How the ISIS operates in Singapore

New Delhi, May 4: The arrest of 13 Bangladeshis in Singapore for their alleged ISIS connections is a grim reminder that the outfit continues to use this country as a happy hunting ground.

Singapore has been a favoured route for many operatives wanting to join the ISIS and India too saw one of its citizens vanish from the radar after he made his way to the ISIS through Singapore.

According to the ongoing investigations, these men had crossed over into Singapore from Bangladesh and were attempting to join the ISIS in either Iraq or Syria.

When they realised that it would be difficult they decided to stay back and build a group. The ultimate goal was to create a strong module that would over throw the existing regime in Bangladesh.

Singapore a transit point:

For most of the ISIS recruits Singapore has been a preferred transit point. One may recall the journey of Haja Fakkruddin from Parangipettai in Tamil Nadu to Singapore. Once he was radicalised, Haja decided to join the ISIS.

He is said to have first applied for a work permit in Singapore.

He stayed in Singapore for a couple of months before making his way to Syria along with his family members, investigations in India show. The man in Singapore who was handling most of these cases goes by the name Gul Mohammad.

For several months he had been the ISIS' official handler in Singapore and would make arrangement for recruits from India and Bangladesh. Mohammad was however deported to India.

During his questioning he explained in length the modus operandi. He said that the operatives would be brought to Singapore on a work permit.

They would stay there for four months before being sent to Iraq or Syria depending on the requirements of the outfit. He also said that Singapore was a safe bet for them when compared to trying to fly in Syria or Iraq through other countries.

OneIndia News