Two home guards assigned to a Common Entrance Test (CET) examination centre in Shivamogga, Karnataka, were suspended after allegedly forcing two students to remove their janivara (sacred thread) before entering the exam hall.
The incident, which occurred on April 16 at Aadichunchanagiri Independent PU College in Sharavathinagara, triggered protests from the local Brahmin community and led to swift disciplinary action by district authorities.
According to officials, the students, both second-year PU candidates, were stopped at the entrance and asked to remove the sacred thread. While one student complied with the instruction, the other refused and voiced protest.
Faculty members at the college stepped in promptly, allowing both students to sit for the examination and directed the home guards not to interfere with religious symbols or attire. CCTV footage reviewed by authorities confirmed that the guards had overstepped their duties, prompting their immediate suspension.
Despite the interruption, both students were able to appear for the examination on time—one without the janivara and the other still wearing it.
The incident came to public attention after members of the Brahmin community filed a formal complaint with the Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner. In their letter, they denounced the incident as disrespectful and questioned why such scrutiny was directed only at Hindu students.
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They emphasised that the students, having undergone Gayatri mantra initiation, wore the sacred thread as part of their religious identity. A video of the confrontation, which later circulated online, showed a concerned parent questioning whether similar actions would be taken against students of other faiths.
The state government responded swiftly to the growing outrage. Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar described the episode as “very unfortunate” and acknowledged that a similar complaint had surfaced from another CET centre in Bidar.
He clarified that no instructions had been issued to frisk students for religious items and assured that corrective measures would be implemented. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara also condemned the incident, stating that forcing students to remove their sacred thread was a serious lapse and not supported by any official guidelines.
An FIR has been registered against the CET exam conducting officer under sections 115(2), 299, 351(1), and 352, along with section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, based on a complaint lodged by Nataraj Bhagavath.
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