7 madrassas sealed in Udham Singh Nagar over 'invalid' documents

RUDRAPUR: In a major crackdown on illegal madrassas across Uttarakhand, the Udham Singh Nagar district administration inspected 24 institutions in Sitarganj and Kashipur on Tuesday, sealing seven found operating without valid recognition. Over the past 15 days, more than 50 unauthorised madrassas have been sealed in Dehradun, Haridwar, Roorkee, Vikasnagar, and Udham Singh Nagar.
Last month, authorities identified over 200 madrassas operating without registration, with Udham Singh Nagar district recording the highest number at 129, followed by 57 in Dehradun and 26 in Nainital.
In Sitarganj, a team led by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ravindra Bisht, Tehsildar Pooja Sharma, and Circle Officer (CO) Police Bhupendra Singh Dhoni conducted surprise inspections across multiple locations. With support from local police stations in Sitarganj, Kichha, Nanakmatta, Khatima, and Jhankiya, along with the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the revenue department, the team inspected 17 such madrassas and sealed three unrecognised institutions operating from residential premises.
Simultaneously, in Kashipur's Babarkhera area, SDM Abhay Pratap Singh led an administrative operation to inspect seven madrassas and sealed four after their authorities failed to provide the required recognition documents.
"We had issued instructions to all madrassa operators to present valid documents, but several failed to comply. As a result, we have taken necessary action and sealed them," said SDM Sitarganj Ravindra Bisht.
During the inspections, no students or staff members were found inside the premises. The sealing process attracted a large crowd, but authorities maintained strict security to prevent any disruptions.
Earlier, on March 12, a joint team of the police, administration, and education department sealed four illegal madrassas in Khatima and issued notices to five other institutions.