An annual function at the Kids World English School, located in the Partur town of Maharashtra's Jalna district, has become the center of a major controversy. The issue erupted after a video recorded during the event was shared widely and went viral across various social media platforms. The footage captures school children performing on stage with dummy swords while a Pakistani song titled “Gustakh-e-Nabi Ki Ek Saja” plays in the background. In addition to the performance, several social media users pointed out that an image displayed on the background screen strongly resembles the Pakistani terrorist Mumtaz Qadri.

The anthem used in the performance carries deep and controversial religious connotations. The specific phrase “Gustakh-e-Nabi Ki Ek Saja, Sar Tan Se Juda” translates directly to ‘There is only one punishment for insulting the Prophet, separation of the head from the body’. Because of these lyrics, the song is widely known to promote the beheading of anyone who is accused of committing blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad.

Local law enforcement authorities have officially launched a comprehensive probe into the incident. Investigators have actively started to question the school administration regarding the organization of the event. However, the police have confirmed that no official criminal case has been registered till now.

Investigation Targets Event Approval and Political Affiliations

The police initiated their investigation immediately after the video began gaining significant attention online. As part of the ongoing inquiry, the school owner, Tariq Siddiqui, is being questioned by detectives to understand exactly how the dance performance was planned, vetted, and ultimately approved for young students. Observers have highlighted a political angle to the controversy, noting that, as per his social media profiles, Tariq Siddiqui is also a leader of the Congress party.

The leadership of the local police department has detailed the exact scope of the legal inquiry. Speaking on the issue, Additional Superintendent of Police Vikram Sali stated, “In this matter, we have given an inquiry to the Police official of Partur Police Station and the SDPO of Partur Division. The investigation has just begun. The report will be released soon, and further proceedings will be carried out. We are inquiring about all the facts that have come on social media. If there is any truth in any of the facts, we will take legal action on it soon.”

Currently, police officials are thoroughly examining all aspects of the cultural programme. A final decision regarding further legal action or the filing of formal charges will be made only after senior leadership receives the official inquiry report.

The Historical Context Behind the Background Image

The public controversy grew further after specific claims emerged stating that the background LED screen at the venue explicitly displayed the image of Mumtaz Qadri. Qadri was a former Pakistani police commando who became a highly controversial figure due to a high-profile political assassination.

In 2011, Qadri shot and killed Salman Taseer, who was serving as the Governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province. The motivation behind the assassination was tied to Pakistan's strict religious laws. Governor Taseer had publicly spoken in support of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who had been convicted and sentenced to death under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. In addition to defending her publicly, Taseer also supported the mercy petition filed by Bibi to secure her release. Mumtaz Qadri, who was assigned as a personal bodyguard of Salman Taseer, betrayed his duty and shot the governor 27 times with an AK-47 rifle.

Following the shooting, Qadri threw his weapon down after the attack and surrendered. He was subsequently arrested, prosecuted, convicted of terrorism and murder, and executed by Pakistani authorities in 2016. Despite his execution for the assassination, certain radical groups inside Pakistan continue to glorify him as a martyr. The polarization surrounding the event was evident from the start, as over 500 Islamic clerics had supported the murder of Taseer and boycotted his funeral at the time.

Because of this violent history, the apparent appearance of a person linked to such a radical and violent incident at an educational institution's function has raised deep concerns among local citizens, education activists, and social commentators.

Institution Outlines Defense and Issues Legal Warnings

In response to the mounting public backlash, the management of the school has come forward with an official explanation, while simultaneously threatening legal retaliation. The school management has said that the viral video is around two years old and does not reflect a recent event. According to the institution, the technical responsibilities, including the LED screen and stage display arrangements, were entirely handled by an outside contractor during the event.

When questioned about the specifics of the broadcasted image, school representatives told NDTV Marathi that they cannot confirm whose photograph appeared on the screen during the programme. They maintained that the visual content shown on the display was not directly controlled by the school staff during the live event. Later, as the pressure increased, the school authorities claimed that the visuals were from the Turkish series “Ertugrul,” an Islamic propaganda series that has beheading visuals.

Alongside their explanations, the school has taken an aggressive stance against online critics. Shockingly, the school has also threatened police action against the social media account Treeni for posting the video on X (formerly Twitter). Observers noted that the school has deleted its YouTube channel after the video posted on the channel was pointed out by Treeni and then picked up by others.

Kids World English School is reported to be affiliated with the CBSE board, which places it under strict national educational regulations. Following the widespread circulation of the video online, formal demands have been submitted to multiple high-level regulatory bodies. These include the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the Director General of Police (DGP) Maharashtra, and the Superintendent of Police, Jalna, urging them to thoroughly investigate the matter and take appropriate action if any wrongdoing is found.

Local reports also suggest that older videos of school functions that were previously available on the institution’s official YouTube channel are no longer accessible to the public. However, despite the deletion of the official channel, various edited clips and screen recordings from the controversial programme continue to circulate widely on social media.

The official police inquiry is currently underway, and senior officials have reiterated that further action will depend entirely on the findings of the investigation.