Virar hijab row: Arnala cops ask principal for her statement

In a show of prompt action, the Arnala Coastal police have taken suo motu cognisance of the controversy around the resignation of Dr Batul Hamid, principal of Viva College of Law in Virar, and allegations of harassment over her wearing hijab. Two cops who visited the college, said, "Prima facie, the matter of the principal resigning from her post is not connected to hijab." They added that they will be monitoring her movements.

Apprehensive about a law-and-order situation arising out of Dr Hamid's statement to the media, which has been making rounds on social media, Inspector (Crime) Amar Singh Patil and Ashok Pawar from the police station's intelligence wing visited the college campus on Thursday evening. "The officers found the principal's office locked, and upon inquiring with the office head at the administrative office, it was discovered that Dr Hamid has not been coming to the college since the day she resigned," said R K Mane, senior inspector, Arnala Coastal police station.

Viva College of Law in Virar has become the centre of a controversy after its principal, Dr Batul Hamid

Mane continued, "The cops were then directed to the trustee's office and a meeting was held with Hitendra Thakur, an MLA from Vasai and one of the trustees. Thakur informed the officers that the principal had not approached the management about the harassment over wearing hijab. Thakur also said that Dr Hamid may have taken this action at the behest of someone or simply to attract attention."

The preliminary report submitted by Patil and Pawar read: "After speaking with trustees and college staff, it appears that the issue is not related to religious discrimination or the hijab controversy. Dr Batul Hamid's resignation letter, too, makes no mention of hijab. However, the situation has led to two communities being misled. Her statement to the media about harassment because of her hijab can lead to a law-and-order situation, so there is a need to closely monitor Dr Batul Hamid's activities."

Resigned from her post and alleged she faced harassment over wearing hijab

The two cops even went to Dr Batul Hamid's residence in Virar, but she was not there. When contacted over phone, she told the cops that she was in Delhi to meet with a community leader from Karnataka. "When we asked if she wanted to file a complaint against the management, she said she would think about it after returning. We have asked Dr Hamid to contact us once she returns to inquire the matter further," Mane said.

Meanwhile, Dr Hamid said, "The police contacted me and inquired about the situation. I'll pay them a visit when I return. I still need to pick up my resignation letter and experience certificate from the college administration. Whatever they do to conceal the issue, they will never be able to conceal the truth."