Ahmedabad, June 21 (IANS) A brief confrontation over the implementation of examination security and dress code rules at a NEET re-examination centre in Ahmedabad on Sunday led to tensions outside the venue, with parents, student groups and political workers briefly clashing before police restored order.
A dispute over examination security checks at a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination centre in Ahmedabad briefly spilled outside the venue on Sunday, drawing protests from parents and the intervention of police.The incident took place at R.J. Tibrewal Commerce College in Vastrapur, one of Gujarat’s 211 centres for the NEET re-test conducted after the controversy surrounding the examination earlier this year.
Dispute begins during security screening
According to officials and eyewitnesses, the situation began when a female candidate wearing a hijab underwent security screening before entering the examination centre.The candidate’s mother objected after the garment was reportedly removed temporarily during the checking process. She argued that her daughter should be allowed to appear for the examination while wearing the hijab.Following discussions involving examination officials, the college principal and police personnel, the student was permitted to enter the centre wearing the religious attire.
Parents raise objections
The decision led to objections from some parents present at the venue.They questioned whether examination rules were being applied uniformly and claimed that students wearing Hindu religious symbols such as sacred threads, necklaces and bracelets had been asked to remove them during frisking.As discussions intensified, groups of parents gathered outside the centre and raised slogans demanding equal enforcement of examination guidelines.
Police restore order
The situation became tense after members linked to Bajrang Dal and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) also reached the venue. Reports of a minor scuffle followed before police stepped in.Assistant Commissioner of Police Jayesh Bhrambhatt said officials intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.“Members from different organisations had gathered at the centre, and the situation was brought under control after intervention. Students were required to remove certain religious items during checks as part of standard procedure,” he told IANS.Police removed several individuals from the premises and carried out crowd control measures.Officials said the candidate was allowed to take the examination and the test continued normally inside the centre despite the tension outside.NTA had put in place strict security arrangements for the NEET re-exam, including multi-layer frisking and identity verification.Police later appealed to the public not to circulate unverified claims on social media and said law and order remained under control throughout the examination process.(with agency inputs)
