Kozhikode, Nov 3 (Agencies) : Farooq college in Kozhikode is a prominent institute in Kerala under a Muslim management. On 20 October, a Malayalam professor of the institute is said to have asked nine students - four girls and five boys - not to sit together in the classroom, and later were reprimanded from entering the campus until they brought their guardians, reports The Indian Express.

Dinu K, a first-year BA Sociology student, who was asked to leave the campus, told the Times Of India, "The Malayalam teacher said that he will not allow boys and girls to sit together as it was against the rules of the college. When a female student pointed out that it is sheer gender segregation, he chided her and said that all those who cannot obey this rule should leave the classroom. As many as nine students had to leave the class following the incident."

On 27 October, Students Federation of India (SFI) held a protest march against the regressive rule set by the college management and the march ended with a clash between SFI activists and students affiliated to the Muslim Student Movement, the Students Islamic Organisation and the Kerala Students Union who were in support of the management.

Now, Dinu has been suspended indefinitely for speaking up against the regressive stand the college management has taken, and for not giving an apology letter.

Dinu tells The News Minute, "In the benches placed in college corridors, only boys are allowed to sit. In the canteen, there are separate sections for boys and girls and in between that is the staff section to ensure that we don't break the rules," and adds "They think that only a physical relationship can develop when a boy and girl sit or talk together,".

5 out of 9 students have already given in to their parents' compulsion and wrote apology letters for their behaviour. Dinu, however, firmly believes he hasn't done anything wrong. He also informed the college authorities mentally tortured the parents to force the students to make an apology.

College authority maintains boys and girls sitting together on a bench "doesn't suit the culture" of the 67-year old institution.