Hadiya in Salem college to resume her internship

Salem

: After a tumultuous period, Hadiya ,alias Akhila, sought re-admission in the homeopathy college to resume her intership, symbolically marking the beginning of a fresh chapter in her life.

Hadiya was accommodated in the college hostel on Tuesday evening. She was flown down to Coimbatore and was escorted to Salem on road by the Kerala and TN police on the orders of the Supreme Court. Hadiya was not allowed to speak to the media.

Talking to TOI, college dean G Kannan said Hadiya will start her

internship

once the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University clears her request. “We will send the request from the college along with the girl’s letter on Wednesday,” he said.

He said Hadiya will not be given a separate room. “She will be stayed along with 114 girls who are currently pursuing studies in our college,” he said.

Born in a Hindu family in Kerala’s Malappuram district, Hadiya is at the centre of a controversy following her conversion to Islam.

Hadiya told the Supreme Court that she converted to Islam and changed her name much before her marriage to Shafin Jahan.

The Kerala high court earlier annulled her marriage with Jahan and placed her under the custody of her father. The Supreme Court on Monday allowed her to go from her father’s custody and pursue her studies.

As soon as she reached the college in Salem around 7 pm, Hadiya was taken to the room of the institute chairman Kalpana Sivaraj.

She asked Hadiya to submit an application seeking re-admission in the college. After her request to write the letter in Malayalam was turned down, Hadiya submitted a letter written in English and signed it as Akhila Ashokan.

Subequently, Dean G Kannan who is the guardian nominated by the Supreme Court, took Hadiya to the college hostel at Suramangalam in the city, escorted by policemen in two jeeps.

Deputy commissioner (law and order) of Salem city G Subulakshmi said Hadiya will be given police security round the clock. “Constables in mufti will accompany her round the clock,” she told TOI.

Hadiya enrolled in the college in 2010 for the five-year course. After completing it, she took up internship in 2016, but left the institute after 27 days.

“Now she will be treated as a fresh intern and has to complete the entire internship period,’’ said a college representative.

At Coimbatore airport, more than three dozen members of Muslim outfits had gathered to greet Hadiya with placards hailing her.


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