ISIS using localised controversies to spread wings in India

New Delhi: At a time when the Ministry of Home Affairs was formulating an action plan to combat any aerial attack by terrorist outfits, the ISIS online book titled Black Flags from the ISIS was definitely a clarion call that they were trying to intrude into India.

They made it clear in their book that they were contemplating to expand their reach and influence beyond Iraq and Syria. Their Islamic Caliphate would include countries like India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

They have started spreading propaganda about expanding their reach. The fluttering of ISIS flags in Kashmir during the high-profile Indian premier's visit and the youths shunning their country to migrate to Syria definitely indicated that the much-dreaded terror outfit had already sowed their seed of influence in a Hindu-majority nation.

In their message they have lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'pro-Hindu' approach in dealing things. The Islamic State, taking cue from the Dadri lynching incident said, a movement was developing in India against those (Muslims) who eat beef.

By attacking a dynamic premier like Narendra Modi, they made it clear that they would use every opportunity to infuse evil propaganda among the minorities (read Muslim) to misguide them and brainwash them to take up arms and unleash terror in the country.

Undeniably, the Dadri lynching incident had created some instability in India's political fabric. The killing of a Kashmiri Muslim for allegedly eating beef had fuelled the situation. The ISIS had used these incidents to trigger a propaganda that Muslims are not safe under the Modi government.

Fuelled by the separatists groups in Kashmir, normalcy was not restored in Jammu & Kashmir even after Modi declared a lump sum financial package for the cash-starved state. ISIS was quick to pounce on it and made it a point to make their present felt. The fluttering of their flags indicates their success.

Terming Narendra Modi a 'right-wing Hindu nationalist', the ISIS claimed that the Indian Prime Minister 'worships weapons' and was 'preparing his people for a future war against their number one enemy – Muslims'.

The terror outfit also claimed that the Paris attack was planned keeping the 2008 Mumbai attack in mind. The holding of a gun and brandishing it in public portrays the success story of the ISIS.

There was a time when the ISIS and the Al Qaeda were poles apart. While Al Qaeda fought for rights of Muslims and against the atrocities against Islamic people by the West, ISIS fought to conquer and establish a Muslim state globally.

However, the overwhelming success of the ISIS has drawn the two terror outfits closer. ISIS knows that to wield control in the Indian subcontinent, localised militant groups need to join hand to dismantle India's security set up.

However, the intelligence agencies are keeping a tight vigil on 150 Indians are under surveillance for their alleged online links with the IS.

Even intelligence agencies in Bangladesh have expressed apprehension that the dreaded outfit were carrying out drives to recruit people for suicide attacks.

Muslims from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar were being tricked to carry out suicide attacks. Those joining from the Indian subcontinent were, however, considered inferior to the Arab Muslims.

(With inputs from agencies)