In a shocking incident, female students who appeared for their National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) at the Marthoma Institute of Information Technology (MIIT) in Kannur in Kerala on Sunday, July 17, were allegedly forced to take off their undergarments by the security staff.
The father of one of the girls has now lodged a police complaint. According to him, his 17-year-old daughter and other girls were forced to remove their bras because of the metal hook.
NDTV quoted the father’s police complaint: “After a security check, my daughter was told that the hook of the innerwear was detected by the metal detector, so she was asked to remove it. Almost 90% of female students had to remove their inners and keep them in a storeroom. The candidates were mentally disturbed while writing the exam.”
When the girls protested, they were allegedly told to choose between wearing a bra or appearing for the exam. “Is your future or innerwear big for you? Just remove it and don’t waste our time,” is what the authorities told the girls, reported NDTV quoting the father’s complaint to the police.
Then their undergarments were stacked in a room one on top of another in complete violation of Covid guidelines.
The News Minute quoted the father as saying, “Imagine how uncomfortable it would have been for them to concentrate during the exam when surrounded by male students as well.” The father went on to describe how the trauma had impacted his daughter, saying, “My daughter, who is a brilliant student, is yet to recover from the experience.”
On Tuesday, the Kerala Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) under section 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman) and 509 (words, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Meanwhile, various authorities responsible for the wellbeing and protection of the students, have taken to passing the blame onto others and washing their hands off the case. MIIT has denied involvement in the incident. An institute official told The News Minute, “There were two agencies assigned by the National Testing Agency for frisking and noting the biometric attendance. We have no clue what the rules on this are. It is the agency’s staff who check all this. In some cases, when the children came crying to us, asking permission to wear a shawl, we intervened and allowed them to do so.”
But this proves that the college did indeed know that such a shocking demand was being made of the female students, and did nothing to stop it. Moreover, none of the male students were required to take off any garments, despite the fact that trousers and jeans have metallic zips as well.
The National Testing Agency, also denied charges, telling NDTV, “NEET dress code does not permit any such activity alleged by parent of candidate.” This is even more shocking as it appears they are suggesting that the incident never took place.
Meanwhile, Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan saying, “The shame and shock of this unexpected turn of events have affected the morale and composure of the students whose performance in the test was consequently affected.” She sought action against those responsible saying, “I write to place on record that we take strong exception to such inhuman behaviour from an agency that has only been entrusted with the task of conducting the examination in a fair manner.”
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the matter and ordered an investigation into the incident reported The News Minute.
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