The Udupi Collectorate
By Shankar Raj*
Bengaluru: Ahead of reopening of schools tomorrow, the Udupi district administration in Karnataka Sunday has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in areas around all high schools in the district from Monday till February 19, 2022.
The move came as the District Superintendent of Police requested Deputy Commissioner M Kurma Rao for tighter measures around all schools.
As per the order, assembly of five or more members around the school perimeter is not allowed. All sorts of gatherings including protests and rallies are banned. Inciting slogans, songs and speeches are strictly barred.
Tension prevailed in pockets of Udupi, the epicentre of the hijab controversy,
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, told the media that “High schools up to class 10 will reopen tomorrow, already Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of police and Deputy Director of Public Instruction of all districts have been asked to hold peace meetings involving parents and teachers at important schools aimed at maintaining cordial atmosphere. I’m confident that schools will function peacefully”.
In a related incident, security agencies have begun investigating the background of the six students who started the agitation. Their parents too are being probed to ascertain if they have any links with banned organisations, reports indicated.
On Monday, the focus would shift to the Karnataka High Court where a three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice would hear a bunch of petitions on the hijab issue.
Also read:
- Hijab row: Security forces stage flag march after mob thrashed a man in Karnataka
- Sunday Snippets: About hijab and what not…
*Shankar Raj is former Editor of The New Indian Express, Karnataka and Kerala, and writes regularly on current affairs.
