Karnataka: Students allegedly forced to remove sacred threads during CET exam

An incident at a CET exam centre in Shivamogga has sparked outrage within the Brahmin community after two students were allegedly forced to remove their Janivara, a sacred thread traditionally worn by Brahmins. The incident reportedly took place on April 16 at Adichunchanagiri Independent PU College in Shivamogga, one of the official centres for the Common Entrance Test (CET). 

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According to community representatives, three students were asked by the security personnel to remove their Janivara before entering the examination hall. One student who refused was eventually allowed to take the exam without removing it. However, two others who complied were allegedly made to discard the threads, which were then thrown into a dustbin. Community members also claimed that students were asked to remove Kashi Dara, another sacred wrist thread, under the guise of security checks. 

Former MLA KB Prasanna Kumar led a delegation of Brahmin leaders to meet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gurudatta Hegde and lodged a formal complaint. In response, DC Hegde assured them that an investigation would be conducted. He clarified that while exam security requires the removal of electronic gadgets, there were no official instructions to target religious symbols or sacred threads. 

The incident has raised serious concerns over religious sensitivity and the enforcement of exam security protocols.