Hijab row escalates, many injured in violence across Karnataka

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

The row in Karnataka over students wearing the hijab and saffron shawls and coming to college, took a violent turn on Tuesday with the warring factions indulging in stone throwing at several places in Shivamogga, Davangere and Bagalkot districts in which many people were injured. The police resorted to a lathicharge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse mobs which tried to barge into educational institutions and create a tense atmosphere. A few police personnel too suffered injuries in the stone pelting.

The district officials in Shivamogga, Bagalkot and Davangere have imposed prohibitory orders in several taluks where violence broke out. Security has been beefed up in trouble-torn places and additional forces have been deployed.

The trouble started after students entered colleges wearing head scarfs and saffron shawls despite efforts made by the managements of both private and government colleges to follow the uniform dress code prescribed by the government. Tempers ran high as both groups started raising slogans. They formed separate groups and refused to go into the classrooms removing the head scarfs and saffron shawls in several colleges.

In the meantime, some miscreants pelted stones which forced the cops to chase them. A student was hurt in stone throwing and was taken for treatment.

Groups not connected with the row, made futile bids to enter educational institutions. Sensing trouble, the police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed them.

In another college, a school teacher and four students were attacked by a group with iron rods. On receipt of information, the police rushed to the spot and shifted them to the nearby hospital.

Schools, Colleges shut for three days

Observing the volatile situation across the state, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is in Delhi on a visit, has ordered the closure of all schools and colleges for the next three days as a precautionary measure.

He tweeted “I appeal to students, teachers and the managements of schools and colleges as well as people to maintain peace and harmony. Students must not take the law into their hands as the Karnataka High Court is seized of the matter. The government will abide by the decision of the court.” The chief minister also told media persons that he has convened a meeting of the top brass of the police department to take stock of the situation. Instructions have been issued to the home department to take steps to maintain law and order.

HC to resume hearing today

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday appealed to students and people to maintain peace and tranquility as the hijab row escalated in parts of the state. After hearing the petitions filed by some students of a Government PU College for Girls in Udupi, the matter was posted for Wednesday. The petitions sought a declaration from the Court that they have a “fundamental right to practice essential religious practices, including wearing of hijab as per Islamic faith, on the college premises,” the single bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit said. “This Court requests the students and the public to maintain peace and tranquility. This Court has full faith in the wisdom and virtue of the public…,” the judge said.