In total, the ATS plans to inspect 473 schools within the Saharanpur division
Team Clarion
SAHARANPUR – The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh has expanded its focus from madrasas to unrecognised schools, particularly Maktabs (nursery and pre-nursery schools). Following intelligence inputs, the ATS has compiled a list of schools that warrant investigation, including 118 schools in Saharanpur, 190 in Shamli, and 165 in Muzaffarnagar. In total, the ATS plans to inspect 473 schools within the Saharanpur division.
The ATS’s inquiry is part of a broader effort to scrutinise the funding and operational status of these unrecognised educational institutions. In Deoband, where there are 118 identified schools, the investigation will examine several critical aspects, including the reasons for their lack of official recognition, sources of funding for their operations and the duration of their functioning.
District Minority Officer Suman Gautam stated that the ATS had requested a comprehensive list of these schools, which had been provided. An investigation into several institutions has already been completed, with the findings reported to the government.
This latest initiative follows a previous survey conducted by the ATS, which identified 8,441 illegal madrasas across the state. The survey, completed on October 20, 2022, lasted over a month and revealed that many madrasas operated without proper identification. The highest numbers of unrecognised madrasas were found in Moradabad (550), Basti (350), and Muzaffarnagar (240), with notable figures also reported in urban centres such as Lucknow (100) and Kanpur (more than 85).
Currently, Uttar Pradesh has 15,613 recognised madrasas. However, the UP Madrasa Board has not granted recognition to new institutions since 2017, leading to a growing number of unregulated schools.
The ATS’s decision to scrutinise unrecognised schools highlights ongoing security concerns in the region. Authorities are keen to ensure that these institutions are not operating outside the legal framework. As investigations unfold, the focus remains on establishing a clear understanding of the educational landscape in Uttar Pradesh and ensuring compliance with state regulations.
