Police search madrasa run by suspected al-Qaeda terrorist

Odisha Sun Times Bureau:
Cuttack, Dec 17:

A day after the suspected al-Qaeda terrorist was arrested from here, Commissionerate Police today conducted a search on the madrasa run by the Muslim cleric near Tangi in Odisha’s Cuttack district.

A team of police personnel from Commissionerate Police accompanied by Tangi police today searched the madrasa and verified several documents. This apart, the cops interacted with the inmates, mostly from Jharkhand, and

Besides, CWC chairperson, District Child Protection officer, officials of Sarva Sisha Abhiyan, and members of Vasundhara and Childline also visited the madrasa.

“The living conditions are not well. The food served to them was not proper and they are starving since last two days. We have communicated with the CDMO for conducting proper health checkup of the students. We are verifying the documents on whom instructions they have come here. This is illegal custody as the madarasa is not registered. We are trying to coordinate with the states to relocate and rehabilitate them,” District Child Protection officer Pragati Mohanty said.

Notably, around 85 students had taken admission in the madrasa near Tangi here.

On the other hand, police have detained three persons, including a doctor, for questioning.

Meanwhile, state School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra today said that Mohd Abdur Rehman’s madrasa was run privately.

“We would verify whether the madrasa had proper documents. The DEO has been asked to submit an inquiry report. If any illegality is found, the madrasa would be shut down,” Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said.

When contacted, the Minorities Affairs director said that, the department had returned a proposal from Mass Education department on December 10.

In a midnight operation, the Commissionerate Police along with Delhi Police nabbed Mohd Abdur Rahman, a suspected al-Qaeda terrorist from Paschimakachha village in Jagatpur.

Rehman was arrested from his house barely 5 km from Jagatpur police station.

Notably, the cleric was arrested for his suspected links with Islamist terror group al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Currently, he has been flown to New Delhi for further questioning after Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Salepur allowed Delhi police to take him on two-day transit remand.