A serious incident unfolded at the Uttarakhand Directorate of Elementary Education in Dehradun on Saturday when supporters of BJP MLA Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’ allegedly assaulted the Director of Primary Education, Ajay Kumar Naudiyal, inside his office, according to multiple reports. The clash has sparked outrage among teachers and government employees, raising concerns over administrative safety.
The confrontation reportedly began amid a dispute over a demand to rename a government school after a local land donor. Naudiyal explained to officials that such a name change could only be authorised by the state government, not the Education Directorate, but the explanation allegedly triggered a heated argument. Eyewitnesses say that the MLA’s supporters then physically manhandled the director, flinging chairs and injuring him in the melee. Naudiyal was later taken to a hospital for treatment.
Video footage circulating on social media shows chaos inside the office as staff and supporters clashed, leading to an atmosphere of fear among employees. The Uttarakhand Officers, Personnel and Teachers Federation condemned the incident as “utterly disgraceful” and demanded immediate legal action against those responsible. They also warned of serious consequences if the safety of senior officials could not be guaranteed.
Teachers and administrative staff have this week threatened to boycott upcoming board examinations in protest, saying the violence undermines trust in the education system and could disrupt academic schedules. Heavy police presence was reported at the Directorate premises as authorities attempted to prevent further escalation.
The BJP legislator has denied allegations of physical assault, suggesting the clash stemmed from a misunderstanding over the school’s renaming and claiming that the Directorate’s handling of the matter sparked the tensions. Police have launched an investigation, collecting video evidence as they work to determine the facts and decide on possible charges.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who labelled it a “misuse of power” by the ruling party’s representative and demanded strict action to uphold democratic norms within government offices.
