NEW DELHI, March 19 ? The Union Home Ministry today added a new twist to militancy by disclosing that militants belonging to ULFA and Jammu and Kashmir have a nexus with the ISI of Pakistan. The disclosure was made by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Vidyasagar Rao in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour. A Hizbul Mujahideen militant, who was caught in 1999 told the security agencies that he was in touch with militants belonging to ULFA through Hizbul leaders based in the Northeast. The Government is aware of attempts being made by various terrorist outfits in the country to forge links with each other. The minister said terrorists outfits operating in J&K and elsewhere in the country have been dependent on Pakistan and other sympathetic countries and patrons for financial assistance, which is extended by them through various channels including hawala operators, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister has alerted all the States bordering Pakistan and Bangladesh to be vigilant against mushrooming growth of madrassas and to take action against them if found to be indulging in anti-national activities, Sri Rao said in Lok Sabha in response to a separate question. The sudden spurt in growth of madrassas countrywide today led to the Opposition and the Ruling party trade charges and counter-charges. The concern, while the Opposition wanted the Government to furnish details about the madrassas found to be indulging in anti-national activities. The Minister responded by saying that they have no such records of involvement of madrassas in anti-national activities. The Minister however cited intelligence reports indicating attempts by ISI to exploit the students of the madrassas. The Minister in response to a question further revealed that intelligence reports have indicated that ISI has been channelising funds through hawala to some madrassas.