MANGALURU
Dr P Dayananda Pai-P Sathisha Pai Government First-Grade College in the city, that was witness to tension over hijab row in the last two days, declared a holiday till the issue ceases and normalcy returns to the campus.
Principal C Rajashekar Hebbar told that the college has been closed based on the directions of the district administration and classes will be held online. “We have started online classes for students. This will continue till deputy commissioner KV Rajendra gives us a direction after normalcy returns to campus,” he said.
He added that students were counselled in a meeting on Friday to end the crisis. “In the meeting held in the presence of the Mangaluru tahsildar, students were asked to follow the court order. In fact, students had agreed to the decisions, but later one of the girls filed a police complaint. There was no hijab issue in our college earlier,” he said.
A row had begun in the government college with a girl accusing the college of sending six girls out of the exam hall for wearing hijab on Thursday. One of the girls, Hiba Sheikh, a second year BSc student, stated before the media on Friday that she and her classmates were denied permission to write exams. She also blamed a student from ABVP questioning the girls for wearing hijab.
Khader demands probe
Deputy leader of Congress legislature party (CLP) and Mangalore MLA UT Khader has urged the district administration to conduct a high-level probe into the hijab controversy at the Government First-Grade College. He told reporters on Saturday that a probe should bring out the truth on who is provoking the students. The college principal should initiate action against those students who allegedly confronted girl students, who were wearing hijab at the college, Khader urged.
Case registered in Kota
The Kota police in Udupi district have registered a case, after a youth claimed that he was threatened for requesting his friend not to post controversial messages over the hijab row.
Complainant Prajwal, 19, from Saligrama in Brahmavara has stated in his complaint that his friend’s brother Riyan was uploading Whatsapp status on hijab issue and defamatory remarks against Hindu activists. Prajwal said he advised Riyan not to do so about 15 days ago. On March 3, Riyan threatened Prajwal near Sasthana toll gate. Later, Riyan and his friend threatened Prajwal again near Saligrama bus stand with an iron rod and a sharp weapon in their hands. Police said a case has been booked under Sections 341, 504, 506(2) and 34 of the IPC against the accused.
