A protest against a college fee hike in Rajasthan’s Barmer district took a political turn after police arrested student leaders following comments aimed at District Collector Tina Dabi. This led to a sit-in by students inside a police station.
The incident occurred outside Multanmal Bhikhchand Chhajed Women’s College, where students and two leaders linked to the ABVP were protesting against a fee increase. Later, police arrested the two student leaders and took them to the Kotwali police station, citing public order concerns.
Student allege detention over comments on Collector Tina Dabi
College students accused the police of intervening after one of the student leaders referred to the district collector as a “reel star.” They claimed this comment was the main reason for the detention. After the arrests, several women students marched to the Kotwali police station and starts protests. They demands the immediate release of the student leaders.
Hina Khatri, a student who joined the protest at the police station, defended the remark. She questioned why it was treated as an offense. She argued that the collector often appears during cleanliness drives and public campaigns. Khatri also said students wanted to bring attention to civic issues near the college, such as garbage on the main road.
Collector responds
District Collector Tina Dabi, speaking over the phone, dismissed the controversy and called the detention a routine action to maintain law and order. She said officials faced misbehaviour during the protest, and police intervened to prevent the situation from worsening.
Dabi added that the student leaders were released without any case being filed. This indicated an effort to ease tensions as protests continued in the district.
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