Over 170 Madrasas sealed in Uttarakhand; CM calls it ‘historic step’
Dehradun: At least 170 madrasas have been sealed across Uttarakhand in recent days, following a statewide crackdown by the authorities on institutions that are allegedly running without registration. The action has drawn sharp criticism from sections of the Muslim community, who say that the move targets Islamic educational institutions unfairly.
In Haldwani’s Banbhulpura locality, which has a large Muslim population, a joint team of officials from the district administration, municipal corporation, and local police carried out inspections on Sunday. Officials said the inspection drive was focused on checking registration status and compliance with regulatory norms. Seven madrasas in the area were sealed for reportedly being unregistered.
Similar actions have been reported from other districts, including Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar, where authorities have either sealed madrasas or are continuing investigations.
The sealing orders followed surveys conducted by special teams set up by the state government, according to a statement issued by the office of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Chief Minister Dhami described the drive as a “historic step” and said institutions found leading students towards “radicalism in the name of education” would not be allowed to operate in the state. His remarks echoed the broader narrative pushed by some Hindu nationalist groups, which have claimed without evidence that certain madrasas promote extremist ideologies.
Local imams and members of the Muslim community have expressed concern over the move, calling it one-sided and discriminatory. They pointed out that many of the sealed institutions are decades old and have long served as centres for basic religious education. Some also accused the government of not providing a fair opportunity for madrasas to comply with regulatory requirements.
The action has raised questions about the future of hundreds of students enrolled in these institutions. Community leaders have demanded a transparent process and warned that the closure of such a large number of madrasas without due process could lead to distrust and marginalisation.
According to officials, the state currently has over 500 madrasas operating, and more may face closure if they are found in violation of rules laid down by the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board or the state education department. The government has not yet issued a statement on how displaced students from the sealed madrasas will be accommodated or supported going forward.
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KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
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Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
