An engineering college in Mangaluru suspended four students for dancing in burqas to a Bollywood song.
A viral video of the event shows students dancing briefly before being chased away by an official.
St Joseph Engineering College where the burqua dancing occurred tweeted on Thursday to say that students "barged on the stage during the informal' part of the event, violating the "strict guidelines".
The four boys, who danced to the song Fevicol Se wearing burqas, are Muslims themselves.
"The video clip being circulated in social media has captured a part of the dance by students of the Muslim community itself who barged on stage during the informal part of students association inaugural," the college reportedly tweeted.
The statement also said that the dance in burqa was not part of the approved programme.
The authorities also said the college did not support or condone activities that could harm the harmony between communities.
Alongside suspension, the students will have to face an inquiry.
College management in a statement said 'everyone on campus knows that strict guidelines are in place in this regard'.
The video sparked criticism on social media with many alleging the dance mocked the burqa and hijab.
Some social media users found 'obscene steps' and called the dance 'inappropriate'.
Many other Twitter users questioned the suspension of students asking "If wearing Burqa is not wrong, then what's wrong in dancing wearing a Burqa?"