Liberating Hyderabad from India: Is the ISIS hijacking the Lashkar-e-Tayiba's cause?

The ISIS is known to hijack causes of other terrorist groups. While it hijacked the cause of the al-Qaeda in both Syria and Iraq, it is attempting the same with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT).

The Lashkar-e-Tayiba in the Indian context has two key concerns- Kashmir and Hyderabad.

If one could recollect, Hafiz Saeed the supreme commander of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba had said in 2006 that after liberating Kashmir from India, he would make sure that the rule of the Nizam is established in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad's tryst with terror:

There have been several groups that have been operational in Hyderabad. A walk through some streets especially in the Old City would evoke a mixed reaction on what Saeed had to say about the liberation of the city.

80 per cent would laugh off Saeed's clarion call, but there are a few who feel that the city should be liberated and this is what is causing all the concern.

Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials say what Saeed had to say is impossible to implement, but the worry is that many youth are being drawn into the fold of terror quoting what the Lashkar-e-Tayiba boss had said.

In the past ten years, the city has witnessed the mushrooming of several outfits apart from being a victim of terror.

The Mecca Masjid, Dilsukhnagar, Sai Baba Temple, Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat blasts were all major strikes carried out by different outfits. Terror groups such as the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami, Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Tayiba and now the ISIS have made Hyderabad a home.

The ISIS worry:

Hyderabad has seen an exceptional number of youth who are trying to join the ISIS. While many are undergoing counselling, there are five cases in which the police have made it clear that there is no room for reformation.

Afsha Jabeen, Salman Mohiudeen, Abdul Basit, Syed Omar and Maaz Hussain are the five cases in which the police have decided to put them to trial.

The cases against these five persons paints a very disturbing picture. Each one of them believed that the city they hail from must be liberated.

Afsha Jabeen was a recruiter for the ISIS while the rest were all making an attempt to join a terror group.

The manner in which they have spoken during their questioning are all indications that they wanted to see Hyderabad liberated from the government of India.

Intelligence Bureau officials say that the liberation of Hyderabad call is one of the most used recruitment tools when terror groups shop in Hyderabad.

It has been a worry for many years now and it is unfortunate that some youth actually believe that it could happen, the officer also adds.