Teacher Arrested in Kozhikode Over False Claim of Worms in Sports Meet Food

Arrest Made

A physical education teacher was arrested on Thursday in Kozhikode for allegedly posting a false claim about the food served at the State Sports Meet. Jijo James, who works at a vocational higher secondary school in Ernakulam district, uploaded a Facebook post on Wednesday claiming that worms were found in the food given to students.

Official Action

Organisers checked the food after the claim was made and found the allegation to be false, according to the police. Sports Meet convenor P.K. Aravindan filed a complaint, leading the Kunnamangalam police to register a case against Mr. James under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for intent to cause a riot. Police took him into custody, recorded his arrest, and stated he would be released on bail since the charge is bailable. Mr. James deleted his social media post by Thursday evening, and student organisation SFI held a protest march following the initial allegation.

Minister's Statement

General Education Minister N. Samsudheen alleged that a conspiracy was behind the incident and promised department-level action against the teacher. He stated that anti-social elements tried to disrupt the event, which students trained for over months and years. While calling for an investigation into other people involved, the Minister added that the situation should not necessarily be viewed as a political plot.

Context

Large public events involving students often draw high security and strict oversight from state authorities to ensure health and safety standards are met. False claims regarding basic needs like food can quickly lead to widespread public concern and protests before official checks are completed. Police and government officials generally act swiftly during such state-level gatherings to verify complaints and maintain order.