Social media sites, radical groups under cop scanner

LUCKNOW: The state police and intelligence sleuths will keep a watch on radical social media sites as well as closed-door meetings of militant organisations to prevent the youths from getting attracted to ideologies of the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).

On Saturday, director general of police (DGP) Jagmohan Yadav participated at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Union home secretary, LC Goyal in New Delhi to discuss the strategy to neutralise the radical ideology propagated by the ISIS.

Central intelligence agencies have sounded an alert on youths getting attracted to extremist doctrines of the ISIS, which has spread its tentacles in West Asia.

Around 25 youths, some of them from UP, are already attracted towards the Islamic State ideology and willing to join the group. Some of the youths who fled the country after Batla House encounter are even fighting with IS in the conflict zone.

Recently, the propaganda arm of Indian jihadi group Ansar ulTawhid announced the death of Indian Mujahideen (IM) commander Abu Turab al – Hindi, better known as Bada Sajid, in Kobani town of Syria. Talking to HT, additional director general (ADG), law and order, DS Chawdhary said, “Under the counter radicalisation effort, the state police will keep a watch on social networking sites, organise counselling of youths and urge the community elders to persuade the youngsters against being attracted to the radical ideology. The intelligence agencies have also been directed to keep a watch on the activities of the radical groups.”

An intelligence department officer said the cops have been told to track down the network of SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) and its sympathisers. SIMI operatives who escaped after bomb blast in Bijnore, including Sheikh Mehboob, Mohd Ejajuddin, Abid Mirza and Amjad Khan alias Dawood, are still at large which has added to the worries of the police. The SIMI operatives had escaped from Khandwa prison in October 2013.

A video released by IM operatives last year urging Muslim youths to join Ansar al Tawhid is also under the scanner of the intelligence agencies. Ansar al Tawhid recruits youths for al Qaeda and imparts training to them in the camps located on Pakistan- Afghanistan border, said a police officer.

“The sympathisers of ISIS and al Qaeda may motivate the youths to join the group with the communal tension in west UP proving a handy tool for them to woo members of a particular community,” a police officer said, adding, “Intelligence agencies have been told to keep a watch on the activities of the supporters as well.”