Cachar College Hijab Row: Principal Confirms NSUI Drive Had Permission, ABVP Files FIR Over Social Media Allegations

Cachar College Principal Apratim Nag has said the college administration will try to ensure that students follow the institution’s prescribed uniform, following a violent clash between students amid a controversy over the wearing of hijabs on campus.

Speaking to Barak Bulletin after the incident, Nag said the college’s official uniform notice clearly showed how male and female students were expected to dress. He said female students should wear their dupatta in the manner shown in the prescribed uniform image.

When asked how the college planned to resolve the conflict that erupted on Tuesday (August 25), the Principal said the administration would try to ensure that the prescribed uniform was followed.

The college’s uniform notice states that boys must wear trousers and shirts, while girls must wear salwar-kameez or churidar-kameez with a dupatta. It further states that no alteration, modification or deviation from the prescribed uniform will be allowed.

The Principal also responded to claims that some students had allegedly concealed earbuds inside their hijabs during examinations. He said students were properly checked during exams and such cases were caught immediately. However, he did not make an absolute statement on whether such incidents could occur.

Nag also confirmed that the NSUI membership drive taking place on the college campus had been conducted with his permission. According to him, the organisation had sought permission from the college before conducting the drive.

The Principal’s comments came after a clash between students associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, or ABVP, and the National Students’ Union of India, or NSUI, at Cachar College on Tuesday. Several students were reportedly injured in the violence.

According to allegations surrounding the incident, the clash began during the NSUI membership drive after objections were raised over some female students wearing hijabs. The situation later escalated into a physical altercation.

Following the clash, ABVP wrote to the Officer-in-Charge of Silchar Sadar Police Station, demanding a fair investigation and strict action against those actually responsible for the violence.

In its letter, the organisation alleged that its name was being deliberately associated with the incident on social media through misleading and false information. ABVP requested police to examine CCTV footage and other available evidence to identify those responsible.

ABVP also shared a video statement by Arpan Chakraborty, District Convenor of ABVP Cachar District and Assistant General Secretary of Assam University Students’ Union for the 2025-26 term.

In the statement, Chakraborty condemned the incident and also condemned the alleged assault on a female student. He said those responsible should face strict action, irrespective of their identity.

At the same time, he objected to what he described as attempts to blame ABVP for the incident without establishing the facts. He said a complaint had been filed against those allegedly trying to defame the organisation.

Chakraborty described the episode as a “small incident” that was allegedly being made bigger for political reasons. He also raised concerns about alleged incidents of students using earbuds concealed inside hijabs during examinations and demanded that a uniform dress code be followed equally.

The controversy follows a memorandum submitted on Monday by a section of Cachar College students to the Cachar District Commissioner, demanding a ban on Muslim students wearing religious attire, including hijabs and topis, inside the educational institution.

Police had rushed to the college after Tuesday’s clash and brought the immediate situation under control. Injured students were reportedly taken for medical treatment.

The college administration’s latest position, however, indicates that it is focusing on the enforcement of the existing prescribed uniform as one of the measures to address the issue, while police investigate the circumstances surrounding the clash.