NEW DELHI: Three more Indians have joined the IS (Islamic State) terror outfit taking the number of Indian fighters still alive and fighting alongside the dreaded organisation to seven and the total number to 13. Six terror recruits have died in Iraq and Syria, intelligence Sources said citing the latest assessment report.
The latest three terror recruits, include a Kashmiri-Australian,and Indian nationals based in Singapore and Oman respectively.
“They have joined the list of four others, including two boys from Kalyan in Maharashtra and one each from Bangalore and Telangana,” sources said.
Besides, two boys from Kalyan, one from Hyderabad and three cadre of Indian Mujahideen, including Bada Sajid and Sultan Armar Shah from Bhatkal, have died.
“Interestingly, all Indian IS recruits were brainwashed through Internet and social media web sites. The evidence related to their disappearance reveals that they were active in jehadi chat forums before turning to IS,” intelligence sources informed.
A senior officer said the number of youth, who are joining IS propaganda in the virtual world, has been growing constantly. These revelations were made by the agencies in a meet called to discuss radicalisation, its impact and ways to counter the threat that it poses to the country’s internal security.
The officer noted that IS threat does not seem imminent when it is examined in comparison to huge minority population vis a vis influx of youth in Syria and Iraq from other foreign countries. However, it has the potential to become a dangerous threat. “The intelligence analysis of social media platforms on radicalisation by technical intelligence agency NTRO has revealed an alarming picture about penetration of IS and its growing influence on the youth. We are devising ways to counter it through the social media websites,” he said, adding that the Af-Pak region may be used by IS franchise to carry out activities in India.
Express had earlier reported that over 30 sympathisers of IS are under the scanner of Indian intelligence and security agencies for spreading jihadi propaganda and online indoctrination activities targeting gullible youth.