Hyderabad : Hundreds of students at a college in Hyderabad protested Friday against a woman lecturer for allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Mohammed, demanding her arrest and suspension. Police were called and she was taken away from the scene.
Tension prevailed at the St. Ann's degree college for women in Mehdipatnam as some Muslim legislators reached the college premises demanding action against Prashanti, a political science lecturer.
Deputy Commissioner of Police N. Madhusudhan Reddy, East Zone, told IANS that police had taken Prashanti away. "We have not yet received any formal complaint against here from the students," he said.
Though Prashanti tendered an apology after strong protests by students, they insisted that the lecturer be arrested and suspended from the college.
Students of BA final year alleged that Prashanti during her lecture made certain remarks against Islam and the Prophet. They said the lecturer deviated from the subject to pass insulting remarks.
The college premises was echoing with slogans like "Allah-o-Akbar" (god is great) and "arrest her" as hundreds of students, most of them clad in burqas, gathered in front of the principal's office.
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislators Afsar Khan and Ahmed Pasha Khadri and his supporters rushed to the college, barged into the principal's room and demanded immediate action against the lecturer.
A heated argument ensued between the legislators and the college staff. Sensing the mood, Prashanti offered an apology but the protesters were not satisfied and continued to shout slogans.
Police officials, who had rushed to the area, took the lecturer away and students said they would lodge a complaint against her.
Legislator Habeeb Abdul Rehman of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) also rushed to the college and lodged his protest with the college management.
Some lecturers said the students had misunderstood Prashanti. Alao, she did not make any insulting remarks against Islam. However, students claimed that this was not the first time she had made such remarks.
"Ever since she was appointed a year ago she made deliberate attempts on three to four occasions to insult Islam," said a student.
St. Ann's is one of the biggest women's colleges in Hyderabad and a majority of its 3,000 students are Muslims.
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