Bhavnagar school play depicting burqa-clad ‘terrorists’ triggers controversy; probe ordered

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The Gujarat Education Department has sought a report after a primary school in Bhavnagar staged an Independence Day play in which burqa-clad girls were shown as “terrorists”, sparking protests from local Muslim groups.

The District Education Officer issued a notice to the Bhavnagar Municipal School Board, which runs the institution, asking for an explanation within seven days, officials said on Wednesday (August 20, 2025). The move came after members of the Muslim community, under the banner of Bandharan Bachao Samiti, demanded stern action against the teachers for depicting their community “in a bad light”.

A video of the August 15 performance, widely circulated on social media, shows girls dressed in white dancing to a song praising Kashmir’s beauty before three students in burqas, carrying toy guns, storm the stage and “shoot” them. A background audio referred to terrorists killing civilians during the Pahalgam attack.

Munjal Badmaliya, Administrative Officer of the Bhavnagar Municipal School Board, said the all-girls primary school in Kumbharwada had presented the play based on Operation Sindoor as part of Independence Day celebrations. “The District Education Officer received a representation alleging that the play hurt Muslim sentiments. We have been asked to submit a factual report within seven days,” he said.

The Municipal School Board has appointed a coordinator to probe the incident. A preliminary inquiry had indicated that the teachers and the Principal had no intention of offending any community, Mr. Badmaliya added. “Students playing the role of terrorists were told to cover their faces with black cloth, but they used burqas as those were easily available,” he said.

The Administrative Officer maintained that the purpose of the play was to honour the armed forces for their role in Operation Sindoor, and not to target any religion. “We are examining the issue from all angles and will submit a detailed report to the District Education Officer,” he said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published - August 20, 2025 07:16 pm IST

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