New Delhi: On August 20, a large group of students of a government school in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj district boycotted classes and staged a protest against the principal accusing him of high-handedness, caste discrimination and indecent behaviour.Raising slogans such as “Principal sahab hataye jaye” (Remove the principal), the boys and girls, described as Gen Alpha by local media, gathered outside the school gate. The students alleged that they had been without a proper Mathematics teacher for a long time and were being taught the subject by a Science teacher. Some also alleged that the principal beat them, while others accused him of felling trees inside the campus. Only those who agreed to sweep and mop the school were allowed to use computers, alleged some guardians of the students.As the students continued to protest outside the school, the district administration sprung into action and dispatched officials to talk to the children. Studies resumed after the district basic education officer spoke directly with the protesting students. Officials have now claimed that the students were lured with biscuits by some unidentified individuals to stage the demonstration as part of a conspiracy to malign the government and its education department.On August 22, Kannauj police lodged a First Information Report against unidentified “anti-social elements” under Sections 189 (2), 49, 54 and 57 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These provisions deal with mass incitement, unlawful assembly, abetment and abettor present when offence is committed.The criminal case was lodged on the complaint of Haseran block education officer Vishwanath Pathak. The incident relates to the PM Shri Uttar Pradesh Composite School in Gungrapur.Pathak said that students and their guardians staged a strong protest against principal Rakesh Saxena by stopping his car. The angry students boycotted the school and surrounded Saxena’s car, while their parents accused the principal of discrimination, indecency and assaulting the students. “They stopped his car and raised slogans,” said Pathak in the FIR, a copy of which was reviewed by The Wire.Also read: Why India’s Youth Feel Let Down TodayPathak noted that Saxena claimed that the students were coerced into protesting against him and that certain individuals had “conspired” to execute it.“Biscuits were distributed to children and they were lured into performing in the school to stage such a demonstration,” said Pathak, quoting Saxena’s version of events.After the video of the school went viral, officials inspected the school. Pathak said that upon questioning the students, they revealed that some “unknown individuals had lured them with biscuits” to stage the demonstration.“Because of this demonstration, some political figures are trying to tarnish the image of the [education] department and the government. In the published video, some unruly elements of the village, who are portrayed as guardians, are not guardians; they are unruly elements of the village,” said Pathak.The official requested police to obtain the call details of all the individuals and teachers involved in the protest, demanding strict legal action against them.“Some unruly elements of the village and some people working or involved in the school amplified this incident and an attempt has been made to tarnish the image of the department,” said Pathak.Uttar Pradesh social welfare minister Asim Arun endorsed the view of the Kannauj officials, saying that some people had conspired to defame the government. He is an MLA representing the Kannauj assembly constituency.“Some people conspired to defame the government by presenting a well-functioning system in a negative manner. They gathered small children who cannot understand what is right and wrong by giving them biscuits, coffee, etc., and created such a social media post or photograph,” Arun said at a press conference on August 23.The minister stressed that if any system was faulty people should raise their voice but warned that no one should take the law into their own hands. “At the same time, one must also be careful about the authenticity of such reports,” said Arun, adding that an investigation was underway.Arun asked students to ensure that no one misuses them in any manner.The criminal case in Kannauj was lodged on the same day, the police in Deoria in east Uttar Pradesh booked a youth activist for shooting and circulating a video showing the dilapidated condition of a government school.Also read: Youth Activist Booked for Showing Dilapidated State of UP Primary School in Facebook VideoAn FIR was lodged against Rajat Singh on August 22 on the charges of entering a primary school in Gauribazar’s Damar Bishwa village on August 16 without authorisation and spreading misinformation.Incidentally, late on August 22, in a high-level meeting on law and order, chief minister Adityanath instructed officials to take strict action, including the filing of FIRs, against those attempting to disrupt the atmosphere in the state by spreading false and misleading information about schools.Also read: As School Failures Go Viral, Several UP Districts Restrict YouTubers From CampusesA government spokesperson said that Adityanath expressed strong displeasure over reports of “misleading videos” regarding schools and colleges being circulated in certain districts.Adityanath ordered officials to conduct on-site inspections to assess the status of mid-day meals, toilet facilities for boys and girls, and classrooms. A government spokesperson said that Adityanath emphasised that children in schools must have access to good facilities and a conducive academic environment. Adityanath also instructed district magistrates to conduct regular inspections of schools to ensure the availability of proper facilities and the maintenance of a positive learning atmosphere. The criminal action in Deoria and Kannauj comes on the heels of directives issued by basic education authorities in several districts across Uttar Pradesh banning outsiders, including YouTubers and social media users, from entering government primary and upper primary schools to film videos on campus premises.Orders issued by Basic Shiksha Adhikaris (BSAs) in at least seven districts – Hapur, Ayodhya, Balrampur, Agra, Ballia, Basti, and Azamgarh – follow widespread demonstrations and protests organised by school students demanding improved infrastructure and drawing attention to systemic shortcomings in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state.