NIA picks up 7 Kashmiri students from Bundelkhand seminary for questioning

By Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar, April 5: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken seven Kashmiri students from Jamia Arabia Madarsa in Banda district of Bundelkhand region late on Wednesday.
Mohammad Yunus, a teacher at the Madarsa, said they have been called to New Delhi for questioning.
“One of our students Touseef was arrested in Kashmir and whosoever was residing with him in the same room was called for questioning by NIA on March 22 and April 4,” he said.
Yunus said the students who were called for questioning missed the train on April 4 and that was why they were still in New Delhi.
“Seven students from the Madarsa were questioned by NIA and they will be sending them back,” he said.
As per the sources, an NIA team had visited the Banda madarsa last month on the suspicion of their links with militant activities.
The NIA subsequently identified seven Kashmiri students and detained them.
Before making the arrests, the agency officials had interrogated the students along with the Madarsa coordinator on campus.
Notably, Jamia Arabia Madarsa is situated in Hathaura village under Dehat Kotwali police station area, 16 km from main Banda city.
A renowned institution of Islamic education, this madarsa was established in 1933.
Alok Mittal, NIA spokesperson, denied reports of arresting any student from the Madarsa.
“We had picked up five students from the Madarsa for questioning and later we had called three more students. But till now, we have not made any arrests,” Mittal told The Kashmir Monitor over phone.
“In recent past we have not arrested anyone in this case.”