LUCKNOW, In a significant development, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) assigned to scrutinize the financial sources of madrassas in Uttar Pradesh has identified 80 institutions that have reportedly received nearly Rs 100 crore in donations from various countries over the past two years.
The three-member SIT is now intensifying its efforts to trace the utilization of these funds and investigate potential irregularities. Uttar Pradesh, home to approximately 24,000 madrassas, with over 16,500 recognized by the UP Board of Madrassa Education, is witnessing heightened scrutiny into foreign funding and expenditure patterns.
Mohit Agarwal, Additional Director General of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and head of the SIT, emphasized the objective of examining whether the foreign funds were dedicated to the operation of madrassas or diverted for other purposes. The investigation, initiated by the Yogi Adityanath government, remains ongoing with no specified timeline provided by the state authorities.
The SIT’s probe encompasses madrassas in various districts, including Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, and Bahraich, particularly those near the Nepal border. Following a directive from the state government, district magistrates conducted a survey of unrecognised madrasas last year, revealing 8,449 operating without recognition from the state madrassa education board.
This revelation adds to the complex landscape of madrassa funding, with indications that foreign contributions have been a source of financial sustenance. The investigation aligns with a broader push for transparency and scrutiny into funding channels, resonating within the larger context of national security concerns.
