U.P. ATS seeks details on madrassas; opposition alleges fear mongering

The Uttar Pradesh police’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) recently made inquiries with the administration in Prayagraj for information on madrassas. They have been asked to provide details on students, clerics engaged as teachers, management and other staff.

A letter from the Prayagraj field unit dated November 15 has surfaced, and it is assumed similar letters may have been sent to other districts as well. In the letter, written to the District Minority Welfare Officer of multiple districts in the Prayagraj region, the ATS said according to directions from the ATS headquarters, information on these institutions is being sought. The letter was written to minority welfare officers in Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Mahoba, asking for complete lists of students and clerics associated with madrassas in their areas.

Politicise security

The move follows the bomb attack in Delhi, with agencies expanding the scope of security checks. The inquiry has been criticised by opposition parties who allege attempts are being made to politicise security and portray every Muslim as a suspect. They asked the agencies to avoid becoming a tool for fear mongering.

“An attempt is being made to politicise the security apparatus, and see every Muslim through the prism of suspicion. Various inquires on madrassas in U.P. have been conducted and all the necessary records are with the government and agencies. From time to time the madrassa system is put under a lens, but ATS seeking complete details is a bit alarming as it is a dedicated agency for counter terrorism. Whatever the agency’s suspicion, the hard truth is that ATS has failed to convict the accused in most cases related to terrorism in Indian courts. We believe national security is paramount, but the government should issue a white paper on what logical conclusion cases taken up by the ATS reached. We feel fear mongering in the guise of security checks is avoidable,” said Shahnawaz Alam, National Secretary, Congress.

“The whole country is united against terrorism. But this unnecessary move to deploy the most elite force, the ATS, to investigate madrassas, their students and teaching staff will create chaos; no agency should become a political tool,” said Ameeque Jamei, spokesperson for the SP.