The Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) forum has issued a statement following a viral video about a teacher in UP, egging on students to beat up a Muslim boy. The IMSD—a pan-India body with its headquarters in the city—stated it was “horrified at the ongoing harvest out of the sick seeds sown by Hindutva’s hate brigade. In the latest instance of barbarism on display, a viral video shows Tripta Tyagi, a principal-cum-teacher at the Neha Public School in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh making, blatantly making anti-Muslim remarks and ordering students in her class to slap a 7-year-old Muslim classmate because he had not done his homework.”

Citing the video as “deeply disturbing” the IMSD draws attention to the “loud slaps heard as one after another the students follow their teacher's instruction”. The IMSD claims that the boy’s father said the torture went on for an hour or two and his young son is in shock. The IMSD further pointed out the fact that the teacher ostensibly told a television channel that she is not ashamed of what she had done.