Sullia, Sep 5 (DHNS) : A Muslim girl was allegedly assaulted by her fellow students for not taking part in the protest organised by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP’s youth wing, on Tuesday.
The student, Sahira Shameela, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Puttur.
According to a police complaint filed by the victim, she was sitting with her friends in the class when a few students approached her and forced her to take part in the protest against irregulatries in allocation of coal mining blocks by the union government. Upon her refusal, the students had a verbal duel with her.
Soon afterwards, when Shameela was returning home, the students followed her, pulled her headscarf, manhandled her and threatened her with dire consequences if she informed elders at home or the police about the incident, she said in her complaint.
Shameela narrated the incident at home and filed a police complaint.
Police have registered complaints against five students of Dr Shivaram Karanth Government First Grade College.
Students stage stir
As the news spread, Popular Front of India (PFI) and Campus Front of India (CFI) activists staged a protest near Bellare bus stand on Wednesday and demanded action against the accused.
CFI State committee member Iqbal Bellare warned of stern action, if the authorities concerned do not take action against those who assaulted the student.
Students who had arrived from Ninthikallu, Savanur and Bellare colleges took part in the protest. Police had beefed up security in and around Sullia as a precautionary measure. However, no untoward incident has been reported.
ABVP clarifies
Meanwhile, ABVP leaders, in their memorandum to the police, said the allegations against ABVP activists were false and they did not assault the student.
“A student by name Vijay went to the class only to enquire why the students were screaming in the class, when the said student (victim) abused him,” the leaders said.
The National Students Union of India and Congress will stage a protest in Sullia on September 7 (Friday), if the police do not book the assaulters under punishable offence, said NSUI president K K Hariprasad.
CFI will stage a protest at Jyoti Circle in Mangalore on September 6.