Mumbra clerics to counter ISIS threat

In the backdrop of a second person being arrested from Mumbra by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly having links with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the imams of all masjids in the locality will be spreading awareness to curb the menace of ISIS in the area. Maulana Syed Moinuddin Ashraf also known as Moin Miya has confirmed the development.

The arrest of Mudabir Shaikh, who is being termed as the chief recruiter of ISIS had jolted the citizens of Mumbra, who took to the streets in no time to protest against the ISIS menace. However, after the arrest of a second person identified as Mohammed Farhan Mohammed Rafiq Shaikh who is also from Mumbra, the Muslim leaders in the area said they would be taking long-lasting measures now.

“Every imam in masjids will now spread awareness on the menace of ISIS on Fridays. We are trying our best to inform the masses that our religion has nothing to do with violence and the ISIS is misleading the youngsters. It should be termed as Anti-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,” said Mr Ashraf.

Shaikh is among the three Indian sympathisers of ISIS, who were allegedly on a mission to carry out terror attack in India and some other countries. They were deported back to India from United Arab Emirates. The other two are Adnan Hussain Mohammed Hussain alias Adnan Damudi from Karnataka and Sheikh Azhar Al Islam. Islam is from Kashmir. They were detained by the NIA upon their arrival in the IGI airport on January 28.

The trio along with their other unknown associates were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to identify, motivate, radicalise, recruit and train Indian citizens in India and other countries for planning and executing terrorist attacks in India and in other friendly countries, the sources said.

The youths are believed to be members of the Abu Dhabi module of the ISIS. The NIA, after registering a case, is questioning the suspects and a formal arrest is expected soon. On September 15, 2015, the UAE had deported four Indians suspected to have links with ISIS.

The UAE had also sent back a 37-year-old woman Afsha Jabeen alias Nicky Joseph last year, who was allegedly involved in recruiting youths for ISIS.

In January 2015, Salman Mohiuddin of Hyderabad was arrested when he was preparing to board a flight to Dubai on his way to Syria via Turkey.

According to Indian intelligence agencies, a total of 23 Indians have so far joined the ISIS of whom six were reportedly killed in different incidents in Iraq and Syria.

Among the 23 are two absconding members of the banned Indian Mujahideen who had gone from their hideouts in Pakistan. The dead were identified as Athif Vaseem Mohammad (Adilabad, Telangana), Mohammad Umar Subhan (Bengaluru), Maulana Abdul Kadir Sultan Armar (Bhatkal, Karnataka), Saheem Farooque Tanki (Thane), Faiz Masood (Bengaluru) and Mohammad Sajid alias Bada Sajid (Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh).

Around 150 Indians are under surveillance for their alleged online links with ISIS. As many as 30 other Indians, who were radicalised by ISIS elements, were prevented from travelling to the conflict zone in the Middle-East.

Among those who are currently fighting for ISIS include two youths from Kalyan in the outskirts of Mumbai, an Australia-based Kashmiri, one youth from Telangana, one from Karnataka, one Oman-based Indian and another Singapore-based.