ISIS in UP: Gulf students under the scanner

Lucknow, Aug 17: The students from Afghanistan and Gulf nations studying in Uttar Pradesh are being kept under watch as per an order of the Meerut Divisional Commissioner.

The police and also the district magistrates have been told to keep a close watch on students from Afghanistan and also the Gulf nations taking into consideration the rising problem being created by groups such as the al-Qaeda and the ISIS.

The ISIS ideology in India

There have been several reports by the Intelligence Bureau suggesting that groups such as the ISIS and the al-Qaeda are looking to recruit educated youth. While the ISIS has indicated that it would want to enter into India by 2020, the al-Qaeda is in a desperate hunt for youth to be recruited in Afghanistan.

The order by the Meerut Divisional Commissioner is based on an IB report which suggests that students from the Gulf nations may try and lure Indian students into joining these groups. There are two forms of recruitments- one through the social media and the other word of mouth and the officials have been told be on guard.

Track the internet

The IB has advised that in states such as Uttar Pradesh the police need to be on guard for suspicious activity by head hunters of the ISIS and the al-Qaeda. The cyber cafes need to be scrutinized as most of the recruitments are taking place on the internet.

Moreover a thorough data base of students who come in from Afghanistan and the Gulf ought to be maintained and regularly checked.

There is a good chance that some of the rich students may have been tapped by headhunters of the ISIS to lure Indian students with money and ensure that they join the outfit, the IB report also states.

The authorities have been told to be more vigilant and track the activities of these foreign students. There have been no cases so far of students being recruited in Uttar Pradesh into the ISIS, but there are attempts on to do so, the IB report also indicates.

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