Students of Government First Grade College, Mudipu, missed their education tour after miscreants allegedly stopped their travel on Saturday night.
“We are disappointed, but will continue to stay united,” said some first-year students.
The college had organised a tour to Mysuru and Bengaluru. The college cancelled the tour after a fringe Hindu group (police identified Bajrang Dal as one of them) and others prevented the tour.
A student told The Hindu : “There was not a single instance of any boy misbehaving with any girl in the college since the start of the current academic year. We are disappointed that we could not see the Assembly session.” Many students maintained that they remained united.
“We are fed up with people talking about the tour in terms of religion and gender,” another student said. “We do not have such feelings,” he added.
Teacher Hyder Ali said as all the students studied the Indian Constitution, watching the proceedings of the Assembly was the main objective of the tour. “We are not afraid of outside forces, and will continue our work,” he added.
College Prinicpal Giridhar Rao alleged that miscreants had attempted to incite communal feelings in Mudipu town using the tour of students as a pretext, he added.
A student said a miscreant had barged into the bus before the bus started on its journey.
According to Mr. Rao, the 38 students were a mix of Hindus, Muslims and Christians and the consent letter of all 38 students’ parents had been obtained before starting the tour at about 10 p.m.
According to a senior police official, five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident for pelting stones at the bus, the police and a Masjid nearby on Saturday. A car used by them has been seized. They have been booked under the Indian Penal Code under sections relating to attempt to murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race etc. and obstructing officials from discharging duties.
