I.S. trying to spread tentacles through online propaganda: NIA

NEW DELHI: Concerned that the Islamic State (IS) is trying to spread its tentacles in India, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday appealed to the public to bring into its notice any such propaganda or radicalisation on social media.

The investigating agency also opened a hotline number — 01124368800 — for all to inform about any such activities.

“Investigation by the NIA has revealed that IS (Islamic State) is trying to spread its tentacles in India through continuous propaganda online. Gullible youth are targeted on open social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Once a person shows interest, he or she is then enticed to communicate with online handlers based abroad using encrypted social media platforms,” the agency said in a statement. “Depending on the gullibility of the person, the handlers use the person for uploading online content, translation of IS texts to local language, conspiracy, preparation of a module, collection of arms and ammunition, preparation of IEDs, terror funding and even attacks,” it added.

With the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan last month and subsequently releasing several prisoners linked to the Islamic State in Kabul, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif, there appears to be an attempt to lure Indian youth through social media platforms, people familiar with the development said. According to the agency, most of the 150 Indians who joined the IS between 2014 and 2017 were radicalised by various recruiters on the internet. NIA also said it has so far arrested 168 people in 37 cases of terror attacks, conspiracy and funding which have been inspired by the IS ideology in the country.