Intelligence Bureau Director Syed Asif Ibrahim warns of rising influence of terror groups

GUWAHATI: Intelligence Bureau Director Syed Asif Ibrahim on Sunday warned about the increasing influence of terror groups such as the ISIS and al-Qaeda on youth and of the Indian diaspora becoming vulnerable to these elements.

A two-day annual conference of police chiefs, held over the weekend in Guwahati and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, described the Islamic State insurgent group and al-Qaeda as serious security challenges. “We have deliberated the serious issue yesterday and felt that the threat is likely to accentuate as the situation unfolds further in future,” Ibrahim said.

He said vulnerable groups and fringe elements from more than 80 countries are fighting in Iraq and Syria. On Friday, a youth from the Mumbai suburb of Kalyan, who was previously believed to have been killed while fighting in Syria, returned to India and was arrested.

He was among four friends who left to the conflict zone to fight alongside the ISIS. One of the major concerns now for the authorities is the return of battle-hardened radicals.

A splinter group of the Indian Mujahedeen operating in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region has announced its support to the ISIS. Al-Qaeda had announced the formation of its Indian sub-continent wing, specifically targeting India.

Ibrahim said there is an imminent danger of Indian youth moving to the conflict zone emerging as a role model. This may directly or indirectly pose a threat to India. “The threat potential is accentuated with some lower-rung elements returning from conflict zone,” he added.

He said involvement of community leaders in counter-radicalisation initiatives and the need to articulate against jihadi propaganda were highlighted during the weekend meetings.

“Unlike many Western countries, local interventions and timely counselling have proved adequate deterrence for penitential recruits. Prominent Muslim sections, organisations, seminaries and clerics in India have not only rejected the declaration of caliphate and ISIS, they have also declared these activities as un-Islamic,” he said.

Ibrahim said the Internet has become a tool for radicalisation of Indian youths and there was a need for community and collective response to it.