Hijab row: 58 students from Karnataka's Shivamogga district were suspended for wearing hijab

At least 58 female students from a college in Karnataka's Shivamogga district were suspended on Saturday for wearing hijab and also staging an agitation demanding that they should be allowed to attend classes. The students were from the Government Pre-University College of Shiralakoppa.

Although the college management, development committee tried to explain to the hijab-clad students the interim order of the High Court, they did not listen and pressed for wearing of the hijab, according to the principal. Hence, they were suspended from the college temporarily.

The enraged students got into arguments with college authorities, leading to an intervention by the police to disperse them. Tension also prevailed in Belagavi, Yadgir, Bellary, Chitradurgam and Shiamogga districts when students wearing hijab demanded entry into



the classrooms.

While the administration of Vijay Para-Medical College in Belagavi has declared a holiday for an indefinite period due to the protests, students of the SJVP College in Harihara boycotted classes after being denied entry to classrooms for wearing hijab.

Hijab-clad students also gathered in the playground of the Ballary Saraladevi College after they were turned out from classes. They refused to speak to the police and in turn asked not to be disturbed. In Kodagu, hijab-clad students staged a protest holding placards before the gate of the college.

In a statement, state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said: "The hijab row is not in all colleges. Very few colleges are facing the agitations and they are being warned. Section 144 has been clamped in the surrounding areas of the colleges."