ATS to counsel youth against ‘falling’ for IS

In a bid to curb the activities of the Islamic State (IS) in India, which is attracting vulnerable youths to join the globally banned terror outfit, the Maharashtra ATS is thinking of counselling Muslim youths not to get influenced by its handlers.

Highly-placed sources in ATS told FPJ that it will take the help of Islamic clerics and scholars to counsel the youth so that they can be brought back to the mainstream. ATS is also keeping an eye on people involved in the forced conversion to Islam, sources said.

The step has been welcomed by Anjuman-e-Islam, whose president Zahir Kazi told FPJ that he has already been running a campaign for over a year targeted at Muslim youth who have been influenced by ISIS ideology which is against Islam.

“We have taken preventive measures in our institute. No one is allowed to chat online,” said Kazi, adding that he has also been meeting the parents of the students to suggest them to keep an eye on their wards.

“We have candidly told our students not to get involved in anti-national activities,” he said.

Sources said the IS, with the help of its local recruits, has been involved in forced conversion to Islam and then motivating the newly converted youth to join the IS fighters abroad. Last week, a joint operation of

Maharashtra’s anti-terror wing and Kerala police successfully nabbed two people who were involved in forced conversions. One of those arrested, Arshi Qureshi, is a guest relations manager at Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). Both of them have been sent to Kerala on transit remand.

Naik and his Dongri-based non-profit organisation are also under the scanner of security agencies after his name popped up after the Dhaka carnage early this month.

Sources said IRF paid about Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to each of those who converted to Islam. However, the allegation was denied by IRF, whose spokesman said, “IRF has never been involved in forced conversions.”

ATS is also keeping an eye on people involved in the forced conversion to Islam