A total of 32 people have been taken into custody by Barke police of which 10 are students of the college.
The protest began on Monday after a student by name Rakshit Kumar Rao was fined for donning the 'Aiyyappa' attire with the shawl, uncut hair and beard as part of the 'Aiyyappa vrata' by the Principal of the college. Students backed by members of Sri Ram Sena had begun a sit-in near the college gate yesterday shouting slogans against the college authorities and the protest had continued this morning too.
However, Barke police arrived at the spot and took 32 of the protesting people into custody. A group of 'Aiyyappa' devotees has gathered at the Barke police station demanding release of the protestors.
Speaking to Coastaldigest.com, one of the 'Aiyyappa' devotees said that the College is being partial in its decision of prohibiting 'Aiyyappa' attire in the campus. “We have seen with our own eyes other students in the college who are roaming around with beards but no action is being taken against them. Not even a year ago, on the occasion of the 'Jeernodhara' of the Venkataramana Temple, Konkan boys were coming to college with beards as they had to maintain it for a specified time. But no action was taken against them. If the college wants to apply such rules, they should inform the students at the time of admission itself”, he said.
Aiyyappa devotees gathered at the police station also groused that the college is setting low standards as 'Aiyyappa' attire is allowed even in St Aloysius and SDM Colleges of the city.
Those taken into custody are expected to be out on bail. The protest against Canara College authorities in the college campus will continue, they said, while informing that a bigger protest has been planned for tomorrow in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office wherein 'Aiyyappa' devotees from across the district are expected to participate.
Related:
Drama at Canara College as students, Rama Sena activists protest over 'Aiyyappa attire' prohibition
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