Kalaburagi, 5 May

Two staff members were arrested after allegedly asking a NEET candidate to remove his janivara (sacred thread worn by Brahmins) before entering an exam centre in Kalaburagi on 4 May. The incident occurred at a private examination centre during the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), sparking protests and community outrage.

Based on the candidate’s complaint, Kalaburagi police registered an FIR against the two staff members, who were deputed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for frisking duty. Both individuals, employed by an external agency, were arrested on Sunday evening and released later on station bail, as the offence was bailable.

Kalaburagi City Police Commissioner Sharanappa SD confirmed the arrests and said legal action had been initiated. “Further investigation is ongoing to determine if others were involved, and whether staff were adequately briefed about proper frisking protocols,” he said.

The incident triggered protests by members of the Brahmin community outside the exam centre, demanding accountability and calling the action discriminatory and insensitive to religious sentiments. Protesters claimed that multiple candidates were either forced to remove their sacred threads or had them cut before entering the exam hall.

This incident follows a similar controversy during theCommon Entrance Test (CET) for engineering and vocational courses on 16 April, when Brahmin boys were also allegedly asked to remove their sacred threads.

Authorities have promised a thorough investigation to prevent recurrence and ensure frisking protocols respect cultural and religious practices.