Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that the police would verify the identity of all imams of the Muslim community, who have come from outside the state. This announcement was followed after two imams were arrested in Goalpara districts for alleged links with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Bangladesh-based terror outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). Some of these include imams of mosques as well as teachers of madrasas.
“We have created a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) where the residents will have to inform and report to local police about new imams and Madrasa teachers who have come from outside their locality , so the police can verify the profile and identity before they get involved in work ” Himanta Biswa Sarman also said that portal would be made, on which imams and madrasa teachers will have to get themselves registered .
On Monday, Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta informed that the police are preparing a directory of all private madrasas being operated in Assam.
DGP Assam, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta along with Additional Director General (ADG) special bureau, Hiren Nath met with Maulana Abdul Qadir- Secretary, Tanzim Council- that runs majority of madrasas in Assam.
During the meeting Qadir handed over the directory of all the madrasas run by Tanzim Council Assam
“Going forward, we want to create a master directory of all the madrasas being run in Assam. It’s a tough job. As many of them are unregistered and unauthorized. Our objective – to prevent anti-India, jihadi elements from utilizing the madrasas for their nefarious fundamentalist purposes,” said DGP Mahanta.
Meanwhile, Additional Director General (ADG) special bureau, Hiren Nath Spoke to voice 24*7 in this regard,
“Looking at the recent Jihadi activities and the series of arrests of individuals who allegedly have links with terrorism are found out to be the people who are mostly imams of mosques as well as teachers of madrasas. Lots of people from outside the state are getting appointed without any police verification and even the local people seems to be completely unaware or unaffected to get a background check of those people. So from outside the state.” For instance, if any inam or madrasa teacher identify themselves to belong to West Bengal then we will coordinate with Bengal police and get his identity and background checked . This way it will also help the madrasa and masjid committees to maintain transparency and thereby eradicate any suspicious activities or unscrupulous elements.”
