MHA bans two terror outfits

New Delhi: The home ministry has banned two new fronts of terror outfits Al Qaida and Islamic State (ISIS) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA. The two organisations that have now been banned are the Al Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Islamic State of Iraq & Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K), which is an Afghanistan-based extension of the ISIS.

 Both AQIS and the ISIS-K, according to a home ministry notification, have now been declared as unlawful organisations as they have been found to be involved in promoting terror activities against India and even radicalising the youth for global jihad using the social media platforms.

According to the home ministry order, ISIS-K is also known as Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP)/ISIS Wilayat Khorasan. Intelligence officials said that AQIS is a front of Al Qaida only and has been trying to promote terror activities in the country. AQIS, officials added, has been found to be involved in terror operations in some of the neighbouring countries so it was important to check the outfit’s growing influence in India.

 Both the banned outfits have been trying hard to mark its presence in India by targeting the youth specially through the social media. Intelligence inputs suggest that these terror groups are trying to establish their own cadre also for carrying out subversive activities in different parts of the country.

In addition, these groups are trying to rope in Indian youth for the global jihad also in an attempt to set up their own “caliphate’’ by overthrowing democratically elected governments.

The ministry’s order also states that India and Indian interests are the targets of these organisations and that radicalisation of the youths was a matter of serious concern for the national security and international peace.

The UAPA has strict penal provisions to deal with banned organisations and their members.