Srinagar, Oct 12: Three teachers of a religious seminary in south Kashmir’s Shopian district were booked under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) after police claimed that few of its students and alumni were found involved in militant related activities.

Its alumni include Sajjad Bhat, an accused in the February 2019 suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama that had left 40 personnel dead, police said.

Inspector General Police (IGP)  Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the school is affiliated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) outfit during a presser here.

“The school’s name is Siraj-uloom Imam Sahib. It is not that this school has not been under observation. We have already booked three teachers of the school namely Abdul Ahad Bhat, Rouf Bhat and Mohammad Yusuf Wani under the PSA,” Kumar told the reporters.

He said about half a dozen other teachers of the school were under surveillance.

“(Conduct of) five to six teachers of the school are under surveillance (under Section 107 CrPC). Basically, the affiliation of the school is with JeI. It is under surveillance, and right now we are taking action against individuals and if need arises, we will take action against the school,” the IGP said.

However Chairman Siraj Ul Uloom Muhammad Yousuf Matoo called these allegations as baseless.

“We refute these allegations, some of the students who had became militants had already left the seminary and were home for a longer period before joining the militant ranks,” Matoo said.

Regarding the Sajad who is accused in Lethpora attack, he said, ” We have no role in it. Sajad who police says was involved in Lethpora has been student here for some months and had left long back our seminary. He was at his some and reportedly was a mechanic before joining militants how come our religious school have role in it.”

He also refuted the affilations of the teachers with the school mentioned by police related to Militancy, ” None of the teachers which police claims were arrested have been our teachers ever.”

Matoo added, ” They talk about Baramulla student, he was here for 10 to 12 days in March duirng lockdown.Then some time back he had come back to submit form.

“Even calls details were traced till Bijbhehra.These allegations are baseless.”

He also said his institute is recognised by Government.

“We are open to answer every question to any media group. They can come and check our teaching and other affairs here. Anyone can check about our finances, syllabus resources. We are registered with income tax department. NCERT syllabus is being taught here. Our oriental college is affiliated with BOSE and Kashmir University.”(KNS)