Only small number of Indian youth join ISIS: Government

NEW DELHI: Attracted by information being disseminated in the cyber space, a small number of Indian youth have left the country to join ISIS, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In reply to a question, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said it is seen that the attraction of youth towards ISIS is mainly on account of information being disseminated in the cyber space.

Chaudhary said the government is closely monitoring the situation and has directed the intelligence agencies to identify such elements and keep a watch on their activities.

"The cyber-space is also being closely scanned in this regard. The National Investigation Agency has also registered a criminal case for investigating the entire gamut of Indian youth joining the ISIS and has arrested one person in this regard till now," he said.

Arif Majeed, the youth from Mumbai suburb Kalyan, was arrested after his return from the Islamic State. However, three of his friends, who went along with him to join ISIS, are yet to return.

Mehdi Mehboob Biswas, a Bangalore-based executive of ITC foods was arrested last week, for allegedly running a Twitter account supporting the ISIS.

Replying to another question, the Minister said there is no report of any attempt by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to set up bases in India.

He said Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan - Jamaatul Ahrar had claimed responsibility for suicide attack on the Pakistani side of the Wagah border on November 2, 2014.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is believed to be involved in the killing of 141 people, mostly children, in horrendous terror attack at a school in Pakistan's Peshawar city yesterday.

Chaudhary said the terror organisation and its all other factions are considered to be hostile to Indian interests and believed to maintain links with al Qaida and AQIS. Some Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commanders have also declared allegiance to the Amir of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

Replying to another question, the Minister said, various arrested terrorists told investigating agencies that Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) is promoting terror activities in India by providing shelter, patronage and funding to terrorists of all hues.

Chaudhary said a video was uploaded on September 3, 2014 containing the speech of Al-Zawahiri of al Qaida in which he had announced the establishment of a new wing of the outfit called 'al Qaida in Indian sub-continent'.

It is learnt that Asim Umar and Usama Mehmood have been appointed as the 'Amir' and spokesperson respectively of AQIS, he said.