Representative image of children studying at a Madrasa
Credit: PTI Photo
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh police have registered cases against as many as 219 madrasas ( Islamic seminaries), which were 'non-existent' but were drawing government aid in Azamgarh district in the state.
According to the police sources, the cases were registered at different police stations in the district after a probe by the special investigation team (SIT) found that these madrasas didn't exist on the ground but were drawing government aid.
Sources said that the first such case was registered at the Kandharapur police station in the district on a complaint lodged by an EOW (Economic Offenses Wing) inspector Bramha Prakash Singh.
Police said that a complaint was filed with the state government in 2017 that many madrsas were receiving government aid without any physical verification.
In a preliminary probe large scale irregularities were detected in 313 madrasas. The probe was later handed over to the SIT.
The SIT found that 219 madrasas were not in existence but were receiving government aid.
Sources said that on the direction of the government, several FIRs were registered at various police stations in the district in the past few days.
A senio police official said in Azamgarh that these madrasas had forged documents to receive the government aid.
The official said that the investigation has been launched and strict action would be taken against the owners of these madrasas after the probe.