Girl students in burkha stopped from entering Mumbai college, allowed after protest

MUMBAI: A college in Mumbai stopped girl students from entering the premises while wearing burkha, but relented after a protest by parents and students and intervention by senior police officials. The security guards at the Chembur-based college asked students to remove their burkhas (Islamic veil) before entering on Wednesday as the college has its own uniform, a police official said.

It led to a row as parents of the students also reached the college and videos of scenes outside the gate began to circulate, he said. Senior police officials rushed to the spot and discussed the issue with the parents and the college authority.

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The Muslim girl students said they were ready to remove the burkha inside, but will wear scarves in the classroom, the official said. Tension was defused after the college management agreed to this. The girls shall take off the burkha in the washroom before attending classes, he said.