To keep out 'jihadis', Assam to monitor private madrassas

GUWAHATI: Assam will monitor the functioning of about 2,500 madrassas under private managements in the state in a bid to plug the holes through which several 'jihadi' elements, including a Bangladeshi national, had entered these religious schools in the garb of teachers in the last few months.
At a meeting between DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, state secondary education director Mamta Hojai and the representatives of five private madrassa education boards on Wednesday, it was decided that before engaging any teacher from outside the state, the madrassas will have to seek police verification of the individual and that the distance between two madrassas will have to be three kilometers. Also, each madrassa will have to have a minimum enrolment of 100 students.
Besides, these private boards must upload the details of the madrassas affiliated to them by December 1.
The private madrassa boards said they have accepted the government's initiative but want the latter not to disrupt the theological study system in the madrassas.
The five private madrassa education boards are All Assam Tanzim Madaris Qaumiya, All Assam Talimi Tarakkee Board, Madras Education Board All Hafis (Salafi), Adara Madaris Islamia and All Assam Ahle Sunat Madrasa.
A spokesman of Assam Police said, "It has been made clear that no 'jihadi' can be allowed to take shelter in any madrassa in the state in the name of religious teachers."
The police have nabbed 84 'jihadis' in the state since 2016 out of which 10 were found to have links with madrassas. Two Bangladeshi nationals, who were engaged in a madrassa in Goalpara district, are absconding.
The state government demolished three madrassas in three districts in September after these were found to be used as hub of 'jihadi' activities by the arrested AQIS/ABT module.
Last year, the state government shut down over 600 government-funded madrassas and converted them into regular schools under the state board of education on the grounds that the state will no longer fund institutions offering religious teachings.
Abdul Qader Qashimi, general secretary of the biggest private board, All Assam Tanzim Madaris Qaumiya headed by MP Badruddin Ajmal, told TOI that the all the madrassa board representatives have taken the steps initiated by the state government in a positive way.
"Our appeal to the government is to allow us to continue with the practice of theological study system in the madrassas," Qashimi said. He added that the details sought by the government include information about the land on which the madrassa is located and the teachers engaged.
"While most of the land is either donated by people or purchased, there are some locations where madrassas are functioning from government land. These madrassas have either not applied for settlement of the land or, especially in riverine areas, there is no land patta. We are seeking an appointment with the chief minister to request him to resolve these issues," Qashimi said.