VELLORE: A group photograph of two dozen Muslim youth, sporting black T-shirts with ‘ISIS’ emblazoned on it and posing in front of a mosque, has gone viral on social media, prompting the intelligence wing of the State police to step up surveillance in Ramanathapuram district, despite initial reports clearing the group of any suspicious behaviour.
Confirming that the picture was taken in front of the ‘Periya Pallivasal’ (Big Mosque) in Ramanathapuram district, a highly-placed police officer told Express that it was posted on Facebook from an overseas location.
Since the news of a man from Parangipettai joining the Sunni militants-led Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria is still fresh in the minds of people, the photograph evoked strong reactions. “I saw the post on Facebook two days ago and there were hundreds of likes and comments with many people sharing the pictures. It was posted by one Sangai Ridwan hailing ISIS in Tamil. He even compared the terrorists with freedom fighters like Subhash Chandra Bose. I was shocked at the support of Indian youth to a terror organisation,” said a Facebook user.
“Who is supposed to take note and act on young Muslim men flaunting ISIS T-shirts and posing 4 pics-as usual people responsible behaving like ostriches?” noted columnist S Gurumurthy said, reacting to the post in the social media.