Now Reading: UP schools bar outsiders as FIRs target activists over videos
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UP schools bar outsiders as FIRs target activists over videos
Uttar Pradesh school authorities have restricted outsider entry and filed FIRs in two districts after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered action against those spreading 'misleading' videos of schools. In Kannauj, an FIR was lodged against unidentified persons accused of luring students with biscuits to protest against a headmaster. In Deoria, activist Rajat Singh was booked for filming and posting a video of a school's dilapidated building, which the education department says was an unused structure already being demolished.
The Justice Morcha, a youth forum, staged a protest at the Deoria DM's office on Monday demanding school infrastructure improvements and questioning the FIR against their member. Congress accused the state government of trying to silence youth voices, claiming around 25,000 schools have shut in Uttar Pradesh under the BJP rule. The CM asserted at a Lucknow event that some people post such videos to 'tarnish' the government's image.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Indian Express leads with the government's official account, the CM's directive, the FIRs, and the claim of outsiders luring students with biscuits, framing the protests as a conspiracy to tarnish the government. The Hindu leads with the activist's arrest and foregrounds opposition criticism, presenting the crackdown as an attempt to silence voices exposing ground reality. The Express omits the Justice Morcha's central demand about school infrastructure gaps, The Hindu omits the official claim that biscuits were used to lure student protesters and that the building filmed was already marked for demolition. A balanced reading confirms both a genuine infrastructure deficit and a government response that treats documentation of that deficit as a crime, with the key question being whether the courts uphold the FIRs against the activist or find them an overreach.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 government-critical
Sources (2): newindianexpress.com (pro government), thehindu.com (government critical)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
