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Madrasa Board monitoring probe

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Madrasa Board is closely monitoring investigations into the May 13 serial blasts in Jaipur in the wake of the State police detaining clerics, teachers and managers of madrasas on suspicion.

There is disquiet in Bharatpur and Udai Kalan over the arrest of madrasa functionaries.

Maintenance of records

Incidentally, none of the madrasas from where the Special Investigation Team made arrests is registered with the State government-run board.

Board chairman Hidayat Khan told The Hindu here on Thursday that the police and intelligence agencies visiting madrasas to look for suspicious activities was nothing new. “Police authorities maintained records of madrasas and their teachers and students, especially in the areas adjoining India-Pakistan border, even before the Jaipur blasts.”

However, the detention of madrasa functionaries for interrogation without even a sketchy proof against them has angered the board. Mr. Khan said it was strange that the police crackdown on the seminaries had started even before the preliminary probe made sure of the facts of the case.

School education

Of the 5,000 madrasas in the State, 2,710 are registered with the board. With about 2.10 lakh students enrolled in these seminaries, the board looks after school education and government-run schemes to benefit the institutions.

Mr. Khan said the board was in constant touch with the managers of all registered madrasas to get first-hand information on police enquiries. He said those detained by the SIT were not connected with the seminaries recognised by the board.

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