Teachers’ bodies say the anti-terror agency checks bank accounts, managers’ details and committees of madrasas despite no terror link ever found
NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW – Around 4,000 madrasas across Uttar Pradesh are facing investigation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), with a focus on their funding sources. The move has caused deep concern among Muslim educators, who say religious schools are being treated with suspicion despite no record of their involvement in any terror-related activity.
The inquiry is examining the sources of funding for madrasas, both within the country and from abroad. Officials are asking for detailed financial information, including bank accounts of madrasa societies and even personal account numbers of managers. After the checks are completed, a detailed report will be sent to the state government, which will decide the next steps.
Leaders of madrasa teachers’ organisations say the action has created fear and confusion among staff and management committees. They argue that the role of the ATS is to deal with terrorism, not to treat religious educational institutions as suspects.
Diwan Sahib Zaman Khan, General Secretary of the Teachers’ Association Madrasa Arabia in Uttar Pradesh, spoke openly about the issue. “The ATS was formed to stop terrorism,” he said. “Till today, no madrasa has been linked to any terror incident. Even then, four thousand madrasas are being checked. This is painful and worrying for the entire community.”
He said that madrasas had already provided answers to ten questions earlier. These included basic details about registration, staff, and functioning. Yet a fresh order from the Director of Minority Welfare shows that the main focus now is on funding.
“They are asking for the bank account of the madrasa society and also the account number of the manager,” Zaman Khan said. “In one district, the account numbers of all committee members were demanded. People are scared and confused.”
Officials have reportedly raised questions about large madrasa buildings, asking how they were built and where the money came from. Some have suggested that the income sources are unclear.
Zaman Khan rejected this view. “Big buildings do not come up in one day,” he said. “Madrasas are built slowly, over many years, with small donations from the public. These are honest contributions by common people who want to support education.”
He added that donation receipts are usually kept for a limited period, after which they are discarded, as a routine practice. “Asking for records from many years ago is not practical,” he said. “There has to be some understanding of how community institutions function.”
Teachers say the repeated checks are affecting education. Committees are busy running from one office to another, while students suffer. “We are not able to focus on teaching,” Zaman Khan said. “Children’s future is at risk because of constant pressure and fear.”
Many in the Muslim community see the investigation as part of a wider pattern where madrasas are viewed through a security lens instead of an educational one. They point out that madrasas provide basic education, food and shelter to thousands of poor children, especially in rural areas.
A madrasa teacher from eastern Uttar Pradesh said, “We teach Qur’an, maths, Urdu and basic subjects. We teach peace and discipline. Still, we are treated like criminals.”
Several parents have also expressed anxiety. “My son studies in a madrasa because we cannot afford private schools,” a father said. “If teachers are harassed every day, how will our children study?”
Zaman Khan has appealed directly to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to step in. “We respect the law and the government,” he said. “We only ask that madrasas are not treated as suspects. Please allow us to teach our children in peace.”
Legal experts say any investigation must be fair and based on facts. They warn that broad action against religious institutions without proof can harm social trust.
For many Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, the issue is not just about paperwork. It is about dignity, equal treatment, and the right to run educational institutions without fear. As the investigation continues, madrasa teachers and students wait anxiously, hoping their classrooms do not become the next casualty of suspicion.
