No information that madarsas involved in training terrorists: Government

NEW DELHI: Government has no information that madarsas in general are involved in training of terrorists but three seminaries in West Bengal controlled by Bangladeshi migrants have been found to be preaching religious extremism, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said government gets information about various institutions including madarsas from open sources as well as its security and intelligence agencies.

"There is no information with the government that madarsas in general are involved in training of terrorists. However, during investigations into the Burdwan blast case, it has been disclosed that in three madarsas controlled by illegal Bangladeshi migrants, religious extremism and indoctrination was being preached," he said replying a written question.

Replying to another question, Chaudhary said as per available inputs, there is an increase in the number of madarsas in border areas of Rajasthan, especially in Barmer district.

He said there are no report about madarsas in the border areas of Rajasthan indulging in anti-national activities. However, one person connected to a madarsas in Jaisalmer district was arrested for offences relating to Official Secret Act in 2012.

The government has put in place the necessary mechanism to closely monitor the situation and has directed the intelligence agencies and security agencies to keep a watch on all suspicious activities, especially in the border areas, he said.