Reportedly, more than 13,000 unauthorized Madrasas have been unearthed operating clandestinely within Uttar Pradesh. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has advocated for their immediate closure

In a stunning revelation, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the Yogi Adityanath Government in Lucknow unearthed approximately 13,000 unlawful madrasas operating within the state. Following this discovery, the SIT diligently compiled and submitted a comprehensive report to the state administration after meticulously scrutinizing these illicit educational institutions. Furthermore, the SIT strongly recommended the immediate closure of these madrasas.

Sources from Zee News TV reported that these illicit madrasas, identified by the SIT, are situated along the Nepal border. Their construction, spanning over the past two decades, has been predominantly funded through contributions originating from Gulf countries.

Additionally, the SIT’s report unveiled alarming statistics, indicating that a significant portion of these madrasas are concentrated in seven districts bordering Nepal, including Maharajganj, Shravasti, and Bahraich.

The report further highlights that each border district harbors over 500 such madrasas, raising significant concerns regarding their proximity to the international border.

During the investigation, financial records from these madrasas were examined. However, most of them failed to provide a transparent account of their income and expenditure, fueling suspicions of a clandestine agenda diverting funds for potential terrorist activities under the guise of educational development.

Despite claims by some madrasas regarding construction funding through donations, they have been unable to disclose the identities of contributors. The investigative team, tasked with assessing a total of 23,000 madrasas, identified 5,000 with provisional recognition. Nevertheless, several of them have fallen short of meeting accreditation standards over the past 25 years.

The situation escalated when the SIT confirmed that approximately 80 madrasas located in border regions received foreign funding amounting to around Rs 100 crore. Following this revelation, the state government mandated the SIT to conduct a thorough and exhaustive investigation into the operations of all madrasas within the state. The establishment of the SIT came amidst mounting concerns over potential financial misappropriation, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the sources supporting these religious institutions.