Mangaluru: Following the raid by right-wing activists, the management of St Thomas School has decided to suspend classes teaching Arabic language. The management held a meeting with the parents and villagers and decided not to continue the Arabic classes. The right-wing activists had earlier threatened to hold protests if the school continues with the same. 
It may be recalled that around 50 to 60 SRS activists raided St Thomas Aided Higher Primary School at Padu Bandanthila on Saturday, July 30 after locals complained about students being taught Arabic and Urdu forcibly. The activists alleged that every Saturday between 9.15 to 10 am, students of 6th and 7th standards were ‘forced’ to learn Urdu and Arabic. They questioned the school management and also the teachers. The raid forced the headmaster of the school to assure the activists that the Arabic and Urdu classes would be stopped immediately.

Melwyn Braggs, the headmaster of the school said that classes on German, French and Arabic languages were being held for the last few years. But the parents during a recent PTA meeting had urged to stop classes on French and German, while they wanted Karate and Arabic classes to continue.

Meanwhile, City police commissioner M Chandra Sekhar registered cases of trespass and rioting against the right-wing activists. Several of the SRS members were arrested.