A primary school in Dhamupur village, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, has removed the name of Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid from its main gate, sparking strong objections from his family.

The school, where Abdul Hamid once studied, was previously known as ‘Shaheed Hamid Vidyalaya’ but was recently repainted and renamed ‘PM Shri Composite School,’ removing the war hero’s name from the entrance.

Jameel Ahmed, Hamid’s grandson, stated that the change occurred four days ago when the new name was painted at the entrance, replacing the war hero’s name, PTI reported.

When the family raised objections with headmaster Ajay Kushwaha, they were directed to Basic Education Officer Hemant Rao. Rao reportedly informed them that Hamid’s name had been inscribed on an external wall of the school.

However, the entrance remained unchanged, prompting the family to lodge another complaint on Saturday, demanding that the original name be reinstated at the gate.

While Rao assured that corrective action would be taken “immediately,” Ahmed claimed that as of Monday, the name was still missing from the entrance, leaving the family deeply disappointed.

Abdul Hamid, a war hero of the 1965 India-Pakistan conflict, is remembered for his extraordinary bravery in destroying three Patton tanks supplied to Pakistan by the US, forcing the enemy to retreat. His valour earned him the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, which was presented to his wife, Rasoolan Bibi.

When contacted, Rao confirmed that Hamid’s name would soon be reinstated at the school’s main entrance, emphasizing that it had already been displayed on an external wall.