether the act was deliberate or the result of an unauthorised placement by an outsider.
Education department officials said government schools are required to remain free of religious symbols or प्रचार material, regardless of faith, and that any deviation invites disciplinary action. They added that the inquiry would establish how the poster came to be displayed, whether there was any prior permission, and if negligence by staff played a role. Officials stressed that no teaching activity inside classrooms had been linked to the content in question.
Police sources said the protest remained largely peaceful, though slogans were raised demanding accountability. A case diary has been opened to document the sequence of events, and legal provisions are being assessed to determine if any offences apply. Officers said social media posts circulating images of the poster were also being reviewed to check for misinformation or attempts to inflame communal sentiment.
Leaders of local Hindu groups claimed that the presence of a religious verse on school property violated constitutional principles and could influence young students. They called for strict enforcement of norms governing public institutions and warned of further demonstrations if corrective action was not visible. At the same time, community elders from the area appealed for calm, urging residents to allow the inquiry to proceed and to avoid drawing conclusions before facts were established.
Members of the Muslim community in Sambhal said they were awaiting the outcome of the probe and cautioned against attributing intent without evidence. Some residents noted that the wall where the poster appeared faces a public lane and is accessible to passers-by, raising the possibility that it was pasted without the knowledge of school authorities. They emphasised the need to distinguish between unauthorised acts and institutional responsibility.
The episode has drawn attention to the broader challenge of maintaining neutrality in public education spaces in a state that has witnessed several flashpoints linked to religious symbolism in recent years. Education experts note that clear guidelines exist prohibiting religious instruction or display in government schools, rooted in constitutional provisions that mandate equal treatment of all faiths. Enforcement, however, often depends on vigilance at the local level and prompt response when violations are alleged.