The raid in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home district sparks concern among locals
Team Clarion
NALANDA — A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on Thursday conducted a raid at Madrasa Hemayat-ul-Islam, located in the Khanqah locality of Islampur police station in Bihar’s Nalanda district. The operation, which took place in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home district, was reportedly linked to allegations of foreign funding to the institution.
The NIA team, accompanied by local police and the Block Development Officer, arrived early in the day, causing a stir in the community. The focus of the raid, sources suggest, was to investigate the flow of money from abroad, possibly related to a case involving financial transactions between individuals in the United States and Lucknow, with funds allegedly reaching the madrasa secretary Dr Manzar Iqbal.
According to eyewitnesses and local sources, the NIA team thoroughly searched the premises of the madrasa. It inspected registers, receipts, and other documents and also questioned Dr Iqbal for several hours regarding the financial dealings. However, no significant documents were reportedly seized during the raid, though the NIA did confiscate the secretary’s mobile phone for further investigation.
“The sudden arrival of the NIA team caused chaos in the area,” said a local resident, reflecting the tense atmosphere during the operation. Despite the extensive search, neither the NIA nor the local police have provided an official statement on the exact findings or the reasons behind the raid.
The operation lasted for about five hours. The lack of concrete information has left the local community in a state of uncertainty, with many speculating about the broader implications of such an investigation.
This raid is part of a broader pattern of scrutiny by central agencies on religious institutions, particularly those with potential international financial links. The event also follows closely on the heels of other similar investigations across the country, raising concerns among various minority communities.
The local administration has yet to comment on the situation, and further developments are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
