ISIS influencing Indian youths

New Delhi: At a time when India is reeling under severe militancy concerns, the Syrian security forces arrested four Indian citizens who had gone there to join the terror outfit ISIS. This was disclosed by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moallem on Wednesday during a press conference.

Notably, the Syrian Foreign Minister was on a four-day official visit to India.
"Four Indians who went to fight for the Islamic State are in a prison in Damascus right now," Mr Al-Moallem said.

The Syrian minister also revealed that India and Syria were focusing on bolstering bilateral ties to deepen intelligence and security cooperation.

It might be mentioned that for quite some time Syria has been a breeding ground for terror outfits including the dreaded Islamic State. The country has already been ravaged due to the extremist forces.

"Terrorism does not know any boundary. My discussion with the External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj reflected that our views on important issues converge and that is why greater security cooperation between two sides is underway," the Foreign Minister said.

Recently, Mumbai Police Commissioner's office received a letter written by a member of the ISIS threatening ACP Bhanupratap Barge, an officer with Pune Anti-Terror Squad (ATS). The militant threatened to kill Barge and his family members for deradicalising a girl who ha made up her mind to join the militant group.

Earlier in November, Indian Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a statement that Muslims from south Indian states were more prone to get influenced by ISIS ideology than any other part of the country.

"It is a reality (some south Indian Muslims getting attracted to ISIS). It is a fact. But we should not undermine our vigil in other parts of the country," he said.

Rijiju's comments came at a time when, reports were making rounds that ISIS would carry out attacks in India. Reportedly, a single person would carry out the attack. ISIS had named the operation "Lone Wolf".

Riju, however, termed the incidents of the hoisting of the ISIS flag in Jammu & Kashmir as sporadic. "These were isolated cases and not spread across the state or the country," he said.(Inputs from agencies)