Deoria youth forum protests at DM office over school gaps, questions FIR against activist

Activists of the Justice Morcha, a youth forum focusing on employment and education issues in Uttar Pradesh, gathered at the District Magistrate's office in Deoria on Monday to demand urgent improvements in basic school infrastructure. The protest came days after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against one of its members, Rajat Singh, for filming the condition of government schools in the area.

According to Abhinav Mishra, who claims to be associated with the forum, the group reached the DM's office to address concerns about the FIR. "Many activists of the Justice Morcha reached the office of DM Deoria. A case was filed against our colleague Rajat for showing the poor condition of government schools on camera. Today, when Rajat and his colleagues reached the District Magistrate's office regarding this matter, the District Magistrate immediately left the office," Mishra said.

The activists are demanding action on what they describe as critical gaps in basic school facilities. Mishra questioned the state government's claims about improved infrastructure, specifically referring to the Kayakalp scheme. "We are only demanding improvement of critical gaps in basic school infrastructure. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claims that the picture of government schools has changed. If the picture of schools has really changed, then why are cases being filed to show the ground reality? Is the Kayakalp scheme also running only on paper? If officials are looting public money under the nose of the Chief Minister, then who will take responsibility for it," he asked.

On August 22, police in Deoria registered an FIR against Rajat Singh on charges of entering a primary school in Gauribazar's Damar Bishwa village without authorisation and spreading misinformation. The FIR was filed based on a written complaint from Gauribazar's block education officer, Vinay Sheel Mishra.

The case was registered under sections 329(4) and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relate to house trespass and circulating false statements, rumours, or alarming reports—including via electronic media—with the intent or likelihood of promoting feelings of enmity or hatred.

The Congress party has strongly criticised the police action, alleging that it is an attempt to suppress dissent. Ajay Kumar 'Lallu', a senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader, claimed that under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, over one lakh schools have been closed across the country, with roughly 25,000 shut in Uttar Pradesh alone. He also alleged that students from marginalised communities, including Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs), are being pushed out of the education system.

"Youths are raising voices against this injustice. Filing an FIR is a nefarious attempt to silence voices. The fact is, in the name of infrastructure development, organised loot is ongoing in the State. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP want to deprive poor people from the ambit of education," Lallu added.

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between civil society groups and authorities over the state of government schools in Uttar Pradesh. While the activists assert that their actions are meant to expose ground realities, the administration maintains that the FIR was lodged for unauthorised entry and dissemination of information that could cause undue alarm. Further responses from the district administration are awaited.