Sikh student asked to remove Kirpan

ROURKELA: Tension prevailed at Rourkela College on Thursday after a Sikh student was prevented from entering the examination hall with a ‘Kirpan’(dagger). Harbinder Singh Barmi, a Plus-II second year student, was to appear for the final examination. He was entering the examination hall with the ‘kirpan’ hanging from his waist when the college authorities objected to it. Soon some community leaders were informed and a group reached the college. They reportedly turned furious and smashed the table glass of Principal PK Jena.Panposh Sub-collector SB Mishra, Additional SP Sudarshan Sethi and DSP RK Bhui rushed to the spot with police force and brought the mob under control.The principal said respecting certain examination conditions the student was only asked to hide the weapon and nothing was done to hurt his religious sentiment.He said a written complaint had been lodged with the police against the behaviour of the mob.Barmi, however, alleged that he was instructed to remove the ‘Kirpan’.  He appeared for the examination with the ‘Kirpan’ tucked away under his dress.Barmi and his three classmates who could not take the examination during the scheduled time from 8 am to 11 am appeared for their paper from 12 p.m.