India, Feb. 25 -- Four girl students of Class 10 skipped their Hindi paper on the first day of the UP Board examinations in Jaunpur on Monday, refusing to remove their hijab after they were asked to do so by female invigilators at the entry of the exam hall at their centre. This happened before the commencement of the paper at the Sarvodaya Inter College. The girls returned home with their families, said officials.

"The students were stopped at the gate and asked to remove the hijab to go inside," said Ahmadullah (goes by first name), father of one of the four students.

"Rules of Board exams are being followed strictly. Four students refused to follow them and went home with their family without taking the exam," centre administrator an...