Latur, India – Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke and several associates have been booked by police in Latur, Maharashtra, following allegations of unauthorized entry into a government school, disrupting official duties, and threatening teachers. The incident, which occurred at a Zilla Parishad Urdu school in Jawali near Ausa, has led to an FIR being registered at the Ausa police station.
The complaint was filed by Sayyed Shamshadbano Khairatali, a 53-year-old teacher at the school. According to her statement, Dipke and his group entered the premises without permission, sat among the students, and began questioning them. This alleged intrusion caused a significant obstruction to both educational activities and government work.
Allegations of Filming, Defamation, and Threats
Further details in the complaint state that Dipke filmed the entire proceedings inside the school and subsequently shared the video on social media platforms. It is also alleged that he defamed the institution by claiming that students from another school were brought in and made to sit in classrooms during his visit, creating a misleading impression.
The CJP leader is also accused of threatening to have the teachers suspended, escalating the gravity of the alleged misconduct. Police have registered a case against Dipke and others under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 132 (Assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their official duty), 329(3) (house trespass), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 356(2) (criminal defamation). A further investigation into the matter is underway.
'School Thik Karo' Campaign Context
The alleged incident took place amidst Dipke's ongoing 'School Thik Karo' (improve government schools) campaign, an initiative by the CJP aimed at highlighting issues faced by government-run educational institutions across Latur district. Dipke has been actively visiting various schools as part of this campaign.
Just recently, during a visit to a Zilla Parishad school in Ujani village, also in Latur's Ausa tehsil, Dipke demanded the resignation of Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. He reiterated concerns about the persistent lack of basic facilities in government schools, citing issues such as inadequate classrooms, benches, toilets, and unsafe access roads. He also raised alarms about unhygienic conditions and student safety.
"It is a question of students' lives," Dipke stated, emphasizing the critical nature of the problems. "When political leaders are not doing anything for students, why should people vote for them? Do people vote for them so that they can only travel in helicopters? People should see in what conditions their children are studying. The dogs of these ministers get better facilities than this."
Dipke urged citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable for the state of local schools, regardless of political affiliation. He encouraged people to demand action on education before offering their votes, suggesting a collective effort similar to how communities engage in political rallies based on caste and community.