Police scrutiny of Madrassa teachers from outside Assam: Himanta

GUWAHATI: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that all teachers who came from outside Assam to teach in Madrasas in the state may be asked to appear "from time to time" in the nearest police station.

The move comes after police cracked down on alleged modules of terrorist organisation Ansarul Bangla Team, and 51 Bangladeshis were discovered among the preachers at Madrasas. Sarma said that a checklist has been prepared for the Madrasas, though the state is yet to "enter into an agreement with stakeholders, but things are moving in the right direction”.

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The Assam Police is working with Muslims in the state to “rationalise” Madrasa education, he said on Sunday. There are some 3,000 registered and unregistered Madrasas in Assam. Sarma said the police are coordinating with Bengali Muslims, who have a positive attitude towards education to create "a good environment" in the Madrasas. Science and mathematics will also be taught as subjects in the Madrasas, and right to education respected and a database of teachers maintained, he said.

Recently, the Apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asked all states and Union Territories to conduct an inquiry into all government-funded and recognised madrassas that are admitting non-Muslim children.

"It is a clear-cut violation and contravention of Article 28(3) of the Constitution of India that prohibits educational institutions from obligating the children to take part in any religious instruction, without the consent of the parent," an official letter stated.