Rajasthan Exam Fee Hike Protest: Students Detained For Calling Barmer Collector Tina Dabi ‘Reel Star’? She Says…

Last Updated:December 23, 2025, 13:09 IST

A student protest over an examination fee hike in Rajasthan’s Barmer district turned tense after remarks targeting district collector Tina Dabi.

Rajasthan College Protest Turns Tense After Students Call Collector Tina Dabi a ‘Reel Star’

College students in Rajasthan’s Barmer district have alleged that some of them were detained after a protest against an increase in examination fees. The protest took place outside Maharana Bhupal College (MBC) Girls College on Saturday. The students said they wanted to meet district collector Tina Dabi to raise their concerns about the fee hike.

Tina Dabi is a well-known Indian Administrative Service officer who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her first attempt at the age of 22. Students said they hoped she would listen to their demands and address the issue directly.

‘Reel Star’ comment triggers row

According to the students, tensions rose when an official described Dabi as a “role model". Some students, linked to the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), objected to the remark.

They claimed that Dabi had not come to hear their concerns and accused her of focusing more on social media appearances. During the protest, some students referred to her as a “reel star", a comment that later became central to the controversy.

Allegations of detention

After the sit-in protest ended, students alleged that a few of their peers were detained by the police. This led to more students gathering outside the police station, demanding their immediate release. The situation drew attention both locally and on social media.

The ABVP condemned the alleged action, calling it an attack on democratic values. The student body said expressing opinions should not be treated as a crime and stated that it stood firmly with the protesting students.

Police deny arrests

Senior police officer Manoj Kumar rejected the claims of detention or arrest. He said no students were arrested or mistreated. According to him, four male students were taken to the police station only to calm the situation and were later allowed to leave.

He added that students gathered near the police station and demanded an apology from the administration. Senior officers later spoke to them, after which the crowd dispersed.

Tina Dabi responds

Tina Dabi also dismissed the allegations. In a written statement, she said no one was arrested or detained. She claimed that despite the fee hike issue being resolved, some students blocked the road and created a disturbance.

She said her officers took the students to the police station for discussions and to cool down, and they left after about two hours. Dabi added that the matter existed only on social media and accused critics of spreading the issue for publicity.

Political reactions

The incident drew criticism from political figures, including Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. She accused bureaucrats of intolerance and misuse of power, adding to the growing debate over freedom of expression and student protests.

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