Muslim Scholars Warily Welcome UP Govt. Move to Open ATS Centre in Deoband

Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government’s decision to set up a training centre for Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) commandos in the town of Deoband in Saharanpur, known for its Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, has sparked outrage. While Muslim scholars welcome the move despite fears of "false terror cases", intellectuals and politicians have argued that such a decision was to create a “climate of hate” and polarise the electorate just months before the crucial assembly polls in the state.

Mehdi Hasan Aini, a social activist based in Deoband and president of the Deoband Alumni Federation, told Newsclick that the government had "every right to open an ATS centre but should ensure that no innocent are Muslims arrested and that the Darul Uloom should not be subject to a media trail,” he said. He added that there were a number of government agencies – Intelligence Bureau (IB) unit, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) – active in the area and that routine checks are conducted. "Students of this institution have played an important role in country’s development and are not involved in any such 'activities'," he added.

The larger narrative in play was not lost to him though. “With elections around the corner the government and its allies have started targeting Deoband and Darul Uloom based on atrocities committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, which is condemnable. The way a narrative is being set on social media platforms about Deoband and institutions does not bode well for the peace and harmony of the country. Darul Uloom has produced students who have served the nation as civil servants,in the Indian army and as lawyers in the Supreme Court. It also gave the country freedom fighters. No one should target Deoband or Darul Uloom just because a section of students come here to study,” he appealed.

Echoing similar sentiments, Ashraf Usmani, spokesperson of Darul Uloom said that no one had a problem with the UP government opening an ATS centre in Deoband. “We welcome the step taken by the government," he told Newsclick. "Why should one fall in their trap and help a narrative which is being set on social media. It better to be silent,” he added however, referring to the move.

On Tuesday, the BJP government in UP announced that it would open a new ATS commando center in Deoband. About 2,000 square meters of land near Deoband has been set aside for the project. .

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s media advisor Shalabh Mani Tripathi said in a tweet in Hindi: “Amid the Taliban’s savagery, here is a piece of news from Uttar Pradesh. Yogi Ji has decided to open a commando training centre in Deoband. The work has also started on a war footing.” He added that over one and half dozen ATS officers, selected from different states, would be deputed there.

Meanwhile, Prashant Kumar, Uttar Pradesh ADG (law and order) issued a press statement, saying: “In order to further strengthen the ATS and Special Task Force (STF) and make them more effective, the UP government is making attempts and required grants are being provided... land has been identified and acquired by the ATS at several places, including Meerut, Indo-Nepal border, Bahraich, Sravasti, the upcoming Jevar Airport, Deoband in Saharanpur and other places. These places are important and sensitive from an operational angle."

He further added, “Deoband is on the Uttaranchal and Haryana border, and it is an important place to help us increase our depth, presence and operation efficiency in Western parts of the state.”

Arshad Madani, an eminent Muslim scholar and chief of Jamiat Ulema-e Hind, said: “We don’t need to be afraid or worry as there is nothing wrong in our religious education. Not just Islam, other religions too teach love, unity and education. The government should not only open one ATS centre but as many as they can in Deoband. They should also come into our institutions and see what we teach. When we don’t teach or train students to anything wrong they why should be afraid!"

Meanwhile, another Muslim scholar, who wished to remain anonymous, said that “if any terrorist activities take place anywhere in the world, either a Muslim from this country is targeted, bullied and held accountable indirectly or Muslim institutions are linked with terror cases," he said, adding that government agencies must desist from framing innocent Muslims in “fake terror cases".

The decision has caused a political storm too.

Samajwadi Party’s Vivek Silas described the decision as "communal and divisive" while UP BJP IT cell chief Sanjay Rai said: “It is need of the hour that we learn from history and stay two steps ahead. The Yogi government has decided to open an ATS commando centre in Deoband, Saharanpur."