NEET controversy in Kerala: 5 women arrested after complaint from girl students

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 20, 2022 | Poonam Nath

The state women's rights commission has opened an investigation, and the human rights commission has also requested a report from the Kollam SP.

Digital Desk: The Kerala Police arrested five women on Tuesday after some female students filed a complaint alleging that they were forced to remove their innerwear before entering the examination hall for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) on Sunday at a private college in Kollam's Ayyur.

Following the arrest of the women, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police R Nishanthini stated that their arrest would be recorded after statements from a few more students were taken.

Two of those arrested are college employees, and three are members of a private agency hired to conduct the examination, according to a police official, who added that the cops confirmed the complaints as accurate after a preliminary investigation.

"We will record more student statements," R Nishanthini stated.

Initially, the parents of a female student brought up the shocking incident, sparking a flood of similar complaints. 

On Tuesday, five more girls testified before the investigating team, alleging that they, too, were forced to remove their brassieres due to 'metal parts.'

The students told the investigating team that they were told they couldn't take the exam when they protested. One of them stated that her request for a shawl was also denied, while another related a similar ghastliness story. "It was a humiliating experience," said one 17-year-old.

The situation escalated after angry students clashed with police in the college compound on Tuesday, demanding that all parties involved in the incident be held accountable.

Many students and police officers were injured, and the college building was also damaged.

According to investigating officer deputy SP V Vijayakumar, a case was filed under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult a woman's modesty) of the Indian Penal Code.

Hibi Eden and K Muraleedharan, two Kerala MPs, had moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha. The incident was also raised in Parliament, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan ordered an investigation. He also requested a report from the education department's additional secretary.

Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency, which administers NEET exams, stated that it had received no complaints about the incident. It noted that the examination centre's superintendent, Kollam's city coordinator, and an independent observer denied such an incident.

According to NJ Babu, NEET district coordinator, "no such incident occurred, and it was blown out of proportion by some people with vested interests."

The state women's rights commission has opened an investigation, and the human rights commission has also requested a report from the Kollam SP.

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