MYSURU, 3 APRIL

A madrasa run by Halima Sadiya Trust, which was shut down nine years ago after the murder of right-wing activist Raju at Kyathamaranahalli in NR Assembly segment, will be reopened following a High Court of Karnataka directive, sources said on Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy has ordered the reopening of the madrasa after a meeting with both parties and conveyed the decision to the high court, they said.

The madrasa was shut by the district administration for security reasons following communal clashes after the murder of Raju.    

The Alima Sadiya Trust and a few Muslim religious leaders had approached the High Court against the district administration’s order to shut the institution, saying that it would be used only to impart religious education and that no prayers would be conducted there or a mosque would be built.

Local Hindu leaders opposed this, saying that neither a mosque nor a madrassa should be established there and suggested providing land elsewhere for the madrassa.

The high court, after hearing all parties related to the dispute, left the decision to the Mysuru district administration, asking Reddy to conduct a meeting with both parties and convey the conclusion by 3 April. 

As a precautionary measure, police have made security arrangements in Kyathamaranahalli area.