Students at a NEET examination centre in Kollam district were forced to remove their bras before entering the hall. The invasive practice was reportedly over metal hooks.
The Father of a distressed female student filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Kollam Rural, and pointed out that the official information bulletin issued by NTA does not ban bras with metal hooks, reported The News Minute.
Gopakumar Sooranad, the student's father, said his daughter prepared for the entrance exam for a long time but could not write it with confidence due to the embarrassing incident right before entering the exam hall.
He told TNM that his daughter, like many other children, was uncomfortable and crying. "If it is the rule, they can check the innerwear during frisking. But why remove them?" he asked. He termed the ordeal a "mental torture" and asked authorities to ensure that children do not have to undergo such an experience again.
The incident took place at the Mar Thoma Institute of Information Technology, Ayur on July 17. The authorities at the institute said their staff was not involved in the frisking process. Two agencies assigned by the NTA were in charge of frisking and biometric attendance. An official said they provided shawls to children who asked for them.
The complaint also noted that students were asked to dump their innerwear together in a room without following the Covid-19 protocol.
This is not the first time crude incidents related to innerwear with metal hooks have taken place during NEET exams. Children have reported feeling humiliated and violated over this practice.