Clash in Bengal school over hijab and saffron scarves, exams deferred

HOWRAH: Two groups of students clashed at a school in Howrah’s Sankrail on Tuesday when one of them turned up at the school gate demanding that it be allowed entry with ‘namabali’ (saffron scarves) in class, in apparent retaliation against the authorities’ permission to allow girls from the other group to wear the hijab. Police and Rapid Action Force personnel had to be deployed to defuse tension following the clash — which saw both boys and girls on the two sides coming to blows — prompting authorities to cancel exams, including pre-boards.

The 50-year-old school, Dhulagori Adarsha Vidyalaya, which is affiliated to the West Bengal board, has convened a meeting with the managing committee, parents and the local administration to ensure peace.

Trouble started when five students, all boys, gathered at the school gate sporting ‘namabalis’ over their school uniforms, demanding that they be let inside. Their protest started soon before the scheduled ClassXII pre-board history exam. The school authorities tried to reason with the students but the youngsters demanded that they be allowed in with the ‘namabali’ as some girls were allowed to wear hijabs. More students joinedthe five outside the school, while those inside were split into two groups — pro-hijab and pro-‘namabali’. Teachers were unable to control the students. Some teachers said the two groups clashed on the school premises and ransacked school property.

Class in charge Arindam Banerjee immediately called up the Sankrail police. A team, along with RAF, reached the school and brought the situation under control. Howrah police commissioner Praveen Tripathi declined to comment.

Bengal minister Arup Ray said, “There has been an instigation. I have also spoken to police. I have requested police for a thorough probe, not only to find the perpetrators but also to find who instigated them. ”

Another exam slated for Wednesday have now been postponed indefinitely.