Survey team attacked by mob while inspecting madrasas in Ahmedabad

A survey team faced a mob attack while inspecting a madrasa in Dariyapur area of ​​Ahmedabad on Saturday. The survey was part of a nationwide exercise commissioned by the Gujarat Education Department and followed the directions of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

According to a complaint lodged with Dariyapur police station, the team was documenting the madrasa when it was surrounded by an aggressive mob. Subsequently, a first information report (FIR) was registered against seven named accused and around 35 others on charges of rioting, obstructing government functions and looting, officials said.

The government notification aims to collect comprehensive data on the operational aspects of madrasas, including details of management, recognition status, infrastructure and fire safety compliance.

“The incident took place outside the Sultan Syed Mosque on Saturday when a team arrived to inspect the then closed madrasa. One of the principals, Sandeep Patel, who was also a member of the investigation team, was documenting the site with photos when he was approached by some people. After a heated argument escalated, they physically attacked Patel. A complaint has been lodged,” said a Dariyapur police official, who asked not to be named.

The notification was issued based on a circular from the NCPCR, which has sought details of “non-Hindu students of madrasas and unchartered madrasas” from all states, according to an official familiar with the matter.

“The NCPCR circular is based on complaints alleging that children studying in these madrasas are given only religious education and not regular school education,” the official added. According to officials, there are around 1,130 madrasas in Gujarat, including 175 in Ahmedabad.

In response to the NCPCR’s complaint to the Permanent Secretary, the Education Ministry has issued a circular outlining the procedures for the survey. This includes physical screening of non-Muslim children in government-sponsored and recognized madrasas as well as mapping unlisted madrasas. The Ministry of Education has directed District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Primary Education Officers (DPEOs) to form teams to conduct these inspections and submit their findings promptly.

The government notification aims to collect comprehensive data on the operational aspects of madrasas, including details of management, recognition status, infrastructure, fire safety compliance, number of students, fees charged and donations received. Information was also obtained on students studying in madrasas while simultaneously enrolled in regular schools, including tracking numbers of their children.

The NCPCR notification also sought information about the number of madrasa students aged between 6 and 14 years.

“We were informed about this survey only yesterday evening and were invited to a meeting by the DEO of Ahmedabad this morning following which various teams were formed for the survey. We do not understand the urgency of this survey. We were also sent without police protection and some of these are very sensitive areas. The teacher who was attacked today is a school principal who was just doing his duty. What has the government done for our security?” asked Rakesh Pandya, president of Ahmedabad City Principals’ Association.

Mahesh Joshi, Director of Primary Education, said that under the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years are required to receive school education.

“This is an exercise to integrate all students into the educational routine and the survey and mapping is being conducted for this purpose. The NCPCR has sought these details and we have started work on mapping all madrasas,” Joshi told HT.