Mangaluru: Tension prevailed outside St Agnes College (autonomous) on Monday as students, supported by the ABVP, staged a sit-in protest demanding the rescheduling of odd-semester examinations that coincide with the Dasara festival.The agitation continued for over six hours and escalated when ABVP activists and police personnel got into an altercation. Police questioned the presence of ABVP activists, stating that the organisation had not obtained prior permission to participate in the protest and that its members were outsiders. Some activists, including ABVP functionaries Suvit Shetty and Shashank Shetty, were detained. Protesters also alleged that one student was slapped during detention and that women protesters were mishandled.DCP (Law and Order) Sam Varghese attempted to pacify the students. College registrar and controller of examinations Shubha Rekha addressed the protesters and announced the postponement of examinations scheduled for Oct 19 and 22. However, students continued their protest, insisting on a longer Dasara break from Oct 12 to 21. The sit-in continued until around 2pm, after which police and college authorities agreed to hold further discussions with the principal.Student Aathmika said they had sought holidays from Oct 12 to 21 and were dissatisfied with the decision to postpone only two examinations. BCA student Deepak said students had initially approached the college cabinet but turned to the ABVP when their concerns allegedly went unaddressed.Sangappa, Ullal taluk sanchalak of the ABVP, said students’ representations seeking a revised schedule had not received a response. He alleged that four people, including two ABVP functionaries, were detained despite being asked to return for talks. An ABVP leader said memoranda had also been submitted to Alva’s College and St Aloysius College.Meanwhile, Mangaluru North MLA Bharath Shetty urged colleges to avoid scheduling examinations during major religious festivals. He said the issue had been raised with district minister UT Khader, MLC Ivan D’Souza and district officials.Dakshina Kannada district NSUI president Suhan Alva urged St Agnes and Canara colleges to reconsider examinations scheduled during Dasara. He criticised the ABVP’s approach, saying the issue should have been resolved through discussions with the management. VHP leader Pradeep Saripalla condemned the police action and sought an inquiry into the alleged use of force.College clarifiesPrincipal Sr Venissa AC said the examination timetable was finalised on Sept 26 after a draft was circulated on Sept 11 and no objections were received. The college said it became aware of the protest through social media on Sunday and had not received any formal representation before Monday. It confirmed that the Oct 19 and 22 examinations had been postponed and said revised dates would be announced shortly. The college maintained that the examination schedule adhered to the approved academic calendar and did not include gazetted public holidays..
