Assam will monitor private madrassas to prevent the entry of "jihadis"

• Image Credit: Internet

• Nov 10, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

 Digital Desk: To close the gaps through which some
"jihadi" elements, including a Bangladeshi national, have recently
joined these religious schools in the guise of teachers, Assam would oversee
the operation of the about 2,500 madrassas under private administration in the
state.

At a meeting on Wednesday between DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, state secondary education
director Mamta Hojai, and the representatives of five private madrassa
education boards, it was decided that the madrassas must obtain police
verification of any teacher from outside the state before hiring them, and that
there must be a distance of three kilometres between each madrassa. A minimum
of 100 pupils must also enrol in each madrassa.

 Additionally, by December 1st, these private forums must upload
information on the madrassas that are affiliated with them.

The private madrassa boards stated that they support the
government plan but do not want it to interfere with the madrassas' theological
education programme.

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 are the five private madrassa education boards.

It has been made plain that no "jihadi" can be let to
seek refuge in any madrassa in the state under the guise of religious teaching,
according to an Assam Police spokesman.

Since 2016, the police have apprehended 84 "jihadis" in the state, of
whom 10 had connections to madrassas. Two Bangladeshi nationals who were
working in the Goalpara district's madrassa are missing.

Three madrassas in three districts were demolished by the state
government in September when it was discovered that the imprisoned AQIS/ABT
module had been using them as a focal point for "jihadi" activities.

Over 600 government-funded madrassas were shut down by the state government
last year and turned into regular schools run by the state board of education
on the grounds that the state would no longer support institutions that impart
religious instruction.

 We request permission from the authorities to continue using the
theological study system in the madrassas, added Qashimi. He continued by
saying that the government is looking for information on the location of the
madrassa as well as the teachers that work there.

"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.