Concerned about religious radicalism along Nepal border: Rajnath Singh

KATHMANDU: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today expressed concern over the growth of religious fundamentalism in areas along the India-Nepal border.

Singh raised the issued when he met Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam here.

"The (Indian) Home Minister expressed his concern on the growth of religious fundamentalism in the border areas," an official statement said.

New Delhi has been raising the issue of spurt in activities of fundamentalist elements along the border of the two countries with Kathmandu and had asked Nepal in the past to take action to check such activities.

Indian agencies have reported to the government that many religious institutes have come up just across the border some of which are being used by jehadi elements, sources said.

Singh underlined the need for more focused efforts to control the activities of criminal elements, terrorists and other Indian insurgent groups along the Indo-Nepal border.

The Nepalese home minister informed Singh that several steps have already been taken to check cross-border crimes.

Gautam assured full cooperation to India. He made it clear that Nepal will ensure that there is no security threat to India from his country.

Singh appreciated the efforts of the Nepal government in dealing with trans-border crimes.

He also expressed concern on the smuggling of fake Indian currency notes and human trafficking.

Singh stated that there is a need for evolving a bilateral mechanism for dealing with the issue of human trafficking.