UK to modernise madrassas, install CCTV cameras – Prashant News

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The Uttarakhand government has decided to upgrade all madrassas by installing CCTV cameras following a shocking case of sexual exploitation of at least five minor girls aged between 5 and 9 years on the premises of a religious school being run illegally in Rudrapur area of Udhamsingh Nagar district in Uttarakhand.

However, no timetable has yet been set for the modernization program, officials said.

A 34-year-old Maulvi named Shabbir Raza has been arrested on charges of sexually exploiting the minor girls. It is said that he used to scare the minor girls by telling them horror stories and threatening to unleash ghosts on their parents. He is also accused of showing the minor girls pornographic videos on his mobile.

“This is a very unfortunate incident. A case has already been registered against the Maulvi. He has also been arrested. We are going to install CCTV cameras in all madrassas as part of our modernisation programme,” said Shadab Shams, chairman of the Uttarakhand Wakf Board.

The accused Maulvi Shabbir Raza was arrested on August 18 from Malsi village. According to police reports, Raza originally hails from Pilibhit district in Uttar Pradesh. He was appointed as Maulvi in the mosque located in Malsi village in Rudrapur area.

He ran an illegal madrassa in the mosque where he taught Arabic and Urdu to children up to 14-15 years old. He had built another room for himself in the madrassa, which had an air conditioner installed. It is said that he committed the heinous crime in this room.

The gruesome crime came to light when one of the minors narrated her ordeal to her family members on August 16. Subsequently, the next day, her mother filed a complaint with the police in the matter.

One of the various features of the modernization program will be to start regular education for all subjects in these madrassas. “Our madrassas will function as schools under the state council where students will receive education up to 12^and standard. The Quran will be taught in these madrassas for one hour,” Shams said.

All the madrassas will be run as mixed schools with all subjects and permanent teachers, Shams said. “Initially, these schools will be for seventh and eighth grade. Later, these madrassas will be upgraded to 12^and “Class,” said Shams.

Shams also said that he would soon visit the Rudrapur madrassa.