Paramilitary forces to guard schools, colleges in Karnataka

NT Correspondent

The state government has decided to withdraw the police force which has been deployed in five poll-bound states and post them at all sensitive schools and colleges in Karnataka from next week.

Disclosing this to reporters here on Friday, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said the government is also mulling the use of para-military forces for bandobast duty in schools/colleges that were categorised as sensitive and hyper-sensitive.

The home department with the help of the department of education has identified such schools where adequate policemen would be deployed.

The police officers have been asked to prevent any untoward incidents when classes 1 to 10 begin at schools from February 14.

On the alleged involvement of ‘certain forces’ in fomenting the row, he said the department is aware of the people and organisations behind the controversy and the days are not far when action will be taken against such forces.

The three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court which is hearing the hijab row, had directed the government to reopen schools and colleges.

Accordingly, the government has taken a decision to open schools (up to tenth standard) from Monday.