Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Mar 19: Muslim girl students of the government PU college here have refused to budge from their stand on wearing of Hijabs when attending classes. They stayed firm on wearing the Hijabs. As they were refused permission to enter the class with Hijabs, on Friday, some Hijab-clad Muslim girl students and some others who supported them, returned home without appearing for the examination.

On Friday morning, some girl students were about to enter their classes, duly wearing the Hijabs but the lecturers refused permission to attend the classes. The girls then started to hold a protest in the college premises. Some other students also boycotted classes in support of these girl students. Even though the lecturers tried to appease the girl students, they refused to change their stand. Thereafter, Uppinangady Malikuddinar Jumma Masjid president Haji Mustafa Kepi, gram panchayat members U T Muhammed Tausif, Abdurrashid and some parents of the students came to the college and held a meeting with the principal. Haji Mustafa Kempi and others, speaking to the students, said that they are with those fighting for the Hijabs, but drew their attention to the fact that the petition is in the Supreme Court and for the future of their education, they should attend classes and appear for the examination. But the students remained unmoved. The Muslim leaders then asked them to return home if they are not interested in attending classes as otherwise the students appearing for the examinations would face disturbances. The students then went back home.

In the meanwhile, the girl students and their supporters who demanded HIjabs to be allowed inside the PU college also harassed the lecturers and posed threats to them. It is stated they stood in the college verandah and created problems for the students who were studying. They also behaved improperly with the on duty lecturer at the college laboratory.