US WARNS ITS CITIZENS IN INDIA TO BE VIGILANT OF IS ATTACK

NEW DELHI: The US embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday warned American citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance at places in India frequented by Westerners, including markets and religious sites, following media reports about possible attacks by the Islamic State.

The brief security message for US citizens stated that recent Indian media reports had indicated “ISIL’s desire to attack targets in India”.

“The US embassy warns of an increased threat to places in India frequented by Westerners, such as religious sites, markets, and festival venues. All US citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as detailed in the State Department’s Worldwide Caution of September 9, 2016,” the statement said.

The statement was also tweeted by the US state department late on Tuesday night with the message: “US Embassy New Delhi warns of an increased threat to places in India frequented by Westerners, such as religious sites, markets..”

In July this year, Kerala police confirmed some of the missing Muslim youth from the state had joined the extremist outfit. They also had definite information about the youth converting many young people and radicalising them.

Several dozen Indians, mainly from Maharashtra and Kerala, have travelled to Iraq and Syria to join the Islamic State and several more were apprehended before they could leave the country. The group was not linked to attacks in the country.

THE ADVISORY TO US CITIZENS STATES RECENT INDIAN MEDIA REPORTS HAD INDICATED ‘ISIL’S DESIRE TO ATTACK TARGETS IN INDIA’