Two men on their way to participate in a religious procession were thrashed allegedly by some unidentified people of a different community in northeast Delhi’s Nand Nagri area, the police said on Sunday.

The two, identified as Ankit (19) and his friend Sidhu, riding different motorcycles were thrashed for shouting slogans when they were passing through a religious place on Saturday evening, they said.

Police said that the victims were admitted to the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital with injuries.

A PCR call was received at 6.40 pm on Saturday, said an official, adding the caller stated that some people were thrashing his brother.

“A team was sent to the spot. By the time it reached there, the attackers had fled the spot. After a preliminary inquiry, we found that Ankit along with his friends had come from Dilshad Garden to Nand Nagri to participate in the Valmiki Jayanti procession,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey.

“Ankit and his 10-11 friends riding five-six two-wheelers came to Nand Nagri, and were about half a kilometre away from the procession which was passing through its pre-decided route. However, they took a route through E-Block near a mosque to reach the procession. This route is never used for Valmiki Jayanti processions as it is dominated by another community,” he added.

The DCP said that Ankit and Sidhu were shouting some slogans, adding they were intercepted by some people of the different community near E-Block mosque while Ankit’s friends managed to pass through.

Police said that an altercation took place after which the two men were thrashed and their motorcycles were damaged.

However, police said the Valmiki Jayanti procession concluded peacefully later.

“The incident was not connected with the Valmiki procession, which concluded peacefully sometime later,” Tirkey said.

The procession was adequately provided security, and two inspector-rank officers and other police personnel were accompanying the procession, the DCP said.

“No motorcycles were allowed in the procession. All the participants were either on foot or on ‘jhankis’,” he added.

The DCP said efforts are being made to identify the culprits and some suspects have been rounded up.

Further investigation in the case is going on, he added.

The principal of a government girls’ school in Haryana’s Jind district has been suspended over allegations of sexual harassment of students and a committee has been set up to look into the matter, officials said on Sunday.

A group of female students of the school had also reportedly recently shot off letters to the Prime Minister’s Office and National Commission for Women detailing their ordeal, sources said.

The officials said the school principal was suspended by the Haryana government on October 27. 

Besides, an inquiry committee has been formed to look into the allegations. It would be headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the area where the school falls.

District Education Officer and District Elementary Education officer will also be part of this committee and submit a report after probing the allegations, Jind Deputy Commissioner Mohd Imran Raza told news agency PTI over the phone on Sunday.

“Considering the seriousness of the allegations, I ordered the setting up of an inquiry committee,” Mr Raza said.

Asked about the nature of allegations made by the girl students, Mr Raza said they have alleged that the principal used to “indulge in obscene acts” with them.

Speaking to PTI, Jind Additional Deputy Commissioner Harish Kumar Vashishth said, “The accused principal was suspended on Friday after taking cognisance of the complaint of the girl students.” Vashishth said the accused was suspended from his post as the “charges are very serious”, adding that the allegation would be inquired and the government would decide the next step based on the investigation.

Sources said the girls, in their letter to the PMO and NCW, have alleged that the accused used to call them to his office and indulge in obscene acts. The principal also allegedly blackmailed the students by threatening to fail them in practical exams if they disclosed the matter to anyone.

The victims have stated in their complaint that they are willing to reveal everything about the principal if higher authorities from Delhi or Chandigarh come to meet them as they did not want any local teachers or staff members to be involved in the process, the sources said. 

No water supply in parts of Hyd on Nov 1 & 2