Violent clashes over hijab ban in southern India force schools to close

Unrest triggered when Karnataka state came down in favour of rightwing Hindu demands for headscarf ban

The Indian state of Karnataka has shut its schools for three days after the regional government backed schools imposing a ban on hijabs, leading to widespread protests and violence.

The issue began in January, when six female Muslim students staged a weeks-long protest after they were told to either remove their headscarves or stop attending class at a government college in the district of Udupi.