NEW DELHI/ROORKEE – Tensions are rising in Roorkee and across Uttarakhand after the local administration sealed four madrasas in Haridwar district this week. The action, carried out under the leadership of the District SDM and Tehsildar, is part of a wider campaign targeting unregistered Islamic schools in the region. But many Indian Muslims say the drive feels more like religious discrimination than law enforcement.
According to officials, madrasas in Padli Genda, Sohalpur Gada, Kamelpur, and Khatakhedi villages were shut down because they lacked registration documents. A large police team accompanied the officials during the inspections, which led to clashes and heated arguments between residents and authorities.
This move follows the sealing of more than 150 madrasas and the demolition of over a dozen others, along with the destruction of around 500 Muslim graves in various parts of the state. Many Muslims in the region believe this is part of a deliberate effort to target their religious institutions.
Speaking to Clarion India, Maulana Rashid Qasmi, a madrasa teacher from Haridwar, said: “If the government truly wants documentation, they should help us regularise the madrasas instead of tearing them down. But what we are seeing is an attempt to erase our presence and paint us as illegal.”
During the inspection on Monday, madrasa operators were reportedly asked to present documents proving government recognition. But locals say they were not given time to respond or seek legal advice.
“They came like a raid team, surrounded the area with police, and told us to show documents within minutes. Before we could say anything, they locked the gates and left,” said Mohammad Anees, a resident of Sohalpur Gada.
“How is this justice?”
Two of the sealed madrasas — Jamia Faizul Quran and Islamia Arabia Isaatul Islam — are in Lahboli village in Mangalore, where a similar inspection took place earlier this week. According to Naib Tehsildar Dhaniram, notices were issued before sealing, but residents deny receiving any warning.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
