Teachers under lens for ISIS link

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) questioned a college principal and two teachers from Panvel for their alleged association with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Al-Qaeda.

The teachers, who belong to a technical institute, were picked up for questioning after the antiterrorism agency found that the teachers were trying to radicalise youth in Panvel.

ATS stumbled upon the group of teachers from Panvel while investigating the radicalisation of four men from Kalyan t hrough chat rooms. Arif Majeed, Aman Tandel, Fahad Maqbool Sheikh and Shaheen Tanki had gone to Iraq to fight with ISIS in May 2014.

“They induct youth, whom they influence, into select jihadi chat rooms. One can gain entry into the chat room only with references,” said an official.