Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade examined CCTV camera footage recorded at the CET examination centre where the alleged incident occurred.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade, after verifying CCTV camera footage recorded at the CET examination centre concerned, said that nobody had cut the ‘sacred thread’ of students.

In a communique to the media in Shivamogga in Karnataka on April 19, Mr. Hegade said he enquired with the officials on duty at the examination centre in Adichunchanagiri College and verified CCTV footage. A student voluntarily showed the ‘sacred thread’ he was wearing and asked the home guard at the entrance if he was allowed to wear the thread. The guard said ‘no’, and the student removed the thread. While examining another student with the thread, the guard stated that he couldn’t appear for the CET wearing the ‘sacred thread’. The student refused to remove it.

“The security staff did not allow him inside. He was made to stay there. When the principal came to the spot, he asked the security why the student was outside the hall. After he learnt about the development, he clarified that there was no rule to remove the ‘sacred thread’. He sent the student inside to write the examination,” the DC said.

The officer said that no student had difficulty in writing the exam.

Two suspended

Due to the lack of awareness, the security staff had stopped the students.

“Prima-facie, it appears that religious sentiments were hurt due to the lack of awareness of the security staff. Two home guards have been suspended, pending further enquiry,” he said.

The students had no difficulty due to the timely intervention of the college principal and the deputy director of PU Education.

Responding to allegation of the Brahmana Sangha, the DC clarified that it was clear from the CCTV camera footage that nobody cut the ‘sacred thread’.

The Doddapete Police Station in Shivamogga registered a case based on a complaint filed by Nataraj Bhagavath, district president of Brahmana Sangha.

The DC added that he had submitted a report about the incident, and the suspension of the two home guards, to the government of Karnataka.