US university permits Sikh students to wear Kirpan on campus: Report

"Students are allowed to carry kirpans on campus as long as the blade length is under 3 inches and the weapon is “always held close to the body in a sheath,” a statement read.

A prestigious United States university has decided that it will permit Sikh students to wear kirpans, one of the integral parts of five Sikh Kakars, on campus. The decision comes just two months after a Sikh student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte was allegedly detained on the campus for wearing a Kirpan.

The video of the Sikh student being detained at University of North Carolina for wearing a Kirpan was initially shared by the student, who posted it on Twitter saying that the police handcuffed him for resisting letting the officer take his Kirpan out of the miyaan. (SOURCED)

The incident drew huge flak, as the video went viral on social media. It was initially shared by the student, who posted it on Twitter saying that the police had handcuffed him for refusing to let the officer remove his kirpan.

According to a PTI report, a statement was released by the University of North Carolina on Thursday, saying that students are allowed to carry kirpans on campus as long as the blade length is under 3 inches and the weapon is "always held close to the body in a sheath."

The statement released was signed by Chancellor Sharon L Gaber and Chief Diversity Officer Brandon L. Wolfe said the ruling was effective immediately.

“Over the past several weeks, we have engaged in dialogue with representatives from the local and global Sikh communities about how we could modify University policies to honour the tenets of religious freedom while protecting the safety of our campus,” the statement further added.

The institution expressed gratitude to Sikh leaders, including nonprofit organisations The Sikh Coalition and the Global Sikh Council, who contributed expertise and insight to the policy change.