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A government school teacher in Telangana has been suspended for allegedly bringing a cow’s brain for a demonstration in a biology class. Khasimbee, a bio-science teacher at the Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) for girls in Yalal, Vikarabad district, was suspended by the District Education Officer (DEO) in an order dated June 25.
The incident sparked outrage from right-wing groups, who held protests at the school demanding action against the teacher. Yalal police said they have also registered an FIR against the teacher under the Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act’s sections 5 (prohibition of slaughter of cow or calf of she-buffaloe) and 6 (prohibition against slaughter of animals without certificate from competent authority).
“We only have oral evidence from students saying the teacher had told them it was a cow’s brain. The teacher said it was discarded and eaten by dogs, so we are unable to verify. The teacher hasn’t told us clearly what animal it was,” Yalal Station House Officer (SHO), Sub-Inspector Giri, told TNM.
The teacher’s suspension order based on a report from the Dharur Mandal Education Officer (MEO) said that the teacher had brought “cow brain in the name of TLM (Teaching Learning Material) which caused immense discomfort among the students and hurt the sentiments of students and parents.”
The teacher has been placed under suspension until the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against her.
Class 10 students of the school told the media that the teacher showed the brain and explained its parts, and later told them that it was a cow’s brain. They said they also expressed discomfort with the smell. She then reportedly took photographs of herself holding the brain with students, and then posted them on the school’s messaging group, after which fellow teachers confronted her about it.
Right-wing groups were seen holding up copies of the photograph and protesting at the school, demanding her suspension.