row erupts over 'profiling' of imams by police across kashmir
Srinagar, Jan. 14 -- A controversy erupted in the Valley on Tuesday over Jammu & Kashmir Police's alleged profiling exercise involving imams and religious teachers, with the National Conference calling it an "infringement of religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution".
Locals and leaders alleged that police were distributing forms to village numberdar to collect details of mosques and madrasas in the Valley, including finances of the institutions and personal details of imams and members of the religious institutions' management committees. Police cited the busting of a "white collar terror module" involving an imam last year as the reason behind the exercise. Madrasa teachers and imams were also allegedly asked to provide details of their Aadhaar cards, bank accounts, social media handles, passports and SIM cards among other details.
National Conference (NC) MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said: "The Constitution gives the guarantee to people of every religion to profess their faith without fear. This type of surveillance and intimidation is an infringement on that freedom..."
Kashmir divisional commissioner Anshul Garg and IGP VK Birdi did not respond to HT's calls for a comment....
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