A teacher in B B Sarvajanik High School in Karchelia village, Mahuva taluka, the 25-year-old English teacher had been on the run since July 2, when his students demanded he be expelled.

The class XI students alleged that he had told them ``Pakistan will one day capture not only Jammu and Kashmir but Delhi as well. Indians won't be able to win with old guns.'' Shaikh is also alleged to have drawn a map depicting Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan.

Based on the students' memorandum, school principal Govindbhai Mistri lodged a complaint with the Mahuva police, who registered an offence under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code against him.

Shaikh fled from the village after apologising for his statements before Dr Madan Vyas, honourary secretary of the trust that runs the school.

While the Mahuva police had to return empty-handed from his Navsari house, the Valsad police arrested him from Kalwada village last evening.

Meanwhile, Hindu organisations held a function in Karchelia last night in protest against Shaikh's statements. At the end of a public meeting, addressed among others by leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, Shaikh was burned in effigy.