**Sitapur Teacher Avantika Gupta Suspended Amid School Dispute**
In Sitapur, teacher Avantika Gupta has been suspended following an ongoing dispute involving the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) and the principal of Primary School Nadwa. Officials confirmed that the suspension was enforced under orders from higher authorities after Gupta failed to respond to charges of prolonged absence between August 21 and September 20. Prior to this, her salary had already been withheld.
Students had also accused Gupta on camera of rarely attending classes and frequently leaving early, adding to the controversy.
The situation escalated dramatically when CCTV footage emerged showing principal Brijendra Verma assaulting BSA Akhilesh Singh with a belt. As a result, Verma was suspended and subsequently sent to jail.
The incident has sparked intense political reactions. Mahmudabad MLA Asha Maurya visited the school, ordered that locked classrooms be opened, and urged students to resume their studies. However, the children refused to return to classes, demanding that Verma be reinstated.
Sitapur MP Rakesh Rathore described the incident as “unfortunate” and alleged that even the teacher had been assaulted. He has called for an FIR to be filed in support of the teacher.
Meanwhile, the education department has set up an inquiry committee to investigate the clash. Authorities have reiterated a strict “zero tolerance” policy towards indiscipline.
Teacher associations, however, have demanded a fair investigation to understand why a senior principal was provoked to such an extreme act, pointing out that only partial video clips have been made public so far.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/uttar-pradesh/uttar-pradesh-news-sitapur-teacher-avantika-gupta-suspended-for-prolonged-absence