Kerala: Two More Arrested For Forcing Girl Students To Remove Innerwear Before Entering NEET Exam Hall

The arrest included the vice-principal of the Mar Thoma Institute of IT and Center Superintendent of NEET examination - Priji Kurian Issac and the observer of the National Testing Agency - Shamnad

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Days after girls students complained of been asked to remove innerwear before entering the NEET examination hall in Kerala's Kollam, the Police, on Thursday arrested two more accused taking the total arrests in the case to seven. The arrest was recorded by the police probe team and it included the vice-principal of the Mar Thoma Institute of IT and Center Superintendent of NEET examination - Priji Kurian Issac and the observer of the National Testing Agency - Shamnad.

Earlier, two women staff members of the college and three others of the testing agency - Star Training Academy were arrested in connection with the matter.

They were charged under the IPC's Section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

Kerala | 2 more people arrested in connection with complaints of women candidates in NEET examination- Arrested individuals are Priji Kurian Issac, Vice-Principal, Mar Thoma Institute of IT and Center Superintendent of NEET examination, & NTA observer Dr Shamnad: Kollam Police https://t.co/D9o3O9Ns5O

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NTA, which is responsible for conducting NEET examination, had given the contract to a private agency in Thiruvananthapuram, which in turn sub-contracted it to another agency at Karunagapally. Ten untrained personnel employed by the agency, according to the students, were involved in the incident.

Following the incident, the Church-based college has come under heavy duress from protesting student organisations of the leading political parties in the state.

On Monday, a parent termed the happening "totally unacceptable" and said that he had no other option but to lodge a complaint.

"We dropped my daughter around 12 noon at the examination centre and later the exam officials asked for a shawl. After her exam, she told us that as there was a metal object in her innerwear, she and many other students were asked to remove such clothing. The college where the exam was held said it had no role, as these things were done by an agency who was entrusted with the task," he said.

As these candidates who had to undergo such humiliation were under tremendous duress and they were unable to perform well because of this insensitive behaviour of the centre officials, the parent added.

(With agencies' inputs)