Police only maintaining law & order, no role in hijab ban: Top cop Sood

NT Correspondent

Director General of Police Mr Praveen Sood on Thursday assured that the State Police would not allow outsiders to enter schools and colleges and interfere with administration. While responding to the members of a delegation of Muslim organisations who complained of hijab ban being enforced by police in various parts of the State, Sood said there were no such orders from the Police and said their role was restricted to maintaining peace on campuses and to see that outsiders were not allowed to interfere with the administration of academic institutions. He said if there were any specific complaints about vigilantism, the police will deal sternly with them.

Mr. Sood said there was some confusion over the conformity with the court order and the Government ought to clarify the same. He advised the delegation members to meet the Education Secretary and get clarity.

The delegation comprised Maulana Iftikhar Qasimi of Jamiatul Uelma Hind; Dr. Saad Belgami and Yusuf Kanni of Jamaat e Islami Hind; Maulana Maqsood Imran, Imam of the City Jama Masjid; advocate Akmal Rizvi; and Zulfiquar Noori of Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat.

Speaking to News Trail, Iftikhar Qasimi said the interim order from the court was applicable to only Government PU colleges and colleges under CDCs where uniforms were prescribed for the students studying PU.

But they were being enforced in several colleges and BEOs were visiting even the Minority-run colleges where dress code included headscarves and were outside the purview of the court order. Qasimi alleged that several media channels were in cahoots with vigilante organisations and were being allowed within campuses and were interviewing girl students thereby violating their privacy. He said the delegation had earlier called on the CM who had assured that no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands.

“Sadly, the official machinery has failed to restrain anti-social elements who have turned into enforcers”, he added. He said his organization had received complaints from NMKRV College this morning and asked the community elders to talk to the management and resolve the issue. He urged the Government to take action against the organization unleashing vigilantes to enforce restriction beyond the scope of the interim orders.