Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have begun a large-scale data collection drive on mosques across the Kashmir Valley and persons associated with them, The Indian Express has reported.
According to the report, the exercise involves gathering information not only on mosques but also on their imams, muezzins, khateebs, members of mosque management committees and the Bait-ul-Maal, the charity wing attached to mosques.
A four-page form — one page dedicated to mosque-related details and three pages for personal information of associated persons — is being circulated in several parts of the Valley, The Indian Express has learnt.
The form seeks extensive details about mosques, including their sectarian affiliation — such as Barelvi, Hanafi, Deobandi or Ahle-Hadith — seating capacity, number of floors, construction cost and funding sources. It also asks for information on the monthly budget, bank account details, management structure and the nature of land on which the mosque is built, whether state-owned, milkiyat or shamilaat, the report said.
In addition, the exercise seeks highly granular personal information about those associated with mosques. This includes date of birth, educational qualifications, contact details, passport information, countries visited, relatives living abroad, voter ID and Aadhaar numbers, driving licence details, ration card numbers and bank account information, The Indian Express reported.
These persons have also been asked to furnish mobile phone details, including handset model and IMEI number, along with information about ATM and credit cards, PAN numbers, social media handles, WhatsApp numbers and email addresses. The form further seeks data on the apps used on their mobile phones and their social media presence.
The report added that financial details are also being sought, including monthly income and expenditure, property ownership and estimated asset values. Details of immediate family members — parents, siblings and children — are also part of the questionnaire.
While the form asks whether any of the individuals have had past involvement in militancy or other criminal activities, it has triggered unease among some in the Valley. A member of a mosque management committee told The Indian Expressthat such an exercise amounted to “direct interference in religious affairs”.
“This is the first time we are seeing something like this. People linked to religious institutions are being singled out and asked to disclose deeply personal information,” the committee member said, adding that background verification could be carried out without probing religious beliefs, family details or personal finances.
Police have not officially acknowledged the exercise, but sources told The Indian Express that it has been planned for some time.
